Operation Penguin!

2013 is over and 2014 is well on it's way! It's funny how your life is cruising along and something happens, big or small, and all of a sudden your focus has changed. BAM! Nothing is like it was before. That seems to be happening a lot around here. Started 3 years ago with my hysterectomy. Then another shift a year later with another surgery to correct a scar tissue issue from 1st surgery. Then last year with the death of my Uncle. Now, with the reality that my baby will be spreading his wings soon... Well, I got a little sidetracked from the blog. I was (and am still) making cards, taking pictures of them, organizing them on the computer, but just never made it to blogging them.

Cleaning, purging, and organizing has been the focus here for the last 6 months or so. I have made more trips to Goodwill than I care to admit to. A clue-- I have had to buy a new Costco size box of large outdoor garbage bags.... YIKES!!! It's been a lot of stuff. Still a ton more to do, but I feel like I can finally see some progress, so I can take a moment to get back to sharing what helps keep me sane. :)

Awhile ago, as in before Christmas, there was a call put out by Sandy, executive director of OWH, for PENGUIN cards. She wants to send a box of nothing but penguins to a contact who really likes penguin as a surprise. But not winter penguin cards, they needed to be penguin cards that could be used any time of the year. I knew I had a penguin stamp or 2, just had to find them. Which then set off a small detour of it's own, cleaning out some craft stuff in the search for those crazy stamps. Luckily I found them with out to much of a side track....

This is the first card I came up with. I wanted to make it bright so I dug out some old Bo Bunny pattern paper. Added some coordinating BB dots paper. The stamp is from Memory box with the hat and present paper pieced. The sentiment is from Savvy stamps and popped with some dimensional adhesive. Ribbon is from May Arts. Also used OWH sketch # 201. Then I started thinking that maybe a birthday card is to specific, and it should really be more general. Sooooo.....

I put together this miss you card. It uses some really old SEI papers, both the pattern and solids all come from the same collection. The penguin is a QuicKutz die and popped on dimensional adhesive. The "ice" is some torn velum scraps. The sentiment is from a Hero Arts OWH set. Sketch used is OWH sketch # 197. I think they will both work for Operation Penguin after a little pondering. :) I dropped them off Tuesday with another project since the Operation Penguin was due to Sandy by Wednesday. Yea!! I got them completed and turned in on time! I made my OWH 1st deadline of the year! I missed several deadlines in 2013, so I have quite a few cards hanging out in the scrap room waiting on this years deadlines.:)

My goal for 2014 is to continue purging (20 years in the same house accumulates a lot of "stuff"). Thomas graduates from High School in June 2015 & this house will be company/party ready for celebrating that & all of his accomplishments. Still a ton to do before we get to that point, but progress is being made. :) I also have a goal of sharing at least 1 time a week. I have enough cards stored up that I could probably share daily, but I really don't think I have that much to say without it sounding very repetitive after awhile...

Here's to a GREAT 2014 with fewer major detours & speed bumps!!