My First Operation Write Home Workshop!

The sweet dear in front is 92 yrs. young!

Whoo-Hoo!!! I had my very first OWH workshop today at the VFW!!! These ladies had never made cards before....but they just jumped right on in with both feet,LOL!!! I really was impressed with their talent....they were all very fast learners!! I left a few things at home and it seemed a bit unorganized (on my part!)...but hey....it was my first time,LOL!!! I think everyone had fun and I can't wait to do this again!!! I learned some things along the way......and hopefully my next workshop will be a little better...but they were very gracious and lovely sports ;)

some door prizes and samples

big shot and punches

samples and catalogs

more samples

showing off her lovely card

she was the last one done....I think she's hooked!

We made over 30 cards for the troops....and I took all my samples of cards I've made for the troops since March....can't wait to be able to ship these off.....I'm going to wait until my next workshop in Nov.....so I can fill up a large flat rate box!!!!I had a blast and I hope they did too!!!Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!!

Cards For Troops

I made three cards for the troops for Operation Write Home. They had a challenge today and it ends at midnight....so these were fast and simple cards,but I like how they turned out! I was busy today with cleaning and kids and then I finished my customer's order on Etsy....so I didn't have time to make more...but here they are. Thanks for stopping by!!!

Recipe for all cards:

• Card stocks : Kraft,Sahara Sand Real Red,Bordering Blue,WW
• Inks: Chocolate Chip and Basic Black
• Ticket,Large and small star punches
• Brads and Eyelets from Stash
• Stamp Sets: Courage,Service and Sacrifice,Free and the Brave
• Wide Twill Tape

Operation Write Home Blog Hop and Stampin' Up! Blog Candy!!!

Hello blogging friends! I'm so glad you stopped by today. You should've just arrived from Maria's awesome blog, Ria's Creations. I love her cards! If you want to start at the begining of the Blog Hop,you can start here.
This is my very first Blog Hop to be involved in and I'm so excited!! This is not just any ol' Blog Hop either! This Blog Hop is through Operation Write Home! They are a wonderful program to be involved in. They help get handmade cards to our troops . Not only cards to say thank you with a hand written note of thanks to someone serving in our military, but provides them with handmade all occasional blank cards so they have something to send home to someone special. H-E-L-L-O!!!.....I've been trying to get something like this started for a long time now,LOL!! If you know me ,then you know this was right up my alley!! I just found out about them and happily joined along! What greater cause then to support our Nations' Heroes!! Click here to go to Operation Write Home to read more about them!

Front of card,below (it looks crooked....but that's just my photo abilities)! LOL!!!

Inside of card,below.

Close-up of card,below.

In honor of my first Blog Hop ,I thought it would be fun to offer up some blog candy! I'm giving away a $25.00 Stampin' Up! Gift Certificate!! This gift certificate is good only through me, Holley Smith. The $25 does not include tax and shipping. You can use your $25 towards any Stampin' Up! order. Right now, if you place an order through Stampin' Up! for $50 you can get one item in the Sale-a-bration Catalog FREE!! So, if you would like to add your own $25 ,along with my $25 (for a total of $50) to receive a Sale-a-bration item for free,just let me know!! You can click on any of the Stampin' Up! catalogs on the right hand side bar to shop,or go to my Stampin' Up! website by clicking the link at the very top of my blog!

In order to be entered into the drawing here's what you need to do:

1. Subscribe to my blog
2. Follow my Blog
3. add a comment on this post

Your name will be added in a drawing for a chance to win the $25 gift certificate to Stampin' Up! I will choose a name next Saturday. March 27, 2010 at 12 noon EST. When you add your comment,please include an email,so I can reach you if you are the lucky winner! If you are the lucky winner ,I will contact you to get your order. Good Luck!!!

Now, onto my card I made for the Operation Write Home. Our instructions were to create something with a spring theme. My card is an easel egg- shaped card. I cut the egg shape twice for layering, with my Cricut Expression. I also took the Frame Oval Scallop Die and ran it through my Big Shot twice with very vanilla to get just the scallop frame. Then I crimped and pleated the scallop frame to make a kinda lacey- look. I also crimped the oval DSP as well. The whole card has been sponged/inked on the edges. I also used a ton of dimensionals for added depth. Well, here is more deets on the card,thanks for stopping by.

Don't forget to visit the next blog , Melissa's Just Dandy blog, http://justdandy.typepad.com/, to keep the Blog Hop going!! I really like her sense of style. Have fun!

Recipe for Card :

• Card stock : VV,Pretty in Pink,So Saffron and Certainly Celery
• Inks : Basic Black,Regal Rose,More Mustard,Perfect Plum and Old Olive
• Punches : 5- Petal Flower,Boho Blossoms,Trio Flower,Word Window,Modern Label, and Scallop Trim Border (Sale-a-Bration Catalog),
• Shades of Spring DSP (Occasions Mini Catalog )
• So saffron and Pumpkin Pie Markers
• Brads from stash
• Iridescent Ice from SU!
• A Good Egg Stamp Set
• Certainly Celery and So Saffron Ribbon (retired)
• Doodlecharms Cricut Cartridge (for egg shape)

Two card Tuesday

Hey guys ,today I have two very simple but cute cards to share with you. I whipped these both out within 30 minutes. I didn't really have any direction of what I wanted to make. I just picked out this new stamp set that I haven't gotten around to using and decided to make Mother's Day Cards!! I really like the simplicity of them. After I made the cards it was late and I wasn't sleepy,so I was blog surfing until late. I came across Mary from Cardz TV.blogspot.com. She does some video tutorials using her cricut cartridges. Well,she is involved in a card ministry for the troops,which is right up my alley! So,I clicked on the link she has for Operation Write Home. I put a link to their blog on my blog roll. It's a great website and company. So,I decided to play along with them in my first Blog Hop!!! I've never done a Blog Hop before so I'm super excited to be apart of a great cause!! I've donated some cards last year to the troops,so I am starting to gather more cards to send to them for this year. The Blog Hop starts on Sat at 9am,so there's still time to join in on the fun!!

Well,here's the deets on today's cards!! Thanks for stopping by!

Recipe for both cards :

• Stamps sets : Well Scripted and Happy Moments
• Card stocks : Pretty in Pink,So Saffron,Chocolate Chip,VV
• Chocolate Chip Ink
• Markers : Pretty in Pink,So Saffron,Old Olive
• Scallop Oval and scallop Trim Punches
• Movers and Shapers Scallop Oval Die
• Ribbon : Chocolate Chip Taffeta and Pretty in Pink
• Sweet Pea DSP