OWH Sketch Challenge Bonus Sketch

Operation Write Home has a new sketch challenge #123 and a bonus sketch.  I opted to start with the bonus sketch and work my way up to the other sketch. :-)

The DSP is Authentique Splendid 6x6 bundle.  The cardstock is Creative Memories.  The Stamp is from Stampin'Up Hostess Tagtastic set (retired as of today).  The die cut is Spellbinders Parisian Accents.  Thanks for looking.

Happy Crafting
Donna
You can visit my Creative Memories website HERE.

Blog Candy Winners from the Memorial Day Bloghop

We had two winners!
Congratulations to Laura Jane and JoAnn Ross.  Thank you for following and commenting on my blog.  Please contact me at d dot nuce at comcast dot net with your snail mail addresses so I can send your prizes to you!
I would like to thank everyone who commented on my blog.  Such wonderful comments makes me want to go out an create more.  Here is a card I did to add to my box going out to OWH this week.

This is the Americana Collection (retired) from Stampin'Up.  I didn't think it needed a sentiment.  The pictures say it all.  Cardstock is Creative Memories.  I used Ranger Jet Black Archival ink to stamp it and colored it with Prismacolor markers.

Happy Crafting and Congratulations to the winners.
Donna
You can visit my Creative Memories site HERE.

Hambo Challenge 67 Let's Stick Together

The Hambo Hoedown Challenge for this week is titled "Let's Stick Together."  They are asking us to try our hand at paper piercing.  I CASed a card from PAULA, a member of the Hambo Stamps design team.  I loved the pierced design behind her little girl.  I wanted to use that type of pierced design to indicate the flight of the butterfly on this Hambo Digi Stamp called Catching Butterflies.

Hambo Digital Stamps "Catching Butterflies"

The cardstock is some retired Stampin' Up! cardstock and I used Stampin'Up Pastels to color the image.  The DSP is from Creative Memories from their Delight Digital Power Pallet available HERE.
Happy Crafting!
Donna
You can visit my Creative Memories Website HERE.

OWH Memorial Day Sketch Bloghop!

Start the Blog Hop HERE.

BLOG CANDY ALERT! (See below)
Hello blog-hoppers! Welcome!  I am semi-new to the blogiverse.
I found out about Operation Write Home in February and started making cards for them.
My sketch for this blog hop is OWH Sketch #60

The inchie stamps are from Inkadinkadoo, the sentiment is from Stampin'Up!  Inks used are Ranger Maganese Blue  and black Archival ink, Tim Holtz Distressed ink Peacock Feathers, Shaded Lilac, Squeezed Lemonade and Vintage Photo.  The background paper is Tim Holtz Kraft Resist Paper, the forground paper is a Ranger Kraft I distressed wit the inks.  Card stock is Creative Memories, ribbon is from my stash.

BLOG CANDY ALERT -- I will award some Creative Memories goodies to two people who:
1) follow my blog and
2) post a comment on this blog.
I will use Random.org to choose.
You must be a follower of my blog in order to win.  (The follow button is on the right side of the blog!)
I look forward to reading all your comments and to blog-hopping to the rest of the OWH Memorial Day Sketch blogs!

Happy Crafting and blog-hopping!
Donna
You can visit my Creative Memories website HERE.

Watercolor Effect with Direct to Stamp Inking

AirborneWife's Stamping Spot challenged us to try the watercolor effect with direct to stamp inking.  I have done this before when it took the Tim Holtz Creative Chemistry 101 class.  I decided to try it again using some different techniques.

The technique on the left involves coloring direct to the stamp with markers, "huffing" on the stamp to moisten it and stamping the paper (I used Ranger Specialty Stamping Paper here).  I was able to "huff" on the image and stamp 3 times and still got a great image.  I then misted the stamp without re-inking it and stamped 3 more times on the watercolor paper  (140lb cold-pressed) on the right.  The image was way too soft to see any detail.  So after it was dry I re-inked the stamp and stamped 3 more times over the soft watercolor image to give it more definition.  Not totally satisfied with the results on the right.  If I do it again I will color the stamp and mist it and go directly to the watercolor paper.  Thanks for the challenge AirborneWife.

Happy Crafting!
Donna
You can view my Creative Memories website HERE.

Great Impressions Anything Goes Challenge

Great Impression Stamps challenge for this month was "Anything Goes."  I just got these two stamps from them in the mail yesterday and couldn't wait to ink them up.  This card will go to Operation Write Home.  I know many Heroes miss their dogs as well as their families so I thought this would be a cute card for them.

The stamps are G269S and H157S from Great Impressions Stamps.  I used Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink and a black Prismacolor marker. The cardstock is Creative Memories. The spot of red on the dogs tongue is Tim Holtz Worn Lipstick distressed marker.  I used a black Pigma pen for the penwork around the edge of the card.  I hope to see you all on the Operation Write Home Memorial Day Sketch Bloghop on May 26th.

Happy Crafting!
Donna
You can view my Creative Memories website HERE.

OWH Midweek Throwdown Love You Challenge

Operation Write Home's Midweek Throwdown Challenge is a card with a "Love You" theme.  I recently signed up to get Apron Strings Designs All Year Cheer Card Kit monthly.  It came with some beautiful papers and a wonderful newsletter with some great design ideas.  The inspiration for this card is from the May newsletter.  

I updated the card based on the comments.  Thanks ladies for your expertise!

The beautiful DSP is from the Authentique Blissful Collection.  I inked the edges with Tim Holtz Distressed Ink in Tea Dye.  The cardstock is Creative Memories.  The fuzzy flowers are from Creative Charms but I replaced the fat pearl centers with small flat brads (Oriental Trading Company) since this card will be sent to Operation Write Home.  The sentiment is from the Hero Arts Operation Write Home collection.  I look forward to seeing you all on the Memorial Day Blog Hop!

Happy Crafting!

Donna

You can view my Creative Memories Website HERE.

  

Hero Cards

In honor of Armed Forces Day hosted a party Saturday and I was able to get ten Hero Cards made to ship off with my next box to OPERATION WRITE HOME.  Hero cards are cards that thank our troops for their service, unlike the other cards I make for OWH these are given to our heroes instead of sent by them!  We all had fun making these cards and I was touched by the expressions of thanks that my friends wrote inside the cards.  Many thanks to all my creative friends for their help in getting these Hero Cards done.

Happy Crafting!
Donna
You can view my Creative Memories site HERE.

Operation Write Home Sketch Challenge #122

I ordered this Ciara Stamp from Stampers Best as soon as it came out but this is the first time I have used it.  Can you tell I have a thing about dogs?  Love this little girl in her Camo.  I had this great OORAH sticker from Signify Pink and I just had to use it!  (Although in the Army we say HOOAH).

I colored Ciara with Prismacolor markers.  Both DSPs and Card Stock are from Creative Memories.
Hope you all are enjoying your day.
Happy Crafting!
Donna
You can view my Creative Memories site HERE.

Operation Write Home Midweek Throwdown

The OWH Throwdown challenge for this week is tropical colors.  I can't help it--I love this dog digi so much I had to use it again!  He is so stinkin' cute!  This time I backed him with some Creative Memories Primary Power Pallet paper that I had in my stash.  The water splashes on the paper go perfectly with the dog and his floaty.

The digi is from Hambo Stamps.  I colored it with Prismacolor markers.  Cardstock and DSP is by Creative Memories (Sorry the DSP is now only available in digital format for Storybook Creator).  I might make more cards with this digi but I promise I won't bore you with it on my blog again!

Happy Crafting!
Donna
You can visit my Creative Memories Website HERE.

Swap Club May Swap

I belong to a card swap club.  We make 10 cards every month and give one to each other.  That way we end up with 10 different cards.  Here is my swap for May.

The stamp sets are Stampin'Up! Fresh Vintage and Elementary Elegance.  Cardstock is Stampin'Up! Calypso Coral, Very Vanilla and Pool Party.  Ink is SU Calypso Coral.  DSP is Everyday Enchanted as is the Ribbon and brad.  The card sketch is MOJO Monday 240 but I didn't get it finished in time to publish it on the MOJO Monday website (darn).  Tonight is my Westbrook Stamp Club and I look forward to making some fun cards.

Happy Crafting!
Donna
You can view my Creative Memories website HERE.

Liebster Award

Yeah!  My blog has won the Liebster Award!  

You might ask what does that mean?  

The origins of the Liebster Blog Award are somewhat unclear.  Sybrina K from Scrapping With Purpose offers the following explanation on her blog. 

". . . general consensus is that it originated in Germany.  Liebster, means favorite or dearest and the Liebster Award is designed to showcase bloggers with fewer than 200 followers.  Upon accepting the award, the recipient must pass it on to five more blogs of note."

I would like to thank Sybrina K at Scrapping With Purpose for presenting me with this award.  Please show her some love on her blog.   Now I have chosen my five blogs worthy of note to receive this award.  There are a lot of wonderful craft blogs out there.  Here are my top five.

My Westbrook Stamp Club buddy Pam at Mustang Creations.  She is on the design team for DRS and Mark's Finest Papers.
Jen at The Sparkle Within has a beautiful blog page and I like her designs.
Becca Witham's blog at Expressions is not only a card maker but a Christian Romance Writer too!
Ellen's blog at In a World of Craft has never met an embellishment she didn't like.  LOL.  I love her style.
I must give a shout-out to (Chief) Penny at Penny's Page who is a comrade-in-arms.

OK new Liebster winners.  You need to:
1.  Thank your Liebster Blog Award presenter (that's me) on your blog.
2.  Include a link back to the blogger who presented the award to you.
3.  Copy and paste the blog award on your blog.
4.  Present the Liebster Blog Award to 5 blogs of 200 followers or less that you feel deserve recognition.
5.  Let them know they have been chosen by leaving a comment on their blog.

Thanks again to Sybrina K at Scrapping With Purpose for helping to promote my blog!

Happy Crafting!
Donna
You can visit my Creative Memories Website HERE.

OWH Rebel Challenge #5

Operation Write Home's Rebel Challenge #5 asked you to use five elements on your card.  This was a difficult one for me but here it goes.  1) I computer generated the Happiness sentiment , cut it out and glued it to the paper 2) I inked the embossing folder (Cuttlebug Pagoda) using Tim Holtz Distressed Ink Peeled Paint and embossed the paper 3) I stamped the oriental characters (Stampin'Up! Kimono) on the paper 4) I applied two CANDI brads and  5) the ribbon.

Happy Crafting!

Donna

You can visit my Creative Memories Website HERE.

OWH Rebel Challenge #4

The Operation Write Home Rebel Challenge #4 was to make a card using bright colors.  I won this digi stamp on a Hambo Hoedown bloghop.  The dog is so cute (Hambo Stamps Cool Dog #4904)!  I colored it with Prismacolor markers.  I used OWH sketch #26 as a starting point.  The paper is Summer Days from Echo Park.

Happy Crafting!  I'll be back for the next challenge.
Donna
You can visit my Creative Memories Website HERE.

OWH Rebel Challenge #3

The next challenge for Operation Write Home is to use food as your focal image.  The image is a Cricut cut from the Creative Memories Traveler Cartridge.  The saying is one my Mother was fond of using when life did not go my way!  Here is my card.

Happy Crafting!  See you for the next challenge.
Donna
You can visit my Creative Memories Website HERE.

OWH Rebel Challenge #2

Operation Write Home continues with their challenges throughout the weekend.  This challenge was use something you have been hoarding.  I got this 6x6 pad of paper from Simple Stories and had not used it yet.  I also had not used the Tim Holtz Heartfelt stamps yet.  So here is my card.

Happy Crafting!  See you for the next challenge.
Donna
You can visit my Creative Memories Website HERE.

OWH Rebel Challenge #1

Instead of making scrapbook pages for National Scrapbook Weekend -- I'm making cards for Operation Write Home.  The first challenge is to make a card for a child using paper piecing.  I just got this new stamp from Stampers Best and it was perfect for paper piecing.

The paper is from Fancy Pants Designs.  The I Love You stamp is from the OWH Hero Arts set.  

Happy Crafting and Happy National Scrapbook weekend!

Donna

You can visit my Creative Memories Website HERE.

OWH Midweek Throwdown - Flowers

This week at Operation Write Home the challenge is to make cards with flowers on them.  I used OWH Sketch #119 as my starting point and some lovely two sided paper from K&Company.  I wanted to try out my new Creative Memories Stamper System that just came out.  I used it for the design in the circle.  The stamper system is a round stamper and comes with cute stamps for birthdays, a masculine theme, a feminine them and a children's theme.  Here is my flower card.

The Creative Memories Stamper System can be purchased with just the stamper and 1 stamp or as a bundle with 4 different stamp sets.  The best deal us the bundle which saves you $17.00.  Other ink colors are available separately.

You can find out more about it at my Creative Memories website HERE.  

Happy Crafting!

Donna