Saturday, April 14, 2012

Challenge 58 - "Thinking of You" or "Make 'Em Laugh" for OWH BLOGHOP

We are excited to host a blog challenge benefiting Operation Write Home. If you haven't heard of this great organization, they send blank handmade greeting cards to U.S. troops overseas so they can write home to their family and loved ones.

Our challenge normally ends on Wednesdays, but we are extending the deadline until Sunday, April 15 to participate in the OWH BLOG HOP! If you just joined us from ScorPal, WELCOME! Your next stop is over to Fiskars. If you'd like to start at the beginning, head to Stars and Stamps Blog.



We urge all participants to include the OWH link on their blog post and send their submissions to OWH (East coast, West coast & Midwest shippers HERE) or to Art Impressions so we can forward them. We want to encourage you to create for our troops and are offering THREE prizes!

1st Place - $30 Ai Gift Card!!!
2nd Place - Free Card Keeper Set (your choice)
3rd Place - One of our new 2012 Girlfriends images (your choice)

Our design team created some wonderful designs to send into OWH. Feel free to leave a comment, we love to hear what you think!


Soili-Maria


Kirsi


Renee


Tracy


Barbara


Anne



Mary

Here are the guidelines provided by OWH:
1. No Glitter - It is a safety hazard for our heroes. Read more.
2. A2 Sized Cards Only - 4.25" x 5.5" for easier shipping. Read more.
3. Line Dark Cards with Light Cardstock - If a pencil won't show up, add a lighter sheet inside. Read more.
4. Limit Multiples - No more than 100 cards. Read more
5. Any Quantity is okay - One, a bunch, or a box full; however we need quality, not quantity. Read more.
6. SOME lumpiness is okay - Our heroes don't have to pay for letter mail, but that doesn't mean we can go wild with layering and embellishments. 
7. DO NOT hand write sentiments - Neither outside or inside. Read more.
8. Use quality supplies - Computer paper, foams, itty bitty stickers and glue sticks don't holdup to the rigors of the battlefront. It's okay to make fewer cards with better supplies - every card counts!
9. Card Themes - Remember who's sending these: adults. No cards to Daddy, no "wish you were here," or party invitations; no explicit images or sentiments. 
10. Absolutely no store-bought - Neither complete cards, NOR cards repurposing parts of them. It endangers our trademark. Read more.

Here are the Ai weekly challenge guidelines:
1.  Please make a new card or creation for these challenges. You can make a 3D item if you wish ... this is not limited to cards!
2. Limit two submissions per person. You will be entered twice if you use Art Impressions stamps!
3.  Please link directly to your creation so we can get a good look at your creativity!
4. You will have until SUNDAY at 6 p.m. PST to enter your creations.

Also, "Like" us on Facebook this weekend for a free stamp with purchase! It'll be a "Whoot!"


We truly appreciate your participation! Happy Stamping!

57 comments:

Operation Write Home said...

Thanks so much for extending your Thinking of You challenge through the hop - I'm certain lots of us are going to be joining in this weekend!!!
Sandy Allnock, president, Operation Write Home
http://sandyallnock.com

Gretchen said...

Beautiful cards!

heidi @ ggip said...

I love the cards you shared, especially the one with the boat. Thanks for sharing the rules for sending a card to this organization.

Beth L. said...

Lovely cards! Thanks for your support of our troops and OWH!!

Caryn S said...

I enjoyed seeing these projects. It's great to see examples of what OWH needs.

Teresa Godines #6857 said...

Love your cards

Janet said...

Lovely card designs! Thanks for sharing,

LeeB said...

That was super good info, I'll be following those guidelines. Beautiful cards. TFS

Playing with Paper said...

Wonderful cards!!

Unknown said...

Terrific group of cards. Thanks so much for your support of OWH!

sandybear76 said...

Lovely cards!! I love the mailboxes!

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for the support of OWH Sandy does a great job of gettin all the beautiful cards to our troops Charlsie

Dawnll said...

Wonderful designs and will be appreciated. Thanks for joining and supporting the organization.

Kimmy said...

Such a great cause:) Beautiful cards all around!

Miriam Prantner said...

Lovely cards for a wonderful cause. Thanks!

Paula S. said...

Thanks for being a part of the OWH hop today and to your design team for sharing this group of lovely cards. Thinking of You is my favorite category for my OWH cards because it's just so versatile. Thanks for supporting OWH!

Lee Mae said...

Thank you for supporting OWH! The thinking of you cards are beautiful. I can't wait to get my stamp order. I saw your stamps on Sandy Allnock's blog, so I had to go shopping!

hodgins said...

These cards are beautiful!

conil said...

These cards are terrific. What a bunch of good designers you have.

Cori said...

Thank you for telling me the rules. It really helps a newbie

Linda Grady said...

Thanks for supporting OWH and participating in this awesome bloghop. Great cards! I send cards about 4 times a year to OWH; 1.5 million received so far!!!
Amazing!

Rhonda Miller said...

I love these cards. TFS.

Tammy V said...

Thank you so much for supporting our troops! All these cards are beautiful! :)

JoAnn Ross said...

The cards are wonderful! I especially love the boat!! Thanks for supporting OWH.

Pendra said...

Beautiful cards... thank you for supporting OWH!

SusanS said...

Very nice cards!! Thank you for supporting OWH!

Unknown said...

Great batch of FUN cards! Thanks for supporting OWH!

Sherry Kushibab said...

Great organization to support. Have been putting some cards together to send nice to know they can be forwarded through you as well. Great cards by the team.

Bunnyfreak said...

Thanks for supporting OWH!

Linda said...

Hat's off the the team for the wonderful cards! Thanks for your support of OWH!

rscholz said...

Beautiful cards. Thanks for sharing.

Sue D said...

Wonderful cards for a fabulous cause!
slrdowney at hotmail dot com

deedee said...

What great ideas! Thanks for sharing your talents.

Ann said...

What a great bunch of cards! Beautiful and perfect for OWH! Thank you for supporting OWH!!

Laurie said...

Thanks for posting all that information. I had no idea about the glitter thing!

Cindy's Card Co said...

I have recently purchased 5 of the "Oldies" stamps. I love them. They are out of my normal type of card but I do have one posted on my blog for an OWH sketch challenge.

ktfabian said...

Great cards! I know the service members and their families who receive them will be thrilled. Thanks!

Joyce Ann said...

Cute cards! I hopped over from OWH.

Samantha said...

Gorgeous cards, Thank you for supporting OWH.

Dolores A. said...

Thanks for sharing these beautiful cards....and supporting OWH in such a great cause.

Sarah said...

Great cards! Thanks for supporting OWH!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for partnering with Operation Write Home and for sharing the cards made by the design team. Norma W

Rufus said...

Love all my AI stamps and use them often to make OWH cards. Thanks for supporting OWH and all our Heroes. Laughter helps.
R/

Barbara said...

Lots of great projects!

Cynthia T said...

These are great cards! Thanks for supporting OWH ;)

Anonymous said...

The cards are great! Lots of wonderful ideas.
I've had a lot of fun using my AI stamps, especially some of the sentiments. They always make me laugh.
Thanks very much for your support of OWH

sf_crafter

Holly AKA KopyKat said...

these are so great

BethW said...

What great cards and stamps!Thank you so much for supporting such a wonderful organization and our troops!

Hushgirl said...

Fantastic cards!

Monica Hunter said...

Sweet cards! Thanks for supporting OWH!

Kate Yetter said...

Pretty cards! Thank you for supporting our troops!

AllisonG said...

Cute cards - thanks for supporting OWH and extending your deadline to include the hoppers!

paperpapier said...

gorgeous cards from the dts...

mitz said...

... great ideas .. great orginization,..thanks.. mitz_zee@yahoodotcom

Rozy said...

I like the cards. Thanks for your participation in OWH.. I can't wait to start making some cards.

Nancy M said...

Very nice! Thanks for your generous support of OWH!

Unknown said...

Gorgeous cards! Thanks so much for your wonderful support!