First Apple for the Teacher

     If you follow my blog, or even just stop by now and then, you probably already know how much I love Operation Write Home and the things they do to support our deployed troops.  This week, OWH's challenge to us is to do Back to School cards.  I know, they're going backwards through the year -- last week Thanksgiving and this week Back to School.  LOL 

     I found a card in Cardmaker Magazine and cased it for the sketch. 

     The mouse with an apple image is from Karen's Doodles, and the challenge there this week is to "Frame It."  I colored the apple using watercolor pencil and turpenid.  I shadowed the mouse using a pale gray Copic marker.

     My color choice was dictated by the challenge at Tuesday Throwdown where they are celebrating their first anniversary!  The challenge is to select any three previous challenges, combine them, and make a card using all three challenges.  I chose: 1. Use an animal image;  2. Black and White with a splash of color;  3. Use die cuts.  So for this card, my colors became black and white with a splash of red.

     I cut the image with a Nesties Oval die and framed it with a scalloped oval die (white with black ink pad used on the edges of the scallops.)  I cut a rectangle of white CS, wrapped a black & white, polka dot, ribbon around it, and then mounted the image piece on top.  I tied a bow from red ribbon (all ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon) and adhered it below the image oval.  I added a black brad to the knot on the ribbon, first punching a 1/16th" hole through the knot with a hand punch.

     I added all of that to a black and white striped card base.  I like this really clean design, especially for cards which will go to Operation Write Home.  Read more about them by clicking on the OWH badge to the right. 

     Thanks for stopping by.  Feel free to browse around and leave a comment if you'd like.  I love reading them.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie