Information for Participants

It’s easy to share your gratitude and help give a bit of happiness to military families around our country. Just one card will touch many lives.

Card Specifications

To help Operation Write Home efficiently transfer the cards, your submissions should meet the following criteria:

• Be handmade (see rules below) and blank inside
• Sized 4.25″ x 5.5″, to fit A2 envelopes
• Of a generic theme, such as Thinking of You, I Miss You, etc.
• Not include any glitter that can flake off
• Be on light cardstock or include a liner for writing

While Christmas and Hanukkah are coming soon, Operation Write Home’s deadline for these holiday cards has passed.

Templates

Here’s a template to get you started with a 4.25″x5.5″ card.

Instructions: First, cut a piece of white or light colored card stock cross-wise, to make two folded card bases. Open the PSD file and clip papers to each shape. Print on white card stock, cut out the shapes and assemble as you wish – the variations are endless.

Tips: Use your printer’s best quality and borderless settings for great results (see tips below). The card-width strips may be a little wide, depending on your printer – trim as needed.

Download this free hybrid card template

Download this free hybrid card template

Download this free card template set

Download this free card project

If you have a card sketch, template or tutorial you’d like to share with Scrappers Give Thanks participants, drop me a note and I’ll add it to the list.

Printing

Most participants creating digital or hybrid cards will want to print their cards at home or at a local print shop. Then you can add finishing touches to give the card some dimension. However, if this is not an option for you, you might wish to have your cards professionally printed.

• Tips on borderless printing

Simple Scrapper has partnered with My Pic Tales to offer 35% off a dozen cards (of one design) to Scrappers Give Thanks participants. When printing cards for this challenge, choose the folded 4″ x 5.5″ size (make sure to scale your cards to that size) and just enter in the address below as the “ship to” address.

Deadline

All cards must be received on or before Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at the address listed below. Cards received after that date will be shipped to Operation Write Home, but will not be eligible to win one of the sponsored prizes. You can right click the address image below to save and print as a mailing label.

The Rules

Participants may enter as many handmade cards as desired, with a maximum of 12 of one design. Handmade cards include those crafted from traditional paper supplies, digital designs printed on cardstock/photo paper or a hybrid of the two. Store bought cards are not accepted by Operation Write Home. White A2-sized envelopes are not required, but are appreciated.

Write to a Hero

You can send along words of encouragement and inspiration by including a note or letter to “Dear Hero” with your submission. Operation Write Home includes special “AnyHero” cards in each shipment. Upon receipt, the contact distributes these letters to those who may not get a lot of mail or are in need of extra encouragement. This is a perfect way to get your kids involved (downloadable PDF coloring pages) in the challenge!

About Donations

While this challenge is not about collecting money, Operation Write Home is always in need of funds for envelopes and overseas shipping. All checks included in your challenge submission packet will be forwarded on to the organization with our cards.