OWH Bunny Hop

Welcome to another stop on Operation Write Home's Bunny Hop blog hop. There are TONS of stops on the hop, but click the blog hop logo above if you would like to start at the beginning. I discovered OWH two years ago on a Memorial Day blog hop (back when they were Cards for Heroes) and have enjoyed making cards for heroes ever since. My brother was one of them in Afghanistan in 2002 and I don't even remember sending him mail. (I was a senior in college, had just met my now husband, but STILL it is NO excuse!) This is my way of making sure today's heroes and families can keep in touch with each other during this difficult time.


I made a spring card with some beautiful flowered paper. I can't wait for this snow to melt so the flowers can bloom! While looking for a sentiment, this one seemed just right to send to a love one at home. I haven't been making cards enough lately to send a sizeable package so I tend to do birthday and generic thinking of you cards. When the box is full it gets sent! But if you are making holiday specific cards don't forget the deadlines: March 18th for Easter, and March 31st for Mother's Day.

One thing we were asked to do for this post was share a link to something we find helpful on the OWH website. I hadn't checked out the site since it was made over months ago (shame on me again) and enjoyed looking around in preparation for the hop. I love mail, I love cards, I worked at a card store for 13 years and worked in the mailroom all 4 years of college. It makes sense that one place I always check is The Mailroom! Its a great stop to see if shippers have specific needs, get addresses, and check deadlines. Last night I watched a YouTube video "The OWH Mailroom" which is great for visual learners, like myself. It is entertaining, teaches the proper 'tuck' technique, and has some good reminders of all the work shippers do and how we can help. Check it out, it is a great video!

Blog Candy.....I've been cleaning my stamping area since July. Okay, I started cleaning and kind of gave up. When I want to work on something I fill a basket with supplies, carry it upstairs, create, and then dump the supplies. Not a good system. But either way I have a lot of unloved supplies and am going to put together a package with ribbon, paper, possibly some hardward. Who knows what will make its way into the goodie bag! Just leave a comment to be entered, and I will announce a winner here next Saturday March 12th!

Your next stop on this Bunny hop is The Stamp Addict.


Happy Hopping,

Earth day blog hop, and birthday CANDY!

Good morning!!!!! Not only am I happy because it's Saturday, but I'm also on vacation this week so I'm sure to get more play time in. Woohoo!

Today, Unscripted Sketches is having a blog hop in honor of Earth Day. Not only is there a sketch, but also a piggyback challenge to use something recycled. If you didn't get here from Beth (and here AMAZING card) then head to the top of the hop at Unscripted Sketches.


For my card I looked around my (messy) workspace to see what I had, since I found no inspiration elsewhere in the house. I found the inside of a card, sent to me with a coupon from somewhere for my birthday and cut out the sentiment for my panel. I then looked around for bits of ribbon I hate to part with and found the hearts lying around from Valentine's day too.

It's subtle on the backround piece, but I used a new Houndstooth embossing folder. So much fun and it doesn't take away from the main pieces--just a bit of texture.

And, in addition to a hop and Earth Day, today is my birthday! So since I love presents I'm giving away candy. Leave a comment by Wednesday April 28th and I'll pick a winner to receive a retired (oldie) SU set and a matching tag punch. I forgot that it comes with 3 stampin spots too (certainly celery, real red, brocade blue). I'll even enter followers twice!


To continue on this Unscripted hop, head over to see what Debbie has created. Then go back to Unscripted Sketches to play along for yourself!


Smiles,

Back to it with a HOP in my step!

What an exciting day....I'm back to blogging, I've got a card to share and this is one of the stops on the OWH Stars and Stamps blog hop! If you didn't come by way of Lee you can stop at the top of the hop over at Stars and Stamps.

For today's springy card I went with one of my favorite sentiments (seems like it can be used for just about anything, and I'm sure the heroes are always dreaming of home or someone there!) with this week's sketch at Unscripted Sketches. Check it out, play along to make a card for a hero and maybe you'll be picked for our first top 3 this week!!! There's a piggyback challenge to use a paint chip but I left that out because I didn't have any cheerful colors in my stash.

I happened upon Operation Write Home (formerly Cards for Heroes) last year with the Memorial Day blog hop and have been enjoying making and sending cards ever since. When my brother was stationed in Afghanistan I don't know that I sent him a single card. I'd just met my husband and was student teaching, but no excuses! So that's a bit of why I like to make cards, but all the stories that are shared on the Facebook page and the inpiration from fellow cards makers at Stars and Stamps keep me inspired.

I don't have anything else to share today (I'm crocheting like a mad woman in addition to hopping to a few hundred places) so it's time to head to the next stop on the hop, Susie. She's got some adorable cards and CANDY!!! When you're all done hopping I hope you'll find time to play along at Unscripted Sketches too.

Smiles,

Unscripted New Years Blog Hop

If you arrived here from Beth's blog you're in the right place, if not, just click on the banner to head to the top of the hop!

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!

Hmmm....in getting ready for this hop I looked back at my first post of 2009 (only my third post ever) and saw I made a resolution, sorta.....

I'm bad at resolutions...I say I'll be a more regular gym go-er each December and never get there. This year I started that fad a month early and managed to get to the gym TEN TIMES! So now that 2009 is here, I got my craft area cleaned up earlier this week and I hope to spend at least once a week creating. Which also means at least once a week sharing something here!

Well as far as crafting goes I'd say I did alright. I never even DREAMED I'd be joining a design team and am thrilled with that accomplishment. This year I need to work on the organization, both with crafts and the house. But they go hand in hand! As for 2010 I'd like to submit work for publication this year. I'm not setting my hopes so high as to be published but I'll test the waters at least. I also want to get back into scrapbooking and do something with all the pictures I have taken with the intention of scrapping them. I think I'll start with my honeymoon....from 4 1/2 years ago!

The gym I did well too....until April when my ipod was stolen out of my car the ONE NIGHT I left it unlocked. Oops! I can say I haven't been in at least three months and that will change today. My MIL got me a new ipod for Christmas and I immediately loaded it up with songs so I can get back into the groove. So getting back in shape is a 2010 (and on) goal.

I'm also a huge procrastinator, which needs to change. It's in my dna (thanks Dad) but I can try to fight it. I have so many fun projects I do and make for people, and even though the idea is there for awhile I don't actually put it together until the last minute. And sometimes it doesn't get done because of that! I'm not sure how to attack that one, perhaps it comes with the organization!

Now for some candy. In being a procrastinator, I don't have a picture of my blog candy ready for you. Just trust me. I'm hoping a list or two will keep me organized and maybe it will work for you too....so that's the candy, a fun list like I made here and here. And maybe something else. You'll have to see. To enter just leave me a comment with 2 things:

1.) something you're trying to do in 2010

2.) any idea to keep me organized (keeping track of challenges, organized craft area, whatever!)

Now if you've stuck with me through my ramblings head on over to Hollie's blog to continue on the hop, and be sure to stop back next week for our first Unscripted Sketch of 2010 (And the winner of the candy)!


Smiles,