Thinking Inking

Operation Write Home--please keep skipping!

Good morning! I had every intention of participating in an Operation Write Home Blog Skip today with the Perfect Paper Crafting girls, but I had to head back down to Green Bay unexpectedly yesterday afternoon for a family medical emergency. Operation Write Home is a wonderful organization, and its founder, Sandy Allnock, has an incredible heart for being a blessing to troops. I hope that you get a chance to show your support by starting at the OWH Stars and Stripes Blog, and following the links list there. If you need any extra motivation to get through the list, there is a $50 gift certificate from Perfect Paper Crafting for a random person who leaves a comment on each of the blogs in the skip! :-) Thanks for stopping by, and I will be back in commission as soon as possible.

Swimming for Katie Renz Blog Hop and Fundraiser

Welcome! Today I am  one of many, many stampers--125 over the next three days--who are coming together to help support one of our own, Katie Renz, who is currently battling inoperable gastric cancer.  If you are not familiar with her, Katie’s cancer story started just before Christmas last year.  This young, beautiful, healthy, vibrant mother of three with her infectious smile was suddenly diagnosed with an inoperable cancer, virtually overnight.  A few tummy aches and then stage 4 gastric cancer.  Her first post about it is here.  The idea of “Swimming for Katie” came from her recent post here.

Three exclusive stamp sets have been designed to benefit Katie and donated by Becky Oehlers (the Keep Swimming octopus image), Marianne Walker (the mermaid that I used on my card), and True =D Doodle Designs (the bird ribbon and digi-papers).The octopus stamp by Becky Oehlers is available as a clear stamp, as well as a digis or a dig and SVG cut file.  100% of the profits go to Katie's fund to help her and her young family.  Her husband Kevin and her three young children need our help and support.  In addition to the Keep Swimming Octopus, Marianne Walker and True =D Doodle Designs have both donated digis that are for sale.  Direct donations are also being accepted.  Information central is HERE.  This is a permanent page that will stay active at i {heart} papers with current information and the full three-day blog hop listing, as well as the donation button. 

Here are all the items available for sale.

 
Keep Swimming Octopus 
Peachy Clear stamp 
$5.50 with free shipping

 
Keep Swimming Octopus DIGIstamp 
$3.00 with instant download 

 
Keep Swimming Octopus DIGIstamp with SVG cut file 
$3.50 with instant download 

 
Keep Swimming Mermaid DIGIstamp 
$3.50 with instant download 

 
Keep Swimming Ribbon Fish DIGIstamp and DIGIpapers 
$5.00 with instant download

Can join me in supporting Katie through a purchase or donation?  The following is a list of everyone who has projects posted today.  I hope you will be inspired by them and moved to purchase or donate.  Thank you!

AJ Otto
Beate
Carolyn Mustopa
Dawn Burnworth
Deb Felts
Gretchen Belknap
Heather Jensen
Jen del Muro
Julie Ranae
Kate - i {heart} papers
Kendra Wietstock
Lisa Johnson
Loretta Lock
Lori Tecler
Lynn Mercurio
Marianne Walker
Michele Gross
Stacy aka Twinshappy
Tracy Schultz
Debbie Olson
Cindy Lawrence
Cindy Haffner 
Julie Koerber
Christine Okken
Tammy Hershberger
Danielle Kennedy
Barbara Anders
Makiko Jones
Ashley N Newell
Shannan Teubner
Taylor Usry
Jen Tapler
Jenn Balcer
Jenny Chesnick
Jess Larsen
Jessica Knutsen
Jimmi Mayo
Joan Bardee
Joan Ervin
Julia Aston
Julie Day
Julie Ebersole

Strength and Courage: JustRite Crafting for a Cause

Good morning! I am really delighted to be able to participate in today's blog hop introducing JustRite Stampers' new Strength and Courage set, part of their new Crafting for a Cause program. What is special about this set? In an effort to find an early diagnostic test or screening tool for Ovarian Cancer, JustRite Crafting For a Cause will donate 20% of the sales from Be Strong and Strength and Courage in 2011 to Ovarian Cancer Research. To learn more about the symptoms of this “silent killer “ visit  the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance.

I've used pink for the breast cancer cause here today, but obviously you can color the ribbon in different colors for different causes. If you come here often, you know that I don't often share personal stories on my blog; today's an exception.My paternal grandmother valiantly fought ovarian cancer for several years, even though she had always had regular check-ups and had in fact received a clean bill of health just six weeks prior to her diagnosis. Thankfully, my next story has a much happier ending.

My junior year of college I had two freshman roommates, one of whom I still cherish a sweet friendship with over 25 years later. It is her story that you will learn about below--Amy's story, Amy's cause.

Hi! I am Amy Tedder, the illustrator and graphic designer for JustRite Stampers. I am celebrating 6 years of being ovarian cancer free! I am hoping you will join me in the JustRite Crafting For a Cause Fundraiser.

Ovarian cancer is one of the deadliest cancers because it goes unnoticed for years. They call it the “silent killer.” Most women can shrug off the symptoms as other things. My only symptom was that I was so tired. “But...having 3 children will do that to you!” My regular doctor found my cancer when I was 39 years old and scheduled me an appointment with the best oncologist in South Carolina. My doctor found my cancer because he took a risk and ran a test that my insurance might not have covered.

Today, we need to encourage all the women we know and love to go for their yearly check ups. If there is any kind of family cancer they need to insist on having the lab work done. I am finding that each woman has to be her own advocate. No one else will automatically do it for us. We have to schedule the appointments, WE have to request the tests, WE have to look for ways to protect our own health and take time to take care of ourselves. Just make your appointment and make your mother, sisters and friends schedule their appointments!

“During my cancer recovery I was blessed to receive cards and notes from friends to encourage me. My hope is that you will use these stamps to encourage your loved ones that are the care givers or are fighting cancer. "

 —Amy

I am so thankful that Amy's cancer was caught early. I am also thankful that JustRite has started the Crafting for a Cause program that contributes to ovarian cancer research. The full Strength and Courage set is pictured above, and tomorrow's cling set, Be Strong, is shown here.

A complete list of supplies is just below, and following that are links for the Crafting for a Cause Blog Hop where you will find some fabulous uses of the JustRite Stampers Strength and Courage set. Thank you for visiting today!

Supply List

Stamps: Strength and Courage (JustRite Stampers)
Ink: Hibiscus Burst (Papertrey Ink); Versamagic Tea Leaves (Tsukineko); Memento Tuxedo black (Tsukineko)
Cardstock: Rustic White, Sweet Blush (Papertrey Ink)
Patterned Paper: Girls Paperie (still available online in a few places, but not being printed any more)
Tools: Labels Ten, Lace Doily Accents, Classic Ovals Small, and Classic Scallop (Spellbinders Paper Arts); sewing machine (Janome)
Coloring Medium: Copic R81, R83, and R85 markers
Accessories: Sweet Blush Vintage Button (Papertrey Ink); off white seam binding (Hug Snug); white crochet Thread (Aunt Em's); glitter (Stampendous); glue pen, foam tape

 

Link List:

JustRite Inspiration

Becca Feeken

Mona Pendleton

Debbie Olson

Michele Kovack

Kellie Fortin

Kathy Jones

Stephanie Kraft

Angela Barkhouse

Kazan Clark

Heidi Blankenship

Under the Weather

Today I thought I wanted to share another card for little Kate, the five year old girl for whom Jennifer McGuire is having a card drive. I chose Dawn McVey's Scattered Showers Additions set; it has perfect sentiments for encouragement. For papers, I chose PaperTrey's 2008 Bitty Dot Basics patterned paper in both Aqua Mist and Spring Moss. Cardstock is Stampers Select White, Aqua Mist, and Summer Sunrise.

I stamped the raindrop background with the new formula of Aqua Mist ink, and the boots in Summer Sunrise ink. For the clouds I used Versamagic Aqua Splash, edged at the bottom of the clouds with a touch of Turquoise Gem, and for the sun I used Versamagic Thatched Straw edged with Mango Madness. 

Buttons are PaperTrey Ink Aqua Mist Vintage Buttons, and ribbon is Summer Sunrise Grosgrain. I added a touch of stardust Stickles to the boot handle area, thinking that any little girl likes glitter! The sentiment is heat embossed with white embossing powder.

If you have a chance, Jennifer is still collecting cards for Kate and her family! 

Also, I noticed a couple of giveaways online today; Leah Killian, one of my buddies from last year's Cosmo Cricket design team, has some Copic markers posted here. Also, Mr. Brown brought me a box of returned projects and and a copy of the new Paper Crafts Holiday Cards edition; it's fabulous! Now I just need some extra time to peruse it and be inspired. If you'll check out the Moxie Fab World blog, there are several giveaways in progress right now, some involving simply commenting, and others involving creating a challenge card. Go for it!

Finally, a friend just sent me a link to a new online magazine, Embellish, that my sweet stamping friend Ashley Newell is starting. Knowing Ashley, I am positive that this will be a fabulous resource. I'll be watching--hope you have a chance to do so too!

Teapot Card and a Special Request

Tonight I have a card to share, but even more importantly, I have a very special request. Have you seen the Christmas in July post on the Cosmo Cricket blog? Cosmo Cricket is giving $1 per comment posted, up to $1000, to a local food bank. I would love to see 1000 signatures on that post; how about yours? If you wait, you may be too late. I think Julie has already left that post up longer than she had intended!

For this card I chose PaperTrey Ink's Tea for Two set, one of my favorites from back in April, and some Cosmo Cricket Early Bird papers (Cherry Pie and Farmers Market). The teapot is paper-pieced using the little miniature version on the cover sheet of the Early Bird Collection; I love using the cover sheets for small things like this. Because I wanted to simple shadows to help with the illusion of dimensionality, I chose a Copic T1 marker to add shadows, softening the edges with a o clear blender marker.

The background behind the teapot is cut and embossed with a Spellbinders Labels 4 die template, and then airbrushed while still in the die with Copic BG13 and T1 markers. I cut the same shape for the sentiment on the inside of the card since I was making a z-fold card. Buttons are PaperTrey Ink Lemon Zest Vintage Buttons, and ribbon is 1-1/2" wide ivory silk from Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply Store. Inside sentiments are stamped in PaperTrey's Aqua Mist and Pure Poppy Inks.

If you haven't signed that Cosmo Cricket Christmas in July post yet, would you consider doing so? Thanks so much for visiting!

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P.S.  Don't forget about the Spellbinders Blog Frenzy drawings; the next few reveals are on these blogs:

7/11  Karen Hunsaker

7/12  Kazan Clark

7/13  Linda Duke

Red, White, and True Blue Hero

 

This weekend I'd like to share a card for the Cards for Heroes Blog Hop. CFH was a new site to me until this week; but after browsing there for a while, I knew that I'd like to help others find the site and, most of all, help the cause. My card is an AnyHero card--a card for a hero who needs encouragement. 

With Memorial Day around the corner here in America, we've been seeing veterans with the red paper poppies outside stores. As we've collected a few of these poppies, we've been trying to explain to our son what constitutes a hero. It isn't someone with blue tights and a cape who happens to be impervious to danger. To us, it's someone who willingly sacrifices anything from personal comfort through perhaps even life, for the benefit of others.  It obviously doesn't have to be someone serving in the military, but today's card is for a military hero.

Cards for Heroes also sends unsigned cards that servicemen and women can send back to their loved ones. Do you have a stash that could use a home? Please consider donating them to Cards for Heroes!  Next in the blog hop is Lisa at My Little Ink Spot. Lisa has a clean, fun style, and I know that you'll enjoy her card. Also, if you didn't start at the beginning of the blog hop, be sure to check out this page for prizes and a complete list of participating blogs. Bloggers will have their cards up by noon today (Saturday, May 23), PST.

 

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Card Details:

Stamps: Let Freedom Ring, Star Prints, and Background Basics: Text Style (PaperTrey Ink)
Cardstock: Pure Poppy, Vintage Cream (PaperTrey Ink), Navy (Bazzill)
Ink: Pure Poppy and Vintage Cream (PTI), Night of Navy (SU), and Vintage Photo Distress Ink (Ranger)
Accessories: stars (Hot Fix Embellishments, Brass It Up collection)
Tools: Fiskars Star Punch, sewing machine

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Again, the next stop in the Card for Heroes  blog hop is Lisa at My Little Ink Spot.  Thank you for visiting, and have great weekend!

P.S. Here and here are two related posts that weren't up in time for the blog hop. Thanks!