Sunday, March 25, 2012

My Buddy Brandon: Bunnies and Blossoms Banners, Day 2


WELCOME to DAY #2 of the
BUNNIES and BLOSSOMS BANNER HOP
for Special Needs Children.  

More than 30 fantastic papercrafters have come together to create  Spring-themed banners to bring smiles to the faces of the children at Pediatric Specialty Care (PSC) in Bucks County, PA, where I work as Admissions Coordinator.

The children we admit to PSC range in age from newborn to 21 years, and most of them come to PSC for long-term care. They come to PSC from all over the country, because there are so few facilities nationwide committed to caring for children who are medically-fragile and technologically-dependent.

Meet Brandon, one of the sweet children recently admitted to PSC. (Brandon's story is told here, with his mother Linda's permission.) He relies on a ventilator to breathe due to head injuries, and is paralyzed from traumatic spinal cord injuries. 
This was the horrible car accident that Brandon survived thanks to the heroism of the men and women of Station 34 Fire and Rescue of Ridgeway New Jersey.  Brandon's heroes escorted him to PSC, in a salute to their "Li'l Man" they've come to love for the child's will to live.

Before this accident, Brandon was an active, fun-loving and playful little guy, just shy of his fifth birthday. The tragedy of the car crash causes Brandon's family to find a "new normal."

When Brandon was admitted to PSC, I made him a special "SpiderMan" themed banner that hangs over his bed. It brings him and his family joy, and the wish for super powers to help Brandon through the difficult road ahead. Here it is:


It's kids like Brandon, and the dozens more like him, that made me want to provide banners to decorate their rooms for various holidays.  My "family" of blog friends -- wonderful women, all -- have graciously crafted right along side me, in meeting the needs of all of these very special children.

Without further ado, let me show you the banner I've made for Day #2:


I used this fabulous digi-kit that I purchased to create the artwork for my banner. It is by Shanna at "Art Made With Heart."  Here is what all of the pieces (combined) look like ... you can pick and choose which pieces you size, print and fussy cut.

Here is the banner I made for Day #2 ... you'll recognize which pieces I've used from Shanna's collection:



To make the banner, I cut the pendants at 9.75" using Banner #3 of the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge, and also cut the topper at the same size/same cartridge.  The illustrations are from "Art from the Heart" digital collection (see above), sized, printed (computer-generated) and fussy-cut. I pop-dotted them at various heights to give dimension. I used Peachy Keen Stamps for faces on the flowers, cloud and sun, with a splash of Copic marker for the rosy cheeks. I added googly eyes to the bees with some white Gelly pen for their smiles. I also added some Glossy  Accents on the heart, birds and sun, and used the pen (Gelly white, and Sharpie black) for decorative lines and faux stitching; Martha Stewart fine glitter is the cloud's "wind."  The pennants were first cut from cereal boxes, and topped with Bazzill pastel papers, using ATG adhesives. The pennants were tied together using tulle.

Again, MANY THANKS to the women who made banners so lovingly for the children at Pediatric Specialty Care.

Without further ado, here is the line-up for Sunday's banner hop:

Ellen CardMonkey - http://cardmonkey-business.blogspot.com/

Ashley - http://theglamoroussideofscrapping.blogspot.com/

Pam - http://pammejo-scrapbookflair.blogspot.com/

Rachelle - http://creationsbyrachelle.blogspot.com/

Jessica Esch- http://chick-n-scrap.blogspot.com/

Nancie ~ http://alittlepieceofmebynancie.blogspot.com/

Tami ~ http://tamboscreations.blogspot.com/

Susan E Bermudez - http://susanascorner.blogspot.com/

Beckie - http://justbcreativecrazy.blogspot.com

Jamie M. http://craftygirl21.blogspot.com/

Vicki ~ http://scrapbookingcreationsbyvicki.blogspot.com/

Robin - http://scrapandchat.blogspot.com/

Jennifer - http://craftycardgallery.blogspot.com/

Debbie T. - http://debbiescrafttime.blogspot.com/

Lisa T. - http://bitbythecricutbug.blogspot.com/

Cindy - http://toolsofacropingqueen.blogspot.com/

Yvette ~ http://gammascreativecorner.blogspot.com/

Please also visit yesterday's banner posts from the following crafters, and leave them some love and thanks. You'll love their banners too! 

And now for your blog candy.... drum roll, please........



I DO have some blog candy to thank you for visiting us today!  What's the prize??!  

photo: Courtesy of Lori Apgar, winner of this CardMonkey Cricut Cozy Cover

How about one of these beautiful handmade (by me, CardMonkey!) Cricut Cozy Covers?!  Each one is individually styled in your pick of colors and embroidered words! These are RARE because I do not make them for sale and I don't sew that often!  

To qualify, there are two steps:  
1.  Comment on as many Bunny & Blossoms Blog Hop blogs as you wish -- the more blogs on which you comment, the more chances you have to win.  There will only be one winner, picked at random by Random.Org, 'cause ... like I said ... I really don't sew that often!  It's PRICELESS!!

2. Follow and comment on the CardMonkey blog ... Leave a comment for me here and let me know if your name is picked, what 2 accent colors you'd like on your Cricut Cozy Cover, and what text you'd like embroidered (up to 3 lines). You MUST be a follower of the CardMonkey blog to win and you MUST leave a way for me to contact you if your name is picked. 

So now .... onto your next stop on the Bunnies and Blossoms Banner Hop:

By the way, congrats to Ashley for just hitting 700 followers!!! WOW!!


Thank you for stopping by!

33 comments:

Cindy :) said...

loving your second banner as well hun, it's so cute, the kids will tooo
so glad I got to play along with this one :)

Beth said...

I love this banner...it is so bright & colorful! Especially the sunshine; it's like being in Arizona. :)

We're so glad we got to participate in this blog, Thanks for everything Ellen & all that you do!!

Blessings~Beth & Emily :)
mddesigns_11@yahoo.com

Jennifer said...

Hi Ellen,

It is so wonderful that you do this special blog hop annually!!! :) What a difference you make in the lives of these children!

And I am impressed with your sewing skills! That Cricut cover is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

Thank you so much for sponsoring this fun hop (love seeing all the cute banners!)!

Crafty hugs,

Jennifer
Partridgelu at yahoo dot com

Lucy Kelleher said...

Another great banner Ellen! Thank you for letting me join in this hop :)

Lucy
http://love2createitall.blogspot.com

gypsyrps said...

Beautiful idea for this hop. Touches my heart. I know the kids will love all the banners.
Your Cricut Cozy cover is adorable.
Green and rose would be my colors.
gypsyrps@me.com

Maria said...

Wow! Another gorgeous banner! The kids and parents are going to love these.

nzillingworth said...

Red white and blue lovely. As i live in uk. We got royal clebrations may pinch your idea. hug. 2nd one very bright banner great to catch attention.

ottersln said...

This is so very sweet! I know the kids and families will adore it.

nzillingworth said...

Done all the hops didnt want it to end maybe next year be more of you . Well done ladies xxxxxxxxxxxxhug

jessica said...

another amazing banner Ellen! These children are so lucky to have you and all that you do for them! I am so honored to be a part of this hop!
TFS
jessica
chick-n-scrap.blogspot.com
eschfamily@yahoo.com

Janet said...

Oh my Ellen another super adorable banner I love those images The kids are going to have lots to smile about!!! Thanks for the resource I truly enjoy being part of your hops! Thanks for including me!
Big Blog Hugs, Janet

Dawn, RI said...

Lovely banner. May God bless you and what you do. Im sure the staff and children love these banners.
Dawn RI
abosoffit@hotmail.com

If I win I like pink and brown.

Beckie said...

Another fabulous banner! Gonna have to check out the digi kit....you enabler...haha.

Be blessed, Beckie

Alljazzed2create said...

This is the most awsome blog hop that I have ever done. I can just see the smile on these childrens faces when they recieve their banners. Your banner is just adorable.
Phelps@smt-net.com

Lezlye said...

Beautiful banners for such a great cause! Your cozy is very nice too! Lezly's Ink and Paper Creations
Iluvscrpn at gmail dot com

Carley said...

Ok I seriously cried for Brandon and prayed for him and his family today! If I am picked please make it hot pink and white! Then please donate it to someone else as I do not own a cricut I have a Cameo. You can really make it any color the winner chooses I just love pink! Thank you for having this wonderful hop and if you ever have another one please contact me I would love to participate! You can contact me at CarleyCarter(at)gmail(dot)com and my blog is www.craftycarley.com
Big Hugs
Carley

Alljazzed2create said...

I was already here but forgot to tell you my colors. I'd like cream background and then what ever colors you chose will be great for me. I love surprises.
Also I couldn't find a banner over at
http://neverstopscrapping.blogspot.com/

Phelps@smt-net.com

Edwina said...

Ellen, I love this banner! It is so adorable! I especially like the one with the sun on it. This is a great digital fill to have for banners and layouts. Thanks for sharing. Have a wonderful day my friend! Edwina Brown edwina.brown@live.com

K Clark said...

Ellen... i have to say you are one special lady!! your banners are amazing and I love that you do them to bring joy or strength into others life... keep doing the great work you do!!! thanks for sharing the stories and the opportunity to win... I posted yesterday that if I did win I like pink and brown :)

Anita Braddock said...

Beautiful Banner loving what you have done very special. love the flowers sun just everything is perfect. thanks for sharing
abbraddock@msn.com

Tambo said...

I love your banner Ellen! It is very sweet. I need to use that cart more, since I bought it LOL hmm I think I would pick purple and purple LOL what to write: how about:
Mimi's
Craftin' Maniac
So fun thanks for the opportunity and count me in on the next one too hugs Tambo1010 at comcast dot net
Www.tamboscreations.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

The Spiderman Banner you made for Brandon is so neat, what a courageous little boy.
I am so thankful to have the opportunity to be in this hop with such wonderful women.
I love your 2nd banner :)
Rachelle

Unknown said...

Wow that car accident was horrible!!! So glad Brandon is a fighter!!!

This banner is so cute!!! I love the images you used and how you embellished them!!!

So honored to be part of this hop!!!

Anonymous said...

Very cute banner!

Kitty said...

What a great blog hop! These are wonderful works of art for a wonderful cause. Your cozies are super cute, too! If I won one, I'd like robin's egg blue and red, with "Kitty's Bug" as the saying.

Thanks! kittycropper@gmail.com

Ashley Nicole said...

I'm loving Brandon's banner! I know he loves it. Love this second banner, great light and springy feel.
Ashley

Debbie T said...

Thank you for hosting this blog hop Ellen, you are doing such lovely work for these Children and I am pleased to help out with banners when I can. I just loved all of the banners. I don't have a cricket yet, but have it on my wish list (positive thoughts!)so if my name is chosen my colours would be duck egg blue, brown or silver. Thank you again and God bless you.

Robin said...

Such cute banners! LOVE THEM. Thank you for letting me be a part of this special hop!

Robin
scrapandchat.blogspot.com

Sue D said...

Great images on this banner!
I am a follower and would pick a medium blue and green and Sue's Cricut as text.
slrdowney at hotmail dot com

Jennifer McLean said...

Hello my sweetest friend,
TAG, you're it! If you want to play blog tag, come on over!
Hugs, my friend, I owe you an email!
Best,
Jenn

Linsey R said...

Your banner is beautiful, Brandon will love it!!! What a wonderful cause and thanks to so many caring and creative ladies for participating in a fabulous blog hop! I would love to send a banner to the pediatric unit in PA too! hUGS XXOO

linseyp2@msn.com
http://linseyrickett.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Adorable banner and such a great cause! Thanks for hosting the hop!
www.craftycardgallery.blogspot.com
craftycardgallery at gmail.com

Linsey R said...

Hey Ellen, this is my 2nd comment so don't count it but I just wanted to say after re-reading this post that I also adore your fabulous Spring banner! I see that sweet Brandon already recieved the fantastic Spiderman banner you made him and I'm sure it continues to brighten his days :) You're just so kind! **My banner was sent off to you today yay!** If you don't get it by Sat., maybe you can keep it for yourself as a small reward for all your wonderful work in organizing the banner hops and making sure the kids and families recieve all these great creations! It takes a villiage, but you bring it all to fruition and I thank you for it! :) Hugs sweet friend and have a wonderful day!

ps- if I happened to by the luckiest girl evah and win your awesome handmade Cricut cover, I would choose, aqua/black as my colors to match my new craft room color scheme and have MY CRICUT, Lovingly owned by Linsey :) xoxo