Operation Write Home Blog Hop

Good morning,
This is my first time participating in Operation Write Home's blog hop.
 It's HUGE! What an incredible site....I have it saved on my desktop and will be participating in their challenges and events as often as I can.

This bloghop is an effort of bloggers across the internet to share their love for Operation Write Home's heroes—service members deployed abroad, sacrificing for their country....and they send them handmade cards to write home on! We've sent over 430,000 cards, and have impacted military families in ways we'll never know!

My card is actually going to a co-worker's daughter who is serving in Iraq. Besides the Star Spangled Banner, her mother says the song  "Proud to be an American" is her daughter's favorite. Whenever they hear it playing - they will always  ...stop...and sing the chorus out loud... no matter where they are!!!
So I encaptured it in the "Note Card" digital image by Isabella from  Isabella's Sketchbook  (which you can purchase  HERE).....this card is hopefully in the hands of her daughter by now.

colored with Copics and designer paper is from Webster's Pages! (sorry, pic is slightly too dark and the red is giving a pink-ish tone to the white)

This is an incredibly huge hop - so wont keep you any longer...your next stop is

AMY

God Bless The USA! and a sincere THANK YOU to all in our military....

our Country is truly in your hands

God Bless YOU!

Phri-days are Phindys - Challenge #7

Always glad when Fridays get here!!  love weekends (-:  and this one is a long one for me! sooooo glad....
but Fridays also kick off the next Phindy's Place Challenge and this week the challenge is to create a card using.....brads or buttons!
I used one of the free images from Phindy to her group over on PCP (pop over, join and grab the freebie!!)
 

this is a quick post, I'm actually "out of town"...in North Carolina this holiday weekend spending time with family and grankids!!!!

Coming back late Monday night...so will spend Tuesday poppin around visiting everyone...

Have a couple more cards to auto post and then I'm shutting down and heading out

HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY WEEKEND!

be safe and see ya soon,

hugs

sorry DT - I didnt get my card posted in the group on time and so it's not on the challenge blog this week....one word ....work!

Isabella's Sketchbook Challenge #9 - Patriotic colors

Welcome Wednesday to Isabella's Sketchbook Challenge - this week the challenge is to create  a card or project using your country's colors - if you dont want to use them - that's ok, use our good ole Red White n Blue!!! just be sure to use an Isabella image.

(there should be a challenge somewhere on who can enter one project in the most challenges - you know there are red-white-blue color challenges and patriotic challenges everywhere this week!)

I chose to do a card honoring our veterans who have given the most for our freedoms - their life.

Remember with pride those who gave all they could.  They believed in the freedoms our Country provides to each of us - we should never take this for granted.  And I think of those serving now and their families....

THANK YOU and MAY GOD BLESS YOU!

Hope you are able to enter the challenge! it ends Tuesday June 1st 8pm

details: Copics used B21, 24, 29, 60 and C1, 3
           Vivid's Inky Blue and Memento's Sky Blue
           GKD cardstock Navy and Red Rocket

Stamp TV's Blast from the Past Challenge - Paper Piecing

hi there,
knocking 'em out for Stamp TV!
This one is for Sharri's Blast from the Past Challenge to  ....paper piece!
this is something I do on most of my cards...love it..

images and sentiment are from GKD's "A Year of Flowers" by Melanie.

Colored with Copic V000, 01, 04 and YG 91, 95

matted on nesties, ribbon and dp is from stash

hope you like (-:

Dont forget the challenge at  Isabella's Sketchbook - just make a birthday card with an Isabella image - winner receives the Cuttlbug Folder "Lace Tree", 2 free images and the "I Won" badge....oh yeaaaaaa!!!!

You still have until 8pm tonight to enter

have a beautiful day!

Vicki's Sketch Challenge at Stamp TV

Hi there,

Was able to get several cards done (finally) for a few of the challenges at Stamp TV.

This is for  Vicki's sketch challenge - She has one more sketch for us before her 3 month term as the Sketch Challenge hostess ends. She was perfect for this!

image and sentiment is from GinaK's "Spring Mix" set. Brad button and butterflies are from stash - the paper bow is fun to make from scraps! Card stock is GKD's Asparagus and dp is from Stampin Up (I think).

short post! busy weekend! back to work!

Dont forget the challenge at  Isabella's Sketchbook - just make a birthday card with an Isabella image - winner receives the Cuttlbug Folder "Lace Tree", 2 free images and the "I Won" badge....oh yeaaaaaa!!!!

have a blessed day,

Tina's Color Challenge over on Stamp TV

hi there, very quick post - huge storm is coming and wanting to get this posted before storm and Grankids arrive!!!
This is for   Tina's Color Challenge: Red, white n blue!

had this beautiful water paper and love these Koi fish!!!  used Copics R32,& 37 and B00,21,24 & 29....
                                                               
wanted a "different" red white blue card!

ok, now to get ready for the kids!!!  wooooo hoooo!
lovin life!

A missed post for a STV Sketch Challenge

Hi there, think I should change my name to "big Goober!" Didnt realize until I was working on a new post for next week (needed some linking info from a previous post) and scrolled down my list of posts ...and BINGO! there was my draft post ......here it is!

This is for Vicki's sketch challenge

I posted it over on STV and forgot my own blog!!!

oh well....better late than never! I loved the colors - colored only the top of the topiary to match the sketch.

Stamp used is from GKD's "Lord of the Season" by Nina.

Wanted to give a big shout out to Kay Simmons ! Wishing her congratulations on being the Guest Designer over on Stamp TV for May!

Happy Day everyone!

Phri-days are Phindy's - Challenge #6

hi there,
Always glad when Fridays get here!!  love weekends (-:
but Fridays also kick off the next Phindy's Place Challenge and this week the challenge is to create a masculine card!

I love deer! We see them in the evenings quite often...so I couldnt wait until "Deer Season" to use this image from Phindy. My DH loves this image!

kept the embellishment "masculine" dont ya think?

if you like this image, it's called "In the Field" and you can get it  here

I also entered it in Cards for Men challenge to do an outdoor card.

Prayer request:    Phindy has a family emergency. Her sister is battling a serious health condition in the hospital and  really needs our prayers....Phindy is away with her sister now.

One of the most special things I've found here in "cyber blog land" is the amazing prayer support of sooooooo many!

Thanking the Lord for my health and the health of my family and friends!

Isabella's Sketchbook Challenge #8 - Birthday Card

Welcome Wednesday to Isabella's Sketchbook Challenge - this week the challenge is to create a Birthday Card ! that's it - no other requirements (other than to use an Isabella image)

BUT... this week Isabella has added a "surprise" to the winning package - the Cuttlebug Folder "Lace Tree".....woo hooo!!!  and as stated on the challenge blog - we love our CB folders (-:  - so the winner of this week's challenge to make a Birthday card wins:

the cuttlebug folder Lace Tree, 2 free Isabella images and the gorgeous "I Won" badge!

Best of luck to everyone - looking forward to seeing your birthday cards

here's mine

I combined two of Isabella's images Cherries and  Culinary Herbs Background . This is very easy to do. I use Word. If you would like instructions on how to do this, let me know and I will be glad to post a toot!

The paper is from Webster Pages (thanks to Jennie for being an enabler, love this paper!) Cardstock is Gina K's Green Apple and the inside is Corn. Sentiment is from Stampabilities. Colored with Copics.

hope you like!

have a blessed day!

PS there is a separate challenge over on Isabella's Sketchbook at PCP , plus there will be a "freebie" image when we hit two hundred members - only need 11 more members!!!  hint hint (I know, shameless plug! but love those freebies and they're only free for a short time)

nothing new - only a reminder

still have until 10pm tonight EST to enter Isabella's Sketchbook Challenge - easy, peasy - just use color combo of your choice from Isabella's blog header (or match as close as you can) with an Isabella image!
this is a brand new challenge blog, so entries are low in number... making your odds of winning FANTASTIC!!

have a beautiful (raining here) day!

Wonderful Weekend - and I am Copic certified!

hi there, what a weekend!

met up with Jennie Harper on Saturday - shoppped til we dropped LOL - then went to lunch and enjoyed "catch up"...so much to talk about and so little time... her "little" LSS is absolutely incredible!!! I did a good amount of "damage" heeeeee heeee heeeee here is a pic of a "few" things I got...and I am working on a wish for July when I go down again! Love that bag - has four separate zipper compartments...now when I travel, I travel with digis so no longer have to wheel my huge tote on wheels that weighs a ton.....

Olga and Carla, how far are you from Greensboro?  here is the store info - this lady has everything!!! She and her husband are so nice!!!

http://www.thescrapbookingroom.com/

Jennie took a pic of us but it turned out too grainy - oh well, in July we'll get a group pic!!!

That evening was spent with my oldest daughter who drove a few hours and met me in Charlotte - we had such a good time. I dont remember when we've had time alone like that in years!!! Sunday morning we had breakfast together and then I was off to the Copic Certification and she was off to visit a friend that lives outside of Charlotte.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Copic Certification. The leader/teach was /Sally Lynn MacDonald. What an incredible talent and teacher and just full of inspiration! As the days go by, I'll post the tips she gave us....check out this package that was waiting for each of us..

We went through this entire Student Manual - she was really an incredible teacher (quite the enabler too!!! I ended up stopping back at Betty's store on the way home and spending the last of my money!)

but the best part of certification was meeting my cyber blogging buddy Micki Switzer! She and I are both members of the SCS blogging groups - the Divas and the Glitterbees!. Micki had already attended some classes that were available prior to certification....so whenever I was having trouble with a technique (which happened often throughout the day) ...all I had to do was lean over and watch Micki - she had them nailed!!!

She is so sweet! (I think I was about 8 people bigger than her LOL) Good memory!!!!

and finally, here is a pic of Sally...sorry it's so grainy...

It was a seven hour drive home (that took me 8 because I stopped like I said and shopped some more!)

but was just so enjoyable!!!!

Just thanked the Lord all the while for making it possible!!

hope I can put to use what I learned!!

have a great day!

Isabella's Sketchbook - Petunias

hi there,
as you are reading this (if its after 6:30am and before noon) I am driving to Greensboro, NC to hook up with my BFF, Jennie Harper! We are going to do some "damage" at her LSS (woooo hoooo!!) and then have some lunch together. After that, I head on to Charlotte to meet one of my daughters who will join me for the night. Then Sunday - I am so excited - the Copic Certification class!  so when I return Sunday night - I will be "certifiably certified" LOL....

this card is done with Isabella's beautiful image called Petunias . We have these gorgeous deep purple ones with the black centers in the gardens at one of the properties I manage...really enjoyed coloring them!!

added the buttons at the last minute so I can enter it in the Cupcake Craft Challenges which is to use "buttons"....
there is lilac glitter in areas of the flowers, the dp is Basic Grey's Kioshi, cardstock is SU's Always Artichoke and Lilac (I reversed the colors on the mats)....

Hope this inspires you - and that you have a chance to use an Isabella image for the beautful color challenge over at Isabella's Sketchbook Challenge this week.

Have a beautiful blessed weekend,

Phri-days are Phindy's!! Challenge #5

Friday's kick-off our new weekly challenge at Phindy's Place Challenge Blog!.  This week's challenge is:

CHRISTMAS !!!

well, I almost said "bah-humbug!!"....after the snow we had just two months ago - I did not want to think about Christmas...I am watching those of you "organized people" who are consistently doing them each month....and I know I'm going to be kicking myself when September-October rolls around LOL

so without any further "bah-humbug"...here is my card....

I kept it very simple, used regular size card (4.25 x 5.5) so the image really does take up most of the space. Image was colored with Copics and the bear has some "illuminating smooch" on him! (wish I had bought more of that now, especially since the LSS I purchased it from now no longer carries it) ... laid my ribbon in the stripes of the dp, snowflake brads....and in my "mood" - instead of Christmas, I have "warm, winter, wishes"...

so now where's my present?

(bah-humbug)

and on that, I wish you a wonderful day!! heeeeheeee heeeeee

please take a peek over on Phindy's Challenge Blog - the DT has done an awesome job!!! challenge is open until  Thursday and there are several winners chosen each week! dont think ANY of them had the humbug blues (-:

Isabella's Sketchbook Challenge #7 - Color Challenge

Hi there, well over here...Wednesdays are the opening of the new weekly challenge for Isabella's Sketchbook Challenge. This week we're doing any combination of colors from Isabella's beautiful challenge blog header!

These colors will be so beautiful on anything....tropical, beach, Spring, flowers...whatever these colors bring to your mind. I wanted to just color using the entire color palette - so chose one of Isabella's fish images

who knows - there may be a fish somewhere this color - whenever I watch any of those "under the sea" documentaries - always smile at God's sense of humor - He sure created some crazy  looking creatures

that live down "in the deep"....my fav is the one that has one eyeball that extends about a foot up from its body (-:

if you like this fish, you can get it here.  Isabella has some of those craz-eee looking fish too!

the netting on here is actually floral wrap stuff that I had grabbed many moons ago from one of those clearance sales at Michaels. Sentiment is computer generated, little shell and anchor eyelets are from Michaels, "Turquoise Sea" cardstock is new from Gina K and matted onto SU's "Elegant Eggplant",  also used  it for seaweed and colored the seaweed and fish with Copics.

Hope you can squeeze in time to play - the winner is chosen by random draw and receives TWO free images and the beautiful "I Won" badge - challenge closes Tuesday May 18th at 8 pm...

Best of luck everyone!

Thanks for stopping by,

stv color challenge this week - Black, White and Grey

Good morning, this card is for

Tina's Color Challenge at Stamp TV

to use Black, White and Grey

Recently several of my blogging friends have produced beautiful CAS (clean and simple) cards. These style cards are a serious challenge for me. I love the CAS cards others create but rarely like my own....so decided that for this color challenge I would try it again...and again -  have a hard time leaving it with so much open space BUT kinda like this one... i guess...maybe....phooey! just seems like it needs...more! aarrrggghhhhh!!

have a blessed CAS day!! (-:

hugs,

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

glitter-graphics.com

hope you have a wonderfully blessed day!

Hello Hunny

hi there,

I've been wanting to play over at A Fairy Creative Place and finally was able BUT their sketch challenge ends tonight- decided to still post my card telling Laura and the gang "HI"!!

love this set - it's called Hello Hunny. If you have a chance, pop over and check them out - a new sketch challenge will be posted tomorrow. You won't be disappointed in the crisp, clear images these stamps provide.

So...will try to play again earlier in the week.
Hoping they hit 100 followers this weekend!!

Gina K's "Quite a Catch" Blog Hop

Good Evening,

Welcome to Stamp TV's Blog Hop by some of the members of the Spotlight and Alumni Design Team celebrating Gina K's new set "Quite a Catch"!  These little ocean creatures are just adorable..each one makes you smile!

Tonight I posted "just a few"....LOL...you will be seeing more from me - this is a fav "go to" set!

the ribbon looked cool as a wave until I covered it with the fish bowl..bummer! but there it is...

heeeee heeeee heeeee!!! don't ask me why??? when I was coloring this little guy...started with the orange...that made me think of shrimp..that made me think of "shrimp on the barb-ie" at Outback...that made me think of the grill....that me think of the time DH about burnt down our first house with an old charcoal grill and there you go! LOL....amazing I even got a card done! still wanting shrimp!

not being able to decide which little creature I wanted to work with ...grabbed "Hip to be Square" by Melanie....this was the first card I made with this set and just couldnt wait to color (:

didnt want to do a "cooked crab"...thought about when we used to go crabbing and they would be all around the pier colums in the sea weed...so here is my little Chesapeake Bay crab (love this one with the shaving cream technique - pop over to Gina K's and watch her tutorial video - she is the best teacher!!) who blends in perfectly - he's popped up 3 D but hard to tell that in pic

OK - now I know I've kept you long enough so will stop....hope you saw something to inspire you!

                             hope you go hopping and visit these designer's blogs tonight for even more samples with the Quite a Catch stamp set, if not tonight - this post will be here when you can!!

• Jessica Fick
• Bev Gerard
• Colleen Schaan
• Suzanne Dean
• Valerie Stangle
• Cathy Tidwell
• Lee Murphy
• Theresa Momber
• Geri Utterback
• Tina Gilliland
• Sharri Seffens
• Vicki Dutcher
• Jennie Harper
• Melissa Shultz
• Brenda Turner
• Joy Hadden
• Linda Payne (ME)
• Jen Charboneau
• Cheri Weston

To see the adorable samples in the StampTV gallery, check out this link: quiteacatch   

have fun,

Phri-days are Phindy's!! Challenge #4

Hi Everyone, Welcome

Friday's kick-off our new weekly challenge at Phindy's Place Challenge Blog!.  This week's challenge is a theme "May flowers come from April Showers".   Loved it...and immediately this image of Phindy's came to my mind. It's called Flower Wagon .

I colored with Copics and she is paper pieced and raised on dots...made the flowers using MS punches (using tutorial from the Queen of Flowers, Selma Stevenson - thanks Selma, mine arent vellum - tried but vellum doesnt like me lol)

This week, we are welcoming our first Guest Designer, Rhonda Miller!! Rhonda has been creating with Phindy images before the challenge blog or Design Team were here. Welcome Rhonda !!

So this week - let's see your gorgeous cards.  What does this week's theme inspire you to create??

Have fun,

Isabella's Sketchbook Challenge #6 - Honoring Mothers

Good morning,
Well. it's Welcome Wednesday with another new Isabella Sketchbook Challenge for this week - honoring Mothers! Since our Design Team members are from all over the globe - we didnt call it a "Mother's Day" challenge since this holiday isnt practiced world wide...BUT honoring Mothers IS !!

This year I've already made my MIL her card so I did something different ...I made this card in honor of my mother who passed away in 1980. She loved roses and has been on my mind a lot lately. You know when your mother is gone - so is your childhood - what I mean is that...there is no one now who can tell me about "me" when I was a young girl. I have an album of me that she kept when I was a baby, but dont know who most of the people are that are in the album....and that's the main reasion scrapbooking is so popular, right! (something I dont do)...

Anyway - this is for my Mom....
I used Isabella's  Summer Rose . Isabella has recently added a gorgeous long-stem rose that I have on my wish list!

This is colored with Copics (I think I used every red one I have!! G21 and G24 on leaves) dusted very lightly with glaze and white highlights, pieced onto embossed mat...MS border punch, stash ribbon. Cardstock is GKD's Red Rocket and All Spruced Up

hope you've added our Wednesday Challenge Blog to your calendar!

This week's winner will receive TWO FREE IMAGES and the beautiful "I Won" badge...

Still dont have an Isabella image?  look on my left sidebar and grab that adorable freebie!

Looking forward to seeing your wonderful creations...and a special thank you to everyone who was able to enter this past challenge - adding another challenge to our already full calendars is tough!

{{{super big hug to you all}}}

have a gorgeous, happy day!

also entered in:
Dare U 2 digi stamp - flowers
Cooking it up with Katie - For Mom with punch and brads
Craft Your Passion - Embossing
for Fun Challenges - card for Mom

many thanks to my DT for hooking me up with these challenges!