Just can't get enough!

I just can't get enough of the nautical theme - and what a better theme for some Father's Day cards for the Operation Write Home Father's Day challenge I stamped up 6 ships and then designed these in no time.

The acrylic block background works so well with the boat stamp. It can look like clouds or even a stormy sky. Stamp Set: Sail Away (from the summer mini catalog - available May 1) Teeny Tiny Wishes

Card Stock: Not Quite Navy, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Nautical Expedition DSP (from the summer mini catalog)

Ink: Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue

Embellishment: Baker's Twine (from the summer mini catalog)

Punches: Tag punch - both sizes, Crop-a-dile

On the Cherry Cobbler paper for this one I used Versamark and a small star from the Seeing Stars stamp set to make a random design.

This uses a sheet of the Nautical Expedition DSP. Next time I will use Crumb Cake ink as the background for the stamped image to try to blend it a little more with the DSP coloring. The ribbon is a retired Real Red grosgrain.

And another sheet of the Nautical Expedition DSP with the retired Real Red ribbon. After tearing the DSP I rubbed some Early Espresso ink along the edge.

Another sheet of the Nautical Expedition DSP was used here. This one has several knots scattered throughout the design so it was fairly simple to line one up so you could see it on the card.

And for this one I tore the edges of the Whisper White and rolled them using the side of the paper piercing tool. I did the faux suede technique on the Real Red and then tore along the bottom edge. I did stamp Happy Father's Day using the Frost White shimmer paint. It shows up much better in real life.

Hope you have enjoyed my little sneak preview. I will most likely be planning a share for some items in the summer mini - probably a combination of the baker's twine and the DSP. Watch for details after May 1.

Cards for OWH

I am so excited! I have 263 cards ready to go to Operation Write Home. Most were donated from my customers and their friends as they cleaned out their stash. They are like me, love to make the cards but have way more than they will ever use! Thanks to everyone who donated some cards and for the monetary donations to help pay postage costs. Can you believe it - I was able to get all the cards in a large flat rate box! Tomorrow it will be on it's way.

If you missed the opportunity this month, don't despair! I will have more OWH workshops and will continue to collect cards to send. Just remember the guidelines:

No glitter!
A2 (8 1/2 x 5 1/2 folded in half) only

Holiday cards need to arrive there 8 weeks prior to the holiday so I won't be sending any Thanksgiving or Christmas cards after this shipment. I will try to have my next workshop in January so we can send some Easter cards - and then another one in March or April to concentrate on July 4th cards.

Envelopes are appreciated - as well as monetary donation to cover the shipping. I have 2 of the OWH stamps to use on the backs and will 'tuck' the cards and sort them before shipping.

We can also include Any Hero cards which are thank you or encouragement cards for the soldiers themselves.

Looking forward to doing this again!

OWH #1 (and why I'll keep my DH)

Last night, 6 of my stampin buddies came over and helped use up some of my surplus and retired stash to make cards for Operation Write Home. We wouldn't all fit in my craft room so I drug out lots of stuff to the living room and dining room.

Several also went through their stash at home and pulled out cards they know they will never use. What a bunch of cards!I could kick myself for not taking some pictures of the ladies - had my camera laying out but never picked it up!
This is one of my favorites of the donated cards. I plan to CASE it with the Fast and Fabulous stamp set and the 1/8 inch taffeta ribbon.


Today, I am so thankful for my hubby - here's why -

My living room is still in complete disarray from the workshop last night - not to mention the dining room table is still covered with cardmaking supplies!
There is a 6 foot long table in the middle of the room with the kitchen chairs still around it. The couches are both covered with boxes of paper, stamp sets, ribbon, brads, and all sorts of scraps and die cuts.

I had to pile up things for him to sit and watch his morning TV while eating his cereal. Not a complaint! He just came through and noticed that he had not taken his bowl and spoon to the kitchen - not a comment about the rest. And most of this will stay in the living room until Sunday afternoon. DD#1 and SIL are going to sleep here tonight and it just gives them more space in the craft room/spare room without my table set up.

Here is DH's to-do list for today - (Someone once corrected me and said it is a honey-do list - not in this house - he makes a much longer list than I would ever dream of)


And not a complaint about my 'stuff'
Now, you all know how I have so much time to stamp and play. Of course, I do have to do some grocery shopping and cook a few meals over the weekend - but he cleans up after me :-) I think I'll keep him!

Operation Write Home

I have been debating about what to do with some of the non-SU paper, ribbons and embellishments and the retired SU items that I have accumulated over the years. I have decided to host a party to make cards for Operation Write Home This organization provides cards through the chaplains so the men and women in the service can send them to loved ones. What a great cause!
I have set aside Friday, Sept 3 from 6 pm to ??? to make cards for this charity. Anyone wanting to help out is welcome to join me. There is no cost to attendees (unless they would like to donate a dollar or two to help pay for envelopes or to send to OWH as a donation to cover their expenses) and I will provide everything. Won't that be a fun evening!

Here are a couple cards that we may be making. You can copy my ideas or come up with your own.

Since I don't think I can make the deadline for multiple Christmas cards I thought we would focus on Valentine's Day. Wouldn't this be a great Valentine card for this cause?


I have a whole set of sentiments that can be used with this design - and lots of scraps of patterned paper!



This one will be so much fun with the masking and sponging - but so simple. And can be done with any color of card stock!


Another one that can be done with different colors to get different looks. And a fun stamp set on top of that! Plus there are a variety of sentiments that can be used with the Three Little Words


Mixing and matching colors on this card will make each one unique. One of my favorite stamp sets too!