October Card Classes

The Sangria paper pack from Close to My Heart made into fifteen cards at Tina's studio.  I love these papers so much that I bought some more!
 

Four Christmas cards and four others from Vicky's card class today.

Goal for 2015: Use It or Donate It

Having craft items in drawers, cabinets, or the closet makes for a neater looking room, but doesn't help those supplies to get used.  My goal for 2015 has neen to use up supplies for paper crafting and clear out the yarn I've had forever but have never used.  The children's librarian will be getting some goodie bags this year, for sure!  Cindy at Cards by Cindy has inspired me, so let's see how I do!

I've had a good start in January, using up the packs of 30 square cards I bought in 2009 without realizing square cards require additional postage.  One birthday, one thank you, and twenty-eight thinking of you cards were completed at the January crop at Tina's.

Next  I put together fifty card kits using the embossed papers I paired with fifty patterned paper from a stack that's been in the drawer for six years.  The Operation Write Home sketches 76 - 125 helped me make cards that have some variety, and my new Copic markers gave the images a colorful look.

Joining a RAK (Random Acts of Kindness) group is a perfect for finding new homes for some really nice items I haven't used.

Used up or given away as of the end of September :
embossed acetate
cat inchies
western and cowboy sentiments
vellum quotations
items from Alice Carter's stash bought at the Habitat store
lots and lots of stickers
regular and foam paint brushes
markers
ribbon
Xyron sticker maker
glitter pens
glitter
bling too thick for cards
die cut tags
ATCs from Alice Carter
patriotic and military papers
pink and green gift bag
napkins for making cards

Eight Card Classes

These cards were all made in Vicky's card classes - such fun!

 February class
I bought the SU stamp set that has the car in it - good for cards for guys.

 

I love the 3D effect of this card.

March class

These party animals are cute!

 April class

May class
I ended up going online to order the set of cat dies, which go perfect with the small Madison window die.  I also made a template for making some mini envelopes for card fronts.  No need to buy a new piece of equipment.
 

June class

Vicky usually includes at least one card with an interesting construction.

 

 Christmas in July class.  Since I won't use the six tags for gifts, I added them to six different Christmas cards instead.

 

 August class

 

The September class included four Halloween cards, one of which goes to a friend whose birthday is on Halloween. 

First Cards of 2015

Thrift shop stamps are hit or miss, but a get well stamp and a package stamp are winners.

Most of the Get Well images I have aren't appropriate for men, but this little pill bottle can be paired with more masculine papers and the pills inside colored to coordinate.

                                            Masking can make stamping multiple images easy.

These eight cards were made today in Vicky's card class. 

Top Cards of 2014

Have you seen all the great cards posted at the Operation Write Home Blog Hop?  Please visit and be prepared to be inspired!  Here are my favorite cards in no particular order, photographed with questionable camera skills. 

 Playing around with two hexagon punches - a great activity while watching Netflix movies.

 Four sheets of double sided paper, four cards, including the base and all matting pieces - use up that paper!!

 Playing around with the Owl Builder punch and some springy wire.

Proof that it's possible to CASE an idea even when you don't have the same die to use as the original card had.

One of my favorite sketches.

 Just because I love red, black, and white.

 Learning how to use the dies that go with these cute stamps.

Funny birthday stamp with a paw print embossing folder.  "Birthdays are like hairballs...the more you have, the more you want to gag."

I hope you've enjoyed seeing some of  my cards.  I'd love to hear which you like the most.   Please feel free to make suggestions for improvement.  It's always good to get advice from others, don't you think?  Happy hopping!  Here's the link back to the beginning of the hop. 

Happy New Year!