OWH Finishing Strong Memorial Day Bloghop 2015!

All good things come to an end, but I have to say this one makes me a little sad. I don't remember how I learned about OWH (Operation Write Home), but I did.

I'm not a "real blogger", I created this to participate in challenges and other blog hops for OWH. Along the way I have met some great people and very talented card makers.  They have inspired me and sometimes intimidated me.

I have always been patriotic, I love our country despite some of the issues we hear about day to day. My dad and brother served in the military and just recently with my mother's passing did I realize perhaps the impact my cards may have had.

My mother kept every letter that she and dad wrote back and forth during WWII. I imagined the excitement they must have had when they opened the letter and seeing the other's handwriting. I was a little embarrassed by some of the things I read, but I realized how much they loved and must have missed each other.  I even found a letter that my brother wrote to me when he was in Korea, he was 18 and I was 6.  I don't remember that letter but it is something I will treasure and I am thankful that my mother did keep these items. I have high hopes that one of my cards will someday be found in someones "stash" of stuff and they will read what their parent wrote to the other and feel the love they felt for each other.

With that being said......it is with bittersweet feelings, I must post this.....

Operation Write Home, a charity that has supported heroes with handmade cards since 2007, will be closing later this year. All cards need to be sent in by August 1st, so I’m helping to get the word out 

This will be the last Memorial Day blog hop and it makes me sad!! Don't get me wrong I'm happy that the troops are coming home and the need for the cards has dwindled, but my stash of craft items grew and I continued to make cards for OWH.  I hope to find another cause that I can show my creative side.

The challenge was to create a red, white and blue card for any of the the themes (love, missing you,birthday or a Anyhero card.  So in staying with the theme of "Finishing Strong" I wanted to do all of them.

My first one is the Anyhero card:

The birthday card:

The thank you card: 

The miss you card:

Last but not least love:

It has been an honor to be associated with this organization and I will miss some of the usual card makers.  I hope to spend the next month or so filling up my final box to OWH.  I also plan on making sure that I follow,bookmark,friend etc all of you that I have come in contact with.

I also want to make sure that I update my listing of sketches.  I use those sketches so much in my card making and I would hate to "loose" that link.  So I don't know about you, but I'm going to be very, very busy.

I have spent a little time trying to find another organization that accepts cards.  I found one on splitcoaststampers.com  (click on the link to go to the thread).  They have a cause each month and this one is for a church.  They also appear to be looking for organizations, so maybe we can help them with groups that we know.

So on a positive note..... I'm happy that I:

Found this organization and could help
Had the funds to continue to support my card making for this organization and make cash donations
Met some amazing people/card makers (especially Sandy)
Learned new things/techniques from all of you
can dig out my glitter and start playing once the OWH cards have been packed and sent.  <grin>

And in honor of Memorial Day