Welcome to my stop on the Operation Write Home Memorial Day Weekend Blog Hop!

Today’s card starts with a Night of Navy 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ base. Using Sticky Strip, I adhered 1/2″ strips of Textured Real Red and Whisper White cardstock to the base. Next, I stamped the image from the Courage stamp set in Soft Suede on Whisper White cardstock. I was planning to color it, but I love the look of the sepia with this card. I trimmed it to size, approximately 3 1/4″ x 3 1/2″. I adhered this to a non-SU piece of 3 1/2″ x 3 3/4″ camouflage cardstock, using brass brads at each corner. I adhered this to my base with Stampin’ Dimensionals. I then stamped a star from July Fourth in Night of Navy on Whisper White and punched that out with the Large Star Punch. I also adhered this with Stampin’ Dimensionals. Then, I stamped a sentiment from the Service and Sacrifice set in Night of Navy on Whisper White cardstock. I punched this out with the Large Oval Punch and then trimmed it out with my paper trimmer. I adhered this using Snail Adhesive. To finish, I lined the inside with a piece of Whisper White cardstock. This is a very important step in a dark card base.
As I worked on this card, I was listening to one of my favorite XM Radio stations, 40s on 4. This station was really playing some good old ones in preparation for Memorial Day – Glenn Miller, The Andrews Sisters, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw. I imagined myself working for the USO, my hair curled, red lipstick on and stockings penciled on. Memorial Day is a time to reflect on the sacrifices being made every day and of the ultimate sacrifices that have been made in service to country. I am grounded, undeserving and moved.

I wanted to showcase a card that I made for a group of Pre-K’ers to make AnyHero cards. I started with a piece of 8 1/2″ X 11″ Real Red or Night of Navy cardstock scored and folded to make a 5 1/2″ X 8 1/2″ card base. I then printed a free digistamp (Patriotic Dog from KLM Designs) on Whisper White cardstock and trimmed it to 5″ x 7 1/4″. I adhered this to my card base with Snail Adhesive. Then I stamped a sentiment from the same Service and Sacrifice stamp set in Whisper White Craft Ink. Then I adhered a piece of Whisper White cardstock on the inside for the children to write a personalized message. The card was then ready for the children’s creative expression. I made 80 of these cards and will send them to Operation Write Home soon. This is an excellent year-end school project benefiting Operation Write Home!
Now that you’ve made it almost to the end of my stop on the Blog Hop, I’ve got some blog candy to offer! Simply leave a comment with a link to your blog or your email address (which is always hidden) to my post and you’ll be entered into a random drawing for the following paper-crafting goodies!

Included in this blog candy is a retired Stampin’ Up! stamp set called Little Somethings. Every holiday and season is represented in this mini stamp set! There is also a good assortment of Stampin’ Up hardware including Mini Library Clips, 5/16″ Neutral Brads, buttons from the Playground set, Jumbo Grommets, Circle Brads, Silver Brads, and pieces from the Sweet Pea Felt Flowers set. I’ve also included an approximate yard each of the In Color Polka Dot Ribbon in Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango, Rich Razzleberry, Bermuda Bay, and Soft Suede. I’m also including an assortment of 6″ x 6″ Stampin’ Up! retired Designer Series Paper that is not pictured.
ETA: I have been out of town all day and wanted to let everyone know that I will add all comments (except those who said not to enter) received until 5:00 PM CDT on Monday, May 31, 2010 to the random drawing. I will post the winner on Tuesday and notify them by blog comment, email or both!
Thank you for taking the time to Blog Hop today and spend a few minutes in my little corner of the internets. The next stop on the Hop is Teresa at Tilting At Windmills.