Snow Festival for Fab Fridays Challenge #01 and Operation Write Home Card Drive

Hi Everyone.  Happy Sunday.

Want to join in on the Operation Write Home card drive and blog candy?  Check out the bottom of this post.

There's a new challenge blog in town!  FabFridays.  I was so excited to see that Mindy had started a new challenge site and the first sketch doesn't disappoint.

I saw the Snow Festival DSP in the new Holiday mini and knew that I wanted to make a card using the houses.  I also knew the exact sentiment that I would use with it.   The sketch across at FabFridays proved to be just the one that I needed to bring the DSP and sentiment together.

Here's the sketch:

It's a really versatile sketch, as you can see from the design team inspiration and submission cards.

Here's what I did with it:

I really am loving the Gumball Green for Christmas cards.   The sketch really allowed me to highlight this fabulous DSP and I think the card came out well.   I almost forgot the punched element at the bottom and only saw it at the very last minute.  I'm so glad that I did, because that piece really helps finish the card.  I found an old snowflake border bunch in my drawer and decided it worked better for the DSP than the scallop punch I had originally imagined.

The great thing about the Fab Fridays challenge?  They run for two weeks!  So often I see a great challenge and just don't get the chance to play along as I run out of time.  So, having two weeks, really helps me!

On a personal note:

Lou finished painting the laundry.  Errr… the original color they put into the tin was Peppermint Green!  Not quite the color we had intended, so he had to go and get the paint fixed.  Once the correct color was on the walls, voila!  It looks great.  Heck, we even managed to get two pieces of artwork hung.  A map in Lou's office (love it!) and a painting of Nefertiti in the upper landing.  Finding places for artwork always takes longer than I imagine it will do.

OPERATION WRITE HOME CARD DRIVE DETAILS

I really think that it's time for another Operation Write Home Card drive.   Thanks to you, my fabulous blog readers, we have contributed over 3000 cards to OWH over the past couple of years.  I know that many of you make more cards than you send, and this is a great way to make use of your fabulous left over cards.   Hey, we don't mind if you make ones specifically for the drive, either!

OWH has a few rules for cards and I'm going to ask you to pop along to this link and check them out.  First and foremost.  NO GLITTER!  I know that you will read that on the OWH link, but it really is important to remember NO GLITTER.  Even if you send one card in your batch that has glitter on it, it infects the rest of the cards in your batch, and it is almost impossible to remove.

The deadline for Christmas cards and Valentines cards is October 30.   So, I will be making the deadline for receipt of cards October 7.  That gives me time to get the cards tucked, stamped with the OWH logo, put into boxes and posted.   So, please have all your cards to me by OCTOBER 7TH.  Any cards received after that will be put into the next card drive.

As well as Christmas and Valentine's cards – here's a list from OWH of desired and undesired cards

In the past, you have provided some beautiful cards and I can't wait to see what you send along this time.

WHAT DO YOU GET FOR PARTICIPATING?

Well, apart from the feeling of knowing that your pieces of art will be much appreciated by a hero and their family members, you also get the chance to win Stampin' Up! blog candy courtesy of me. 

• For every 20 cards that you send – with envelopes – I will put you in the draw for blog candy that I personally provide.
• I offer up a $100 gift certificate for SU merchandise of your choice from the current catalogs
• a $50 gift certificate for SU merchandise of your choice from the current catalogs
• a couple of spot drawings 

So, please leave a message at the bottom of this post  – or send me an email – and let me know if you will be participating.  Brenda, Doris, Kelly, Cindy – I know you will be joining us – and I am so grateful.   Anyone else?  Come on.. you know you want to :-)  It's a really great cause and a really good excuse to go into your craft room.  Also, it is tax deductible.  Plus you get the chance to win blog candy, and I will showcase your cards on a blog post after your cards are received.   So, all round, a win-win, I think!

Warm hugs and prayers for those of you who need a lift tonight.   Have a wonderful Monday.

Hugs

Jaydee