FaveCrafts

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How FaveCrafts Celebrated Our 10 Year Anniversary

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2019 marks 10 years that FaveCrafts has been online, and what a joy it has been! Over the years we’ve worked with hundreds of bloggers to share wonderful crafts and inspiration for readers like you. To celebrate, we partnered with the Craft Yarn Council‘s charity Warm Up America! to collect gloves and mittens for those in need. Learn a bit more about our celebration below!

FaveCrafts turned 10 in 2019. To celebrate, we partnered with Warm Up America! to run a Gloves and Mittens Charity Drive. This pattern was created for the promotion by Alex Halsey from withalexofficial.com and can be found here.

We Asked the Craft Yarn Council What They Needed

The Craft Yarn Council is a nonprofit that sponsors a wide range of promotional and educational programs, including its highly acclaimed Certified Instructors Program, Discover Knit and Crochet classes, and its popular I Love YARN Day event (the second Friday in October). You can learn more about them at their website, craftyarncouncil.com. Their charity, Warm Up America!, accepts donations of knit and crocheted items year round for those in need. When asked, they said their biggest need at this time is for gloves and mittens!

Easy Peasy Crochet Fingerless Gloves pattern by Shawn Mosch of Crafty Chic's Blog
Easy Peasy Crochet Fingerless Gloves pattern by Shawn Mosch of Crafty Chic’s Blog. View the pattern here.

We opened up the charity drive to include crocheted and knit sections as well, suggesting that after fiber artists finished whipping up a pair of mittens, they could use the leftover yarn to create 7×9″ sections. These sections are later seamed together by WUA! volunteers to make warm afghans.

The FaveCrafts Afghan 7x9" Section by Sarah Zimmerman
This 7×9″ section pattern was designed by Sarah Zimmerman of Repeat Crafter Me.

Sarah Zimmerman of Repeat Crafter Me designed a new crochet pattern that donors could use to make the sections. Not only did she design individual sections, but she created…

The FaveCrafts Afghan

The FaveCrafts Afghan
The FaveCrafts Afghan, by Sarah Zimmerman. You can view this pattern at RepeatCrafterMe.com here, or at FaveCrafts.com here.

We were so fortunate to work with three designers for this promotion. Sarah Zimmerman from Repeat Crafter Me designed The FaveCrafts Afghan, comprised of crocheted 7×9″ sections that can be donated to Warm Up America! Alexandra Halsey of With Alex created a gorgeous beginner-friendly mittens pattern:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxIFLOThJ8L/

And Shawn Mosch of Crafty Chic’s Blog created a lovely fingerless mitts pattern tied off with a ribbon:

Check out more of the lovely Instagram posts about our charity drive at https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/favecraftsturns10/

We Made Sections at the Office

Several of the editors at Prime Publishing crochet and knit, but many of us are beginners, so gloves are a bit beyond our skill level! In order to still participate in the charity drive, we organized an in-office event for editors to learn how to knit or crochet their own sections.

Toby Teaches Morgan How to Knit
AllFreeKnitting Editor Toby teaches FaveCrafts Editor Morgan how to begin the pattern.
RecipeLion Editor Kristin and AllFreeCrochet Editor Laura begin their sections.
Kristi, Rachel, Dana, and Leith Making Sections
AllFreeKnitting Editor Kristi, Managing Editor Rachel, FaveCrafts Editor Dana, and special guest Leith making sections.

You’ll notice the special guest in our photo above—Leith! The day we hosted our party happened to also be Bring Your Child to Work Day, so Leith had the opportunity to learn how to crochet with us.

FaveCrafts 10 Year Anniversary Charity Drive
FaveCrafts Editor Dana teaches Leith how to crochet.

Warm Up America! Collected Over 800 Knit and Crocheted Items

Our Gloves and Mittens Charity Drive ran from May 1-June 30, 2019. We are pleased to announce that Warm Up America! collected:
202 Pairs of Gloves and Mittens
606 Sections

It’s Not Too Late to Get Involved

Did you miss our charity drive? Warm Up America! accepts donations year round. Check out their current needs and follow them on Facebook to see their latest requests! And, if you don’t have time to make something, you can always make a financial donation to Warm Up America!

6 Ways to Donate Your Handcrafts to Kids in Need Around the World through OCC

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Cheryl from Simply Shoeboxes is guest posting with us today to share how you can make a difference this holiday season with Operation Christmas Child.
Operation Christmas Child

In 1993 Samaritan’s Purse was asked if they could provide shoeboxes* with gifts and necessities to the children of war torn Bosnia.  Across the Southeastern United States they collected 28,000 shoebox gifts.  Since that time Operation Christmas Child (OCC) has grown to have collections not only in the U.S., but also in Canada, the U.K., Australia, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Finland, Spain, New Zealand and Japan.  They have delivered over 146 million shoeboxes in 160 countries.  Each shoebox is packed by an individual, family or group hosting a packing party.

Zambia Shoebox

We sent two shoeboxes in 1993, one from each of my young daughters; and since that first year it has become a yearly event in our family.  We are so hooked on shoebox packing that my daughter, Sarah, and I write a blog dedicated to our journey called Simply Shoeboxes.  We like to include handcrafted items in our boxes which make them more personal.  Since I love crafting and I love kids, it is a perfect match of two passions.  I wanted to share with FaveCrafts readers how you, too, can use your love of crafting to help kids in crisis around the world.

OCC Shoeboxes Delivered by Wagon in Madagascar

OCC collects shoeboxes each year the week before Thanksgiving.  This year’s goal is 9.5 million shoeboxes for the US and 12 million worldwide.  Many boxes arrive at the processing center with few items inside or items that are not allowed and need removed (candy, toothpaste, breakables, war related, liquids).  This leaves gaps in the boxes which volunteers fill with items donated for this purpose. These extra gifts are called “fillers.”  This is where crafters can step in and help fill that need.

There are six ways to donate crafts to the Operation Christmas Child shoebox packing efforts.  The following is based on donations in the US.  If you are in another country check with your country’s guidelines as they may differ in some ways.

Teddy Bear Shoebox for Operation Christmas Child

Six Ways to Donate Your Handcrafts to Kids in Need Around the World thru OCC

  1. Pack a Shoebox

You can pack your own shoebox gift and include your handcrafted items.  Choose an average sized shoebox and include such things as toys, hygiene items, clothes and school supplies (many children around the world can’t go to school because the parents can’t afford school supplies).  Hobby Lobby stores and local churches often have the OCC shoeboxes available for free.  You can find out all the information on the Operation Christmas Child Shoebox website.   Find a local drop off location open during national collection week thru the OCC link above–there are over 5000 nationwide.

  1. Find a Shoebox Packer

If you don’t want to pack a shoebox, find someone who does pack and offer to donate handcrafted items to their packing effort.  Any packer would be thrilled for donations.  We have two ladies from opposite ends of the country who send us items to help us pack more boxes and we greatly appreciate it.  If you don’t know anyone personally who packs, call local churches or stop by our Simply Shoeboxes Facebook page and leave a comment that you are looking for a local person to donate to.  Or if you would like to ship your handcrafted items to someone who packs, we can also help you find someone thru our page.

OCC Packing Party for Kids

  1. Find a Packing Party

Operation Christmas Child shoebox packing parties are held around the country.  Some are for packing a few dozen up to one in PA that packs over 25,000.  This year we are hosting two for the kids at church–one for 100 shoeboxes and the other for 200.  You can imagine the number of items needed for these.  As mentioned above, check with local churches or our Facebook page to find one near you or to ship your items to.

  1. Drop Off at a Collection Center

The week before Thanksgiving each year there are thousands of OCC collection centers at which to drop off your shoeboxes.  They also take boxes of filler items.  Pack your handcrafted items in a box (NOT a shoebox) and mark “fillers” on the outside and drop them off.  You can find a location near you thru this link:  Operation Christmas Child shoebox drop off location (these are only listed during the late fall).

OCC Shoeboxes Stacked to Donate

  1. Drop off at an OCC Processing Center

Each year thousands of volunteers check each shoebox to be sure there are no items on the “do not send” list.  Operation Christmas Child has processing centers open for several weeks after collection week in Baltimore, MD, Charlotte, NC, Boone, NC, Atlanta, GA, Dallas, TX, Minneapolis, MN, Denver, CO and Orange County, CA.  Fillers can be packed in boxes marked “fillers” and dropped off at one of these.  You can contact Operation Christmas Child to find out the location and hours of operation, or call (828) 262-1980.

We have a guest post on our blog by an OCC regional director if you would like to see what happens in A Day at the OCC Processing Center.

  1. Mail to Charlotte Offices Year Round

A seamstress asked on the Operation Christmas Child Facebook page what she could do to help.  They told her she could donate handcrafted items anytime of the year by mailing them to:

Operation Christmas Child
Attn:  Seth Brewer
7100 Forest Point Blvd.
Charlotte, NC   28217

Operation Christmas Child also accepts fillers from local businesses and large manufacturers.  You can read more about OCC’s request for Gift-in-Kind on their website:  Operation Christmas Child Gift-in-Kind Opportunities.

Fat Quarter Library Bag Winnie the Pooh

Guidelines for Craft Donations as Fillers for OCC Shoeboxes

Operation Christmas Child divides the shoeboxes into six groups:  2 to 4 year old girls, 2 to 4 year old boys, 5 to 9 year old girls, 5 to 9 year old boys, 10 to 14 year old girls, and 10 to 14 year old boys.  Any item appropriate for a child in any of these groups can be donated.  Including but not limited to:

  • Clothing (no camouflage fabrics)
  • Dolls
  • Stuffies
  • Games
  • Tote Bags
  • Small Blankets
  • Hats, Scarves & Mittens
  • Aprons

Grandma Sally’s Bitty Blanket

I have shared tutorials for many of these on our blog here:  Crafting for Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes Index.  Some of my favorites are:

Some of the crafts on FaveCrafts that would be perfect for shoeboxes are:

And these from AllFreeSewing would also be great:

Fiji OCC Shoebox Distribution

Remember it needs to be small enough to fit in an average sized shoebox with other gifts.  I advise people to use the size of a quart mayonnaise jar as a guide.  If the item when folded, rolled or ready for packing is not much larger than that it should fit fine.

Crafters have the opportunity to craft what they choose and to craft as much as they would like.  There are groups who knit hundreds of sweaters yearly, a retired gentleman who makes hundreds of wooden cars, a 100 year old gal who sews dresses and thousands of crafters across the globe crafting all kinds handcrafts for shoeboxes.  It is also a great opportunity to gets kids crafting for kids.

Shoebox Crafting Communities

So if you love crafting and are looking for an outlet for your crafts that can make a difference in the life a child, look into donating thru Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.  And if you like communities, here are some Facebook pages for OCC shoebox packers and crafters:

Carpenter Mission Zambia Shoebox Distribution 2016

Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Distributions

OCC works with local churches and other agencies within the receiving countries to distribute the shoeboxes.  If you would like to learn more about the distributions or see more images, we have three guest posts on our blog from ladies who have been involved in distributions.  You can find them here:  Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Distribution Stories.

Thank you to Jennifer Carpenter for this image of the Zambia OCC shoebox distribution and the smiling girl at the top.  All other shoebox distribution images courtesy of Operation Christmas Child.

Questions about Operation Christmas Child

If you have any questions I would be happy to answer them; and if I don’t know the answer, I’ll do my best to find it.  You can reach me at thesimplyblogs @ gmail[dot]com.

Samaritan Purse Gift Catalog

Samaritan’s Purse

Samaritan’s Purse is much larger than Operation Christmas Child.  They are an international relief agency that helps after natural disasters here in the US and around the globe.  They also have dozens of other relief efforts helping children, women, families and communities with medical, farming, schooling, clean water and much more.  Check out their Christmas Catalog for a quick overview of the types of things they do.

Life Saver Snowman Set

Share Your Craft Images

And finally, if you craft items to donate thru Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes I’d love to see them.  Stop by our Simply Shoeboxes Facebook page and post them.

*Please note:  Operation Christmas Child and packers around the world write shoe boxes as one word:  shoeboxes.   For consistency, this article includes that spelling.

DIY Jewelry Drive: Results and Winner Announcement!

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We all know the age old adage, “It is greater to give than to receive,” but the past two months you’ve all proved it to be true with your generous donations to our DIY jewelry drive! We here at AllFreeJewelryMaking.com have been collecting charitable handmade jewelry donations on behalf of the Women’s Shelter Jewelry Project from readers, fans, and anyone who wished to get involved, and we’ve been blown away by your astounding generosity (as well as your impressive jewelry making skills and creativity!).

We collected hundreds of donated accessories from readers across the country that will now be sent to the Women’s Shelter Jewelry Project to be distributed among various women’s shelters. The pieces you have all so kindly contributed will be going to women in need who have often arrived at these shelters with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. Your handmade jewelry will be a bit of light in a time of darkness and will help them in beginning to build a better future for themselves.

We can’t thank you all enough for helping us to help these women! Having never run a charity drive like this before, we weren’t sure what to expect and didn’t know if we’d receive  more than a few donated pieces. However, we are happy to report that we have received hundreds of gorgeous handmade pieces of jewelry to send to the Women’s Shelter Jewelry Project thanks to your generosity. We couldn’t have done it without each and every one of you, and we are incredibly grateful.

We gave you a look at some of the handmade pieces we had received last month in this update blog post. Now let’s take a look at all of the beautiful pieces we have received since then!

Donation14Donation15Donation16Donation17Donation18Donation19Donation20Donation21Donation22 Donation23 Donation24Donation25Donation30 Donation26 Donation27 Donation28 Donation29Donation34 Donation31 Donation32 Donation33

Pretty fabulous, huh? We certainly think so! OK, and now the moment you’ve all been waiting for: the winner announcement! Part of the deal was that each person who donated at least one piece to the DIY jewelry drive would be entered for a chance to win an ImpressArt Metal Stamping Kit, complete with all the tools and supplies needed to get started making stamped jewelry and other crafts. From all the people who sent in a donation, we have selected one winner at random, and the winner is…

Susan B. from Lockport, NY!

Congratulations, Susan! You are the lucky winner of the ImpressArt Metal Stamping Kit. We will be contacting you regarding your prize. Thank you for your beautiful donation!

And thanks again to all who participated. We know the Women’s Shelter Jewelry Project will be so thrilled to receive all these donations for their cause. And remember, our jewelry drive may be over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still get involved! Find out where you can donate locally and keep giving back whenever you can.

If you donate any jewelry to a local shelter and want to share your story, you make a new project you’re particularly proud of, or you just want to chat, be sure to stop by our AllFreeJewelryMaking Facebook page and leave a comment! You can also talk to us on Twitter or Google+; we’d love to hear from you! And if you don’t already, feel free to subscribe to our eNewsletter to receive new jewelry projects as well as find out the details on all our upcoming events, giveaways, and promotions.

What are some ways you like to give back?

 

Update: A Look at Our DIY Jewelry Drive Donations So Far!

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Bead for those in need!

All month long, we here at AllFreeJewelryMaking have been asking our readers (and anyone else who wants to get involved) to use their gift of creativity to give back. We have been collecting handmade jewelry donations on behalf of The Women’s Shelter Jewelry Project to help bring a glimmer of hope to the lives of underprivileged women residing in domestic violence shelters and various other shelters. And we’re not done yet!

We are still collecting handmade jewelry donations until March 28th, 2013, at which time we will send all the donated pieces to The Women’s Shelter Jewelry Project to be distributed among various women’s shelters. So far, we have been blown away by the generosity of our amazing readers! We have received a number of packages already, ranging in size from a few pieces to dozens of donated DIY accessories! We cannot thank those of you enough who have already sent in your handmade pieces. We appreciate your generosity, and we know the women who receive your beautiful handmade jewelry will too.

We thought it would be nice to give a little update on the progress of the DIY jewelry drive and let everyone have a look at some of the stunning pieces we’ve received so far. These will certainly bring a bit of light to the lives of these women!

A big thanks to Hattie of SC, Pina of NJ, Adeline of IL, Susan of NY, Joni of SC, L. of KY, Katherine of ID, Susan of MI, Sharon of TX, Janis of SC, Ruthe of NJ, Tracey of MN, and Wendy of RI (whose donations are pictured here in respective order) for their lovely donations! You have each earned your chance to win an ImpressArt Metal Stamping Kit!

Do you want a chance to win an ImpressArt Metal Stamping Kit too? Then send in your handmade jewelry donation by March 28, 2013! All who donate a minimum of one piece of handmade jewelry to the charity drive will be given one entry in the ImpressArt Metal Stamping Kit giveaway; the winner is to be chosen at random. Find additional details and contest rules here.

All donations can be sent to the following address:

Prime Publishing
Women’s Shelter Jewelry Project
3400 Dundee Rd. #220
Northbrook, IL 60062

Please check out this blog post to find additional details, guidelines, and other important information.

Making jewelry brings joy to your own life; use it to bring joy to the lives of others as well by creating for a good cause! We can’t wait to see what you make!

Will you be donating a piece to the DIY jewelry drive?

 

Operation Write Home Charity Drive Wraps Up

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First of all, I just want to send a HUGE thank you to everyone who submitted cards for our Operation Write Home charity drive.  You have helped make a difference in the lives of families all over the world.

I just wanted to take a minute to share some of the wonderful submissions we received over the last few weeks…and stay tuned next week to see who our grand prize winner is!

 

I was SHOCKED when I got this awesome box of 270+ cards from Ann Williams.  These cards were done with such care and attention to detail.  I had so much fun looking through all of her designs.  Thanks so much, Ann, for sending in this amazing collection of cards for the troops!

Here are a few of Ann’s card designs:

And I love this one from Ann:

We also received an amazing collection of paper quilled cards from Beth Davis.  My favorite one in this collection is the one with the little dragonflies on it.

A huge thanks goes out to Brownie Troop #946 for sending in a beautiful collection of 30 cards.  I’m sure the troops are going to love your designs!  How awesome are those tie dyed butterflies?

Our friend Laura sent in a great collection of cards with cute character designs on them.  I think that sun one is so neat!  Thanks, Laura!

I LOVE the cards that Amanda R. sent in.  Such bright colors and fun embellishments.  I think the troops will love sending these cards back to their friends and family.

 

You could tell that Carol put a lot of time and effort into the cards that she made for the Operation Write Home charity drive.  The adorable owls and butterflies on these cards will be perfect for parents to use to send greetings back to their kids.

And Carol’s amazing embroidery skills blew me away!  I loved these embroidered Happy Birthday candle cards.

 

And it was clear to see from Vickie’s submission that she loves crafting with color!  I love all the bright colors in her card package.  Here are three of my favorite designs:

 

We also got a great selection of cards from Rosalie.  The dolphin cards are so cute and could be used for any occasion.  I also love her flower card with the sweet butterfly embellishment.

 

Those are just a FEW of the cards we got in from our awesome crafty readers!  Again, a HUGE thank you to everyone who participated in this charity!  I’ll be announcing our winners next week…so stay tuned if you sent in cards…you could win big!

Link Love: Mustache Crafts

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Happy Movember! No, that’s not a typo – this month, men around the world will be participating in No-Shave November to support prostate and testicular cancer initiatives. To participate, one must start November with a clean face and neglect shaving for the next 30 days. The men participating in this event are called Mo Bros and the women who support them are referred to as Mo Sistas. According to the official Movember website, “In 2011, over 854,000 Mo Bros and Mo Sistas around the world got on board, raising $126.3 million USD.”

You might have noticed that mustache crafts happen to be super trendy right now. Why, you ask? Because overall, they’re pretty easy to make. Simply draw a mustache on a mug or cut one out of paper and add it to a plastic straw. Plus, you don’t have to be a world-class artist to draw a mustache.

You can add a mustache to just about anything. In fact, next time you host a dinner party, make a traditional centerpiece … with an whimsical touch. A Glittered Pear Centerpiece is perfect for the holidays or even a New Year’s Eve bash. Simply spray paint some plastic fruit and cover them in glitter. Once everything is dry, add a felt mustache and black dots for eyes.

Show your support for Movember and add a mustache to your next craft project. This a fun, simple DIY idea that’s perfect for every kind of crafter.

 

  1. Mustache Straws by Busy In Brooklyn
  2. Mustache Cup Cozy by Lovin’ The Mommyhood
  3. Mustache Ring by Look What Melissa Made
  4. Mustache Mug by Kandee Johnson
  5. Horseshoe Mustache and Sideburns by Louie’s Loops
  6. Wool Incognito Mustache by Pie Knits
  7. Easy DIY Mustachio Art by Ghosts and Garters Vintage
  8. Mustache Necklace by Craft Jr.
  9. Moustache Cupcakes by A Spoonful of Sugar

Donate Cards for the FaveCrafts Charity Drive!

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Hey Crafty Friends!  Just a quick reminder that our Operation Write Home Charity Drive is still going strong!  You have until November 5th to get your cards in…and every card is an entry into winning our awesome prize!

FaveCrafts has teamed up with our friends at We R Memory Makers to host an Operation Write Home charity drive. This card drive will run from October 8th through November 5th. Once you have completed your card (or group of cards!), simply mail them to the address below. We will then gather all the cards and send them off to Washington, where they will be distributed to service men and women and sent to families all over the world.

But wait…

What Can You Win

To thank you for sending in your beautiful handmade cards, we’re awarding some awesome prizes to three lucky winners! Every card is an entry, so the person who sends in the most cards will win a We R Memory Keepers prize, worth $60.00! Three other winners will be chosen at random to receive a prize as well…so the more you send in, the greater your chances of winning this awesome prize bundle!

Our Grand Prize Winner will Win BOTH of these Awesome Paper Packs:

We also have some great prizes for our second and third place winners, as well!

When making your cards, PLEASE keep in mind these important guidelines! If cards don’t meet these requirements, they will not be able to be a part of our Operation Write Home charity drive:

  • Card Themes: Remember who’s sending these: adults. No cards to Daddy, no “wish you were here,” or party invitations; no explicit images or sentiments. We ask that you stick to the following themes: Happy Birthday, Love You, Thank You, Missing You, Thinking of You, or blank cards.
  • No glitter. It’s a safety hazard for our heroes, so no cards with any glitter that will flake off the card are accepted.
  • A2 sized cards only. 4.25″ x 5.5″ – half a sheet of cardstock – and must be accompanied by an envelope.
  • Line cards made with dark cardstock. If a pencil won’t show up, add a liner.
  • Any quantity is ok. One, a bunch, or a box full; however we need quality, not quantity.
  • SOME lumpiness is okay. Our heroes don’t have to pay for lettermail, but that doesn’t mean we can go wild with layers and embellishments. Save the big vintage buttons and thick 3D embellishments for AnyHero mail that doesn’t have to go through the postal system!
  • DO NOT handwrite sentiments. Neither outside or inside the cards. All cards must be in English.
  • Use quality supplies. Computer paper, foamies, ittybitty stickers, and gluesticks don’t hold up to the rigors of the battlefront. It’s ok to make fewer cards with better supplies – every card counts!
  • Absolutely no storebought. Neither complete cards, NOR cards repurposing parts of them. It endangers our trademark.

Click here to see the full list of requirements.

Please ship your completed cards to:

Prime Publishing
Operation Write Home Charity Drive
3400 Dundee Rd. #220
Northbrook, IL 60062

 

Still have questions? Visit Operation Write Home for more information, rules, and creative ideas!

Please help spread the word about this amazing opportunity to give those overseas a way to transport love appreciation to their family and friends all over the world.

Send Greetings to the Troops with FaveCrafts Charity Drive

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FaveCrafts has some big news!  We’ve teamed up with We R Memory Makers to sponsor a charity drive to benefit Operation Write Home.

As we approach the holiday season, it’s important to remember those who are spending the next coming months overseas.  Operation Write Home works with thousands of crafters across America and around the world serve our deployed heroes by providing cards to write home on.  Since it’s inception, Operation Write Home has provided more than 1.7 million handmade greeting cards to troops overseas…and we’re aiming to help them reach 2 million!

FaveCrafts has teamed up with our friends at We R Memory Makers to host an Operation Write Home charity drive.  This card drive will run from October 8th through November 5th.  Once you have completed your card (or group of cards!), simply mail them to the address below.  We will then gather all the cards and send them off to Washington, where they will be distributed to service men and women and sent to families all over the world.

But wait…

What Can You Win

To thank you for sending in your beautiful handmade cards, we’re awarding some awesome prizes to three lucky winners! Every card is an entry, so the person who sends in the most cards will win a We R Memory Keepers prize, worth $60.00! Three other winners will be chosen at random to receive a prize as well…so the more you send in, the greater your chances of winning this awesome prize bundle!

Our Grand Prize Winner will Win BOTH of these Awesome Paper Packs:

We also have some great prizes for our second and third place winners, as well!

 

When making your cards, PLEASE keep in mind these important guidelines!  If cards don’t meet these requirements, they will not be able to be a part of our Operation Write Home charity drive:

  • Card Themes:  Remember who’s sending these: adults. No cards to Daddy, no “wish you were here,” or party invitations; no explicit images or sentiments.  We ask that you stick to the following themes:  Happy Birthday, Love You, Thank You, Missing You, Thinking of You, or blank cards.  
  • No glitter. It’s a safety hazard for our heroes, so no cards with any glitter that will flake off the card are accepted.
  • A2 sized cards only. 4.25″ x 5.5″ – half a sheet of cardstock – and must be accompanied by an envelope.
  • Line cards made with dark cardstock. If a pencil won’t show up, add a liner.
  •  Any quantity is ok. One, a bunch, or a box full; however we need quality, not quantity.
  • SOME lumpiness is okay. Our heroes don’t have to pay for lettermail, but that doesn’t mean we can go wild with layers and embellishments. Save the big vintage buttons and thick 3D embellishments for AnyHero mail that doesn’t have to go through the postal system!
  • DO NOT handwrite sentiments. Neither outside or inside the cards.  All cards must be in English.
  • Use quality supplies. Computer paper, foamies, ittybitty stickers, and gluesticks don’t hold up to the rigors of the battlefront. It’s ok to make fewer cards with better supplies – every card counts!
  • Absolutely no storebought. Neither complete cards, NOR cards repurposing parts of them. It endangers our trademark.

Click here to see the full list of requirements.

Please ship your completed cards to:

Prime Publishing
Operation Write Home Charity Drive
3400 Dundee Rd. #220
Northbrook, IL  60062

 

Still have questions?  Visit Operation Write Home for more information, rules, and creative ideas!

Please help spread the word about this amazing opportunity to give those overseas a way to transport love appreciation to their family and friends all over the world.

Live Coverage from CHA by Charity Wings!

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Do you love winning prizes? More importantly, do you love giving to charity? Then you need to tune into the live coverage by Charity Wings! Charity Wings has graciously set up a live feed right from their booth so you can see all the action from their point of view. How exciting is that? All you need is a raffle ticket and an  internet connection. All proceeds go to support A Place to Bark, a no kill foster and adoption rescue dedicated to the welfare of animals.

Find all the details on how to buy a ticket and join the coverage on their site. 

 

Who is Charity Wings, you ask? If you’ve never heard of them, they are a volunteer run organization that serves as a resource for crafters and artists that want to fundraise for their favorite causes. Their mission is to raise money and awareness for noble causes through unique creativity based events and online fundraisers, like this one.

So what are you waiting for? Check out all the fun at CHA and give for a good cause, it’s a win-win.

Check out full details below:

Live Event Info

Live Event Coverage

Prize Details and Show Floor Coverage

Charity Wings on Facebook

 

FaveCrafts 365 Cards for a Cause

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My friend Nancee and I spent a weekend making cards for a project called Card Cupids. These cards are sent to the organization to be distributed to hospitalized children. It started as one woman’s dream to make sure kids had some love when it was most needed and now is reaching out to the creative community to make it a year-long reach-out. For more information about this project just click here.

Some cool card projects!

Cute Owl Card

Sunshine Card

Summer Splash Card

Crochet

Jewelry

Knitting

Paper

Sewing

Thrifty