State colors for MidWeek Throwdown

WOOT! WOOT!  GO ARIZONA!  GO OWH!  While researching State colors, I discovered that the State of Arizona has the BEST flag to make a card out of!  AND it had a pattern I could use a method on - - - that I had been itching to try!  So--- here is my card - and below it I will talk about the method!  Also - thanks Jan!

Before I continue - - - I was born in Brooklyn, NY!  I moved to Arizona in 1969 and except for 10 months in Richmond, VA - I have been here since. I hope you like this card!  I had an absolute blast making it.  I used the masking technique to create the rays - Staz-on Sunflower Yellow rays!  I used a dauber to apply the ink - but it would have been easier with the distressing tool.  The white paper I used is Stampin Up Whisper White - which takes ink beautifully.  I embossed stars on only part of the navy paper because I wanted the rays to be the focal point.  I think the red star and the brad grabbed that focal point.  I enjoyed making this state color card so much!  And I am equally honored to make it for OWH MidWeek Throwdown! 

Please play along with this weeks MWT so I can go see your state colors in use, and see how you interpret them.  I can't wait!

One Layer - And ALMOST one layer!

One Layer
 

Almost one layer!
 

I am taking a card class online "Clean & Simple 2".  It has been a great class - loads of great tips and tricks.  Only, I haven't tried one until today!  Also, Operation Write Home (OWH) is doing "miss you" cards during February. So----- two birds etc etc etc.....  The sentiment is from a Hero Arts OWH set and the alphabet stamp is from an old Stampin Up set.  The stars stamp on the one layer card is from the same Hero Arts set as the sentiment. 

A few cards

I have a buddy challenge going with Raeanna Smith.  January was my 1st month to pick the subject - and I chose flowers.  I don't know why!  So here is my take on flowers!  Kind of!

Back in the Saddle Again!

I tried and tried during January - but not until today did I get my "stuff" together.  I attended a Stampin Up cardmaking workshop yesterday - and that jump started my mojo enough for me to get in my craft room today.  Actually, I think what really helped was having a talk with myself about suffering and feeling miserable - what good is worrying about how much pain meds I feel I have to take - if it isn't enough to help.  So today I took what was necessary to help the pain - and remarkably - once the pain was removed - I felt better - and I felt creative!  I cleaned

up my crafting space - put the finishing touches on 2 cards - and built 2 cards around a colored image.  I also stamped a few images and cut the shapes of and for around them.  A very productive day!  Here are 3 of the 4 cards I made - the 4th is in the previous post. 

OWH Sketch 153

Yes - I am behind - I started this card when the sketch came out - and finished it today - ---- so only a few weeks!!!  But I  thought about it during that time! 

Personal Stuff

On Saturday, January 5th 2013 my husband and I had our dog Corgi put to sleep.  Such a hard decision.  She was in so much pain from arthritis.  She was having trouble with her rear slipping out from her - but then she would get up and walk and be "prancey".  But sometime between Friday night and Saturday morning her legs could no longer hold her up.  Being a chronic pain sufferer I empathized.  We will miss her for a long long time.  She was a wonderful friend, a silly dog - who loved us so much she ate through our pantry wall numerous times to try to find us!  For those of you who have lost a beloved pet - you understand.

I loved this dog!  I loved her puppy nose and her puppy paws.  She loved belly rugs and giving kisses.

My 10 Best Cards of 2012

Where has 2012 gone!  I completed 44 of the OWH sketch cards - so I got to thinking, instead of completing them this year - I may try for the decade!  Going through all of the cards that I took pictures of and posted this year was fun.  Of course, all of the "masterpieces" I forgot to take pictures of!!!  So these are my favorite cards - that I have a record of - completing for OWH in 2012:

My goal for 2013 - is to go outside my box more frequently; improve my blog; and my biggest goal (drum roll) is to enter at least 1 blog challenge per month. (Oh and to find a comfortable bra!)