Christmas in March

This is the card we'll be making in the Christmas Club tomorrow.  It features Jennifer Timko's method of bow-tying, and I hope my club members enjoy it!  Jennifer and I even made a short video tutorial while she was visiting. You can see it HERE. My bows still need some work, but they're looking better, now that she showed me how! (BTW, this was tied with a square knot - you'll know what I mean when you see the video.)

This card by Mercedes Weber was the inspiration (thanks, Mercedes!), and I only made minor modifications to it. I wanted to make it an A2 size, and I like the kind of aged look of Crumb Cake and Chocolate Chip together. Other than that, it's pretty much a direct CASE.

Stamps: Plant Hope, Petite Pairs
Cardstock: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip
Ink: VersaMark, Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake
Accessories: Big Shot, Northern Flurry embossing folder, Heat Tool, Embossing Buddy, White Stampin' Emboss Powder, Crumb Cake 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon, Rhinestones Basic Jewels, Stampin' Sponges, 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