Welcome to the Operation Write Home Memorial Day Blog Hop!
I'll get the housekeeping part out of the way for you now... If you arrived here from
Caryl, Stamps and Stitches blog then you are on the right track if you didn't you may want to start at the
Operation Write Home Stars & Stamps blog so you don't miss any of the amazing work being featured by the talented Ladies participating. The link to the next blog is at the end of this post.
Why do I make cards for OWH? There are many reasons - my friend Alex mentioned this great cause she was involved in and she ROCKS so it had to, it gives a creative outlet for not only me by my husband (yes he helps with cards), when I started we had a dear friend embedded in Afghanistan but mostly it is due to the types of posts you will find over on the
Hero Blog.
We also make cards as a small token of our appreciation for those who give up so much so that we may be safe and have the freedoms we do. I can't imagine my husband not being here for extended periods of time or how I would cope with that even with the amazing support system I have... So for all who give so much for so many THANK YOU!
If you are considering making cards for Operation Write Home you can find the nearest shipper
here. A couple of quick tips I hope you find helpful... A2 sized cards allow as many as possible to be fit in the boxes going to our Heros - simply put that is a 8 1/2 x 11 sheet cut in half to 5 1/2 x 4 1/4. A2 envelopes are also very easy to find if you want to send your cards with envelopes (not necessary but helpful). If you make larger cards you will need to supply the envelope. Cards are needed for all occasions - birthday, anniversary, thinking of you, thank you etc as well as the special ones listed with deadlines on the OWH website. I try to find stamps that will work throughout the year like 'I love you Mom', 'I'm so Lucky', etc as even though they were in with the Mother's Day and St Patrick's Day stamps they work just as well all year on general cards to be used for multiple occasions. It is never too early to make Christmas cards - I'm just saying... Also having cards for all age groups in both masculine and feminine colors is a good thing.
But if all you can manage is one card that's great too as it will be sent by a Hero to someone they love and you will have made someone's day brighter the same as everyone else who made a card for OWH.
And now as promised in the title I am going to show you how I turned one amazing sketch (
Sketch #17 over on the OWH Stars & Stamps Blog) by Lora B into 4 cards. I love sketches - sometimes I do them exactly sometimes I change it up a bit. Today is a little of both and this is made easy as all the dimensions are included on the original sketch.
I started with this assortment of goodies some I used and some I didn't - I always tend to pull more than I need as I am kind of a get the 'vision' as I go girl. This paper is by The Paper Studio and I found it at Hobby Lobby for .59 cents a sheet - I'll be able to make lots of Patriotic cards from the 4 - 12x12 sheets I brought home. While there I also found an AWESOME stamp but I am getting a head of myself. All cards are on white bases to make writing in them so much easier for the Heros but if you do use dark based a white insert is helpful.
NOTE: to help the cards pop I placed them on scraps of paper for the photos. So ignore the contrasting color behind the cards please.
I decided to start with a card that is done by rotating the sketch 1/4 turn clockwise. This allowed me to use a sentiment that would not have fit the original design. I trimmed my blue background piece to 1/4 inch making it 5 1/4 x 4 which gives added dimension to the finished card by allowing my white base to show. To keep things in proportion I then also trimmed all remaining pieces by 1/4 inch making them 3 3/4 x 2 1/2 and 3 3/4 x 1 3/4 and the sentiment strip to 2 x 3 3/4. After I stamped my sentiment I tore a thin strip off both side and chalked the ends. I added a strip of ribbon to the background piece tucking the ends behind it and then adhering it all to the white base.
My second card followed the sketch exactly. The blue background piece is exactly the same size as my card base. You may have noticed my reds all seem slightly different in color and that is because they are...I used scraps to make them.
Card 3 was done using the same paper top and bottom and switch the smaller piece to the top and larger on the bottom. The larger piece is also slightly smaller than the original sketch called for as it was left over and is about 2 5/16. A thin red ribbon was then placed between the two and adhered to the back of the background before it was all placed on the card base. I stamped the sentiment then trimmed it to 2 x 3 3/4, torn the bottom edge and inked with a ColorBox chalk ink in Midnight. I mounted it on the red piece that was the original dimensions of 2 1/4 x 4.
The final card is another I trimmed all 'colored' pieces by 1/4 inch so the white card base would show and proportions would stay the same. I left the sentiment piece the original size but moved it lower on the card with only a tiny bit of color showing on the bottom and left side. I will walk you through the ribbon as I know I loved being shown this and at least one of you might find it helpful...
When I adhere 2 pieces of ribbon I either can't get a nice finished look or my card warps as I pulled it too tight. I can't remember where I saw this but LOVE it! You wrap your ribbon around what you want to adhere it to and give a bit extra, remove and then tie your knot or bow. Below is the ribbon circle laying on top of the background so I can try placement in a few places before committing.
Once you have determined where you want the bow you simple lift it and cut directly behind it.
I then tack down the bow with my adhesive followed by the 'tails' I have now.
I then flip it over, trim excess ribbon (saved and used in another project), adhere and then put it all on the card base. I get a perfect bow or knot every time and no longer give up in frustration. And I'll leave you with another look at the finished card.
I hope you enjoyed your visit and I'd love to have you stop back again. To continue on the blog hop you will go to
Paula's blog.
I am aware of the issue with the comments and I think I have resolved it... My apologies to those who are trying to leave a comment but are running into difficulty.
