Valentines for OWH!

I am very fortunate to live in the same part of the world as Sandy, the woman behind Operation Write Home.  She and two other shippers organize all the cards made by people like you and me to the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sandy was gracious enough to invite me over for a day of card making.  You would be amazed how organized she is with all the boxes of cards she has ready for shipping.

  

Not sure I was as productive as I can be at home.  I was glued to the "nesties" most of the time I was there.  I made a cello bag full to play with later.  Her Copics were my next favorite product to play with.  I have a few.  Now I can see why you need so many to get the awesome outcome to coloring with them. We had a great time chatting and stamping.  The five hours passed way too fast for me.

Sandy and Me

Below are some of the cards I have made for Operation Write Home (OWH).   The deadline to get your cards mailed is January 6th.  This allows the shippers time to count and pack to mail to Iraq and Afghanistan.

The dog is Poppy Stamps, love and heart are Rubber Soul.

The typewriter is one of the NEW Rubber Soul Valentine stamps!

the little hearts are Rubber Soul also.

As you can see you can make the same card several times or slight variations.  They are sent to many destinations when the shippers mail them out.

Future CARD DEADLINES Postmark by these dates:

Valentines: Jan 6

St Patty's: Feb 12

Easter: Feb 26

Mother's Day: April 14

Graduation: April 19

Father's Day: May 15

All other cards: anytime!

Learn more at Operation Write Home!

Another New Year Greeting!

Embossed postcard postmarked January 1, 1909.  Didn't the postmaster get a holiday on New Years Day?  

Stampington has some free vintage ephemera on their site... go HERE to see it.

My birthday is in January... watch for a Birthday Giveaway in the next few days!

See more Postcards here at Postcard Friday 

Happy New Year!

Here is the first of several New Years cards I will share this week.... this one is postmarked 1909! 

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you and yours a  Wonderful Day

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Gift Set of Cards!

I have one co-worker that I have a hard time buying for... this was her gift from me this year.  A box of note cards.  All blue and brown her favorite colors. 

Blue pattern paper, ribbon, butterflies and printed tags All Night Media. Big flower stamp from the Actual Stamper. 

Rudolf... the True Story!

I received the following in an email today.  I never heard this story before and thought I would share it.  This is a little long but I think you will enjoy the story, I did.

~The TRUE Story of Rudolf~

A man named Bob May, depressed and brokenhearted, stared out his drafty apartment window into the chilling December night. His 4-year-old daughter Barbara sat on his lap quietly sobbing.

Bob’s wife, Evelyn, was dying of cancer.

Little Barbara couldn't understand why her mommy could never come home. Barbara looked up into her dad's eyes and asked, "Why isn't Mommy just like everybody else's Mommy?" Bob's jaw tightened and his eyes welled with tears.

Her question brought waves of grief, but also of anger. It had been the story of Bob's life. Life always had to be different for Bob.

 

Small, when he was a kid, Bob was often bullied by other boys. He was too little at the time to compete in sports. He was often called names he'd rather not remember. From childhood, Bob was different and never seemed to fit in. Bob did complete college, married his loving wife and was grateful to get his job as a copywriter at Montgomery Ward during the Great Depression. Then he was blessed with his little  girl. But it was all short-lived. Evelyn's bout with cancer stripped them of all their savings and now Bob and his daughter were forced to live in a two-room apartment in the Chicago slums. Evelyn died just days before Christmas in 1938.

 

Bob struggled to give hope to his child, for whom he couldn't even afford to buy a Christmas gift. But if he couldn't buy a gift, he was determined a make one - a storybook! Bob had created a character in his own mind and told the animal's story to little Barbara to give her comfort and hope. Again and again Bob told the story, embellishing it more with each telling.

Who was the character? What was the story all about? The story Bob May created was his own autobiography in fable form. The character he created was a misfit outcast like he was. The name of the character? A little reindeer named Rudolph, with a big shiny nose.

Bob finished the book just in time to give it to his little girl on Christmas Day. But the story doesn't end there. 

 

The general manager of  Montgomery Ward caught wind of the little storybook and offered Bob May a nominal fee to purchase the rights to print the book. Wards went on to print,_ Rudolph the  Red-Nosed Reindeer_ and distribute it to children visiting Santa Claus in their stores. By 1946 Wards had printed and distributed more than six million copies of Rudolph. That same year, a major publisher wanted to purchase the rights from Wards to print an  updated version of the book.

In an unprecedented gesture of  kindness, the CEO of Wards returned all rights back to Bob May. The book became a best seller. Many toy and marketing deals followed and Bob May, now remarried with a growing family, became wealthy from the story he created to comfort his grieving daughter. But the story  doesn't end there either.  

 

Bob's brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, made a song adaptation to Rudolph. Though the song was turned down by such popular vocalists as Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore, it was recorded by the singing cowboy, Gene Autry. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was released  in 1949 and became a phenomenal success, selling more records than  any other Christmas song, with the exception of "White Christmas." 

 

The gift of love that Bob May created for his daughter so long ago kept on returning back to bless him again and again. Bob May learned the lesson, just like his dear friend Rudolph, that being different isn't so bad. In fact, being different can be a blessing.

Have you ever heard this story?

Inspiration for the Holidays!!! Plus Giveaway!

I have been doing a blog hop all by myself tonight... first here, then there and back again.  There are some great ideas out there for the holidays.  So I decided to do a post of things I have found while I did my hop!

Tim Holtz 12 Tags of Christmas This is his third year and everyday he has give-a-ways!

12 Tags of Christmas With a Feminine Touch

12 Days of Christmas Where Women Create 

12 Days of Cookies  Food Network

12 Printable 12 Days of Christmas Tags These will make you laugh

12 Days of Christmas for Lovers... cute ideas for that special person without breaking the bank!

Holiday Count Down... free images

MudBay Images... need some Christmas Wings! (Free)

Art in Red Wagons MatchBox Mania Advent Calendar 

Nina’s Altered Christmas Countdown...made from CD’s

ArtFreebies Vintage Christmas Images

If you have a Blog that inspires you during the holidays please leave a comment with a link... I will have a giveaway on this post... Post a comment with an inspiration site by December 20th!

Winner of my BLOGOVERSARY!

After taking a little time to get all the names and the number of times each was entered... I would like to announce the winner of my BLOGOVERSARY!....  Before I make the announcement I would like to thank everyone for stopping and joining the fun.  In the near future my Etsy story will open and I plan to have another awesome GIVEAWAY to celebrate.  Keep watch!

Now for the Winner...

Drum Roll....

Please

CONGRATS... VICKI HOLDWICK

Vicki Holdwick Wow! What a fantastic giveaway!
 I'd love to win that.
 Happy belated Blogoversary.
 xoxo

Vicki I will email you!  You have 2 weeks to claim your gift!  

Last chance for giveaway!

Today is your last chance to enter my Rubber Soul Giveaway HERE.... You have until midnight!!!

PostCard Friendship Friday - Christmas 2

This week is PCFF # 49 - on The French Factrice she has posted a sweet child holding a Yule Log.  I couldn't find a Yule Log among my postcards, but I think you are going to like the card I am sharing this week.

Meier & Frank was a chain of department stores founded in Portland, Oregon, and later bought out by May Department Stores. Meier & Frank operated in the Pacific Northwest from 1857 to 2005.

2005 May Department Stores was bought by Federated Department Stores, which then renamed itself after its flagship store, Macy's. The store (and many other venerable department store names owned by Federated) became “Macy’s”, amid public sadness at the passing of an era, just before the store’s 150th birthday.  Quoted from Wikipedia

I noticed it was addressed to "Miss" Ida who lived in "CITY".  I think the following may explain, I read this while I was researching the stores history HERE:

When Meier arrived in Portland in 1857, he was one of 1,300 residents who made their home in the fledgling Oregon Territory community, founded 13 years earlier. Although Portland had yet to complete the transition from town to city, the community's distinction as a major commercial hub along the Pacific Coast would not be long in coming.

In 1908 over 100 years ago The Meier & Frank Store mailed postcards to children from Santa!  In reading the history of the store I believe the downfall started in the 1960's when the two families had disagreements in managing the stores.  

PLAY DATE CAFE!!!! PDCC09

What beautiful colors at Play Date Cafe!!!  This week I used some of my Victorian Scraps.  All the papers are from my scraps.  Merry Christmas is an Alias Smith & Jones stamp.  Sorry the photo is dark... I have a hard time getting a good picture without getting glare on the Victorian Scrap. 

Tag Tuesday Challenge

Tag Tuesday Challenge 30 -Punch It

The challenge was to use something that was punched on the tag.  My snowflakes are my punched embellishment.  

Sorry, the photo is a bit dark.  The tag is from Basic Grey Fruitcake, the chipboard swirl Maya Road.  the trumpeting angels are clipart printed on a transparency and the angels are victorian scrap.  I used gold Stickles on the snow flakes and Iced Stickles on the chipboard. 

Rubber Soul NEWS! and MY Giveaway!

I just received the following in an email from RUBBER SOUL!

Read to the end for my Surprise Giveaway!

Holiday Shipping - Order online by this Friday, December 18th and receive your shipment by the 24th anywhere in the U.S. Sorry - Does not apply to international orders. I am thankful to live near enough to Rubber Soul, it is one of me frequent shopping haunts!

Something for the Stockings Order online by this Friday, December 18th and they will include a goodie bag containing a holiday stamp, some blank cards and envelopes and some ribbon. EVEN MY FAVORITE Stickles.

Gift Ideas - They've just added some new items to the store that make great gifts. Check them out here. Also the books and gifts section or the name stamps might also be of help this time of year.

Item of the Week - Will it be a white Christmas? Snowflake Girl (drawn by Ward Jenkins for Rubber Soul) says it will.

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR THE HARD TO BUY FOR...

La Bohmeme Bag - - - I LOVE MINE!

La Boheme Bag 1- These eco-friendly reusable shopping bags are lightweight (1.4 oz), waterproof, and easily roll up small enough to fit into your purse, backpack or glove box – easy to always have on hand. Check out all the styles in the books and gifts section.

Surprise- RANDOM DRAWING - I want to get the word out that my friends at Rubber Soul have gift with online purchase if placed by December 18th. If you post about this on your blog and comment here with a link I would appreciate it. I will have a random drawing for a pack of Rubber Soul paper (Divine) and Stamp Set (I'm So Glad)! Hurry time is ticking by. I will draw on Saturday.

You also have time to enter my Inspiration Giveaway HERE! It ends 12/20!

WestSound Auction 12/18!

Antiques and Collectables Auction!

December 18th 

Preview at 3:00 Auction at 6:00

 

Pictures Here

First Antiques Auction at the New Auction House 

Dress WARM!!

The place gets COLD!! Bring a blanket!!

Box lots, Gold Jewelry, Vintage Costume Jewelry, Aladdin Boudoir Lamps(Nice Pair with the Finnials!), Art, Post Cards, Pottery, Furniture including a Oak Secretary, Fox Head Legged Table, Edison Dictaphone, Grandfather Clock, Gasoline Memoribilia, Tins, Cans, Tire Guages, Books and More!

Auction at:

11030 St Hwy 3 SW

Port Orchard, WA, 98367

(360)275-SELL(7355)

Search for more recent postings!

Last Chance for My Blogoversary.

Thanks everyone who has entered and is now following my blog. 

If you haven't already entered Tuesday at midnight is your last chance.... go HERE to enter... Ninety people have posted a comment... I would love to hit 100!!!!  

PLAY DATE CAFE!!!! PDCC08

This week's design host is Alison at Play Date Cafe 

We got to play with one of her own digi-stamp line from Stretch N' Bubbles.  Be sure to check out Allison's free digi stamps each week.

"YOU RUFFLE MY FEATHERS"

I had fun with this card... I used Rubber Soul: card stock, background paper and sentiment.  Felt is Queen & CO, the Rhinestones Kaiser Scrapbook and Stickles.  Ribbons, feather and flower from my stash.

****BLOGOVERSAY CELEBRATION **** ****GIVE-A-WAY ****

CLOSED... 

NOW to sort out how many chances each person has!  

I will post the winner by the end of the week.

My Blogoversary was on THANKSGIVING DAY... I was hoping to start my BLOGOVERSARY celebration with the celebration of the opening of my ETSY shop.  That has been delayed a little and should open in the next week or so.   Watch for my opening announcement!

I couldn't keep my BLOGOVERSARY CELEBRATION on hold any longer.... TO CELEBRATE my blog candy will be one of the ephemera packs I will be selling in my shop.  The pack is 1/2 pound of paper and embellishments, most printed pages in this pack are pre 1950, some early 1900.   

The ephemera will be packaged in a celo bag.

Inside is a variety of paper in each package... 

there could be pages of:

 music, novels, diary, 

pages from books in another language,  

Bingo card, lace, buttons, library pockets

Maps, old envelopes and more.  

This pack has 75 plus pieces.  

It could be yours.... there are three ways to have a chance.

1. Post a comment
2. Become a follower
3. Put a link on your blog or sidebar... Post a comment with the link.

You do not have to do all three for a chance... but if you do you have more chances!!!

Post by Midnight PST December 15th!  The give-a-way is open to my international online friends!  Please tell all your friends!!!

I am excited to share my Ephemera Pack with you... Just remember each ephemera pack will differ... be on the look out for the announcement of my store.  I will have YOUTH Ephemera Packs with pages from books children would have read or been read to from by their parents.  And much more!

Be sure to stop by for my inspiration GIVE-A-WAY here!!!

Final Day - Giveaway at French Lique

Today 12/13/09 is the last day of Dixie's giveaway... This has got to be one of the most amazing giveaways I have seen.  Dixie is calling this her "Favorite Things Giveaway".  She has built a giveaway.  You MUST drop by her blog and see all the wonderful treasures she has included.  There is an apron, vintage candle holders, rhinestone jewelry, bird figurines, tea stained tags, silk roses and much more.

You must hurry as you have until 6:00 PM CST today.  GO HERE!

Rusty Pickle Blog Hop Dec 11-13

Yes, I am hopping around again.  Happened upon the hop at Rusty Pickle, one of my favorite paper manufacturers.  They are having a BLOG HOP this weekend, Dec 11-13.  THERE is still TIME!  They are having a giveaway on Dec 14...  

SO hop on OVER to RUSTY PICKLE and see what all the fuss is about.  

I have to say the Rusty Pickle Chefs have cooked up some great projects... you may get an idea or two for that hard to buy someone on your gift list! PLUS there is a giveaway on just about every stop of the HOP!

Library Pocket Book - Back by Demand

Back by popular demand just in time for Christmas the "Library Pocket Book."  This class session has been added to the schedule due to requests.  Bring a friend and enjoy the class together.  

December 12th  - 10AM to 12 Noon

Create this unique book using library card pockets that you can fill with mementos or use it for a gift certificate. This book makes a great gift to show someone how special they are for Christmas or any occasion. This could be one of your last minute handmade gifts you make this giving season!  You will leave with a book ready to be filled.  All supplies furnished to create a book with pockets ready to fill. You will leave with "How To" instructions for your next book. Come see the sample in the store. (Note: Product will vary from sample)

See other classes offered at Rubber Soul HERE!

PostCard Friendship Friday - Christmas

Here is my Christmas Post Card for PostCard Friendship Friday (PFF)

This card is interesting, as it was a sample sent to customers as an introduction to a gift you would receive if you paid a one year subscription of 25 cents or two years for 50 cents.   You need to read it to believe it.  

CUTE DOG... the card is embossed.

Never sent and in good shape.

Click on this to enlarge and read.

I was curios about the company that sent this card out. So here is a little history...

FROM “BATTEN’S AGRICULTURAL DIRECTORY”  I found this blurb:

UP TO DATE FARMING Semi Monthly Circulation 200,000 Agri Hort Live Stk Dai Poult and Marketing Illustrated Est 1898 Subscrip $1.00 Pages 20 to 32 Cols 4 Type Page 9 by I2 inches Width Adv Col 13 2 ems Editor and Publisher JA Everitt 227 W Washington St 

On the University of Delaware Library site I found:   

J.A. Everitt Seed Co.  -  Annual Catalogue of Celebrated Seeds 1891. 

Indianapolis: The Company, 1891. The map on the cover is explained inside: "The circle is 500 miles from Indianapolis at any point. This circle includes nine-tenths of the farming population of the country, all of whom we can supply quickly with seeds, by mail, express or freight."

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, 

Agricultural Experiment Station. 

URBANA, MARCH, 1896. 

BULLETIN NO. 42. 

CORN EXPERIMENTS, .895. 

Experiments with corn conducted at this Station x and reported in this bulletin are comprised under the following numbers and titles : 

No. i. Corn, Testing Varieties. 

No. 3. Corn, Time of Planting. 

No. 5. Corn, Thickness of Planting. 

No. 23. Rotation Experiment. 

No. 90. Corn, Rate of Growth. 

For the benefit of those who desire to consider the effect of meteorological conditions upon the experiments reported there is given on the next page a table of temperatures and rainfall as observed at this Station from January, 1889, to December, 1895, inclusive. 

Tim Holtz 12 Tags of Christmas

Tim is nearing the end of the 12 tags. Tonight is number 11. If you don't know what I am talking about I highly recommend you check them out HERE. The tags are amazing and so many techniques are shown. He draws winners each day. If you leave a comment on his blog each night you have a chance to win some great supplies that Tim uses!!! Last night I wrote this poem in honor of Tim and Mario. You may not understand all of it unless you know Tim, Mario and the 12 Tags.

This was a joy to write... it took a couple of days to tweak it just right! Thank you Tim & Mario!

Twas the night of the 10th tag in Tim’s amazing studio

Craft sheet ready and Christmas carols on the radio

Stickles, Rock Candy Crackle Paint and mini misters all lined up

Our visions of Tim sitting there with his Starbucks cup

Followers all logged on their computers for another long night

Waiting for Mario on Tim’s Facebook site

Having shipping detail he has the mail to disperse

Mario must get the packing, taping and labels done first

Back to the Tag...

Tim’s eyes sparkled as he held Fabulous Flourishes in anticipation

Trinket pins, film strip ribbon, washer and philosophy tags on hand for inspiration

When through the studio there arose such a clatter

We knew the products were about to spatter

Then what to our wondering eyes was posted

A photo on Twitter that Mario hosted

Tonight we SAW Adirondack Ink Pens for the first time

I can’t wait to see what he does with them, then buy mine

With distress ink in hand so lively and quick

Tim stamped the image of St Nick

More rapid the blending tool flew around

As he noted and photographed but made not a sound

Then onto the alcohol inks, blending solution, metal corner and clasp

Now paint dabber, embossing powder and vellum then he let out a gasp (whew)

Next would be Retro Holiday an awesome stamp on standby

OH NO! The heat tool was brought out and made things fly

Tim had to be quick as the hour drew near

Next Reindeer Flight, Letter to Santa, Festive Sounds,

and Urban Tapestry without a smear

Then in a twinkling we heard faint sounds from his room

Of Stamping, cutting, distressing, misting and the scratcher, we assume

With his design ruler clenched tightly between his teeth

He was putting the finishing on the last holly leaf

Antique Linen, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogony, Pine Needles galore

Vintage Photo, Faded Jeans, Weathered Wood could there be more?

Now Memory Glass, Frames and Capsules Grungeboard, OH MY

Dymo, Type Charms, Hinge Clip, Craft Pick, Texture Hammer, NO LIE

We knew the tag was nearly wrapped up to our delight

The clock was ticking the hands approaching midnight

He spoke not a word as he finished his work

He hit post on the computer, then he turned with a jerk

With a smile laying his finger aside his nose

And giving a nod from his chair he rose

To Mario he exclaimed “This has been a delight,

Let’s do this again tomorrow night.”

HAPPY 12 TAGS!

I Signed Up for a Valentine Swap!

Linda at A Swap for All Seasons has opened the Valentine Swap sign ups...  Sign ups are until Saturday, December 20th. It's going to be a simple, sweet and WONDERFUL swap! Each person will get a partner, and will send her just 3 things: #1 one handmade Vintage Valentine themed creation #2 a sweet treat #3 and an actual Vintage Valentine, of course! So fun!

Cards for my Sister!

The past 4 years my sister Marjie, who is and interior designer, had me design her Christmas cards.  Each year I would design a stamp and have it made just for her cards.  This year times have been a little rough for her business, she has had to cut peoples hours.  Well you know what the economy is like.  So Christmas cards was another place to cost cut.

For her Christmas gift this year I am giving her cards to give to her special clients.  I am using the new SU snowflake.  Her cards have always been black and silver.  In the past there has been some sort of fiber ribbon.  In this economy we are going with a simple card, a greeting to match.  Inside they will say "Enjoy the simple things in life, Happy Holidays"

Fairy in a Jar - Giveaway!

I LOVE FAIRIES!!!!

Dawn of The Feathered Nest is celebrating 1200 posts and 400 followers! 

Drop by her blog The Feathered Nest and find out what to do to enter her giveaway for a chance to win this enchanting fairy in a jar.  You have until Sunday, December 13th!