Saturday, August 31, 2013

Labor Day Weekend VCMP!


Welcome everyone! I'm so excited to be participating in the Operation Write Home, Labor Day Weekend Virtual Card Making Party! Woohoo! If this is your first VCMP, let me just tell you how much fun you are about to have! Every few hours, another link will be posted over at the starting place on the Stars & Stamps blog. You can visit each stop and play along by making a card to go along with the challenge on that page. Are you ready for your first challenge? Go!

My challenge is to make a winter or Christmas themed card for OWH following  a sketch! My card turned out to be Christmassy, because of the papers and sentiment that I picked, but you could definitely do this with a general winter theme by using any wintery themed papers or colors that you desire! Here is the sketch for you to follow:


I made this one up because it was such a good opportunity to use up my last little bits of some of my favorite papers. The 1" squares were done with a punch, although cutting 1" squares could also be done with any trimmer. (I must thank Paula for her awesome photo shopping skills and helping me with the sketch today! Thanks, Paula!!!) Here is my card:


Running the mat with the inchies and white cardstock through an embossing folder was kind of an afterthought, but I do like how it turned out, with just a little bit of added dimension.

Here are a few more tips if you are going to try this!
Inchies are best when punched or cut from paper with small patterns.
When assembling the card, start by placing the inchie at the top center onto your card first! Then place the other inchies around it, to complete the pattern.
Don't get hung up on the inchie squares... I think that it would also be fun to use other inch-sized shapes to complete a similar pattern... maybe some hexagons or even some snowflakes! 

Maybe some of your stops along the VCMP will include a little bit of incentive! As for me, I will be picking one of the InLinkz participants at random to receive a little blog candy. I've got an adorable, brand new acrylic snowflake stamp that needs a new home. Isn't he cute?

Single Snowflake by CTMH
Can't wait to see what you all come up with! Play along by adding your card below and thank you so much for stopping by!
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57 comments:

  1. I love the colors of your squares and the embossing really gave it a punch. Beautiful card! Thanks for another card sketch too!

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  2. Love your card---it can be used for all seasons depending on the paper. It reminds me of a quilt.

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  3. Love your card!Did you emboss the card first? Then add the squares?





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  4. love the embossing
    easy sketch to work with
    thanks!

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  5. Great sketch- and I hope Robin is right that is will be easy! I am TERRIBLE on lining things up so your tip to start with the top center may save me! Great challenge to start off the party!!!

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  6. Gorgeous card and sketch Nancy! The papers go together so well and I agree, it gives the look of a warm quilt.

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  7. Pretty! I think the embossing really makes the card pop!

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  8. Your sample card is lovely. The subdued colorway pops on the embossed white. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  9. I like this inchie lay out. I have problems getting them straight in a bingo card style lay out. I think I'll be easier on myself with this layout. Change the paper and you've got a card for any season or occasion. Love it.

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  10. What a great card and a wonderful way to use some scrap papers. Love that you embossed it too!
    Thanks for sharing this sketch idea and your card.
    ~ Vickie

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  11. Wonderful sketch, Nancy! And you're right, it's a wonderful way to use up some of those scraps. I like the idea that I can do winter or Christmas.

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  12. Such a fun sketch! Many thanks for the tip about starting the inchies from the center-- it made my card happen! Have a fun VCMP!
    Carolynn Wilson

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  13. I love this idea, Nancy!! Great way to kick off the VCMP!

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  14. This reminds me of a Christmas quilt and makes me want to dig through my fabric and start sewing again! Good job!

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  15. I live this card...harlequin is one of my favorite designs. Thanks so much for the inspiration!

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  16. Nancy, I always avoid inchies because I have trouble gluing them down straight. But this is such a terrific card, you've inspired me to make it more often. I think it'd be great with the polka dots I like use a lot. Thanks for hosting the first stop on the party! Oh, and I'm glad you decided to emboss. :)

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  17. Would love to play along, however, I'm 1,000 miles from my supplies. :( Love the sketch, so I'll play when I get home.

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  18. This is such a great sketch! I very rarely think to use inchies on my own. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  19. Hi Nancy, what a great start with your sketch. I love it. Thanks!

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  20. Great sketch and even better inspiration card! Those papers make me think of a warm, cozy quilt....perfect for a Christmas card.
    This is my first time to participate in a VCMP. Hope I can keep up!

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  21. Love all the card shares. I'm having a difficult time in uploading my cards, but I've made 2 so far. I have little squares all over the place. Great way to use of some old paper that I just wasn't sure how to use.

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  22. Nancy,

    Fabulous sketch and great sample card! Thanks for hosting.

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  23. What a great start to the day! Wouldn't you know it...I have a box of a zillion inchies that I've cut from scraps and of course had only one which I used on my card!
    Thanks for the inspiration - to you and to all the others who have already posted their cards.

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  24. Loved the sketch and your sample card is beautiful. Thanks for your inspiration.

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  25. What nice entries already! This sketch is definitely a hit and such a good way to use those nicer paper scraps you can't bear to part with. Thanks for hosting a VCMP challenge this weekend Nancy!

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  26. Great sketch and a great card, Nancy! I love the warm homey Christmas feel! Thanks for hosting a fun challenge!

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  27. Your awesome sketch got us off to a high octane start! Very classy and who can't use another idea for scraps? Thanks for supporting OWH!

    SuzAnn
    Board Member

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  28. This is a great scraps sketch! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  29. love this sketch! I ended up making 3 cards with it! Thanks for the fun challenge! :)

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  30. Wow! I love your sketch! Putting together a card with little pieces is always fun for me, so I look forward to playing with this! Thanks you! And your sample card is lovely!

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  31. I loved the sketch and your great way to use up scraps! Your Christmas card is so pretty with the colors you chose! Enjoy your Labor Day weekend!

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  32. This was fun, although I hesitated at the beginning. Thanks for the challenge!

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  33. Such a great card sketch. There is so much that can be done with it. I am out of town right now but can't wait to try this out when I get home. Love your card and sketch!

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  34. Such a great card sketch. There is so much that can be done with it. I am out of town right now but can't wait to try this out when I get home. Love your card and sketch!

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  35. Thanks, a great layout! Love the quilty idea, as I'm a quilter, and addicted to quilt cards! Hadn't seen this before!! I already have a list started for other ideas. Scallop squares, 1" stamped image squares on a color mat, both straight up and on the diagonal...
    Now on to getting started.

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  36. Fabulous sketch! I love it! Can't wait to find some time to join! :)

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  37. Ooops! Forgot the part about it being a Christmas/Winter themed card. Oh, well, at least I made it a "Miss You" card which is always good for OWH.

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  38. OMG!!Love your card sketch. I was needing an idea for next months card club (Christmas theme) this would be great. Everyone's card are inspiring. Betty T.

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  39. My crafting mojo has been MIA for months...thanks for posting a sketch that got me going again!
    - Cheryl

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  40. LOVE this sketch and the use of inchies. Your sample is wonderful ! THANK YOU for Hostesssing =)

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  41. Thanks, Nancy, for this great sketch and sample card. Terrific use of the inchies which can be geared to any occasion.

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  42. thanks so much for the idea, hadn't thought of this arrangement for the squares. This is my first time actually linking a project. I usually just give a look and write down the techniques for later, but finally took the plunge!

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  43. Nancy, thanks so much for this beautiful card and sketch! Love everything about it. I just tried one using my 1 1/4" punch and will post it in a bit. Harriet in NC

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  44. This is one fabulous sketch!! I will definitely be using it over and over again. Your card is stunning!

    Linda

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  45. Thanks for the great challenge. My card doesn't look much like a winter card until you open it up and read the inside...Winter is for the birds. -Thia

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  46. Thanks for thinking up this great challenge. It was exciting to see what everyone came up with. All of the cards turned out beautifully.

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  47. This is the first place I saw the hexagon punched pieces and have wanted a punch ever since. Finally I ordered one from my SU friend on Thursday but found a smaller Fiskars on sale today at JoAnn's. Now I'll have two different sizes! I've been playing around with the smaller one this evening and came here to look at these cards. I'll have to wait until the week after next for the SU punch, though. Thanks for this design!

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  48. Beautiful card! Can you please tell me where you got the Merry Christmas word stamp?

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  49. Thanks Nancy for sharing such a fun design and the hints on inchie placement that worked perfectly. I used your card as the CASE from Pinterest focus for our Watercooler Challenge (WCC10) this week. Feel free to check it out and join in the fun here - http://watercoolerchallenges.blogspot.ca/

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  50. Running the mat with the inchies and white cardstock through an embossing folder was kind of an afterthought, but I do like how it turned out, with just a little bit of added dimension.
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Thank you for your comments! I do always read them and they always make my day. Thanks for taking the time.