Hello friends! I haven’t really mentioned too much about what’s going on in the world right now, and I know it has tremendously affected many people around me. In the crafting community I sense changes as well in different ways. I do hope that crafting can help either take your mind off the situation or at least help with making you ‘feel’ that creating from the heart, as we stay at home, is a fantastic way to contribute and help bring about smiles in many ways.
I would like to ask you if you want to respond about it: Has crafting helped you during this time or has it made it difficult to concentrate? I have found that taking TONS of classes have actually been my savior right now especially as I was taking that break I had. (Helps me to concentrate on something like a technique.) I found MANY having classes (free or having group parties going on with crafters teaching and sharing). Due to this pandemic, I know many people/companies in the crafting community have revved up their classes and challenges as well… along with giving out free digital images!
This brings us to my post for today….
I have made several stacks of “thank you” cards geared towards our healthcare workers and it has been very rewarding for me to be able to color in all these images in my post today as a salute and honor to those that have been “on the front line” dealing day to day since the beginning of this pandemic. My heart goes out to all in this uncertain time and although there are many horrible stories related to this, there are also some good ones too. Let’s rise up.
Taylored Expressions put on a card drive to send cards to the healthcare workers and it ended today, so these cards have already been sent.
For this particular stack of cards, I’ve made 6 of the pink and 6 of the green using this adorable MOKA Melissa Nurse free download from Taylored Expressions. I’ve also used the Subway Tiles embossing folder for the background as well as white heat embossed the sentiments from the Life Saver Mini Strips stamp set and die cut them out with the clever Mini Strips Die. I’ve used a heart die that came with an order I had and then I took some tiny images from other sets for the accents.
I stamped a message on the inside of all of the cards from TE Big Thanks stamp set too. (This set came for free with an order I placed.)
Here’s another set of 20 cards I made for healthcare workers using the Freebie Healthcare Super Hero Coloring Pages. (To print these out to fit over an A2 sized card base, I used my printer settings to print out 4 pages on one sheet.)
I layered them over some pink and red cardstock and then the base of the card is some A2 sized side folding blue cardstock. The left over pieces from the pink and red cardstock strips were ran through and embossing folder and white white Ink was ran over it.
Here’s a closer look at the individual sets. I used a star die to cut out some stars with Glitter paper. I also took some blue and pink glitter glue to create extra “dots” around them. This was good practice for me to experiment with different skin tones too.
I’ve used Copic markers to color all of these in with and then I took some gel pens to color in parts of the image as well as the outline in the sentiment too.
I thought this was a fun one with all of them together and I like that they’re all wearing capes and masks too. I had these finished up at the end of April, but just now getting all of these out where I wanted them to go. I’m sending some masks along with the cards to our local hospitals.
One last and important card I made was specifically for my son who’s a postal carrier. Of course I tried coloring it in with the same hair color he has too. LOL! After I made the batch of cards above, they came out with more superhero freebie downloads, so I grabbed the Mail Carrier Superhero Coloring Pages to make one for him too. And this one is already on it’s way as well. For the background, I used the Scene stencil for the clouds with blue distress ink.
I finished this one similar to the ones above.
The ONLY superhero I’m missing is one for my other son who’s a food service worker and I haven’t seen any of those images out yet. Does anyone know where to find one? I would love to make a “thank you” card for him as well. I may just come up with my own version with what I already have…but have to think about how first. LOL!
This particular song came to my mind and was something that I listened to while coloring….
It was somewhat catchy and upbeat I thought. I always like to try and think of the positive ways that cards I make give a positive impact or inspiration somehow. Could be wishful thinking, but it’s my hope anyway.
Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by today to read my post! I hope that you’ve been inspired in some way! Have a beautiful weekend my friends!
Challenges:
- Colour Crazy Craft – Anything Goes + hand colored image
- Love to Scrap – LTSCB133 – Anything Goes
- Love to Craft – LTCCB46 – Anything Goes
- Allsorts – Anything Goes
- Pammie’s Inky Pinkies – PIP2019 Anything Goes
- Not Just Cards – May Anything Goes
- Fab ‘N’ Funky – Hand Colored Image
- Aud Sentiments – #251 Anything Goes + sentiment
Stamped Smiles 
These are so awesome, Vicki!! I know they will be most meaningful to the lucky 20 who receive them! How awesome of Brutus Monroe and Taylored Expressions to provide then to their customers.
My oldest granddaughter is a labor and delivery nurse in a large Houston hospital and life at her job is so very different now from what it was just 2 short months ago.
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What great cards and so nice of you to make them for those we should be appreciating every day. Thanks for playing along with us at PIP Challenges.
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Fabulous cards for a great cause Vicki! It is harder to be creative right now but I am doing simpler cards and multiples to send to those that need a boost and cancer patients at chemoangels.net. Making cards is therapy for me.
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Thank you for sharing this Donna! I’m glad you’re able to find some way to create and feel that you are contributing as well! Glad you shared the cause too! 🙂
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These will be loved! So cute and for a wonderful, wonderful cause too. Where would we be without them.
Lynn
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I totally agree with you Donna! My heart goes out to many for various reasons. You stay healthy as well my friend!
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Such a stunning series, Vicki. They will be appreciated.
xxx Margreet
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Fabulous card designs for a great cause Vicki! I find I spend more time working in the yard, taking walks then making cards. For me I like being outside more than inside.
Hugs Diane
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What a fabulous collection of cards that will surely be enjoyed by those who receive them! I love how you colored and designed each one, and bless your heart for thinking of so many others in the midst of this chaotic world we’ve been thrust into. I found I needed to step back from crafting as nothing seemed to inspire me for the time being. I’m doing jigsaw puzzles to distract myself from what’s going on and hopefully I find something that sparks that creativity once more and I soon find my way back to card making again:) Take care and stay well!
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WOW Vicki, these are wonderful, a fabulous collection and fantastic colouring and colours..they will be so appreciated I’m sure..I’m one of those annoying, or lucky, people who was quite happy to be in lock down for the last 8 weeks as I retired on the 23rd March and went into lock down on the 25th March and there I have stayed and had the time of my life..I was able to go out Thursday so went to local craft shop [mini craft] not a lot in there, but picked up cardstock for card bases which I was running out of on the 2nd week in lock down..so all good here and so happy to see you back and crafting again..well done you.
Luv CHRISSYxx
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WOW Vicki, these are amazing!! I love all of the different images and your gorgeous coloring! Such a wonderful cause, the recipients are going to love them! Enjoy your weekend my friend!
Hugs, Tammy
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Fabulous collection of cards and images a brilliant cause where would we be without them and to the postal workers like your son too-I love your images
Carol x
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1) LOVE the cards. The coloring is just amazing. I like the different colored skin tones (something I would like to try some day instead of my one color fits all) 2) my big brother was a postal carrier too! He retired from the post office a few years ago. 3) I’ll be honest, I rarely have time to craft during this time, but my little one just finished school, and my older one will be done next week. Homeschooling and doing my “real” job has been stressful and there has been very little down time. I can’t even find time to go online for inspiration. But hopefully now, I will get a break, can catch up on blog friends, maybe use new-to-me goodies. 4) LOVE that the “hero’s” are not just doctors. They are all the people who are still going out there and making our world turn.
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Wonderful cards- I am a retired ICU nurse- many,many years! I cannot even image what the front lines are seeing every day- and even though the country is talking about opening up, there are still many patients on vents in the ICU right now!!! God Bless you for making these wonderful cards- they are sure to lift up many workers spirits! And, also a huge thanks to all of our service workers as well- so very needed and appreciated!!! Love your beautiful song too!
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Beautiful cards and most gorgeous images and colours. I am happy as lock down is not a lot different to my normal life, apart from the odd restaurant and movies…
Apologies I accidentally deleted All of my comments and emails into the trash and can’t retrieve them, but I thank you for taking time to comment.xxx
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These are fabulous and what an amazingly thoughtful thing to do My daughter in Law is an ICU sister in the UK and she is working so hard at present anyone getting one of those will be so proud and it will certainly lift their spirits at this difficult time. You take care stay safe Love and hugs Carole x
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Vicki These card are beautiful and your colouring is amazing you have done a great job I hope to be able to colour like you one day. To send them a card will be so gratefully received I’m sure and will make them smile and feel great. Take care stay safe xx
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So many lovely project. Gorgeous colouring! Thanks for sharing with us over at Colour Crazy Challenge and good luck.
Hanna, DT
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Happy colors for a wonderful initiative!!! Congratulations Vicki!
Have a nice weekend, take care. ☺
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wonderful cards!
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What a wonderful set ordered and so thoughtful, thank you for joining us at Allsorts, xxxxx
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Wow what fabulous and wonderful cards Vicki….You are so very thoughtful x. The post one for your son was extra special. Coping really well with lock down my end but I really don’t know what I am doing with this extra time as it seems just to zip by so quickly x. Stay safe and well Vicki x.
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Such great cards,
Thanks for playing along at Aud Sentiments,
Hugz Tinz
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Oh wow, you’ve been productive, and for a good cause. I really like the designs, the first ones monochr9matic and clean, the others more colorful and in many variations. I’m really glad I’ve got an indoors hobby these days and with more free time on my hands it’s easier to be creative.
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Your cards are adorable and you have made so many beauties. I found being creative really hard at first, shock of losing all my exam students. However, since then we have been busy helping out with deliveries and I have enjoyed some creative time – sometimes more successful than others!
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Fantastic cards. Thank you for joining us at Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog
Best Wishes Lisa xx
craftycard-designs.co.uk
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What caring, beautiful, instantly heartwarming cards. Your colouring skills are fantastic and help these extra meaningful cards come to life, so to speak, all the more.
Thank you, truly, for sharing love and support for some of those who are angels here on earth during these immensely challenging, uncertain times. You have a heart of gold!
Autumn Zenith 🎃 Witchcrafted Life
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Wonderful images and to such a great cause. Thank you for entering our challenge at Allsorts.
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These are fantastic, Vicki, and for such a great cause. Love that you have given a salute to the health care workers but your idea about food service workers is genius! I haven’t seen any images specifically for that but it seems to be that if you found one dealing with cooks, or waiters, and added some kind of mask to their face, it would work. Now that you’ve planted that idea in my head, I’ll have to start searching my stash of digi stamps. 😀
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What a nice collection of thank you/appreciation cards you have made. Love that you included workers in health care as well in other fields that is an essential service. Great job.
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Wow! You have been so busy! Thank you for doing this. You are a wonderful, thoughtful friend! Your cards are all amazingly beautiful, and will be so appreciated! Bet your son was tickled with his! As to your question, YES, crafting has saved my sanity during the Pandemic. We haven’t traveled to see the grandkids since February, and that’s crazy hard on us. Thanks for asking! Hope you are well!
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These are amazing! Thanks so much for sharing with us in the Love To Scrap Challenge Blog’s May Anything Goes challenge! We appreciate you joining us!
Hugs,
Leslie, LTSCB DT
Love To Scrap 2
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Back with another DT hat on, still loving all your sweet cards! Thanks so much for sharing with us in the Love To Craft Challenge Blog’s May Anything Goes challenge! We appreciate you joining u!
Hugs,
Leslie, LTCCB DT
Love To Scrap 2
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Wow! What a wonderful selection of worthwhile cards, they’re all fab. Thank you for sharing them with us at NJC and I agree crafting has been a real help through this trying time.
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