OWH Birthday

Well, I'm still making cards for Operation Write Home. I have my first box ready to go, but haven't had a chance to go to the post office. I need to do that soon! Here's the first card for box #2.

Just something quick since Bean wasn't in the mood for quiet time. Details: Paper Studio DP, SU ribbon, ladybug is from Cricut Cart Paisley Cachemire cut at 1 3/4".

If you have extra cards or want to make something for OWH, it really is a good cause. I'm actually using the layout from OWH Stars and Stamps. This also meets the Paper Sundaes challenge #24 - birthday!

Giraffe Book Mark

Like really cutesy type digistamps? If you do, then Meljen is for you. She has some adorable and fun stamps, not to mention a freebie every week. I've had this little freebie for a while now. I know, I know, he's so cute, how is it that I haven't used him yet?

What I did: I printed goldenrod gingham and solid goldenrod on 80lb CS (paper from Pink Petticoat). Then I ran my CS through the printer again with the giraffe on each square of color plus one just on white (hope this is making sense). Then I cut out what I wanted and paper pieced this little guy.

Hopefully you can see a little more of the dimension in this photo. I used copics for other areas and Ranger Inks for the grass and sky. Here's the kicker: Ranger Inks run when you put Mod Podge on it! This was a whole lot softer before I made that little mistake. I still like him though and will use him during fall semester, so not all is lost. If anything, a little knowledge was gained!

This is also for the current challenge over at Meljen's Designs Challenge Blog.

Gift Bear Holder

Hello all. First, I'd like to announce that I have made the Designed 2 Delight Design Team! Faith is the artist of these really lovely digistamps. I discovered her a little over a month ago and couldn't resist her "wholesome" style.

With the latest digi, I wanted to make a gift card holder. This was super easy and fast. The gift bear is paper pieced with all parts inked. I printed all the papers from Pink Petticoat.

Sewing zig-zag down the sides made it so that I didn't have to use adhesive. The length of the paper is 6". I scored at 1" and 3.5". I don't remember the exact width, but the card fits perfectly.

I plan to stamp the inside, lower right with the sentiment - when an occasion arrives. I like having little things on hand just in case...it's my "new view" instead of constantly making things last minute or *gasp* BUYING something!

So I hope you will follow me along with my new Team. I have included the info on my sidebar where you can find the rest of the super talented members' blogs.

Welcome Baby

Hello and welcome to Friday with the Character Cafe! This weeks challenge over at the Challenge Blog is:

Vellum

So what do you think of this little gal? Her name is Sooki Ooblis and I think she is so sweet. This didn't start out as a Baby card, but when I was looking for a sentiment, it just seemed to work. This particular stamp comes plain as well as with two sentiments: "Thanks and If Friends Were Flowers..."

The paper is from Michael's. I found it on clearance a long time ago and it ended up in my pile o' stuff. The VELLUM flower is cut at 2" from Cricut cart Accent Essentials. Digi is colored with Prismas, and nesties with Lipstick Ranger Ink for shading. I also added a bit of sewing. The stamp is Short & Sweet from Stampin' Up.

So feel free to join us this week at The Character Cafe Challenge Blog for your chance to win a free digistamp from the Cafe Store. Also, I hope you will take a look at the rest of the Design Team (blogs are on the right --->) for more inspiration!

This card also meets the following challenges:

• Freshly Brewed - #8 Anything Goes
• Sweet Sketch Wednesday - layout #556

Chicks Dig Me!

Hello all. I am proud to announce that I will be joining the Squigglefly design team! They have one of the largest selections of digistamps out there. I hope you will take a look at the Store as well as the Challenge Blog. I can tell already that it's going to be a great team. I don't start "work" until July, but I thought I'd show off a little of what's to come.

Lately, it's been in the 100's and the air conditioner just isn't keeping up with the heat. Last night was finally cool enough to spend a little time in my room.

So what do you think of this little guy? Full of attitude! Love it!

The paper is Recollections - I believe that is the Michael's brand. The digi is Squigglefly colored with Prismas, nesties and Tea Ranger Ink. The sentiment is computer generated, and I added a bit of sewing.

The layout is from Splitcoaststampers SC286. I'm not really sure what kind of occasion this can be used for, but I couldn't resist using him. He reminds me of more than a few men I've encountered in my life. You know the ones...you give them a little smile and all of a sudden they think you want a relationship. Huh? I'm already married!

A Friend's Song

Growing up, my best friend in the world was Monica, and she was my best friend up until the day I got engaged to my DH. After that, I never heard from her again. I was never given a reason or a goodbye. Her birthday is this week, and this would have been the perfect card for her if she were still in my life.

The image is Designed 2 Delight (who has such "soft" digis), colored with Copics. Used my nesties and Lipstick Ranger Ink for shading. PTI white and brown, K&Co Wild Saffron, and swirls folder in my Cuttlebug.

So Monica, wherever you are, I hope you are well. I miss our friendship but will wait till you're ready.

This card meets the following challenges:

• Designed2Delight - use digistamp
• Sweet Sunday Sketch - sketch #74
• Just Us Girls - colors light pink, chocolate, vanilla

I hope all the men in your lives had a wonderful Father's Day!

Celebrate with The Character Cafe

Hello and welcome to Friday with The Character Cafe. This weeks challenge over at the Cafe Blog is:

Paper Piecing

I actually love paper piecing, but I'm not part of this particular challenge, but I'm still here to show off a current TCC digi:

With the 4th of July approaching, I thought this would be a perfect time to display this wonderful image. I must admit, I had a little trouble with my markers last night, so don't be too critical of my coloring please :)

I used layout #22 at Paper Sundaes to create a CAS card. At first I was pulling out all these red, white and blue papers and was making such a mess, then something in my head said "DUH! Clean and simple." So here ya go!

Kraft is PTI, $1 acrylic sentiment from Michael's, digistamp from Character Cafe, colored with Copics and Prismas, Faded Jeans Ranger Ink, and pop-dots.

Thanks for stopping by and feel free to stop by the rest of the Team for more inspiration. Their blogs are listed on the right ---->

Miss Fancy Pants

So my good friend Ginger is having a birthday next week. She's going to be out of town so we're celebrating early. BTW, her birthday is her favorite "holiday." Here is the card I will present her with today:

The sentiment is Happy Birthday, and the inside reads:

Miss Fancy Pants

And it's so true. I've never seen this woman in a pair of shorts, or sweats, or without make-up. Once I asked if she changes into comfy clothes when she gets home after work...nope, she does her chores in her pretty clothes. I don't know about you, but I need my big-girl shorts, tshirt and sports bra for house work. It's not sexy, but I get the job done!

The layout is for this weeks sketch over at 2 Sketches 4 You #54, the paper is...oh darn, I forgot, the digistamp is Pink Cat Studios (love their stamps!), colored with Copics, Bics, and Prismas. I actually colored this gal 3 times! I don't know what my problem was. The first one was all over the place, you would think I was on crack! The second one I got Ranger ink all over! BTW, I have learned to clean my nesties before shading just in case there are other colors on them. Just a tip I learned the hard way. The ribbon is Stampin' Up, sewn on randomly, both sentiments are Pink Cat Studios Freebies, nesties and Tea Dye Ranger Ink.

Mice Wishes

Hello and happy Tuesday! The weather has been so great the past couple days. That means I should be walking for lunch, getting ready for my trip to Hawaii, but once the temp reaches 100 degrees...well, that's just not safe is it? At least that's my excuse. Not that I'm looking to get into a bikini, but I'd like to tone a bit to keep up with Bean on the beach.

Anyway, here are the final 3 cards for my first Operation Write Home package. So I have a dozen cards and one Any Hero card ready to be packed and shipped.

I plan on using this little guy in a more "feminine" card, but I'm attempting to make more masculine cards. Picking "boy" colors is difficult for me! Hopefully it's not too dark.

The paper is from my stack o' paper, the digistamp is Designed2Delight colored with Copics, nesties and Peeled Paint Ranger Ink, and pop dots.

This card meets the following challenges:

• Designed 2 Delight - use D2D digistamp
• OWH Stars and Stamps - sketch #21

I DWove You

So our little Bean is now 3 years old. She started talking early and has quite the vocabulary. The funny thing is, she pronounces her "L's" like "Dw." So "little" is "dwittle," her cousin "Lily" is "Dwily,"...you get what I mean right?

Well, here is her card for Father's Day. With Bean being a little shortie and her dad being more than 6 feet tall, this is how I see her looking up at him. It's such a wonderful sight. Anyway, I thought putting "I DWove You" would be perfect.

I used K&Co's Wild Saffron (super great paper pack), digistamp is from MyGrafico colored with Prismas, nesties and chalk ink for shading, buttons are probably vintage (from my stack o' buttons). Not too many frills since I'm going for CAS (clean and simple).

This card also meets the following challenges:

• MyGrafico - Father's Day with Patterns
• Cards for Men - #12 Father's Day
• CAS-tastic Challenges - CWC007 CAS with buttons
• Tuesday Morning Sketches - Layout

Father's Day with The Character Cafe

Hello all and welcome to this Friday's Character Cafe Challenge. This week, we are looking for:

Father's Day with Embossing

I used the lovely Owlies from the Cafe Store, colored with Prismas. I printed the set in two different sizes so I could have a Daddy and a Baby owl. They are perched on a tree branch from Zoobaloo (lower/layer at 2") Cricut cart, inked with Walnut Stain and Peeled Paint Ranger Inks. The "Daddy" sentiment (which is much darker IRL) is a handmade rub-on using a transparency sheet and my printer. The paper is from K&Co Wild Saffron.

OK, so my embossing is the one on the nesties...only because I forgot to add it but realized I did indeed emboss the edges.

This card meets the following challenges:

• 2 Sketches 4 You - Layout #57 flipped on it's side
• Corrosive Challenges - Die Cuts (both nesties and Cricut)
• Daisy Doodles - Father's Day/Manly
• Creative Craft World - Father's Day
• One Stitch at a Time - Boys to Men

So join us this week for a chance to win a free digi from the Cafe Store. Also, don't forget to visit the rest of the DT for more inspiration. Their blogs are to the right ---->

Patriotic Thank You

Well, if you follow along, you know that I'm making my first batch of cards for Operation Write Home. When you donate cards, you are allowed to send a personalized card to a soldier, so I thought I would make something for my family to sign.

I already had these papers together for a past challenge and thought they would be perfect together yet again. Patriotic, but not over the top. The papers are from my fav paper pack Magnolia (the first pack I ever bought years ago), the digistamp is Designed 2 Delight colored with Prismas, Stampin' Up's Sweet Shapes (dots), and Pocket Silhouettes (sentiment) in Fire Brick Ranger ink.

This card also meets the following challenges:

• Designed 2 Delight - use digistamp in creation
• Splitcoaststampers - layout SC284
• The Pink Elephant - red, scallops, and a bow

I am Not a Decorator

So Bean is now 3 years old and has been asking me to take the "baby" stuff off her walls in her room. She's all into Mickey Mouse Clubhouse so I thought I'd try to liven up her walls a bit after everything came down.

Well how BORING is this?!! I made a total of 4 Mickey and Friends Cricut cuts. All are cut at 10" except Minnie (cut at 7 3/4"). While I was cutting and assembling and shading all the characters, I thought "these are a good size. Once I got them on the wall, I noticed all the blank space that was left.

The characters are great, they really are and she loves them. Thing is, I have so much more wall to spiff-up!

We're selling our house in around a year, so I don't want to paint her walls some obnoxious kid color, so I have to look around the web for some good decorating ideas. I was thinking a little "bunting." Why in quotes? Because in my family, we call them banners. Bunting sounds so fancy :) Feel free to share good ideas or sites!

Miss You for OWH

So here are a few new cards for Operation Write Home. I made 3 of these bringing my total to 7 cards.

I'm going for all occasion cards and I want to include some masculine cards - not the easiest thing for me! I used M's Just Chillin', the digistamp is The Character Cafe colored with Bics, Prismas, AND Copics. I distressed all edges and of course added a few pop-dots.

This particular digistamp includes a turtle with a blank sign and that's the one I used. I simply inserted my message using Word. I figure I will ship these out once I make a dozen. It's a great organization to send a little love to our soldiers. No matter how you feel about the current situation, just remember that our soldiers miss their friends and families.

These cards meet the following challenges:

• Crazy Challenge - Distress It!
• OWH Stars and Stamps - Layout #20

Relax - Blog Hop with The Character Cafe

Hello and welcome to The Character Cafe new release blog hop. Make sure to start at the beginning of the hop so you don't miss out on any of the fun.

Let me introduce you to "Lazy Day." This little chibi looks like she's enjoying the lazy days of summer...I wish I looked that cute atop a mushroom. Unfortunately, I'd squash it!

Digistamp is a new release at the Cafe Store, colored with Bics and Prisma markers. Papers are from my unknown stack, and the sentiment is Stampin' Ups Small Script. Layout is from Sketch Girl #19.

Next on the hop is the lovely FINK

Blog Hop Details:

• Leave some love at each blog on the hop for chance to win the Grand Prize of 4 New Release images and a $5 Gift Certificate for The Café Store - each comment counts as one entry
• Use the FREEBIE or any other TCC image in your creation for a chance to be a guest designer - enter at the Character Cafe Blog using Mr. Linky
• Discount code for 25% off is “Summer”

If you get lost along the way:

• The Character Cafe Store
• Kerstin
• Sara
• Queenie
• Audrey
• Angie E.
• Kendra & Kelly
• Rachel
• Deanette
• Georgia
• Angie C
• Lola - You Are Here
• Fink
• The Character Cafe Blog

Lucky Number 30!

I really want to thank everyone who participates in the Character Cafe blog hops. They are so much fun and we (the DT) really try to make it enjoyable and inspiring. I'm SUPER late with this announcement, but the winner of the last hop is:

#30 Lawren

Lawren, you will receive your digistamp soon and thank you so much for your lovely comment!

Thinking Hedgehog

So while I was coloring these little guys, I realized I have never in my life seen a hedgehog.

So we've been out of town for the last week and I sure have missed my "stuff." How silly is that?! But I'm sure glad to be home. We went to visit the in-laws...in Kansas. Anyway, I've been wanting to make cards for Operation Write Home. So here is my start...3 cards.

The adorable hedgehog is from Tiddly Inks colored with Bics. The artist makes some of the cutest creations I've ever seen. The paper is from my pile o' stuff. Nesties with Ranger ink for shading. The stamp I believe is Inkadinkado using brown Stazon. Martha border punch.

This card meets the following challenges:

• Creative Card Crew - #51 pink and green
• ICSketches - pick a sketch - I'm using #68

I'll be back in a few to announce the winner of the Character Cafe blog hop...that should have been announced weeks ago!!