OWH World Cardmaking Day Blog Hop

I love making cards for Operation Write Home.  This fabulous organization helps me to combine something I love to do with the chance to help someone else.  Operation Write Home provides handmade cards to soldiers serving on the front lines.  Soldiers can then send the cards home to their loved ones.  How great is that?!  

Because of my crazy schedule, I decided to keep it simple for the blog hop.  I used the new CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge to cut fun cards and shapes that made putting these cards together a snap.  

 No glitter allowed on OWH cards, so I used a few red gems to give it a little sparkle!

This card was literally one Cricut cut, glue and stamp the sentiment.  Quick and easy!

Be sure to click on the badge at the top of the page to see all the fabulous cards in the hop!

Operation Write Home Cards Second Million Challenge

I have to give a HUGE shout out to Nona Davenport for these fabulous cards! I purchased her Thrifty Thirty Template last week, and I am in love! In this template, she shows you how to get THIRTY cards from HALF a paper pack. You make six different designs, five cards each. If you want to get the most cards from a paper pack, I highly recommend getting her template. Such a great deal--best $5 you'll ever spend because you'll use it again and again!



On Saturday, I hosted an informal crop. I told people to bring their own projects to work on, or come create cards for Operation Write Home. I decided to cut cards from Nona's template for both the Passages paper pack and the Moon Doggie paper pack. I figured 60 cards would be plenty. Boy was I wrong! I had a fellow teacher bring her two daughters and niece (two of whom are former students of mine). They had the 60 cards done in no time, even helped me decide on stamps and embellishments for some of the cards. Next time, these girls come, I'll have to double the prep!


The cards turned out beautifully. I love the designs. Thank you, Nona! I will be hosting a workshop to make these cards in August. More details will follow, as it gets closer. In the meantime, Operation Write Home is holding the Second Million Challenge this month. Make cards for a great cause, and get a chance to win fun prizes!

Passages:



Moon Doggie:


I started one more set, but didn't get very far...

OWH Bunny Hop

Welcome to my stop on the Operation Write Home Bunny Hop! As most of my loyal readers know, I've been making cards for OWH for the last six months or so. I can't think of a better way to help others. I get to make cards and support our troops at the same time! I am so grateful to be able to do something for the men and women who give their all for our country.

To find out more about Operation Write Home, click here. To find out about upcoming deadlines, click here. The next two dates are March 18th for Easter cards and March 31st for Mother's Day cards. If you want to read the heartfelt notes from the troops, be sure to visit the hero blog. The notes and stories never fail to bring a tear to my eyes.

The spring cards I decided to include both use Close To My Heart's new Sofia papers. I love these papers since Hollyhock and Blush are two of my favorite colors.

This first card uses Happy Forever (the adorable hedgehog) and For Every Occasion stamps with Opaques.

This one uses CTMH's Rosy Regards and A Little Everything stamps with Stickles and CTMH Designer Ribbon.

Be sure to leave a comment with your name and email. I'm giving away blog candy to one lucky person that includes a stamp set and fun embellishments!

Cindy is the next blog in the Bunny Hop at www.mostlymarkerscards.blogspot.com

Be sure to visit, and don't forget to leave a comment!

More Sophia Cards and OWH Sketch

I am loving this Sophia paper! Here's a couple more cards using Sophia papers and new stamps. This first one uses this week's Operation Write Home sketch flipped on it's side. I used the new Affection set and Blush buttons and brads.

For this card, I used the stamp set from Sophia Workshop on the Go. I also used the new Blush ribbon.

Cards for OWH Sketch Challenge

For last Sunday's Sketch Challenge, there were two sketches. I decided to make one of each.

#52
For the first one, I used CTMH Wings papers and the Rosy Regards and Wings stamp set. I love the base and shade stamps because you get the look of layering and texture just by stamping.



Here's the sketch:


For the second sketch, I used Wings papers again. I used the Juniper side instead of the Sweet Leaf side for a different look. The butterfly comes from January's Stamp of the Month. I have to say, this is my favorite Stamp of the Month we've EVER had. I can't wait to ink it up some more this week! The sentiment is from the TLC set.



Sketch #34:

Free Stamps and OWH Valentines

Operation Write Home is offering a chance to win free stamps from Gina K. To find out more, click here. The stamps set they are giving away is fabulous! I think I might have to splurge on it if I'm not luck enough to win it.

To see gorgeous artwork with this set, you can visit designer Melanie Muenchinger's blog or Operation Write Home's blog.

I was sick last week, so I'm trying to play catch up at both school and home. Here are some of the Valentines that my card girls made at our OWH party. I don't have the names of the papers handy. They were some I picked up at Archivers. The cards were simple, but they turned out adorable. I think I might have to go back and get more of the papers to make Valentines for my students :)

More Operation Write Home Cards

Here's more of the cards we did at the Operation Write Home card party last week. All products are Close To My Heart.

Papers: Veranda Creative Basics; Stamps: TLC and Follow Your Heart

Papers: Floral Impressions (an oldie). Stamps: Happy Birthday

Papers: Floral Tapestry Stamps: Happy Birthday and an old set that was a special set I got at one of the CTMH events.

Papers: Stamps: Reach for the Stars

I made 30 Thank You cards for my students on Sunday. Would you believe that I didn't take an pictures?! I'm so bummed. I used a variety of CTMH and SEI papers and each card was different. I got in such a hurry to get them out, I forgot to photograph them first.

OWH CHallenge #11

The challenge today at Operation Write Home is to use 10 (or 20) things on a card. I made this card for the lady who lets us have our OWH card parties in her coffee shop. She has been so great about setting up tables, even adding leaves to them so we can all fit. When she has time, she even sits and make cards with us. She asks nothing of us in return, although we do tend to buy lots of drinks and yummy snacks. I love that thanks to her, I don't have to worry about getting my house clean or having room for everyone.

The card uses CTMH Jingle papers, Thank You and Snow Friends stamp sets.

FOr my 10 things I have the following:

2 layers on the background

1 stip going across

snowman

Tulip behind snowman

thanks

Tulip layer behind thanks

3 Jingle brads

Operation Write Home Update

The party today was a huge success! Twelve people showed up, including 5 students doing their community service hours. I haven't done a final count (I'll do that as I box them with envelopes), but it's close to 300 cards. Not bad for four hours :) I am thrilled. It feels so good to be able to do something like this. Two of my current students and one former student begged me to do this again soon. One said we need to do at least two next semester because that's the most fun she's had doing community service!! Gotta love it. The only bummer was that I didn't take any pictures. Next time. Thanks to everyone that came. Your help was definitely appreciated!!

Missing You Kids--Operation Write Home

Another card challenge for Operation Write Home. This one was to make a missing you card suitable to send to kids. I used CTMH Rough and Tumble papers. The airplane is from Flyin' High, and the heart is from TLC. The alphabet was an old promotion, so I'm not sure the name of it.

Anything But Pink--Operation Home Cards

Apparently I don't know how to just take a break. While I'm out of school this week, I've been organizing an Operation Write Home party for tomorrow. I've made card kits for 200 cards, and I am bringing supplies for 100 more. I would love to be able to mail out 300 cards this weekend. Over the next couple days, I'll share the cards and details about the event. So far I'm up over 12 people for tomorrow. I'm thinking I'm crazy, but I love that this is a way to have fun making cards and give back to those who sacrifice so much for us. If you're here in Boise, feel free to stop by. We'll be at the Moxie Java on Five Mile and Overland :)

The cards I'm sharing tonight are for the Operation Write Home blog challenge. With Valentine's Day cards going out, they decided they needed an "Anything but pink" challenge. I had a few that fit the bill.

All supplies are Close To My Heart.

This first one uses Good Times papers, Happy Birthday and Shining Star. I like that this one can be used for kids or adults.

The last two uses Back Country papers, Happy Birthday and Backwoods stamps.

More Valentines for Operation Write Home

These cards also used the papers from American Crafts and Making Memories, but I added a little stamping to the mix. I don't know why a couple are sideways. Blogger just does this to me sometimes, and it's very frustrating. I tried loading them from my computer and from my memory card. Either way, they come up sideways. Oh well.

I love these little monsters! I got the Party Animal set for Halloween stamping, but love them for birthday or valentines, too.

I think the hedgehog set, Happy Forever, is still one of my all time favorites. SO adorable and versatile! Here I used Hollyhock and Blush to match the papers so this little guy could send a Valentine's Day greeting.

An oldie, but a goodie. This little hippo from Life's a Jungle is another one of my favorites. I love how adding a little flower or bow gives her a cute, girlie look.

Simple Valentine's Cards for Operation Write Home

Thanksgiving weekend, a friend and I got together to make cards for Operation Write Home. We were making Valentine cards because Archway cookies promised that if people sent 4,000 Valentine cards to Operation Write Home, they would send 4,000 boxes of cookies to the troops. They reached that goal, and I'm proud to say I was a part of that.

I couldn't resist these papers at the scrapbook store. The background papers are American Crafts, and the saying are cut from a couple sheets of Making Memories paper. Add a little layering, ribbon or brads, and voile la, simple cards.

Christmas Cards for Operation Write Home

I've been working on cards for a card party a friend is hosting on Thursday. We will be making cards for soldiers in Afganistan. We'll be making cards at Moxie Java on Five Mile and Overland from 3 until 8:30 this Thursday, if you want to stop by :)


Papers: Jingle; Stamps: Festive THoughts and Holiday Trinkets; Snowflake punch: Martha Stewart.


Papers: Mistletoe Creative Basics; Stamps: Peace on Earth and Timeless.

Papers: Aspen; Stamps: MAgical Season and Festive Thoughts.

Stamps: Boutique Alphabet, Holiday Trinkets, and Peace on Earth.

Cards For Operation Write Home

A friend of mine asked me to help her with an Operation Write Home party she is hosting Wednesday night. She wanted me to come up with a few sample cards for the ladies in attendance. All are brand new to stamping, so she wanted them to be fairly simple. I also got to play with her Hero's Pride set.

If you don't know anything about Operation Write Home, be sure to check out their website here. They collect cards for our troops overseas to send home to their loved ones. They also include thank you cards to the service members in the box. What a great organization! I hope to be very involved with them from here on out.