Monday, September 3, 2012

With Gratitude: Spooktacular Banner Round-Up

This weekend, three dozen women showed off their crafting ingenuity and generosity by making and donating truly spectacular banners to Pediatric Specialty Care, where I work as Admissions Coordinator in the Bucks County area. 

I am honored to feature a "round-up" of all of the banners today, Labor Day, as this is truly a Labor of Love for all of these women.  In case you missed any, here they all are.

Later this afternoon, I will be posting winners of the fabulous prizes from our six kind sponsors. Stop back to see if you are one of them!



































DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Welcome Back - Day #2 of the Halloween Spooktacular Banners for Special Needs Kids Blog Hop

If you are here for the AUTUMN COLORS blog hop, please click this LINK.

Welcome to the annual Halloween Spooktacular Banner Hop for Special Needs Children!

I am delighted to host this annual hop, and to have joining with me more than 3 dozen other women who have each made at least one Halloween-themed banner that will be donated to hang in the room of a medically-fragile child at Pediatric Specialty Care in Pennsylvania.

I am privileged to work at PSC’s Bucks County site as Admissions Coordinator. PSC is a very special place where children stay either long- or short-term, typically after hospitalization, but occasionally when their medical needs reach a point that their families can no longer care for the child safely at home. 


Most of these precious children are dependent on ventilators and other technology to survive. Some have been born too early or with genetic diseases or birth injuries.  




Other children suffer injuries later in life that require constant care later, including brain injuries from trauma or loss of oxygen (from choking, suffocation or drowning) and spinal cord injuries.


These children and their families -- and PSC’s staff -- will be thrilled to receive the Halloween banners, to help brighten the season when their friends and siblings will be out trick-or-treating.”

Here is the banner I made for Day 2 that I am sending to a child at PSC:



My vision for this banner was to create a Halloween Parade, but the images were a bit fragile to use as stand-alone, so I mounted them on candy corn pennants. I think the sign the costumed characters were to be carrying ("Happy Halloween") looks a bit large and out of place, but ... well, aren't we our own worst critics?  

Like Banner #1, I used Meljen Designs' fantastic digital Halloween images, printed in black and white but this time on CRYOGEN WHITE paper, and then hand-colored each of the images using Copic markers. I mounted each of the images on cardboard and hand-cut (fussy!) around each of the characters.  I used my Silhouette Cameo (and a Silhouette Online Store file) to cut the candy corn pennant shapes. I mounted the characters onto the pennants using XPress it foam tape, and strung the pennants together using bronze colored tulle that I had on hand. Easy-peasy!


Today is Day #2 of the weekend's hop. Did you see yesterday's banners?  Be sure to visit on both days to see the truly inspirational work of these generous bloggers, and leave some love (comments) on as many sites as you can – because if you do, you can increase your chances to win some Spooktacular blog candy from these kind sponsors:



$25 Gift Certificate to Madge's Scrappin Lounge
(http://madgesscrappinlounge.storenvy.com/)


 $15 Shopping Spree to Scrapping With Lisa Designs
(http://scrappingwithlisadesigns.com)

Lucy Kelleher (http://lucyk.ctmh.com)
$10 Gift Certificate toward any CTMH product
Donated by Lucy Kelleher 
Independent Consultant for Close to My Heart 
Special entry requirements: To enter to win, you will need to leave a comment on Lucy's blog (http://love2createitall.com/) and become a follower of her blog. For an additional entry, "Like" her Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/LucyK.CTMH
Limited to U.S. entrants only, sorry.



http://stampinup.net/esuite/home/debiweid/
 $10 Gift Certificate toward any Stampin' Up product
Donated by Debi Weidleman
Independent Consultant for Stampin' Up. 
Limited to U.S. entrants only, sorry.




Two Cricut Cartridges ("Pretty Pennants" and "Mini Book") 
Donated by Erica's Craft Room
http://www.shop.ericascraftroom.com/



$25 Gift Certificate to Paper Temptress
http://papertemptress.com


To qualify to win one of these great prizes, please leave a comment on THIS (Hop Hostess Ellen ♥ CardMonkey's) blog site and answer this question: 

What was your most memorable 
Halloween costume, and how old were you 
when you wore it?


In your comment, please leave a way for me to reach you if you're randomly picked to win one of the prizes!  Leave additional comments (leave ♥love!) on as many banner makers’ sites as you’d like for extra chances to win! 

Prize winners will be announced on Monday, September 3 on the CardMonkey site, where there will be a round-up of all of the Spooktacular banners for 2012.

Please move on your way to the next stop, which is: SANDIE!  

Here is the full line up for today's banner makers in case you get lost or find broken links:
  1. Ellen ♥ CardMonkey - http://cardmonkey-business.blogspot.com/
  2. Sandie Dunne - http://sandieshores.blogspot.ie/search/label/banner%20hop
  3. Ashley - http://theglamoroussideofscrapping.blogspot.com/
  4. Lucy ~ http://love2createitall.blogspot.com/
  5. Dena ~ http://missdjones.blogspot.com/
  6. Yvette ~ http://gammascreativecorner.blogspot.com/
  7. Jamie ~ http://craftygirl21.blogspot.com/
  8. Nancie ~ http://alittlepieceofmebynancie.blogspot.com/
  9. Beth ~ http://motherandaughterdesigns.blogspot.com/
  10. Erica ~ http://mycricutcraftroom.blogspot.com/
  11. Jearise ~ http://lorbysworld.blogspot.com/
  12. Jenny - http://crazyaboutcricut.blogspot.com/
  13. Lisa T.- http://bitbythecricutbug.blogspot.com
  14. Robin ~ http://scrapandchat.blogspot.com/
  15. Jessica S ~ http://jessicascraftshaque.blogspot.com
  16. Lori A ~ http://scrappinmystressaway.blogspot.com/
  17. Jenny D. ~ http://www.yogimemories.blogspot.com/
  18. Linda Simpson - http://lindasimpsoncraftypieceofheaven.blogspot.com
  19. Beckie ~ http://justbcreativecrazy.blogspot.com
  20. Scrappin Madge: http://www.thescrappinlounge.com
  21. Jennifer R ~ http://craftycardgallery.blogspot.com
  22. Debbie T ~ http://debbiescrafttime.blogspot.co.uk/
  23. Tami McD ~ http://tamboscreations.blogspot.com/
  24.  Susan ~ http://susanascorner.blogspot.com/


On a very personal note, thank you again to all of the truly wonderful women who generously support the special needs children at Pediatric Specialty Care. Your love and kind spirit is unparalleled. I cannot begin to thank you enough for joining me in this cause.  The children whose lives you touch through your talent join me in gratitude....

DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,

Autumn Colors Blog Hop - Day 2 (September 2)

If you are here for the Halloween Spooktacular Banner Hop for Special Needs Kids, please click on this LINK. (We would appreciate your visit there, too!) 


Welcome back to Day #2 of the Krazy Crafting Crew's monthly hop. This month's theme is "Autumn Colors."

Yesterday, I showed you a card made with a lovely new designer paper by FarmHouse Paper Company called "Sugar Hill Autumn."  If the paper doesn't get you in the mood for the changing season, only the changing leaves and cooler weather will do it for you!

Today, let me show you another autumn project:

To make this card, I also started with a kraft card base. I stamped the RubberNecker large floral image slightly off-center, using Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad.  I then colored the flowers in the image using Copic markers. The sunflower seed packet image was cut from a piece of the FarmHouse Sugar Hill Autumn paper, distressed and edged in Memento Cocoa ink.  I adhered it using foam tape by XPress It. I made the rolled zinnia after cutting the template for it using Cricut's Art Philosophy cartridge and some Halloween scraps. The leaf is a silk leaf from my flower stash, glued onto the card using Aleene's Turbo Tack glue.  
 
Please do visit our hop hostess's site to learn more about the blog candy being offered this month. Our hostess for is Katina of "Loving Life's Little Blessings" blog. To continue on the hop full of Autumn's colors, hop on over to: ZENITA's fun blog! 



By the way,
have you seen the Halloween banners on the
Halloween Spooktacular Banner Hop
for Special Needs Kids? 

Can I tempt you with blog candy ....???  
Go on ... you want to!
 

 DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Halloween Spooktacular Banner Hop for Special Needs Kids, Day 1!

If you are here for the AUTUMN COLORS blog hop, please click this LINK.

Welcome to the annual Halloween Spooktacular Banner Hop for Special Needs Children!

I am delighted to host this annual hop, and to have joining with me more than 3 dozen other women who have each made at least one Halloween-themed banner that will be donated to hang in the room of a medically-fragile child at Pediatric Specialty Care in Pennsylvania.

I am privileged to work at PSC’s Bucks County site as Admissions Coordinator. PSC is a very special place where children stay either long- or short-term, typically after hospitalization, but occasionally when their medical needs reach a point that their families can no longer care for the child safely at home. 


Most of these precious children are dependent on ventilators and other technology to survive. Some have been born too early or with genetic diseases or birth injuries.  




Other children suffer injuries later in life that require constant care later, including brain injuries from trauma or loss of oxygen (from choking, suffocation or drowning) and spinal cord injuries.


These children and their families -- and PSC’s staff -- will be thrilled to receive the Halloween banners, to help brighten the season when their friends and siblings will be out trick-or-treating.”

Here is the banner I made that I am sending to a child at PSC:


I used Meljen Designs' fantastic digital Halloween images, printed in black and white on XPress It paper, and then hand-colored each of the images using Copic markers. I mounted each of the images on cardboard, trimmed into pennants, inserted eyelets and strung them together using an assortment of holiday ribbons.  From each bow, I knotted some orange glittered styrofoam balls which I suspended from brown-and-white baker's twine -- for extra fun and glitter.  This project was really a labor of love for me!

This Hop is two days (Saturday, September 1 and Sunday, September 2), and on each day you will see different banners. Be sure to visit on both days to see the truly inspirational work of these generous bloggers, and leave some love (comments) on as many sites as you can – because if you do, you can increase your chances to win some Spooktacular blog candy from these kind sponsors:



$25 Gift Certificate to Madge's Scrappin Lounge
(http://madgesscrappinlounge.storenvy.com/)


 $15 Shopping Spree to Scrapping With Lisa Designs
(http://scrappingwithlisadesigns.com)

Lucy Kelleher (http://lucyk.ctmh.com)
$10 Gift Certificate toward any CTMH product
Donated by Lucy Kelleher 
Independent Consultant for Close to My Heart 
Special entry requirements: To enter to win, you will need to leave a comment on Lucy's blog (http://love2createitall.com/) and become a follower of her blog. For an additional entry, "Like" her Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/LucyK.CTMH
Limited to U.S. entrants only, sorry.



http://stampinup.net/esuite/home/debiweid/
 $10 Gift Certificate toward any Stampin' Up product
Donated by Debi Weidleman
Independent Consultant for Stampin' Up. 
Limited to U.S. entrants only, sorry.




Two Cricut Cartridges ("Pretty Pennants" and "Mini Book") 
Donated by Erica's Craft Room
http://www.shop.ericascraftroom.com/



$25 Gift Certificate to Paper Temptress
http://papertemptress.com


To qualify to win one of these great prizes, please leave a comment on THIS (Hop Hostess Ellen ♥ CardMonkey's) blog site and answer this question: 

What was your most memorable 
Halloween costume, and how old were you 
when you wore it?


In your comment, please leave a way for me to reach you if you're randomly picked to win one of the prizes!  Leave additional comments (leave ♥love!) on as many banner makers’ sites as you’d like for extra chances to win! 

Prize winners will be announced on Monday, September 3 on the CardMonkey site, where there will be a round-up of all of the Spooktacular banners for 2012.

Please move on your way to the next stop, which is: SANDIE!  

Here is the full line up for today's banner makers in case you get lost or find broken links. Please don't forget to stop back tomorrow, to see more banners from a different set of 20+ wonderful women.
  1. Ellen ♥ CardMonkey - http://cardmonkey-business.blogspot.com/ 
  2. Sandie Dunne - http://sandieshores.blogspot.ie/search/label/banner%20hop
  3. Ashley - http://theglamoroussideofscrapping.blogspot.com/
  4. Pam - http://pammejo-scrapbookflair.blogspot.com/
  5. Janet S - http://www.ladyluvbug.blogspot.com/
  6. Lucy - http://love2createitall.blogspot.com/
  7. Jessica - http://chick-n-scrap.blogspot.com/
  8. Nancie - http://alittlepieceofmebynancie.blogspot.com/
  9. Patricia - http://blogs.papertemptress.com/
  10. Edwina - http://edwinascreations.blogspot.com/
  11. Shawnee - http://quiverofangels.blogspot.com/
  12. Beth - http://motherandaughterdesigns.blogspot.com/
  13. Theresa ~ http://www.thescrapbookingqueen.com
  14. Lezlye- www.lezlyes.blogspot.com
  15. Robin L. ~ http://create-a-latte.blogspot.com
  16. Christine ~ http://thecuriouscrafter.blogspot.com/
  17. Scrappin Madge: http://www.thescrappinlounge.com 


On a very personal note, thank you again to all of the truly wonderful women who generously support the special needs children at Pediatric Specialty Care. Your love and kind spirit is unparalleled. I cannot begin to thank you enough for joining me in this cause.  The children whose lives you touch through your talent join me in gratitude....

DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,

Autumn Colors Blog Hop - September 1

If you are here for the Halloween Spooktacular Banner Hop for Special Needs Kids, please click on this LINK. (We would appreciate your visit there, too!) 


Welcome to the Krazy Crafting Crew's monthly hop. This month's theme is "Autumn Colors." Our creative crew has been busy creating beautiful and fun projects with the colors of autumn so please take a hop through to see their projects and to leave a comment of encouragement.

Our hostess for this month is Katina of "Loving Life's Little Blessings" blog. Visit Tina's blog for the full hop line-up, as well as to get information on the Blog Candy available for visitors to this hop.

Here is my project for today's "Autumn Colors" blog hop. 
I'll have a different project for tomorrow, so please stop back!


For this project, I used a kraft card base and added a piece of designer paper by FarmHouse Paper Company's Sugar Hill Autumn line.  The dark green trim is by Bazzill.  All of the embellishments are adhesive chipboard in the same FarmHouse line; I added a piece of twine from my stash, wrapped around the designer base. 

Now please continue on to 
ZENITA



By the way,
have you seen the Halloween banners on the
Halloween Spooktacular Banner Hop
for Special Needs Kids? 
(click on this LINK to go there directly!)
BLOG CANDY from SIX SPONSORS!!  
 >hint, hint!<
 



 DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,