Another card using OWH Sketch #245

I like to think a soldier will send this home from her deployment to her favorite guy. This is a Greeting Farm stamp.

The DPs are from a Bazzill Basics pack. Soldier girl is colored with Copics and the sentiment is a wood-mounted stamp in my stash.

OWH Sketch 245 and a 3 Million Card Milestone!

I decided to use the new Operation Write Home sketch to make an AnyHero card celebrating OWH reaching the 3 million card milestone! That's THREE MILLION gorgeous handmade cards sent by heroes to their loved ones far away at home. I'm proud to be a part of this effort! Congratulations to our president, Sandy Allnock and every dedicated card maker!

 

Thanks for stopping by! Happy New Year!

Hooray for OWH and our heroes!

 

 

Miss You: Midmonth challenge at OWH

Here's my Miss You card for the mid-month challenge. Thanks to Allison for being a great challenge coordinator and thanks to Kristie for taking the job on!

 

Thanks for stopping by; it's a busy week for everyone!

Primary Colors: December ODBD challenge at OWH

For my primary colors card I used a My Favorite Things stamp set designed by Birdie Brown with a combination of paper piecing and Copic markers:

 

Thanks for stopping by! Are you ready for Christmas?

Presenting my new children's book!

Thanks for stopping by! I wanted to let everyone know that my new picture book for kids, Chloe the Shoe Cat, is now available at online sellers, or it can be ordered at any bookstore. Here are the details:

Chloe the Shoe Cat

Written & Illustrated by Sharon Hickey

Mirror Publishing 2014

ISBN 978-1-61225-250-6

 

Here's a link to my book at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Chloe-Shoe-Cat-Sharon-Hickey/dp/1612252508/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1416840008&sr=1-1&keywords=chloe+the+shoe+cat

 

It's also at www.barnesandnoble.com and www.booksamillion.com

 

 

 

I hope you will check out my new book and consider it as a gift for the little ones! It's a rhyming story, easy reader, and it's based on a cat named Chloe that my sister had who loved my shoes. As you may know, my first book, Card Auntie's Wonderful Workshop (the story of a card maker), is also still available at Amazon, etc. Card Auntie received several excellent reviews at Amazon. I hope people will leave reviews for Chloe the Shoe Cat once they've seen it!
 

If you get any books and would like me to sign them signed, just email me: sharonmhickeyatgmaildotcom

 

Thanks for reading all this and I hope you and the kids like my book(s)!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sherry

OWH Sketch Challenge #243

Hello and welcome! Here is the new sketch at the Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps blog:

 



I turned the sketch and combined it with a challenge at our stamping group to use multiple patterned papers. All the papers and the banner (fussy cut) on my card are from My Mind's Eye "Come Away With Me" 6x6 pad:

 

Thanks a lot for stopping by!

Winter Love You Cards

Hi! The new mid-month challenge at Operation Write Home is Winter Love You cards. I paper pieced part of this MFT Pure Innocence stamp, colored the rest with Copics, and set it against a wintry background from Authentique (Something for All Seasons):

 

The cold weather from the polar vortex is supposed to come East this week--brrrr! Not quite ready for it!

OWH Sketch challenge

I designed my card based on the new sketch at OWH Stars & Stamps Blog. I do like this patterned paper, and I thought it would be fun to use stars in non red, white & blue colors, but I always struggle with sketches that include strips!! Anyway I'm not that thrilled with this card, but it does make a nice general thank you card for a hero to send home.

Thanksgiving card for Pumpkin Patch challenge

I love pumpkins and fall images so I like Cards In Envy's new challenge: Pumpkin Patch! When I read the wonderful quote they posted from Henry David Thoreau, I knew I had to join in and play:

“I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, 
than be crowded on a velvet cushion.”~Henry David Thoreau

 

So I got out a favorite Pure Innocence by My Favorite Things clear stamp and made a Thanksgiving card.

 

 

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you have a good weekend!

 



November ODBD challenge at OWH: Hearts

It's fun to make "heart" cards for OWH that are not specifically valentines, so they can be used by the troops at other times of the year. This is a little heart card I made for the challenge:

OWH Sketch challenge #241

I made two cards based on this week's sketch at Operation Write Home. The first would be a good birthday card for a guy and the second for a little girl. Sorry, these are not my best photos today!

DP: My Mind's Eye "Lost & Found: Antique"

Sentiment: Rubber stamp I believe from Paper Source

Tim Holtz embossing folder

 

Image: Hero Arts

Sentiment: rubber stamp in my stash

DP: American Crafts "Everyday" 6x6

 

Thanks for stopping over!

"Any Witch Way You Can" challenge at CIE

There are still a few days left over at Cards In Envy for their "Any Witch Way You Can" challenge. I love this Wee Henrietta Witch digi from Hambo Stamps!

 

Image: Hambo Stamps

DP: Recollections Halloween Basics 6x6 pad (Michael's)

Sentiment and bats from other sets in my stash

Copic sketch markers

Sugar Creek Hollow 1,2,3 challenge

It's been awhile since I joined in the Sugar Creek Hollow fun. Their current challenge is called 1,2,3 (1 focal point; 2 patterned papers; 3 embellishments). Just wanted to share this card. the focal point is from a pack of ephemera I got at the Queen's Ink in Savage, MD.

Thanks for stopping by!

Winter Birthday Challenge at OWH

I made this card with a Pure Innocence Stamp from My Favorite Things ("Sending a Flurry of Love"), paper piecing, Copics and Pearl Pen:

Autumn Leaves Challenge

Two days left in the Autumn Leaves challenge at Cards In Envy (A2 sized cards, flat for mailing). I made this with a single leaf rubber stamp from Rubber Stampede. I cut out one leaf and used it for a mask so I could stamp three leaves overlapping. I used scarlet ink, then embellished with deep red and yellows Copics:

HOGtoberfest and a challenge at Hambo

It's Hogtoberfest at one of my favorite stamp companies, Hambo Stamps. They are having their big sale right now which you can learn about at www.hambochallenges.blogspot.com as well as a link to their store. In the spirit of all things Ham(bo), this month's Hoedown challenge is "pigs." Not hard, when there are so many funny pig images in their shop. I used "Pig Artist" for my card:

 

I've been a Hambo Stamps fan since 2010. They always make me chuckle! Go check out the sale and their shop!

Paper-pieced Thanksgiving card

There are few things I enjoy more than paper-piecing with MFT's Pure Innocence stamps! The little tab is covering an ink oops but I actually like it. The heart stamp is from another set. I'll send this to one of my great-nieces, I'm sure!

OWH Sketch #238

I really like this week's sketch at the Stars & Stamps blog. It lends itself well to using tags, which I love. Here's a vintage card I made based on the sketch:

The image is from a pack of vintage ephemera I bought at The Queen's Ink in Savage, MD, while I was there for Sandy's Copic class. Thanks for stopping by.

ODBD October Challenge: Snowflakes (not Christmas)

Hi. When I found this cool owl image I decided to try a monochromatic nature card. I posed it with a giant pine cone I brought back from Lake Tahoe.

 

Image: Free Vintage Digital Stamps

DP: My Mind's Eye

Punch: Martha Stewart

Pearl Pen

World Card Making Day 2014: OWH Blog Hop!

Welcome!
Happy World Card Making Day 2014! The theme at Operation Write Home's blog party today is "love" and I intended this card to be masculine, but, as it turned out, I think it could be for a guy or a gal.  Maybe? In any case, it was fun.  I love tags and this coffee stamp set from Hero Arts:

 

Stamps: Hero Arts "Need Caffeine" Poly Clear Stamp set

DP: My Mind's Eye "Come Away With Me" 6x6 pad

Ribbon: Paper Source

Ranger Distress Ink

Charm: stash

 

I hope you have a great time seeing what everyone has created; I know I will! Come back soon.

Sherry

Fall Colors card

Welcome! Here's a card I made for a fall colors challenge. I used a new bicycle stamp from Crafty Individuals.

Birthday card using OWH sketch

Hello again! This card is based on the new OWH sketch, but the dimensions are different:

 

Image: "Emma Blowing Kisses" clear stamps Pure Innocence My Favorite Things

Sentiment: Paper Source

Copics

Candi Dots

DP: "Lost & Found" My Mind's Eye 6x6 pad

 

A little shout-out to OWH pal Ronni: Happy Birthday!!

OWH Sketch challenge

Welcome! Here is a quick and easy masculine card I made based on the new sketch at the OWH Stars & Stamps blog:

 

DP: "Times & Seasons 2" by Echo Park 6x6 pad

Sentiment: one of those clear stamp sets from Michael's I've had for ages

 

OWH Sketch 239: a vintage kitchen card

I used the new OWH Sketch 239 for the layout of my card. I also made it for the current challenge at Seongsook's Stampers "Food and Beverage":

 

Image: Clearly Vintage at Digital Two for Tuesday

DP: "Vintage Finds" 6x6 paper pad by Teresa Collins

 



This pretty old image reminds me of my late mother-in-law, Alice, who was the most good, kind and elegantly fashionable lady I ever knew. She was also a college graduate and home economics teacher.  She was wonderful and I loved and admired her!

With a Flourish: A Vintage Journey challenge

The current challenge at A Vintage Journey is called "With a Flourish." I wanted to join in the fun and decided that a stamp from Tim Holtz' "Visual Artistry" collection includes enough of a flourish to meet the challenge (I hope). I also ran my design through the Cuttlebug with its swirls and flourishes folder.
Tim's clear stamp also made me think of a chandelier so I decided to make a vintage spooky Halloween card.

 

Tim Holtz Visual Artistry Collection, Stampers Anonymous

Tim Holtz idea-ology 8x8 "Collage" papers

Graphic 45 "Run and Hide" dp

Cuttlebug swirls embossing folder

Ranger Distress Inks and Glossy Accents

Bat and Fright Night stamp/ribbon: stash

One Googlie eye -- did you spot it?

 

Thanks for visiting today! 

Sherry

 

 

ODBD Sept. Challenge at OWH

The Our Daily Bread Designs challenge at OWH this month is "Make your own background." I like the creepy way this background turned out; first I inked up the embossing folder with green and embossed it. After it dried, I went over the whole thing with black ink. Don't you think it looks like a spooky pumpkin patch after dark? The image is from The Graphics Fairy.

"It's All About Kids" - Hambo Hoedown Challenge!

Welcome. It's truly a solemn day as we commemorate 9-11. To brighten my own spirits I decided to take on Hambo Stamps' new challenge: It's All About Kids!"  I used Hambo's Pumpkin Boy digi to make this card for a kid. I tried to make it spooky without being too scary. Halloween fun! Next time I'm going to make the digi bigger and put braces on his teeth, lol.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

 

Words 2 Scrap By Challenge

The new challenge at Words 2 Scrap By is the phrase, "To Every Thing There is a Season." As autumn approaches, these words make me think of swirling, colored leaves, the warm glow of the autumn sun, and pumpkins! This L'il Pumpkin clear stamp set from Pure Innocence by My Favorite Things has long been one of my favorites, especially for paper piecing! I love trying a variety of patterned paper both for her dress and the pumpkin, combined with some Copic coloring:

 

A fun challenge for a beautiful time of year! Thanks for stopping by.

Sherry 

Challenge at Sandy A's blog: Ciara & Friends

Welcome! Have you seen the Ciara & Friends challenge at Sandy Allnock's blog? Post a Ciara & Friends card and you could win one of Sandy's stamp sets.

Here is my card:

 

I colored Ciara & Sandy with Copics and added Glossy Accents to Sandy's glasses, shoes, Ciara's nose and the little heart I stamped from another set (to cover an oops). I had that little flower cutout from a package I got at Target for ages and I added GA to seal the bit of glitter in the center.

Our Daily Bread Designs August challenge at OWH: stars

Getting my feet wet after six weeks without card making! I made this for the ODBD Challenge at Operation Write Home: stars.

 

Clear Stamps: Dare2BArtzy "MY HERO'

DP: Bo Bunny "Anthem" 6x6 pad

Brads: Recollections (Michael's)

I took a break to work on the illustrations for my new children's picture book, "Chloe the Shoe Cat." I will let everybody know when it's published and available. Thanks for stopping by and I will be sure to visit your blog soon!!

Hambo Hoedown challenge: Humor Us!

I am happy to get back to my blog after taking a break to work on a project. I am just getting this under the wire for Hambo's mid-month challenge: Humor Us! I made this tag using Hambo's Balloon Bird digi. It reminds me not to take life too seriously!

 

Thanks for stopping by! I've missed cardmaking and blogging. Happy to be "back".

Sandy's scarf challenge

Things have been hectic but I finally completed a card for Sandy's scarf challenge! Sandy received a thank you gift of a beautiful pink and yellow scarf. I immediately thought of the Tim Holtz-kind of Distress Ink background. So I made this background with his Tattered Rose and Wild Honey Distress Inks and sprayed it with a little water. I cut out this gypsy dancer from Prima Divine 6x6 and attached the image to a tag;  I think it looks so pretty with the colors and exotic style of the scarf. What a FUN challenge!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a good weekend.

OWH VCMP "Inching Toward Christmas" Challenge!

Hello and welcome to my blog! Wow! Hasn't it been a great 3-day Virtual Card Making Party at Operation Write Home? So much inspiration! I hope you've had a great weekend of celebrating Independence Day and making cards!
.
"Inching Toward Christmas"
We OWH'ers don't blink an eyelash at the fact that we are way ahead of the rest of the world when it comes to our calendar! The Christmas card deadline is October 10; the last-minute deadline is October 31. Time flies when we're having fun and that deadline will be here before we know it! Here's a link to the deadlines info page at the OWH Stars & Stamps Blog.

The challenge:
My challenge is to make a Christmas card (or cards) using INCHIES (1" squares) and one of these three inchie sketches from the OWH archive: #58, #60 and/or #175!. You can choose one of them to make a Christmas card or make a card from all 3 sketches; it's up to you and how much mojo you have left after this fun weekend!

Here is Sketch 58, followed by my card sample:

 

This card demonstrates punching inchies from downloadable public domain images. I inked the edges with Ranger Distress Ink to give them definition instead of matting them. (Images: Digital Two for Tuesday and the Graphics Fairy).

 

Sketch #60 and my card:

 

I made this card by punching out inchies from a large rubber stamp by Stampendous called "Snowy Postcard". I love blue and white at Christmas. I added the sparkly star to complement the bit of red text and the blingy ribbon.

 

And, last but not least, OWH Sketch #175 and my card:

 

These little clear stamps are from one of the first sets I bought at Michael's but I don't have the name of the manufacturer. Also, the DP is from my scrap stash but I'm sure I bought it at A.C. Moore. Those are Candi Dots.

 

Want more info on inches or need more inchie card ideas? Go to Inchie Arts or go to Pinterest.com and type "inchie cards" in the Search box!

 

Christmas Blog Candy:

I can't wait to see your inchie cards! Remember that sketches are just a guide; if your punch is a little bigger than an inch or if you want to flip the sketch that's OK! I will draw a blog candy winner on Wednesday, 7/9, from everyone who leaves a comment WITH your email address! Have fun! 

 

I understand InLinkz link is not working, so please include a link to your card/blog in your comment!! Thanks!  

   

One more thing--here's a link back to the VCMP Master List at the Stars & Stamps Blog. Thanks so much for joining in my challenge!! Merry Christmas in July!   -Sherry H
 

Happy Independence Day!

I made this card for the OWH Midweek Throwdown; just started experimenting with these Tim Holtz stencils! Everybody have a great holiday weekend!

Flowers Challenge at SCH sponsored by Doodle Pantry

Hi! The new challenge at Sugar Creek Hollow starting today is "Flowers" and we have a sponsor: Doodle Pantry! You have two weeks to create something vintage or shabby chic and post it at SCH! I made this card with "Morning Glory" digi from Doodle Pantry.

This is my last card as a Design Team member. I am illustrating another children's book and I need to focus on that for awhile! I want to thank Cec for giving me an opportunity to be on the team for the past year. I have learned so much from the gifted artists on the team and all of you who participate in the challenges! You will still see me around the Hollow!

Sherry

Hambo Hoedown's Monthly Challenge: Summer!

Hi! I think we're all really happy that the Hoedown is back on a monthly basis! The theme for June is SUMMER. I used Hambo Stamps' "Wee Henry Snorkel" digi for my summer fun card:

Digi: Hambo Stamps "Wee Henry Snorkel"

Tim Holtz Alterations embossing folder "Bubbles"

Copics

Glossy Accents

 

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to leave a comment!

 

OWH Sketch & ODBD June challenge

Welcome! Here's my card for this week's Sketch #228 at the Stars & Stamps blog and also for the Our Daily Bread Designs June challenge to use dies or punches:

Sketch 228 (turned)

Sentiment rubber stamp

DP: Recollections (Michael's)

Spellbinders Nestabilities Basic A2 Matting dies

Fiskars border punch

Martha Stewart tiny butterflies punch

 

"Feeling Buggy" Challenge at CIE

I made this card for Cards In Envy's current challenge: "Feeling Buggy"!  When I read that our "buggy" creation doesn't have to be bugs,  I remembered this fun baby buggy digi from Hambo Stamps in my collection:

 

Digi: "Mom With Stroller" Hambo Stamps

DP: Recollections (Michael's)

Sentiment: Wood-mounted rubber stamp (will check name of mfr.)

Pearl Pen

Copics

 

Here Comes the Bride: New challenge at SCH

Welcome! The new challenge starting today at Sugar Creek Hollow is "Here Comes the Bride", so perfect for the month of June! You have two week to make something vintage or shabby chic. Here is the card I made as a member of the Design Team; I love this old cover from "The Farmer's Wife Magazine" and the DP is "Divine" by Prima.

 

Thanks for stopping by; have fun creating!

OWH BBQ Challenge: Cheeseburger time

Welcome! The OWH Midweek Throwdown Challenge is BBQ and challenge host Allison reprised Nancy K.'s fun cheeseburger tutorial! You can make the cheeseburger or anything BBQ-related but I remembered how much fun Nancy's cheeseburger was to make so I had to try it again:

I made my cheeseburger out of paper, instead of using ribbon/lace for the "lettuce". I just randomly cut some green paper for the lettuce. I used a white colored pencil to highlight the edges of the bun; I also used the white pencil to put little sesame seed dots on the bun and added Glossy Accents. I also put GA on the tomato, cheese, onion and pickle because I thought they needed a little something shiny! I just realized I forgot to add a little red to the ladybugs (a tiny old wood stamp I have). The cheeseburger is really fun and easy to make!

June Tag challenge at Tim Holtz

I really really was going to sit down to tackle a "work" project today; then I got pleasantly distracted by Tim Holtz' blog and his "Twelves Tags of 2014 - June" challenge! I've never participated before this but I thought his technique looked fun and beautiful. Even his wrinkly bow technique was fun! This is how my tag turned out. It was just plain fun and I have the inky fingers to prove it!

 

All Tim Holtz products except Martha Stewart punched-out butterflies, pearls, Prima brads and rayon seam binding. I hope with practice I'll get better at the Tim Holtz-inspired style! Thanks for visiting.

Sherry

OWH Sketch Challenge

Hello! I recently ordered two of Sandy Allnock's "Ciara's Friends" collection. The stamps I used for this card are from the set "Oliver and Shayla". I had some coloring issues but I didn't want to discard my work so I did a little piecing and gave her a purple headband. I just love this image. I thought the star paper would be fitting for a hero to send a hug home.

I used this week's Sketch 227B:

 

 

Looking forward to using this and other Sandy stamp sets soon. I ordered mine from Simon Says Stamp; you can also get them at Whimsy Stamps. Thanks for visiting!