Two Damask Cards

Two cards with damask patterned paper from Operation Write Home, as explained in an earlier post. For me, the damask pattern has an elegant, somewhat formal look, and I tried to keep that feeling in the finished cards.

The aqua card has a middle layer of Papertrey Ink aqua mist card stock, which I edged with my Fiskars "imperial" scissors. The base layer is Paper Source lake. The sentiment "Hello" is computer-printed on a 1" circle of Neenah classic cream, using "Edwardian Script ITC" font (outline) in blue ink. It is matted on a 1-1/4" scalloped circle of aqua mist.

The brown card has a base layer of Papertrey Ink dark chocolate. The 3/8" grosgrain ribbon was colored with E43 Copic marker. I edged the damask strip with E44 marker. The sentiment "Thinking of you" is computer-printed on a 1-1/2" circle of Neenah, using "Lucida Calligraphy" font in brown ink with a light beige background, edged with E43 marker. In real life, all the brown colors go together well.

Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (051)

Turquoise Card with Cocoa and Aqua Plaid

A very simple layout. I love the colors together. It didn't seem to need more.

This is another card using the packet of patterned paper from Operation Write Home, as explained in an earlier post. I made six of these cards with two A2 sheets of the plaid paper. The base layer is Papertrey Ink Hawaiian Shores. The 1/4" satin ribbon is colored with Copic marker E71. The sentiment "Hello" is computer-printed with cocoa-colored ink in Lucida Calligraphy font.

Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (050)

Purple and Yellow-Green Card - Squares and Circles

Here's another card using the patterned paper I received from Operation Write Home. Yesterday's post tells the story.

This time I chose two coordinating papers - one with stripes and one with a circle pattern. I also used the yellow-green solid color on the reverse of the circle pattern paper. It's the same layout as yesterday's card, inspired by this week's Fall-To-Layout 122 on Clean and Simple Stamping.

The purple card base is Hero Arts iris. I don't know the name of the patterned paper. My sentiment "Thinking of you" is computer-printed with Lucida Calligraphy font in purple ink. The circle punches (EK Success) are 1-1/4" scalloped and 1-1/2" plain, to make the embellishment on the striped square, and 2" scalloped for the sentiment. I also placed a 1/2" shiny clear epoxy dome sticker on the center of the embellishment.

Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (049 b)

Avocado, Orange, and Aqua Card - Squares and Circles

It was a lovely surprise to receive a packet of patterned card stock - many different patterns and colors - from Operation Write Home. One of my cards was randomly chosen from a recent challenge on the OWH Stars and Stamps blog.

Since I love working with solid colors and drawing my stripes and plaids as needed, I've never purchased "designer paper." So it will be fun to play with this assortment. All of it is precut to A2 size (4.25" x 5.5"), which makes it easy for me to work with.

I picked an interesting pattern and some coordinating solid colors. My layout was inspired by this week's Fall-To-Layout 122 on Clean and Simple Stamping. I'm happy with the result - bright and cheerful. I was able to make four cards like this with two pieces of the patterned card stock.

The solid-colored card stock is Papertrey Ink ripe avocado (card base), orange zest, and aqua mist. I don't know the name of the patterned paper. The circle punches (EK Success) are 1-1/2" and 2" scalloped. My sentiment "Thinking of you" is computer-printed with Papyrus font in avocado ink.

Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (049 a)

Dark Green and Tan Card - Squares and Circles

Playing with my punches and two new (new to me, that is) card stock colors. I like my card's clean, bold look. Added February 14, 2011: Click here for a red, white, and blue version.

The squares are 1", 1-1/4", and 1-1/2" punches, and the circles are 3/4" and 1/4". All three layered elements are the same, but one is turned diagonally.

The card stock is Papertrey Ink pinefeather (dark green) and fine linen (tan). My sentiment "Thinking of you" is computer-printed with dark green ink in Papyrus font.

Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (048a)

Round Rainbow Card

Today's "Round R" challenge on the Operation Write Home Stars and Stamps blog is to "make a card with, if possible, all circular elements - and things starting with the letter R." Given my love for circle punches and bright colors, it was a short step for me to think of a "round rainbow" with a rainbow sentiment. Added January 29: As much as I liked my idea for this, I wasn't really happy with the finished card. So I revised it for the first Stars and Stamps "Saturday Seminar - Creating a Focal Point." To see my Before and After post, click here.

I used 7 sizes of circle punches (3/4" to 2-1/4") including two scalloped circles. The colors are in ROYGBIV rainbow sequence. The card stock colors (all Papertrey Ink, except as noted) are pure poppy, orange zest, harvest gold, new leaf, Hawaiian shores, azure (Hero Arts), and plum pudding, on a base layer of Paper Source frost luxe (textured light gray). I printed the sentiment "Wishing you a rainbow of happiness" on my computer, using "Marker Felt" outline font.

Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (047a)

Pinwheel Card - Aqua with Yellow

I had fun making this card, my first pinwheel, with the help of a very easy-to-follow pinwheel tutorial from Sheryl's Crafting Corner. Thank you, Sheryl!

The card stock is Paper Source peacock (dark turquoise) and Papertrey Ink lemon tart (yellow), Hawaiian shores (medium aqua), and aqua mist (light aqua base layer.) I drew the stripes on the yellow squares with Copic markers B01 and B05. The sentiment "Celebrate!" is computer-printed with dark turquoise ink in "Lucida Calligraphy" font.

Inspired by today's "Anything but Pink" challenge for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (046a)

Button Dots Card - Blue with Brown

Blue and brown dots. Faux buttons. Embroidery floss.

I drew the 1/2" dots with Copic multiliner, using my plastic circles template, and added some dots and lines for the three light blue "buttons." The dots, the lines under the sentiment, and the embroidery floss are all colored with B41, B45, and YR14 Copic marker. The floss is an "off brand," not my favorite DMC, so it looks a bit dull and rough, which actually works well on this card.

The white cardstock is Neenah, and the blue is Papertrey Ink blueberry sky, including the 3/4" faux button at the top. The sentiment "Thinking of you" is computer-printed with "Lucida Handwriting" font.

Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (045)

Three Heart Card - Dark Blue with Yellow

Another simple design. Three punched hearts on a vertical line.

The card stock is Papertrey Ink harvest gold (yellow) and enchanted evening (dark blue - darker and not so blue-green in real life) on a white card base. The 1" heart punch is EK Success. My vertical line was drawn with cobalt Copic multiliner.

The sentiment "love" is computer-printed in dark blue ink with Helvetica font (small caps). The "o" is two PowerPoint heart shapes nested together. Click here for another card with the heart-shaped "o."

An anniversary card for my brother and sister-in-law. And then I made a few more for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (044)

Two Dot Card - Turquoise and Light Green

I was planning a fancier card. But as I was working on it, I found myself drawn to this very simple version.

The card stock is Paper Source peacock (turquoise) and Papertrey Ink spring moss (light green) on a white card base. The sentiment "thinking of you" is computer-printed with "Lucida Handwriting" font in turquoise ink. The EK Success circle punches are 1-3/4" and 1-1/4" scalloped. (043)

Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them."

Brown and Orange Scallops Card

Scallops and circles on rectangles. I like this one a lot. In real life, the colors go well together. My photo isn't very good, but the scan was worse.

My layout is based on Clean and Simple Stamping's card sketch 121. The card stock is Papertrey Ink kraft (card base) and dark chocolate (dark brown) with Paper Source papaya (soft orange). The concentric circle pattern - the same one I used in this post - was colored with Copic markers and punched out with a 1-1/2" circle punch. The dark brown outer circle is EK Success 2" scalloped circle punch. I used my Fiskars "cloud" scissors for the bottom scallops. The sentiment "Hello" is computer-printed in brown ink with Lucida Calligraphy font. (042)

Like most of my cards, this was created for Operation Write Home (OWH), "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." OWH just reached a milestone of 750,000 cards shipped to our deployed troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other locations. There were 250,000 just from August-December! I'm happy to have a (very small) part in the accomplishment. And in this Advent season of peace, praying for a time when it's no longer needed.

Blue Stripe Flower Card

I made this card to send to the Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores headquarters, to thank them for their wonderful "Craft for a Cause" donation to the Operation Write Home organization. Most of my cards are created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them."

Added February 10, 2011 : Although I liked this card, I wanted to see if I could make it better. So I revised it for the first Stars and Stamps "Saturday Seminar - Creating a Focal Point." To see my Before and After post, click here.

My layout is based on Clean and Simple Stamping's card sketch 120. I drew the striped paper using Copic markers B01, B14, B24, B26, B45, B63, and BG45 and sky blue Copic multiliner on white Neenah card stock. The rest of the card stock is Paper Source lake (medium blue) on a white card base.

The 1/4" twill ribbon is colored with BG45. The large outer paper flower is colored with B000, B63, and Custom color B2000. The inner flower is colored with BG45 and BV000. The center gem is colored with BG49. The sentiment "thanks" is computer-printed in dark blue ink using Lucida Calligraphy font. (041a)

Christmas Card 2010

This year, my husband asked me to make our Christmas cards with one of my drawings. It's a Nativity scene from my 2008 Advent calendar. The handwritten caption at the bottom of the drawing is "Unto us a child is born" from Isaiah 9:6. The card is computer-printed on Neenah card stock. (040)
Added December 4, 2011: Click here for my 2011 card.

During the Advent season, you're invited to visit my other (drawing) blog "Mostly Markers" for my daily Advent calendar drawings. It's an activity that I really enjoy. The 2010 calendar post also includes links to my 2008 and 2009 calendars, as well as my blank calendar template in case you'd like to use it.

Two Valentines with Pink Plaid Paper

Two different Valentine designs with mostly the same ingredients. A circular "love you" sentiment layered on a strip of homemade pink plaid paper (drawn with Copic markers) on a wider strip of red or pink. I like the simplicity of both cards, and I'm very happy with the heart-shaped "o's" in my computer-printed "love you."

Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." Card details are at the end of the post. (039)


Card details - Both cards: Sentiment was computer-printed with Helvetica font (small caps, outlined). The "o's" are PowerPoint heart shapes nested together. Pink plaid paper was drawn with Copic multiliners (black, red, and pink) and Copic markers RV02, RV10, RV29, RV32, RV34, and R32, and "0" colorless blender on a scrap of terry cloth to soften the lines. Colored card stock is PaperTrey Ink hibiscus burst (pink) and pure poppy (red.) Card base is white, size A2.
Top card: Plaid strip was edged with RV29. Sentiment letters were colored with RV29 and RV34. Sentiment background was airbrushed with RV34. Ribbon is 1/8" silk, colored with RV34. Punches are 1-1/2" and scalloped 2" circles.
Bottom card: Plaid strip was edged with RV34. Sentiment background was colored with RV29, and the hearts inside the "o's" with RV34. Punches are 1-3/4" circle and large EK Success heart.

Heart Trio Cards

Three cards, each with three nested heart trios and a ribbon tied across the top.

I created the heart pattern with PowerPoint and colored the inner and outer hearts with Copic markers. Card details are listed at the bottom of this post.

The cards are for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." Already working on Valentine cards, which will travel for weeks in the mail, overseas to the troops and back to their loved ones. (038)


Card details:

• The sentiment "Love you..." is computer-printed with "Lucida Handwriting" font.
• Colored card stock by PaperTrey Ink: top card - Pure Poppy (red), middle card - Scarlet Jewel (burgundy), bottom card - Berry Sorbet (pink).
• Ribbon colored with Copic markers: top card - R35 1/4" twill, middle card - RV34, R59 3/8" woven stripe, bottom card - R29 1/4" satin.
• Hearts colored with Copic markers: top and bottom cards - R29, R35; middle card - R59, RV34