Friday, November 9, 2012

Christmas Banners for Special Needs Kids BLOG HOP, November 10-12, 2012

"In the eyes of children, we find the joy of Christmas. In their hearts, we find its meaning."

As joyous as Christmas is for most families, for some, their holidays are filled with worry, medical treatments and tests, and pain -- for their child must be hospitalized or she or he needs long-term care rather than being home with their families. 

For these kids, Santa doesn't slip down a chimney but rather, often comes in the guise of community volunteers who help make the season bright.  

This is the second Christmas season that our own band of dedicated and loving paper crafters have come together to make Holiday banners for children who are too sick to be home for the holidays.  Welcome to the Christmas Banners for Special Needs Kids blog hop!
I am especially pleased that this year, not only have our numbers of generous crafters swelled so our Hop is over three full days, but also, that we have partnered with another great cause and recipient of our banners!

By teaming up with Madison Womack's I FEEL THE LOVE PROJECT, the banners our crafters have handmade will be going to the hospitalized children at Children's Hospital Central California


First, let me show you the banner I made for today's post. I'll be sending this to Madison and the children at CHCC who are benefiting from the I Feel the Love project in December:


I used the super-fun Gingerbread Land line of papers from Nikki Sivils Scrapbooker to make this jolly banner.
The gingerbread men, cut using a Sizzix die and my Cuttlebug machine, are on Action Wobbles for extra fun!
 

  Now, have I inspired you to make and donate your own banner or a Christmas card or two to the I Feel the Love Project?  I hope so!  Because if you will, you'll be entered into a drawing to win my:

CARDMONKEY's SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS
Super-Fantastic Gift Basket

Throughout the month of December, I'll be adding crafty goodness to this basket so that it will be over-flowing and ripe and ready for under your tree. I'll be picking the winner on Christmas Eve, announcing the winner on Christmas Day, and if you win, you'll have the basket in your hands by New Year's Day!! 

Stay tuned to the CardMonkey blog over the next few weeks leading up to the drawing, as I'll be posting the contents of the basket as they mount. 

 OK, so to win the GRAND PRIZE (all continents are welcome!), here's what you must do:

1.  Be a follower of the CardMonkey blog and tell me in your comment how I can contact you.

2.  Leave a comment telling me what you plan to make and send to the IFTL project by their deadline, December 10.  Then do it!  Go to www.ifeeltheloveproject.blogspot.com for mailing information for your card or banner.  Your card or banner MUST be received by Madison by the deadline to be eligible to win the GRAND prize!  

NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME??  You can still win great blog candy just by being here and commenting on as many banner makers' blogs over the course of the next three days.  

Since we have more than 50 banner makers today, tomorrow and Monday, I'll be picking 5 blogs at random, and then one random comment from that Blog site, for that commenter to win one of five great prizes, which are:

  1. Susan Bermudez, Independent Consultant for Creative Memories, donating a $20 gift certificate for Creative Memories products from her catalog (http://www.mycmsite.com/sites/susanbermudez/).
  2. Scrappin' Madge: $25 Gift Certificate to The Scrappin Lounge Shoppe (http://madgesscrappinlounge.storenvy.com/)
  3. Fresh Brewed Designs: Two prizes - One prize is a rubber stamp, Item #497 "Cutie Pie Ice Skating" (http://www.freshbreweddesigns.com/item_497/Cutie-Pie-Ice-Skating.htm), and the other is a $15 Digital Stamp gift card.
  4. The Paper Temptress (www.papertemptress.com) - Owner Patricia Dunbar will donate a $25 Gift Certificate to her online store, the Paper Temptress.
  5. The Pinque Peacock (www.pinquepeacock.com) - Owners Jessica Shelton will donate a gift certificate to her NEW store (products are being added daily -- watch as she grows!)
  6. In addition, Close to My Heart Independent Consultant Lucy Kelleher will award a $20 gift certificate to a randomly-selected hopper who visits her blog (http://love2createitall.com) and/or Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/LucyK.CTMH) and posts a comment about the banner blog hop!
P.S. -- Be sure to check out as many blogs as you can, as several will be providing their own blog candy with their own requirements.  If I catch them along the way, I'll add them to this list, as a shout out of gratitude, and also so you don't miss out on some sweet candy(canes!)... 

Here is the Hop line up for Saturday, November 10:
  1. Ellen ♥ CardMonkey - http://cardmonkey-business.blogspot.com
  2. Jessica - http://jessicascraftshaque.blogspot.com/
  3. Lezlye -  http://lezlyes.blogspot.com/
  4. Edwina -  http://edwinascreations.blogspot.com/
  5. Shawnee - http://quiverofangels.blogspot.com/
  6. Scrappin Madge - http://thescrappinlounge.com/
  7. Jessica E.~ http://chick-n-scrap.blogspot.com
  8. Kimi ~ http://lovebugcreations3.blogspot.com 
  9. Janet ~  http://www.ladyluvbug.blogspot.com/
  10. Theresa Neubaum ~ http://www.scrappyartcrafters.blogspot.com/
  11. Khrista -  http://creativeandcraftyteacher.blogspot.com/
  12. An'Jenic - http://anjenicgibson.blogspot.com/
  13. Jennifer R - http://craftycardgallery.blogspot.com/
  14. Gloria W. http://gloriawest.blogspot.com/

  YOUR NEXT STOP is:  JESSICA

Thank you again for visiting us here for a beautiful and worthwhile endeavor.  God bless all the little children wherever they spend their holidays!!

DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,

14 comments:

jessica said...

such an adorable banner!! I know those children will love seeing this and it will for sure brighten their day!
Thanks for hosting another great banner hop and I am so proud to be a part of such an awesome group!
Have a GREAT weekend!!
jessica
chick-n-scrap.blogspot.com

Edwina said...

I Love your banner! It is so precious! I love gingerbread items. The gingerbread boys are adorable. I will make a card or 2 to send to Madison for the I feel the Love project. I am a follower of your blog. Thanks for sharing. Edwina Brown edwina.brown@live.com

Shawnee said...

Ellen, I love your banner. Thank you for hosting this hop again and helping us make a difference in these children's lives. HUGS!

Unknown said...

What a totally darling banner. Any child would be delighted to recieve it. i would like to make a card, but am so busy with blog hops, i'm not sure i can. The reason i hop, is for the friends and blogs i find to follow, the blog candy is just extra! Thanks for sharing your project and the endeavor. i'll see what happens!

ibecircled.blogspot.com said...

Ellen,your banner is so cute,love the gingerbread kids! and I am honored to be part of this very special and Important event!I will make a couple cards for IFTL!! Thanks for letting me be involved!!

http://ibecircled.blogspot.com
ilovetonkinese2 at hotmail dot com
Rexann♥

Madison said...

Ellen, this is so cute!! I love the gingerbread men. How cute that they are on Action Wobbles!!! Thank you so much for donating these amazing banners to the I Feel the Love Project for our current project. You are such an amazing lady. God Bless!!
~Madison Ifeeltheloveproject.blogspot.com

Lisa's Creative Niche said...

yay for the first day! Thank you so very much for having me be a part of it!
Lisa
lisascreativeniche at gmail.com

Unknown said...

Gorgeous banner!!! I love the Gingerbread guys!!! Thanks for including me in your hop once again!!!

Sarah Biswabic said...

What an adorable banner! I am sure it will cheer up whoever recieves it! bbiswabic@new.rr.com

Jenny said...

Awe....makes me hungry for cookies!!! LOVE the gingerbread cuties! Glad you are the mastermind behind this great hop! Thanks for all you do for others! Thanks for challenging our creativity! Hugs, Jenny

Anonymous said...

Oh, so darling! I love it! I cannot wait to get started on making my banner for the children. :)

Suzanne Roseberry
sroseberry@ymail.com

Unknown said...

What a beautiful spirit you have. I am now a follower of your blog.
Your banner is adorable; love the pastel colors on the gingerbread men.

Melissa
iamapapermaniac.blogspot.com
scraplady202@gmail.com

Unknown said...

All three of your banners are beautiful! Thanks so much for such a great hop and inspiring us to do something good for others with our crafts! Thank you!
Jennifer

Karenladd said...

LOVE this sweet little gingerbread man banner! What a fabulous project!