OWH Shipment...

This is my first package of the year to Operation Write Home.  I've been holding on to cards I've made since the first of the year because I didn't want to send the box during a holiday "peak" time.  Well, we learned yesterday that OWH will be closing down at the end of the year due to the drawdown of our troops.  Although there are still troops in the field, the need for cards has diminished significantly.  I've gathered these up, plus some Christmas cards, and got them postal this afternoon.  I have another box I am working on but after that, it won't be Operation Write Home to whom I'll send.  Btw, there are 146 handmade cards and 8 Any Hero cards in this shipment for a total of 154 cards... 

Happy Mother's Day...

Here's a card for mom.  I had a thought in my head but it took awhile for it to materialize on paper.  The tulips are made with the wing of the Stampin' Up bird punch.  The vase I freehand cut a template (folded cardstock in half) and then traced over the bottom of an interesting piece of patterned paper.  After cutting that out, I distressed the edges.  I really wanted a very feminine card for her.  I'm pleased with the result and think she will be too...

 

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY MOM!!



My five for April...

Here's my five for April.  This is sort of a remake of another card I did in blues.  I'm packing up for a trip to Cozy Crop next week and found myself wanting something quick for my April Christmas card.  I'm a little ashamed.  I don't feel I put much effort into this... :(

 

However, it does get the job done... :)

What a happy card!

I know I just did a post on a kite card but I was so thrilled with the result that I had to make more... immediately!  Last Wednesday, I made a dozen and put five in my Operation Write Home box and sent out six to friends and family.  That left me with one and about five more people to whom I wanted to send.  Click HERE to see the tutorial again.  SO, on Friday, I made ten more.  This is SUCH a happy card to me!  I just couldn't help myself... :)

 

Don't they just make you smile?



Happy birthday cake...

Today is the Zack attack's birthday!!!  Woot, woot!!  He's twenty years old!  How is that possible?!!  I'm only twenty-nine... :)  And even though these cards were not given to the Zack attack, I felt there should be a blog post on his birthday.  AND, I'm scheduling it to go live at the same hour he was born.  Did you know Zack was born ON Patriot's Day?  In Boston?   A true Bostonian, just like his mama.   Happy birthday Zack!  I'm hoping you enjoy the card you did get...

 

I actually made these cards (plus two others like it) when I had a crafting weekend with friends at my home back in January.  Kim and I stayed up 'til an un-Godly hour cranking out card after card.  At the time I made these, I swore I'd never make any more.  There were SO MANY little pieces and lots of different steps.  However, bringing a big smile to a friend's (or relative's) face on their birthday, was worth all the extra time.  I waited so long to post these because I wanted the recipient's to get their card BEFORE they saw it on my blog... :)

Let your dreams soar...

This morning, I awoke and remembered I owe a card to a swap partner in one of my FB groups.  The category is "Polka Dots".  I found this kite already made in my stash of "partial" cards.  I made the sun on my Silhouette and the sentiment on my computer.  I'm loving it so much that I'm not going to want to part with it!  SOOOO, I better make some more!  What do you think?  PLUS, wouldn't this be a fun card to send to some of my card friends?  It's also a perfect card for my OWH box AND I originally learned this technique on their site, see post HERE.  This kite is slightly smaller than the one on the tutorial.  Doesn't this just make you smile? :)

Thank you cards for a friend...

I received a request from a friend back in Massachusetts to make her some thank you cards for the guests at her 50th birthday party.  She also wanted me to write the messages that she penned, in my own writing.  What a fun task!  All the way around... from crafting, to writing, to walking them to the post office.  I hope she gets great feedback from all of them as I put nothing less than perfection into each and every card.  And if I get more orders like this one, maybe I could retire from cleaning houses. Just sayin'...