Operation Write Home Memorial Day Bloghop Part II

Welcome to all of you that didn't make it here on Saturday!  Even though I still haven't finished the blog hop yet myself, I was inspired so much that I had to make some more cards.  If you would like to start at the beginning of the hop, you need to go to the Operation Write Home Stars and Stamps blog.  I want to thank everyone that makes and send cards to Operation Write Home, and if you aren't one of those people yet, please check them out!  You won't be disappointed!

This card uses one of my favorite soldier images that is made by Firecracker Designs by Pamela.  Unfortunately, she went out of business earlier this year, so you'll have to check out ebay or other aftermarket places to find it.  I actually won this set on one of my first blog hops with OWH from Shelly Schmidt of My Creative Rumblings.

I am one of the few people left that didn't have a Cuttlebug or other type of diecutting machine.  My daughter wanted to buy me a Cricut, but I decided I wanted the Cuttlebug more mainly due to the cost of the cartridges and lack of being able to use other company's files.  This stars embossing folder is perfect for making OWH cards!  It shows up much better on plain cardstock, but I like it this way also.  I couldn't resist using this Tim Holtz vintage photo Distress Powder for the image and the sentiment.  What better way to add distressing to the rest of the card and the soldier image than by using Distress Ink!

What's a blog hop without blog candy! I've already showed this candy on the previous post, but I wanted you to have an opportunity to win it, too!  I also have another bunch of blog candy that you can also win, but you must be a follower and comment on the May 28th post.  You can win this blog candy by commenting on either day, but since I love to give stuff to my followers, I ask that you must be a follower to win this one too.  I will pick a random winner on Wednesday, June 1st.

Blog candy includes:  New, unmounted Stampin' Up! Eclectic Corners stamp set, numerous ribbons and fiber, a 4 1/2"  round piercing template (this actually is a plastic canvas circle), 2" inch book rings (I use mine to store my longer ribbons on) and additional goodies.

Well, I need to get back to the blog hop, so I hope you will be as inspired as I have been!  Please take a moment this Memorial weekend and give thanks to those that have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms!

~~~~Lee~~~~

Card deets:

Stamps:  Firecracker Designs by Pamela, unknown clear acrylic stamp

Ink:  Tim Holtz Distress Inks - tea dye, old paper and walnut stain

Distress Powder:  Tim Holtz vintage photo

Design Paper:  Stripes - kismet by Glitz Design, stars paper unknown

Cardstock: The Paper Company 

Embellishments:  Dimensional Star Stickers by K & Company (another RAK I won from a OWH blog hop!)

Adhesive:  AdTech

Punches:  Corner Rounder EK Success, Corner rounder with star by Carl



Operation Write Home Memorial Day Bloghop

Sorry for the problem...I was so worried about reporting that Blogger wasn't taking my comments that I didn't even check my own blog to see if it posted.

Welcome to the Operation Write Home Memorial Day Bloghop!  If you want to stop at the beginning of the hop, you can go to the  OWH Stars and Stamps blog. 

Sit back and relax, and pour yourself your favorite beverage.  This bloghop is long, but I'll guarantee that you will be impressed at the fabulous cards you are about to see!

 I've been honored to call OWH my favorite charity for about two years now.  You see, my daughter, Chelsey, is in the Army National Guard, and she knows first-hand what a box of cards for her troops to send home mean to their morale.  She was stationed in Iraq for over a year, and I sent her cards while she was there that she shared with her troops.  When she returned home, I wanted to continue to share the joy with other soldiers by making cards for them, but I had to have names of soldiers to be able to do this.  Then I found Cards for Heroes, the former name of Operation Write Home.  After reading about their mission, I knew this would be a perfect place to send my hand-made cards that would go directly to the troops that requested them.  Chelsey just left on Wednesday to go to Haiti with the National Guard, but she sends her thanks for all of the wonderful comments that she has received from all of you!  

My card today uses a Stampin' Up! stamp from the set, Nature Walk, that I won from Holley's Hobbies, another OWH blogger.  Holley Smith has been with OWH as long as I have.  She is also on the bloghop today, so you want to make sure and stop at her blog to see her gorgeous projects as well as the Blog Candy she is giving away.  I love all of the red, white and blue cards, but I wanted to do something a bit softer for a missing you card.  I also clear embossed the leaves from this set with Versa Mark, but I don't think you can see it on the picture.

P.S. This pic was taken before I realized that I had forgotten the rhinestones.

I have a bit of Blog Candy that I want to offer to my followers in appreciation for all that you do for Operation Write Home.  You must be a follower and leave a comment below to be entered.   This Blog Candy offer will stay open until Wednesday, June 1st, so everyone has a chance to go through the bloghop.  Sorry, but I can only ship this candy anywhere in the U.S. at this time.

Blog Candy includes numerous fibers and ribbons, an Inkadinkado birthday mini clear stamp, a studio g clear stamp block and an unmounted Sweet Pea stamp by ching-chou kuik called September Rhythm.  More than 50 comments will mean more candy will be offered!

In celebration of receiving more than 50 comments even though I'm not on the "official" blog hop list, I've decided to offer more blog candy!!!  You must be a follower and leave a comment below, and the random drawing will be held on Wednesday, June 1st.  I can only ship in the U.S. at this time.

Blog candy includes an unmounted set of 4 Stampin' Up! stamps called Ecletic Corners, assorted fibers and ribbon, Staples 2" book rings (I hang my long strips of ribbon these and hang them on a clothes rack behind my door), a 4 1/2" piercing template and ???

If you just started  the hop here, the next stop is at Nicolette's blog, Beyond Scrapin.  She has some fabulous projects on her blog along with some more Blog Candy!

~~~~Lee~~~~

Card Deets:

Stamps:  Stampin' Up!

Cardstock:  Bazzill

Design Paper:  The Rouge Bird by My Mind's Eye

Ink: Versa Mark, Top Boss Embossing Ink, Walnut Distress Ink 

Embossing Powder:  Creative Zoo, ?clear detail

Adhesive:  Ad Tech

More Stamping and Scrapbook Store Closings

In case you haven't heard yet, Addicted to Rubber Stamps and Addicted to Scrapbooking are going out of business.   The owner has had health issues for a few years, and he is now unable to continue to run the businesses.  In their email, they stated that their suppliers are paid in full, so they will close in style.  The sale started today with everything in the store being offered for 30% off or more as supplies last. 

We all have seen lots of little stores closing lately, but these stores were open for over 15 years.  Hopefully, the employees will be able to find new jobs.  I'm sure this will also be a major hit to the local economy.  I pray that they can recover quickly from this major closure. 

I've only purchased small amounts from then over the years when they would do their progressive sales, but I was always pleased with my purchases.  They offered a 100 day satisfaction guarantee which is unheard of in most retail businesses.  Hopefully, some other companies will be able to pick up with the loss of this major player in the industry.

~~~~ Lee ~~~~

Computer Problems Still %#@&$%@#

I've had my share of computer problems lately which is why I've not been posting or reading blogs lately.  Do you think it could have something to do with the fact that my computer is over 8 years old?  Most people would've kicked a computer to the curb that is this old, but due to many obstacles (i.e. $$$$), I'm not able to replace it anytime soon.  I always replaced my computers every couple years since the 80s, but I was married and had the money to do it then.  Now, I find it challenging to make it through the month before the big $674 I get a month on SSI disappears. 

This brings me to the problems I'm having now.  I usually download my pictures to a version of Adobe Photoshop that I've had for years.  When I went to download some pics when I got my computer back from the shop, a window came up for me to register the software.  Needless to say, it was originally a free trial version that they no longer offer.  I sent an email to the company see if I could at least get my pictures that are locked up but visible when you go to the initial sign-in.  I'm not holding my breath on this, but if they could at least unlock the pics, I'd be very pleased.  I also had a version of Kodak Easy Share that is also MIA along with a version of HP Photosmart.  It was bad enough that I lost my pictures and thousands of digi stamps, but now I lose the photo programs, too!

I've been all over the web the last couple days trying to find ways to do things differently and hoping to learn some new tricks.  One of the websites I came across was called the Blog Guidebook.  Boy, I wish I had found this blog a few years ago!  I was able to find more tips and techniques in a few minutes than I've learned in years.  If you have some unanswered questions about blogging, or you're feeling overwhelmed with all of the new stuff that keeps popping up, then you're in luck!  Check out this blog, and don't forget to check out the other blogs, too.  I'm always amazed at the amount of people and/or blogs I find through different sites.  Oh, another thing I forgot to mention earlier was that all of the blogs I was following through my dashboard are also gone.  That will be my next item I need to investigate further after I finish combing what's left of the hair I pulled out in the past couple days!

I haven't posted any pics of my newest grandson, Caleb, lately, so here's a few to catch you up!

Yes, you're seeing this right.  Our little sweetheart has hearing aids at the ripe old age of four months!  He actually has had them for a couple months, and they don't seem to bother him at all.  He does have hearing, but he can't hear whispers, or anything below 50 decibels.  His mom and dad are involved with an excellent program called Colorado Hears.  I was surprised that they could fit a child this young with hearing aids, and the fact that every state has a program much like Colorado Hears.  If you're wondering how they found his hearing loss so young, they test all newborns at the hospital after they're born.  It took a bit longer to know for sure with Caleb, because he is a VERY sound sleeper. :o)  They usually just clap around them to see if it startles them, but it took a couple extra appointments before they were able to determine the depth of his loss.  Now, grandma just has to remember to keep it down when he has his ears in! lol

I told you the other day about my youngest daughter joining my oldest by graduating from the Department of Corrections Training Academy.  Here she is just after receiving her certificate.

Many of you might recognize her in another type of uniform.  Yes, she is the one that is a sargeant in the Army National Guard.  She just started her new job on 3rd shift last week.  On May 25th, she puts her other hat on and goes to Haiti for several weeks with the National Guard.  She said there are 5 other guards in her prison that are also in the Guard, so I would hate to be the one that has to do all of the scheduling around their Guard duties.  

~~~ Lee ~~~

I'm Alive!

I just wanted to let everyone in blogland know that I'm alive and well.  I've had major computer problems again, so I'm hoping this "fix" works longer this time!

I'm sorry I don't have anything new to show you right now.  I have lots of pics to download, so I hope to have something to show you soon.

I have one major thing I want to share with you.  My youngest daughter, Chelsey, just graduated on Friday from the Department of Corrections Training Academy, and she is now working as a Corrections Officer.  She is the mother of my newest grandson, Caleb, and she is also a sargeant in the Army National Guard.  While she was stationed in Iraq several years ago, she completed her associate's degree in Criminal Justice, and will be working on completing her bachelor's degree soon.  Thanks again to all that have kept her and her family in your prayers during her trying pregnancy and loss of her job because of being on bedrest for so long.

~~~ Lee ~~~