I am so honored to have been invited to participate in this event!
From October 10-12 some of the best stampers in the business are joining together to support and encourage our friend and fellow stamper, Katie Renz, who is currently battling inoperable gastric cancer. If you're not familiar with her, Katie’s cancer story started just before Christmas last year. This young, beautiful, healthy, vibrant mother of 3 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.
This exclusive stamp used in my sample, designed 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 both also 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 3 day blog hop listing, as well as the donation button.
Here are all the items available for sale.I hope you will join me in supporting Katie through a purchase or donation. If you would like to send Katie a card, her mailing address is:
Katie Renz
PO Box 5913
Bellingham, WA 98227-5913
----------------------------------------
I have to say, this image is so fun to play with! I chose to purchase the digital image. I like the idea that I can make it bigger or smaller and with my daughter being a swimmer, I can see lots of fun ways to put this to use!
My card is special because along with Katie, my very best friend in the world is in the midst of a tough battle with cancer too. She's a fighter but the fight is becoming most difficult now.
I think we all know someone affected by cancer and the phrase "keep swimming" is a great way to present a card of encouragement. You see, my best friend was also my daughter's swim coach, so she knows how hard swimming can be when you start to get tired. Hopefully, this card will remind her that it's the swimming when you really don't want to swim anymore that makes the difference in who wins.
I used Copic markers to color my image and then created dots with a colorless blender pen. To accent the dots, I used a Sakura Glitter Pen.
I hope you have enjoyed my card sample.
Other exciting news!To help raise money for Katie, Creating for Causes (
http://www.creatingforcauses.org/) has generously donated a FREE ticket (value: $249.95) to one of their upcoming 3-day Scrap & Stamp Retreats.
The winner of the free ticket will enjoy 3 days of non-stop fun and creativity with fellow scrappers, stampers and paper crafters, and can choose between the Charlotte, NC Scrap & Stamp Ritzy Retreat at The Ritz-Carlton on October 21-23 or the Orlando, FL Scrap & Stamp Retreat at the Marriott World Center on November 4-6. Both retreats promise to spoil you and provide 48-straight hours of creating, camaraderie and fun!
To learn more about the events, please visit:
http://www.creatingforcauses.org/our-events/scrapbook-events/Not only will you be raising money for Katie by making a donation, you get a chance to win a wonderful weekend getaway for yourself! And, because all of Creating for Causes' events are charity events that raise money for local charities, you'll be giving back twice!
Wow, a weekend retreat for you and two chances to help others. Does it get any better than that?
Here's how it works:
Simply make a $33 donation (or more) for Katie and indicate that you want to be entered in the Creating for Causes Retreat ticket drawing. Everyone who makes a qualifying donation will be entered into the drawing and one lucky person will be attending this 3-day retreat for FREE! That lucky person could just be you! (If you have already donated and wish to be included, just email kate(at) iheartpapers (dot) com)
DEADLINE TO ENTER FOR THIS GIVEAWAY IS FRIDAY 9PM EST, although other donations will be accepted for weeks to come.
------------------------------------------------------
Here is a list of the other designers participating in today's hop. I hope you will be inspired by them and moved to purchase or donate. Thanks so much for stopping by and enjoy the hop!
Hugs,
Gina K.
