Top 10 of 2012!

 

 Happy New Year!  May your future be full of happiness and joy.

I have been blessed by Operation Write Home and the support and inspiration provided by so many card makers.  I have definitely received much more than I have given.

Here are my 10 favorite cards of 2012.  I only started blogging in late August, so I didn't have a lot of cards from which to choose!!  Below each picture, I linked back to the original post. 

Love the colors, papers, sentiment - love it completely!!  My favorite of the year.  AND - my first blog post.  Coincidence?  I think not!!!!! 

Simple, but the fab paper, along with the textured background and great embellishments make the simple fabulous.  

Purses, leopard.  'Nuff said.  

Purple and green goodness.  The pearls add so much. 

While not the greatest visually, I learned SO much in the process of making this card, it deserves a spot on my top list.  

 Looks SO much better in person.  This is an Ohio Star quilt pattern, made to represent my home state for an OWH VCMP challenge.  Learned a lot!

This year, I started doing the sketch challenges.  I find them, well, challenging.  Guess that is the point?!?!?  

 Another sketch challenge, was happy with how the papers worked together.  A special birthday card for my very entertaining sister. 

I love the look of triple time cards, but hate the bulk.  So, I made an SVG to use with cutters and designer papers.  

Learning to use vellum stickers and an old sketch challenge. 

Make it a great New Year.  Random acts of kindness can mean so much to someone - challenge yourself to pay it forward!!

Last OWH Shipment of 2012!!!

Woo Hoo!!!  I shipped a box of 36 cards to OWH this morning.  A little later than planned, but life gets in the way... 

That brings my total to 381 for 2012.  Can I do better in 2013?!?!

OWH Mid Week Throw Down - Miss You

This week's challenge is to make a Miss You card.

Patterned paper is Basic Grey Olivia.  Black Glossy Accents Enamel Accents for the dots.  Sizzix texture plate embossing on the background.  


Not my favorite.  It is taking me hours to make even one card.  I just seem to wander around. 

OWH Sketch Challenge #152

This week's sketch challenge over at Operation Write Home looks like this:

Here is my version:

Fiskars sentiments, scrap paper, Sizzix texture plate.

I have missed the past few challenges and throw downs.  My darling mother died on December 14, after a 3 month fight against Cushing's Disease.   She inspired my serial crafting, and supported my habits through her garage sale and thrift store finds.  She was the only parent I had, and I will miss her terribly. I will honor her by continuing to create and give - as she did until the end. 

OWH Sketch Challenge #149

This week's sketch challenge over at Operation Write Home looks like this:

Here is my interpretation:

It was such a rainy, dreary day here in Ohio, I needed to use some cheery colors. 

Stamp is SU!  Paper from unknown scraps. 

OWH Mid Week Throw Down - Winter Card

Operation Write Home's Mid Week Throw Down is to make a winter themed card. 

I decided to make mine a thank you card.  Here is is:

OWH Sketch Challenge #148

This week's sketch from Operation Write Home looks like this:

Here is my interpretation.  I turned it on its side to fit the sentiment.  I think the corners of the tag need a little something. 

Paper from the Basic Grey Olivia 6x6 stack.  Sentiment from Fiskars. 

OWH Mid Week Throw Down - Silver and Turquoise

This week's challenge from Operation Write Home is to make a card using the colors turquoise and silver. 

Here is my card.

I always have a hard time photographing this shiny paper!

Sentiment from Fiskars, ink Colorbox, ribbon Offray.  The silver paper is from a paper outlet, no brand given, and textured with Cuttlebug snowflake folder.  Background paper Recollections. 

OWH Sketch Challenge #147

This week's sketch over at Operation Write Home looks like this:

Here is my version:

Paper scraps from Little Yellow Bicycle, Fiskars stamp, Offray ribbon. 

OWH Mid Week Throw Down - Thank You!!!

This week's challenge over at Operation Write Home is to create a thank you card. 

Here is mine:

I do love the orange and green color combination!!

The paper is DCWV Baby Girl Stack, stamp from Fiskars, ribbon from my stash.  I had a TON of scraps from this stack, and thought the paper was too cute to toss.  I used it to make a photo book shaped like a baby's onesie.  I will have to post it sometime...

Here is another version using DCWV Black Currant (like the orange and green one better!):

 

 

OWH Sketch Challenge #146

The challenge sketch this week over at Operation Write Home looks like this:

Here is my version:

Stamp from SU Reverse Prints, paper 7 Gypsies, brass squares from K and Company. 

OWH Sketch Challenge #12

I am working my way through the OWH Sketches.

Here is #12:

Here are my versions:

I used a brown base layer on the left, a light blue base layer on the right.  I like the one on the left better.  Paper is from Colorbox Antique Paperie, stamp from Fiskars. 

OWH Midweek Throwdown - Red White & Blue

This week's throwdown is to create a card using red, white, and blue. 

Here is mine:

Really, it is red, white, and BLUE!!!  The blue looks black, but it IS blue!!!!!

These challenges are so hard for me, but I know I grow with each one. 

OWH Sketch Challenge #27

OK, so this one is REALLY old, but I am going through them, trying to challenge myself to try new designs and layouts.  

Here is OWH Sketch #27:

Here is my take:

Paper from Basic Grey What's Up, sticker, K and Company Beyond Postmarks, Imagininisce heat set metals.  I used a Fiskars texture plate (crocodile) for the background. 

OWH Sketch Challenge #145

This week's sketch challenge is right up my creative alley - CAS!!

Here is my take on it:

Paper is Colorbok Antique Paperie, sticker from K and Company, ribbon from stash. 

OWH Midweek Throwdown - Valentine Card

The Midweek Throwdown over at Operation Write Home is to create a Valentine card.  Of course, I shipped a bunch of Valentine cards to OWH, and didn't take a picture of any of them!!

Here is my Valentine/Love Card for the week:

The white paper is metallic - gives it a pretty sheen.  Sizzix embossing folder, American Crafts border punch, Recollections polka dot and pink paper. 

OWH Sketch Challenge #144

The week's sketch challenge at Operation Write Home looks like this:

Here is my interpretation:

Not favorite, I really struggled with the embellishment, I just don't think it works.  I do think I should have swapped the two green layers.  I will be putting this in the "bad card pile" until I figure out what it is I don't like, and how to fix it!

Regardless of how much I like (or don't like!) my end results, I really enjoy and learn a lot from these challenges. 

Paper is Basic Grey What's Up, stamp from Fiskars, Spellbinders die cut. 

OWH Midweek Throwdown - Celebrate Friendship

I have been working on Valentine cards for Operation Write Home, thinking that everyone else is working on holiday cards!!  It fits right in with the Midweek Throwdown - Celebrate Friendship.

My final version:

This is the original, which sat in the "bad card" pile for a few weeks:

I think it really needed the lace and pearls to finish it off.   The original was too plain, even for a lover of CAS, like me. 

Am I the only one with such a "pile"?  Sometimes, I make a card, and it just doesn't seem right - maybe it is missing something, a color match isn't close enough, what ever.   I set it aside, and look at it again later on.  If I step back for a while, I find that I can take a fresh look, figure out why I didn't like it the first time around, and make adjustments. 

Rose paper from DCWV, red metallic cardstock is Recollections, sentiment from Colorbok vellum pad, ribbon from Offray, pearl lace from my stash - a very old purchase from when Frank's Nursery and Crafts went out of business, Spellbinder die cuts.  The card base is black on the outside, and white on the inside.  I buy most of my base cardstock from Hollo's Papercraft in Brunswick, Ohio.  They carry a lot of HEAVY cardstock that is light on one side, and colored on the other.  Since I make most of my cards for Operation Write Home, I want to use the highest quality materials I can afford. 

60th Birthday Card

This hurts, it really does.  My big brother is turning 60 on Friday.  60?!?  Seriously?!?  Good thing he is MUCH older than I am!!!!!

Papers and letters by Cloud 9.  Lovely shot of my iPhone reflected in the silver paper, embossed with the Cuttlebug Diamond folder.  The numbers from my stash. 

OWH Sketch Challenge #143

Here is Operation Write Home's Tonic Studios Sketch #143 Challenge:

 And here is my interpretation:

The sentiment is from My Favorite Things - WTG Godspeed.  I won the set in the My Country/Mit Land Blog Hop last July (thanks OWH!).  My MIL gave me a BIG container of old sewing embellishments, the rick rack is from that stash (thanks Pat!).  The embossed stars in the background didn't show up in the photo :(. 

OWH Midweek Throwdown - Color Challenge!

This week's throwdown is to make a back and white card, and add a pop of color.

I like this version a lot better than I did my first attempt.

Here is my second attempt:

Here is my first attempt:

I prefer the color accent in the bling, not the ink of the sentiment.  What do you think?

Thank You sentiment from TPC Studios.  Stamp is SU Fresh Vintage.  Bling from Stash. 

OWH Sketch Challenge #143

Operation Write Home's Sunday Sketch Challenge #142 uses the following sketch:

Here is my take:

Matteboard sticker and rub on from The Paper Company Studio.  Offray ribbon,  Embossed with Cuttlebug folder. 

We Have A Winner!!!

Stacy B!  Random.org chose #58 - and you left comment #58 on my World Card Making Day OWH post!  You have won the set of Inkadinkado stamps!  Congratulations!

Here is Stacy's comment:

Stacy B October 6, 2012 5:28 PM

Love that sentiment! I hadn't seen that one before. That is what I love about Hops, they are a great way to find new goodies. I look forward to seeing what else you create (just signed up to follow you). Love how you pair your creations with the sketches. Thanks for the chance to win! slbuller at fullchannel dot net.

Thanks to everyone who hopped along with us this weekend.  I hope you found some inspiration, and continue to support Operation Write Home!

Operation Write Home - World Card Making Day

Welcome to World Card Making Day with Operation Write Home!

I based my card on OWH Sketch #27, and switched the orientation. 

Sentiment from Stampin' Up Alphabet Soup, Offray ribbon, paper from MAMBI.

What is a blog hop without candy?  Leave a comment (make sure I have a way to contact you!) for a chance to win a set of Inkadinkado's Kid Quote clear stamps.  You do not have to be a follower, but I would love for you to become one of the gang!! Winner determined by random.org on Tuesday, October 9.  

 

Click here to return to Stars and Stamps to see what your next host has to share!!