Post Blog Hop Challenge

Well, as many of you know, I joined in on Lisa's Post Blog Hop Challenge at Cards for Heroes. I vowed to make one card for every comment left on my blog. I decided personally that I needed to get out of a creative rut, so I am going to create a total of 152 DIFFERENT cards....challenge myself to step out of the box, and try new techniques, stamps I haven't ever used, etc. Here are the first few cards....

Card #1

This card was made with an RAK image that I received, as well as American Crafts Rub Ons (Sentiment) and some old paper I had in my stash, and ribbon. Very simple but I really liked the way it came out. I do struggle with masculine cards, so I was pleased to be able to create this one.

Card #2

This card was made using two stamps I bought from River City Rubber Works, and had never used. I cuttlebugged the background, and used a border punch to create the scallop. Simple but cute kids card.

Card #3

When Stampin' Up came out with this sock monkey set, I knew I had to buy it. I used watercolor pencils to color him in, and cuttlebugged the background. He is just so cute!

Card #4

Another masculine card - this was a simple card to make, I used a French script stamp and Versamark ink for the blue background, the happy birthday sentiment was from Paper Source, and the paper and ribbon were found in my stash.

And finally...

Card #5

My friend Marcy got a sticker set in the mail as a freebie that had lots of vintage 50's images - sunglasses, a jukebox, and this silly lamp. I used the sticker instead of a rubber stamp, and the celebrate sentiment is a rub-on. It was a pretty ugly set (sorry, Marcy!) but we were able to put our heads together and come up with some pretty far-out cards!

Kids Any Hero Letters

I got a great envelope this week from one of my regular cardmakers, Laura O. in Tennessee. She makes some really beautiful cards and I always get excited when I see her packages come in the mail. This time at my mailbox was a flat, 8.5x11 envelope. Hmm.....did she flatten her cards? Send me a magazine? Didn't quite know what to expect, until I opened it and found 22 of these...



What an amazing surprise! Our heroes just LOVE getting the any hero letters, especially ones from children. My husband and I had the best time reading these, they were so cute - some of my favorite quotes from these letters were:

• "Thank you for letting us have freedom. And getting to have that flag hanging high"
• "I hope you are going to have a good time there and win! Make a lot of friends! I hope you win!"
• "Thank you for going to the war for the schools, everything else - good job and thank you!"
• "Thank you for saving our country. You're awesome for doing that you rock!"
• "Thank you so much for being out there - for letting us have houses"
• "Thank you for fighting for our freedom. We give thanks to the people who gave their lives to let us live another day, so we have a chance to take another breath of sweet life"
• "Thanks for all the good you've done to help keep us safe and sound. Hope you keep the bad guys away from us. My grandfather has ridden in the Stars and Stripes before. Well I hope you guys are safe"

And my absolute favorite....

• "Thank you for what you are doing for us. We all love you. But could you do us a favor, make a trust, you know, shake hands. Love, America"

Have kids that need something to do this summer? Take an hour, and have them write a few of these letters! They can be shipped to any of our shippers at Cards for Heroes, and we will happily send them along in our boxes to the heroes. There is a printable template for kids to use on our website here:

Any Hero Letter Template

Feel free to have kids create their own cards as well...whatever is most comfortable for them and you!

In a season of beaches, picnics, boating, sunscreen, friends and family, and freedom...let's remember why we have those things - and take a few minutes to thank someone. It's simple, easy, and has long-lasting effects.