CARDS FOR THE TROOPS DAY

WOW!  If you weren't here for a terrific day of creating cards for the troops and writing heartfelt messages - you missed out on all the fun!

Our goal was to prepare 300 cards, most to be given to incoming troops who will be coming home through Joint Base Lewis-McChord. The majority of cards were created today, but some were cards which were completed using card fronts generously donated by many stampers and Stampin' Up! Demonstrators.  Some of those will be more appropriate to send to the troops who are still deployed for them to use. 

I truly thought that 300 was stretching it - but we completed just under 450 cards!!!!   325 of those had handwritten messages written in them, another 100 were taken for members of the Puyallup Valley Lions Club members to inscribe, leaving just a few to still be written in, or sent with the group to those who are still deployed. 

The youth of St. Peter's United Methodist Church were, once again, nothing short of phenomenal.  They met the evening before to prepare snacks for everyone and then spent the entire day working on  cards. They and their leaders, Jennifer and Scott. What a bunch!                               325 cards ready to be           
Their enthusiasm and their dedication is contagious and inspiring.                     delivered
Thank you- to each one of you. 

L. Cindy and Sue - from Puyallup and Lynwood.  They were here all day long - and then had the  long drive home. Talk about dedication!        

R.  Marilyn, Dorothy, Jane, Karen from Puyallup Valley Lions club.  Another long drive.


At one time, we had so many people working that we ran out of chairs.  That didn't stop anyone from continuing.  Some just stood up and wrote cards or took care of some go-fer tasks. 

Here are some samples of our cards.  Enjoy the creativity of both the teens and the adults. What a delight.

Unfortunately, I didn't get photos of everyone who attended - but here are a few more.  Again - thank you, each and every one.  It was a wonderful, wonderful day.

I still haven't figured out how to locate pictures on the page or how to get the titles just where I want them.  I'm always surprised when it works right,  And, now the last photos aren't going where I want them nor are the captions, so here are the  people in the photos starting top left and going clockwise:

Jane and Terry

Pastor Tom

Rebecca and Sydney

Julie

Marissa and her Dad and Adora

The two photos at the top of the page - I also couldn't get titled. On the left are Erica and Kaity and on the right is Blue, with Karen in the background

TODAY'S THE DAY!

Oh my goodness!  I can't even get a good night's sleep. Here it is 3:00 a.m. and I'm wide awake trying to make certain I remember all the details. Today is Cards for the Troops day and, if all goes as expected, there will be a nice number of people coming to prepare cards.  The flag is ready to be put out, scrap bags ready to "install" at the tables, sign in sheet is ready..... the church youth will put in the table leaves and set up the card tables.....  Details, details.  I just hope I haven't forgotten something major!  Stay tuned.

PREPARING FOR CARDS FOR THE TROOPS EVENT

It's been way too long since I have posted.  Thank you for checking. The time will come when I will do so again. I've been busy preparing for a Cards for the Troops Event on June 26th and am using supplies from my pre-Stampin' Up! days for the most part.  It's all good product, but doesn't fit well on a Stampin' Up! based blog.
The goal for the day of stamping and pasting and signing is 300 cards. I will have enough prepared for 500, I hope.  The ones we don't finish will be available for future stamping sessions. 

Check back for photos after the 26th.  We're looking forward to a good day.  If you live in the Bellevue area, or nearby, and would like to contribute cards or come help, let me know.  We'll never have too many.

STAMP CAMP PROJECTS

Here are four of the five projects at today's stamp camp.  You can see that each stamper expressed her own personality and style in each of the projects.  That's one of the things that I enjoy about having a group working on the same project - to enjoy the creativity and to learn from one another. Don't you think the Floating Re-inker roses  (Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set) are gorgeous?  Every one of them. Thanks, gals.

And thanks to Cat for the bookmark calendar template - http://www.catscreativeplace.com/

FIFTH AVENUE - FLOATING RE-INKER COLORING

Here's another Fifth Avenue Floral in Cameo Coral and Mellow Moss. This time, I've added Apricot Appeal cardstock as the base. Another color that we'll say good-by to at the end of June. The time is now to stock up on those favorite colors. Of couse, we will be getting some luscious new ones and some of those will surely become favorites.

These flowers are colored using the Floating Re-Inker technique. There are other names for this technique, but I think Floating Re-Inker best describes it. It is exactly how the coloring is done. We will be using this technique at our Stamp Camp on Saturday on a project that is still a secret - just in case any of you are trying to get a sneak peek. Hee hee.

The rose doesn't look quite this splotchy in real life. Can you tell that the Mellow Moss has been run through the Big Shot with a texture plate? What a nice background it makes.
One more Fifth Avenue Floral card will appear tomorrow - it will be a "10 Minute" card. Then, on Saturday, after the Stamp Camp, I'll post those projects

SYMPATHY CARD IN VELLUM

Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set is such a lovely set to use to make beautiful cards. Here is a Sympathy card, using the lily stamp.  I stamped the lily on vellum card stock using black Staz-On ink and colored the centers using a blender pen and Mello Moss and Summer Sun re-inkers. The lilies are cut out and then attached to Whisper White panel using Snail. Whisper White is mounted on Mellow Moss.  The base is Cameo Coral. The ribbon is Certainly Celery organdy. 

The sentiment is from the Thoughts and Prayers stamp set and is stamped inside with Ruby Red Classic Ink.

I intended to position the bow a bit lower but once those glue dots hit the card stock - they were there to stay.  I'll be more careful next time. This is a design that I will definitely repeat. And - I'll use these colors as long as my supplies last. We're losing the Cameo Coral and Mellow Moss at the end of June when Stampin' Up's Color Renovation is in force.  I'm going to order another package or two of the Coral for my own use. It is a favorite color - especially for the roses. Check back tomorrow to see another sample.

CRAZY FOR CUPCAKES EASEL CARD

I've been having fun making easel cards lately. Here is one using a favorite stamp set, Crazy for Cupcakes.  See that cupcake that fell to the ground even before it got to the cupcake stand?  It's serving a purpose. Stampers know that "A mistake is an excuse for an embellishment".  Wouldn't you know, I had the card all made and then got a bit of ink on my finger and, of course, discovered that only after I'd transferred it to the card front. Thus - the cupcake cover-up.  I know the photo is a bit blurry. I'll try taking another one tomorrow and see if I can get a clearer one for you.

Would you like to learn now to make an easel card?  We'll be doing one with a different stamp set at my Stamp Camp next Saturday.  There's still room for you to join us.

Happy Stampin'