I’m honored and excited to be this week’s sample maker for the Operation Write Home Stars and Stamps Sketch Challenge! If you haven’t joined in the OWH/Our Daily Bread Designs challenge for the month of March yet, this sketch is perfect for it.

I’ve made two sample cards with this sketch.  On the first card, I’ve created an extra layer so that the ribbon could be wrapped around to the back of it.  I chose to use a simple knot bow to help keep the card USPS-machine-friendly. But other than that, I followed the sketch pretty closely.  It felt good to use two of my older designer papers for this card. The sentiment is from one of the OWH/Hero Arts clear stamp sets.

The second card is a one-layer card.  I decided to use a border stamp to create the scalloped elements.  I will admit that even after 10 years of stamping regularly, I still get nervous about stamping on one-layer cards!  I added another border stamp, which looks a lot like faux stitching, between the scalloped borders.  I stamped that in silver, and the ink glared a little on the right side of the photo.  Sorry about that.  I didn’t have anything handy to use as a stamp positioner imaging sheet for the border stamps, so I had to just eyeball getting them straight. The stitching one is a little bit off but I guess that just adds to the handmade feel of the card. Instead of a ribbon and bow, I used a scrap strip of silver metallic paper for the vertical stripe part of the sketch.  I created a faux prize blue ribbon to take the place of the bow.  Even though it’s attached with dimensional adhesive, it still lies flatter than a ribbon bow would.  To accommodate the length of the “blue ribbon”, I moved the horizontal elements up higher on the card, keeping in mind the The Rule of Thirds as discussed in March OWH Design Bootcamp segment.   The deadline for sending Father’s Day cards to the OWH shippers is coming up on April 30, so I’m starting to get some cards made to be prepared for that.

Here’s what the actual sketch looks like:

So now it’s your turn! I’d love to see what you can make with this sketch. Be sure to link your creations on the OWH Stars and Stamps blog. Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies for the Thinking of You card:
Stamps: Year Round Sentiments (Hero Arts)
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Petal Patch designer series papers (Stampin’ Up)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (SU)
Other: Certainly Celery twill ribbon (SU); scalloped border die (Papertrey Ink)

Supplies for the Dad card:
Stamps: Quinn’s ABCs (Lawn Fawn); Riveting (Stampin’ Up)
Cardstock: Pure Luxury White (Gina K. Designs); Brilliant Blue, Brushed Silver (SU)
Ink: Brilliant Blue (SU); silver (ColorBox)
Other: standard circle and big scalloped circle Nestabilities dies (Spellbinders)