It's time for Amour

Well, yesterday I was talking about my hubby and the card I was planning on sending to him in Afghanistan......today I'll show you another one. This card uses Artistic Etchings (one of our new sneak peek stamp sets from the NEW catalog which comes out tomorrow!!!). It also uses a new pack of our DSP. I love the way the gold embossing shows up so well on this card. Anyway, this is another one that will be going to that big sand pit to show my hubby how much I love and miss him. He probably won't appreciate it nearly as much as my stamping friends do....but what do I expect, he isn't the artistic type :)

Time for a cup of Joe!!!

There is this group on Facebook called A Cup of Joe for a Joe. Basically they allow you to purchase cups of coffee from the Green Bean Cafe (the coffee shops located in Iraq and Afghanistan on post) for our soldiers downrange. I had just been looking at their site before I made this card. I must have had coffee on the brain. I finally broke out my Itty Bitty Bits punches and stamp set to make the tag, and then of course brought out the oldie but goodie Pun Fun for the large coffee cup. This one will definitely be going to Afghanistan for my hubby very soon! Make sure you check out the NEW RIBBON.....isn't it gorgeous??

Katie's Card

Ok, I admit it, I'm not a fan of this stamp set. As a matter of fact, I didn't even want to buy it! But, my wonderful, creative, loving daughter Katie is a big fan of Wolves. So much so that when she was younger she insisted she was part Wolf (It must have been from her dad's side of the family :) ). So, I purchased the set thinking I would give it to her for her Birthday. Well, there is a new stamp in the upcoming catalog that I think she will love, so I will probably get her that instead. Since I already had this set, and since I wanted to spend some quality time with her, I gave it to her early. This is the card she made. (sorry the picture is so blurry, I need to teach her how to use the camera!)

VC Rocks Blog Hop- Sneek Peak Sets

Welcome! If you have already been on the hop, chances are you are just now coming from Ellen Kemper's Blog. If you haven't been on the tour yet at all, you can always start at the beginning by visiting VC Rocks.

I am so excited to be participating in yet another VC Rocks Blog Hop. The last one was so amazing! The theme for this hop is the sneak peek or summer mini sets. Well, I have to admit that when I saw this Hostess set in the new IBC I just had to have it. It's called Long Fellows and the only way to get it is by hosting a workshop. Isn't he just the cutest? He's only one of six stretched out animals in this set and I just had to use him. If you would like to make this card, the directions are included below! Supplies
4 x8 Garden Green Card Stock
3 3/4 x 3 3/4 Pear Pizzazz Card Stock
3 3/8x 3 3/8 Concord Crush Card Stock
2 x 3 1/2 Watercolor Paper
Garden Green Marker
Pear Pizzazz Marker
Versamark
Staz-On
Clear Embossing Powder
Bone Folder
Heat Gun
Paper Piercer
4 square ice brads
Adhesive

1. Stamp the alligator from Long Fellows using black Staz- On ink onto the watercolor paper.
2. Color alligator using Garden Green and Pear Pizzazz Markers
3. Pierce a hole in each corner of the watercolor paper and insert the ice brads.
4. Cover the Concord Crush Paper with Versamark ink and then sprinkle clear embossing powder onto the paper.
5. Draw Alligator Skin type lines in the clear embossing powder.
6. Heat with Embossing Gun and let cool.
7. Glue all layers onto the Garden Green card base.
8. Tada!!! Your finished!

Now for the next great stop on this blog hop, make sure you stop and check out
Loni Holt's blog.
Loni has been on the Blog Finds of the Day more times than I can count and has an amazing project to show you.

Ok ya'll See ya later Alligator!

Funky Friday Sketch Challenge Again

This weeks Funky Friday challenge was to complete this sketch.

Ok, I admit it. I waited until the last possible minute to do this weeks. So, instead of going upstairs and making a mess that I would have to clean up before I went to bed.......I pulled out my trusty MDS. Shhhhh......don't tell the UK team members. I did make sure they could make the same card the old fashioned way though. I might actually have to give it a try as well. I think it turned out pretty cute!

Simply Said By Me!

Yesterday I showed you the tags Sara made using Simply Said. Well, since it was already out on the table, I figured I would give it a shot as well. I really love how these blocked cards look, but they are a pain in the butt to put together. I can never get them all evenly spaced! I saw a card on splitcoast that I cased for this one, but I didn't have any designer series paper that would match so I made my own using the stamps in the Simply Said set and randomly stamping them on the paper. It is so easy to make coordinateing DSP this way. Every year I buy tons of DSP and then am afraid to use it. This year I think I will limit what I buy, and just make my own instead!

An Oldie But Goodie

These are some super cute tags that My Upline Sara made during our last stamp-a-thon. She used Simply Said which has been around forever, but still looks super cute! Especially on these little tags. I may have to make some of these to put on my future hostess gifts!

Playing with my New Summer Mini Stuff

Ok, the new catalog and pre-order coming out kind of distracted me from all my Summer Mini stamps that I still haven't played with. So, I thought it was time I used a few more of those. This one is called Sentimental Journey. At first I didn't really like it, but it does make some wonderful masculine cards. This one will probably be winging it's way toward Afghanistan sometime soon as well.

Marvelous Me, I mean Us!

Ok, maybe I was feeling a little guilty about not sending my hubby a Father's Day card even though I knew it wouldn't get there in time. So, I made this card to send to him instead. I used the color combo of Blushing Bride, Pear, and Early Expresso that I go from the new color coach. This is an awesome tool and everyone should get one as soon as the new catalog is available! Talk about making color choices easy! While I love the color combo, I'm not quite as thrilled with the card. I really can't wait until I can order some ribbon in the new colors. This card definitely needs a little bit, don't you think?

Happy Dad's Day!

Well, it's that time of year again. It's time to celebrate our fathers. My Dad is awesome, but I'm a horrible daughter. I didn't even make a card to send to him. I guess I was thinking that my husband wouldn't get a card in time if we sent it to him in Afghanistan, and I completely forgot about my dad! Sorry Dad, I really do love you. Maybe you can pretend that this is the card I made for you. This one was done by my upline, Sara. She came over to play one night and this was one of the cards she made for her husband. I love the way she used both the wood sheets and the tinfoil to give the card that little something extra! Of course the scallop punch rick rack in the middle is awesome! What do you think? I'm sure her hubby loved it!

My dog Charley

A while ago, I showed you a picture of my cute cat Dia, helping me out in the stamp room. Well I thought it was about time I introduced you to the man of the house......Charley. Charley was a rescue from a pound about 9 years ago, and he has been a member of the family ever since. He flew to Germany with us 3 years ago, and looks like he will be making the trip back with us whenever we go. He thinks he owns the neighborhood, and even the Great Dane who lives across from us doesn't intimidate him. Unfortunately though, Charley recently had horrible ear infections. He messed with his ears so much, he ruptured one of his blood vessels and caused a Hematoma (of course this happened exactly 12 hours after my hubby left for Afghanistan!). In order to fix it he had to have surgery, and that means that my poor little puppy has to be a cone head! The vet didn't want him to scratch at his stitches so he had to wear this lovely plastic thing around his head. Since Matt wasn't here to see our little scrapper encased in Plastic, I wanted to commemorate the moment. Thus the inspiration for today's project. I used a piece of chipboard as a frame and decorated it with the D is for Dog stamp set. I need a bigger picture of Charley to make it work exactly right, but I figured you this would at least give you the idea. So, isn't he adorable???

Operation Hero Watch Has Gone International!!!

For previous posts on this subject, please click here and here.

Operation Hero Watch has grown to mean more than I ever would have imagined, and not just to my kids. I never would have known what a big impact your cards and letters would have not only on my family, but my military community at large. Let me tell you, I've had friends all over post ask about our cards. My children have shared what you wrote with their friends whose Dads and Moms have deployed. I've read your letters to my husband when he calls. Even my German co-workers have been tracking where all the cards are coming from. Everyone seems to want in on the act. I am just amazed at how far reaching your thoughfulness and a little of your time has gone. We currently have 7 families on my street alone who are being effected by deployment and over the next few months we will have several more join us. When I tell my kids that Hero Mail has arrived it is no longer just them who come running. Suddenly the entire neighborhood is sitting on my porch listening to my daughter read your cards. It has brought us not only comfort, but all a little closer together. My words cannot thank you enough for all you have done for this group of military families thousands of miles away.

Because of the profound effect this project is having on my children, neighbors, and friends, I woud like to keep it going. My daughter really wants to fill up that map of the US. If I can ask for one more favor....... Could you pass our request on to anyone you think may be able to help us reach our goal. Anyone who would be willing to write a letter or send a card to my children would be greatly appreciated. The address is listed above with the map. Thank you again for taking this beyond my wildest dreams!

Yet another pile of Hero Mail!

This one came all the way from New Zealand!

And this one came from our Eurpean neighbors the Netherlands!

The outpouring of caring and gratitude has been overwhelming. Thank you so much for your support.

Check back next week for another update, as well as pictures and excerpts from some of the cards.

Funky Friday Soccer???

This week's Funky Friday challenge is to make a card using Soccer or the World Cup as a theme. Ok, I admit it, I am not a soccer fan. Yes, I live in Germany, and Yes I watched the USA give the UK a run for their money, but soccer?? Really?? Anyway, I was outside talking about (ok, basically complaining about) having to make a card based on soccer. My next door neighbor's six year old son informed me that he knew all about soccer. (He's German, of course he does!) He then asked me if I wanted him to help me. He took me upstairs to my craft room and proceeded to whip out this great card for his Dad. (who is one of those weird American's who does like Soccer!!!). I thought it turned out so well that I told him I would use it for the challenge. If you like it, make sure you leave him a comment. He watches my blog and will be looking for it! That's him with his card in the picture below. Thanks Sean!!!! You did an awesome job!

Sara's Elegant Elements Card

Remember I told you I had a couple of friends over last weekend to stamp? Well, my good friend and upline played with my Elegant Elements set as well. This is what she came up with. I love the burned edge and pastel accents she used on it. I'm not going to ask which card you like better, because both her's and mine are absolutely awesome! :)

Look Who's Turning..........

Here's another new set for me.....the Look Who's Turning set. I had been eyeing this set for a while, and I finally broke down and got it. Luckily it is in the new catalog as well, so I'll get to use it for the next year at least. I love the little animals in this set. They are just so cute. And to make matters even better, I was able to use some of the new colors Stampin' Up! is introducing in July. I love the Tangerine Tango, Marina Mist, and Early Expresso combination. What do you think?

Playing with my Elegant Elements

This past weekend I had a couple friends come over and create with me. There is nothing quite as fun as stamping with friends! I hadn't had much of a chance to play with some of my new stamp sets, so we pulled out the Elegant Elements and just played. I was in a water-colored mood, so all this card had was a little bit of Stazon and an aqua painter. I love the way it turned out!

More RAKS

I got more surprise mail this week. I love it when people send me RAKs......Anyway, these two came from Tina Taves and Patricia Herrera. There is nothing quite as wonderful as opening the mail box and finding mail addressed to you that isn't bills or advertisements. Thank you so much for making my day!

End of Year gifts for Jay's Teachers

A few weeks ago, while I was perusing the web for the Blog Finds of the Day I saw the cutest pen and pencil holder made by Ilene Crouse. While I couldn't think of a reason I would need something like this, I couldn't' get it out of my mind. So, when I needed a treat holder for Jay's Kindergarten teachers, I thought immediately of Ilene's creation. I didn't need it to be quite so big, and I changed up some of the construction, but I still think it turned out pretty cute. Jay wanted it to look more like a real pencil, so I changed up the colors as well. I am thinking about putting No. 1 Teacher on the side. What do you think?

Operation Hero Watch Update

For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, you can read my plea here.

I want to send out a hearty Thank You to all my fellow stampers out there who reached out to help my children understand why their Dad's deployment is so important. We have received oodles of cards, and the kids are loving it! Here is the first batch of "Hero Mail" (my kids have dubbed it that). And here is a picture of my children reading them! They wanted me to keep track of where all we have received cards from, so I've created the "Operation Hero Watch" map. Katie is really hoping to get mail from all 50 states. They were even more excited when they discovered that we had gotten mail from as far away as Canada!!! Once again, thank you my stamping friends for taking a moment out of your day to do this. The cards and letters of support are amazing. I couldn't have asked for anything better!

This Friday's Really Funky

This weeks color challenge leaves much to be desired. The colors chosen for this challenge were Whisper White (Thank goodness! I don't know what I would have done without a neutral), Cameo Coral, Taken with Teal, Sage Shadow, and Orchid Opulance. I don't like half these colors on their own, but when paired with each other the outcome is horrendous!!! Oh well......Here is what I came up with. Sorry it's hard to see the card, but it's on Whisper White so it blends in with my background. Want to join us? Come see the other DT samples and get Mr. Linky here.

End of School Year Gifts

Well, can you believe my kids are still in school? And no, they don't go year round. For some reason the DODDS schools don't get out until the middle of June. Oh well, that gives me extra time to get end of year gifts put together. These are little bags for Katie's teachers. She has a male teacher this year, so I have to make sure I don't include flowery items in the gift. This is a simple little bag filled with M and M's. A good friend of mine is a teacher, and the best advise she ever gave me was to never give a teacher a gift that they can't consume. After looking at her home filled with apple mugs, #1 teacher pens, and other paraphernalia, I can totally agree.

A butterfly Scratch Pad

At the open house I attended last weekend, we all received this adorable little butterfly scratch pads. I love how versatile the Big Shot Dies are....but I have to admit, I'm glad I wasn't the one that had to cut out all the pieces of paper. At least Mr. Big can handle about 10 pieces of copy paper at a time. I also love the little K on the mini tag. Of course I didn't purchase this stamp set, but now I am thinking I might have to!