OWH Midweek Throwdown Chalkboard

Chalkboard is all the rage and OWH has a Midweek Throwdown asking for Chalkboard cards.  I made this one as an assignment for a class at Big Picture Classes with Kim Kesti (well known in the cardmaking world).

Stampin'Up Elementary Elegance (Retired),  Sizzix Labels 22 and Fancy Labels 22, DP and Ribbon from my stash.  

Happy Crafting!

Donna

Our Daily Bread Monthly Challenge at OWH

Our Daily Bread stamps donates the postage for two boxes of cards (one box for every 25 cards) to be mailed to our troops from Operation Write Home.  On top of that anyone playing in the challenge has a chance to randomly win a gift certificate from Our Daily Bread Stamps.  This months challenge is to use stripes.  This card is not for OWH.  It is for my swap group and I am three months behind getting them cards!  This is the October swap which was Get Well Cards.

The stripes are a Cuttlebug Embossing Folder called "Distressed Stripes."  DSP is Etcetera by Stampin'Up! Very Vanilla, Basic Grey and Basic Black Cardstock from Stampin'Up!  Typewriter stamp is "You're My Type" (retired) and Teeny Tiny Wishes from Stampin'Up!  Very Vanilla Grosgrain ribbon.  

For those who have been following my blog for a while, know I was previously with Creative Memories.  Since their change to Ahni & Zoe I am no longer with them.  I have signed up with Stampin'Up because I love their quality cardstock and cute stamps.  

Stampin'Up has just released their Occasions catalog (January 3 - June 1, 2014)  You can take a look at it on my Stampin'Up website.

Happy Crafting!

Donna  

A Penguin for the General

OWH has asked us to make a penguin card at the request of a General in Afghanistan.  Here is my card.

The DP for the penguins and the background is an old October Afternoon winter design.  The pennants were trees on the penguin design.  I have used this paper before and still love it!  I will mail this card by itself to Sandy because I don't have a box ready to send yet.  Have a great day!

Happy Crafting!
Donna

My Top 13 Blog Posts of 2013

Happy New Year

As a recap of 2013 I am highlighting my top 13 blog posts of last year.  It was hard to choose but here are my choices. Please note these are in order by date published.  Except for #1 I couldn't choose which one I liked best.

#13

http://craftycolonel.blogspot.com/2013/01/owh-stars-and-stamp-sketch-challenge-155.html

#12

http://craftycolonel.blogspot.com/2013/01/retrosketchs-challenge-45.html

#11

http://craftycolonel.blogspot.com/2013/02/inkspirational-challenge-6.html

#10

http://craftycolonel.blogspot.com/2013/03/operation-write-home-sketch-challenge.html

#9

http://craftycolonel.blogspot.com/2013/04/triple-play.html

#8

http://craftycolonel.blogspot.com/2013/05/operation-write-home-memorial-day.html

#7

http://craftycolonel.blogspot.com/2013/05/owh-virtual-card-making-party.html

#6

http://craftycolonel.blogspot.com/2013/06/inkspirational-challenge-24-and-owh.html

#5

http://craftycolonel.blogspot.com/2013/07/house-of-cards-week-5-challenge.html

#4

http://craftycolonel.blogspot.com/2013/07/youre-sew-special.html

#3

http://craftycolonel.blogspot.com/2013/09/birthday-card-for-hubby.html

#2

http://craftycolonel.blogspot.com/2013/09/owh-virtual-cardmaking-party-round-6.html

#1

While this is not a card, it is by far my most crafty achievement of a lifetime.  This is my daughter's wedding bouquet that I made for her and used on December 27.  It will be a family heirloom and hopefully passed down to her daughter when she gets married.

http://craftycolonel.blogspot.com/2013/10/preparing-for-big-day.html

Now for an Irish Blessing to you for the New Year.

May your troubles be less,
And your blessing be more.
And nothing but happiness,
Come through your door.

Happy Crafting!

Donna

Go back to the Operation Write Home Stars and Stamps blog to view other crafter's Top 13.

I am adding this to the Catered Crop post asking for our favorite projects of 2013.  

OWH Sketch 205

Now that my daughter's wedding is over I have time to craft again!  Here is my version of the weekly sketch at the Operation Write Home Stars and Stamps blog.

DSP is Basic Grey.  Stamp is Stampin'Up using Always Artichoke ink, card stock, and the Window Frames Dies.  It is fun getting back into crafting for my own pleasure versus the wedding.

Here is a picture of my daughter and her husband on their wedding day.  The professional photos won't be here for two weeks.  They make a cute couple!

Join me January 1st for my Top 13 of 2013

http://operationwritehome.org/starsandstamps/

Happy Crafting!

Donna

Top 13 of 2013 Coming January 1st 2014

Join me and other OWH crafters from all over for our Top 13 of 2013.

http://operationwritehome.org/starsandstamps/

Happy Crafting!

Donna

Wishing You All a Merry Christmas

I would like to thank all my readers for their wonderful comments on my blog during this year.  I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!  My daughter's wedding is this Friday and after that I will have more time for card making and blogging.  See you all in a week!

Graphic Fairy Image

                                                             MERRY CHRISTMAS!

House of Cards December Blog Hop

Welcome to the House of Cards Term One Blog Hop!  If you've come here from Anita's blog then you are in the right place!  If you have just stumbled here and would like to participate, please hop over to the House of Cards challenge blog to get started!  We've got some fabulous sponsors that are providing prizes, so make sure to leave comments at each stop for a chance to win!

Here is our "Anything Goes" inspiration photo for the challenge.

Here is my card.

I used the Inspired by Stamping December 25th Labels.  I heat embossed first with silver EP for the bottom layer and then Clear EP over White Craft ink to get the chalkboard effect.  I smudged some chalk over the black cardstock for a more realistic chalkboard effect.  SB Labels 22 and Decorative Labels 22 were used to cut the stamp out.  The background DP is Silver Distressed Paint over a Distressed Ink background and then embossed with a CB embossing folder.  Ribbon is two layers Stampin'Up Organza ribbon and Island Indigo ruffled ribbon.

Please join in the fun of our hop and make your way over to my neighbor John's blog!

Here's the list of all the blog hop participants:

House of Cards Challenge Blog

Joanna Munster

Grace Tolman

Leah Cornelius

Irit Shalom

Kendra Sand

Nazeema Bastian

Rebecca Deeprose

Rose Miller

Shea Marshall

Tina Hale

Mynnette

Ruth 

Gale 

Nonni 

Tammy 

Vannessa

Mia

Nancy

Daen'Ys

Sue T.

Tara

Vicki

Alica

Anita

                                *Donna* ==You are here!

John

Shauna

Rudlis

Jules

Macarena

Rocky

Sue B.

Thanks for stopping by!  

Happy Crafting!

Donna

Pet Sympathy

A friend of our just lost their 17 year old dog.  I came up with this card to show our sympathy for his loss.  As a dog lover we know how hard it is to let one go.  Our Wiemeraner "Ghost" pictured over on the right side of my blog page is just one of the nine Wiermeraners we have rescued over the last 30 years.

 The background stamp is from Great Impressions (it must be retired but they have other paw print stamps.)  I cut the large paw with a SU heart framelit and the small oval punch.

Happy Crafting!
Donna

House of Cards Classic & Elegant Challenge for November

We are in our fifth month here at House of Cards!  We love seeing you push your limits and trying out new card making styles!  We hope you're loving it as much as we are!

It's the third week of the month, so we need you to create something in the Classic & Elegant style. Classic & Elegant style can be defined as:   "Think a greeting card from Hallmark.  These are not really cards that fit into any other category.  They usually feature floral or other classic elements.  Less embellishments than Shabby & Vintage or Fun & Cute, but more than CAS."

This is our photo/color inspiration for the month.  

And here is my card!

I used Gelatos to stamp the image.  

Stamps, ribbon and cardstock are from Club Scrap Bold Blooms Club Stamp kit August 2012.

So be inspired by the photo, the colors, or both!  If you go with the colors, please choose at least 3.  Let your imagination take flight!  Some of us are in autumn, some in spring, so we tried to find a combo that would work for both seasons.  And perhaps even holiday cards?!

So hop on over to the House of Cards and play along with us!

Happy Crafting!

Donna