Paper Smooches and a Sketch

The month-long birthday bash continues at OWH Stars and Stamps today. Our sponsor this week is Paper Smooches–home of some really cute stamps.  Here’s what I have done with it.

This weekend I am at a ladies retreat with my church. It’s the first one I have been on in years! I had the opportunity to have a card making session with the ladies and made up kits ahead of time so they can come anytime during the free hours of the afternoon. My goal is to bring home 43 “Any Hero” cards for Operation Write Home. I made 43 kits, each with two cards for the participants to make and take. I also brought 43 blank cards on which they could write to our troops. I left them out of the kits since one of the kit cards includes glittery stickers. OWH does not allow glitter that will flake off.  These are the cards the ladies are making.

I used a pre-colored MelonHeadz digi to print up a stack of Any Hero cards, which makes it quick and easy. The OWH web site has cute coloring sheets and letter starters for kids who might like to thank our service people. Check it out here if you have children in your life. It’s a great activity for scout groups or school classes, too.

This weekend I should also get an eye-full of historical Sears kit houses, since there are 151 of them in the town we will be in. I’ll be back with pictures. This coming week I will finish another commissioned shadowbox as well. This one is for a veteran and I am enjoying it thoroughly. Shadowboxes are my favorite projects to take on. I enjoy getting to know what people view as special in their lives or in the lives of their loved ones.

Today I explored several new blogs and sites. I found these particularly interesting in terms of encouraging storytelling and journaling: Cowbird (Thanks Janet),  Ali Edwards and The One Minute Writer. I may begin incorporating  writing prompts from OMW into my posts. It reminds me of journalism class waaaay back in high school in which I had to write from the perspective of being a nail, ice cream cone or some other oddity each day. It is a great exercise and one I expect will help give my blog the well-rounded feel and sense of creativity that I am after.