Jen's Sunshine Blog Hop

Hi all my crafty friends!  I am so glad you found your way to my blog today as

Paper Makeup Stamps & Party Time Tuesdays Challenge Blog proudly present 

"Jen's Sunshine" Blog Hop

This hop will remain open till Tuesday Sept.4th
Winners announced Sept. 7th

Today we take time to honor our friend and fellow crafter Jen Scull.  If you are here hopping with us, then I am sure you know Jen is battling breast cancer.  She has been fighting this nasty disease since February.  On behalf of Jen, we thank you for being here.

All the cards you see featured in the hop today are using the Jen's Sunshine Digi Stamp Set from Paper Makeup Stamps!  I have created a second card using this set which you will find over at your last stop of the hop on the PTT Blog.  

 Don't Forget you can purchase this set for yourself from the PMS Store here.  

We ask as you hop along with us, please consider donating at least $1 using the paypal donation button at any stop along the way.  Your donation will go directly to Jen. Thank you.

It wouldn't be a hop without prizes.  To see a full list of the prizes up for grabs, please visit 

Paper Makeup Stamps

and

Party Time Tuesdays Challenge Blog

To be eligible to win a prize from our sponsors, collect the hidden letters located throughout the hop.  Once you spell out the secret phrase, please email Jenn Cochran at partytimetuesdays@hotmail.com.  This will get you entered to win one of several fabulous prizes.

There will also be a  an exclusive prize draw on my blog for those people leaving me comments.
That lucky person will win a free digital image of their choice from Paper Pretties who has kindly donated this prize.

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PTT#79 Anything Goes

Hello everyone!  Today is Tuesday and the last day of the month which means it's time for a new Anything Goes Challenge over at Party Time Tuesdays but before I show my card for today I want to mention a special blog hop that is happening on the 29th of August.

As some of you may be aware one of our very own Party Planners Jen Scull is battling breast cancer so to put a bit of sunshine in her day, Katie at Paper Makeup Stamps has created a special stamp set to raise funds to be donated to Jen and her family and there will be a fabulous blog hop which all of you are invited to be part of.  For all the details and to find out how to join in please visit here.

Now onto my card.

I am using the delightful and recently new digi from Crafty Sentiments called Tess Summer Fun.  I first saw this image being used by Jo from Crafty Sentiments on one of her cards and thought it was gorgeous and was so excited when I found out that it was going to be one of the images we got to work with at PTT.

I have colored the image with my Tria Markers adding a little glitter with my Viva Decor Gold Glitter Liner and using my Viva Decor Pearl Pen to add to the yellow flower centres.  The bright and glittery papers are from the Citronella Collection by K & Company.  I have used some of these papers to make my own rolled rosettes.

At PTT this week we are once again joined by Creating is Fun, The Digi Garden and Viva Decor aswell as Crafty Sentiments as our sponsors.

I have created this card with the following challenges also in mind.

The Crafty Bloggers Network - Challenge #1 Anything Goes

The Paper Players - Challenge # PP106 - Tic Tac Toe -
I am using the top row across which is circles, birthday and favorite color.  To meet this challenge criteria my image is on a circle, and my rosettes are circles cut into spirals and rolled, I have used a birthday sentiment and my all time favorite color combo of pink and green.

FWF - Orange the Colour of Hope!

If you haven't visited my blog for a while, you may notice that its gone Orange and for today's Unity FWF Post my card is also orange.  This is in honor of little Allie Robinson who is currently battling Leukemia and it comes with a special request!.

Stamps:  Unity Oct KOTM, Unity Generations Stamp Set

Cardstock:  Stampin' Up!, Ink:  Black Memento and SU Markers

Other:  Martha Stewart Ribbon Punch, 3 Girls Jam Ribbon, K & Co Rhinestones, Brad

Allie is the two year old grand-daughter of my dear friend Toni and she was diagnosed with Leukemia two days before Christmas which also was one month after her grandfather John (Toni's husband) had passed away following a very short battle with Cancer.  As you can imagine the world of my friend Toni and her family has been turned upside down.  Treatment locally is not an option, so since Allies diagnosis, her immediate family including Toni have been living in Brisbane (2.5hrs away).  This is putting all sorts of financial strain on them not to mention huge emotional turmoil given how soon after John's passing this has all happened.

John & Allie

LIVE LAUGH LOVE - is the Duncan/Robinson Family Motto

and is also the Motto for Leukemia Awareness

On the 28/29th of April I will be joining a team consisting of Toni's Family and Friends to walk in the Cancer Council's Relay 4 Life.  This is a fundraising event to raise funds for Cancer Research, Awareness and Prevention, we are calling ourselves the Purple People Eaters after two of little Allies favorite things, (the colour Purple and Monsters) and will be relaying in support of Allie and in memory of John.


However I want to do more, I am wanting to raise further funding to directly assist Allie and her family, so I am hoping to hold a couple of additional fundraisers throughout the coming months.  My friend Toni and I both share a passion for scrapping and card making so with this in mind I was thinking of ways I could connect her love for paper crafts to raising these funds.

The ways I am planning to do so are listed below.

To hold a Blog Hop in little Allies Honour, to do this I am:-

• Approaching Paper-craft Related Companies and asking for support in way of special products to be sold for a set period of time with proceeds going to the cause, and promoted during the blog hop.  This could be include digital images, selected existing product ranges.  The other way companies could support this idea is by donating products to be used as prizes for the event.
• Having a special image in honor of Allie designed as the center focus of the blog hop (with out giving it all away it is being designed after two of her favorite things (The Colour Purple and Monsters).  I will be asking my blogging friends, such as you to be part of the blog hop.  You would need to create a project in honor of Allie using this image and post at a set time to your blog promoting the cause and the blog hop.

I am also looking at setting up a Crafting for Allie Community/Forum where anyone wanting to support Allie throughout her treatment can come and be kept up to date with her progress as well as participate in lots of crafting fun and inspiration.  Attached to this forum would also be some paid access areas, which would allow users access to some exclusive tutorials and projects.  The proceeds from the paid access areas would then go back to the cause.

• For this idea I would be looking for support from fellow crafters who would like to provide a tutorial with full instructions on how to make a particular project, allowing it to be used to raise funds as part of the paid access area of the forum.

In order to ensure these efforts are successful, I need help!  So my special request today is for Expressions of Interest.  Are you be able to help me?  Is it possible for you to help me to support Allie and her family/raise funds for vital research, and awareness programs?  If you think you could assist by being involved in the blog hop, or providing a tutorial I would love to hear from you.  I still have a few things to be organised before I can definitely go ahead with these plans but my aim would be for both of these events (for want of a better word) to be up and running by March.

To express your interest to help could you please send an email to dmay4stamping@gmail.com with the Heading:  Crafting for Allie and detailing how you would like to assist.

I would also ask that you keep Allie and her family in your thoughts and prayers.
I really appreciate you taking the time to read my post today, thank you.

September - The month that was.

I finally made it back to share with you all what I got up to in September.

At the beginning of September I joined the Artistic Document Forum and started playing along with their Around the World in 80 Days Challenge.  This is an ongoing challenge (80 days to be exact) where a new destination and challenge is posted every 8 days.  So far we have visited Victorian London for a Steam Punk Challenge, Paris France to pay homage to our favorite Impressionist Painter, and Istanbul Turkey to admire the colours and patterns of their beautiful ceramic tiles.

Victorian London, Steampunk Layout.

Claude Monet, Waterlillies Inspired Layout

Turkish Tiles Inspired Layout

The Stick N Giggle Scrap Retreat at Caloundra was in September so I travelled their with Shazz from the Scrap Lounge and her friend Cheryl.  We had a blast and I don't think I have laughed so much in a long time.  For the retreat I made some Summer/Beach Themed ATC's to swap. 

2 of the 3 ATC's I made to swap at the Retreat

We also had the option of doing a class where we made a gorgeous Steam Punk Moving Layout.

Steam Punk Class Layout at the Stick N Giggle Retreat

Celebrations a plenty, it was my sisters, my own and my father's birthday's during the month.  My DH surpised me by having the day off work and taking me to a surprise lunch with my family.  I also received some beautiful cards from my scrapping/blogging friends.

In between both my own birthday and my fathers was our Butterfly Day Fundraiser.........where we held two card making sessions so the weeks prior to this day were often spent cutting up the pieces to make the card I was teaching on the day in front of the TV at night.  It was a wonderful day had by all and I was very lucky to come home the winner of quite a few raffle prizes which included some beautiful bromeliads, a set of Dark Room Door Stamps, a beautiful plate, and a quilted/patchwork pillow.  Below is one of the cards made on the day.

The butterfly card I designed to teach at our Fundraiser Day

I also found sometime to participate in two of the Scrap Lounge September Cybercrop Challenges

This was the sketch challenge.  I just love Elephants.

At the end of August I had placed an order from Bottlecap Inc in the U.S. which arrived mid September.  I am planning on selling bottlecaps to make scrapbook embellishments, keyrings, fridge magnets and jewellery as well as making these items to sell.  So I just couldn't resist taking some time out to play with these items too!  I made some monogrammed keyrings to give each of the girls who make up the Compassionate Crafters Group to celebrate our very first fundraising event.

As well as all of the above I also was busy with my Design Team Committments, the weekly Party Time Tuesdays Challenge Examples and the October ScrapLounge Projects for their Sketch and Technique Challenges.  I also joined in an Inspirational Word ATC Swap on the Artistic Document Forum so have completed 9 of these to get in the post on Monday. 

Finally to finish the month in Honor of World Card Making Day, which is October 1st.   I was asked to do a challenge on the ScrapLounge.  I made it a card sketch challenge based on the design of one of the cards I received from my blogging and card making friend Christy for my birthday.  Below is the sketch and my example that I made.

So as you can see although I wasn't posting as regularly on here I was busy.  I will be back tommorrow to share with you my October Projects for the Scrap Lounge.

Thanks for stopping by.

A Day of Butterflies

Hello everyone!  I told you I would be back to announce the very first planned Compassionate Crafters Event, and I am very excited to be doing so.

I invite you to join us on the 24th of September for our 'Butterfly Day'  supporting Harrison's Little Wing Charity and raising awareness of the plight of the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly.

On this day we will be hosting two card making sessions where all materials and instructions will be provided to make six beautiful butterfly cards.  All funds raised on the day with be donated to Harrison's Little Wing Charity - an organisation that assists families to cope with the loss of their child.  We would ask as part of the day's proceedings that you will kindly give some of the cards you make on the day back to us to be given to the Harrison's Little Wing's - Heart Card's Appeal. 

There is going to be lots of fun and exciting happenings on the day as well, including raffles, a take home goodies bag and Morning/Afternoon Tea plus a Cake Stall which are being provided by the Modanville Public School's P&C,.


We would love so much if you could join us for our day of butterflies.

WHEN: Saturday September 24

WHERE: Tullera Hall, Dunoon Road, Tullera

SESSIONS:   Morning session - 9am - 12pm (Please be seated by 8.45)
                Afternoon Session - 1pm - 4pm  (Please be seated by 12.45)

COST PER SESSION: $15.00 (includes morning/afternoon tea)

WHAT TO BRING: A sharp pair of scissors, hand/baby wipes, and your smile.

As spaces are limited, bookings are essential.  To book email shazz@compassionatecrafters.com and she will contact you with further details via email.

Please note that all seats must be booked and paid for by Friday 16th of September.

I do hope you will join us for this day of card making and fun in aid of our chosen causes.

              

Are you a Compassionate Crafter?

This morning this is my question to you all!  There is lots of us out there; who like to create with our   hands and give with our hearts.

Throughout my creative journey I have always been on the lookout for ways to show my support to worthy causes whilst sharing my passion for my craft with others. 

Recently I was asked to join forces, so to speak, with a group of my wonderful crafting friends; who like me all have the desire to connect and give back to the community through our craft, and 'Compassionate Crafters' was born. 

If you live in the local Northern Rivers Area you may like to SAVE THE DATE - Saturday September 24th.  This is when we will be holding our first Compassionate Crafters Event......all the details of who, when, where and why will be announced tommorrow, so watch this space as they say......lol.



P.S.  If you too are a compassionate crafter and want to keep up with lots of ways you can help.  Why not become a friend and Like Us our FaceBook Page - Compassionate Crafters

Pages a Plenty for Southern Cross Kids Camps

One of my New Year's Goals this year was to use up some of my old papers and paper scraps, so today, I took a couple of hours out to create twenty 6 x 6 Scrap Pages to donate to the Southern Cross Kids Camps Memory Page Drive.

The Southern Cross Kids Camps are attended by children in the foster care system, most of whom have been victims of abuse, neglect and abandoment.  During the week they are paired up with an Adult Buddy who's number one priority is the child in their care.  The week is a time out for the child to experience true adult companionship and have loads of fun, in a safe and loving environment.  They get to experience activities they have never have before, like riding a motorbike, or going to the beach.  Each and every child also has their birthday celebrated on one of the nights during the week and recieves a birthday box which is filled with loads of toys, games, craft items and toiletries etc.  Items which are their very own to keep.

As part of the experience they are given a memory book to remember their week's expereinces, hence why the Memory Page Drive.

They have asked for pages to be kept quite simple, with just a photo matt and a journal box and/or a decorative element, and for pages to be more for boys or gender neutral.  I thought the page designs and colours I have chosen will fit the bill, whilst being bright and cheery.

The goal this year is for 11,000 pages and the half way mark has already been passed, as well as making some pages here at home, I am planning on attending a 3 day crop being held later this month also.  The organiser Julie has set a goal of doing 2000 pages over the three days, which will definitely push the SCKC closer to their goal.

Such a worthwhile cause and a great way for me to use up my older stash.

Some Photos of our Fundraiser Day

Just wanted to share some photos of our fundraiser with you all.

Of course I didn't take these, took my camera but it never made it out of my bag which is usual for me.  My Co-host Sue managed to take these photos for memory of our day.

Group Shot

Ladies hard at it making cards

Smiling for the camera

Showing off their creations

The Bouncers,counting up the days takings!

Judging by all the smiles, I think everyone enjoyed themselves.

Cards for a Cause Day raises $1600 for Prostate Cancer

After many days spent cutting and punching out flowers, cutting up card kits, making cards and sample kits for our goodies bags, stamping out poems and endless counting, today was our Cards for a Cause Fundraiser for Prostate Cancer.

Cards made as a Thank You in the Take Home Goodies Bags (Made in Prostate Cancer Colours)

Sample Kits for the Goodies Bags

With bookings of 87 we ended up with 78 ladies and 1 gentleman attending our afternoon to make five cards and share a yummy afternoon tea.  25 Door Prizes, 8 Lucky Seat Prizes and 10 Raffle Prizes were won, lots of Stampin' Up! Catalogues sold and 82 Goodies Bags handed out.

I am very proud to say that a great day was had by all and we raised approx $1600 for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

Oh course now at the day's conclusion my feet are aching and I will be looking forward to doing nothing tommorrow.

A big thank you from Sue and myself needs to go to the wonderful ladies, my fellow demonstrators in the Bent Inklinations Team, Jacqui, Dianne, Cheryl and Judi who all helped instruct our guests on how to make their cards, and also to my friends Julie Short of Time to Create, Toni at PFD Foodservices, and Nancy Graham who all contributed towards our day.  The day couldn't have been a success without your support.

Other businesses who need to be acknowledged for thier donations include, Angove Family Winemakers, Plaza Pattisserie, Northern Star Newspapers, & the Commonwealth Bank.

So thank you everyone who came and joined us, it really was beyond our expectations and well worth all the effort.

A Call for all Crafters to Help Hudson!

You may have noticed on my side bar a blinkie saying Helping Hudson a Wheelie Great Cause. 

This is a great cause and it is a fundraising project being run by a team of Stampin Up! Demonstrators to raise funds to buy a truly needed KidWalker for a small boy named Hudson which will help him learn to walk.

The fundraising project will be from August 1st - 22nd.  On the fundraising blog site you will find lots of challenges for you to participate in, tonnes of giveaways plus 60 tutorials that you can purchase. 

You can show your support by doing the thing you love, crafting.  So please spare a moment of your time and check out this 'Wheely Great Cause'.