World Card Making Day and Operation Write Home 2013

Whoops! I sure didn't mean to abandon the blog! Guess I've been a little busy or something. Yes, I have been making cards, but nothing got posted! Picture taking has been hit or miss but I do have some special projects I did record that I will share over the next couple of weeks, since I have time to schedule a few posts right now! :)

So, yesterday was World Card Making Day. I have had Operation Write Home on my heart lately, and I wanted to make Christmas cards to send to the troops so they can send holiday greetings home. I read the guidelines over and over, and made 25 of each of 3 designs with assistance from a couple of friends. I used a combination of new and retired products, with some pretty, shimmery Neenah papers thrown in for a little dazzle. If you want details on any of the cards please leave your question in the comments, or email me.

Card 1 - I wanted a "natural" look and it sort of twisted a little into a more traditional card with natural elements. Colors are Real Red, Wild Wasabi, and Early Espresso. Stamp sets (retired) are Four the Holidays and Pines & Poinsettias.

Card 2 - I used the Modern Mosaic set to make shiny ornaments. I started with the pearly Flash Natural Starwhite from Neenah, knowing I wanted a black background. Of course, this is just the card front since I couldn't put my OWH stamp on the back of a black card! Eliminates the need for lining the inside and creates more space for writing! I popped the ornaments in a group on a strip of Always Artichoke.

Close up shot so you can appreciate the shimmer...

Card 3 - The classic Sketch It set still makes a classy wreath. I used Gold Pearl Classic Linen Neenah paper for the backdrop of the wreath. Sketch It is one of the first sets I bought when I started stamping almost 13 years ago. I used the Stripes embossing folder to add interest to the base.

 I feel like such a dork. I had this photo set up rotated but it won't take via Blogger. Bad blogger!!

Here are all the cards, stamped with the OWH logo and properly tucked for shipping.

We'll make 25 of this card next week at Stamp Club to send overseas as well.

I used the Illuminate Glimmer Pad on the giant star, but even after a day of curing, the ink still smeared and I wasn't happy with that. So, it is embossed. The shimmer shines through!

All in all, a very productive WCMD and I am thrilled to have a number of cards to send off to Operation Write Home. Hope everyone is having a great weekend!!

Becca 

What I made for Christmas...

Since I've been MIA for so long I thought I would share the little project I made for the kids this Christmas. Money has been very tight and we decided in the interest of making sure they got something they really wanted for Christmas, we would give them cash. Well, I am not one to just fork over the bucks. I thought maybe we could do something corny like wrap up a bunch of ones in different packages, but I didn't have that kind of time or inclination. So, I made little cones to hang on the tree. Unfortunately my camera didn't want to cooperate so the pictures don't do them justice, but you will get the idea, I hope. I used the Petal Cone Die, Pinecones and Poinsettias set, and Tiny Tags to create something special.

I embossed the filigree stamp using Champagne Versamark ink (non-SU) and clear embossing powder. It turned out darker than regular Versamark and gave some sparkle to the design. I made 4 of these, so I ran the Big Shot many times to cut the layers. 2 Kraft, 2 white, 4 Real Red. I measured and cut smaller pieces to get the smaller white and red parts without a bunch of waste. I layered these all the way around the cone, all 4 sides. The red scalloped edge was left intact on the front and back, but on the sides I trimmed them down so I could adhere the flaps down with Stampin' Dimensionals. I only glittered the front, using Champagne Glass Glitter. I did embellish the sides and used the back to write names. On the sides (BAD CAMERA!), I stamped the little holly image in Real Red and Wild Wasabi onto white cardstock, coated with a sponge dauber dipped in Champagne Shimmer Paint, and punched it out with a 1/2" circle. It was cute, I promise! The pinecone was colored and stamped with markers - Early Espresso, Wild Wasabi, Real Red. I stamped the Christmas banner in Espresso and trimmed it out. The Merry sentiment is from the Tiny Tags set and I used half of a white banner from the cone die cut, embellished with a tiny silver brad, curved with a bone folder, and glued into place. I had some ivory ribbon in my stash, which I secured with 3 glue dots on each side.

To keep the cones from jumping off the tree, I weighed them down with some M&M's. I folded the money in half and put it in a 3x3 envelope, then put that into the cone. Gosh, my kids love getting cash for Christmas!

Since I had such a horrible time getting a decent pic, here are a couple of "alternates" just for fun in sepia and black & white! :)

Thanks for looking! I will do my best to share some more fun stuff soon. I have been stockpiling. :)

Becca

Supplies used:
Stamp sets: Pinecones & Poinsettias, Tiny Tags
Ink: Versamark Champagne, Early Espresso, Real Red, Wild Wasabi
Other: Petal Cone Die, 1/2" Circle Punch, Paper Snips, Clear Embossing Powder, Champagne Shimmer Paint, Champagne Glass Glitter, Silver Mini Brads, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sticky Strip