SplitCoastStampers HYCCT1404

The next Hope You Can Cling To challenge is Holding It Together.

"Holding it together...or falling apart.When someone gets the diagnosis that they really didn’t want and hears that they have cancer, they can feel that their world is falling apart. Sadly many women who hear this news have families, and they have find that inner core of resilience to hold it together for their families. 
My challenge to you is to hold it together without your usual resources. No foam dots, no ATG or other tape, no wet glues or Glossy Accents, no glue gun...
You can use things like brads, eyelets, stitching (machine or hand), staples…
NOTE1: You can’t just make a flat one-layer card. You MUST attach something, even if it’s only a flower with a button stitched through the centre, or a snowflake with a brad to hold it on.Kudos and bonus points if you make at least at two-layer card.
NOTE 2: Keeping up appearances. Just as a wig or a stylish headscarf helps somebody going through chemo to look good and feel better even when all their hair has fallen out from chemo, we want our cards to look good.So you ARE allowed make a full card-front (full means the FULL size of the card base) and then attach that to a base with your regular adhesive of choice, to cover up the stitching, brad prongs and whatever else might be showing on the back of your card. But that is the only adhesive you are allowed to use."

Read more: HYCCT1404 Holding It Together chat thread

Materials:
Cardstock: Recollections, Bazzill, unknown
Stamp: Stampin' Up (unsure of set, but it has a 2001 copyright date on it)
Ink: Archival Jet Black
Thread: Coats and Clark (pieces are stitched to the card and the inside thread are covered with a liner)
Other: My sewing machine (it's felt so unloved lately and was perfect for this challenge)
Sketch: OWH #123

Low Country OWH at Crop for a Cure

For several years, Southern Scrapbookers has hosted a scrapbooking event called Crop for a Cure where the proceeds are sent directly to the American Cancer Society. Hanging out with friends, scrapbooking and cardmaking, and raising money for a great cause! Many that attend have had Cancer touch their life in some way, so not only are they having fun, they are raising money for a charity that is near and dear to their hearts.

I've attended this annual crop (held every October) for a few years, but this year was different. This year I did not attend as a cropper, but I did attend as a vendor. Being a vendor was a lot of fun and I look forward to doing it again. For my booth, I wasn't just a vendor, I was there on behalf of another organization that is near and dear to my heart, as well as some of the other croppers, Operation Write Home. A lot of croppers were either veterans, military spouses, and had a family member in the military. Being in Charleston, SC, we have two military bases (that have now merged into one joint base), so we have a lot of military people in the area, and even some retirees who have decided to settle down in SC (like my dad, who retired after 24 years in the Air Force). 

This was only the second time I've run a vendor booth. I did one selling doll clothes at a craft fair in NC several years ago, but this was my first one I've done for a non-profit. All I can say is WOW!

I was SO impressed by all of the ladies (and a gentleman) that opened their hearts and wallets to OWH. I received $40 in donations for shipping costs and 24 pieces of Any Hero Mail, plus a few blank cards for troops to use to write home. 

Yep, I think the weekend was a success! It was wonderful to get together with so many creative people and I was thrilled to introduce them to OWH. 

Here are a few pictures from the event last weekend.

Set up and ready to go on Friday evening.

Making cards on Saturday

Hanging out with the croppers on Sunday

Operation write home banner

I made this banner using my Cricut and the Elegant Edges cartridge and the George and Basic Shapes cartridge.

I will be using it this weekend for my vendor table at the Southern Scrapbookers Crop for a Cure (proceeds from the crop fees go directly to the American Cancer Society) which just so happens to fall on World Cardmaking Day.

6x6 one sheet wonder Any Hero cards

10 cards using the Authentique Pride 6x6 pad. The directions I followed for this came from Kathryn's Cards blog. It called for 6 pieces of paper, but I ended up using 7 since the other side of the blue polka dots has some images that are best suited for fussy cutting.

All of the different designs.

OWH Sketch 7

OWH Sketch 1

OWH sketch 222

OWH Sketch 1

SCS sketch 267, a card for Grandma

A birthday card for my grandma. Her 86th birthday was the 17th, She's a pistol!

Inspired by SplitCoastStampers Weekly Sketch Challenge 267. Solid paper by Recollections. Printed paper from 6x6 Celebrate pad by KI Memories. Stamp by Newton's Nook and inked with Ranger's Archival Ink in Jet Black. Balloons and tag from Cricut. Twine from Newton's Nook. Happy Birthday embossing folder by Cuttlebug (Provocraft/Cricut).

Tickle a Teapotter card swap on SCS

Happy September!
Over on Split Coast Stampers I participated in a card swap with the folks that do the Teapot Tuesday card challenges. We are called Teapotters and it's known as Teapotterville.  If you've never heard of it,  head over there and check it out.
I received this adorable card and a little cling stamp set from Mary. I love the stamping, coloring,  and die cutting.

Any Hero cards - OWH Mid-month throwdown and OWH sketch 236

It is Sunday evening and I have spent my weekend switching between cleaning and crafting. Sadly, it has been mostly cleaning, but I was able to get a card done yesterday and a card done today. 

The first card is of my own design. I'm usually not fond of gate-fold cards since they make OWH cards difficult since they are hard to see in the boxes the way they have to be tucked all of the way into the envelopes. I LOVE using the little boy stamp for Any Hero cards. Since the camouflage is less branch specific this way I think it will suit more of the branches than the ones I made in the branch specific service dress uniforms.

Supplies: Solid Cardstock by Recollections. Printed paper from Pride 6x6 pad by Authentique. Thank You stamp is from Vertical Greeting by Impression Obsession. The little boy is Little Solider by My favorite Things. The camo print is Camouflage Background by Stamper's Best. Inks used are Archival Jet Black and Tim Holtz Distress ink in Chipped Sapphire, Vintage Photo, Peeled Paint, and Shubby Shutters. Cheeks are colored with Bubblegum Pink colored pencil by Crayola.

The next card is based on OWH sketch #236. 

Supplies used: Red, ivory, and kraft paper by Recollections. Navy blue solid and print are from the 6x6 Pride pad by Authentique. The stamp is by Anita's Sugarloaf Inc, and is embossed with Recollections Opaque Cherry, Recollections Pearl Sapphire, and Craft Essentials Gold. The sentiment is by Michael's and is stamped in Tim Holtz Distress Ink Chipped Sapphire. 

Any Hero card using MFTWSC sketch189

This is this weeks MFT sketch: 

found here: Stamp and Win with This Week’s Card Sketch 189

And here is my card based on this sketch: 

Supplies used: Solid paper by Recollections. Star paper by We R Memory Keepers. Stamps by My Favorite Things (Solider Boy) and Stamper's Best (Camouflage Background). Inks used are Archival Jet Black, Tim Holtz Frayed Burlap, Bundled Sage and Vintage Photo. Embossing folder is by Cuttlebug (Thanks). Buttons are by Favorite Findings.

Any Hero cards using retro OWH sketches

I've only been an OWHer  for a couple of years. I've only really drove in head first in the past year and a half. Now that I am more active in OWH I participate in card sketch challenges and mid-week (now mid-month) throwdowns. These are from some of their earlier sketch challenges.

Based on OWH sketch 6. Supplies: Solid papers by Recollections. Printed paper/embellishment from Pride 6x6 pad by Authentique. Embossing folders are Stripes by Stampin' Up and Stars Assorted by Darice.

Based on OWH sketch 7. Supplies: Printed paper from Pride 6x6 pad by Authentique. Solid paper by Recollections. Stamp is from the Vertical Greetings set by Impression Obsession and is stamped with Archival Jet Black. 

Based on OWH sketch 67. Supplies: Printed by from Pride 6x6 pad by Authentique. Solid Papers from Recollections. Ribbon is by American Crafts. Stamp is from America by Cloud 9 Design and stamped with Archival Jet Black ink.

MFT Soldier Boy stamp in Camouflage

New YouTube tutorial!

Supplies used: Scraps of Bazzill cardstock. My Favorite Things Pure Innocence Solider Boy stamped in Archival Jet Black. Stamper's Best Camouflage Background stamped in Tim Holtz Vintage Photo, Peeled Paint, and Crushed Olive.   

If you'd like to see more tutorials, just leave a comment here or over on my YouTube channel.

Deconstructed Sketch 17 and OWH Sketches 146 and 190

I made the Any Hero card based on the design of OWH sketch 146. The printed paper is from the Pride 6x6 pack by Authentique. The solid paper is by Recollections. I really like how the inside covers of the paper pad are printed and usable.

The Stuck on U card is based on OWH sketch 190. The printed paper is from the Pen Pals 12x12 pack by Pink Paislee. The solid paper is by Recollections. The stamp is from the Retro Technology stamp set by TPC Studio; it's stamped in Archival Jet Black ink. The ribbon is black seam tape (it reminded me of typewriter ribbon). 

Love letters is based on The Deconstructed Sketch 17 sketch, turned on its side. The post cards and red paper are from the Pride 6x6 paper pad by Authentique. The sentiment is a Sizzix Sizzlit Label 3 from the Lots of Tags set from Stampin' Up.  The solid paper is by Recollections. The embossing folder is Air Mail by Tim Holtz; it is inked with Tim Holtz Distress Ink Black Soot. The sentiment is from Teresa Collins Love set by Fiskars and is stamped in Archival Jet Black.

OWH03 for a sympathy card

Last night we found out that Jim's grandmother lost her youngest and last assembly the night before. She loves to receive hand crafted cards, or cards of any type, so I made this card this morning for her and it will go out in today's mail. She lives in North Carolina so I should get to her fairly quickly.

Based on OWH Sketch #3. 

Supplies: Solid paper by Recollections. Printed paper from Graphic 45 (the floral paper is from A Ladies' Diary, I'm unsure which collection the stripe came from). The punch is from Stampin' Up. The sentiment is from Stampin' Up's Three Little Words stamp set. Stamped with Archival Jet Black.

MFTWSC187 and an OWH midweek throwdown

Combining 2 challenges into one. Check them out here and here.

Supplies: Paper by Recollections. Stars Assorted embossing folder by Darice. Unknown grosgrain ribbon. Soldier Boy by My Favorite Things. Camouflage Background by Stamper's Best. Inks are Archival Jet Black and Tim Holtz Distress Inks Vintage Photo, Peeled Paint, and Crushed Olive. Star confetti as bling.

MMTPT311 - Teapot Tuesday over at SCS using OWH185

If you aren't a paper crafter then the title probably looks like Greek to you. :) I'll explain. SCS is SplitCoastStampers, a wonderful forum of creativity geared mainly towards card marking, but other paper crafts as well. Each week day the forum has different card challenges.

• Monday: Try a New Technique; Clean and Simple Cards
• Tuesday: Color Combinations; Teapot Tuesdays
• Wednesday: Card Sketches
• Thursday: Ways to Use It
• Friday: Free for All; Mix-Ability Challenge

For the past couple of weeks I've been able to keep myself busy making cards by participating in these challenges along with others from around the web.

Today I am posting a card I made last night since by the time I finished the card I wasn't able to get enough natural light to take a nice picture to post.

This is for Teapot Tuesday for July 15th, 2014.
Supplies used:
Paper by Recollections
Embossing folders by Darice: Cloud Background; Basketweave
Stampin' Up Loads of Love
Inks and Markers: Archival Jet Black, Tim Holtz: Mowed Lawn, Faded Jeans, Black Soot, Mustard Seed, and Squeezed Lemonade; Stampin' Up Craft Whisper White; American Crafts silver marker, Sakura white gel pen
Random dark gray grosgrain ribbon

The design of the card is based on Operation Write Home (OWH) weekly challenge sketch #185. Click here to see it.

Thanks for looking and I'll see you tomorrow with another creation.

Cards for Operation Write Home

I am a veteran.

I am the wife of a veteran.

I am the daughter of two veterans.

I am the granddaughter of three veterans.

I am the niece of five veterans.

My husband and I both come from a family full of veterans. One thing you know as military member is that you are going to spend time away from your family. Whether it's for training, TDY, deployment, or a unaccompanied/remote tour.
Thankfully means of communication between military members and the family they are away from has been made easier and more frequent with the advances in technology. When I was overseas, I was so glad that I was not only able to call home, but I was able to webcam with my son even though he was too young to know what was going on the webcam quality then was no where near the quality it is now.
In these days of technologies like webcams and e-mails, we often forget how wonderful it is to see a handwritten letter or card. It's easier to scrapbook handwritten letters instead of e-mails. Sometimes seeing somebody handwriting on a letter means so much more than just the words that are written.
A few months ago one of my scrapbook buddies introduced me to the organization Operation Write Home. I love it! I wish this would have been around when I was overseas. Check it out!

So, while I've been away from my blog for the past couple of months, I've been focusing on my cards for Operation Write Home (OWH) and my Artist Trading Cards (ATCs).
Here are the cards I've been doing:

 

 

So, sorry for the long post, the long absence, and the tons of pictures. I am working on sorting my fabric stash right now as a way to neaten it and a way to get my sewing mojo up and running again. I found the idea on Pinterest and fell in love with the idea. Pictures to follow, I promise.

Until next time......