March Cards for Troops

A few months ago I found out from my stamping buddy Jan Hoeffler - Red Rubber Stamping -about an ongoing project to create cards which would be sent to bases where troops are stationed so that they would have a choice of handmade cards to send home to their friends and family. Besides general cards such as birthday, thank you, etc., each month there are two special themes. Here are scans of the cards I made (I made 4-6 of each):

Father's Day

More Father's Day

Graduation

Birthday

OSA - Monthly Themed Swap for March

March Oriental Card of the Month

This month the theme is Origami and the colors, silver and blue. Origami and I don't really get along. In fact, I am in awe of people who create those fantastic creations with little pieces of paper - no cutting, no glue, nothing but folding in and out. I gave it a valiant effort, but just couldn't create the simplest of kimonos, butterflies, or other projects for kids! When I was about to give up, I looked at the piece of partially unfolded paper and realized that, if I turned it around and folded up the point on the bottom, I would have a vase!!!!!!!!!!!! The Penny Black flower stamp looks perfect in its Origami vase.

Cleaning Up

Found some scans I forgot to post. I made this simple Valentine for a swap for Wisconsin Stampers group and for our monthly Shoebox group. I happened to find s super bargain on paper at a local stamp store - 15 cents for 12X12 good quality card stock - I couldn't go wrong with that!!! I used to Spellbinders dies to create the layered heart image and, of course, had to add some "bling!"

Through a stamping buddy, I found out about a group which collects cards to be sent to troops for their use. Besides general use such as Thank You and Birthday card, each month also has a couple of special themes. Here a few of the cards I made:

Finally, this is an ATC I made for the monthly ATC swap for Wisconsin Stamping. The card is only 2-1/2" X 3-1/2", the size of a sports trading card. These are fun to make, but sometimes challenging. I have a large stamp of a jester and was able to use a portion to create this Mardi Gras ATC:

Cards with Carole

My friend Carole came over last week to "play with paper and past!" Well, it really was glue, but that isn't alliterative. The group of cards below are Carole's creations - Chocolate and Coffee, St. Patty's for JJ, and a dramatic floral card that could be used for many different occasions.

These are the cards I designed for the day. We first made Flower Pot Cards (see "Going Potty" for more details. Then we created cards for spring and Easter.

We ended in the early afternoon with lunch - Adventures Wild Rice Chowder (thank you Juli for the recipe) and brownie cheesecake. Good thing we worked hard in order to work off some of the calories!!!!

Working in the Grotto - February

Just because I wasn't blogging doesn't mean I wasn't down in the grotto making cards. Here's some of what I created.

The above Valentines were created for older patients at Children's Hospital.

This card I created for my grandson is a re-working of a swap I received.

Looked perfect for a little boy!

Here's another card I made for Children's for the older boys.

The cards below were all created with one stamp.

"F" Swap

Last month I joined the "ABC" swap on one of my groups -- and that month's letter was "F." Here's what I came up with:

I covered a Frame with a Floral napkin and added the image of a Floral butterFly Fairy. I couldn't believe I actually had the sticker which says "Flitter Flutter!"

Gone to "Pot!"

A few weeks ago I was surfing through the projects on splitcoast.com and found the tutorial for the Flower Pot Card -- it looked intriguing, so I gave it a try. Much to my dismay, it is actually not too difficult, just a little "putzy." I eventually made some with a group of friends, then with my friend Carole M. who came over earlier this week for a day of stamping.

This shows where the sentiment is stamped.

I think I'll make a few more for people who enjoy flowers and flower gardening.

Haiku Bunny Swap

Spring Haiku Bunny Swap

The Haiku Bunny stamp by Hero Arts is very popular and impossible to purchase as it was discontinued a number of years ago and never reissued. Those of us who own one guard it with our lives!!! Oriental Stamp Art (OSA), a Yahoo group which focuses exclusively on Oriental art, hosts a Haiku Bunny swap every year. Since 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit, this is a special year for the special bunny. Here's my Spring bunny. I stamped some floral scrapbook paper with the grass stamp from a set by Stampin' Up, stamped the bunny separately, cut him out, and layered on the base. A silver butterfly floating by is the perfect accent. I sure hope spring comes soon to the upper Midwest!!!!