Saturday 5 October 2013

World Card-Making Day Blog Hop---Operation Write Home

Someone said that a card is a hug with a fold in the middle.  That may sound trite but for those people who are far from their loved ones, whether it is just another province, or state or another country, receiving a card really does feel like a hug.  It is a tangible reminder that somebody loves you or is thinking about you.  Yes, it's wonderful to talk on the telephone, send an email or to skype, but those technologies aren't available to everyone.  And with a card, a day, a week, a month or even a year later, the same wonderful feeling washes over you as you pull it out and read it again.  I'm proud to celebrate World Card-Making Day by taking part in this blog hop.

Sketch Challenge #179




The card which I'm posting today is a Thank You card, based on this sketch supplied by the OWH organization's talented designers.






I decided ahead of time that I wanted this card to be a very masculine one and so looked for a design that would compliment the gorgeous Wetlands stamp set.  I love the way the sandpipers look and they work perfectly in a narrow strip such as is the focus of this design.  I kept all my colours very neutral but used blue watercolour across the top of the sandpipers to simulate water.  I like that one "pop" of colour among all the neutrals.  To give the background some interest, I used my woodgrain embossing folder on some white core paper.  Sanding it slightly helped the woodgrain to really show.


This blog hop is part of an enormous undertaking.  In honour of Operation Write Home, hundreds of blogs are linking up for this blog hop.  To get to the Home Page, just click on the graphic below:

WCDstart

85 comments:

  1. Love that you used the woodgrain on two layers and switched the graining.

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    1. Thank you, Kara. I agree---switching the grain helped mix up the textures better.

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  2. Love your card design! I can not get enough of the beautiful Wetlands stamp set! I see another CASE in my future!

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    1. Thank you Nicole. I love the Wetlands stamp set so much. This is the first card I've made with the sandpipers but I've used the Canada Goose several times and loved it.

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  3. I love this card! The blues, beige, and browns definitely make me feel like I'm at the beach.

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  4. I just love this card! You're right, The simple background just lets the stamped image pop! I'm definately have to get this stamp set. TFS!

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    1. Thanks so much, Amelia. You won't be sorry if you get this stamp set.

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  5. BTW, your post verification is very difficult to get through.

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    1. I've now changed the post verification for this hop. Thanks for pointing out the difficultly.

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  6. Very nice card. It is elegant.

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  7. Truly a beautiful, yet masculine card. Beautiful coloring. Love the sanded wood grain. TFS.

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    1. Thanks so much, Marsha. I love using the woodgrain embossing folder.

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  8. I think this may be my favorite card! I love the layering and how you reversed the direction on the woodgrain embossing. I do love this stamp (and thinking the more I see it, the more I want it). The thank you doesn't jump out, but I do like how it is there....the eyes do draw to it with all the elements. radloffjen at cableone dot net

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    1. What a lovely comment, Jen! Thank you so much! You won't be sorry if you break down and buy this stamp set. I think it will become a classic--the drawings are so detailed and perfect.

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  9. This is such a gorgeous card...I love the stamped image you chose and it's colored beautifully.

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    1. Thanks so much, Stacy. This is a set that begs for watercolouring.

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  10. Beautiful masculine card - love the matted layers and the wood grain embossed on TWO layers. The colored image is gorgeous!

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  11. Great picturesque card. TFS on WCMD

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  12. Lovely handling of this sketch. It works together so well. Love the choice of colors too. Barb in Wichita

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    1. Thank you so much, Barb. It was a great sketch---I loved it as soon as I saw it.

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  13. That stamped image and subtle coloring is gorgeous! Love it! TFS

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  14. This is absolutely stunning! I just love the way you colored the image. Great choice of sketches. I used the same one. :)

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    1. Hi Kristie. Thank you so much. I saw your card and love what you did with the sketch as well. :)

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  15. This is so pretty, yet prefect for a masculine card. I love the touch of blue.

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    1. Thank you, Cherie. The touch of blue really makes the card, doesn't it?

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  16. This is a very handsome card! I love how you made some shorebirds look masculine! Offset with the woodgrain, the watercoloring of blues and browns, its the perfect card for a man.

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    1. Thank you so much, Jessie. I really am pleased with how well it all works together.

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  17. This is a fantastic masculine card, Heidi! Love the watercoloring, it's just the perfect touch for that image. Happy WCMD!

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    1. Thank you, Julie. I agree about the watercolouring. Anything else would have been too much.

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  18. This is a fantastic masculine card, Heidi! Love the watercoloring, it's just the perfect touch for that image. Happy WCMD!

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  19. I love this stamp set, and the way you've enhanced it with the sketch and beautiful watercoloring. Perfectly done, really shows off the shore birds.

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    1. Hi Rose. I love this stamp set as well. It's so versatile. Thanks for the lovely comments.

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  20. I love the way the soft colors are still so masculine! And that wood grain embossing adds so much. Great job!!

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    1. Thank you Bobbi. I agree that it needed the embossing.

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  21. Such a great combo with the woodgrain and the watercolor effect on the image. This is a perfect masculine design. Nice details but no frilliness. :) Thanks for joining in the hop today and supporting OWH!

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    1. Thank you, Paula. I've enjoyed the hop and hope to continue supporting OWH.

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  22. I like your coloring and the wood grain embossing.

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  23. Awesome masculine card! Love the embossed background ... perfect for the cool image you used!

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    1. Thank you, Ruza. I agree about the embossing. It really helps to make the card.

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  24. Your card is strikingly beautiful. You did a fabulous job of coloring your image and I really like the look of the woodgrain panels going different directions on your card.

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    1. Thanks so much, Heather. What a lovely compliment.

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  25. What a beautiful card. This is one of my favorite sets. Your texture with the wood grain folder really adds a lot to this card.

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    1. Thanks so much. The Wetlands stamp set is gorgeous and I won't be getting rid of it, even after it retires. It's one of my favourites, too.

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  26. Love this card. I am with you - I really like the pop of color on the neutral background. April

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  27. Your card is simple gorgeous. LOVE the coloring and the textured backgrounds!

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  28. That is my favorite stamp set and this card is fabulous!

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    1. Thanks, Colleen. I'm with you about the Wetlands stamp set.

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  29. That's a perfect masculine card! Gorgeous!

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  30. I love your card it is masculine but what struck me most was how serene it is!!

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  31. Very lovely card and fabulous take of the sketch! Thanks for sharing this for World Card Making Day! :) HUGS

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  32. Oh my goodness! I've just come back home and discovered all these wonderful comments and so much praise for my card. I am overwhelmed! Thank you all so very much. I loved making the card and, as I mentioned in my post, love the Wetlands stamp set. It's such a terrific feeling to have one's work appreciated to this degree. Thanks again.

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  33. Awesome card!! I love the colors and I really love the wood grain going in different directions!

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  34. Wow, where to start? First of all I LOVE your first paragraph! Sums it all up very, very well. Now to the card, it's as great as your words!! Love the focal and that you switched it all up with the dark papers and the lighter layers!! This is def. going in the ideas folder!
    R/

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    1. Thank you for the wonderful compliments, Rufus. I'm so happy you enjoyed my post. :)

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  35. What a great masculine card!

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  36. Heidi, you did a fabulous job with this card. This is definitely one of my favorites from the hop. The Wetlands set should be arriving at my door Wednesday and I can't wait to play with it. I will definitely be CASEing your card. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Thanks so much, Cissy. You'll be so happy using the Wetlands stamp set! I've used the Canada Goose stamp several times but this was my first with the Sandpipers. I love this set! CASE away!

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  37. You did a great job on this card! Lots of comments! Always a good thing!

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  38. Thank you very much, Michele. :)

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  39. Love that stamp. Nice pop of watercolor behind it. Thanks for supporting OWH.

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  40. Gorgeous card! Love that image!

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    1. Thank you, Linda. The Wetlands stamp set really is fantastic.

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  41. what a wonderful card.! can I ask if you used watercolor paper for the stamped images ?? I should be receiving this stamp set in the mail any day now.. and cant wait to try this card.

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    1. Hi there. Thank you so much for the lovely comments. No, this is not watercolour paper. I've used the Whisper White cardstock (Stampin' Up!) for the hand-coloured image. It could just as easily have been stamped on watercolour paper. You'll love the set. I've made a number of cards, especially during the summer of 2014, using this set. http://heidistampinalong.blogspot.ca/2014/06/mojo-monday-350-another-look-at.html

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    2. This is another one using that stamp set. There are a number during2014 June and July. http://heidistampinalong.blogspot.ca/2014/06/wetlands-rocks-colour-challenge-ppa206.html

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