Miss Arts, Operation Write Home and a Deployment Digital Freebie

Curtsey Boutique Deployment Project Life sized Journaling Card

My husband and I were military sweethearts. We meet while we were both ROTC cadets at the University of Dayton. To my parents dismay we were engaged only after a few short months. After 12 years of marriage they've gotten used to him and we've pretty much proved that love at first sight can be a lasting thing. 

With both of us being active duty military our first years of marriage were mostly spent apart. September 11th, the War in Iraq and other domestic deployments had us passing like to ships in Battle Dress Uniforms that weren't even sailing on the same night. 

To say the least military charities are close to my heart. When Alyssa from Miss Art's approached me about doing a post on Operation Write Home and Miss Art's Papercrafting School's support of it I couldn't have been more excited.

Here is the Skinny:

Operation Write Home:

A charity that serves our armed forces by sending them blank handmade greeting cards they can use to write home on. It also provides the soldiers with cards of gratitude and encouragement.

Why this charity is so AMAZING:

In March 2011, they passed the 1 million card mark and crafters like us helped them do it!

How Miss Art's is Getting Involved:

Each Tuesday, visit the Miss Art's blog to view the tutorial. Then join designers Karen Hanson, Alyssa McGrew, Tina McDonald, and Jodi Baune in creating cards to donate to Operation Write Home. Cards will be collected at the Miss Art's office, then forwarded as a group to the Operation Write Home distribution center.

The first tutorial, giveaway rules, and instructions for creating and sending in cards can be found HERE

Miss Art's Paper Crafting School Operation Write Home Tutorial Project #1

How Helping Other's can Help You:

Besides that warm fuzzy feeling you'll get for doing something nice for a complete stranger, Miss Art's will be giving a free April Kit for every card you send them for Operation Write Home.

Where to get More Information:

Operation Write Home Link HERE

Miss Art's Paper Crafting School Link HERE

Miss Art's Papercrafting School Operation Write Home Giveaway

I have a shoebox full of letters in the bottom of my closet. Notes that we sent to each other over those first years of constant separation. Some of them have sprinkles of desert dust on them, a few are smeared with mud, but all of them are witnessses of a great romance.  They mean more to me than just about anything else I own.  Even years later, I don't like to discuss my feelings about being separated from my husband during deployments. So, I haven't yet used the journaling card at the top of this post, but it is free to all those who would like to use it. 

I am excited to help others build up their own shoeboxes and hope you too will be encouraged to give back to our soldiers.

Create with love,

CarrieAnne

Chicago CHA Update #1 - Magnolia Stamps and La Blanche Stamps

Alyssa McGrew (Owner of Miss Art's Papercrafting School) and myself on the first day of the show!

I am finally back from CHA in Chicago. I know I promised to upload photos from the show, but I was just too busy!!  So here is the first installment of my CHA update coverage.



One of the goals I had for the show was to find a few stamp companies that would be a good fit for future Miss Art's Papercrafting School classes. And today's post will share with you artwork and product I found in the Magnolia Stamps and La Blanche Stamps booths.

Magnolia Stamps

 I have been familiar with Magnolia Stamps for quite sometime. Their signature line of cherubic like child images are super cute.  These stamps come mounted on EZMount which makes them super easy to store (no bulky wood mounts) and also perfect for acrylic mounts. The Magnolia images work extremely well with Copic markers which are all the rage at the moment.

I took a few snap shots of their  booth, but you can find out more at their website: http://magnoliastamps.us

I apologize for the off coloring, the lighting in some of the booths made my camera nuts!

 Here are a few of my favorite stamp images:

     

 

 These projects were just too cute. I don't know who the artist was that created them. If you know shoot me an email and I will give credit in the photo caption.

 La Blanche Stamps

 

Because I missed the Winter Show in Anaheim, this was my first exposure to La Blanche and this stamp company was definitely one of my favorite things about the entire show. La Blanche stamps are incredibly detailed. Their mounts are made from lightweight, hard foam and the stamped image itself is done in a very high quality silicon. In order to capture all the details of these amazing stamps, the demonstrator for the company recommended using VersaMark or Stazon ink.

As I am off in just a few days for a family reunion I thought I would schedule posts each day for the next week or so sharing my detailed pictures and thoughts on the people, new products and all things artsy I encountered on the show floor. If you didn't have a chance to go to the show, but have a question about a new product or something revealed there, leave me a comment and I'll do my best to answer your questions.

Thanks for stopping by,

CarrieAnne

Steppin Out in Style with Miss Art's Papercrafting School & Giveaway

First let's announce last Wednesday's free all access 1 month Extra Credit subscription  winner in the Miss Art's Papercrafting School Blog Celebration:

Bunnyfreak - you are the winner. Be sure to email me at serendipitousscrapper@gmail.com with your contact data to claim your prize.


If you didn't win, don't fret you have an opportunity to win again EVERY DAY in the month of April! 

Each business day (Monday-Friday) in the month of April we will be giving away one free monthly all access Extra Credit subscription to a lucky winner who leaves a comment on the staff member of the day’s post (so leave your comments here today!) and posts our count down blinkie in their sidebar!

You can get the countdown code HERE. It will appear at the very top of your screen. Copy the entire code, and paste it into the "Add HTML" section under "Design" in Blogger.

Onto the second of 4 projects I am creating using just one of the Miss Art's March kit: Madeline's Song.         

Flower embellished hair clips are all the rage at the moment, but if you look at the price tag most stores boost you could easily be seeing red. I absolutely love the vintage hymnal paper in the "Madeline's Song" kit and thought that it would be a beautiful backdrop for a handmade hair clip. All the materials used in the clip are from the Madeline's Song kit, except for the black tulle, the banana clip (from the dollar store) and the beautiful model (my 6 year old!).

In order to add dexterity and durabilty to the vintage paper you will need to coat it at least twice with Mod Podge on both sides of the paper, but the extra effort is definitely worth it. 

The neat thing about Miss Art's Papercrafting School is their unique focus on learning new techniques, but even if you aren't interested in taking a class their kits are a fantastic value for their diversity, quality of contents and abundant materials. 

Here is the down low on the March Kit: Madeline's Song:

In the 16th century there was a queen famed for her delicate beauty who defied the fears of a nation to pursue a marriage which would assuredly end in her death. This kit filled with 7 Prima papers from the collection bearing this heroine's name, is a mixture of elegant flourishes, sweet floral details and resolute patterns which will infuse any project with strength, beauty and a hint of the hope permeating young love. "Madeline's Song" is the very first of Miss Art's exclusive kits. Though it is loaded with a royal bounty including 17 flowers, over 50 embellishments and Miss Art's own vintage touches, it won't cost you your dowry.

** You can absolutely purchase this kit with no other obligation, but you would be remiss if you did not partake in the amazing class taught by CK Dream Team member Stacey Cohen. Her easy to follow technique focused instruction highlights the versatility and beauty of "Madeline's Song.”**

Read on for more exciting information on Miss Art's Paper Crafting School!

Have you ever wished there was a school which only taught your favorite classes, that had the best teachers and where tuition was so affordable it left you plenty to buy the most stylish school supplies? Miss Art's Papercrafting School is a virtual academy for every student who wants to learn the latest techniques from the paper crafting industry's leading experts and it is opening its doors for the first time in days.

Subscriptions to our monthly classes start at $5.00 and include live online chats and personal email responses from your favorite designers. Consisting of 2 - 12 videos with unlimited monthly access each class is the perfect blend of individualized crafting and supportive learning.

Miss Art’s Papercrafting School Blog Celebration Schedule

Monday: Bethany Kartchner
Tuesday: Heidi Kelley
Wednesday: CarrieAnne Deloach

Thursday: Stacy Cohen
Friday: Alyssa McGrew

Thanks for stopping by and celebrating with Miss Art’s as we count down to the best first day of school ever!

CarrieAnne

Time for Tea with Miss Art's Papercrafting School

I am excited to announce my involvement with a new company: Miss Art's Papercrafting School. Owned by one of my best scrapping friends, Alyssa McGrew, Miss Art's is an amazing resource for every paper crafter. This teapot is the first of four projects I will be posting using Miss Art's March kit: Madeline's Song.

The teapot is based on a template by the fabulous Lauren Meader and all of the materials are from the Madeline's Song kit, except for the pearls which were from my stash.

The neat thing about Miss Art's Papercrafting School is their unique focus on learning new techniques, but even if you aren't interested in taking a class their kits are a fantastic value for their diversity, quality of contents and abundant materials. Here is the down low on the March Kit: Madeline's Song which I will be creating with all month long.

In the 16th century there was a queen famed for her delicate beauty who defied the fears of a nation to pursue a marriage which would assuredly end in her death. This kit filled with 7 Prima papers from the collection bearing this heroine's name, is a mixture of elegant flourishes, sweet floral details and resolute patterns which will infuse any project with strength, beauty and a hint of the hope permeating young love. "Madeline's Song" is the very first of Miss Art's exclusive kits. Though it is loaded with a royal bounty including 17 flowers, over 50 embellishments and Miss Art's own vintage touches, it won't cost you your dowry.

** You can absolutely purchase this kit with no other obligation, but you would be remiss if you did not partake in the amazing class taught by CK Dream Team member Stacey Cohen. Her easy to follow technique focused instruction highlights the versatility and beauty of "Madeline's Song.”**

Read on for more exciting information on Miss Art's Paper Crafting School!

Have you ever wished there was a school which only taught your favorite classes, that had the best teachers and where tuition was so affordable it left you plenty to buy the most stylish school supplies? Miss Art's Papercrafting School is a virtual academy for every student who wants to learn the latest techniques from the paper crafting industry's leading experts and it is opening its doors for the first time in days.

Subscriptions to our monthly classes start at $5.00 and include live online chats and personal email responses from your favorite designers. Consisting of 2 - 12 videos with unlimited monthly access each class is the perfect blend of individualized crafting and supportive learning.

You may purchase our reasonable kits to compliment your course or pull items from your own stash using our detailed supply lists.

To countdown to our grand opening select teachers and staff will be participating in a month long blog celebration. Be sure to check back each Wednesday as I will be sharing projects made with Miss Art’s March Kit with you.


Nervous about trying something new? Most new students have a few first day jitters so we want to give you the chance to get to know us better. Each business day (Monday-Friday) in the month of April we will be giving away one free monthly all access Extra Credit subscription to a lucky winner who leaves a comment on the staff member of the day’s post (so leave your comments here today!) and posts our count down blinkie in their sidebar!

You can get the countdown code HERE. It will appear at the very top of your screen. Copy the entire code, and paste it into the "Add HTML" section under "Design" in Blogger.

Miss Art’s Papercrafting School Blog Celebration Schedule

Monday: Bethany Kartchner
Tuesday: Heidi Kelley
Wednesday: CarrieAnne Deloach

Thursday: Stacy Cohen
Friday: Alyssa McGrew

Thanks for stopping by and celebrating with Miss Art’s as we count down to the best first day of school ever!

P.S.- Come "Like" Miss Art's on Facebook for a chance to win some great Prima prize packs!