Third Try Works Best and Contest Winners for Paper Pads!

Fellow crafters, my deepest apologies for not getting this information up before now.  I was supposed to announce the winners last night and was setting up the post when a family drama came up.  Then today, my daughter was in a terrible car accident.  Everyone is well now and all is good, daughter is resting as comfortably as she can and counting her blessings that she is not hurt worse.  Thank God for keeping His hand on her during this ordeal.

First up, I took a coloring break this weekend and here's a third try, sans embellishments.  I need to get my embellishments back in order (they are a little messed up after a crop and conference).  But here you go!

I can't wait to make a thank you note for a hero inside it and mail this to OWH!

I still challenge each reader to make two Any Hero cards and mail them in.  You can find the information HERE.

Now, for what you really came for, lol...

I hadn't thought this through, again sorry it's been crazy but now I know to plan ahead next year!  :)  So my helpers and I did this the old fashioned way.  I went through the comments (which I'm still answering) and wrote out each name for each comment/join, etc.  We cut them up and put them in a bowl...

and then I had my sleepyhead sons (it was morning) help me draw the names to keep it all above board.  They covered their eyes then dove right in!

The winner of the MME Lost & Found Portobello Road Paper Pad is:

And the winner of the We R memory Keepers Antique Chic Paper Pad is:

Congratulations to Reflections :0) and Barbara Greenberg!   Please get in touch with me (email me at paperblessings[at]charter[dot]net with your mailing information).

I really wish I could send each of you something.  Your comments during my first OWH blog hop were so encouraging even though it was not my best work.  You all ROCK!   Thanks so much and to my new followers, if you blog, look for me on your blog soon.  :)   I love to follow new friends!

Thanks again for entering my contest and for all the encouraging comments.  Please craft well and craft often!

Hugs,

Craftsy Free Crochet Pattern Alert!

Hi fellow crocheters! 

I hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.  :)  I was in card-making mode and bloghopping over the weekend, but am looking at other things today in cyberspace and came across this darling little spring scarf on Craftsy.

For free pattern, click here:  California Spring Scarf

Be sure to hop over there and snag it before it's no longer free and check out their classes and other patterns (some free!) while you are over there, for all kinds of projects!

Happy Crocheting!

Oh my! I forgot...

In my excitement to share the bloghop, I totally forgot to say when the contest ended!   EEK!

I was going to end it at midnight on Memorial Day Weekend and draw a name today, but obviously can't now.

So...

You have until tonight to get your entries in for this contest.  Remember there are three ways you can enter:

1) Post a comment here about WHY you would like this particular 6x6 pad of paper!  What do you think you'll do with it?   You get 1 entry for commenting on this blog post.

2)  Post a comment on tomorrow's blog hop post!   What about the card do you like?  What would you write inside?  Be creative!  You get 1 entry for commenting on Saturday's blog post.

3)  Look up at the right side of the blog...see that email subscribe box?  If you really want to follow me, please sign up there.  Or, you can sign up via the Google Friend Connect (bottom of right column).  I just pretty-please ask only serious subscribers please.  It makes bloggers sad when people subscribe for a contest then quickly unsubscribe when the contest is over.  We feel lonely.    You get 1 entry for subscribing and posting here that you subscribed!  If you are already subscribed/a friend, then please let me know that too for your entry!

If you do number #3 please make sure you post on Friday's post or here that you have done so to make sure that the entry is counted!!!

We will also have another prize!  :)  The second winner will receive a sweet 6x6 pad of We R memory keepers double-sided papers in Antique Chic!

I will have the drawing Wednesday night, so check back here on Thursday to see who won these great papers.  There will also be updates on cards finished and photos.  :)

Thanks again for all of your support.   

Don't forget to check out the other blogs in the hop.  Some contests for goodies have ended, but some haven't yet (they end tonight) and all of them have some great inspiration!

Hugs,

Sketch 32 Simple Redux

Okay, so I stayed up a wee bit longer and played with one more very simple version of sketch 32 (from Operation Write Home's sketches).  I'm still not satisfied.  I think I just struggle with sketches, as I'm never happy with them when I make cards from them.  :(  At any rate, here's my KISS version of sketch 32.  Sweet 'n' Simple.

It might also just be time to retire this image for the weekend.  We shall see.

At any rate, here are the details:

BASE:  Bazzill Moody Blue
IMAGE LAYER:  Bazzill Peanut Cluster
PATTERNED CARDSTOCK:  Authentique, Pride Collection
IMAGES:  Stampin' Up! (old sets)
INK:  Stampin' Up! Night of Navy

Or perhaps, I'm just tired.  Praying for some inspiration today!  I still have 20-something sheets of this pad to work through!  :)

Catch you later!

Hugs & Happy Creating...

It's On! The Memorial Day Blog Hop for Operation Write Home!

It's Memorial Day weekend here in the States and that means it's a special time set aside to honor our beloved Heroes.  We salute those brave men and women--past and present--who have had the courage to serve our country.

Operation Write Home is a wonderful organization that supports our military (and their family and friends) by providing hope and encouragement in the form of some beautiful handmade cards (for our troops to send back home) as well as by sending Any Hero mail to those men and women who might need some love from home.  They also host an annual blog hop each year and you get to join in the fun!

To visit the many blogs participating (corporate and private) please click HERE!

2013's Blog Hop will focus on sketches again and also the theme is Thank You.  We really want to up the ante on Any Hero cards, so that's what I am focusing on this weekend.

It's late here and I was short on time due to celebrating another victory in our lives (congrats niece Britt on your graduation!) and so I made a simple Any Hero card to go in the next package.  It needs some punching up and I'll play with it some more and update when I can, but don't want to miss out on the fun, so here you go!

This card is based on the OWH sketch #32 and I used Bazill Moody Blue for the base, and top layer and Bazill Peanut Cluster for the image, middle layer and sentiment layer.  Inks are SU! Night of Navy and Real Red.  The stamped images are from Stampin' Up! (some older sets) and the patterned paper is from Authentique (Pride collection).  Technique, simply used DTP for the edges since the dotted paper looked "smudged" too. ~~ I need to go in and touch up the sentiment and I'm considering changing out that eyelet for a smaller bronzed star brad.  Hmm....

As I said, this is a cute but hurried card that needs a little love and I'll be posting more throughout the weekend if you happen to make it through the rest of the blogs and want to come back and visit. Again, you can reach those wonderful sites by starting right HERE.

Also, don't forget to sign up for your chance to win a 6x6 pad of Lost & Found from me!  Go HERE for the information!

Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and don't forget to thank a hero for their service!

Hugs,

Blog Hop Give Away

Counting down the hours until the blog hop begins!!

Visit OWH HERE to get to the blog hop on Saturday, Sunday and Monday!

As promised, I have a give-away for my wonderful readers.  Are you ready?

Since my challenge for the weekend involves 6x6 pads of paper, I thought I'd share the fun.  For the give-away I'm giving away a brand-spankin' new 6x6 pad from My Minds Eye!  This is from their Lost and Found collection and it's called Portobello Road.  It's a gorgeous set of double-sided papers!

There are several ways to enter, so pay attention.

1) Post a comment here about WHY you would like this particular 6x6 pad of paper!  What do you think you'll do with it?   You get 1 entry for commenting on this blog post.

2)  Post a comment on tomorrow's blog hop post!   What about the card do you like?  What would you write inside?  Be creative!  You get 1 entry for commenting on Saturday's blog post.

3)  Look up at the right side of the blog...see that email subscribe box?  If you really want to follow me, please sign up there.  Or, you can sign up via the Google Friend Connect (bottom of right column).  I just pretty-please ask only serious subscribers please.  It makes bloggers sad when people subscribe for a contest then quickly unsubscribe when the contest is over.  We feel lonely.    You get 1 entry for subscribing and posting here that you subscribed!  If you are already subscribed/a friend, then please let me know that too for your entry!

4)  Visit the other blogs in the blog hop.  Okay, no entries given for that, but I think you'll really enjoy seeing all the fun stuff out there and maybe snagging some more goodies!

There will be some other treats thrown inside the package as well!  And depending on how many entries I receive, we might have a second winner.  I don't know, we'll have to wait and see!

So, get ready to hop the weekend away in between your plans and I hope you can squeeze out a card or two in the fun.  Here's hoping you win!

Hugs,

Memorial Day Weekend Challenge

Can you feel the excitement?  It's almost time for the blog hop to begin.  YIPPEE!!!

I mentioned yesterday that I will be challenging myself to make at least a dozen cards in between all the activities of the weekend, and hopefully even more than that.  I've narrowed down my goal.

Last night on OWHtv, Sandy talked about her night at the scrap group and how she used an entire 6x6 pad to make a whole slew of cards.  They were great!  During the episode that aired last night she quickly whipped up two to show us how sweet and simple it is.

If you'd like to see the 101st episode, click HERE.

After watching her work, I was inspired to use the OWH Sketches and a 6x6 pad to make a bunch of Thank You/Hero cards to send in.   I plan on using the "Noah's Ark" method of using two sheets at a time (so two x twos, lol) and work my way through an entire pad of 6x6 paper.

The pad I'm using will be from Authentique and it's a 26-page bundle from the collection called PRIDE.

If...and that's a big if...I manage to get through that and want to create some more, I have another 6x6 pad from Authentique  that is also 26-page bundle but from the collection called RENEW.  I thought Pride was more in line with Memorial Day (reds/whites/blues) and the Renew set was a good one that could make feminine or masculine cards.  I'll be using Bazzill cardstock for my bases and layers.

The theme for the weekend is THANK YOU, if you want to participate too.

My goal is still 12 cards, though I would really like to get even more!

I will be using sketches from Operation Write Home to create these.  I will do at least two of each sketch I use and will post throughout the weekend.  While only one post will be linked in for the blog hop, I will update as I get going for those intrepid enough to see what I'm up to.  Just be sure to visit all the other blogs too throughout the weekend!  There is going to be some great blog candy going around and some tutorials and goodies passed out.

In fact, stay tuned for a give-away from me!

If you haven't looked at Operation Write Home's sketches, now is a great time to do so!  They have so many of them available in at least two downloadable PDF files that you can print.  The great thing about them is the majority of them have sizes of the pieces on them--not many sketches do!  I encourage you to check it out.

CHECK OUT OPERATION WRITE HOME SKETCHES HERE!!!!

So, be on the look out for my next blog post later tonight that will share details about my contest/give away and hope you take some time to look at all the fabulous blogs linked up for the hop and also to participate in your own way for Any Hero mail (see previous post for reader challenge).

Hugs!

Memorial Weekend Blog Hop for Operation Write Home

Hi, everyone out there in cyber land!  I have missed you all and it sure has been busy around the Z household.

The good news is that Daddy's surgeries went well and the cancer has been removed.  He is on the way to healing and learning to live with diminished lung capacity.  Aunt S does not have cancer and is on the mend too.   On a sad note, we lost two family members during this time.

Project Pink 2013 is now history and it was a blast!  I was blessed to be a part of this year's women's conference at our church and help encourage women to BELIEVE they could create.  We made some cute little fridge mini clipboards and flower broach/clips for hair or purses.  I was also asked to create some massive stage props!  It was short-notice so a lot of fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants type creating but think the one came out really cute.  I hope to have pics of all these creations up for you to see soon!

WHEW!

After a week recuperating (and getting ill, getting better), it's time to look forward.  This weekend is a holiday weekend here in the States.  Monday is Memorial Day, when we recognize those men and women who served our country.  I recently became involved in Operation Write Home and am so excited to participate in their blog hop this year!

Be sure to visit them by clicking HERE.  Take a peek around and see the good they do for our heroes and their families and friends.

CHALLENGE!  Even if you are not a card maker, I challenge each reader here to send in an AnyHero card or letter to support them.  There are men and women in our military who could use the moral support from home.  Even something as simple as we appreciate you and are praying for you will go a long way to those brave heroes.   If you are a card maker, maybe throw in a few extras and also consider joining this wonderful organization!

So, be on the lookout tomorrow and this weekend for more information on the blog hop.  I'll be challenging myself (and hopefully you), might even have some candy or freebies, and just love to create with you!   Be sure to also make the rounds on the hop to visit all the other good blogs out there supporting OWH and see what they are sharing and perhaps giving away!

Until then!