Drum roll, please .......................... 776 Cards received for the Birthday Card appeal! Woo Hoo -- way to go, Inspiration in Action readers! You guys ROCK!!!!! 776 cards that will be sent to From Our Hearts for deployed military personnel to receive and send back home to their family and friends! 776 state-side family members that will hear from their loved ones and receive a hand-made Birthday Greeting all because of you! 776 cards -- you guys just blow me away!
If you will remember, just one month ago, I put out the appeal to send me cards for my birthday (see original post HERE) but not to write on the inside so they could be forwarded to the troops. My original goal was to receive 200 cards! Ha ... ha, ha .... ha, ha, ha!!! I had way too little faith in you! That became evident as the cards quickly outgrew the initial box that I had set aside for them, and then another, and then another ... Wow -- thank you one and all from the bottom of my heart! You have amazed me and blessed me and given me the best birthday EVER! And your generosity will continue to be felt as these cards are returned to wives and husbands and sons and daughters and mother's and fathers, sent with the love of their deployed loved-ones, sent with the love that came from each of you!
I've been making Birthday Cards myself, to add to the total that will be sent to From Our Hearts. So with the cards I've made, Marti and her volunteers will soon receive more than 850 cards -- that's almost 3 packed boxes which will go to three different locations in Iraq or Afghanistan. All I can say again, is WOW!!! Here's one of the cards that I made, using the new Builder Wheels and Triple-Cell cartridges from Stampin' Up! The sentiment is from On Your Birthday. The colors are Pumpkin Pie, Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise and Whisper White. I used the Scallop Border Punch and some 1/4" and 1/2" Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon. The new Builder Wheels are great fun and make for fast and easy cards and projects!
And now, for the announcement you've all been waiting for, the winner of the fabulous Blog Candy Prize Package which includes the Awash With Flowers Clear Mount Stamp Set; Clear Acrylic Blocks B, C, and D; A Scallop Trim Border Punch; an assortment of 5.5 x 8.5" cardstock pieces in some of the new Color Renovation Colors including Daffodil Delight, Cherry Cobbler, Cajun Craze, Marina Mist and Early Espresso; an assortment of 5.5 x 8.5" cardstock pieces in five (5) new 2010-2011 In Colors; and a sampling of new ribbons and embellishments from the 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog.
And the winner is ...
Oh, one more thing! I originally said the winner would be selected from a random drawing with my daughter drawing the winning name. it became evident that with so many cards received, I was not going to be able to fill out a drawing slip for 776 entries so I resorted to Random.org who chose the number 406 as the winner.
Okay, and now, the winner is ...
Oops, sorry, one more thing! The winning prize package will be sent to the winner after July 1st, when the new catalog items are available for everyone to see, use and enjoy!
Okay, and now, the winner is ...
Oh shucks, I forgot one more thing! If you would like to continue to donate cards for the troops, just check out the From Our Hearts Website. There's all kinds of useful information there on how to donate and where to send it and how to package it. If you have questions, I know that Marti and her crew will be happy to help you!
Okay, I'm just playing with you now! And the winner is ...
Sheila Johnson of Tempe, Arizona! Sheila actually sent a box with 101 cards, wow! Way to go, Sheila! She said in her note that she needed to clear out her stash but just couldn't bear to throw away the cards (what, don't ever do that!) so this was a great way to help out the cause and to clear some shelf space in her studio. She also said that she is going to be sending more to From Our Hearts. So, look-out, Marti, Sheila is in purging mode! Congratulations, Sheila! I've got your address and your prize package will be coming your way shortly! Below, you can see just a few of the wonderful cards that Sheila included in her box!
That's it for today, everyone! Thanks so very much!
Thank you so much for choosing me as your winner. I really didn't send so many cards just for the opportunity of winning but that is just a wonderful bonus. I'm so glad I could contribute to the impressive amount of cards you received. Now I need to take time to go thru the rest of my cards for From Our Heart and get those out. I've been looking at their website and I'm so impressed with their commitment and all the wonderful people who are helping. I want to be one too. Thanks again, Gretchen, for giving me a reason to take that first step and for choosing me as your winner.
Posted by: Sheila Johnston | June 15, 2010 at 04:17 PM
Congratulations to the Winner! I was very happy to participate and knowing that they will appreciate the cards we all have sent. Thank you Gretchen for this great blog candy and to All are hearts!
Posted by: Chantal B. | June 15, 2010 at 04:29 PM
I am so happy that someone likie this, who donated so many cards is the winner! congrats Sheila!
Posted by: terriavidreader | June 15, 2010 at 07:53 PM
Congratulations Gretchen on receiving so many cards and congratulations also to Sheila on being chosen as the blog candy winner.
Posted by: lisa808 | June 15, 2010 at 08:11 PM
Wow Gretchen
How awesome to have received so many cards...I too contacted Marti and am sending a box of supplies directly to her.
Love the way you kept us hanging again and again and again...too funny
congratulations to Sheila your designs are really special
blessings
patti moffett
Posted by: patti moffett | June 15, 2010 at 08:41 PM
Congratulations, Sheila!!! Your cards are beautiful. We are glad you took that first step. I can't wait to see them and all the REST!!! And to you, Gretchen, my hats off to you! What a wonderful birthday gift you have given to our troops!
Thank you, all of you who sent in your birthday cards!
Hugs,
Martie Shea, From Our Hearts
Posted by: Martie Shea | June 15, 2010 at 09:19 PM
Wonderful, Gretchen! I love your birthday idea - and it obviously touched the hearts of many. Thank you so much for your dedication to our men and women in the military. I have a Cards for the Troops event on June 26th and the goal is 500 cards. We'll have some to send, as you have done, from card fronts. The ones we make will be to welcome home some of the returning troops, especially the Single Soldiers (all branches). 18,000 coming home through our local base, so our cards will be just a drop in the bucket. Thanks again for all you are doing.
Posted by: Betty Vene McConnell | June 15, 2010 at 10:21 PM
WTG on all the cards for our troops. Love your cards as usual.
Posted by: Sarah Miller | June 15, 2010 at 11:01 PM
What a wonderful thing you have done. These cards really do make a positive difference! sherrill graff [email protected]
oh yeah, hope your birthday was a GREAT ONE!
Posted by: Sherrill Graff | June 15, 2010 at 11:07 PM
Great work, Gretchen! And, I think your postal deliverer deserves a card too (Thank you!), or some other special paper treat! :-D
Posted by: Wanda J. | June 16, 2010 at 06:28 AM
This is incredible Gretchen! Your description of outgrowing the first box you set aside to hold the cards in reminded me of when I first started stamping and thought that I would keep everything in just a medium-sized Rubbermaid container! HA!
Seriously though, this is a WONDERFUL thing and I know that the troops who get these cards will be blessed along with their families. We ALL have lots of cards in our "stash" and this is a terrific way to make good use of them! Thank YOU for your giving spirit!
Posted by: Jayne S. | June 16, 2010 at 09:46 AM
Congrats Shelia! Thank you so very much Gretchen for allowing all of us to participate in your birthday and your generosity :D I'm glad to have had even a small part in something so big...there are smiles for all of us. Thanks for sharing. MJ
Posted by: mary jo | June 16, 2010 at 10:20 PM
What a wonderful thing and your readers did! You made a lot of our heros and their families happy.
Posted by: Chris in CO. | June 17, 2010 at 01:50 PM