Nana's Heros

     You've heard me talk about Any Hero cards for Operation Write Home.  (You can read about that fantastic organization by clicking on their badge tot he right of my blog.)  I squeezed out a little bit of time to make this Any Hero card.  It's the first one for the new box that has to be filled for OWH and, inside, I've added a handwritten note of appreciation for the service of the troop who gets this card.  I try to do several Any Hero cards for each box I send to OWH. 

     I used an image from Meljen's Designs where their challenge is "Red, White, & Blue."  The sketch came from CPS-Card Sketches.



     Here's mine.  I love the idea of a NanaBear telling a Hero they're special because they serve the USA!  I sign my Any Hero cards the same way I sign my blog -- NanaConnie.  Personal yet anonymous.  That way, I can be speaking on behalf of the thousands who support our troops with their thoughts, prayers, and appreciation but who don't have the opportunity to send them cards or letters.  This is also being submitted to Tuesday Throwdown for their masculine card challenge.

     Obviously, I turned the sketch on its side.  I kept the coloring of the image to a minimum because I wanted a lot of white to show.  Having all that white in the image, I was free to select CS and dp with lots of red and then use a blue card base.

     Each layer of CS and dp is matted with black to make it stand out from the layer beneath.  The layers that have rounded corners met with my favorite corner punch.  The flowers are handmade by taking layers of punched mulberry papers and adding punched watercolor paper (white) as the top layer, then adding tiny rhinestones to the centers.  I always glue rhinestones with tiny dabs of craft glue so that they are completely secured and won't come off.  I adhere all the paper or CS layers with super sticky, 'Tear-iffic Tape' from Sparkle 'n' Sprinkle.  It is the best double-sided tape I've found anywhere and the most reasonably priced.  Nothing is going to come apart using that stuff!  It takes some time to get used to it but it's so worth it.  There is no repositioning once it's stuck together!  Careful measurements (even eyeballing measurements) are needed beforehand.

     OK, it's either late at night or early in the morning and I have two piles of last minute projects at work that need to be done today before some time off starts tomorrow.   I'm going to post this and get some sleep.  Hope you enjoyed your visit.  Leave a comment if you like.  I always read them and they are so encouraging.  Thanks to all who leave me little words of love.  :-)  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie