Mrs. Pickle Stamps: OWH

Hi there and welcome! Happy World Cardmaking Day! :)
Thank you for stopping by my little crafty corner of the blogosphere!

The theme of the Operation Write Home Blog Hop is holiday cards! Here is where the fun begins!

Every year, OWH sends out thousands of cards to those in the armed forces so they can keep in touch with loved ones back home. Cards are ALWAYS needed. It is a labor of love and completely funded by donations. The postage costs of sending just holiday cards alone this year is estimated to be over $13,000! If you would like to donate, REMEMBER THAT EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS AND IS SO APPRECIATED. It's tax deductible too!

So here is one contribution to my holiday card shipment this year - and there will be more sent along with my donation! :)

My "Celebrate the Season Snowman" Card:

The card is based on a square sketch from the Sketch & Stash Challenge Blog, then added to a standard A2 kraft base. I hand stitched around the edge and along the diagonal with white shiny floss. The snowman is a loved but neglected Penny Black stamp that I colored with Copics. I dotted his buttons with black Enamel Accents. The patterned paper is My Mind's Eye '12 Days of Christmas'.

A close up view of the stitching:

Please click on the Blog Hop badge at the top of my post and leave some love for the 150+ loving crafters who worked so hard to bring heroes (and all of us) some holiday cheer today! If you can, please give to this worthy cause. Isn't that what the holidays are all about? :)

Thank you for stopping by today and for supporting OWH!

Hi there!
Today I am thrilled to share a card I was asked to create as a sample for this weekly challenge at the OWH Stars & Stamps Blog - the Operation Write Home Midweek Throwdown!

If you aren't familiar with the work of this amazing, tireless organization, check it out HERE.

With the help of countless card makers like you and me, there is a love line of cards and communication between those who are serving in the armed forces and their loved ones back home. I just started my creative box of love that I will send to the OWH mailroom as soon as it's full!

The theme for this week's challenge is 'It's a Bug's Life'. Here is what I created!

My "Bright Bug" Card:

My card is standard A2 size with lots of paper piecing! I used one of my go to favorites - Paper Smooches stamps - along with some yummy Cosmo Cricket paper to create a happy colorful card. I curled the lightning bug's wings a bit for dimension. It's blank inside because I thought it could be used as a Miss You, Love You or Thank You card or simply as a means for writing a letter home to loved ones!

Stuff I Used:
Stamps - Paper Smooches 'Giddy Bugs'
Paper - Cosmo Cricket 'Early Bird' 6x6 Paper Pad, AMuse Studio Cardstock in Vanilla & Buttercup
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black & Rhubarb Stalk

So get out your bug stamps and join in on this week's fun challenge - there's goodies to be won and smiles to be shared! Thanks so much for stopping by today - THAT makes ME smile! :)