Here's another suggestion for writing Any Hero Mail. If you don't want to write a lot, select an appropriate sentiment for the inside of the card.
I love the bold stamp from Penny Black for the inside of the card. I used a Stamp-a-ma-jig to center the stamp, and I'm glad I did! I left the jig in place and stamped it a second time right over the first impression.
Let me don my teacher hat, and share with you how I write Any Hero Mail for Operation Write Home. Your cards don't have to be patriotic. You can even use (gasp) store bought cards. I spent some time thinking about how I've done this over the years and realized I have a basic formula.
1st paragraph - Greeting
2nd paragraph - Around Here
3rd paragraph - Closing, Thank You
This is what works for me. The "around here" paragraph is what seems to stump people.
Here's what I wrote in 8 cards this weekend:
March 30, 2013 Greetings from Charlotte, NC! I hope this card finds you safe and well. From my window, I see signs of spring. Trees are greening and budding, and birds are chirping and singing. I love this season. Thank you for your service to our country. I can't imagine being so far from home for so long, and I appreciate all you do. Know that you are in the thoughts and prayers of many grateful Americans. Take care, Dixie Cochran
If you're writing in a card, you have limited space. Drafting your message before writing will help you make adjustments for length. You can use the same message for multiple cards, but remember to band them together for your shipper. I usually mark them as "all alike" or "same author."
When I go to a school for students to write Any Hero Mail, we do some brainstorming before they begin a draft. I list their ideas on the board. (Thinking Maps - Circle Map for you teachers out there!) This gets students thinking, and sharing ideas is always a plus.
Take a moment to brainstorm some ideas to include in your next Any Hero messages. I'll begin a list, and I hope you will add your ideas in the comment section. I think our Heroes appreciate hearing about "normal" things. When I was a shipper for OWH, I got the most wonderful responses from my contacts when I included a picture of dogwood blooms with the Legend of the Dogwood taped to the back.
sports
hobbies
celebrations
jokes/riddles
pets
gardens (I love writing about tomatoes)
children's antics
music
fun/positive things from the news
books
seasonal events
The cards pictured in this post are ones I've used for Hero Mail in the past.
I hope you'll help me expand the "what to write" list! I'll update my post periodically.
Our shippers for Operation Write Home are running low on Any Hero Mail! I realized I had not been doing my fair share of writing to our Heroes. I need to get busy!
I made 8 of these cards. The message inside each will be the same.
I put 7 of the 8 cards inside an unsealed envelope, banded them together, and marked them as "All the same." When they arrive at the shipper's home, she'll know she only needs to check one.
I'll have a note of gratitude included in EIGHT different boxes of cards!
I started volunteering for Operation Write Home two years ago, and it has been a wonderful experience. I’ve enjoyed collecting cards from all over the east coast and beyond to sort and pack to send to our Heroes. I’ve enjoyed making cards too! When I agreed to take on this task, I promised Sandy a year. I gave two.
It is now time for me to pass on my “shipper” hat to someone new. Caro Hopkins lives in Mint Hill, North Carolina, not far from me, and I think I’ve got her ready to take over! She started making cards for OWH in the fall of 2009 when I introduced her to the organization at our local scrapbook store. When I started shipper duties, Caro always volunteered to help. I know she’ll do a great job.
I’m looking forward to finding new ways to volunteer. I knew when I retired from teaching, I’d want to give back to the community. I’ll be taking over some different responsibilities for Operation Write Home, and of course I’ll be making cards. I need to get back in the classroom too! I’ll be volunteering two days a week at local schools, and for that, I’ll need to brush up on my algebra and geometry skills. I’d like to volunteer for Hospice too. They were so good to my family as we said goodbye to my parents. So many options!!
This is a very sad time for me. I feel like I've made so many friends that I've never even met face to face. I've watched many of you grow as card makers. I've seen you apply lessons learned on the Stars & Stamps Blog to your cards. Lots of you have made me laugh. A few of you have made me say, "What were they thinking?" I've invited several of you to be my new neighbors so I could craft with you. I have grown so much as a card maker because of all of you. Thank you!
Well, I need to get busy! The Valentine deadline is looming, and you know how much I love hearts! NOT!
I packed these boxes a couple of weeks ago. They're a half and half mixture of Christmas and other sentiments.
I've got a few more Christmas cards in my house. Actually, I have a lot of Christmas cards! These boxes (below) are all full of holiday greetings for our Military Heroes to send home to their families and friends (and favorite OWH shipper.)
If I had a magic wand, I'd make all the cards jump into these boxes that have taken over my den!
I ordered a new couch 8 weeks ago. I figured if I spread these boxes all over the floor, I'd get a call that the couch was on the way, Murphy's Law and all that. No such luck!
I spent part of my Sunday afternoon getting the Card Hospital organized. The majority of the cards just need to be tucked. Some need to be untucked, stamped, and retucked. Others need to be stamped and tucked. I got them all organized, and I'll tackle them as I have time.
The cards on the bookshelf need more work. I'll get to those after I pack more Christmas boxes. At this time of year, OWH shippers have to set some things aside.
I'm glad I got this done today. I can farm out some of this!!
I've been on a little trip to Kansas, and this is the mail that arrived while I was gone! It's 9:00 pm. Wonder how long it will take me to get them opened and processed??
One of the east coast card makers, Nancy, sends really fun cards. This one was enclosed in an envelope marked, "For Shipper's Amusement." She always sends something that makes me laugh. Thanks, Nancy!
The sentiment reads, "I was abducted be Creatures from Outer Space!" I hope they send her back! She makes great cards!
I received another card from one of my contacts in Afghanistan....
The message inside reads, "Dear Ms. Cochran, I would like to express my gratitude to you and the rest of the volunteers at Operation Write Home. It is evident that those who volunteer with your organization are dedicated and supportive of our troops. God Bless," J.D.P.J.
For the past couple of weeks, I've included a picture of a Dogwood blossom and a brief copy of the legend of the Dogwood in each of my cards to my OWH contacts. I've gotten some nice responses from them. One, a fellow Tarheel, has hers pinned to her bulletin board in Afghanistan. Another wrote of a Dogwood planted where his grandparents are buried. I'm glad I thought to send this little treasure to others.
Legend of the dogwood, North Carolina’s state flower
At the time of the crucifixion, the dogwood had reached the size of the mighty oak tree. So strong and firm was the wood that it was chosen as the timber for Jesus's cross.
To be used for such a cruel purpose greatly distressed the dogwood. While nailed upon it, Jesus sensed this, and in his compassion said, "Because of your pity for my suffering, never again shall the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used for a cross. Henceforth, it shall be slender, bent, and twisted, and its blossoms shall be in the form of a cross–two long and two short petals. In the center of the outer edge of each petal will be the print of nails. In the center of the flower, stained with blood, will be a crown of thorns so that all who see it will remember."
The petals have all fallen to the ground now. They were glorious this year even though they bloomed weeks before Easter. I'll look forward to seeing them next year.
Our deployed Military can send cards back home at no cost, and OWHers refer to this as "Free Mail." I love getting cards from the troops. This one came today.
The note inside says, "Dixie, I just wanted to say thank you for the cards. They are truly appreciated. Thanks, again, Ray" He's a Soldier in Afghanistan. How nice of him to take the time to send a card.
The initials on the back of this card are "nl" I've been trying to match a card maker's name to the initials. Help!
I need to post these more often! Thanks OWH card makers for making beautiful cards!
Today I received a beautiful, unique gift from one of my Operation Write Home contacts in Afghanistan, and I wanted to share her kind words and a picture with other card makers.
Here's the text of her card:
Dixie! These cards are awesome! We had local Afghan women hold a bazaar at the camp, and I got you a couple of scarves they were selling. They are all handmade by women. I hope that you find a good use for them. I wear one every day! Again, I really appreciate all that you do! I hope you enjoy the "designer envelope" too.
(The envelope was a creative collage of calendar pictures! I think we may have another card maker in the making!)
The scarves are beautiful, and the craftsmanship is extraordinary. I can't wait to wear them! (I'll need to hide them from my niece, Casey. She may try to nip one of them from me.)
Thank YOU, Amy! This is such a thoughtful gift, and I'll cherish each one!
I'm teaching a group of 4th graders on Thursday morning at Harrisburg Elementary, and I wanted to create a blog post to help me explain the process of shipping the cards to our Military Heroes. Pictures ARE worth a thousand words!
I get my Operation Write Home Mail at The UPS Store less than a mile from my house. I live on a driveway with a gate at the end, and the mail can't be left beside the road. It might get wet or stolen. When boxes come to my street address, USPS leaves a card, and I have to pick up the package the next day. I'd have to drive into town every day to pick up my mail, and that's over 4 miles and a big headache.
The ladies at The UPS Store are terrific! They enjoy laughing at me when I go in the back to collect a tower of packages. Thank you, Yanti, Diane, Mel, and Marti!
Here's a picture of one day's "haul" of packages. I open the packages, collect the packing slip, and triage the cards.
If the cards are "good-to-go" I sort them into these boxes. Some cards need to have "Operation Write Home" stamped on the back and some need to be tucked into envelopes before they land in the sorting boxes. Unfortunately, there are cards that land in the "Card Hospital." They'll need a little TLC.
These boxes are taped and ready to go. Not only do I ship cards in them, I use them to temporarily hold bundles of cards.
These boxes hold bundles of cards, divided by theme. They are ready to be packed. I put them on the stairs, out of the way until I need them. They won't be here long. In fact, most of the cards in these boxes are already on their way!
Inside the box. I can quickly grab what I need!
These 6 boxes are packed with 300 cards!
Here you can see the bundles of cards sorted by theme. Our Heroes will be able to quickly find a card.
On top of the 300 cards, I layer larger cards.
Here, I've added a package of Hero Mail and the Sunday comics.
The last item to go in the box is a card from me to the contact who will receive the cards and share them with his/her unit.
Next stop is the Post Office! No, Clyde, you can't go this time!
Operation Write Home had a Virtual Card Party yesterday, and I only completed one of the challenges. This was a color/pattern inspiration challenge for a Mother's Day card.
The patterned paper is from Basic Grey's June Bug collection, the 6 x 6 paper pad. I cut a piece to cover the whole card base, and it was just too much! Slicing and dicing worked wonders.
I spent most of yesterday sorting cards. Lots of cards arrived here last week, and I really needed to spend the day getting them organized for shipping. From the looks of these boxes, you'd never know I shipped 17 boxes full of cards to our Heroes last week.
I use the large flat rate boxes to hold my sorted cards and place them on the stairs, out of the way.
I'll empty most of these "sorting" boxes today when I load cards into these boxes:
It's March Madness in more ways than one. Go Tarheels!
Mr. Williams's Civics class lent me a hand today with my cards for Operation Write Home. They wrote Hero letters, tucked the flaps of 2000 envelopes, stamped the backs of 600 cards, and tucked over 800 cards into envelopes. And they entertained me! Thank you, Spiders! I never thought this Central Cabarrus Viking graduate would be saying that!
Writing Hero letters.
Who needs these envelopes?
Tucking cards.
Tucking MORE cards!
These students were so helpful today. They asked great questions and worked hard. I hope I get to go back to visit!
I packed these boxes last night and in the wee hours of the morning. They each contain 330 greeting cards for all occasions made by card makers across America. Also included are 20 letters written to our military heroes. I addressed the boxes and completed the custom forms, but I just didn't have the energy to write the notes to the contacts at 3:00 in the morning.
So this morning, I wrote the notes and sealed all the boxes and loaded them in the car along with a box for my prize winner from the blog hop. I love hand-trucks.
Off to the post office!!
On the way home from the post office, I stopped by the UPS store, and what do you know! Boxes and envelopes of more cards! And of course, I needed to stop at the market. (Retired people do NOT go to the market on weekends!)
After unloading, I reloaded the car with two bins of cards that needed to be stamped with the OWH and/or tucked in envelopes. I'd enlisted some child labor at the middle school!
A big "Thank YOU!!" to these students from Mr. Williams' 8th grade SS class at C.C.Griffin Middle School. They nearly finished all I took, and they would have if they hadn't stopped so often to admire the cards!
Now it's time to make some cards at the crop at the LSS. Those boxes will just have to wait until later...or until tomorrow.
Welcome to my stop on the OWH Spring Break Bloghop! Most of you arrived from "Hello from Kate." Thanks, Kate! If you arrived on my blog in the middle of the hop and want to start at the beginning, please go to the Stars and Stamps Blog. That's where all the fun begins!
Blog Hop Card The Stars and Stamps Blog has been a terrific source of inspiration and challenges, and if you don't visit regularly, you're missing some terrific information! This card follows the formula for sketch challenge #8. I layered the scalloped circle and the flower petals. This gives those elements a little "pop" without making the card bulky. The card is also sturdy and unlikely to get damaged in its travels to the middle east and back again. It's all about the adhesives!! I used an ATG gun to affix the background and Aleene's Super Thick Tacky Glue on the flower parts. (These are the adhesives I use in the "card hospital" for my OWH shipper responsibilities. Good stuff!)
Cosmo Cricket's Mini Deck - Garden Variety Collection
Bazzill Card Stock
Stamped sentiment is from Hero Arts
Inspiration for Making Cards
I started making cards for Operation Write Home last summer. My nephew, Soldier Sam, was my motivation for doing so. Sam is currently deployed for his second tour in Iraq, or as he posted on his facebook page, "Back in my favorite vacation destination." Ha. Sam is an infantry soldier based in Fort Riley, Kansas.
We're looking forward to hanging this sign on the gate again this summer!!
Sam at the Charlotte airport, coming home for R&R in 2007.
Sam sharing unusual souvenirs from Sadr City.
Tips for OWH Card Makers
My favorite tip for card makers is from the Home Front Blog on the OWH website, and it can be found HERE! There's lots of terrific information for assembling a package of cards. Watch it, and you'll learn something new! You'll also be helping your shipper!
Blog Candy
I'll be awarding some crafty blog candy to someone who leaves a comment at the end of this post! A name will be drawn randomly on Monday after 6:00 PM EDT. I'll post the winner on my blog Monday night, March 22. I'll also announce the winner on OWH's facebook fan page. Good luck!
Directions to the Next Blog
The next blog on the hop is Allison's
Stretch N' Bubbles.She's got some great digital stamps on her blog! And a FREE one to celebrate our blog hop! Thanks, Allison! You Rock! Enjoy!
