Holiday Mail for Heroes

I made these cards from scrapbooking scraps.

Quick and easy and inexpensive.

OR

maybe you have some extra cards from last year

OR

follow the directions below to download free cards.

From the front lines to the home front,

the American Red Cross provides service members,

their families and veterans with the care and assistance they need.

The Red Cross is partnering with Pitney Bowes this holiday season

for the Holiday Mail for Heroes campaign.

They're collecting holiday cards to distribute to American service members,

veterans and their families in the US and around the world.

Pitney Bowes is generously donating technology, resources and postage

to make this holiday card program possible.
Their goal is to collect and distribute one million holiday cards

to spread holiday cheer and say thanks to these brave individuals and families.
Please send cards to this address, following the guidelines listed below:
Holiday Mail for Heroes

PO Box 5456

Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

~~~~~

Go to...
http://www.redcross.org/email/saf/
Download and print a free card.
Learn about other ways to participate.
Get the latest news about Holiday Mail for Heroes.
Watch a video from Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet Members,

Dr. Phil and Nancy O'Dell.

~~~~~
Card Guidelines
Please follow these guidelines when mailing a card

to ensure your card will reach service members, veterans and families.

Every card received will be screened for hazardous materials

and then reviewed by Red Cross volunteers

working in one of 16 sorting stations around the country.
Cards must be postmarked no later than Wednesday, December 10, 2008.

Cards sent after this date will be returned to sender.
Participants are encouraged to limit the number of cards they submit to 25

from any one person or 50 from any one class or group.

If you are mailing a larger quantity, please bundle the cards

and place them in large mailing envelopes.

Each card does not need its own envelope or postage.
Please ensure that all cards are signed.
Please use generic salutations such as “Dear Service Member.”

Cards to specific individuals can not be delivered through this program.
Please send cards as opposed to long letters

which delay a quick review process.
Please do not include email or home addresses on the cards,

as the program is not meant to foster pen pal relationships.
Please do not include inserts of any kind,

as these items will be removed during the reviewing process.
All cards received may be used in program publicity efforts,

including appearing in broadcast, print or online mediums.
~~~~~~

Put a smile in someone else's heart this year!

Also see:

Ali Edwards' Blog for another GIVING idea.

~~~~~

I'm thankful for all of you who I've had the fortune to get to

know through my blog and yours.

Joni

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!

Thank you Martha Stewart!

~~~~~~

For some reason I rarely go to Martha's website...

I just forget!

Same with her show...

I just forget!

~~~~~~

But, this morning I really explored her site

www.marthastewart.com.

and

found lots of INSPIRATION & IDEAS.

~~~~~~~

I want to share a few of her Christmas/Holiday

ideas for those of you who just don't get there...

like me.

You can visit her website for details, instructions,

and more.

~~~~~~~

I hope something sparks some INSPIRATION in you!

I love this tree to hang Holiday cards on.

Pinwheels in Christmas colors to tuck in a pitcher of greens.

A paper and wire wreath.

Large Initials cut to tie on packages.

Decorate stockings with felt and buttons.

My Favorite Idea!

(below)

Coins in coin wrappers then covered with paper

and cellophane to look like candy.

You could use pennies, nickles, dimes, or quarters...

depending on the age of the child.

Homemade gift wrap.

Paper stamped with buttons on ink pads

or brushed with paint.

Be creative with rick rack

to decorate homemade holiday cards.

Hope you are inspired by at least one of Martha's ideas.

ENJOY!

~~~~~~~

Off to get my hair cut... OK, and colored!

Make this a great day!

JONI

LATEST PROJECT

Family Gratitude Photo Spinner

~~~

This is a Photo Carousel by 7 Gypsies.

I had seen them in a few stores

but when I saw a pic of it completed

on Ali Edward's blog site,

it looked like a project I'd have fun creating.

Ali offered a class through

http://www.bigpicturescrapbooking.com/

which I signed up for.

It included 3 sheets of supplies

and several downloads.

Best of all you have access to a gallery of other's work

(which isn't currently working)

and

access to a message forum

and

her audio message.

~~~~~~

I had mine half finished before the class supply lists were

available.

and I just finished it this afternoon.

I couldn't keep my hands off it... such fun!!

To quote my husband...

"You REALLY like that thing!!"

And me..."Yup, I do!"

~~~~~~

It gets favorite photos out in the open to share with others.

Mine are all on my hard drive & in albums.

I like this idea!!

~~~~~~

I took a photo from the top so you can see

how many photos will fit on the spinner.

(left)This is my mom and dad on their wedding day

and

(right) me on my 4th birthday.

For one of my birthdays my mom made me a cowgirl outfit
and my doll a matching outfit.
The opposite pic is of Wendy and Darin on their BIG day.


( Left) Wendy and Kristin in their Raggedy Ann dresses
and
(right) the title for my spinner.

(left) Yes... me at one of our favorite restaurants
and
(right) Boyd and I.

(right) Wendy blowing bubbles on a friend's deck when she
was 3 years old.

(left) A photo of a favorite scrapbook page
showing Kristin... my toast addict.
(I just gave her a Toaster Christmas ornament.)
&
(right) A Christmas card front where I added
a pic of the girls on Santa's lap.


(left) Wendy and Darin's dogs at a dude ranch in Colorado.
I love this photo as the 2 doggies (in right hand corner of photo)
are walking together down this long road.
&
(right) A picture of me in front of my Christmas tree
in 1944.
The only photo really visible is of Wendy and Kristin
mounted on a transparency.

(Left) My 3rd birthday

and

(right) Halloween in 1944.

There are lots more photos

of

friends and family...

mine and Boyds.

I'll spare you!!

~~~~~~

A week from right now,

we'll be in warm and sunny Phoenix.

Yea!!!

Hugs to all of you!

JONI

BUY HOMEMADE... or MAKE IT YOURSELF!

It's that time of year again when we start getting ready

for the Holiday Season.

Actually... I've been thinking about it for a long time, but

now I'm working to pull all those thoughts together.

I enjoy the Holidays so much more if I'm organized.

I have so many projects in-the-works...

some which can't be shared until after Christmas

as my girls do read my blog.

Some I can share in the upcoming days and weeks.

~~~~~~

This is also a good time to buy homemade,

search etsy,

tap into the talent of others,

and support your local

small shops.

~~~~~~

The ADORABLE wall quilt below was made by

Jacquie of Tall Grass Studio.

I saw it on her blog (which I love)

and contacted her to see if she'd consider selling

one of her mini quilt creations.

And she did... and I adore it!!!

The workmanship is flawless & beautiful.

Thank you Jacquie for adding to our Christmas decor!!!

Besides... there's just something special about

displaying items that people you know have made.

I walked past a store window in our cute little town
and 'put my breaks on' when I saw these
whimsical little trees.
They had to come home with me.
And surprise to me...
they were made by a local woman.



I found this wall art in a store this summer
when we were at Green Lake for 3 weeks.
They are photos of architecture or signs that look like
alphabet letters.
I can tell by the back that it is home crafted.
It has nothing to do with the holidays,
although I did consider it as a gift for someone...
for a few minutes.
I just got around to hanging it in this grouping
with a print from etsy,
and
a lithograph
by a Wisconsin artist.



And... shoot!
This is the corner where we put our Christmas tree
so they'll all have to come down pretty soon.

I have so many things to share with you,
but will save the rest for another post.
~~~~~~
I was volunteering in my 1st grade classroom
this morning and I need a nap!

Hugs to you all...
Joni

Thought for the day...

"I get up every morning determined both to
change the world and to have one hell of a good time.
Sometimes that makes planning the day difficult."
~E.B.White

CELEBRATIONS!!

Today is my 65th birthday!

I love birthdays regardless of how old I am...

even 65!
~~~~~

This is a photo of my 3rd birthday.

WWII had ended and my dad had just come home from France

and Belgium where he had been since I was born.

We lived in an apartment and were looking for our first home

to buy.

~~~~~

This is my birthday party with my best friend Harry

and my teddy bear "Brownie" (in the high chair in the back).

I always had a lamb cake that my mom made and every year the

ears fell off and were attached with toothpicks.

Funny what one remembers.

My mom always made a small cake for Brownie-the-Bear

(in front of lamb cake) as it was his birthday too.

Yesterday my friend Chris took me out for lunch at my favorite spot...

a little bistro.

This is a photo of the hot artichoke appetizer we shared.

It was soooooo tasty!!

I'll be craving it forever.

I ordered a Margarita Pizza and it was a winner!
The crust was paper thin and crispy
with pesto, tomatoes, cheese, & spinach.
Drizzled with olive oil.
It was to die for.


The night before, the Bistro had won 1st place for desserts

at 'Taste of Green Bay'.

They were bringing everyone their yummy strawberries

with creme friache and a chocolate dollop on top.

Here's Chris consuming one!

And me, too!

We meandered over to my favorite bookstore which

just happens to be next door.

There are bookstores... and then there are bookstores!

This is the real thing with a fireplace with a fire burning

yesterday, comfy couches and chairs,

and 2 bookstore cats that have been raised there.

One of the cats was chewing on my bag as I checked out.

And that's just what our Gabby Cat does with plastic bags at our house.
~~~~~

Today has just begun and I'm enjoying every minute.

Boydo made cinnamon rolls and tea for me for breakfast.

And they were YUMMERS!

~~~~~

I signed up for the Stories In Hand class that begins

today online and will run each day for 2 weeks.
I'm excited as I've just begun to write my memories

and need an organizational system.

There is a Packer vs Vikings football game at noon

which should be a good game as we are tied with them.

~~~~~

Most of my day will be spent working on a new

photo project I started a few days ago.

It's really turning out great

and I can't wait to share it with you.

I can't wait any longer...

I'm going to try and get my Holiday banner up today.

I am so anxious to decorate and create this year.

I'm holding back in the house

but will probably decorate before we go to Arizona

so we can arrive home to a festive nest.

Off to see if my online class is ready to begin...

Hugs,

Joni

We had a beautiful snowfall yesterday.

Flakes the size of a quarter .

Thought for today:

Right now is a good time!

AS QUICK AS A WINK...

Here is the completed album... as quick as a wink!

Actually it was completed the same day I started it.

Quick and simple!

I think it went together so quickly because I used coordinated

paper & embellishments.

OK... I dipped into other supplies here and there.

It looks so bare!

The patterned paper will soften with a photo on top.

Click on a photo if you want to see details.
Usually I double mount each page for a gift album.
I didn't with this one because I wanted it done quickly.The pages coordinate better in person.

They are being photographed through plastic protecters

My reason for sharing this is to try to encourage

some of you to make an album for

a sick child.

See my post below for all the information on

The Sunshine Project.

It was fun, quick, and easy.

And hopefully will put a smile on a child's face...

along with their family's.

I'm off to make another!

Join me!

~Joni

SUNSHINE ALBUMS FOR CHILDREN

I read this on Ali Edward's blog last week...

"Last night I heard about a cool program

called Sunshine Albums for Children.

Here's a bit of info: "The Sunshine Albums Project is a wonderful opportunity

to create an album for a child who is in the hospital facing illness.

Many of the children in hospitals are there for cancer treatment.

The albums are a way for the children and their families

to document their journeys to wellness.

What they are looking for are photo and journal ready mini books

no smaller than 4x4 and no larger than 8x8.

You can read more about it and how to donate on Deb's blog."

Each year I try to find a project that will help someone else or
put a smile inside a person who needs one.
(Last year it was knitting bandages for lepers).

~~~~~~~

So I decided to embrace this album project
and spread the word to others.

~~~~~~~

This is my Before picture of my first album.
Work table cleared...
album & supplies ready to be transformed.

I chose a pink & white checked 6X6 album
and
K & Company paper and embellishments.

This album is for a girl and it will be cheery,
happy, and with a bit of bling!

All of these materials I had at home...
nothing had to be purchased
~~~~~~~~

I'll share the finished album in a few days.

Off to begin!!

Join me...
Joni