For a Good Cause

Happy Wednesday everyone!! I want to share a little part of me with you today. Early in life I learned how fulfilling volunteering can be. I learned that by giving someone a part of me--my time, my skill--that not only does the person I help benefit, but so do I. I have volunteered for many things from organizing events, to creating artwork and graphic projects, to leading a community organization. I still love to volunteer and find that as a cardmaker it is very fun to give handmade cards to groups to use to send a special greeting or note to loved ones. Some organizations like Operation Write Home actually have this down to routine complete with a list of deadlines and needs. They send cards to active duty soldiers so that they can write their love ones. One of their highest demanded cards are blank all-occasion cards [note the changes in the directions to make this card for OWH--they have strict rules about things like glitter and shiny sparkly powders that would rub off]. Another fantastic place to donate your cards is the nursing homes and senior centers so that they too have an option for sending greetings to their friends and family members. I hope--if you don't already give--perhaps that you will consider donating handmade cards to such worthy causes--they are truly grateful for our efforts! I hope you enjoy my project! 

 The Method

For this project you will need:

Paris Trunk Ink Black

Versamark Ink

Distress Inks in Old Paper and Walnut Stain

Foam Tape

Soft Brush and cloth

a bit of ribbon

White and Red Bazzill Basics

I began by stamping my split column image on a random piece of paper so that I could make a mask. I cut along the right side of the column. This will protect my image on my project from being over-stamped with the grunge stamp. You can see on the mask how it protected the image below.

I stamped the column, placed my mask down and then stamped my grunge writing background. I trimmed this piece out close to the stamped images. The edges of the card were distressed. Old Paper was then stippled onto the images and the edges were lightly inked with Walnut Stain.

I stamped the red with the two swirl images in versamark all over.

I dusted the stamped swirls with Bronze Mixers and wiped with a soft cloth to remove the excess. For OWH I would instead dust the swirls with High Gloss Embossing Powder or instead stamp the swirls with a color dye ink to keep any possible glitter or sparkle from wiping off the card.

The red card stock was folded in half and edged with Walnut Ink. The stamped focal piece was attached to the card with foam tape and a bow was fashioned with some ribbon and added to the card with Miracle Tape.

Thank you for looking! ~leslierahye