MFT Card Challenge

Hello Friends!

It's been months since I have posted here. As you no doubt know OWH has completed its mission. The last donation deadline passed back on August 1st and OWH will cease operation completely at (or around) the end of the year. With the exception of this post and likely one or two more at the end of the year I've decide that I won't continue to blog here but will instead move on... a New Year will find me in a new spot — HandmadeByPaula.com — with the goal of trying some new and exciting things. I hope you'll consider joining me there when the time comes.

While my card making has slowed down significantly in the past couple of years as OWH has started to wind down I can say with certainty that arts, crafts and design (I am a professional graphic designer by day) has always been at the foundation of my life and that won't change.

I've have been making some cards to exchange with friends in my card making group and when I spotted the card making contest being sponsored by MFT (My Favorite Things) I simply could not resist the chance to unpack all my stuff and spend an afternoon playing. These cards are what I created.

Die-Namics: Layered Rose & Blueprints 1 ~ Stamps: Chalkboard Greetings

Die-Namics: Party Banner  ~ Stamps: Birthday Sentiments

LJD Pretty Poppies & Coordinating Die-Namics

Stamps: Abstract Art & Bold Statements

Stamps: Seasonal Sentiments

I know it's been a big change for so many of the dedicated card makers who made up the OWH family but I do hope that you will join me in believing that when one door closes another will open... seek out new outlets,  new ideas... new groups and that no matter what you will continue to keep crafting and creating.


Happy Crafting and enjoy the last few days of summer!

OWH Finishing Strong Blog Hop

Hello Friends!

It's my pleasure and honor to be participating in what has been a tradition for me for the last 7 years... the OWH Memorial Day Weekend Blog Hop.

“Operation Write Home, a charity that has supported heroes with handmade cards since 2007, will be closing later this year. All cards need to be sent in by August 1st, so I’m helping to get the word out!”

This hop is a bit different in that the blog are not linked to each other, instead the home base for this hop is the Stars & Stamps Blog at OWH and from there you can visit the links for every participant directly. 

I'll simply say that as we start to 'draw down' and complete this mission, finding OWH (Cards for Heroes back then) in 2008 was one of the greatest things to happen to me. I guess you could say it happened by chance if you believe in coincidence or chalk it up to divine providence if you don't, but either way, like so many of you I have have learned a lot, laughed a lot and 'met' so many wonderful people along the way and it has been an incredible journey. It seemed only natural for me to share a card today that says 'Thanks' to all of you, to everyone who has served OWH over the years and to our heroes, above all, who serve us every day.

This card uses the In Bloom stamp set from Papertrey Ink and the Thanks Sentiment Die is from Simon Says Stamp. I crafted the shape with a ruler and Exacto knife and the edge punch is an old (retired) one from Martha Stewart/EK Success.

As you make cards to help with the OWH Finishing Strong Campaign it's important that you follow all the guidelines and please out of consideration and thanks for the tremendous amount of time and effort Sandy Allnock has given, be sure that they make the August 1st deadline.

My card is slightly bigger than an A2 size and fairly dimensional so it's best suited to becoming an Any Hero note.

When all is said and done, I hope, that like me you will have a place in your heart for OWH, its mission and all that was accomplished by a group of amazing card makers and volunteers. And let us never forget, especially on this Memorial Day weekend, the countless heroes who gave all on behalf of our country, for our freedom.

Keep Crafting!

OWH Finishing Strong & Staying Connected

Hello Friends,

As many of you already know on May 12, 2015 Operation Write Home announced that it's entering into it's final phase as an organization and will accept card donations until August 1st as part of it's Finishing Strong Campaign.

I know there are many who are experiencing this as a bittersweet event, thrilled that the mission has been accomplished and that so many of our heroes have returned home, yet a bit melancholy at the thought of losing friends and connections that they've made over the years through OWH.

I too have 'met' so many wonderful people since I first became connected to OWH in 2008 and hope that I'll be able to stay connected. I'm hoping I can find a way to host and occasional online chat for OWH Alums though I have not worked out a specific date/plan yet but do know that in order to control access it would have to be done 'by invitation'. There is no cost and no requirement to be invited. Everyone is welcome.

I'll post details in the new Facebook Group Sandy has set up so be sure to check it out and join the group or email me directly if you are not on FB and would like to be included.

You can also contact me by Email by clicking on the small black envelope icon under my photo.

I hope that no matter what... you Keep Crafting!

Transitions & Birthdays

Hello Friends! I know that this is a crazy, busy time of year and one of transitions for so many, with graduations and wedding season in full swing. Sometimes life feels like an endless 'to do list' but be sure you take some time to kick back and enjoy it along the way.

As many of you know the past couple of years have been ones of significant change and transition for me. Not necessarily in a bad way (and believe me I have nothing to complain about, I am blessed) but in one that has taken a toll on my crafting. There are still a lot of changes to come and new things to explore but I am glad that I set the goal of making/sending birthday cards to the people in my cardmaking group as it's been just enough motivation to keep me from abandoning crafting altogether.

Today's card is one I made and sent to Sherry H. The image is from Mo's Digital Pencil. Mo Manning does such great work. Her whimsical images are such fun to color. This masked Cupcake Crusader, as I like to call her, is colored with Spectrum Noir markers. The papers are all scraps but the ribbon is perfect for cardmaking because it can be crushed flat for mailing and manages to 'pop up' nicely once out of the envelope. I bought it so many years ago I can say with certainty where it came from but I need to hunt down some more soon.

That's all until next time...
Happy Crafting!

California Poppies

Hello Friends! Where does the time go? When I last posted I was so certain that since I had a few cards made and photos taken that I'd be able to post for a few weeks in a row and here it is nearly 3 three weeks later!

There is so much I want to be able to do... redesign my blog, craft more, paint and draw again, play piano again, open an online store (this one has been in my mind and in progress for more than a couple of years now — yep, you guessed it...crafty related) and while I consider myself organized and productive I'm beginning to think the reality of it is that there is just no way for me to focus on so many things at once and these things are not of the 'set it and forget it' sort so they are never really something you can cross off a list. That said...I'm open to all advice and tips! :)

Colored with Spectrum Noir Markers.

My card share today is a Birthday card I made for Sherry my crafty online friend. This is a digi created by Sandy Allnock many years ago for OWH and it's always been once I enjoyed coloring. Poppies have always been among my favorite flowers to draw, paint (and in this case color) along with Tulips.

I hope wherever you are spring has truly sprung as it has here in Connecticut and that you're seeing some beautiful flowers showing their style.

Happy Crafting!