Cheer Up There!

Now that the holidays are coming to a close, I have the opportunity to put up a mail call for the troops.  I have posted that I have a friend over in Afghanistan.  We go back a bit (almost 10yrs) !  Woo time flies!  Anyway, he is stationed in Kandahar, Afghanistan and through a Facebook chat, we discussed that some of the other folks in his unit could use a cheer up.   I thought about putting out a private mail call, but my friend is on the road often, so he would not be able to distribute anything.  Then I thought, "Why try to reinvent the wheel?"
I occasionally make cards for Operation Write Home and these wonderful folks have been distributing the cards and letters for years.  That's right, they also accept "any Hero" mail.  Therefore, if you have time and are willing, please check out below. 

http://operationwritehome.org/anyhero.html

I hope this finds you and your loved ones safe and happy!
My Best,
-b

What did you do today?

Hello all!
I just thought I'd throw up a post on my afternoon accomplishments.

Some puppy love cards

Thanks Carrie for the awesome paper for Christmas!  I am finally using it.

I love the travel ones so much that they will be hard to give to Operation Write Home.  Oh well!  I have so much and they could always use more!  Plus I was looking for a good use for the travel poster stickers, and this really seemed to work.
Hope this inspires you all to create!
-B

Plus here's a photo I snapped on my cat watching me write letters.  I love the reflection.  He looks camouflaged by the patio rail and flowers.

Mailart- What Blew Inn with Hurricane Irene

Hello all,

I think I'm known for budget and finding stationery.  (At least that's the perception I feel others have of me)  Anyway, with all this crazy weather, I found my creative juices flowing.  I mentioned this surprising collage book I found at a thrift store that looked at a variety of artist and how to take their ideas and create your own.   Well Matisse is very friendly to my artistic taste and I have made several with his influence, but I was hoping to branch out.  So here are some others I've been experimenting with. 

Stupid me made a few others and forgot to take a pic!

Then I went cupcake mad!  Making several cards for Operation Write Home.  But I really truly love the paper confections I made!

 

OWH doesn't mind multiples, but recommends no more than 30 of a theme!  I love these so much I might change the saying and make a few more!

I liked making these as I could use up scraps of hoarded paper!  Plus anything I can add bling to is just fine with me!

Here are a few mailart pieces that I have recently received! 

the amazing Annabell's work

From Viola and a surprise on Postcrossing from Belgium!  Love the lady popping out of the frame.

For everybody out there, the hurricane was fine.  We are experiencing flooding locally, but nothing too terrible. We'll see how they fair up the coast.

I hope this finds you all creating your masterpieces!

-b

Opportunity to Donate for Operation Write Home

Hello folks,
How is everybody today?  I had a recent brainstorm and my friend over at the StampTramps and I thought we'd open up the opportunity for creative mailers to help support the troups. 

I know many of you have written letters and then some folks like the StampTramps make cards for the soldiers to write home on.  But what to do when you are like myself and only make a card every now and again or want to donate supplies?

Well I am happy to announce our first card drive for the troups.  I would happily pass along any cards that are hand made (see why) A2 sized to the Operation Write Home folks I know.   Unfortunately, our hand made envelopes are not welcomed due to lack of a seal so I already have empty envelopes ready and waiting for any A2 sized cards! 

Don't
-use glitter (apparently that shows through the night vision goggles and makes the writing soldier a target)
-make too big (A2 only)

-make too personal

-use your own handwriting on them

(see site for more details)

Do
- use your creatitivy

- consider general themes like missing you, hello, birthday, general holidays

- make something you'd want to recieve

Some of mine!

I hope you all will consider donating some time and creativity to the cause!  Apparently Operation Write Home cannot keep up with the demand.  And if you'd like information, consider touching base with the StampTramps or look at the Operation Write Home website (www.operationwritehome.org) or Facebook.

Thank you,
Becky