Monday, June 23, 2014

{Mama Elephant} Operation Write Home Blog Hop + Video!


We’re so excited to be partnering this summer with Operation Write Home - they are a non-profit organization that sends beautiful handmade cards to our service members so that they can write home to their families. Isn’t that just the best? There’s no Hallmark store in the desert, so this is a pretty important gift we can give them as crafters!


Our In My heart stamp set was inspired by the mission of OWH. We know that many of those serving overseas have little kiddos at home that they write to so we designed cute little kids and sentiments to express just how much those little folks are missed! We’ll be donating 20% of the proceeds of the stamp sets sold on our retail site from now until July 31st - we really want to help them fundraise for all their efforts!

We also know you’ll want to join in on the mission to serve the troops - be sure you visit the OWH website and read all the guidelines carefully….you’ll learn about why glitter is dangerous to send, so leave the stickles behind when making cards for heroes! More information is available on their Welcome page - tons of questions are answered there. And they have a fun YouTube show each weekday with project info, tutorials, and more - check it out HERE.


I used the In My Heart stamp set to create a set of five one-layer cards. They're shaped and dry embossed with the Femme Frames Creative Cuts and In My Heart Creative Cuts. This adds a lot of texture but they're still mail-friendly.


All of the darling images were coloured with Copic markers. After assembling the cards, I packaged them all together in a clear bag, wrapped with twine.


Here's how these cards came together:



Be sure to visit each stop on this hop for more inspiration:


Thanks so much for hopping with us, and for supporting Mama Elephant and Operation Write Home!

Sources:

41 comments:

Melissa T. said...

Adorable cards! I love how you used the dry embossing and the die cuts on these. I am thinking I need to purchase the dies now to go with the stamps. Thank you for sharing. :)

CraftyPaws said...

OMG so much cuteness in one little package! I love the embossing for so much texture, yet no more extra postage is needed?! That is fantastic! Great gift set idea! tfs hugs, Kristina

Joan Smith said...

Your cards are adorable what a sweet little package for someone to receive you definitely will make their day and give them the warm fuzzy's as well as the recipients what an outstanding creative job!!

Scrapthat said...

SO ADORABLE Emily!! TFS your beautiful CS how to with us!

Joan K said...

What a sweet stamp set this is. Thanks for sharing the details of your "production" method. I really like the idea of embossing the image into the card to keep it one layer/CAS. As packaged, this would make a great gift. For OWH, cards would need to be stamped with the OWH logo on the back and tucked into individual envelopes per the OWH website guidelines. Thanks again for sharing these adorable cards.

*Vicki* said...

WOW!! Love how you've done the embossed outlines with the dies! I really must give this a try!! Excellent video too! (Love that name stamp you used on the back of your cards.) TFS!

choman9912@aol.com said...

I love the dies you used to create the cards. The images are adorable. I love these cards!!!

Unknown said...

Your cards are wonderful. I love the embossing technique you used, genius!!! Thanks for helping out OWH!!

snappy scrappy said...

These are the most adorable cards!!!!

Lori Kobular said...

I love how you inlaid the kiddos on your awesome cards! Thanks for helping out OWH!!

Anonymous said...

Very cute set of cards!

WhoMom said...

Adorable! Dry embossing the kids is a fabulous idea and I'll have to try it out sometime. Your cards are wonderful, the pinked edges add that special touch.

Christine Kiehl said...

I love how your card set turned out! So creative! I am going to have to try this technique myself! Thank you for sharing!

Mary-Anne V said...

Those cards are so sweet...love the embossed area around the image too.

Sue D said...

Very sweet set of cards. I like the embossed and cut edges.

Elsie B said...

I love your card set! My stamps and dies arrived in the mail TODAY, so as soon as I'm done with the blog hop it's time to play! The dry embossing technique is one I'm definitely going to try. The one sentiment our heroes won't be using is the one about "our thoughts are always with you" since it's most always one person rather than a group sending the card, but it's perfect for Any Hero notes we write to our service personnel, isn't it? Be sure your cards don't end up in triage in the "card hospital" needing the OWH logo stamped on the back and the cards themselves tucked properly into A2 envelopes.
Thanks so much for the inspiration!

Barb Ghig said...

Absolutely adorable card set, Emily! I love your clever design with the die cuts, and your coloring is just beautiful!

Grá O'Neill said...

Beautiful card, love the embossing :)

Sarah G said...

Love this cute set of cards - the added texture from the debossing is a lovely touch!

Jannette said...

Beautiful card set! The embossing around the kids and the frames is awesome! Thanks for all the great tips.

Lindsey said...

I really enjoyed watching you colour these kids -- so assuredly and so perfectly! What a sweet set of cards.

Robin said...

Pretty cards!

Christiana said...

What a sweet little gift set! I know that they will be greatly appreciated!

Lynn said...

Such an absolutely adorable set Emily.

Pam said...

What a great idea to emboss these to give them texture, yet keep them mail-friendly. I love your cards!

Sandy said...

Ohmygosh so CUTE!

canadian_liner said...

Such cute cards, Emily. I love the letter-press look you achieved by embossing the die over the stamped images. And those little kids are just so sweet.

Lady Fair said...

Oh my, oh my, oh my! Love this card set. Great tip on embossing with the cutting dies. I must try this technique. Loved the video tutorial, you give excellent instructions.

Anonymous said...

One of them looks like Boo from Monsters Inc, love these!!!

Annywz said...

Wow i just love how simple the cards out and they turn out so stinking cute!!!! You don't need much and WOW speechless...

wilson.marie65 said...

Hands down my fave. I have never seen the dies used like that...awesome...I can't wait to order the set in a few weeks..I love every card that you did....Awesome

good luck everyone :)

Lynn said...

Your video is inspiring and makes me feel like I could make the cards too. Unfortunately, the stamps and scallop frame sets are out of stock. I will keep checking and hoping that I can place an order soon. I guess lots of other bloggers liked your video too. Anyway, the cards turned out fabulously and make a super gift set.

Kathy S said...

Emily - love your card set. Great for OWH.

Kara said...

Thanks for the hints on dry embossing with the dies. :) All 5 cards are lovely.

Samantha Mann said...

absoilutely wonderful cause! and what a wonderful set of cards!! they are ADORABLE! of course! and so sweet!! and the dry embossing with the dies...wow!! definitely something i have not yet tried! you have clearly mastered it though!!

Celeste Goff said...

Oh my gosh, this is just the cutest set of cards I've ever seen! I adore everything about them...well done!

mariangel said...

lovely set of cards so cute so adorable thanks for the video too love it

Miriam Prantner said...

Adorable set! I love the dry embossing, it really makes them look not one layer and so much fancier!

Andrea D. La Vigne said...

Love your dry embossing & die cutting especially. Gives a nice bit of unexpected texture. Great coloring, too. Tfs!

Bounding said...

One layer cards scare me but yours are just plain gorgeous! Love the embossing around the images.

Janet's Joy said...

OMG!!! This is so adorable!!! Love how you used the dies!!