I’ll be honest, I really thought the novelty of being Stamping Royalty would wear off faster than the ink on the stamp sets in our prize packages, but it hasn’t let up yet. I’ve found a new group of stampers to follow and cheer on, have a bunch of new stamps to play with, and our group has come together for the Stamp It! Cards meets Stamping Royalty Blog Hop.
To celebrate the release of Stamp It! Cards, Vol. 8 and the Fourth of July, we’re sharing cards made in a patriotic color scheme for Operation Write Home using one of the stamp sets in our Stamping Royalty prize package. All of the cards we make will be sent to Operation Write Home, an organization the sends blank handmade cards to deployed heros to write home with. OWH has a lot of information on their site, including guidelines for card makers and the kinds of cards they need. Lately they’ve been looking for masculine and gender neutral cards for general occasions, so my mind went right to the fun sentiments Lawn Fawn’s Hello Friend set.
This is one of my favorite sentiment stamps of all time, partly for the whimsical fonts and partly for that tiny airplane. I tried all kinds of masking and selective inking techniques before deciding that simple paper piecing had more impact. The patriotic color scheme wasn’t difficult, but finding a whimsical paper to coordiate with the Lawn Fawn stamps made it easier. It’s from October Afternoon’s Rocket Age collection and I’ll admit that I wasted more than a little crafting time reading the vintage science kit ads on the flip side.
I couldn’t stop with just one card though, not when they were so fun to make and being sent to an amazing cause. I even brought an old friend out of retirement for this one. The announcer reminded me a lot of Uncle Sam. He just needs a little beard. (Author’s note: As a kid, I confused discussions of the figural Uncle Sam with my actual Uncle Sam. And with ATMs because the local credit union called them SAMMs. For years I thought my parents were getting all of their cash from either my uncle or the government.)
And one last card with a smiley star to coordinate with the sentiment. I rarely allow things to hang off the edges of my card, but this star will be fine because OWH packs most of it’s cards in standard A2 envelopes. The backs were finished with a free OWH stamp the organizers have made available to card-makers. Early next week I’ll be sending a big envelope of cards to Operation Write Home, including the cards I shared here today. Now that I’m familiar with their guidelines, I’ll be creating with them in mind all the time.
If you’re looking for a place to channel some of your creative energy, I challenge you to give back through Operation Write Home. You don’t have to be a card-maker to help, either. They’re always looking for letters of encouragement to add to the packages and donations to cover shipping charges.
Want more inspiration? Visit the rest of the royal court for dozens of fun card ideas:
- Amber Daigre
- Lynn Darda
- Angela Fehr
- Mariana Grigsby
- Shelly Kurth
- Sarah Jay <– You Are Here
- Cristina Kowalczyk
- Karolyn Loncon
- Stephanie Nagel
- Laura Pryor
- Mary Dawn Quirindongo
- Kelly Silva
- Julia Stainton
- Laurie Willison
But the inspiration doesn’t stop there! Head back to Paper Crafts Connection for even more card ideas. You can also link up a card you’ve created for Operation Write Home. And the best part, leave a comment on the Paper Crafts Connection blog post for a chance to win one of two generous prize packages full of stamps and supplies.
Now it’s my chance to give back to you. Paper Crafts has donated a copy of Stamp It! Cards, Vol. 8 to give away to one lucky commenter. And because I have an extra copy of the Hello Friend stamp set I used to make the cards I shared today, I’d like to give it away to another reader. Just leave a comment here by midnight (MDT), Sunday July 3rd, sharing your favorite occasion to send or receive cards and you’ll be entered to win.
Supplies for Across the Miles card set
Stamps: sentiments from Hello Friend by Lawn Fawn, smiley face from Partly Cloudy by Lawn Fawn, announcer (retired) from A Muse; Ink: Night Sky VersaMagic, Warm Red Colorbox Fluid Chalk, Vintage Linen Distress; Paper: vanilla and cherry from A Muse Studio, soft sky (retired) from Stampin’ Up!, Black Hole from Rocket Age by October Afternoon; Other: stars die from Sizzix, blue Spica pen.
I’m Sarah Jay.
What great cards! Love the star paper you used on all of them. So fun!
I love the “hello friend” card – too cute!
Very cute trio of cards! I especially love your design on the ‘sending smiles across the miles’ card! And my favourite occasion for sending cards isn’t an occasion at all – I love sending ‘thinking of you’ cards out of the blue – unexpected happy mail is the best! Thanks for the chance to win!
First, I have an uncle Sam, too! Second, Iike to send birthday cards to make people feel special!
How cute, I need to see where you got your announcer guy! I like to make and send 4th of July cards!
My favorite cards to send are Christmas cards. They can be cute or Christian.
What an adorable set!
Paige
Beautiful cards! Thanks for sharing the inspiration!
Carol B
I love the “hello friend” card – it’s my favorite!
Great cards and inspiration for cards we can make! Thanks for the great ideas!
I adore the “Sending Smiles Across the Miles” sentiment. So many possibilities. Thanks for sharing.
Oh my goodness these are adorable!!!!!! Love the LF stamps and OA pp!! Loved reading about the things you believed in as a kid… This is embarrasing, but when we were little and drove past those white birch trees, my mom would always say – “There’s those paper trees! That’s where paper comes from!” And, until I was 20 something, I still thought paper only grew on *those* trees.. ROFL. How in the world could I not have learned SOMEWHERE from grades 1-12 about where paper comes from!>?!!! Thanks for the laugh and flashback
Sarah, I love all three of your cards…PERFECT for OWH, a great organizations that I, too, support. I think my favorite occasion to send/receive cards is for BIRTHDAYS…its such a special day in one’s life, and cards let you know that you are in someone’s thoughts on that special day!
What great cards! Of course why stop at one when you have so much creativity!
Congrats on your success. I agree the little airplane is adorable. All great cards for a great cause.
Great red, white & blue cards! Thanks for the chance to win.
Very cute stuff — love how you used the same paper and got so many different looks!
Such a great group of cards! Thanks for sharing!
these are all so fantastic!!!
Queen Sarah…LOVE, LOVE, LOVE – there’s one for each card, hehe!!! You came up with a few super cute cards there, my fellow royal court friend. I’m honored to share in the fun with you
Love the cards Sarah! The happy smiling die cut star is adorable! I love to send cards year round, so thinking of you is always good any time to bring a smile to someone’s face! Thanks for this chance to win, LOVE Stamp It mags!
Adorable cards!
I love the vintage feel to these!
wow! not just one but three cards. all are very sweet. great job!
Oh – I love your cards! They are cute, appropriate and I think the Military will really enjoy them. Well done!
Love the whimsy of these cards! Great job! They just say happy!
love the saying on the first card. all of the cards are great. thank you for sharing.
Great cards as always ~ just LOVE your creations!!
love the saying on the first card and the smiley star is just adorable!
Thanks for sharing.
I love the tiny airplane!! The star really does make me smile :0)
All three cards are wonderful.
Love your cards! That little airplane is precious! Great job!
Your cards are adorable!!
Love the cards.
I didn’t realize that Uncle Sam was so confusing to a toddler.
I do remember that before ATM’s, we used to cash our checks at Meijers. Once, when we were low on cash and I told you that we didn’t have enough money to go somewhere – you told me “Just go to Meijer’s, they’ll give is us money.”
My favorite cards are any that you and/or Tom made!!
Such a cute card! Thanks for sharing!
So patriotic! I love that star paper you used
I love how you can use the same papers to get such different looks for the three cards. Such creative fun!
I really like the soft shades in your color scheme on these cards – wonderful!
These are all adorable! Thanks for sharing with us!
The smiley star card is soooo cute!
I love the sentiment on the first card, very cute!
My favorite occasion to send/receive cards? BIRTHDAYS!!! I LOVE all three of your sweet red, white, and blue cards. Thanks for sharing them!!!
I really love your graphic style! Beautiful cards
What fantastic cards! I think I love the smiles across the miles one best, such a cute little airplane.
WOW, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE all of your cards. They are wonderful! Thanks for sharing some wonderful inspiration!
Loved all you cards…especially the “You make me smile” Great job!
The cards are all so nice, love the colors
Not just on card but three!! And they are all fantastic!! Love the airplane sentiment and the rocket age paper…everything is just wonderful
Your cards are just wonderful. Operation Write Home is going to be thrilled to receive them.
Cute set of cards! I like how you used the same patterned paper for all of them. Very patriotic.
Very cute cards! My favorite occasion is to make and send birthday cards.