Welcome to the Operation Write Home Memorial Day Weekend Blog Hop. I’m super excited to be a part of this blog hop, as it is the first hop I’ve participated in where my blog is a stop. For my readers who don’t know what a blog hop is, a blog hop is an event where participants move from one blog to another to read the entries on a related subject.
Today’s hop started at OWH Stars & Stamps. You should have come from Loni’s Life. After reading my post, you will hop on to Crafty Rika.
Operation Write Home is a wonderful organization that I discovered earlier this year. Their mission is to support our nation’s armed forces by sending blank homemade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude (called Any Hero cards) to encourage them.
I like organizations that support our nation’s troops. I’ve baked cookies for Operation Baking Gals, but making cards is a little less time sensitive in terms of getting to the post office. Both of my grandfathers served in the Army. An uncle retired from the Air Force. An aunt served in the Navy. Her husband, my uncle, retired from the Navy, and one of their sons, my cousin, currently serves in the Navy. James’ grandfather served in the Army and his Dad did a stint in the Air Force. Needless to say, I think it is very important to support our troops. They put their life on the line, so that we may live in freedom.
I’m sharing two cards with you today. The first is a red, white and blue missing you card in honor of Memorial Day. Memorial Day was originally held May 30, 1868 in commemoration of soldiers killed in the American Civil War. After World War I, its observance was extended to all U.S. men and women who died while in military service and is federally observed on the last Monday in May.
My Heart is With You Card
Stamps: Designed to Delight I {Heart} the USA; Stampin’ Up Small Sayings (sentiment card 1); Saltbox Studio Celebration Sayings (sentiment card 2)
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Real Red, Brilliant Blue
Ink: Dell printer; Stampin’ Up Brilliant Blue (sentiments)
Tools: Cuttlebug Stars embossing folder; Stampin’ Up Scallop Trim border punch, Word Window punch
You can pick up the American flag heart digi stamp here for free. The second card is almost the same, but I changed the sentiment to make it an Any Hero card.
Thank You for Serving Card
I didn’t use any ribbon on these cards, but one of my most favorite tricks is for a quickie bow. Check out the video tutorial for it here on my friend Geeta’s blog (***Edited to Add*** Looks like something happened to Geeta’s video and it can’t be played now). I haven’t tied a bow on card without using this technique since I learned it. It is so easy and the bow always comes out looking great.
Back at the beginning of the month, I was very fortunate and picked up three separate blog candies: one for being the randomly selected participant in the All That Scraps Weekly Wednesday Challenge, one from a vender giveaway on Craft Critique and one from a Prairie Fairy blog hop. I want to share my good luck with ya’ll and am offering the following blog candy to one randomly selected commenter on this post. I will select a winner on June 1st at 3 PM CST. Candy consists of Stampin’ Up So Very set, star foam glitter stickers, patriotic adhesive rhinestones, patriotic ribbon, and 5 stamped images.
Blog Candy
I am also offering runner-up blog candy of the 5 same stamped images. There will be 1 runner-up per 100 unique comments.
Thanks for visiting my blog today and have a blessed Memorial Day weekend.
***Edited to Add*** Apparently, a number of people have had trouble leaving comments. If you go directly to the post (click on the title so you only see that post), you can scroll down to the comment box. Another way, there is a number under the date for the post (upper left side of post). That number is the number of comments. Clicking on the number will take you directly to the post, allowing you to scroll down to comment box.
Really nice card. That stars folder makes it easy to make a great card. Is the heart one of OWH free digi stamps?
Great layout and love that embossing folder, it is so perfect for the card.
Your card is so pretty! I love the embossed star background.
Super super job with this card. I love the embossed stars and the heart flag is just wonderful. Thanks so much for your post!
Love the card! Beautiful embossed background!
Thank you for sharing the link to the digi stamp! The embossing on the cards is beautiful, thanks for supporting our troops!
super cute cards – love the star embossing folder you used
thanks to you and your family for all their years of service
and thanks for offering the candy – got my fingers crossed… hee hee hee
I love your layout, very nice! Thanks for sharing your talent!
Great card, and I would LOVE to win the stamped images 🙂
the link for the tutorial, did not take us there. 🙁
Thanks, Susan
(78 on the list)
I love seeing all the ways people use that free digi. Thanks for offering the blog candy!
I love the boldness of your cards! The embossed background works perfectly with these!!
What a great card. Love your embossed stars and the border. Thanks for sharing.
I love that you showed the same card 2 ways. TFS.
cute card! love the embossing. thanks for sharing.
Love the cards 🙂 And thanks to all in your family who have served 🙂
Such a great card! Hope you have a blessed Memorial Day weekend.
Love your card. I have not seen the Cuttlebug star embossing folder, so I see that I will be looking for it. Thanks for sharing.
Linda D.
Beautiful cards! Thanks for Hopping!
Wonderful cards! Thank you for the service your family has given our great country!
Love the cards. I was at Michaels’ today and all the star embossing plates were gone 🙁 Thanks for sharing with us.
Just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate you making cards for our troops since I have two nephews serving in Iraq.
Love your cards and the digi stamps too. Thanks for a chance to win blog candy!
Hugs,
Carmen L
cal8007 at aol dot com
Thanks so much for sharing and giving of your time to OWH. This has been a great weekend and hope yours was the best!
I LOVE the cards! The star embossing folder is too cute and really works well with these cards. Keep up the great work, thanks for sharing.
And thanks for the chance to win some blog candy 🙂
Very nice card!
Thanks so much for sharing & the chance to win (I might be too late for the candy)!
Happy Memorial Day!
God Bless our Soldiers & their families!
~Ola
okj83 at live dot com
Great cause and wonderful cards! thanks
Yup I had to really look for that to be able to post. Great card. I love my star embossing plate.
Your cards are great. Love that star embossing plate. You did wonderful with it.
such cute cards – and i love that heart/flag. i’ve gotta go get that image and use it for 4th of july.