Stampin' on the Fly

I tried to combine a few challenges today and the first was from Our Creative Corner.  The challenge was to make a masculine birthday card.  I also used the latest sketch challenge from Stampin’ Royalty, their challenge #20.  Finally, I used the colors from Makeesha over at Inkspirations.  Take a look at the colors and the sketch!

The colors pretty much “required” me to use the Nouveau Chic DSP.  Now that Sage is retiring, I am using up my stock. 

Without further discussion, here is my card (yes, the image panel does look crooked…I fixed it but didn’t have time to take a new picture):

I started with Oh, So Lovely (Ret) and tried to make it more masculine.  The paper certainly did the job but I’m not so sure the image is “manly”.  Oh well, challenges are jumping off points and I gave it the college try!  I have really enjoyed this DSP…just think, when I first ordered it I thought it would be “out of the box” for me!  I continue to find that the DSP’s from Stampin’ Up always exceed any expectation that I have!!  I did a little sponging  but otherwise the card is pretty straightforward.  I don’t have a particular need for this card but it is always so nice to have some in the “stash” ready to go!  Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great day!

Stamps:  Oh, So Lovely (ret), Short & Sweet; Paper:  Nouveau Chic DSP, Sage Shadow, Basic Gray, Very Vanilla; Ink:  Sage Shadow, Basic Gray, Apricot Appeal, Going Gray; Accessories:  Gray Corduroy button, thread (dyed Sage with the Marker), Blender Pen, Sponges

All products are Stampin’ Up!

I have a dear friend who has gotten some good news and this card is for her.  I just love it when I get to make a card like that…don’t you??!!  This week’s challenge over at Diva Coffee Break Design is a color challenge.

Hmm…pretty, pretty spring colors!  Love them!  Then I went over to see what Makeesha came up with for her challenge this week.  Yea…a great layout posted on her blog, Inkspirations.  I love how much you can do with this one!

I went back to my Tea Party paper for this one…still just loving the fresh look of it for spring.  I cut out some of the flowers that fit the bill for the color challenge.  Maybe that is why I love this paper so much.  There is so much you can do with it!  I added the beautiful word from Well Scripted and tied on some Celery satin ribbon with a Button Latte button to finish.  I hope this brings a smile to my friend’s face!! 

Click on the picture to enlarge if you want to see it closer.  I hope you have a great weekend.  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamp:  Well Scripted; Paper:  Tea Party DSP, Pretty in Pink, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White; Ink:  Close to Cocoa; Accessories:  Celery Satin Ribbon, Button Latte, Thread, Dimensionals

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“The desire to fly is an idea handed down to us by our ancestors who, in their grueling travels across trackless lands in prehistoric time, looked enviously on the birds soaring freely through space, at full speed, above all obstacles, on the infinite highway of the air.”    Wilbur Wright

This card is for a very special woman, my Aunt Frances.  Tomorrow, March 10th, is a proud day for the United States.  We are finally honoring a group of women who answered their country’s call during WWII.  They are called the WASP, Women’s Airforce Service Pilots, and my aunt is one of them!!  Tomorrow, one of my sons and I have the priviledge of going to Washington, DC to see these women get a Congressional Medal of Honor, one of the two highest honors that can be given a civilian.  I know you came to see the card but please stay for the history of these great women.  I’ll give you the card first.

I used the phrase from Inspired by Nature because it sums up my aunt.  The sketch is from Makeesha over at Inkspirations.  I knew it would be perfect with the butterflies and flying is, after all, the theme!  The colors came from a color challenge at Splitcoast, CC261, and are Melon Mambo, Certainly Celery and Bashful Blue.  These were hard colors for me but they are such a happy combination!  Of course with the butterflies and these colors, it feels like spring and meets the Spring Theme from Pals Paper Arts  this week (hopefully I meet their deadline).  I used some Celery DSP from a hostess pack (I love that it had a butterfly, too).  The butterflies from my Big Shot embosslit, Beautiful Wings, are the star of the show.  I added a Celery button from the Sherbet set and the new Celery satin ribbon to finish it off.

Stamp:  Inspired by Nature; Paper:  Lovely Flowers (hostess), Celery DSP (ret), Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Bashful Blue; Ink:  Certainly Celery, Melon Mambo; Accessories:  Big Shot, Beautiful Wings embosslit, Celery satin ribbon, White thread, Sherbet buttons

All products are Stampin’ Up!

Back to the history….

The WASP were formed around 1943 (there were precursors that were joined together) in order to train women to fly military aircraft.  This would allow the men to be moved into combat duties while the women would do ferry flights, target and spotlight training and other “behind the lines” jobs.  When applications opened, over 25,000 women applied for the job and only 1,830 were chosen.  Of those, 1,074 earned their WASP wings.  Most of the training was done in Sweetwater, TX at Avenger field.  After getting their wings, these women flew almost everything in the inventory at the time!  While they took the military oath, they were not given military privileges.  In fact, when a WASP was killed in duty, she was not allowed even a flag on her coffin.  After the WASP were disbanded, the files about them were sealed and classified…almost as if their flying had never happened.  It was only when the US was about to start training women to fly in 1977 that these files were unsealed and the WASP were given veteran status.  Tomorrow, our country will finally thank them properly for serving their country in a time of war.  It is only because of these ground breakers, and other early women pilots, that I had all the opportunities to fly in my career. 

Thanks for staying for “the rest of the story”!  I appreciate any comments, as always!

Update:  The Valentine’s card was chosen as a Goddess pick at Stampin’ Royalty and an Inkspirations winner for the week!  Thanks to both for the complement!

We have been snowed in and what better to work on than Valentine’s Day cards??  Of course, the snow has really gotten in the way of my stamping.  My 4 and 6 year old sons have only so much tolerance for Mommy’s projects before it is time to go sledding!!  Ok, even I feel the need to go sledding.  After all, if we are going to have record snows I want to take advantage of the opportunities for fun!  Today, though, I really needed to finish my card for my dear husband.  While I have made quite a few Valentine’s cards this year, I always feel bad if he doesn’t get his own unique card.  He certainly deserves it!! I found this layout from Makeesha at Inkspirations and knew it would be perfect!

 Then I used the colors from the Curtain Call Color Challenge:  Act 16 which were Real Red, Very Vanilla and Kraft.  I just received my new Satin Ribbon this week and finally got to use it.  It is so beautiful…I might have to order it in all the colors!!  The hearts are from the I {Heart} Hearts set from the Occasions Mini.  Just a reminder that $2 from every one of those sets sold until Feb 28th goes to the American Red Cross in support of the Haiti earthquake victims.  I really like that the Kraft on this card gives it a more masculine feel!  Because this card follows a Love/Valentines theme, it also qualifies for the Stampin’ Royalty Challenge #6!  Their challenges are wonderful…make sure you check out the cards their Goddesses made this week!

Card details: 

Stamps:  I {Heart} Hearts, Well Scripted

Paper:  Christmas Cocoa DSP (ret), Kraft, Very Vanilla

Ink:  Real Red

Accessories:  Jumbo Brads, Vanilla Satin Ribbon

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Earlier this week, I was supposed to work with a 2nd Grade class from my son’s school (he is in 1st Grade) to make cards for their parents.  Since school is apparently cancelled until the spring thaw, the teacher came over to help me make the cards for her kids (thanks Shelly!).  This project turned out so cute that I just had to post it.  It is another project with the I {Heart} Hearts set and the Hugs Sending Love Notes from the mini.  I am so sad that the kids didn’t get to do the project but I know the parents will love them when they finally get them.  I put another Whisper White sheet on the back where the kids can sign them.  Thanks for stopping by!  I value your comments…have a great day!

Stamps:  I {Heart} Hearts, Well Scripted

Paper:  Hugs, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White

Ink:  Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip

Accessories:  Heart to Heart punch