Celebrate 2013!!

....A few days behind, but today I created my one and only New Year's card.  It's the one Holiday that I guess I have never really thought about making or sending cards for, but when I saw it as the theme for a challenge this week at The Outlawz, I already knew I had an idea in mind.

   And that was because I had just bought this cute "2013" Card cut file from the Silhouette store to use with my Cameo.   Needless it say, it was very easy to make this card, all I did was pick out a card color and I went with basic white.  Next I needed a fun and cute background and picked out the pretty aqua patterned paper from Cosmo Cricket's - Baby Jane set, an oldie but goodie set from my stash.    I cut the file, which was actually designed to make a circular shaped card, but then decided to cut down the sign, so that it would fit on a standard A2 card.   I used a Grand Nestie Circle die and cut it down to just over 4" and then layered the patterned paper behind it.  One that was adhered, I simply added both pices to the frong of a pretty Aqua (Tide) card base, from  Hero Arts.   To finish it off and add some sparkle, I added a tiny bow that I made with some glittered string!

  My next card today was also inspired by a new challenge at The Outlawz, as well as a brand new group I joined over at Flickr.  Maria, aka (MadCat2002), one of the very creative gals I met at the Hero Arts Group has started her own new group, open to all paper-crafters that has the theme of LOVE!!   How sweet is that and since I make quite a few cards with a LOVE them (year-round) for Operation Write Home, I thought this would be a really fun group for me.  I also LOVE hearts and use them often in my designs!!   If you would like to stop by and check out the group, please go HERE!!   

  This card is my latest and I finished it up this morning to submit to Maria's Group, as well as this week's Greeting Card Challenge, where the theme is Vintage Valentine's.   I used one of my favorite Hero Arts/Basic Grey Stamp Sets--CL564 Friend You Are the Best, which is part of last year's "Kissing Booth" Collection and a favorite for creating hearts.   To color my hearts and my doily,  I used a combination of Distress Inks in pinks and reds.  The other small hearts were punched from scraps with a Stampin' Up punch and my Sentiment was cut from a piece of the Love Note Paper.  The heart patterned background paper is from the same new Love Note pad by Fancy Pants.

  And last but not least, I am very excited to have mailed off my first packet of cards for 2013 to Operation Write Home, which included 30 new cards and a donation.  I also send a package of ten cards earlier last week for the Children on Sandy Hook and plan to continue making cards and sending supplies to both OWH and Amber's wonderful "Drawn Together"  Fundraiser project!!    If you love making cards, like me, then I hope you'll consider donating to one of the many wonderful online organizations that sent cards for those in need and to our Military!