OWH VCMP: Home Sweet Home

Welcome to the 8pm EST/5pm PST challenge for Operation Write Home's Virtual Card Making Party in celebration of OWH's birthday!  This is the tenth and final challenge of the weekend.  Be sure to check the list of challenges here to be sure that you didn't miss out on any of the fun. 

Today, I'm challenging you to make a card that represents your state (or your country if you're an international visitor).  This card should make you feel right at home in hopes that it does the same for one of our heroes.  Think about what makes your state special; state symbols are a great place to start.  I'm from Maryland and I've depicted some of our official state symbols in the cards below.

This card features a crab, one of Maryland's best and simplest culinary pleasures and our official state crustacean.  I think this would make a great birthday card- either as a belated birthday wish or as a jab at a person who's getting old.  "Oh snap, you're not 29 anymore!"

Stamps: Recollections Feeling Fishy, Lawn Fawn Quinn's ABC's
Patterned Papers: DCWV- blue, Pebbles- orange
Punch: Fiskars Boundary Waters
Dies: Nestabilities circles
Coloring: Copics
Twine: Whisker Graphics Peach Divine Twine

Next, I used some of the colors of Maryland's flag (black, yellow, red, and white) to make this card. The diamond shape is inspired by the yellow and black pattern on Maryland's flag. 

Stamps: Stampin' Up Lighthouse- bird, American Crafts Spring- sentiment
Papers: cardstock from stash
Coloring: Copics
Dies: Cuttlebug Harlequin

On my third card, I made a farm scene.  Not only do I live in a small town surrounded by farms, but in researching Maryland symbols to make this card, I learned that milk is the state's official beverage! Moo! 

Stamps: Lawn Fawn- Critters on the Farm (the cloud is made from the sheep's body)
Patterned papers: Lawn Fawn- Bright Side
Punches: EK Success Alpine Trail and Martha Stewart Scary Fence
Coloring: Copics
Tutorial: Wavy Banner

If you're ever at a loss for what to write in AnyHero cards, I challenge you to write a note in your state-inspired card.  You can explain the symbolism of your card and tell the hero what you love about your state.  I'll be doing that with my farm card. 

What will inspire you?  A landmark, a flower, a sport, an animal, a flag, or something else?  Link up your state-inspired cards here by Tuesday at midnight EST (9pm PST) for a chance to win some  blog candy!  In celebration of OWH's birthday, I have a package of birthday stickers and four rolls of yellow and orange washi tape up for grabs.  I'll draw a random winner sometime on Wednesday and post an announcement on my blog.  (US addresses only, please.)  I can't wait to see what you create for this challenge! 

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Cards shipped to OWH in 2012: 928 blank and 215 AnyHero (as of 6/26)
Cards shipped to OWH in 2011: 1695

Check out OWH at www.operationwritehome.org to learn more about its mission and how to get involved.