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Saturday, November 5, 2011

PCW Thankful Hearts Blog Hop!

*** If you're looking for the Scraptastic Designs Blog Hop, please click HERE or scroll to the post below this one! ***

Welcome to Paper Crafting World's Thankful Hearts Blog Hop! If you arrived here from Mindy's blog, you are on the right track! If you just stopped by to visit, hop on over to Cooking With Cricut to start at the beginning! You won't want to miss a single one of my sweet Design Team sisters' projects! :o)

Our Thankful Hearts Blog Hop is centered around this beautiful harvest time, with an overture of Thankfulness: an attitude of gratitude. What came to my mind upon reflection of this theme is our incredible military and their families. Their sacrifices, consequences unknown, is something to remain mindful of... as painful as it can be. They battle overseas, then often return home to raging wars in the battlefield of their mind. I am so thankful for their presence, their commitment, their love for a greater purpose. With that in mind, I created an Any Hero card for a military member, delivered by the fantastic organization Operation Write Home.
Despite the announced homecoming of some of our soldiers from deployment, there are still soldiers stationed in so many areas around the world. Fighting and battling, every single day. One thing Operation Write Home does is include Any Hero cards in their shipments, which are given to a soldier who receives little or no mail from back home. Can you imagine his or her weary eyes lighting up upon receiving even the simplest card from someone who genuinely cares? That unknown face was my inspiration for this project. I wanted to deliver a reminder to let their light shine all over the world, in the midst of their war zone. One tiny spark of light defeats the darkness. I want them to know that during this time of Thanksgiving (and beyond), they are in my heart and prayers.

The multiple nested layers of Spellbinders? Those are the layers of love I packed into this simple card. All that love has made the candlelight form a golden, harvesty heart. I used Liquid Pearls for wax and carved out the patriotic eagle from a sheet of patterned paper. After saying a prayer for the unknown recipient, I thought again about how truly thankful I am for our military. I wish I could somehow pack a real hug into the envelope. Wouldn't that be fabulous?

Perfectly in theme with this event, there is a freebie at every blog along the hop, courtesy of the ever-generous Melin! How lovely is that? Seven fantastic presents for visiting us this weekend! Ready to see the free file for visiting me on this hop? :o)






Isn't he precious?! I love this sweetheart bear and am eager to color and create with him. :o) The button code is valid until the end of the weekend, so if you're visiting after Sunday night you'll want to use this direct link for access: Bear in Sweater Digital Stamp.

UPDATE: Unfortunately, the shopping cart is temporarily down due to unexpected maintenance. We are so sorry for the inconvenience! Please come back tomorrow to grab all of the wonderful freebies. :o)

Your next stop is the fantastic Christel, who has a masterpiece waiting for you! Thank you for playing along with us today! Have a blessed and beautiful rest of the weekend. :o)

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26 comments:

  1. Absolutely beautiful card. I love it.

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  2. What a beautiful card Karen. I loved your write up on our soldiers. Thank you for having a generous and loving heart towards all these men and women!!

    Thank you for sharing your creativity with us!


    Melin
    Blog: CookingWithCricut.com
    Shop: PaperCraftingWorld.com

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  3. Karen, thanks for writing about the soldiers. I'm going to head on over to Operation Write Home myself to get the scoop on writing to Any Soldier.
    Evelyn

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  4. Beautiful card! I love all the layers!
    Tracy M

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  5. Your card turned out beautifully! I'm so glad your shared it with us! I wish you all the best. TFS and the inspiration.

    Scrappy hugs,
    Christel

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  6. Adorable and a great reminder of those who serve our country and the sacrifice we need to be thankful for! TFS :) I became a follower! :)
    purplefuzz06@yahoo.com

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  7. Great card and write up about Any Hero cards. Thanks for sharing.
    Jani
    papercompulsions.blogspot.com

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  8. Wonderful card. So sweet.
    For some reason the button for the freebie is showing a X so I'm not able to get it :( :( :(
    annadowdy at gmail dot com

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  9. OMJ!!! It's beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Do you know how ecstatic you are about to make one very lucky soldier, Sunshine? I can't stop smiling when I think about him or her opening this most gorgeous gift. There truly couldn't be anything more meaningful for a soldier to open something so special which reminds him that his sacrifice is appreciated so profoundly by those at home...and just how much they are loved.

    *hugglers the happy glowing heart because it so flawlessly represents the light that shines so brillantly as it watches over all of our beloved soldiers abroad* That gorgeous light is also so very much the sparkling glow of kindness that radiates from your most beautiful heart, Sunshine. You just made one soldier a very, very happy hero...and through your loving devotion, you have become a hero in return in their eyes. It is that kind of selfless love that gives them the courage and strength they need to go on. God bless you my precious sis!!!

    *endless super squishies for my Sunshine who puts a burst of sunny amazingness in the lives of so many*

    ~~~ Christina :)

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  10. Beautiful card Karen!!! I love it!

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  11. Karen thank you so much for your inspiration. I would love to do something like this...it's probably too late ( I am so slow trying to make something) for me to do this... Would love to know how to get involved in doing this...thank you so much for sharing your heart with us.
    Hugs
    sandyfromukiah

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  12. Beautiful card! You are going to brighten somebody in our wonderful military's day! :)

    Karen
    craftedwithlovebykaren.blogspot.com

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  13. Karen,

    First and foremost your thoughtfulness toward military soldiers and their families is so heartwarming. it touches me personally and It is so encouraging. Thank you. And I LOVE your card!!! it will surely "brighten" someone's day who is missing their loved ones!!

    hugs,
    Michelle

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  14. I Love It.

    This is WONDERFUL, my friend! Not just the card, but the thoughts behind it. :) Your *HEART* just can't help but find it's way into everything you make. :)

    This card is a little deceptive, you know? On the surface, it seems so clean and simple. And yet, when you look a little closer, you see the eagle, the candle wax (out of liquid pearls! Do you know how clever you are?), the inking of the paper edges. And every little detail comes together to make this card so, so special.

    Know what? There IS a hug in the envelope - it's in the form of a card. :)

    Nita

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  15. Sweet card- love the embossing and sparkle! Thanks for the freebie :)Amy
    amyscraftingspace.blogspot.com

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  16. Wonderful card! I know the soldier receiving this will be most grateful & it's people like you who bring a smile to them knowing that they are not forgotten while being away from family & friends to defend our freedom. Thank you from one military family. tfs & the freebie.
    angie

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  17. Absolutely beautiful card my sweet friend, both the design and the sentiment behind it! All of the details are just fabulous!! What a wonderful thing to do...making a card for the brave heroes that protect and serve our country! You are truly special and amazingly gifted!!

    Hugs, Lisa :)
    indymermaid.blogspot.com

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  18. Your heart is so kind Karen and I know the soldier who receives this card will treasure it! Thank you for reminding us all about the sacrifice these brave men and women have given. We have so much to be thankful for! The heart and candle are a wonderful combination to reflect peace. And the eagle is such a powerful symbol!
    xx

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  19. Karen, this card is so beautiful! I also loved your words about our soldiers... I just went to a PBR event last night, and they had a soldier come out and reuinite with his family in the middle of the arena... There weren't a lot of dry eyes in the place. Great job! :)
    Amy
    redheadedcrafter.blogspot.com

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  20. Your card is beautiful Karen! You are so kind and thoughtful and I am sure who ever receives this card will truly treasure it! It is a reminder that we need to be thankful each day for these soldiers, our heroes who are fighting each day to keep us safe back home. Thanks for sharing-very beautiful!

    Sherrie K
    http://sherriescraps.blogspot.com

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  21. What a great card and great cause! You are so very thoughtful.

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  22. Beautiful on all levels Karen.
    Jayne x

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  23. Great card collections i am so happy to see all of your choice.
    plastic business cards
    scratch card printing

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Thank you for leaving some love! Have a beautifully blessed day. :o)

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