OWH Blog Hop Challenges

Starting last weekend, the design team at Crop Chocolate has held a blog hop spurred on my National Cardmaking Day as well as Operation Write Home.  A couple months ago, on CC's message board, there was talk of making cards for OWH, which is an organization that collects homemade cards to send to the troops so that they can in turn write to their friends and families.  Everyone there thought this was such a great idea, and so the DT decided to host a blog hop for it, which they made coincide with National Cardmaking Day (which was this past weekend - Oct. 6).  And of course, as with most of CC's blog hops, their were challenges involved.

Usually I attempt to make something for all challenges, but I had challenges myself in my schedule.  The weekend that the hop started, I was sitting in a booth at a craft fair trying to sell my wares.  Then this past week was my DD's 4th birthday so I was busy cleaning the house and getting ready for my parents to visit and for the party.  I also had to work on a special order I received at the craft fair (more on that later).

All that being said, I was able to fit in some crafty time and made some cards.  Also, some of the cards that I made within the last couple of weeks in order to add to my inventory for the fair fit a couple of the challenges.  So I am going to enter them also, as my thought was to send whatever didn't sell to OWH anyway.

So enough talk, and now to show off what I did get to make.

First off, for Amber's challenge, she asked us to follow a sketch and use embossed solid paper, two different patterned papers, and some sort of twine, ribbon or trim.  And to make as many as we could.  The sketch she gave us was very simple and easy to use.  I didn't mix it up much LO wise, but did use different colors.  I managed to make 16 of them. 

Products used:  EP Victoria Gardens 6x6, EP Times and Seasons 6x6, MM celery ribbon, Bazzil blue cs, SU always artichoke, crushed curry, naturals ivory and ballet blue cardstock, Cuttlebug embossing folders, SU tag time stamp set, SU cranberry crisp and buckaroo blue inks.

Next up was Michelle (by belle)'s challenge.  She also picked an OWH sketch for us to use, and she wanted us to make as many as we could.  I ended up with 12.  I also combined this with CC's weekly challenge last week (to make a project and put step-by-step instructions on instructagram.com).

Products used:  Teresa Collins giving thanks paper, EP Be Mine 6x6, MME Ooh La La For Her 6x6, SU regal rose, naturals white, crushed curry, sage shadow wild wasabi and ballet blue cardstock, MM embossed metal silver hearts, MM embossed copper butterflies.

Next I did Brit's challenge - to use up those scraps.  All of the scraps I used for this one were from one pack of paper - EP's Happy Days 6x6.  I made some thank you's and some happy birthday cards.  One of them actually uses EP Springtime (can you guess which one?). 

Products used:  EP Happy Days 6x6, EP Springtime 6x6, SU regal rose, naturals white cardstock, MM vellum tags, Recollections adhesive embellishments, Recollections adhesives shapes, Deja View Wonderful words rubons, MM eyelets.

I also did Miwa's challenge, which was also to use up scraps.  She gave us some sketches she used as examples, but I decided to not use them and used others.  So I used EP's Springtime 6x6 pack for hers.  Also a combination of birthday and thank you.

Products used:  EP Springtime 6x6, SU regal rose, naturals white, and sage shadow cardstock, Sassafrass blossoms - modpods, Recollections adhesive embellishments, SRM sentiment stickers, Mrs. Grossman's sentiment stickers, mm vellum tag, MM embossed metal heart, BG fabric flowers bloomers.

Between the two challenges, I made 20 cards (10 of each paper pack).

I also managed to do Nina's challenge.  She asked us to pick out one paper pack and use it up.  For this one I chose EP's For the Record.  When I first bought it, I wasn't sure about it, but it has really grown on me.  I made thinking of you, Happy Hello's, congratulations, get well, and sympathy cards.

Products used:  EP For the Record 6x6, SU crushed curry, naturals ivory, and wild wasabi cardstock, misc cardstock, Mrs. Grossman's sentiment stickers, sassfrass blossoms, MM vellum tags, MM eyelets, MM Chloe's Closet brads, SU circle circus stamp, Sassafrass paper whimsies.

I managed to make a total of 23 cards from this pack.  I still have some scraps left and could probably squeeze a couple more out.

Finally I made a few that fit Kathy's one challenge.  She asked us to use "something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue".  I only got 6 done for this one, but I really like them.  They are get well and sympathy cards.

I used MME's Ooh La La For Her 6x6 pack, Imaginisce bitty blossoms and itty bitty blossoms, MM mini pewter circle brads, Sassafrass blossoms, SRM sentiment stickers.

I hope you enjoyed looking at what I made.