Operation Write Home VCMP - Represent your state

I live on a farm in Missouri. My husband isn't a farmer like his dad was, so my mother-in-law rents our pasture land to a friend. His cattle do the grazing and he keeps fences mended, mows the hay, etc. Another friend is raising soybeans on some of our acreage. I personally think cows represent a large part of our state.  Except around the big cities, you can hardly drive without seeing pasture land or cattle. And, yes, I have looked at the cows in my back yard and I agree they don't have that shade of pink anywhere, but I used artistic license when I colored this cow.

I designed this card with several challenges in mind. The Virtual Card Making Party for Labor Day Weekend had this last challenge: Represent Your State, which I'm doing with this cute cow from Clear Dollar Digi Stamps, "Farm Critters Digital Image."

Paper Playtime suggested the gingham and Quirky Crafts asked for Farm + one recycled item. I took the plastic packaging from my new Tombo adhesive refill, Used a Sharpie to trace a star that I cut on the Cricut, and cut it out to glue over part of the title. I wanted a star to go with the title and it is so easy to see through the plastic star, I will definitely try this again. Sweet Stamps challenge this week has more ideas for using acetate on cards and layouts.

I also altered the title in Photoshop. I copied Udderly Terrific and hit "New" document/image. I doubled the size of the width suggested in the "New" drop down menu. Then I pasted Udderly Terrific and moved it to the right with the pointer. I copied "You're" from another sentiment in that set, pasted it and moved it to the left with the pointer. I went to Layers and Flattened the layers so I could save it as a jpg to print.

I used the bonus sketch for this week at Operation Write Home. Then I added two die cut scalloped circles - 3/25" and 3.5" to highlight the main image.

 

I'm sharing this card at the following challenges:

Stars and Stamps Operation Write Home - Bonus Sketch

No Matter Which Challenge #2 - Die Cuts and Punches

Paper Playtime Challenge #83 - Gingham and Punches

Quirky Crafts challenge #18 - Recycling on the Farm

Operation Write Home Virtual Card Making Party final challenge - home sweet home (Missouri)

Sweet Stamps Challenge #81 - Acetate

 

 

5.5" x 4.25" Card Recipe:

Paper - Close To My Heart retired gingham, Black and White Daisy cardstock; The Paper Studio "Simple Elegance"

Digital Images - Clear Dollar Stamps  "Farm Critters Digital Image."

Markers - CTMH Cotton Candy Light Alcohol Marker; Copics N00, N02, N04 (grays)

Accents - unknown daisy chain ribbon from my stash; clear star made from "trash"

Tools - printer, Cricut Art Philosophy (scalloped circles, star), 3" circle punch; Adobe Photoshop, Sharpie permanent black marker, acetate cover packaging from Tombow adhesive refill

 



 

Stars and Stamps VCMP Card 1 - Using Scripture

I made several cards yesterday to play along with Stars and Stamps Virtual Card Making Party. They posted 10 different challenges on Saturday and Sunday. The first one was to make a card with Scripture. That's what I love to do anytime because the card says so much more to the receiver than the words simply printed in the sentiment. I believe that since God's Word is sharper and more powerful than a two-edged sword, His words touch the deepest need in someone's life in a most personal way - just what they need for a situation. I also believe that His Words of encouragement can be very healing. So that is my prayer for this card that will be sent to servicemen or women for Operation Write Home. This challenge is being sponsored by Our Daily Bread Designs. It is their challenge for the month of September.

This card uses the Operation Write Home Sketch #123 from May 27th this year. I used a Clear Dollar Digi Stamp, "Christian Sympathy." I love the artistic font and the colors of purple and green were easy to work with. I liked keeping the sympathy card simple, yet elegant with the CTMH shiny gray ribbon and purple sparkles and the Petaloo glittery flower and leaf.

May God bless you with strength in your own times of need.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Operation Write Home/Our Daily Bread Designs  "Virtual Card Making Party" - Scripture cards
Papertake Weekly Challenge  - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday Challenge #43 - used Scripture on the front
Make It Monday #105 - always Anything Goes with comments

4.25" x 5.5" Sympathy Card Recipe:
Paper - The Paper Studio solid colored cards; Close To My Heart "Splendor," White Daisy and Black cardstock
Digital Stamp - Clear Dollar Digi Stamp  "Christian Sympathy"
Accents - CTMH Slate Satin Polka Dot Ribbon; Petallo flower and leaf
Tools - Printer

 

Masculine Encouragement Card with the Deconstructed Sketch

My mind is still thinking about the wonderful times we had taking the grandchildren to the ocean for the first time a couple of weeks ago. Something about watching the waves continually roll in and seeing the water going as far as the eye can see gives me an appreciation of the immense power of God. There's also something soothing to the soul to hear the unstoppable rhythm of the waves, puncutated by the occasional calls of birds.

I wanted to work with an image of the sea, so I decided to use this lovely lighthouse and matching papers from Clear Dollar Stamps, "Sheltering Lights." I chose a sketch from the Deconstructed Sketch #62.

I printed the papers that accompany this digital image on 4x6 Colonial White cardstock, instead of the 8.5 x 11 that was the default size. The way you do this in Photoshop is simply to change the image size. That made the stripes and waves a great size for a small card. I wanted the card to be 4.25 x 5.5" so I can eventually send it to Stars and Stamps Operation Write Home. I also tried to keep the embellishments rather flat so it's easier for the service men to mail.

The blue ricrac is under the image instead of over it, but I liked the way it resembles the theme of ocean waves. I chose yellow for the photo corner on top to resemble the light given by a lighthouse. I added streaks of glitter glue as an extra source of light and embellishement.

For additional encouragement, the inside uses one of the verses that comes with this set of images:

"I am the light of the world; he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12 

May God's Word be a source of encouragement for you as you make decisions and may He comfort as well as guide you during difficult times.

Challenges for this card:
The Deconstructed Sketch #62
Stars and Stamps Operation Write Home - encouragement
Crafting for All Seasons #32 - Splash Me
Crafty Ribbons Challenge #24 - The Sea
Alphabet Challenge Blog -  M - for Men
Hand Stamped Sentiments Inspiration Challenge #128 - Beach/Pacific Coast Highway
Going Grey with Scrap-Creations Challenge - Water