Gretchen Barron

From Our Hearts Needs Our Help!!!

Hello everyone! If you've followed my blog for any length of time, you might know how I feel about From Our Hearts, an organization which collects and sends hand-made Greeting Cards cards to deployed military personnel. They in turn, use the cards to keep in touch with their family and loved ones back home. Over the past couple of years, this organization has grown from sending out a few boxes of cards each year to sending shipments every 4-6 weeks to more than 40 chaplains in Iraq and Afghanistan. That's ten to twelve thousand cards that are needed each month to meet the growing demand (10,000-12,000).

Martie Shea, founder of the organization, sent out an urgent appeal today. The reserves of cards are dangerously low. They are able to mail out 6 boxes of cards tomorrow (there are approximately 300 cards in each box), and then they will be out of most everything they have!

Martie reports that they are basically out of cards for Wedding, Best wishes, Miss you, Congratulation, Anniversary, and Sympathy. And they are running very low on on Thinking of you, Love you, best wishes and Thank you cards. Cards of all kinds are desperately needed! They need our help to keep the boxes of cards going out to the troops!

Are you able to send 10 or 20 cards or even more? Each card helps and each one is so appreciated by the military personnel who send them and their loved ones who receive them. Check out the From Our Hearts website. You will find numerous thank-yous and testimonies sent from grateful troops. You'll also find there a FAQ sheet which will answer all your questions about donating to From Our Hearts and a printable Inventory Sheet to include with the cards you send!

Please send what you can, as soon as you can, for this important outreach effort!

Thanks so much for your help and support of From Our Hearts!

Thinking of You Trio -- 3 DSP -- 3 Cards -- 1 Sketch

Hello everyone and welcome to Inspiration in Action. I have a quick and fun card to share with you today, a timeless design that I find myself creating over and over again!

 

This Cardstock Vellum Overlay card always produces a "WOW" response and yet, it's so simple to do. Today, I decided to try this same basic card but to do it in 3 different DSP choices to show how easy it is to change this out and customize it for any occasion.

 

All my cards today use a sentiment from the Word Play Stamp set. All are "thinking of you" cards. And all will be sent to From Our Hearts so that they may be sent overseas to deployed troops to send back to their loved ones with personal greetings! "Thinking of You" cards are among the most in-demand by Martie and her crew of volunteers at From Our Hearts. Their boxes and stock have been depleted. So, if you have it in your heart to help out this wonderful cause, why not take a few minutes or an hour to put together some quick "thinking of you" cards this weekend and send them off to From Our Hearts. You'll find all the details on their website. What a great way to show your support and encouragement for those serving overseas on our behalf!

 

For this first card, I used the Greenhouse Gala DSP, Real Red 5/8" Satin Ribbon and the Elegant Bouquet Impressions Folder with the Big Shot. To construct all these cards, begin with your cardbase cut at 5.5 x 8.5", scored and folded. The next layer is the DSP cut at 4 x 5.25". The next layer is Cardstock Vellum cut at 4 x 5.5" and then embossed with the Big Shot. Wrap and tie the ribbon around the fold and adjust. The ribbon serves double-duty as it hides the SNAIL that is visible through the Cardstock Vellum. Finally, stamp  the sentiment, positioning it where there is no embossing! And that's it -- I told you this was a quick and easy card!

Here's the second card I did with a Cardbase and Ribbon of Marina Mist and Elegant Soiree Designer Series Paper. I changed out the embossing with the Elegant Lines Impression Folder since that design coordinates so beautifully with this DSP. Caution -- this Impression Folder seems to be cut deeper than the others so you may want to use your MultiPurpose Platform with NO TABS when you use this folder! Especially with the Cardstock Vellum, it may cut out the design rather than embossing it otherwise -- probably not the look you're going for!

 

And finally, here is the final sample with Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper and Victoria Crochet Trim Ribbon.

 

See how easy and beautiful this is? Three completely different cards, all using the same design, simply by changing-out the beautiful Designer Series Papers that Stampin' Up! gives us!

 

That's it for today, everyone! I do hope you'll check out From Our Hearts and send some cards their way to help restock their boxes so their next shipment overseas cam go out as scheduled!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Hope you have a great day and a fabulous week and that you find some time to get creative! I'll see you again soon, I hope! Until then ...

 

Why We Do What We Do!!!

I received the most amazing e-mail this morning from a Chaplain's Assistant, Michael, deployed overseas. The Valentine Challenge cards for From Our Hearts have been received and Michael evidently found some of my cards in the box that his unit received. He writes, "I want to thank you for one of the beautiful cards that you made.  I have written a note to my wife and I will mail it out tonight.  I work at the chapel here.  We see a lot of the troops that are headed down range and I know they will appreciate the box of cards that you and others like you made for them.  They will be able to send these beautiful cards to their loved ones back home.  I am told time and time again that acts of kindness such as this is what the troops think of when the going gets tough.  Thank you for your support, it means so much." WOW -- this e-mail made my day, in fact, it made my week. To make a few cards to send to the troops seems like such a small thing and yet to think of the impact it has upon the troops and their families. I am honored and blessed to be involved with From Our Hearts.

Now, speaking of Valentine's Day, I decided to turn up the cute factor for today's Stamping 411 Sketch Challenge. Look at my little ladybug, all dressed up in sparkly Red Glitter Paper! This card was actually inspired by a little ladybug purse mirror that my daughter picked out on a recent shopping trip at the mall. Once I had the idea, I knew it would work well for this week's sketch.

Just look at the glimmer and glitz on this little lady! It's all done with punches. The wings are created with the Wide Oval Punch (punched in both Red Glimmer Paper and Regal Rose. Underneath that is the 1 3/4" Circle Punch in Basic Black. The head is the 1 1/4" Circle Punch in Basic Black. The antannae are created using the Ornament Punch (punch once in Basic Black and then punch just a sliver from the cardstock below the first punch). And the little hearts are punched with the Small Heart Punch, again from the Glitter Paper. WOW, that's a lot of punches ... oh wait, there's one more ... the Pinking Hearts Border Punch. Whew! No wait, there's still one more ... I punched out the little holes in the ladybug wings with the Crop-a-Dile and then attached the Regal Rose Wide Oval underneath so the pink would show through.

Okay, I think that's it for the punches. The stamp sets are Bugs & Kisses and Something to Celebrate (Level 2 Hostess Set). I used the Big Shot and the Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder on the Pink Pirouette Layer as well as 5/8" Real Red Satin Ribbon. Inside I punched more hearts with the Heart to Heart Extra Large Punch (yikes, that's another punch!). The Whisper White layer and the ladybug are both popped up using Stampin' Dimensionals!

Here's the Measurements:

1. Layer One -- Real Red Card Base cut at 5.5 x 8.5", scored and folded to form a card.
2. Layer Two -- Pink Pirouette cut at 4 x 5.25 and embossed with the Impressions Folder
3. Layer Three -- Real Red cut at 2 3/4 x 4. Punch the Border Punch on the bottom edge.
4. Layer Four -- Whisper White cut at 2 3/8 x 3 3/4". Stamp sentiment in Real Red ink and attach ladybug with Stampin' Dimensionals!
5. Inside of Card -- Whisper White cut at 4 x 5.25" - embellish as desired

This was actually a quick and easy card to make and I think it's oh, so adorable! I think my daughter and nieces may all be receiving this little lady, come February 14th! She has flown her way into my heart!

I do hope you'll take a few moments to check out the Stamping 411 Blog Post today and look at all the beautiful projects that the 411 Operators created for your inspiration this week! And I want to thank you for stopping by here. I hope you'll be back soon for more Ideas and Inspiration!

 

Lots and lots and lots of Love!

Hello everyone! It's Monday, January 17th, the day that I promised to announce the BIG winner of the From Our Hearts Valentine Challenge!

Before I announce our lucky winner, I want to say "thank you" from the bottom of my heart to all of you who responded to the challenge and sent Valentine cards to From Our Hearts. I never know what to expect when I put a challenge like this out there and I always underestimate the response. And this challenge was no exception. If you remember, I was hoping that my you, my readers and followers, would send in 1000 Valentine Cards to be sent to the troops to use to send to their family and loved ones. Once again, Inspiration in Action friends, you have gone above and beyond! All-in-all, 1,422 cards were sent in for the Challenge -- almost 50% over my original goal! WAY TO GO!!!!! The picture on the left shows the pile of boxes that awaited Martie when she returned home from Christmas with her family! Can you imagine!!!

In addition, many of you sent cash donations to help with the cost of sending cards overseas to the troops. Are you ready for this? $199 was included with the packages of cards! That's enough to send more than 14 packed-solid boxes of cards to troops overseas. Each box contains between 300-350 cards. WOW, WOW, WOW! Thank you all so much! What fun this has been and what a wonderful surprise for spouses, parents, children and siblings of deployed troops to receive a beautiful hand-made Valentine card from their loved ones so far away!

Pictured below are just some of the 1,422 cards that YOU created! WOW -- that's a lot of pink and red!!!

  
 

Your cards are already being received by the troops. In fact, Marti has already gotten thank-you's back from some of the chaplains that help to distribute the cards. Chaplain Peter writes this, "Thank you for the Valentines Cards.  They are so well done and I know the wives will really appreciate them.  We are a couple of months out now from going home so I have been telling the guys to send cards home and help mitigate some of those transition issues.  I think they are taking my advice because they are going like hot cakes."

Chaplain David writes, "Thank you so much for the cards.  The Marines & Sailors love them & cherish the fact that they are hand made.  I use them personally so I appreciate the time & effort "From Our Hearts" lovingly places on each & every cards.  They are like unique works of art & personal gifts to the recipient. Be assured of my prayers & I would ask you all to do the same.  The troops appreciate all the prayers, love & support they are getting. We are grateful for your ministry."

Please know that your generosity and creativity are making a difference ... one handmade card at a time!

And now, for the lucky person who won the Blog Candy prize for the Valentine Challenge -- Carolyn White of North Wales, PA -- your prize package will be in the mail tomorrow. I'll be sending Carolyn a new Clear Mount Build a Blossom Stamp Set and the coordinating Blossom Petals Punch. Carolyn sent in a total of 50 Valentine cards and a cash donation to help with the shipping expenses. Thank you, Carolyn! Some of her beautiful cards are pictured on the right!

Again, thank you, everyone, so much for all your wonderful contributions and thanks for sharing your love! You are fabulous!

Who Says That Love Doesn't Grow on Trees?

Or is that Money Doesn't Grow on Trees? Well, anyway ... today it's Love! I've made another valentine Card today for my From Our Hearts Valentine Challenge. Read the details of this challenge by clicking on the link above. And it's not too late to get in the game -- you just need to send at least 5 Cards to Marti at From Our Hearts by December 20th!

I've brought back an old, favorite set -- Season of Friendship -- and put a new twist on it as a tree of hearts!

I stamped the trunk in Crumb Cake and then added leaves of Pretty in Pink and Regal Rose. I punched the glittery hearts out of the new Glimmer Paper (available in the Occasions Mini Catalog beginning January 4th), using the Small Heart Punch. I applied a Big Shot Multi Purpose Adhesive Sheet to the back of the 12x12 sheet of Glimmer Paper first, so that each tiny heart that is punched out is also self-adhesive -- Love it! Don't know if you can see the glimmer in the photo or not, but this paper really Shines! Everytime I look at it, it reminds me of Dorothy's Glass Slippers in the Wizard of Oz!

The sentiment is from the Stamp Set Valentine Defined (also in the Occasions Mini) and I punched it out with a Small Oval Punch, layering it on a Large Oval Punchie of Pretty in Pink and a Scallop Oval Punchie of Real Red.

I used the Big Shot and the Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder to create texture and interest with the polka dots and mounted everything with Stampin' Dimensionals.

On the inside you'll find a few more scattered leaves and one more glimmery heart, just for a little surprise and color when someone opens up the card.

I think that will do it for today. I do hope you'll help us out and send some cards to From Our Hearts for the Valentine Challenge! Our military personnel and their families are so appreciative of the beautiful hand-made cards they are able to enjoy because of your generosity and compassion!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you'll come back soon for more ideas and inspiration!

Another Sneak Peek at a New Valentine Set

Good morning, everyone! I've got another Sneak Peek for you for the upcoming Occasions Mini Catalog. Now remember, you won't be able to see this catalog or order from it until January 4th but I just wanted to wet your appetite for the good things to come!

 

This also is a great time to remind you about my Valentine Card challenge for the troops! If you send at least 5 hand-made Valentine Cards and envelopes to the From Our Hearts organization, you will be automatically entered in a contest to win a new Stamp set and Punch from the Occasions Mini catalog! It's a fabulous deal! Click HERE for all the details from my original post! Don't delay, cards are due by December 20th!

 

Now for today's card! Isn't this a darling new set for Valentine's? It's called Valentine Defined (see the definition) and has a total of 8 stamps in the set. I've used three of them for today's card, the two that you see on the front and the String of Hearts Border Stamp that you see on the inside of the card (click on the photo to view it larger).

 

You'll also notice a new embossing folder, the Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, used with the Big Shot. Just think of the possibilities we will be able to create with this little gem!

 

The colors that I used for this card are Real Red, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White. The only other embellishment is a bit of 3/8" Early Espresso Taffeta Ribbon and some Stampin' Dimensionals! A pretty quick and easy card, made so special with all the great Stampin' Up! products that will be available come January 4th.

 

I think that will do it for now! I am so happy you stopped by and I hope you'll be back soon for more ideas and inspiration!

  

Look at These Darling Valentine Cards for the Troops!

Hello everyone! I promised you I would be back today with more Valentine's Card ideas!

 

I'm making these for the From Our Hearts organization. If you've a blog follower, you probably already know about my Valentine Card Challenge for the Troops. Click HERE to read my original post from earlier this week.

 

Let's flood the From Our Hearts mailbox with TONS of Valentine Cards for our service men and women!

Now, for today's card! Aren't these darling. And they don't take long at all to make. I made 40 of them in less than 2 hours! I used a variety of ink colors -- Cherry Cobbler, Regal Rose, Real Red, Blushing Bride and Pretty in Pink, and mixed-and-matched and ribbon colors as well. The stamp sets are Seasonal Sentiments, Confetti and I {Heart} Hearts. The embossing is done with the Big Shot and the Elegant Bouquet Impressions Folder. The ribbons are 5/8" Satin. I stamped the colored images on the Whisper White Cardstock front and then embossed and Stamp the sentiment on a Cardstock Vellum overlay. It's such a pretty and soft look ... and perfect for Valentine's Day!

I do hope you will accept the challenge that I've issued. We would love to see the Valentine Cards that you send to our overseas military personnel through From Our Hearts! What a gift to give -- thank you!

Would You Please Put "From Our Hearts" on your Christmas List This Year and Valentine Card Challenge for the Troops

If you've been following my blog for very long, you know how I feel about the non-profit organization, From Our Hearts. Through this wonderful organization, stampers from all over the country have been organized and networked to make cards that are sent to deployed troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Working primarily through chaplains, the cards are sent in boxes of about 300 cards at a time to more than 28 different locations. As we receive feedback from those receiving the cards, we know that they are snatched up almost as quickly as they arrive. The cards are used by military personnel to keep in touch with loved ones back home -- spouses, children, parents and friends all receive cherished notes from their loved ones on beautiful hand-made cards provided by literally hundreds of volunteers from across the nation!

Here's the really exciting news -- From Our Hearts has grown by leaps and bounds over this past year - from a little over 20,000 cards mailed last year to over 20,000 cards mailed this month alone! With growth comes new challenges and the organization has out-grown the space in Martie Shae's home -- primarily her spare bedroom and dining room. Martie is the organizer and coordinator of this fabulous outreach!

They have been offered FREE space to move their operations. Beginning January 1st, they will have a large space with room for everything in one space. This is really exciting news! You can read more about Martie's announcement HERE.

With their new space, they have new needs and need our help. Since everything has been in Martie's home up to now, they have simply used equipment that she already had -- computer, printer, tables, chairs, shelves, etc. Now they need to furnish their new space. Approximately $1500 is needed by the end of the year to purchase the things they will need to move the operation to the new space. If you're able to help out this fabulous organization, even with just a small gift, it will make a HUGE difference.

Donations may be made on the From Our Hearts Website by paypal. Any amount is appreciated! Donations may also be mailed to:

From Our Hearts, PO Box 105243, Jefferson City, MO  65109

All contributions are tax deductible.  A letter for tax purposes will be mailed upon request.

Now, for some more exciting news! You may remember the Birthday Card Contest that I held last May when so many of you sent Birthday Cards for From Our Hearts. More than 800 cards were received and sent overseas to the troops.

The urgent need for cards right now is Valentine's Day Cards! Yes, I know it's not even Christmas yet. But the Valentine Card shipment needs to be completed before the end of the year! My blog followers donated more than 800 Birthday cards. Can we top that record? Dare we dream of sending 1000 or more Valentine Cards to From Our Hearts before the end of the year? Wouldn't that be wonderful!

So, here's the details. Make a little bit of time to create some Valentine Cards for From Our Hearts. They don't have to be fancy or complicated. They can use retired product and even non-Stampin' Up! product! I would like to challenge everyone who reads this to send at least 5 Valentine Cards with Envelopes to From Our Hearts before December 20th. If you're able to make more (or if you already have a supply that you can send) that would be even better. If you're able to put each card and envelope inside a Clear Envelope, that would be even better than better! With every batch of Valentine's Cards, if you could send some cash to help with postage that would be simply wonderful. I would suggest $2 for every 5 cards that you send. In fact, it cost about $14 to send an entire box of cards (about 300 cards) to the troops so if you're able to donate postage for an entire box, that would be super-fantabulous! Send your Cards/envelopes and donations directly to From Our Hearts (address is below in the Valentine box) and include a note to let them know you are doing this as part of "Gretchen's Valentine Card Challenge". I also need you to leave a comment on this blog post to let me know you are participating.

Martie and her crew will keep track of who sends cards and donations and how many are sent. And then I will award one lucky participant (drawn randomly) a BRAND NEW Clear Mount Build a Blossom Stamp Set and the coordinating Blossom Petals Punch from the Occasions Mini Catalog. That's a value of more than $35 for Brand New products from Stampin' Up! The prize will be mailed out to the lucky winner by January 15th.

If you have questions, let me know! I'm so excited about this new challenge and the wonderful growing pains that From Our Hearts is experiencing! Just think of all the wonderful smiles and tears as military families receive messages back from their deployed loved ones on YOUR hand-made Valentine Cards! it warms my heart and I can't think of a better Christmas present!

Blessings, Gretchen

 

 

 

From Our Hearts Sends Cards to the Troops

Good morning, everyone! I want to take a few minutes this morning to tell you about a very worthwhile organization -- From Our Hearts. From Our Hearts is a non-profit organization that sends hand-made, blank greeting cards, by the thousands, overseas to our troops. The cards, for all occasions and holidays, are ones that our deployed military personnel can select and send back to their family and loved ones with their own hand-written notes inside. I met Martie Shea (pictured on the left with Robbie Cox, a regular contributor), the oganizer of this project, at convention this summer and was so very impressed with her compassion and commitment to this important work. Martie sends the boxes of cards to Chaplains who then make them available to the soldiers in their units.

Read what one Chaplain said: "My unit was the fortunate recipients of your most recent care package of handmade cards! On behalf of our camp, I wanted to thank you for your generous and thankful gifts. I was shocked and humbled at the hours of work you put into just one box of cards  . . . We put the cards in the Chapel where we get hundreds of visitors each day . . . it was unbelievable to witness that within 1 week all the cards had been picked up and used by the warriors on the compound . . . Please keep our men in your thoughts and prayers. The road is difficult and the sacrifices will continue to be costly. Thank you for being a part of this effort by meeting a very real need we have to stay connected with our homes. Thank you for your gifts and prayers. They mean more than you know."

Card-making events are organized throughout the country in church basements, nursing homes, malls, libraries and other public places. Individuals also send boxes of cards, card fronts, and supplies. I know that Martie and the other volunteers would love to hear from you if you're interested in helping. Information for packing and sending cards is on the From Our Hearts Website. Christmas cards need to be received before October 25th in order to be sent overseas. Valentine cards are needed before the end of the year. All Occasion cards are needed and accepted throughout the year.