Operation Write Home Blog Skip

Birthday 2013 Banner Sept18-HA

Hiya! Welcome to my stop on the Operation Write Home birthday bash 2013 blog skip with Hero Arts! Love it that they call it a “skip” since it’s a short hop, lol! If you are skipping along with us already, you should have arrived here via JoAnn’s blog. If you’re just joining us, feel free to head back to the beginning at Operation Write Home.

Most cardmakers have heard of Operation Write Home by now — they collect blank handmade cards for servicemen and women to send back home. Such a great idea!  Hero Arts supports OWH by donating 25% of the profits from the sale of  OWH stamps to them. A win-win! You can see all of the great OWH stamps right here.

Cards must meet certain guidelines, including an A2 size card, no lumpy embellishments and most importantly, no glitter.  Now if you know me, you know that I’m the kinda girl who loves to add glitter to all of her cards. So before I started stamping I sat down to think about what I could use to give the cards some umph — and I decided to break out my new Hero Arts neon red ink! I rubbed it on some white cardstock to color it red and die cut some hearts like so:

Rub paper with neon red ink by Lisa Spangler

Then, since I have a whole stack of chalkboard backgrounds waiting for me I decided to use some of them, too! (I did a video on how to make these stamped backgrounds using the newly released Chalkboard Background stamp for Hero Arts on Monday and hadn’t cleaned my desk yet — sometimes it pays to be a messy stamper, ha ha!)

So now that you’ve got the backstory, on with the cards!

I started out by stamping the globe from the You’re My World set a bunch of times with black ink on white cardstock, then watercolored them and let them dry. I like how this globe is kinda old school and cool — goes with the background!

Then I applied some glossy accents and let that dry too. Then I just added a message from the same set, some hearts and patterned paper and ta dah!

Miss You by Lisa Spangler using OWH stamps

Just love how this turned out! The patterned paper adds just a touch of color that really makes the chalk background pop, don’t you think?

Miss You by Lisa Spangler using OWH stamps

Since I have all those hearts and globes I couldn’t stop there — just had to make a second card!

What on Earth by Lisa Spangler using OWH stamps

This one has a little more going on! First I used the tweed pattern stencil and Mister Huey’s honeydew to create a subtle background. Then while that was drying I went to town creating a little chalkboard framed message.

What on Earth by Lisa Spangler using OWH stamps

I first white embossed the message from this set on one of my chalk background pieces, then die cut it, and went around it with a white colored pencil to give it more of that chalkboard feel.  Love how it’s softer than a white pen — and looks more like chalk! Couldn’t resist adding a little chalkboard tape, too!

Well, that’s it from me. Thanks so much for joining me on the skip!  And hope you’ll consider making some cards to send to OWH — even though you can’t use glitter. Ha!

Your next stop in the skip is a fellow Texan —  Alison — can’t wait to see what she’s made! :)

Supplies

55 Replies to “Operation Write Home Blog Skip”

  1. Great cards! So important to remember our fighting men and women.

  2. Laura G.Turcotte says:

    WOW!!! That is beautiful!!!

  3. Those are the best chalkboard cards I’ve seen anywhere! I’m definitely going to study that video. And the globe coloring is wonderful! Love the glossy accents on it.

  4. Stunning cards for a most wonderful cause! Your technique is added to my ‘must try’ list! Thanks for sharing and inspiring!
    c

  5. Lisa, really love how you highlighted the sentiment on your card. Really looks focal.

  6. Lisa, you are another of my favorite designers. Love these cards. Thanks for your support of OWH and sharing of your designs. I’m sure they will be CAS by more people than just me.

  7. Ahhh, so full of heart. Love these.

  8. Sharon Roselli says:

    Love all the cards you made glitter free! I really need to get the stamp set with the world in it. the chalkboard paper already made is brilliant. I will be making some of those as well. Thanks for supporting our troops.

  9. Brilliant cards for a marvelous venture :)

  10. nice to see how we can use black into cards!
    you gave me inspiration
    hugs from belgium
    isabelle

  11. I LOVE your cards! The chalkboard background makes everything pop! I can see this will be a “must have” stamp. Thank you!

  12. Lisa, I’m loving all your cards with the chalkboard technique (yesterday’s too)! Thank you for your support of OWH and our nation’s heroes. You rock!

  13. Lisa, I am a long-time fan of your work and these cards are right up there as favorites for me! I have been eyeing that chalkboard background stamp at my local store and pondering what to do with it – now I know! Thank you so much for participating in our skip today and for your support of OWH!

    1. Awww thanks so much Julie! Hugs!

  14. Both your cards are wonderful. I love the chalkboard touches on both.

  15. barbara lassiter says:

    Love the chalkboard look on both of these. They are so perfectly created and so perfect for OWH!

  16. Debbie Caldwell says:

    What great cards thank you for sharing. The chalkboard technique is so good.

  17. Both cards are just wonderful, Lisa!

  18. Darlene Satkewich says:

    Your chalkboard cards are fantastic.Love the worlds on both and I really like the subtle background on the second card! Thanks for the inspiration.

  19. Verna Angerhofer says:

    Your beautifully designed cards are awesome ways to show someone you miss them and love them. I applaud you on your talents!

  20. You are soooooo making me want to get that chalk background stamp! You’re on an awesome roll, don’t stop :) :) :)

    1. LOL! thanks Sandy! :)

Comments are closed.