Introducing Military Hero, Military Stars & Think Big Favorites #17

Today's product introductions are all about celebrating (and reaching out to) the military heros in our lives…..those men and women, whether home or deployed, who make incredible sacrifices for our freedom on a daily basis.  To each of them, and to their families, we say thank you for your service.

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Melissa Bickford has created Military Stars, a set that was created to honor all of our men and women in uniform who protect and defend our country. With multiple patterned star images to choose from this set is sure to give you the most beautiful patriotic cards that you can send to show your support for our military troops. The stars coordinate with the smallest die in the Seeing Stars die collection and the Fiskars 2" X-large Star Punch, which will make stamping and creating your projects so much easier. Not only is Military Stars the perfect set for creating and sending cards to our troops but also for creating military or patriotic themed scrapbook pages. A truly wonderful patriotic set that will fill a hole in your stamping supply and bring a smile to those who sacrifice so much!

PLEASE NOTE:  

The stars in this set were designed with a rustic, distressed edge to give them a unique look, however, we realize that this look will not be applicable to all projects.  To make the stars as versatile as possible, they were designed to be just a hair larger than the smallest Seeing Stars die which omits the distressed edge.  If you would prefer to include the distressed edge when cutting these stars out, the Fiskars 2" X-large Star Punch works perfectly and can be found in the store HERE. We hope you enjoy these additional options and the design opportunities they provide.

The Details:

• Military Stars will be available for purchase on June 15th.
• It will retail for $24.
• Military Stars contains a total of 15 images.  The stars measure approximately 1-3/4” wide x 1-3/5 tall. The circle with the star inside measures approximately 1-7/10. The smallest star measures approximately ¼” wide by ¼” tall.

Melissa Bickford also designed Military Hero, a set featuring a wonderful mix of sentiments geared towards supporting all of our military heroes. This set offers a variety of verses to choose from for both outside as well as inside your cards. Whether you have a loved one serving away from home and want them to know how much you miss them or you want to send your thoughts and support to any soldier, airman, sailor, marine or coast guardsman, this set will surely fill that need. Our brave servicemen and women do so much for our country, a card showing your support will surely put a smile on their face and let them know that they are not forgotten.  Melissa is donating all of her proceeds from the sale of this set to the Wounded Warriors Project, which you can read more about HERE.

The Details:

• Military Hero will be available for purchase on June 15th.
• It will retail for $24.
• Military Hero contains a total of 36 images.  ‘While you are away from home…’ measures approximately 2-3/4” wide x ¾” tall. ‘Congratulations’ measures approximately 2” wide x ¼” tall. ‘We are so proud of you’ measures approximately 2-2/5” wide by ¼” tall. ‘Soldier’ measures approximately 4/5” wide x 1/5” tall. ‘Thinking of you today and always’ measures approximately 2” wide x ½” tall.

This is the seventeenth in a monthly series that includes mega-sized versions of some of our favorite sentiments that were included in previously released sets.  This seventeenth edition stems from the popular Star Prints set.  The extra-large format will provide you with all new capabilities and design options.  And for only $5, how can you go wrong?

The Details:

• Think Big Favorites #17 will be available for purchase on June 15th.
• It will retail for $5.
• Think Big Favorites #17 contains a total of 4 images.  "Enjoy Life" measures 2" x 2".  "Way to Go" measures 1-3/4" x 1-1/4".  "My" measures 1-3/8" x 7/8".  "Hero" measures 7/8" x 1/4".

We are also introducing two new Pattern Packs this month!  These new colors will be a wonderful addition to your collection!

Pure Poppy Pattern Pack (36 sheets, 6 sheets each of 6 patterns): $12

also available….

• Pure Poppy Polka Dot Singles (18 sheets): $6
• Pure Poppy Bitty Dot Singles (18 sheets): $6
• Pure Poppy Damask Singles (18 sheets): $6
• Pure Poppy Leaves Singles (18 sheets): $6
• Pure Poppy Gingham Singles (18 sheets): $6
• Pure Poppy Stripes Singles (18 sheets): $6

Enchanted Evening Pattern Pack (36 sheets, 6 sheets each of 6 patterns): $12

also available….

• Enchanted Evening Polka Dot Singles (18 sheets): $6
• Enchanted Evening Bitty Dot Singles (18 sheets): $6
• Enchanted Evening Damask Singles (18 sheets): $6
• Enchanted Evening Leaves Singles (18 sheets): $6
• Enchanted Evening Gingham Singles (18 sheets): $6
• Enchanted Evening Stripes Singles (18 sheets): $6

Now, before I get into the projects, I thought I would talk a bit about some different ways you can support those serving our country in the armed forces.  So much of our hobby focuses on the latest and greatest, embracing new techniques and the trendiest color combination.  Why not dedicate just a small portion of your talents to supporting the men & women who make the ultimate sacrifice, putting their life on the line to protect the freedom that we all enjoy every day?  

It only takes a few spare moments, some extra supplies and a big heart to make a commitment to this type of meaningful paper crafting.  In my post below, I share several project & design ideas to help you get started.  There are several ways you can participate through different organizations, but I thought I would highlight one in particular today…

This organization is asking for cards, letters, emails, and prayer messages of appreciation for our military, past and present. It is their goal to see that our military – active, reserve, and veterans – receive these messages, whether they are serving at home, abroad, or are injured in hospitals.

A Million Thanks
17853 Santiago Blvd. #107-355
Villa Park, CA 92861

Many of you may have additonal organizations that you already donate cards to.  Please feel free to share other addresses in the comments section of this post.

Now, let me share a few projects with you that can offer up a bit of inspiration when creating for our military.

This first project mixes up a few different patterns from the new Pure Poppy Pattern Pack to create some unique stripes.

I created this star embellishment by die cutting two medium stars from white cardstock using the Seeing Stars die collection.  I then used the smallest die to cut out the center of one of the medium stars, creating a frame.  I stamped the "We Support You" star from Military Stars onto the bottom layer with Enchanted Evening ink.  The star frame was layered on top with small pieces of foam tape.

For the stripes, I cut 1/2" strips of various Pure Poppy Pattern Pack papers and adhered them onto a block of white cardstock.  A square of Enchanted Evening Pattern Pack stripes was cut for the upper left corner.

 I used a strip of Classic Kraft cardstock in place of one of the upper stripes and heat embossed it with this wonderful sentiment from Military Heros.

Everything as adhered to an Enchanted Evening card base.

This card shows how you can share your support without using standard patriotic colors.  I paired up Canyon Clay, Ripe Avocado & Ocean Tides for a great look.  

I die-cuta 1-3/4" circle from Vintage Cream cardstock and stamped it with the star frame from Military Stars in Ripe Avocado.  I then die-cut a Vintage Cream star using the smallest die from the Seeing Stars collection and stamped it with this gorgeous star image from the Military Stars set using Ocean Tides ink.

The sentiment strip is cut from Classic Kraft cardstock and stamped with another great phrase from Military Hero using Dark Chocolate ink.  The edges are swipes a bit with Vintage Cream ink.  The Canyon Clay background I used a new impression plate, which I will be sharing more about later in the week!

This is a simple card with just a small focal point in the upper corner.  I started with a Classic Kraft card base, swiped with Fresh Snow ink around the edges.

I stamped a small square of white cardstock with Bitty Background Blocks in Enchanted Evening ink.  I die-cut a star from white cardstock and stamped it with the "Our Hero" star image from Military Stars.  I heat embossed one of the sentiments from Military Hero onto Pure Poppy cardstock and cut it into strips.  I adhered the strips to a block of white cardstock and trimmed the edge of the block at an angle.  

This is a "Miss You" card that could be used for anyone, military or not.  

I stamped the US map from Road Trip in Summer Sunrise and trimmed it out.  I added two nesting star images from Super Stars in Hawaiian Shores & Orange Zest.  The sentiment, from Military Hero, was added with Terracotta Tile ink.  I stamped a second sentiment onto a strip of Orange Zest cardstock using Terracotta Tile ink again, trimming the end of the strip with pinking shears.  I stapled a scrap of Hawaiian Shores Twill ribbon at the side of the map and also added a small piece of washi tape.

This cool background was created with the reverse side of the new impression plate I mentioned earlier.  Full details to be revealed later on in the week!

Everything was mounted onto a Terracotta Tile card base.

This card has more of a rustic feel to it.  I impressed the Classic Kraft background using the Guide Lines impression plate.

I die-cut Doily Details from white cardstock and adhered it in place.  I created a red, white & blue strip with cardstock and Enchanted Evening Pattern Pack bitty dot paper.  I folded it to create a banner of sorts.

I die-cut the medium Seeing Stars die from corrugated cardboard from an old box I had laying around and swiped the edges with Fresh Snow ink.  this was layered with the smallest die-cut star, stamped with another fabulous image from Military Stars in Enchanted Evening ink.  A Pure Poppy button was added to the center, finished with the "To Our Hero" sentiment.

Everything is adhered to a crisp white card base.

My last project is a quick and easy card that could be easily mass-produced.  

I simply cut a white block of cardstock and stamped this star from Military Stars in Enchanted Evening.  I then used a post-it note to mask the right side of the block and stamped one of the stripes from Faux Ribbon in Pure Poppy ink.  For the last touch, I added the perfectly phrased sentiment using Charcoal Palette ink.

I added a bit of Pure Poppy Stitched Ribbon to the side to add some extra detail & texture.

I hope you have enjoyed all the creations that I have shared with you today!  Do you have a loved one in the military that came to mind while reading today's post?  Did any of today's projects make you a bit excited to create something for that loved one yourself?  We would love to hear your initial thoughts on everything we introduced!  Please leave a comment on this post to tell us what you think of the new products and you will be eligible to win big!

$75 Papertrey Ink Gift Certificate 

to spend however you choose!  

You have until 7am EST, June 12 to leave your comment and be eligible to win.  Only one comment per person please.  One randomly selected winner will be announced on our June Release Winners Page before noon EST the same day.  Thank you for stopping by today and best of luck with the contest!

Heather Nichols will be showcasing more of Military Hero, Military Stars and Think Big Favorites #17 today, as well as her own Framed Out #5.

CLICK HERE to see more from Melissa Bickford.

CLICK HERE to see more from Dawn McVey.

WE SUPPORT YOU, HURRY HOME CARD

• STAMPS: Military Stars, Military Hero (available June 15th)
• INK: Enchanted Evening, VersaMark
• PAPER: Stamper's Select White, Enchanted Evening, Classic Kraft, Encahnted Evening Pattern Pack (stripes), Pure Poppy Pattern Pack (bitty dot, leaves, polka dot, stripes & gingham)
• OTHER: Seeing Stars die collection, Filigree White Embossing Powder
• FINISHED SIZE: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE CARD

• STAMPS: Military Stars, Military Hero (available June 15th)
• INK: Ripe Avocado, Ocean TIdes, Dark Chocolate, Vintage Cream
• PAPER: Vintage Cream, Classic Kraft, Canyon Clay
• OTHER: Seeing Stars die collection, Limitless Layers 1.75" Circle die, Sunrise impression plate (available June 15th)
• FINISHED SIZE: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"

OUR HERO CARD

• STAMPS: Military Stars, Military Hero (available June 15th) Bitty Background Blocks
• INK: Enchanted Evening, Fresh Snow, VersaMark
• PAPER: Stamper's Select White, Pure Poppy, Classic Kraft
• OTHER: Seeing Stars die collection, Filigree White Embossing Powder
• FINISHED SIZE: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"

WE MISS YOU

• STAMPS: Military Hero (available June 15th) Super Stars, Road Trip
• INK: Summer Sunrise, Terracotta Tile, Orange Zest, Hawaiian Shores
• PAPER: Stamper's Select White, Aqua Mist, Orange Zest, Terracotta Tile
• OTHER: Hawaiian Shores Twill Tape, Sunrise Impression Plate (available June 15th), Washi Tape (Target), pinking shears, stapler
• FINISHED SIZE: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"

TO OUR HERO CARD

• STAMPS: Military Stars, Military Hero (available June 15th)
• INK: Enchanted Evening, True Black
• PAPER: Stamper's Select White, Pure Poppy, Classic Kraft, Enchanted Evening Pattern Pack (bitty dot), corregated cardboard from box
• OTHER: Seeing Stars die collection, Picinic Plaid impression plate, Doily Details die, Pure Poppy button
• FINISHED SIZE: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"

DURING YOUR DEPLOYMENT CARD

• STAMPS: Military Stars, Military Hero (available June 15th) Faux Ribbon
• INK: Pure Poppy, Enchanted Evening, Charcoal Palette
• PAPER: Stamper's Select White, Pure Poppy, Enchanted Evening Pattern Pack (bitty dot)
• OTHER: Pure Poppy stitched ribbon
• FINISHED SIZE: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"