Opportunities....

You know the crafting saying "There are no mistakes, only opportunities for embellishment"? Well, I had one of those "opportunities" in my stamp club on Thursday. This was the sample card we were going to make:

It was just simple and lovely, and we used the new Assortment 2 of watercolor pencils (coming in August) on Shimmery White cardstock with some Aqua Painters. After coloring, the image was run through the Big Shot with the Subtle embossing folder, which just took the card from pretty nice to pretty WOW!

Unfortunately, when I was working on my card in class, I somehow touched the green while it was still wet and transferred it in a couple places, ruining the image panel. I sure didn't feel like fussy-cutting the flowers right then to try to save it. It occurred to me that I could just add more green as a background wash, like I MEANT to do that, and this was the result:

I had a spare practice flower that I had colored, so I cut it out to add some dimension. My mother didn't like the staples in the original sample so I decided to add some sequins instead. What do you think? Do you like the look of the staples or the sequins better?

This is what I mean by the Subtle folder adding so much to the card...I plan to use this folder a LOT on future projects!

Product List

Blended Seasons Clear-Mount Stamp Set

Shimmery White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

Fresh Fig 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

Jet Black Stazon Ink Pad

Watercolor Pencils Assortment 2

Watercolor Pencils

Delightfully Detailed Laser-Cut Specialty Paper

Banner Triple Punch

Metallics Sequin Assortment

Aqua Painters

Big Shot

Subtle Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Mini Stampin' Dimensionals

A Warm Howdy!

Today I am honored to be the Featured Friday Cardmaker over at the OWH Stars and Stamps blog! So, if you are visiting from OWH, I'd like to extend a happy welcome!!!

The theme of OWHtv Episode 24 was clean and simple (CAS) cards, which inspired me to make these. I'm pretty sure Sandy, Dixie, and Kris can never have too many "Miss You", or "Thinking of You" cards, so these will be added to the box! In fact, I just checked the Current Needs page, and all three need 'em!

Thank you, Paula, for asking of I'd like to be a Featured Cardmaker. Um, let me think about that for a sec.... YES!!!

And thank YOU, visitors,  for stopping by my humble blog today! I hope you found something to inspire you here.  (Check out the Christmas cards posted the past couple of days.)  If you are new to Operation Write Home, please be sure to check the Card Guidelines and Shipping Deadlines before sending cards to the shippers.  Oh, and if you can Prepare the Cards before you send them, it would save our shippers tons of time, too!

And finally, most of all, THANK YOU 

to the men and women who work so hard 

and sacrifice so much to ensure our freedom. 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart....

YOU ROCK!

Tropical Vacation

I'm lovin' me some Calypso Coral! The funny thing is, when I first saw the new In Colors, that was my least favorite color, but now it's moved right up to share top billing with Island Indigo! I guess it's because it is so reminiscent of sunrise/sunset colors. This card is a minor variation on the one posted a week ago.  This time the palm tree stamp is in the current catalog (Plant Hope), and the card base coordinates with the tropical sea color.  Hemp twine tied with square knots adds a nice touch, but I think it needs another palm tree, with a hammock tied between, and an umbrella drink, don't you?

Stampin' Up! obviously planned the new In Colors to compliment their 2013 Grand Vacation - to Fiji! Talk about a tropical paradise!  I'd love to be able to earn this incentive trip. You could earn it, too. If you join my team, we could both be
from Paradise in 2013! Can't you just see the sunsets now?


Stamps: Plant Hope, Three Little Words (though I only inked two, lol)
Cardstock: Island Indigo, Calypso Coral, Early Espresso, Watercolor Paper
Ink: Island Indigo, Calypso Coral, Marina Mist, Crumb Cake, and Soft Suede Classic Ink, plus Always Artichoke, Early Espresso, and Soft Suede Stampin' Write Markers
Accessories: Color Spritzer Tool, Big Shot Die-Cut Machine, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Hemp Twine, Aqua Painter, Stampin' Dimensionals

Something a Little Different

As I sit here making my grocery shopping list for next week's feast, I am thankful for the abundance and variety of food available to us at the grocery store. Although I really enjoy gardening, I'm so glad I don't HAVE to garden/hunt/gather food just for survival!

Today's card is for Operation Write Home.  It is past the deadline for Christmas cards now, and we're on to Valentine's Day!  This isn't exactly a Valentine, but I'm sure it expresses the feelings of probably 99.9 percent of our deployed service members. The tag reads "In my thoughts 24/7."

Don't forget to vote today (and every day) for Operation Write Home over at Joann's Craft for a Cause Contest!

Stamps: Have a Seat (W-116696, C-120447), Hodgepodge Happiness (W-117141, C-120570)
Cardstock: Whisper White (100730), Night of Navy (100867)
DSP: Subtles Designer Series Paper Stack (117152)
Ink: Night of Navy (102997)
Accessories: Night of Navy 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon (119954), Linen Thread (104199), 3/4" Circle Punch (), 1" Circle Punch (119868), 1/16" Handheld Punch (101227)