Pickle Post #27 - Operation Write Home WCD Holiday Blog Hop!

Hi there and welcome! Happy World Cardmaking Day! :)
Thank you for stopping by my little crafty corner of the blogosphere

The theme of the Operation Write Home Blog Hop is holiday cards! Here is where the fun begins!

Every year, OWH sends out thousands of cards to those in the armed forces so they can keep in touch with loved ones back home. Cards are ALWAYS needed. It is a labor of love and completely funded by donations. The postage costs of sending just holiday cards alone this year is estimated to be over $13,000! If you would like to donate, REMEMBER THAT EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS AND IS SO APPRECIATED. It's tax deductible too!


So here is one contribution to my holiday card shipment this year - and there will be more sent along with my donation! :)

My "Celebrate the Season Snowman" Card:
The card is based on a square sketch from the Sketch & Stash Challenge Blog, then added to a standard A2 kraft base. I hand stitched around the edge and along the diagonal with white shiny floss. The snowman is a loved but neglected Penny Black stamp that I colored with Copics. I dotted his buttons with black Enamel Accents. The patterned paper is My Mind's Eye '12 Days of Christmas'.

A close up view of the stitching:

Please click on the Blog Hop badge at the top of my post and leave some love for the 150+ loving crafters who worked so hard to bring heroes (and all of us) some holiday cheer today! If you can, please give to this worthy cause. Isn't that what the holidays are all about? :)

Thank you for stopping by today and for supporting OWH!

Pickle Post #26 - Catch up with me...and my He-Art Journal too!

Hi there! Welcome to my new followers - I am always happy to have new blog buddies!

Life catches up to you, even when you run like crazy! This past week has been super nuts - I was involved in a hit & run car accident  - thankfully I'm OK and my car has very minor damage, but I was so angry with the person who did it. There were many witnesses but one actually followed the car and got the license number. I tried to chase them too (yes I am THAT crazy lady...), but the driver was under the influence of something and just hell bent on getting away. They were FLYING through a residential area, over speed bumps, etc., so it was hard to get close to them. THANK YOU, JOE for calling the police and helping me - you are a fabulous young man! :) Chivalry isn't dead, people!

Then my ex mother in law passed away after a lengthy fight with Alzheimer's and all of the health issues that follow. I was very close to her - I have known her since I was 15 years old. My girls are so sad, but we are thankful that she is now at peace and resting with my ex father in law. She has never been the same since he passed away in 2002. Bless her heart - my thoughts and prayers have been with her even though I haven't see her in quite a while.

Last but not least, I have been considering a part time position and possibly going back to work. That has been a crazy mix of do I really want this or not? Interviews, paper work, phone calls, resume...you know how that goes. **Update - I GOT THE JOB.**

My mojo has been lacking because I am exhausted...but I will catch up on my art journal. Not my best work, but it's something creative. I am NOT a mixed media artist - you can tell I am a stamper through and through LOL! So here are my last four assignments.

Week 6 - Text Me:
I decided to stamp a lot of sentiments that I love on the left page and a wonderful list from galadarling.com called '100 Ways to be a Love Letter to the Universe'. I wanted this page to be something I could go back to and read for inspiration! Truly words to live by! :)


Week 7 - Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining:
I LOVE this quote so I made it the border around the pages.
I used crumpled tissue paper for the clouds - on two clouds I painted with diluted blue and white Gelatos and Iridescent Medium and on the other two I used glue and ultra fine silver glitter. The raindrops are glittered with Stardust Stickles.


Week 8 - The Power of One:
The assignment was to use one word and create from there. This one highlights my absolute LOVE of dance...between salsa with Hubby and 4 1/2 hours of Zumba a week, this IS my power of one! It is truly my energy, my happiness and my fitness routine all rolled into one.




















Just a close up of my tiny dancer - and I look just like her! I WISH LOL! I used pink and purple distress inks and iridescent medium for shine on the background (oh how I LOVE that stuff!). She was colored with Copics.

Week 9 - Cut and Paste:

















This assignment required that we take a facial image from a magazine and create a body for it. I liked the way this turned out, but I am not super keen on the background. It's green but looks kinda yellow - and I wanted it more uniform. I guess that's what happens when you stamp after midnight LOL! The girl with the paper pieced flower dress was the highlight for me. I stamped a zillion roses, cut them out and layered them.

The supply list for all of these would be a mile long...if you have any questions, please e-mail me!

MORE NEWS! **PLEASE STOP BY SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1 - I am going to be part of a HUGE blog hop benefiting Operation Write Home for World Card Making Day! There will be giveaways along the way and a showcase of oodles of creative holiday inspiration that will be sent to those in the armed forces to share with their loved ones here at home! I hope you will stop by and leave some love along the hop for all of these wonderful crafty artists who are committed to this cause!**

I am so glad you stopped by today - your kind comments keep me creating through all of my crazy! :)

Pickle Post #25 - AMuse Blog Weekly Challenge!

Hi there! Happy Monday!

It's time for a new challenge on the AMuse Challenge Blog! This week's challenge, hosted by our very own Pamela, is to use twine on your creations. Easy peasy, right? So get creative and enter the challenge this week for a chance to win some AMuse Studio goodies! The more the merrier, I always say!

You don't have to use AMuse Studio products to participate, but if you own some, we would love to see them in your creations. Remember - you must be 18 or older and live in the U.S. to qualify to win the AMuse prize of the week. Here is what I created for the challenge.

My 'Love You to the Core' Card:
My little apple card is sweet and super simple. :) I carefully inked my apple and sentiment with Grass, Cherry and French Roast pigment ink - it's one stamp, so thank goodness for baby wipes! I used Nesties to cut my circle base and oval layers. I layered the ovals on the circle and then glued Cherry Bakers Twine around the edge and tied a bow at the bottom. The finishing touch - a heart shaped twinkle sticker in the center of the apple - you know how I love bling! :) 

Stuff I Used (all AMuse Studio products): 
Stamps - 'Love Conquers All'
Cardstock - Vanilla, Latte Woodgrain
Ink - Grass, Cherry, French Roast
Nesties - Classic Circles & Ovals
Other Stuff - Cherry Bakers Twine, Heart Twinkle Stickers, Crystal Clear Glaze (as glue for the twine)

We are gaining lots of support and fabulous followers on the challenge blog - we need YOU to come join the fun this week! Thanks for stopping by today!

Pickle Post #24 - AMuse Blog Weekly Challenge!

Hi there! Happy Monday!

It's time for a new challenge on the AMuse Challenge Blog! This week's challenge hosted by our very own Amber is to create your own embellishments for your creations. Some suggestions - color your own pearls, flowers or ribbon, create ribbon flowers, etc.

You don't have to use AMuse Studio products to participate, but if you own some, we would love to see them in your creations. I hope you will enter the challenge this week for a chance to win some AMuse goodies! Remember - you must be 18 or older and live in the U.S. to qualify to win the AMuse prize of the week. Here is what I created for the challenge.

My 'Joy' Card:
It's still a bit too hot in Arizona to feel like it's fall. A little hard to be in holiday card mode, but I decided to create a Christmas card in the nice cool air conditioning. :) I used a maple wooden tag as my DIY embellishment. I applied a base of sugar pigment ink and blended in winter sky (light blue) pigment ink. Then I stamped 'joy' and the holly with blackberry, currant and sage inks. After it dried, I added some diamond glitter to the holly berries using my handy dandy Quickie Glue pen. I embossed the 'from our home to yours' sentiment, then cut out the card base and top layer with my circle Nesties. Pearls added to the scalloped edges finish off the card.

Stuff I Used (All AMuse Studio Products): 
Stamps: 'Mini Holiday Messages', 'Nordic Noel'
Cardstock: Currant, Fern
Ink: Sugar, Winter Sky, Currant, Blackberry, Fern
Nesties: Circles, Scalloped Circles
Other Stuff: 2" Maple Wooden Tags, White Embossing Powder, Creative Candy (Pretty Pearls), Diamond Glitter, Quickie Glue

I can't wait to see what you create! Thank you so much for stopping by today!

Pickle Post #23 - Operation Write Home Midweek Throwdown!

Hi there!
Today I am thrilled to share a card I was asked to create as a sample for this weekly challenge at the OWH Stars & Stamps Blog - the Operation Write Home Midweek Throwdown!

If you aren't familiar with the work of this amazing, tireless organization, check it out HERE.

With the help of countless card makers like you and me, there is a love line of cards and communication between those who are serving in the armed forces and their loved ones back home. I just started my creative box of love that I will send to the OWH mailroom as soon as it's full!

The theme for this week's challenge is 'It's a Bug's Life'. Here is what I created!

My "Bright Bug" Card:

My card is standard A2 size with lots of paper piecing! I used one of my go to favorites - Paper Smooches stamps - along with some yummy Cosmo Cricket paper to create a happy colorful card. I curled the lightning bug's wings a bit for dimension. It's blank inside because I thought it could be used as a Miss You, Love You or Thank You card or simply as a means for writing a letter home to loved ones!

Stuff I Used:
Stamps - Paper Smooches 'Giddy Bugs'
Paper - Cosmo Cricket 'Early Bird' 6x6 Paper Pad, AMuse Studio Cardstock in Vanilla & Buttercup
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black & Rhubarb Stalk

So get out your bug stamps and join in on this week's fun challenge - there's goodies to be won and smiles to be shared! Thanks so much for stopping by today - THAT makes ME smile! :)

Pickle Post #22 - Our Very Happy Anniversary!

Hi there. Let's catch up some more! :)

Over Labor Day weekend, Hubby and I took a lovely vacation to southern California to celebrate our second wedding anniversary. I can't believe how fast the past two happy years have flown by! It seems like just yesterday that Hubby and I had a beautiful tiny wedding in Chicago.

This is one of my favorite wedding photos - I have it framed in our bedroom. We were so happy that day and I can honestly say we are even happier today! I am very blessed to have this amazing man in my life! He is my bestest friend and the absolute love of my life! I made him an anniversary card but I didn't want to post it here before he saw it in person. It's super cutesy but he loved it. Here it is. :)

My Anniversary Card to Hubby:
It was so hectic before we left on our trip that I had to make a card in record time. I remembered having these super cute Penny Black Hedgie stickers & SRM Sticker sentiments that were perfect for this creative occasion. I found a great tutorial for a window tri-fold card and tweaked it a little to create the window with my Nesties die. It's not a manly card - and we all know I am not good with masculine cards - but it is romantic, sweet and sentimental! :)

Stuff I Used:
Penny Black Stickeroos 'A Bunch of Love', SRM 'Forever' Stickers
Stamps - Penny Black '...everything', AMuse Studio 'Hand Scripted', 'Tweetheart'
Cardstock - AMuse Studio Latte Woodgrain, Sage, Sage/White Gingham
Nesties - Labels 4, Curved Rectangles
Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Here is one more photo at our fabulous anniversary dinner at the Blue Point restaurant (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!) in San Diego - it's a bit dark because we were out on the dimly lit patio, but I think you can see the smiles. We were blessed to have some of my family there to celebrate with us!
Forever with Hubby is truly my happy place! Thanks for letting me share our happiness with you!

Pickle Post #21 - AMuse Blog Weekly Challenge - Get Out Your Ribbon!

Hi there! Long time, no posts! Hope you missed me! ;)

I was away on vacation celebrating my wedding anniversary with my wonderful hubby (more on that in an upcoming post) and now I am playing creative catch up. So let's get to it!

It's time for a new challenge on the AMuse Challenge Blog! This week's challenge hosted by our very own Tobey is Ribbons A Plenty - just use some ribbon on your creations and enter them into our challenge! Remember you don't have to use AMuse products to participate, but if you own some, we would love to see them in your creations. Remember - you must be 18 or older and live in the U.S. to qualify to win the AMuse prize of the week. Here is what I created for the challenge.

My 'You're a Hoot' Card:

I used the AMuse stamp set 'Owl's Well'- whoooo doesn't LOVE owls? :) I stamped the owls onto various colors of cardstock, colored them with Copics and paper pieced them. The owl at the center of attention was stamped on white cardstock that was stamped with yellow polka dots. Then I did some paper piecing with orange and white gingham cardstock. I created a branch with leaves using stitched ribbon and attached it to the card with double sided adhesive tape. I lined up our feathered friends on the branch and popped them up with 3D foam adhesive.

Stuff I Used (all AMuse Studio Products):
Stamps - Owl's Well, Polka Dot Patterns
Cardstock - Sugar, Vanilla, Latte, Sky, French Roast, Orange/White Gingham
Copics - E57, YR09
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black, Buttercup & French Roast
Other Stuff - Lime & French Roast Stitched Ribbon, 1/4" Super Stick Double Sided Tape, 3D Foam Adhesive, Quickie Glue pen

I hope you will play along this week for a chance to win some AMuse goodies! Thanks for stopping by today!
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