Happy Holidays for our heroes - Mini blog-hop!

Ok, this is the very first time I've ever participated in a blog hop and I'm really excited. The bloghop is for CardsforHeroes, a special group of people that collect and send handmade blank greeting cards to our heroes serving overseas. I thought it was a great idea because if you've ever traveled overseas you know how hard it is to find things printed in English. Plus our heroes overseas don't really have time to try to run to a Walgreens to pick up a birthday card for their children or a anniversary card for their spouse/partner.

{If you are visiting this blog before August 15th please make sure to stop back on Saturday for some holiday card making inspiration}

Now that school has started and fall is in the air it's time to starting making fall and winter holiday cards. I've been experimenting with different mediums lately and thought of a great embellishment for a Christmas card. I took a stamped outline of a Christmas tree and I colored it in with watercolor pencils. After I wet the pencil and let it dry I went back and stamped ornaments and lights on the tree. When I cut it out I left a bit of a white border to give it a sticker look. I think it came out great!

I really enjoy making the cards for our heroes. I've known many people in the service. Most of my uncles were in one branch of their service or another. My father, step-father, step-brother and best friend Tammy all served in the Navy. My boyfriend David served in the Marines. I'm blessed that he's home for good! But I feel very deeply for all the families who still have loved ones overseas. So I started working with CardsforHeros to bring a little piece of home to our heroes.

If you're a crafter there's still time to get involved. C4H is always in need of greeting cards and this time of year in special need of holiday cards. If you'd like to participate you have till November 1st to get your holiday cards to a distribution point. All levels of crafters are welcome to send in cards. Please check this link to get more information about the types and sizes of cards needed. And please make sure to take a minute and check out the blogshop, there's a lot of great talent out there and it might inspire you to help the cause!

Happy crafting,

Christina

First set of cards for CFH

I had so much fun playing in the craft room this weekend and making cards for CardsforHeroes.org! My first set of cards are 'missing you' and 'love you' cards. CFH says these are some of the cards they need most. I came up with several designs and ended up making 9 cards total. Here are my 4 favorite...

I found another organization that I'm even more excited to work with, Operation Circle Care. This group puts together care packages for Pagan and Wiccan troops serving overseas. I'm really excited about donating my cards and possibly other spiritual items to them. You can read more about this on my Pagan craft blog, The Pagan Crafter.

Well, I have a lot of cards to make. My next project for Cards for Heroes is 'Happy Birthday' cards and a special card to thank a hero for their continued sacrifice. I'll post a pic or two of the new cards when I get done.

Happy crafting!
Christina

http://www.cardsforheroes.org
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/ministries/military/operationcirclecare.html

A new way to support our troops

I found a great new way for us paper crafters to help support our troops, CardsforHeroes.org. They help support our troops by sending boxes of handmade blank greeting and note cards that crafters like myself have made. Our troops overseas can't run down to Walgreen's and pick up a birthday card for their child or a 'missing you' card for their spouse or loved one. Cards for Heroes also collects handmade cards and letters that are created specifically for our heroes to thank them for their sacrifice and help uplift their spirits.

I'm really excited to get started with them. I'm all ready working on my first shipment of cards. I've done a few love/missing you cards and I have plans for a couple more. I'm also going to add some birthday cards. I'd like to add both masculine and feminine styles as well as cards for kids and adults. So far all the cards I've made have been traditional paper crafting but I do want to use some of my new patriotic graphics to make a few thank you cards specifically for our heroes.

I'm going to play around this weekend and make a bunch of cards. I'll take some pics of my favorites and post them. Stop by on Monday to see the pics.

Blessings,

Christina