It's gonna be one of those days.................

So as I was making muffins for breakfast this morning, I managed to make quite the flour mess -
looks like it might be one of those days. Great........................

Sketch Challenge Card

My take on sketch #227 at

Operation Write Home this week.

There are two variations of the sketch

and it is part of a blog hop.

Mine is a bit different than the sketch,

but follows the basic idea.

Rather than an extra strip of paper at the bottom

edge of the card/sketch, 

I chose to run my card base through a Texturz plate

then embossed a single line at the top of the

embossed polka dots the plate made.

I really should have stamped the red flower

on watercolor paper as the inks changed colors

to oranges on that white card stock

that was given to me. I at first thought

my inks were going bad, but have deduced 

that it is indeed the inks reacting with the 

white card stock for some reason.

The card stock was by Georgia Pacific

and my sister thinks she bought it at Walmart.

Supplies used:

Awesome fancy new to me Spellbinders die

Circle die, Nestabilities

Butterfly punch and Papillion Potpourri stamp image,

Field Flowers stamp set, inks and

polka dot Texturz plate, Stampin' Up!

Vanilla and white  card stocks 

sponge 

aquapainter

Hand cut banner

Thanks for looking =)

Pink Thunderbird Card

The Midweek Throwdown challenge at Operation Write Home this week is to use Pink and Gray.
I knew right away that I wanted to use a pink Thunderbird car image to work with for this challenge for something fun and different.  I'm not too thrilled with the outcome though - it would have been better with black layers, but I avoided black to stick to the challenge more closely (black is allowed).

Classic Convertibles stamp set by Stampin' Up! stamped and colored on water color paper.
Highways and Byways stamp set by Stampin' Up! stamped with Versamark ink on pink card stock.
Gray card stock was run through a Diamond Plate embossing folder by Darice.
Scrap of shimmery silver paper behind pink grosgrain and gray satin ribbons.

Thanks for looking =)

Cat Sympathy Card

Sadly a pen pal friend of mine had to say goodbye

to a long time pet recently.

I made her this card.

I wasn't too sure about using this image at first,

then decided it would be perfect after seeing a

photo of her furbaby curled up in a basket.

Cat image from Meow, Meow an old

stamp set from Stampin' Up!

sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes, Stampin' Up!

I used the new Tag Topper punch, Stampin' Up!

Water colored with classic inks and an aquapainter

The embossed paw print background was made using a 

really old "texture plate" from Fiskars.

Word Window punch

white organdy ribbon

dimensionals 

Thanks for looking =) 

Memorial Day - Patriotic Teddy Bears Card

                                               Some of the colors seem off in these photos

As much as I liked this card that I originally created for the 

Operation Write Home

Memorial Day Blog Hop,

I decided to make a different one for the hop.

This card is being shared today,

Memorial Day.

The image kind of reminds me of our local parade,

"The oldest consecutive running parade in the entire nation. 

The first one was held in 1868, just three years after the end of the Civil War."

The stamp image is an old one from Stampin' Up!, Bear Necessities.

It was stamped with black Stazon ink on water color paper then colored in

with various classic inks and an aquapainter from Stampin' Up!

Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Vintage Violet (?) and Rose Red (?) card stocks

I also lightly sponged Soft Suede ink around the edges of the card. 

Stripes and Square Lattice embossing folders, Stampin' Up!

Assorted star punches

I used sketch #36 at Operation Write Home.

Thanks for looking. 

If you have a moment,

take the time to read this moving poem

as we remember our heroes this Memorial Day.

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE

I watched the flag pass by one day.

It fluttered in the breeze

A young Marine saluted it, and then

He stood at ease.

I looked at him in uniform

So young, so tall, so proud

With hair cut square and eyes alert

He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought, how many men like him

Had fallen through the years?

How many died on foreign soil?

How many mothers' tears?

How many Pilots' planes shot down?

How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?

No, Freedom is not free.

I heard the sound of taps one night,

When everything was still.

I listened to the bugler play

And felt a sudden chill.

I wondered just how many times

That taps had meant "Amen"

When a flag had draped a coffin

of a brother or a friend.

I thought of all the children,

Of the mothers and the wives,

Of fathers, sons and husbands

With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard

at the bottom of the sea

Of unmarked graves in Arlington.

No, Freedom isn't free!!

Copyright 1981 by Kelly Strong

Classic Convertibles Patriotic Cards

These two cards were going to be used for the 

Memorial Day Weekend blog hop at

Operation Write Home.

Then I decided I didn't really like them well enough, 

they didn't have enough of a "wow" factor for a blog hop.

I think if I would have added black behind the color layers, 

I would have liked them better. 

 I used sketch #20 at Operation Write Home.

The stamp images are an old set from Stampin' Up!, Classic Convertibles

(one of the few sets I'll never part with !!!)

I water colored them with classic inks on water color paper.

They were stamped with Black Stazon ink.

Stars (Cuttlebug) and Stripes (Stampin' Up!) embossing folders

Poppy Parade and Brilliant Blue card stocks

Thanks for looking 

and have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend =) 

Suspended Star Flip Card Tutorial

Below are several "step by step" photos

that show how I made my suspended star circle flip card

that was shared for the Operation Write Home Blog Hop

(see previous post). 

Magnetic platform for the die cut machine is handy!

The circles are from two different sets of dies,

both are Nestabilities but different sizes.

I used the Lattice Squares embossing folder from Stampin' Up!

and Swiss Dots by Cuttlebug; assorted star punches.

I use fishing line to make suspended cards because 

that is what I have in my craft stash from other projects.

I like that it is clear so the punched image seems to be floating

in the opening. 

Be sure to use a strong double stick tape to attach

the thread to the circle frames and punched pieces.

Stamp image, Amuse 

As an extra surprise for the recipient when they open this type of card,

gently twist the suspended image a few times before inserting it into the envelope. 

When the card is removed, the suspended image will unwind and spin ! 

Here are a few other suspended image cards I've made:
http://craftysahmiam.blogspot.com/2014/02/wheelie-great-birthday-card.html  tire and wheel
http://craftysahmiam.blogspot.com/2013/12/festive-flurry-swing-spinner-card.html  snowflake
http://craftysahmiam.blogspot.com/2012/02/suspendedspinning-heart-card.html   heart
http://craftysahmiam.blogspot.com/2012/07/suspended-star-patriotic-card.html   star


Thanks for looking =)

Operation Write Home Memorial Day Blog Hop 2014

Operation Write Home Blog Hop 

Home Page

Pages in the hop are not linked to each other,
you will need to return to the home page to visit other blogs.

Bloghop theme: 
Make a red, white, and blue card in one of the themes below,
and we hope you’ll use one of our OWH sketches.
Love cards
Missing you cards
Thank you cards
Birthday cards
AnyHero cards with notes inside written TO them!






I had several ideas of cards to make for the hop today,
in the end I chose this "interactive" card.
The other cards I made but decided not to use have
been shared the past couple of days and more
will be posted over the next couple as well.

My final card for the hop doesn't use a sketch,
but it is Red, White, Blue 
and is an Any Hero Card ! 

It also makes me think of Captain America =)

Closeup of suspended spinning star.

The blue and red stars have been embossed.

Gently twist the star a few times before inserting

into an envelope so when the recipient pulls it out,

it will spin as it unwinds for an extra bit of fun!

Front of card, closed

Front of card, opened

Back of card, opened.

I will hand write this sentiment on the back 

since there is no room inside:

We think of what it means to be free and what it takes 
to maintain that freedom. 

 We THANK YOU for your service, your dedication 
and the sacrifice you 

and your families have made on behalf of us, 
our Country and for Freedom.

Supplies used and how to photos 
are shared in the following post.


Thanks for looking and keep on hopping 
to see over 100 inspiring cards ! 



INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT 
OPERATION WRITE HOME 
AND HOW YOU CAN MAKE CARDS 
FOR OUR HEROES TO WRITE HOME ON ? 

Country Charm Raggedy Ann Card

I love how this card turned out ! 

I don't love, however, discovering that in coloring

the fine details of this image I am going to need to 

use "reader" glasses over my contacts, it was difficult to focus on the tiny details!

Nooooooooooooo! I've worn glasses and contacts most of my life

and just assumed (HOPED!) my eyes wouldn't get any worse

(I've had the same prescription for several years now after all!).

Nope, no such luck. Sigh...............

On to the card details:

I made this for the Operation Write Home blog hop tomorrow,

but decided not to use it since it really wasn't very red, white and blue. 

I used card sketch # 134 at Operation Write Home.

The images are from an old set from Stampin' Up!, Country Charm.

Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Rose Red (?) and Vintage Violet (?) card stocks

watercolor paper

various classic inks to watercolor with

aquapainter

circle punches

Stripes  and Stars embossing folders

Thanks for looking =) 

The big blog hop starts tomorrow, 

start here.

Cat Napping In A Chair Card

This card was originally going to be red, white and blue

(burgundy, navy and cream actually) 

for the Operation Write Home blog hop this weekend.

Obviously I did not stick to my plan ;) 

I think it turned out better with these colors

despite them not being something I normally use !

The image is from an old set from Stampin' Up!, Country Charm

It was water colored on water color paper 

using various colors of classic inks and an 

aquapainter from Stampin' Up!

Chocolate Chip, Dusty Durango (the photo makes it look more orange) 

and a scrap of  flecked olive (unknown) card stocks

It is based on sketch #29 at Operation Write home. 

If you've followed my blog and a couple of recent posts,

you may remember my saying I was having problems

with inks changing colors when I was water coloring with them.

Well, I did a little test before I made this card.

My suspicion was confirmed. For some reason

the inks are reacting in a weird way on a package of

white card stock I was given at Christmas.

Here is a perfect example of a water colored image

that was supposed to be RED poppies.

While painting, it seemed fine. Two days later

when I went to give them out on Mother's Day,

I was shocked to see the drastic change in colors!

They were a rusty orange ! 

Difficult to tell in this tiny sample, but it is very noticeable in real life:

the reds turn orange on that white card stock!

I've noticed some other colors changing, too

(when I was painting my clown cards).

I'll be using water color paper only for the time being.

Now I'm wondering how many cards I've made with

that paper and sent out right away,

before the color changed so I didn't know?!?

Thanks for looking =)