From Our Hearts

Mother's Day Cards From Kavi

Where does she find the time?

Our very own card designer sent us 206 cards, Easter and Mother's Day - designed/prepped by her and made by the Papershakers - and all the while we keep her very busy with designing cards for our events we hold here locally!

Among the cards, this one stood out as one that we just had to take a shot of and share:

The picture may not show the detail, but each flower is dotted with crystal effects - and it SHINES!

Simplicity in design, but the result is a stunning card.

And her personalized slip in HOT PINK!  No wonder the troops are thanking the Hillsville, VA stampers for their cards!

 

Some Bunny Loves Our Troops

 

Hee hee hee, we got a chuckle out of this !

All the way from Escondito, California - just imagine the smiles it must have put on each postman's face who handled this box!

Bernadette strikes again!

This time, 230 cards "they are 'stuffed, slipped, and sealed' and ready for you to put in your boxes" (her words).

Her cards are just more beautiful than the last ones she shipped to us - is it the California sunshine???  Oh, wait, her note says she was "stuck inside during the "deluge" and made these cards.  Wow, could we use a little "deluge" here !

And a bonus - and our heartfelt thanks to Bernadette for enclosing funds to help us to send these cards on their next journey to Iraq and Afghanistan -

Hugs to you, Bernadette, for your continued support of our efforts, with your cards, envelopes, clear envelopes, slips, having them bundled, sorted, ready for the boxes AND for the monetary support as well.

And, for giving us a chuckle when Stephen handed us the package at the door!  Yes, some bunny does love our troops!!!

Some Silver, Some Gold . . .

And what we mean by this is that we have been receiving boxes and boxes of cards, some from new contributors such as Lois B from Columbia, PA (and expect to see more from her in the near future as many more boxes have been arriving from her) . . . and some from names you will recognize.

Lois sent us not only beautiful Easter cards in this box, but "Packing Material" - 100 clear flat envelopes!  What a wonderful surprise that is most welcome and will be used, for sure!

Here are some more of her cards - just top notch . . .

 

And she had them ready for the boxes, with her own personalized slip included as well.

 
Next, for our "goldies".

First in line is Juliana B from Philadelphia.  One small package, but small doesn't mean anything to us at From Our Hearts.  It's quality that matters.  And Juliana's cards fit the bill.

Just take a look at what she sent us this time:

We imagine, when we open the packages and boxes, what the servicemen and women think when they receive our boxes of cards and start looking through them.  This is an example of what they have to choose from!  What a treat it must be for them, so far away from the amenities that we take for granted here at home.  We are giving them a taste of home, and more.  You just can't find the quality of cards we provide to them in a store, and it cost them nothing!

And more boxes arrived - Angel Mail - from . . . you guessed it, Ruth C, our Volunteer from Norman, OK.  Ruth has been very busy, holding numerous events regularly.  This time, it was a total of 567 cards that she mailed our way - all types, including Mother's Day cards.

Picture #1 above, a quick shot,

And another shot, to show the variety of cards that the Angel Artist from Oklahoma sent our way.

She always sends us notes in her boxes, detailing what is sent, with counts in each box.  This is a tremendous time saver for us at the home office.  Imagine getting 7 boxes in one day, and having to count the cards, sort them, match them with an envelope and a clear envelope, insert a slip . . . you get the picture . . . sometimes it takes a week just to finish one box!  Ruth makes it easy as hers come "ready" - all sorted, bundled, sealed, with slips, we simply record what is in her boxes and place the cards in the appropriate "holding" boxes until it is time to ship them off. 

Next in line is a package from Rhonda P and her Patriotic Papercrafters from our home state of Missouri.  Located in the "bootheel" region, they have been stamping their hearts out for our troops:

Rhonda's group of ladies have sent us cards in the past and she tells us they meet regularly to make cards to send our way.

They made a variety this time, all just very nicely made.

We thank all of our contributors, both new and on-going (no, we don't call you "old"!!!), your support of our effort and of the troops is very much appreciated!

 

 

Supplies arrive and cards, too

An ordinary box.  Or so we thought . . .

No, not the typical box full of card donations for the troops we expected to see, although we did manage to find a few among the many, many supplies that Bev from Shiloh, IL shipped our way.  Were we surprised when we saw this when we opened the box:

 
Brand new stamp sets, wheels, ink pads, ink refills, brads, the list goes on and on - we kept finding more supplies as we removed the first layer.

Her note to us:  Use them at your events or use them to raise funds to help ship over the thousands of cards.

We are touched by her generosity, as we are every time we open a box that we receive as we know it comes "From Our Hearts" - each and every contributor.

Our many, many thanks Bev - these words we write so often, they indeed come From Our Hearts!

A few days behind . . .

Due to unforeseen medical emergencies on the From Our Hearts home front, we are a bit behind in acknowledging all of the boxes that are arriving daily and of course, posting those that are received.  Our apologies to all; we will be up and in full force in the next few days when we are able to get all in order.  Rest assured, all is well, we are trying our best to ensure that business continues as normal -

Thank you for your understanding and patience as we take a big deep sigh of relief that all is well - and work furiously to get caught up!

An E-mail that Says it all . . .

This e-mail arrived in our In-box and wow - this come from the heart -

READ ON:

On behalf of the entire CJSOTF-AP compound, I wish to express our sincere thanks for the wonderful gifts that you send our way in the form of handmade cards. As the NCOIC of the JROCC (Joint Religious Operations Center & Chapel), I can assure you that your cards are without question, the fastest moving items that we have for our Task Force members.(Next to fresh Popcorn of course!) I have often observed individuals carefully selecting just the right card, and spending much time in thought, certainly thinking of their loved one to whom they would be sending it to. I myself, have been a beneficiary of your handiwork and I and my wife are most grateful.

 Your kindness, thoughtfulness and care for those of us here is above and beyond that of most. I personally thank you for your contribution to this engagement that we are involved in and seek your continued support. What you do for morale is something that cannot be done in any other way or by any of us here. It is without a doubt, the time that is invested, and the personal touch that makes all of the difference.

 Once again, my thanks to you, and to your fine organization.

They seek our continued support.  We boost their morale.  We are making a difference in so many lives.

Thank you, to all of you who continue to send us cards, card fronts, supplies and monetary support to help us to send boxes of cards to our troops who, as you see, appreciate, so very much, the handcrafted cards we send to them on a regular basis.

Your support, in what ever way you are able to help, is very much appreciated.

News Clip of February 6 From Our Hearts Card Making Event

KMIZ FOX 22 covered the event and it aired on the news on February 21 & 22; the clip was copied from the newscast and created on U-Tube compliments of George Lauer, an avid troop and From Our Hearts supporter in the Mid Missouri area.  Our many thanks to George for taking the time to create and post this for From Our Hearts.

Patriot Way Stampers Come Through AGAIN!

All the WAY FROM MAINE (didn't we say we get cards from all 4 corners of the USA?)

Marilyn Mae and the Patriotic Way Stampers were stamping their hearts out again and a few hearts even spilled out on the box before it was shipped out !

Yes, these patriotic ladies were at it again, this time stamping and creating 204 Easter cards.  YES . . . ALL Easter cards!  Marilyn Mae tells us there are a core group of 5 ladies in the Patriotic Way Stampers who are actively participating and creating these cards.

All the same design, same stamp, different colors, different designer paper and ribbons, but all basically the same card.  And all HAND colored - what a tremendous amount of work went into creating this box of flowers.  Each card is a symbol of their love of God, Country, and the Troops.

Marilyn Mae now has special T-Shirts for her group of Patriot Way Stampers!

Enclosed in the box was a note from Marilyn Mae, and some dimensionals, which we will put to good use.

To our surprise and delight, a cash donation was included in the box for postage, compliments of Diane O.  This will help us ship out those boxes of Easter cards!  Many thanks to Diane - we receive cards but without the funds for supplies and postage, they wait until they are available.

Marilyn Mae is helping to spread the word about From Our Hearts by networking - as she believes in our cause and in supporting our troops!

We thank you, Marilyn Mae, for all you are doing to help us to get as many cards in as many hands of our servicemen and women serving our country in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Much of our card donations and financial support is received because of individuals like Marilyn Mae, who spread the word of what we are doing.

This time from the Great State of Washington

From Our Hearts receives cards from all over the USA and even from all corners. . . this box arrived from Payallup (we had to look this city up on the map!)

Sharon F sent us this box, and what it contained was a "batch" of 44 drop-dead gorgeous Easter cards - all alike - and VERY well crafted.  Each arrived as they were photographed, with an envelope and sealed in a clear envelope.

Just take a look and we think you'll agree:

Sometimes the most elegant cards are those that are simply made - and we mean that in a very positive way. . . the design, the colors, the placement of the sentiment.  These cards spoke to us.

Sharon is a first time contributor.  Her cards will be a hit - no doubt about it.

Michigan Strikes Again

Is it the cold, snowy weather?  We are so appreciative of all of our stampers who create cards and send them our way, and Michigan stampers seem to send us boxes and boxes . . . Sharon C from Allen Park is no exception.  She sends them to us on a regular basis.  And is she patriotic?  We think so!  "For Our Soldiers" with a heart - it all comes From Our Hearts!

And Sharon makes our job very easy.  A detailed inventory of the cards enclosed.  Listed by type and quantity, and bundled accordingly. . .

These beautiful cards were made by the ladies at her church (10 of them) and they accomplished quite a feat - 163 cards total, most were ready for the boxes all sealed in the clear envelopes.  Only a few were "just cards" and that is okay - a dozen cards is nothing for us to match with an envelope and clear envelope.  We are just grateful for all that these ladies thoughtfully prepared for us!

And, one young man (age 4) helped to seal the clear envelopes!  What a great way to get our younger generation involved!  He was one busy young man!

To Sharon and her church ladies (and one special young man), From Our Hearts is thankful that these Easter, thinking of you and other occasion cards arrived in such great shape - they will be enjoyed by 163 of our servicemen and women and of course, their loved ones back home.