Thank you for your consideration

My projects are not to be submitted and/or used in any written publication, advertisement or contest without my knowledge. I am flattered if you use one of my projects as inspiration, but please give me credit when you do and, if possible a link back to this blog. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me using the contact form. Thank you

I appreciate my Followers!

Monday, September 29, 2014

North Country Honor Flight - More Thank you

If our country is worth dying for in time of war let us resolve that it is truly worth living for in time of peace. 

Hamilton Fish

So I decided to make a Thank You card for every Veteran that is supposed to be on the North Country Honor Flight that leaves for Washington DC today.

These men and women are veterans of several campaigns over the last 50 years.
I have a ton of things going on right now but frankly, giving a few hours out of my busy schedule to make Thank you cards is nothing compared to what these Veterans have given us over the years.

The cards are size A2 with personal notes on the inside for each person.

I did use my printer and a larger font to make it easier for any who are visually challenged, plus my handwriting is probably not the best for them to try and cipher!
The flag is attached with a foam dimensional.



Supplies: Card stock, ink & image "God Bless America" (Stampin Up!), Embossing folder "Stars and Swirks" (Sizzix). Sentiment (The Angel Company), Dies "Hearts" (Spellbinders).

Thanks for stopping by
Cara



Sunday, September 28, 2014

Clean & Simple: Bring on Fall!

There's something in a simple hug
That always warms the heart,
It welcomes us back home
And makes it easier to part....
Johnny Ray Ryder, Jr., "A Simple Hug"

Good morning!
Today is the start of a new Clean & Simple Challenge at The Outlawz and it is my turn to post!

Fall officially starts tomorrow kicking off (for me) a mental image of cooler weather and the upcoming holidays! Leaves, scarecrows, pumpkins, fall colors! Bring it on people, we wanna to see it all. Just remember - have fun and keep it CAS

So a while back I bought, on clearance (because I never pay full price for any craft item if I can help it!) I found some Smooch Pearlized Accent Ink Spray which I brought home and promptly forgot about until now.

Now I want more and need to buy some other colors.

I took my embossing folder and spritzed it a couple of times the gold glow & gingersnap mist, placed my paper carefully inside it and then ran through my Big Kick. I then spritz it with the white giving the whole piece a nice shimmer that sadly can not be seen well in the photo :O(

I used a shimmery gold vellum for a back layer and had enough left over for the sentiment that I die cut ... Perfection with the gold shimmer on the card.

Anyway, the card looks fabulous in reality!


Card size is A2
Supplies: Card stock (Stampin Up!), Fall Leaf background EF (Darice), "Hugs" die (Sizzix), Smooch Pearlized Accent Ink Spray (Clearsnap), Ribbon (Stash).
Cara



Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Birthday Wishes for Ron

Age is opportunity no less than youth itself.
Henry Wadsworth

Good Morning
Somehow or another over the years I have become the official card person for my work group. Birthdays, Get well, sympathy. I make them, get the group to sign them then make sure they get to the intended person or persons.

I don't mind. It's just another excuse for me to play with paper.

Today is Ron's birthday. 
I hope he has a great day, especially since he is on a bit of a vacation with family!

Card size is A2 and based on a sketch by Laura Whitaker Designs

Supplies: Card stock (Bazzill, Stampin Up!, Paper Temptress and X-ped-x), Sentiment (Studio G), Die is "Sprightly Sprockets (Spellbinders), Textured Impressions EF (Stampin Up!), Black India Ink (Memories), foam dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by!
Cara

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

TTCRD Anything Goes: Christmas Butterfly

Beautiful and graceful, varied and enchanting, small but approachable, butterflies lead you to the sunny side of life.  And everyone deserves a little sunshine. 
Jeffrey Glassberg

Today is the start of another Anything Goes Challenge at Through The Craft Room Door.

Our sponsor this week is SandiSamples

I used this gorgeous Poinsettia Butterfly image. I have been wanting to try my hand at this one for some time and I am delighted with the way my finished card looks!
I hope you are too!

I started by printing the image on a piece of Vellum card stock. I then flipped over so the printed side was down and using markers, started coloring laying down light to dark. Every down and then I would use a q-tip to soften edges or blended a bit more,

I would flip back over to the front to see how it looked and once I was satisfied with the finish from the front, I left to dry thoroughly..

One the front side, I used a glue pencil and added some yellow glitter to the flower centers and a touch of dazzling diamonds to the flowers themselves and the antennae.

I think that by coloring on the backside of vellum you achieve a softer, almost velvety look to the image and colors. Especially on heavier weight vellum like the one SU! sells.

I used the matching paper piercing template to create an outline on the card base,
I die cut a smaller piece of card stock to back the vellum and attached  to the card base with foam dimensionals.


Card size is 5x7
SUPPLY LIST: 
Card stock, Vellum, Ink, Dazzling Diamonds glitter and Labels Collection die and paper Piercing Template are all from Stampin Up! / Yellow glitter (flower centers) from OTC / Sentiment from Halo Rubber Stamps / Black ink is India ink from Memories

Challenges Entered

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes

Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes

Sunshine Mail Challenge Blog - Anything Goes

My Craft Creations - Anything Goes

Lacy Sunshine Challenge Blog - Something with wings

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara



Friday, September 12, 2014

Honor Flights: I am Grateful

We have enjoyed so much freedom for so long that we are perhaps in danger of forgetting how much blood it cost to establish the Bill of Rights.
Felix Frankfurter

I had planned on posting this yesterday on 9-11-14, but I was remiss and did set the schedule and for that I am very sorry.

I want to say that everyday I wake up without shackles, seen and unseen on my wrists, I am grateful to a higher power and the men and women who have sacrificed much for this Country, This World.

I understand we may not agree on politics or religion or personal choice.
But the freedom to be able to express those opinions without physical or emotional retribution are invaluable and are a right for every living being. Period.

I made this card for a friend who had a special request for cards! If, after reading this, you would like to send a card too, the address is at the bottom.



The card is for her Uncle, a 92 year young WW2 Veteran. He spent the entire war aboard Liberty Boats carrying supplies to support our efforts in Europe and the Pacific. He is one of the lucky ones to have survived as the Liberties were a sought after slow moving target for enemy forces. Thousands were lost.


On September 27th, 2014, her cousin Rob has the honor of being his father's escort on the WW2 Honor Flight to Washington D.C.

I have heard of the Honor Flights and their purpose. They are a volunteer group of pilots that fly WWII Veterans to Washington, DC for the day, just so they can see the WWII memorial that is built there for them.  Many would never see it if it weren't for these generous volunteers.

If you would like more information please click Honor Flights.

They not only treat these Veterans as the hero's they are with the trip to their Memorial in DC but they are given a hat and jacket.

One other thing they do for these warriors is on arrival of the return flight at the end of a long day they have a mail call. Friends, Family or anyone can send them a short note thanking them for their service to us all.

Please if you can spare five minutes and a stamp PLEASE do so. The address is

PO2 Robert H Rennell 
PO BOX 2644
Plattsburgh NY12901


Additional names for this Honor Flight

Wouldn't it be grand to see them all standing amidst piles of cards and letters from grateful benefactors of their service and dedication to us all.


Thank you!

Cara

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

TTCRD Anything Goes: Make a Wish

Women are always beautiful
Ville Valo

Good morning!
The September 2014 Through The Craft Room Door Magazine is published for your viewing pleasure in the Subscribers only area of TTCRD

DT Call
Through The Craft Room Door Magazine is looking for enthusiastic, energetic, friendly and trust-worthy Design Team members. We are a drama-free team that takes pride in what we do and we work well together. We’re looking for card makers, scrap-bookers or versatile paper crafters that would like to play in our challenges and be published in TTCRD Magazine.
This is a 6 month obligation. To be considered for the team. Send us your best project,  DT commitments -  past and present and blog address. Tell us something about yourself and why you would want to be considered for the design team. This call is open to anyone, international applicants are encouraged to apply.

Please send  your information to sandihug@gmail.com

If selected, you will be sent more detailed information.

Today is the start of another Anything goes Challenge at Through the Craft Room Door and is sponsoring this weeks challenge.

I stenciled the background with one I received as a Christmas in July surprise gift.
The Tag and ferns were cut from scraps.
The red flowers were made from little paper Prima flowers I scrunched up and glued together and the white flower is a fabric flower I took about and re-purposed for my card with a pretty brad.

Click HERE to come play along with us!

This card is for one Mother-in-laws.
 HAPPY BIRTHDAY CATHY!

Size A2

Supplies

Card stock from Bazzill
Card stock & Ink from Stampin Up!
Martha Stewart "Fern" Punch
Sizzix "Scallop Pocket tag" Die
Flowers from stash (white) and Prima (red)
White flower center is a brad from OTC
Sequins and tag from stash
Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Stencil "Splatters"

CHALLENGES ENTERED
Crafting from the Heart: Anything Goes

The Stampin Chef: Anything Goes

Sunshine Mail Challenge: Anything Goes

Craft Hoarders Anonymous: Use Flowers 


WhoosyDaisy Challenge: Throw on those Flowers!

 Thanks for stopping by!
Cara

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Color My World!

Colors are the smiles of nature.

Leigh Hunt

Good morning!
Today is the start of a new Clean and Simple Challenge at The Outlawz.
Come play with us!

Pryn's challenge for us this week is to create a card of project using your favorite colors from any season!

I love the colors of Fall .... I feel like a rich person with all those shades of Gold!

Enjoy!


SUPPLIES
Card stock from Stampin up! and X-ped-X
Leaf and button from Stash
"Woodgrain" embossing folder from Sizzix
Sentiment from "Autumn Leaf Prints" by Stampin Up!

Thanks for stopping by
(Hugs) Cara

Saturday, September 6, 2014

New Adventure Ahead!

The horizon, to remind you of your courage, sends its gentle waves of confidence to kiss your feet.

~Dodinsky, www.dodinsky.com

Queue the music and confetti!

I have a BIG announcement to make!

I am the proud new owner/editor in training of
Through the Craft Room Door Challenge Blog
and
On-Line Magazine.



Colleen Holmes has decided it is time for her to retire and spend her energies on other things, like her card making ventures and her Outlawz Challenge Blog.
So she has passed her torch onto me.
Currently I am learning the ropes with the plan to take on everything November 1st.

She has done an such amazing job with the website and magazine and I know I have some impressive footsteps to follow but I will do my best to keep the challenges interesting and the magazine something our subscribers look forward to every two months.

Please come check us out!

and 

please - please check out The Outlawz Challenge Blog!
Colleen has a different challenge that starts every weekday!
Something for everyone!

Happy Days!
Cara



Thursday, September 4, 2014

Sailor Moon Fan

A daughter is the happy memories of the past, the joyful moments of the present, and the hope and promise of the future.
Author Unknown

Recently I spent two weeks in Japan visiting my daughter who teaches English in their public school system.


My daughter is a huge Sailor Moon fan and has been since she was a small girl.
She found this scarf on Pinterist, and knowing I crochet, she asked me if I could make her one.
I had told her I would take a look and see what I could do but no promises.
I had to use several different patterns but I think I did okay and she was absolutely thrilled ... especially since it was a surprise for her when I got to Japan.


The one she wanted can be found at the Shop of Many Things.

Here is mine





Thanks for looking
Hugs
Cara

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Sweet Hugs

“It seems to be one of the paradoxes of creativity that in order to think originally, we must familiarize ourselves with the ideas of others.”
George Kneller

Recently I spent two weeks in Japan visiting my daughter who teaches English in their public school system.

While there, we were invited to spend the day with the family of one of her friend enjoying barbecue and celebrating Obon, a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one's ancestors.


The giving of gifts are a part of Japanese culture and since I knew about the event of ahead of time, I made sure I had gifts for the family.

Three of them I made for the ladies who have made my daughter welcome and part of their family.

Unfortunately, the yarn wrappers were tossed and when I tried to find them in the store, the colors were not available so I can't pass on the supplier information.


Here is scarf #3

I used this AFGHAN PATTERN from Tamara Kelly to create this 3 tone scarf





Thanks for stopping by!
HUGS
Cara



Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Dreaming of Peacocks!

“Creativity is seeing something that doesn't exist already.
You need to find out how you can bring it into being and that way be a playmate with God.”
Michele Shea

Recently I spent two weeks in Japan visiting my daughter who teaches English in their public school system.

While there, we were invited to spend the day with the family of one of her friend enjoying barbecue and celebrating Obon, a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one's ancestors.


The giving of gifts are a part of Japanese culture and since I knew about the event of ahead of time, I made sure I had gifts for the family.

Three of them I made for the ladies who have made my daughter welcome and part of their family.

Unfortunately, the yarn wrappers were tossed and when I tried to find them in the store, the colors were not available so I can't pass on the supplier information.


Here is scarf #2
I used THIS PATTERN from Ellen Kardell/Pocket Meadoco Farms




Monday, September 1, 2014

Arizona Sunset Scarf

“There is no doubt that creativity is the most important human resource of all.
Without creativity, there would be no progress, and we would be forever repeating the same patterns."

Edward de Bono

Recently I spent two weeks in Japan visiting my daughter who teaches English in their public school system.

While there, we were invited to spend the day with the family of one of her friend enjoying barbecue and celebrating Obon, a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one's ancestors.



The giving of gifts are a part of Japanese culture and since I knew about the event of ahead of time, I made sure I had gifts for the family.

Three of them I made for the ladies who have made my daughter welcome and part of their family.

Unfortunately, the yarn wrappers were tossed and when I tried to find them in the store, the colors were not available so I can't pass on the supplier information.

Here is scarf #1




Thanks for looking!
HUGS
Cara