Make It Monday #34 & Operation Write Home Blog Hop

It's World Cardmaking Day!! To celebrate, I decided to participate in a blog hop with one of my favorite charities, Operation Write Home. They collect and distribute handmade cards to soldiers overseas, who can then have them for free to send home to their families with whom they can't be with on holidays and for long periods of time! I so appreciate the sacrifice they make, and so I love the idea of making cards for them to use. Sending a handmade card home is not the same as being there, of course, but it's a little piece of special that maybe, in a tiny way, helps to ease the burden of absence.

The hop today was supposed to feature holiday cards, so here are two I made that were inspired by this week's Papertrey Make It Monday challenge...to include a thick chipboard accent on a card that was cut using their dies. I had recently received their new Damask Snowflakes dies and couldn't wait to use them, so this was the perfect opportunity.

 
Supply list: 

Cardstock: Soft Stone, Vellum CS (PTI); Riding Hood Red (SU); 
Patterned Paper: from Wassail collection 6x6 paper pad (Basic Grey) 
Stamp Set(s): Friendship Jar Holiday Fillers, Friendship Jar, Holiday Photo Finishers (PTI) Ink/Colorants: Cherry Cobbler (SU); Tuxedo Black (Memento); Cocoa (CTMH); Fresh Snow, Vintage Cream {sponged on vellum snowman piece, on back} (PTI); Copic Markers - R59, YG97, 100; White gel pen (Signo) 
Embellishments: Coasters, for thick chipboard accent (PTI); Chocolate & Pure Poppy Baker's Twine (PTI) 
Tools: Damask Snowflakes, Holiday Photo Finishers dies (PTI)