Random Act of Kindness Blog Hop - January 2018

Thanks for joining us for another Random Act of Kindness Blog Hop - the first one of the new year!  You are visiting Angie McKenzie in the USA.  I am showcasing the cards I have sent &/or received as part of the Random Act of Kindness Card Group on Facebook (aka Group).

In any given month, we each randomly select a few members from the Group to send a RAK card to in hopes of brightening their day.  There is nothing like sharing our love of creating handmade cards to spread sunshine around the world!  Please feel free to join the Group if you would like to participate in the RAK cards movement (blogging is not mandatory).  #imbringingRAKcardsback #MakeACardSendACard

December was such an exciting month for me, so sit back, put your feet up and relax for a while... you might want to warm up your coffee or tea, first though, as I share some beauties with you!

Aren't these Christmas cards absolutely gorgeous?!?
I so enjoyed receiving these from my RAK friends during the holidays.

Look at all these incredible handmade cards I received from around the world!!!  

Warmth just radiates from the mittens and
sweater that Linda made with the Cable Knit DTIEF!
#loveitchop

Cheryl did an incredible job with paper piecing and coloring
to make this card stand out. #loveitchopit

All sorts of lovely textures are happening with
this incredible time consuming card made by lovely, busy Sarah!
#loveitchopit

Sue did an incredible job with making me relax and enjoy the outdoors
with this lovely creation of something new and something old in the current catalog.

Relief of an answered prayer is what I felt when I received this lovely note card from Linda.
Life is full of surprises and she's one of them.
Linda lives in Florida so I was saying lots of prayers for her during hurricane season...

Amazing timing of a RAK... snowflakes on the first day of snow here at home!
I was hoping Bonnie would send me some Canadian snow and she did!  :)

Christmas tree lights helped showcase the shine on the star showcased by Jan!
#reasonfortheseason

Santa's facial hair and the fur trimming on his suit was fluffed with embossing paste! Great idea, Marian!
#lovethetexture #loveitchopit #loveitpunchit

Kim used the "Iris Folding" technique for this breathtaking card!

Liz captured simple joys with the simplicity of use of gorgeous DSP, dies, one stamp and ribbon.
#loveitchopit #loveitcutit

Ellen claimed that this beauty was NOT created to coordinate with the postage stamps!
#inklovesglossy #breathtakinginperson #picturedoesntdoitjustice

Cathi got her inspiration for this beauty from Pinterest.
She loved mixing old with new.
#breathtaking

Kit cards are wonderful therapy when you're busy and short on time, right Kim?
#ilovemyRAKfriends

Delighted to receive TWO gorgeous cards from across the pond... 5x5 cards, too!
Jess is an awesome demo from the UK who has made me chuckle and smile lots... we're both Baptists, too.  ;)
#ilovemyRAKfriends

A hug from Santa just for me!!! Sent with love from Priscilla,
 the originator of the "happy dance at the mailbox" dance!
Santa's hair and fur trimmings glistened like snow thanks to Dazzling Diamonds.
#loveitchopit #ilovemyRAKfriends

If Angie's like me, she picked the hydrangea stamp to
color coordinate with her beautiful, elegant card!
#loveitchopit #loveitembossit #ilovehydrangeas

I definitely felt the kindness being spread around the world and loved a lot!!!!

So did you notice all the different hashtags I added to the pictures!  With so many events these past two months, some members put their own individual spin on the RAK envelopes so you know what you're getting before you open it.  Those little details on the envelopes came in real handy for me because guess who had a birthday in December?!?  Can you tell I had a day that made me smile brighter than normal because of the lovely greetings I received?!?  There is nothing like receiving a hug that has a fold down the middle of it!  #ilovemyRAKfriends

Cards I received earlier in the month and opened on my special day!!!
Top (L-R):  Ginger Brunk (USA) and Linda Kildow (USA)
Bottom (L-R):  Gracie Carranza (USA),
Michelle Haney (USA) and Dava Serbantes (USA)

Now here are the cards that I had fun sending out on the last mail day of 2017!  The Group had two special Retired "Free-for-All" events when we could send out cards with RETIRED products (products that you can't currently purchase from Stamping' Up)!!!  With the holiday rush, festivities and my parents visiting from Georgia, I didn't have time to make cards until the night before the mailing deadline...  so I had a lot of fun burning the midnight oil!  I am soooo hoping that these retired "Free-for-All" events will be annual events in the Group!  And I hope these cards will bring a smile to your face and/or inspire you in some way with your creativity!

Peaceful Wishes and Expressive Flexible Phrases (retired stamp sets)

For the Retired "Free-for-All" Birthdays & Occasions Event, 

I CAS(e)D my first two handmade Christmas cards from 2007
which I CAS(e)D exactly from the 2007 catalog (click here for details).

 Frosty (retired stamp set)

For the Retired "Free-for-All" RAK Event, I CAS(e)D the lovely RAK card 

I received from Penny Baker in May 2017 (you can read about all of that excitement here).

Friends Never Fade (retired stamp set)

And I just couldn't resist sharing these two pictures that were posted in our RAK group yesterday!!!!!  I just love seeing how my RAK friends react to cards that I'm sent to them. <3 

This wonderful group not only spreads kindness, but it builds friendships!  Friendships across the miles... across the waters... across the street... anywhere there is a mailbox.  :)

I hope you have been inspired by all these projects on my blog today.  You are currently visiting Angie McKenzie.  Please see the list below and hop around all of the people on the list to see all our projects.  You sure don't want to miss any!

Thanks for hopping by and I'm looking forward to seeing ya'll again soon!!