Category Archives: Challenges

- Stamp – Magenta “Musical Bird Collage”
- Patterned papers – My Mind’s Eye “Happy Day” 6 X 6″ paper pad
- Dragonfly punch – McGill Craftivity
- Postage stamp punch – Marvy Uchida
- Cardstock – Bazzill
I used the latest sketch at Operation Write Home Stars and Stamps for this card: OWH Sketch #173. The subtle patterns in this paper collection didn’t take too much away from the bird stamp focal point. It also meant I had both flora and fauna elements–what could be better? Thanks for visiting today.
3 Comments | tags: cardmaking, fauna, flora, Magenta stamps, stamping | posted in Challenges, General Cards, OWH

- Stamp – Magenta “Cats of the Month- Limited Edition – Romeo”
- Patterned papers – Authentique 6 X 6 Bundle “Delightful” collection
- Die cuts made from Spellbinders: “Labels Twenty-eight,” “Rose Creations,” and “Foliage Two”
- Brad – Making Memories Shimmer Brads – Black and White
- Cardstock – Bazzill
This is a birthday card for my mom. Today is her birthday: Happy Birthday, Mom! I used the Cardabilities Sketch #75 for inspiration. Mom kind of has a thing for cats 😉 so it seemed appropriate to use on of my Magenta cat stamps. Featuring this made me want to use them more! These papers were fun to use and layer, since the colors are muted it kept the design less busy for this relatively clean and simple designer. Thanks for visiting today.
2 Comments | tags: cardmaking, die cuts, fauna, Magenta stamps, stamping | posted in Birthday, Cardabilities, Challenges, Uncategorized

- Stamp – Hero Arts “Mother’s Day Message”
- Die cut made with Spellbinders Nestabilities “Resplendent Rectangles”
- Patterned papers – from Echo Park “Victoria Gardens” 6 X 6″ paper pad
- Cardstock – Bazzill
- Pearls – Queen and Company
This was the Mother’s Day card I made for my mom. I had to post it late today so she wouldn’t see it online before she received it! I used the sketch at Clean and Simple Stamping #140 for inspiration. This was the first time I’d used this die, which is ornate and very pretty. The colors are very Spring-y and the pearls made it seem more elegant. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom! Thanks for visiting today.
1 Comment | tags: cardmaking, clean and simple stamping, die cuts, echo park, flora, Hero Arts, stamping | posted in Challenges, Clean & Simple, Mother's Day

- Stamps – Stampendous, “Hot Botz,” “Spot’s Botz,” and Botz Quotz”
- Embossing folder – Darice “Plaid”
- Cardstock – Bazzill
I built the robot and the robot kitty with multiple stamp parts in these clear Stampendous stamp sets. Lot of different options for lots of different looking “botz.” I made a simple background with scraps and my new embossing folder that I got on National Scrapbooking Day for $2.00! What a deal! The best part is the eye detail on the robot: Googly Eyes! Sandy at OWH challenged us to make a card with googly eyes as part of the Virtual Cardmaking Party (VCMP) hosted by OWH this past weekend. To see her card and other googly eyed cards, check out Sandy’s blog. Thanks for visiting today.
1 Comment | tags: cardmaking, embossing, stampendous, stamping | posted in Challenges, Children's Designs, General Cards

- Stamp – Simon Says Stamp “Lots of Hearts”
- Die cut made with matching dies from Simon Says Stamp “Large Hearts”
- Patterned paper – My Mind’s Eye “Collectable: Memorable – Perfect” (both sides)
- Border punch – Stampin’ Up “Scallop Edge”
- Cardstock – Bazzill
- Pearls – Queen & Company
This is another Operation Write Home card I’ve made for the OWH Virtual Cardmaking Party for National Scrapbooking Day. I made this one in response to Sandy’s challenge to make a romantic card using a technique in one of the OWH tutorials. I chose a tutorial on paper piercing from a couple years ago. I went for a linear look in my design for this card, with a line of “holes” to match the line of scallops. Then I switched things up a little by adding pearls to alternating scallops–but we’ve still got a strong horizontal line going. Finally, I edged all of the elements with chalk inks to unify them and really showcased the beautiful (and romantic!) floral patterned paper. Thanks for visiting today.
1 Comment | tags: die cuts, flora, Simon Says Stamp, stamping | posted in Challenges, General Cards, OWH

- Stamp – Stamper’s Best “Turtley Awesome” set
- Die cuts – made with Spellbinders Nestabilities “Labels Nine”
- Patterned paper – My Mind’s Eye “Collectable: Remarkable – Smile” (both sides)
- Cardstock – Bazzill
This is a fun turtle card, perfect for a child! The stamp set I used was created by Sandy Allnock at Operation Write Home for Stamper’s Best. I colored the turtle with Copic markers and edged the die cut with some chalk ink. I used a sketch from some time ago: OWH Sketch #133. This weekend is a virtual cardmaking party at Operation Write Home in honor of National Scrapbooking Day, and I made this card for one of the challenges at Paula’s blog to make a kid’s card using a sketch. We are making cards this weekend in a virtual party atmosphere! Thank you for stopping by.
1 Comment | tags: cardmaking, die cuts | posted in Challenges, Children's Designs, OWH

- Stamps – Hero Arts “Pocket Watch” and Inkadinkado “Gem Stone Alphabet”
- Die cuts – made from Spellbinders Nestabilities “Oval Medallion Labels”
- Patterned papers – Fancy Pants “Country Boutique” 6 X 6″ paper pad
- Cardstock – Bazzill
This was the last of my cards for Dads that I created for Operation Write Home (OWH) for the Father’s Day deadline. This past week, the OWH Midweek Throwdown was an All About Time challenge. Pocket watches and Dads kind of go together, so I thought this would be a natural combination. I’ve had all of these stamps in my stash for quite some time, so it was fun to put them altogether. Thanks for visiting.
Leave a comment | tags: cardmaking, die cuts, Hero Arts, inkadinkado, stamping | posted in Challenges, Father's Day, OWH

- Stamps – JRL Design “Fly Fishing” and “Fly Fishing 2”
- Sentiment stamp – PSX – “Happy Father’s Day”
- Background stamps for tag and border – Hot off the Press, “Happy Patterns”
- Ranger Distress Inks
- Ranger Distress Paints
- Watercolor paper
- Kraft cardstock
- Cardstock – Bazzill
Several of the stamps I used for this card are some of my very first purchased, circa 14 years ago! The stamps I used with Distress inks on the tag are brand new from Hot Off the Press. This is my first Father’s Day card for Operation Write Home this year. Our deadline is the end of April, so I need to get busy. I used Sketch #72 at Cardabilities for design inspiration. It took me forever to make this card–I just kept messing around with it! Thanks for checking things out today!
6 Comments | tags: cardmaking, distress techniques, stamping | posted in Cardabilities, Challenges, Father's Day, OWH

- Stamp – Hero Arts “Year Round Sentiments”
- Patterned paper – My Mind’s Eye “Dolled Up” 6 X 6″ paper pad
- Die cuts made with Hero Arts “Frame Cuts: Rectangle Frame” set
- Baker’s Twine – Doodlebug Designs and American Crafts
- Cardstock – Bazzill
I made this card for the Operation Write Home Midweek Throwdown: Tags ‘n Twine.” I used the card sketch for Day 90 at 365 Cards for design inspiration. I created the tag by applying Ranger Distress inks (Weathered Wood and Scattered Straw). I then spattered it with water for a little visual interest, edged it with the same blue ink I stamped the sentiment with, and then added the baker’s twine. The distressed look of the tag worked well with the patterned paper I chose for the background. I love the die cuts I made with the Hero Arts die! I’m going to have to play with those chevrons some more! Thanks for stopping by today.
4 Comments | tags: cardmaking, die cuts, distress techniques, Hero Arts, stamping | posted in 365 Cards, Challenges, Distress Techniques, General Cards, OWH, Tags

- Digital image – Fred She Said
- Dies – Spellbinders Nestabilities “Standard Circles Large” and “Eyelet Circles”
- Border punch – Stampin’ Up “Scallop Edge”
- Pearls – Doodlebug Designs “Halloween Assortment”
- Patterned paper – Doodlebug Designs “Rainbow Sherbet”
- Cardstock – Bazzill and BoBunny
I made this card for the OWH Midweek Throwdown Challenge: Stripes. That was for midweek – LAST week, so I’m pretty behind. I colored this cupcake along with Sandy Allnock, Executive Director of Operation Write Home, during an online Copic Marker tutorial she did a couple of weeks ago. I could use some more practice! Well, thank you for visiting!
3 Comments | tags: cardmaking, die cuts, digital stamps, flora | posted in Birthday, Challenges, OWH, Uncategorized