OWH Memorial Day Weekend Hop

Good morning!! It's time for the Memorial Day Weekend Blog Hop for Operation Write Home! You should be coming here from
Sharon's blog.
If not, or if you get lost, head on back to the very beginning.

I've got a Heartfelt Creations card to share based on this card by Mona Pendleton.I thought it would translate beautifully using the Semper Augustus Tulips. The sentiment is from the Dutch Iris Oval precut set and the hummingbird is from the Springtime Medley Collection - the Angel Trumpet Flower, to be specific. The matching die makes it a snap to get a perfect cut every time.

Over the top, I stamped Unity's Worn Music in Vintage PhotoDistress Ink. As usual, when making cards for Operation Write Home, I've used Memory Box cardstock because of it's white reverse side, making it ideal for any writing conditions.

Copics used were YG13, YG23, RV14, RV17 and RV19.

Thanks so much for visiting me today! Next on the hop is the lovely and talented
Joanne!

PS - I almost forgot to mention! The spousal unit officially retired from the Air Force on 1 April after 24 years 4 months and 17 days.
I'm proud of him.

Operation Write Home Bunny Hop

Quick note - for my EtsyInspired post, please check here. Thanks!!

If you started at the beginning of the Bunny Hop and have made it all the way through 133 other blogs, I thank you greatly for sticking with it! If you've just stumbled upon my blog (or you're a regular reader) and you're curious, or lost, head on back to the beginning at OWH Stars & Stamps. You should be coming here from Angela's blog, Midnight Crafting. If so, then you are definitely in the right spot!!

Important information first - there are a couple deadlines coming up. For Easter cards, it is March 18. For Mother's Day cards, the deadline is March 31. Those dates will be here before you know it, so get those cards in the mail! Our soldiers and their families are counting on all of us.

Have you guys seen the new Saturday Seminar Series? I missed the first one while I was sick, but the second seminar starts in a couple weeks and it looks like it's going to be extremely helpful for any of us who are interested in bettering our card design skills. You can still read the information from the first "lesson" here, and while some of it may seem very basic, I think it's always good to get a fresh perspective.

Okay, I'm done being a blabberpuss. You came to see a card and maybe to think about some blog candy, right? I originally posted this to the Paper Maniac blog just over a week ago, and hadn't posted it here yet. The main image uses Heartfelt Creations stamps, which I coloured with Copic markers. I think it would work for either Easter or Mother's Day.
Yes, I did mention blog candy. I'll be giving away the {ippity} set Sing a New Song to one lucky commenter. I may have an extra Unity Itty Bitty to throw in there as well. I'll take comments until after class on Wednesday (noon, Eastern), after which time I'll let Random.org choose a winner.By the way, I've been very fortunate. I've been an Air Force wife for almost 20 years. My husband enlisted while I was still a senior in high school, and we didn't marry until he had already served for several years. His retirement will be official on 1 April - and, although he has served just over 24 years, because of his specific job he has never been deployed. We are lucky. Incredibly lucky. The children and I know it.

There are those who have not been so fortunate, and I thank each and every one of you for the sacrifices you have made. I also thank those of you who care enough to continue send cards and write letters and to do all that you do for the many families who are affected.

Your next stop on the hop is the OWH Homefront. Thanks again for stopping by my blog!!

Altering All Things Unity

Wowie, I did not think I was going to get to post this today! Well, at least not from home, anyway. We lost our electricity at 11:19 this morning (Saturday, as I write). BGE (Baltimore Gas & Electric) had a recording that stated "the vast majority of customers" to have service reestablished by late Sunday evening. Sunday evening!?!?!? YIKES!! Well, we were exceedingly fortunate and ours was restored just before 5pm on Saturday. Whew!I hope everyone is as excited as I am about our newest challenge at All Things Unity! I very, very seldom alter anything. I don't know why I don't. I guess I just get nervous about it, but you know what? I think I was making it a heck of a lot harder than it really is!

In any case, I started out working on a journal for DD#2, Hannah - but she took the innards with her to a sleepover, so I couldn't put it back together for a photograph. I set it aside first thing this morning (after texting her to see what she'd done with it and discovering that yes, she did have it with her), and pulled out my own spiral notebook, which I use as a combination "list of things to do"/notebook/idea-book/journal. I got it out of the dollar bin at Michael's. If I'd thought to do it, I would've gotten a before picture, because it's a pretty big transformation.

I used a combination of Unity/Melody Ross co-branded stamps. This is the front.

And here is the back. Full supply and other challenge deets will be at the end of the post.

Now it's your turn!! Choose YOUR favourite Unity or {ippity} stamp and create something. Link it up to the ATU blog no later than 11:59pm on Saturday, March 5, and you'll be eligible to win this month's prize/and or the challenge blinkie.Remember, the prize for February is a February KOTM straight from Unity !!

Check out what the rest of the fabulous DT has to share!

Ashley (February Guest DT)
Cathy
Lynn
Sara (on hiatus)
Savannah

Card deets:
Stamps: Unity - Brave Girl Boots, All Worth It..., Love Life, Just Be You, She Sprouted Wings, She did it Anyway
Paper: Basic Grey - Sultry, Wisteria, Urban Prarie
Ink: Distress Ink - Pine Needles, Fired Brick, Victorian Velvet, Peeled Paint, Vintage Photo; Palette - Moulin Rouge
Spellbinders: Fancy Tags, Heartfelt Creations
Etc: Stickles, Copic Spica, clear embossing powder

Challenges:
Crazy for Challenges: C4C75 - use dies
The Stamp Man #16: Hearts
Res-Q-Challenge #71: RESQ71 - use something that makes you happy. Things I used that make me happy: Unity/Melody Ross stamps, PINK!!!, Basic Grey, Spellbinders dies, Distress Inks, embossing powder, hearts
CRAFT #90: Not a card
PaperCrafting Journey #4: Anything Goes (ooh, a new challenge site for me!)
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday #105: Patterns! - the birdcage is stamped onto BG Wisteria and Free Spirit was stamped onto Urban Prarie
...Wee Memories #44: Source of Inspiration - Melody Ross, whom I think is just amazing.
Unity Challenge #1: Hearts!