Wow!

I'm totally amazed and humbled. There were 71 comments on the OWH Blog Hop Post - JUST for this blog! Between my 2 blogs I've gotten 180 comments!!! Can you believe it?  Keep commenting! I'll keep counting them for the number of cards I need to make for OWH! 

Thank you to everyone for your participation.  It's such a fun event - and I love seeing all of the comments, feedback, other blogs, and inspiration!

And now - what you've been waiting for...The winners! Done by Random.org

For comments - number 63 is the winner!!!
Which is: Seongsook Duncan who said " Beautiful card. Love your flower. Thanks for sharing and thanks for your commitment to make a card for each comment."

For Followers I counted out how many I have - 36 - and then did Random.org.
That winner is number 12 - Brenda Hugar!

To both of you, please email me so that I can get your goodies in the mail tomorrow!
Mtndewchica1 at yahoo

Thank you everyone - and the Ippity deals will continue until June 15th - including the donation to OWH for each set sold.

It's an OWH Blog Hop!!!

(*If reading this feels like Deja vu....that's because it is! I have 2 blogs on this hop and due to lack of time didn't change up the text...sorry! There are a few different things in this one though - an extra chance for blog candy and some special deals! I did a different card too.)

Yay! Don't you love blog hops? I know I do!
If you've just come directly here - the start of the blog hop is at OWH Stars & Stamps.  Go there to be able to check out all of the amazingly creative people participating!  There are blog prizes, tutorials, and digital freebies to be had!
If you're following along with the hop, that means you've arrived here from Jennifer's page - doesn't she have beautiful cards? Tempting recipes too! That burger looks delicious!

The mission of Operation Write Home is to "support our nation's armed forces by sending blank greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them."

Initially I found Operation Write Home through the Memorial Day blog hop in 2009.  The day of the hop was the same day that I found out my hubby was on his way home from his 3rd deployment.  Unfortunately, he's deployed yet again, this time to Iraq.
This is one of the many reasons this Operation is close to my heart.  In addition to my hubby's service as an EOD Tech for the Air Force (Seen Hurt Locker? That's what he does....only in a more responsible manner!), both of my grandfather's have served during WWII, an uncle, and a cousin that is also in Iraq right now.  Their service is so inspiring to me and others.

So without further ado - my "miss you" card:

*Recipe: Vellum from Making Memories, Sentiment stamp from Fiskars, Flower stamp from Ippity's Now & Always set.

Now...it's time for the BLOG CANDY! Yay!
I have 2 chances to win some blog candy from me.

• Become a follower
• Leave a comment - in addition to being entered for some blog candy - you'll be making a card for OWH - as usual, for each comment left here on this post I will be creating a card. For March's blog hop - between my 2 blogs there were 150 comments! Can you commit me to making more???

Be sure to check back here Tuesday morning to see if you've won! 

One last thing - I am a distributor of Ippity stamps - for this weekend I am offering a special promo

• $1 from each set purchased will go to OWH
• 25% off all purchases when you mention OWH at the check out.
• Shipping for only $.99 each set.

So - leave me a comment, and then head to the next blog from Karrie -She has really great, inspirational creations to share.

Seeing 8's?

For day 58 - 365 Cards challenged us to use 8 of 3 different things on our cards.

Here's my creation - I used 8 petals for the Dahlia; 8 inches of ribbon (and it has 8 bumps) and there are 8 letters in "Thank you."

Recipe: Sentiment is from Stampin' Up's Upsy Daisy, Ribbon from Stampin' Up, Velvet Brad from Making Memories, Patterened Paper from October Afternoon - available in the Spring Ippity paper pack.

Moving Parts

So the cupcake idea didn't work - but this one did. This is for 365 Cards challenge to create a card that has moving parts. (Day 59).  In all honesty, it doesn't swig  - but it can be moved. It's not what I was imagining - but when I'm so far behind in cards right now...you gotta do what you gotta do I guess.

Recipe: Paper is from DCWV's Nana's Kids Stack, Stork image is from Joann Scrap Essentials, Baby Image is from Hero Arts.

Christmas Cards in May!

These cards are for the challenge from Christmas Cards All Year 'Round. Each month they put up challenges to make Christmas cards with certain themes. The theme for May was to include flowers, ribbon and buttons.  When I found these flowers at the Making Memories warehouse sale I knew they'd make perfect holiday cards - and it was perfect timing for this challenge as well.

I used the sunday sketch challenge from PaperWorks Co. Blog: 

Recipe: Making Memories Printed Poinsettia blossoms. Stampin Up Ribbon, The Robin's Nest - Khaki Green Heritage is the patterned paper.

A card NOT for 365 challenges!

*Pile It On - "Out of the Box"
*Cupcake 59 -

*Card Patterns 65 - 

Initially with this card I was planning on making it for 365's challenge to create a card with movement - the idea wasn't working out though so I scrapped that and just popped up the cupcake with a foam square.  

 

Recipe: Brown paper from Ippity paper pack (brand October Afternoon); the pink and green paper is from DCWV's Mariposa stack.  The stamps are from Stampin' Up's "Out of the Box" set (appropriate with the PIO challenge, no?), and the Sentiment inside is from CTMH's Celebration set. 

Multi-tasking

This card meets the following . . . (One of these days I'm going to see how many challenges I can pile onto 1 card!)
*365 Cards Day 86 - Keep it simple - 1 stamped image, 1 stamped sentiment, and 1 embellishment - no patterned papers.
*Polly Craft 45 - Butterflies and Buttons
*Sew Many Challenges - Anything Goes
*Operation Write Home Midweek Challenge - Stars
*PDCC 30 -

So here's my creation - isn't this stamp adorable? I love how the butterflies are part of the flower. 

Recipe: Stamps from Ippity's Simple Things, Star button from Joann Essentials

3 F's for 365.

Day 64, at 365 Cards, challenged us to include the following: A Fairy, Fringe and a Favorite Color.
Critter Sketch 14 was this:

Here is my creation - a confession though, I do like yellow and orange, but greens are my favorite colors - I did include some but they are not the focal color. :) 

Recipe: Rainbow from DCWV's Spring Shower stack, Image - Polly Craft

Rocking Horse.

This card matches the following challenges:
365 Cards Day 60 - Use 3 different colors of glitter

Sweet Sunday Sketch #69:
This isn't what I had in mind - but I do like how it turned out.  Initially I was thinking of using this for the 365 Challenge of Moving Parts - in the middle of this though I thought of a different idea for that - so I decided to throw on those fun gorgeous glittery brads instead.  Since they are glittery, and the glitter does come off, this card will not be going to Operation Write Home.

Recipe: Patterned paper from DCWV's Nana's Stack, Glittered brads are from Making Memories, Rocking Horse image from  ? - I'm not finding it in my file - so I'll update this as soon as I remember.

Goodtimes...

So this is what I came up with for my first ever Ippity card.  The sentiment is from Ippity - an I just love the little butterfly details in the saying.   

For Basic Grey's challenge - it was to "Punch it Out" meaning use a punch of some sort. So I did - I rounded the corners on my card and punched the detailing in the bottom of the card. I also added some Basic Grey pearls to make sure an include some BG product on the card to participate - I know it's minimal product...but I don't have very much of it just yet. Still getting familiar with it. :D

 

Recipe: Sentiment from Ippity.  Pearls from Basic Grey.  Patterned paper from DCWV's Mariposa stack.

Sweet Pink Elephant.

*365 Cards Day 55 (I know.... I'm really behind right now! But I WILL get caught up!) - challenged us to use Pins &/or Needles on a card.
*Pollycraft Monday challenged us to use Summer Blossoms. 

*Color Throwdown 93 challenged us to use these colors:

 

*Card Patterns 64 challenged us to use this sketch: 

So here is what I did - I must say I LOVE this card - especially the burlap stamp. So cute and such a great little addition to a card!

Recipe: Burlap stamp - Ippity - Bit of Burlap.  Elephant stamp from SU - Animal Stories. Light pink Ribbon is SU. Dark pink ribbon is from Target (gotta love their Dollar sections!).

Ippity Blog Hop Winner is....

Random.org choose #2 - which is
Lillian Child who said... "Hope you're feeling better and have a safe and fun trip!"

Be sure to contact me Lillian - you should be able to get a hold of me through my profile! Congrats!

Day 68 & Sweet Sunday Sketch

This meets the following:
365 Cards Day 68 - a challenge to include a circle, cross stitch and the color cream.
Sweet Sunday's Sketch was this:

As you can see on the card - the CUTE is cross stitched, there is cream bordering the smaller squares, and the Owl's eyes are circles...as well as the dotted paper on the left side. :D

Recipe: All patterned paper, the Owl paper and the "cute" is from DCWV's Flower Shower Spring Stack.

Day 73 & Polly Craft.

Day 73 we were challenged to only use 3 colors in coloring an image (besides black and white).  So here's my take on that challenge.
This also meets the Polly Craft's sketch -

In all honesty - this did not turn out the way I was imagining...but oh well.  I didn't have much to work with since I was on vacation and only had my one bag of supplies. The central flower was only colored with red, blue and green.  The center is an addition - one of the stamps that were including in this paper pack I had won from a blog hop.

Recipe: CTMH paper, Image from Jeanne Brunner in the OWH Image Swap on Facebook.

Day 57 - Ad Inspired

For Day 57, 365 Cards challenged us to use this ad as inspiration:






So for this card I did this - it's not as cute and cuddly as the ad - but I love the colors on it, and how can you not love this little Alligator?

Recipe: Paper is from DCWV's Flower Shower Spring Stack. All other pieces are from the Making Memories Animal Crackers - Ella set.

Day 66 & Paper Sundaes

This card meets the following challenges:
365 Cards - Day 66: Use White, White Space and Wings
Paper Sundaes 17th sketch:

Recipe: Image from Robin Markowski in OWH's Image Swap on Facebook; blue paper is from Coredinations.

It's an IPPITY BLOG HOP!

In Celebration of the new Ippity releases we're having a blog hop!
In celebration of this hop I am having a VERY exciting special!!! Leave a comment on this post and it will do 2 things.  1st - it will enter you to win an ippity prize from me! And 2nd it will be one more card sent to OWH (Check it out if you don't know what it is, or check back here on May 29th for the OWH Memorial Weekend Blog hop!).  Anytime I participate in a blog hop I always vow to make 1 card for each comment left on my blog - so I'm doing that for this hop as well.  Just be sure to check back on the 17th to see if you've won.
I wish I had some examples of these great sets - but I've been sick, and am now on vacation until the 15th.   But be sure to check back this weekend because as soon as I get home I'm whipping these great sets out and doing some creating!
Also - For every dollar you spend your name will be entered to win a new ippity set.  I will be drawing the winners name on the 17th - so be sure and get your orders in NOW!

Day 52

For day 52, 365 challenged us to make a Save The Date card....I really was stumped with what to do with this one - not because I couldn't come up with a card idea - but simply because 95% of my cards go to OWH and I didn't know how to incorporate a "Save The Date" card into an OWH card.... I thought a soldier could write a message to a loved one to "Save The Date" about a special date they want to go on when they return, or even their returning date.  But didn't know how that would go over.  So initially I made this card with the "Save the Date" phrase.....but must admit - I later changed it to say "Thank you".  I hope it still counts through!! ;)

Recipe: Medallion stamp from Stampin' UP.  Brown ribbon is from Stampin' Up.  Patterned ribbon is from SEI. Button is from a stash of buttons my mom gave me.

54 - A fancy fold.

For this card I followed the steps from 365 Cards Day 54 (for their challenge to make this particular fancy fold card).  I love that the final product is still the perfect size for OWH cards, and that it's a fun little tweak on a standard card.  I really love doing different kinds of folds, and think I'll be using this technique again!
This also met the challenge from Play Date Cafe to use the following colors - which I LOVE! 

Recipe: Stickers are from EK Success - Cherry Blossoms, all other paper is from my stash of scraps - thus I can't remember the names...sorry!

365 Day 67

 For Day 67, 365 Cards, challenged us with 3 L's - Love, Leaf, and Lace. Here is my concoction.
I used lace to make the white part of my flower.  My mom gave me some left over lace she's had in her sewing stash for a while.  I really love it but because it's about 3 inches wide it's hard to find uses for on my cards.  Not this time though - I thought it'd be perfect and had to try it out. 
What do you think?
Since the brad is glittery - and it does flake off this card will not be going to OWH, but probably to one of my friends that has requested I make some for them. Hope they like it! ;)

Recipe: lace from my mom's sewing stash, Glittery brad from Making Memories-Noteworthy, Purple flowers from Making Memories, Card Base - Lasting Impressions, Green stencils that I saved from a  S.U. card making group.