clean and simple: 305!

Today's sketch over at clean & simple stamping features a big star as the focal point. 

I am not sure that my card would be considered simple....

 The stars were cut using Spellbinders dies, letters and star cut from DCWV glitter paper, coordinations pearls paper embossed with Cuttlebug snowflakes folder, organdy ribbon.  Embossed paper and star popped up with dimensional tape. 

ODBD August Challenge - Thank You

Oops Note:  I didn't pay attention closely enough, and I can only enter this challenge once.  I had already entered earlier in the month.  I deleted my link up from the OWH page.  They are 2 cards short of the 50 cards needed by Sunday night - help them out!!!!!

This month's challenge from Operation Write Home and Our Daily Bread Designs is to create a thank you card.  Thank YOU ODBD!  Here is my card:

Spellbinder tag die, Above Rubies Studio sentiment, red button and twine from stash, Bo Bunny Liberty paper, Cuttlebug stars embossing folder. 

OWH Mid-MONTH Throw Down

I am having a bit of withdrawal.  I am use to trying to do OWH challenges twice a week.  Due to the (FANTASTIC) military draw down in the Middle East, OWH challenges are drawing down, too. 

The OWH challenge is to make a card expressing "Gratitude".   Here is my Any Hero card:

Paper Inspiration image, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Spellbinders die cuts, CTMH Moonstruck ink. 

Don't forget to play along with this month's challenge at Words2ScrapBy.blogspot.com - From Darkness to Light!  There's blog candy for entrants....  :-) 

OWH Sketch Challenge #236

I have been pretty absent from my blog lately, mostly for wonderful reasons!!!

Sandy introduced me to Marti, a wonderful lady in my area.  Marti found that she wasn't papercrafting like she used to (she fell in love with yarn), and wanted to pass on her supplies to another OWHer.  OMG.  I had no idea what I was in for.  3 small truckloads later, my house is full of boxes of incredible goodies.  It has been overwhelming at times, in a good way.  Every box is another Christmas morning.  Luckily, I have other OWH friends who have been helping me sort and divide Marti's stash amongst us.  One of them is a fairly new cardmaker!!  Boy, did she go home with some boxes of Marti love!!!!  I cannot tell you how grateful I am to her for her generosity.  My blog followers will find that I will be giving away candy more often, thanks to her!!

I have been challenging myself to make cards using ONLY Marti's supplies.  It only been hard because there are so many wonderful choices. 

If you are missing the OWH weekly challenges, check out the monthly challenge at Words2ScrapBy.blogspot.com.   This month's challenge is "From darkness to light". 

Here is this weeks' sketch and my version:

 Only the Spellbinder dies and the embossing folders were mine.  Thank you Marti! 

Sandy asked the question this week in one of the OWH TV segments:  What do you do if a challenge is outside your comfort zone, or you just don't like it.  Me?  I do it anyway.  How will I know what I can do, or what I like, if I don't try?  Case in point, my last OWH sketch challenge (click to look at my awful card).  I HATED that card.  I made it at least 3 times using different color combinations, different embellishments, etc.  I never liked the outcome, and I posted it anyway.  I got some great suggestions from readers.  Maybe someone saw what they shouldn't do.  Maybe someone was encouraged to see that other people have epic fails too.  BTW, I removed the flowers and tossed the rest.  It is OK to put cards in the recycling bin!!!

ODBD August Challenge - Stars!!

Our Daily Bread Designs sponsors a monthly challenge.  If 50 people link up a card, they will pay the shipping cost for TWO boxes of cards for our deployed heroes.  Win for everyone!

This month's challenge if to make a card with stars.  Here is mine:

Spellbinders star dies, twine, heat embossed Fiskars sentiment, Darice wood grain embossing on the wood grain paper.  I like this one!!!  Finally, one I don't have to add to the recycling bin!!!!!

Don't forget to check out this month's challenge over at Words2ScrapBy.blogspot.com - From Darkness to Light!!

Words 2 Scrap By August Challenge - From Darkness to Light

It's my turn to host the W2SB August challenge!  In our neck of the woods, school starts up on August 13.  I am SO not ready to go back to the school year grind, and I am sure that my son is even less enthusiastic!

Our challenge is based on the Allan Bloom quote, "Education is the movement from darkness to light."    

I love that he sees education as a fluid, progressive journey.  Much like my own creative process.  I (think!) I get better and more enlightened with every thing that I make. 

I used paint chips for the gradiated strips, a DCWV base from the Shimmer stack, and VERY carefully heat embossed the sentiment using white embossing powder.  Too much heat makes the paint chips bubble up.  I popped up both the striped and the white layers with dimensional tape.  My niece's birthday is August 1, and I am going to include this card in her birhtday package.  

How do you see "Education is the movement from darkness to light"?  Go to Words2ScrapBy.blogspot.com to link up your creation!!