Today is the day!  I’m the hostess for the Hope You Can Cling To Challenge (HYCCT1430) and I have to confess, I’m a little nervous!  Fortunately, some of my stamping friends have already joined in as sample makers for my challenge!!

This is the 5th year that Splitcoaststampers has hosted this amazing month long series of challenges in support of those struggling with cancer.  The MD Anderson Cancer Center is the recipient of so many of the cards.  Some are just for encouragement but most are donated so that those in the hospital can find just the right one to brighten someone’s day.

As I thought about a theme, I found this quote (turned into a graphic with My Digital Studio by me):

I know that when a diagnosis of cancer is first given, it can seem like the world has turned against you so it seemed fitting that I base my challenge on this quote.  The theme of my challenge is Hope Soars.  I challenge you to create cards inspired by things that take off!  I hope that you will come over to Splitcoaststampers and join me.  There is even the opportunity to win prizes!  So you can help a worthy cause and win cool crafty stuff!  Perfect!

Here is my own sample card for the theme.  While much of the month has focused on breast cancer, for me the inspiration was actually my dad who passed away from colon cancer.  So I chose to use a more masculine palette.  I pulled out the retired Epic Day DSP and created a tiny paper airplane.  Then using the Word Bubble Framelits (these are on special this week, by the way), I cut out some clouds.  I love that the one of the clouds has inspirational words!  The sentiment is from Truly Grateful stamped in Soft Suede.  I distressed the panel and did some crazy stitching to add a little character to the card and that was it other than a bit of sponging.

Now I mentioned that some of my creative friends created samples for me.  Make sure you go take a look at the work by Linda Callahan (abbysmom2198), Jen Mitchell (jenmitchell) and Rita Wright (kyann22), along with the other amazing hostesses who joined in so far.  You can see the whole gallery for my challenge here:  Gallery for HYCCT1430.  I am looking forward to seeing that gallery fill up even more!

Thanks so much for stopping in today.  I really hope you will consider sharing your talents for this fantastic cause!  For easy access to all the challenges, click here:  Hope You Can Cling To Master Challenge Thread

Click HERE to purchase wonderful Stampin’ Up products!

Stamp:  Truly Grateful; Paper:  Naturals Ivory, Epic Day DSP; Ink:  Soft Suede; Accessories:  Big Shot, Word Bubbles Framelits, Sewing Machine, Stampin’ Distress Tool, Sponges, Hot Glue

 

 

 

As promised, I’m back today with another one of my Hope You Can Cling To Challenge cards.  This one is for Debbi’s “Tissue?  I hardly even know you!” challenge (HYCCT1423).  Let’s face it, when a diagnosis of cancer is given, tissues are needed in great abundance.  So we are challenged to use tissue on a card.  As soon as I saw this one I knew exactly what I wanted to make!!

The Natural Filter Paper is one of the great secret treasures of the new catalog.  I love it!  For today’s card, I cut a piece of it to the same size as my image layer (3-7/8″ sq) and ran it through my Big Shot with the retired Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder (I still love that one!).  Then I sewed the layer down onto Crumb Cake card stock.  The flower was created using a variation of this tutorial.  Instead of hand cutting the flow (because who has time for that?), I used my Big Shot and the Fun Flowers Die (retired).  I cut 12 layers all at once out of pink tissue paper and the folded them like the tutorial shows.  Punched the hole and threaded through some Metallic Baker’s Twine with the metal thread removed (I had use the metal strands on another project).  Tie a knot and then unravel the twine a bit.  I liked the look enough to let it show as an extra detail.  I layered some more Filter Paper over a strip of Crumb Cake card stock and stamped the sentiment from And Many More.

My hope is that someone at the MD Anderson Cancer Center will be able to share this with their very special mom.  My little stack for the center is growing and I’m hoping to have even more by the end of the month!  Oh…and I’m the hostess for the challenge on Oct. 30th.  Can hardly even wait to share my theme with you!!

I’m so glad you stopped in today.  I really hope you will join us in crafting for this wonderful cause.  There is a new challenge every day this month so plenty of inspiration!  For easy access to all the challenges, click here:  Hope You Can Cling To Master Challenge Thread

Stamp:  And Many More; Paper:  Crumb Cake; Ink:  Soft Suede; Accessories:  Big Shot, Lacy Brocade TIEF (ret), Fun Flowers Die (ret), Natural Filter Paper, Pink Tissue Paper, Metallic Baker’s Twine, Dimensionals

 

 

 

I’m back with a card that made me so happy to make!  I get to share another one of my Hope You Can Cling To Challenge cards today.  This one is for Patricia’s “Get Inked” challenge (HYCCT1421).  Her inspiration is her mother and the dots they put on her every time she went for treatment so that the machines could be properly placed.  So we are to create cards with dots and spots.

I started this card by cutting a template from a window sheet with the Hexagon Hive Framelit.  Using that as a stencil, I sponged on Pink Pirouette ink moving the stencil as needed to get the right hexagons filled in.  I then stamped on spots with the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set and Smoky Slate ink that had been stamped off.  But that didn’t seem “spotty” enough (or special enough) so I pulled out some retired Moonlight Smooch Pearlized Ink and splattered it on the card by tapping the applicator with my bone folder.  It adds such a pretty touch in person!  My butterfly from Papillon Potpourri is stamped in Smoky Slate onto White Vellum and heat embossed with Clear Stampin’ Emboss Powder then punched with the Elegant Butterfly Punch.  I added some Basic Pearls onto him to coordinate with the Pearl ink.  FInally, I chose a sentiment from Work of Art.  I love this sentiment but I think this will be particularly meaningful to someone at the MD Anderson Cancer Center.  At least I hope so!

I’m so glad you stopped in today.  I really hope you will join us in crafting for this wonderful cause.  There is a new challenge every day this month so plenty of inspiration!  For easy access to all the challenges, click here:  Hope You Can Cling To Master Challenge Thread

Stamps:  Papillon Potpourri, Work of Art, Gorgeous Grunge; Paper:  Whisper White; Ink:  Pink Pirouette, Smoky Slate; Accessories:  Big Shot, Hexagon Hive Framelit, Elegant Butterfly Punch, Heat Tool, Clear Stampin’ Emboss Powder, Sponge Daubers, Smooch Pearlized Ink, Basic Pearls

 

 

 

Oh do I have something fun for you today!  I get to share one of my Hope You Can Cling To Challenge cards today.  This one is for Diane’s Two by Two, Side by Side Challenge.  She asked us to use pink and purple and two of something on the card.  Her story about the creation of her idea is really moving so make sure you take a look!

After looking around through my stamps, I happened upon this retired one that I received two years ago at Stampin’ Up’s Convention.  It seemed perfect!  Then I remembered a new technique I saw the other day from Allison Okamitsu about coloring embossed images with Blendabilities.  It is perfect way to create a chalkboard image and color specific elements, don’t you think?  All I had to do was stamp with Whisper White Craft Ink and emboss with White Stampin’ Emboss Powder.  Then I used the Melon Mambo and Rich Razzleberry Blendabilities to color the words and details of the stamp.  I used the Labels Framelits to cut the image and then created the blackboard look with Basic Black card stock and White Craft Ink again.  I used a wide paint brush  to make it look more like an erased board.  Then I took some of my hoarded Flower Trim (hey….I really do hoard it, I still love it!), and used reinkers to color the flowers.  I added a layer of Pink Pirouette and put it on a black card base.  This card turned out even better than in my head which always makes me really happy.  I’m hoping the message will remind one of the patients at the MD Anderson Cancer Center of her strength.

Because yesterday was World Card Making Day, I had to get a bit inky and my boys joined in too!  I love it when that happens!  My oldest created a card for yesterday’s HYCCT challenge to use no traditional adhesive.  He immediately thought washi tape and I thought his choice was so clever!

My younger son chose to make “just a nice card” for someone.  He used a Paper Pumpkin kit and then wrote a very kind note inside.  Made my heart happy!

I’m so glad you stopped in today.  I really hope you will join us in crafting for this wonderful cause.  There is a new challenge every day this month so plenty of inspiration!  I hope your weekend has been great.  See you again soon!

Sign ups are open for the Stamps on the Fly Bright & Beautiful Edition.  Click the link for details on how to join the fun!

 

Click HERE to purchase wonderful Stampin’ Up products!

Stamp:  I Am; Paper:  Basic Black, Pink Pirouette; Ink:  Whisper White Craft Ink, Blendabilities – Melon Mambo and Rich Razzleberry Collections; Accessories:  Big Shot, Labels Framelits, Dimensionals