I have been wanting to make a pink and orange card . I was looking at Operation Write Home's (OWH) card sketches and was inspired to make this card using Sketch 124.
I inked the teacup with Tangerine Tango and Melon Mambo using a variation of the rock and roll technique. I first inked the entire stamp with Tangerine Tango. Then I lightly tapped the Melon Mambo ink pad directly onto the stamp. I could see that I was getting some lines from the edge of the pad. To soften those lines, I used an ink dauber and dabbed where the lines were to blend the two colors of ink. I love how the two colors blended when I stamped the image.
I used an OWH sketch to remind everyone to send cards to our heroes overseas. Operation Write Home sends cards to men and women in every branch of service who are stationed overseas. This group of volunteers sends cards overseas so the troops can have high quality handmade cards to send back home to their loved ones. There is a lot of information on the
Operation Write Home website about different ways that you can help.
They also share photos and posts from people who receive their cards. This is a long, post, but it gives you an idea of the things we are doing to make a difference.
Dear Ms Allnock,
The latest box of cards arrived yesterday afternoon. Certainly the Mother’s Day cards will be useful.
My two year tour in Afghanistan is coming to an end on May 1st. The
end of the tour will be almost bitter-sweet. During the last two years
I worked very closely with the British Embassy and the US Army to build
a vocational school at the detention facility in Parwan. The
“students” are unique. They are men who have been captured on the battle
field. A good portion 65% are not hard core insurgents. Rather, they
got caught up in the insurgency through economic necessity. They are
what we call the $5.00 a day insurgent.
We hope that by teaching men who will someday be released with a
skill, they will no longer have a need to work with the insurgency. To
that end, we’ve built a vocational center that teaches carpentry,
masonry, plumbing, welding, electrical and rebar work. The curriculum
is certified by the Ministry of Education and when the men graduate
they are presented a diploma by the Minister. Also since there is a
70% illiteracy rate throughout Afghanistan, we also teach the men how
to read and write in their native language. This is a life altering
skill. When the men are eligible for release we try to find them
employment in their home province.
The reports so far have been positive. Once the former detainees
realize that the U.S. and the Afghan governments have improved their
lives, they turn their backs to the insurgency. This in turn is saving
Americans. If we save one life, it’s a success.
Leaving here is hard. The successes are plentiful but there is so
much more that needs to be done. Thankfully there are many good men and
women to continue what has been started.
Believe me when I say that none of the good work could happen without the support from home.
The troops do read the papers and watch the news. They are affected by
the reports of declining support for their efforts. The tangible show of
support by the great people at Operation Write Home and other
organizations goes a long way. Your backing of the men and women in
uniform makes a difference everyday. Our soldiers are the greatest in
the world. They deserve our support.
Thank you for taking care of our soldiers. Our desire to move forward
is due to your backing. In essence, our success is your success. Please
pass along our sincere gratitude to the members of OWH.
Best
L.B.
So, make some cards and send them to Operation Write Home (or other organizations that can use your cards). Handmade cards let someone know that they are special.
Creatively yours,
Sharon Cheng
Richland Hills, TX
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