Here's a scarf that I finished (FINALLY!) knitting today.  I have been working on it since June but I couldn't talk or watch TV while doing it because I would mess up the pattern - so I could only work on it during quiet time.  I like the pattern but I need to be able to talk while working so I'm not sure if I'll make it again.  The yarn was some hand-dyed wool yarn I picked up on a visit to Chicago with my sister-in-law last Spring.  You can get the pattern here - http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bulky-open-work-scarf

Here are some cards I made in the last week from my Create A Critter cartridge.  I really want to use my Cricut more in my cardmaking.  I made one sample card and then I was able to cut 9 more out of one sheet at a time.  Using the Cricut is great for multiples in record time!

Thanksgiving Cards

Here's what you can do with one sheet of extra nice decorative paper and some solid color layering, ribbon and stamps...

First Grandbaby!

My first grandchild arrive this week!  I haven't met her yet except through video chat but I will get my chance to hug and squeeze her in just a few short weeks.  In the meantime I'm sending a package off to her today from Omi (german for Grandma).  Here's a card I made to go in the package:

And as soon as I get this package off, I'm heading to the frame store to find a frame so I can frame my finished product pictured here below.  I think this is my last counted cross stitch though...it's getting too hard to see the squares.  Guess I'm too old to do cross stitch now that I'm a Grandma - hah!!!

And here's another one with the same papers...might be one more yet and then all my scraps will be used up!  (I just noticed that in the picture the background looks like a dark blue, it is actually a teal to match the one stripe in the plaid paper).

And because I can't throw the tiniest scrap of paper away (LOL!) here's another card in the same color hues.

OWH Sketch Challenge #197 - Needed to make a birthday card for a very special son this weekend so this came at the right time.  Here's the link to their page - http://operationwritehome.org/sketch-challenge-197/#comments.  Here's my take on their sketch, a masculine birthday card.

OWH Midweek Throwdown Challenge

This week's Operation Write Home Midweek Throwdown was to create something with pink and green for Valentine's Day - here's the link to the challenge - http://operationwritehome.org/midweek-throwdown-color-challenge-11/.

Midweek Throwdown: Color Challenge

Posted by AllisonGinTX on Oct 23, 2013 in Midweek Throwdown Challenge, Stars and Stamps | 4 comments

You all seemed to have “snow” much fun making the cards for last week’s challenge.  Thank you for participating!  Are you ready to move on from Winter and Holiday cards yet?  I know some of you have been hard at work making Christmas cards since early in the summer.  Well, here’s a color challenge for you that would work perfectly for Valentine’s/Love cards: Pink and Green!  It’s not too early to start working on cards for Valentine’s and we ALWAYS need Love cards because our heroes use our cards to keep in touch with those they love most.  The Valentine’s deadline is December 31 so mark your calendar and start today!

Here's my take on a pink and green card for OWH this week!

OWH Midweek Throwdown: SNOW !!!

Operation Write Home Midweek Throwdown: Snow Much Fun

http://operationwritehome.org/midweek-throwdown-snow-much-fun/

I just sent a box of cards in and changed some of the sayings at the last minute from Christmas to an all around Winter theme since I figured she probably gets A LOT of Christmas and not so much all around Christmas.  Then yesterday the Snow Much Fun Challenge was presented.  Here's a couple of my cards:

This is my take on OWH Sketch Challenge #189 (http://operationwritehome.org/sketch-challenge-189/#comments).  Not great, but not too bad either.  I love all the ideas I get from everyone else who contributes.

OWH Cardmaking Challenge #2 - I took some liberties with this one and pulled out a note card I had already made for my next box to send in to OWH.   We had to design a card with items that represent the letters O W H for Operation Write Home.  My O is the orange color; my W is the striped "Wallpaper" looking background and my H is the Horizontal lines of the string I used behind the sentiment.  Kinda stretching it, but I think it works!  On to the next challenge.....

I'm going to try and follow the OWH Labor Day Virtual Cardmaking Party (when I have time) this weekend!  Here's my response to card challenge #1 and here's the website link to the first challenge -
http://brujahrose.blogspot.com/2013/08/labor-day-weekend-vcmp.html

Clean and simple - I think it turned out pretty good!  Stay tuned for challenge #2!

It has been SO LONG since I posted.  That just means I've been busy and haven't taken the time to put any of my latest craft projects online.  I just finished a little boy's vest and pants out of tan linen for a wedding next weekend.  I had the hardest time finding a pattern for a 4 year old!  I finally resorted to calling a friend that I knew sewed and she had a pattern from 1984 that I started with and altered!  I don't have a picture of the vest & pants but I do have a picture of the signs I made for the ringbearers to carry!  I used my cricut and vinyl on raw wood that I purchased at Michaels.  I learned that you have to seal the wood first in order for the vinyl to stick and then I resealed it again once I had the letters in place.  My Dad helped to drill the holes for me and then I ran some twine through them.  Hope the bride likes them.

Here are a couple more of the cute cards I was able to send to OWH today.

You can see here I used up some of my scraps by making striped cards.   They turned out cute and it was a good way to use up some little pieces since I hate to throw anything away!

Some simple but pretty ones, made using my cuttlebug!

Again, used up little pieces by adding a background frame!

I finally had a few minutes to get back to that wedding card.  Here's another shot of it, this time with some more details added.  I think it looks a lot better.

Today, I sent 29 cards off to OWH.  I took pictures of them before I sent them so I could remember what I had made.  Here are some of the pictures...

These 2 sets were from a 6 x 6 stack from Archives.  I followed a blog (can't remember which one though) where she talked about using both sides of 6 x 6 paper and making multiple cards from the paper.  You can see at the end I used small squares matted on the paper to use up all my scraps (I have way too many scraps 'cause I don't like to throw any pieces away).  

This one I used my cuttle bug to emoboss and a nice piece of ribbon.

This one was just 3 different layers of paper.  The patterned paper says it all.

I thought this turned out cute.  

I think this one meets the criteria for CAS this week on OWH challenge (http://operationwritehome.org/midweek-throwdown-clean-simple/).  

So this week Operation Write Home had a post about making cards with "windows".  Here is the link to their tutorial - http://operationwritehome.org/tutorial-window-card/.  I went into my craft room and had this cut sitting on my cricut mat from a wedding card I made last week.  So I thought it would be nifty to use it in this post.  I used my cuttlebug to emboss the backgroun card and then printed the "Just Married" saying, using a lace corner punch.   I think it turned out okay, might need to add some more detail on the car....but the garden is calling me for now!  May try some more "window" cards later.

So.....this is a little different then card making, but it was fun nonetheless.  I follow Project Hope on Facebook (www.projecthope.org) and try to participate in the various charity projects they are making. This month it is flip flops for Nicaragua.  I bought 10 pairs, used various ribbons and yarn that I had and with the help of the girls at my once a month crafting group, posted below are the results!!! We wrapped some, knotted some and even crocheted some.  The burgundy pair at the top I crocheted with a narrow ribbon.  I think they turned out really cute!

Card I made tonight from the OWH Sketch Challenge #177 (http://operationwritehome.org/sketch-challenge-177/).

I think it turned out pretty good!  The more I do, the more I enjoy card making.  And I appreciate all the help I am getting from following OWH...all while donating my cards to a good cause!

Here's a Father's Day card I made in the Cricut Craft Room using the free cuts they have available for father's day.  They are from the Outdoor Man cartridge.  I used a kraft paper card, then a leafy background type paper.  After I cut the moose, I had an extra so I layered it with a foam wedgie underneath.  Then I cut the saying with my cuttlebug and embossing templates.

So...here goes my first post on my new blog!  I am just learning how to do this, so please be patient with me if I don't get it right.  May take me awhile to catch on to how things are done!

I have been a scrapbooker for about 12 years but just got into cardmaking about 3 months ago.  On facebook I found a neat organization called "Operation Write Home" that sends cards to the military.  That got me hooked!  So now I am learning and practicing by making cards for our military servicemen and women.  I have decided I want to try and create one card for each of the 170+ sketches that Operation Write Home (OWH) has created!!!

Here's the link to their Sketch #83 - http://operationwritehome.org/sketch-challenge-83/  and then here's my version of #83 below:

I think it turned out pretty good (especially when I look back at some of my first cards - yikes)!!!

The papers I used are from a 6 x 6 pack I picked up a few months ago at AC Moore when I was in VA.  I learned from the OWH website (or maybe it was pinterest?, not sure now) about using 6 x 6 packs for cardmaking. 

Here's another one I just made from OWH Sketch #137 http://operationwritehome.org/sketch-challenge-137/.  

Again, the papers used were from a 6 x 6 pack from AC Moore stores.

So that's it for now - hope I can help someone else make some fun cards too!