Cards for Troops Campaign **updated 9-18-08**

This year we are once again collecting cards for our Cards for Troops Campaign!! Last year we collected over 1500 handmade greeting cards from around the country and sent them to www.bluestarmothers.com, an organization that makes sure these cards reach actual soldiers serving overseas. The soldiers then use these cards to write home to family and friends during the holidays.

This year we are doing it again and we need your help! Gunnery Sergeant Remi Rodriguez of the United States Marine Corps is working with us to get these cards distributed to the hard working men and women overseas defending our country.We are sending the cards directly to the troops ourselves so that gives us a bit more time to get them made and sent over. A simple handmade card, blank inside, will do just perfectly. Here are some photos of the cards we collected during our Card Drive in 2007 -- WOW!!


Here are some tips for getting a few cards made for the soldiers:

• Create a few extra cards as you make your own--for example, for every 3 cards you make for yourself, make one card to donate.
• Use your scraps from last year's Christmas layouts and cards (cuz I know you're still saving them) to create a few cards. This way you can also take part in some guilt free shopping afterwards when you buy this year's hottest holiday papers.
• Go buy that new paper and just have fun creating some cards for the soldiers with it.
  
• Ask your friends to help. If you're having a crop or go to one at a store, ask everyone to take 5 minutes to create one card.
  
• Have the kids help. Scout troops and elementary school classes love doing these kinds of activities. Set up the supplies assembly line style and get everyone to pitch in. Last year several groups of children made cards for the troops.
  
• Buy a kit--some stores and consultants sell card kits--just buy one and assemble all the cards and send them to us for the troops.
• Take a class. Ask the instructor if you can buy extra cards or kits to make the assembly easy.
• If you are a consultant hold a card-making party! Have your guests make one card for themselves and one for the troops as part of your demonstration.

Do not forget to include the envelopes!!!
Consider buying the envelopes first so you can make sure your cards will fit.

We must receive the cards by November 1, 2008 in order to have time to forward them to the troops overseas.

Once you've created your cards, send them (with matching envelopes) directly to:

Scrapbook Royalty
Cards for Troops
PO Box 910665
San Diego, CA 92191

We'll then photograph all of the cards and post them to our blog.