Sites of the week

TGIF! This week as flown by and I can’t believe that it’s Friday already! This is my first of 2 posts today, so stay tuned for more as the day rolls on.

Karen, the owner of YOUR NEXT STAMP, is attending a fun event called SCRAPFEST this weekend. A couple of years ago, the organizer of the event asked if she would design stamps especially for the event. Karen got creative and came up with these fun Cropper and Shopper Fhiona images…

These stamps are only available during Scrapfest…and that’s NOW {Oct. 14-16}. Unfortunately, I don’t own either one of these, but I still have a fun YNS creation to share with you! This one uses the new WICKED SWEET set, along with some fun papers and embellies…

A couple of detail shots…

This post is for fellow stamper, Katie Renz, a beautiful woman diagnosed with inoperable stage 4 gastric cancer less than a year ago. In her last blog post, she writes about shopping for plots at cemeteries and coffins. So, when I was asked if I could be part of a blog hop to benefit Katie, a wife and mother that knows her time here is limited, of course I agreed. Making a card seems so insignificant in light of the truth she faces, but I hope that it helps in some way.

I am just one of 125 people that will shower Katie with a little stampy love over the course of the next 3 days in a benefit to raise funds for her family. You can find a full list of today’s hoppers at the end of this post. Be sure to leave a little love on Katie’s blog, too. Her story with this evil disease starts HERE and the inspiration for the octopus and “Keep Swimming” sentiment is on THIS post. All the details for this fundraiser to benefit Katie’s family can be found HERE on the i{heart}papers site.

Detail shots…

This image, along with other images and cut files are available to purchase HERE. All of the proceeds go to Katie’s family. Donations are also accepted, the donation button can be found on each blog hop post, as it is here:

Day One Blog Hop List…

AJ Otto

Beate

Carolyn Mustopa

Dawn Burnworth

Deb Felts

Gretchen Belknap

Heather Jensen

Jen del Muro

Julie Ranae

Kate - i {heart} papers

Kendra Wietstock

Lisa Johnson

Loretta Lock

Lori Tecler

Lynn Mercurio

Marianne Walker

Michele Gross

Stacy aka Twinshappy

Tracy Schultz

Debbie Olson

Cindy Lawrence

Cindy Haffner 

Julie Koerber

Christine Okken

Tammy Hershberger

Danielle Kennedy

Barbara Anders

Makiko Jones

Ashley N Newell

Shannan Teubner

Taylor Usry

Jen Tapler

Jenn Balcer

Jenny Chesnick

Jess Larsen

Jessica Knutsen

Jimmi Mayo

Joan Bardee

Joan Ervin

Julia Aston

Julie Day

Julie Ebersole

Just wanted to share some pics from Ellie’s 5th birthday party. I don’t really do themes, but all the decor was red, white and pink…with lots of polka dots!

“Photo Booth” pics…

A great time was had by all! We decorated crowns {designed by me in Make the Cut…woot woot!!}, colored cupcakes, played a bean bag toss game, took photo booth pics and, of course, chowed down on some cupcakes and ice cream! Not bad for weeks of planning for 2 hours on a Friday afternoon!! LOL!

Hey girls! If you haven’t heard, there is a new event coming to Texas this fall…

All deets for this awesome event can be found HERE!

Your truly will be teaching a MY FAVORITE THINGS sponsored class that you won’t want to miss! See you there!!

As you have probably read from her blog, Susan’s husband, Eric, is currently undergoing treatment for a very aggressive form of lymphoma. Through this battle, my BFF has always found a way to make lemonade out of the crappy lemons life has been handing her and her family lately. I admire her strength to smile on days that I know are filled with rain clouds. Eric is strong and is making it through the treatments one day at a time. There have definitely been some setbacks with adverse reactions {meaning kidney function, fevers, and complete loss of appetite} and needed transfusions. And, the reality of it is that the bills are adding up and Eric is out of sick time at work. This is where you can help!

My Favorite Things, Verve Stamps and The Cat’s Pajamas are having a benefit sale Friday through Sunday (EDIT) with 10% off your purchase and a portion of the proceeds benefit the Liles’ family. You can support them and get stamps…win, win!!

OR

There is a DONATE button on the side of her blog. You can read more about it on THIS post that her sister and friend wrote. If you have any questions in regards to this, please contact Sheila {a longtime friend of Susan’s} at sheila@remember4faith.com

Tonight I am bringing them some BBQ chicken, pasta salad and sliced strawberries to hopefully ease the day to day stuff that goes on with or without cancer knocking at your door. I hope you can my friend, too!

PS-I love what Alma wrote on her blog about our friend. You can read her post HERE.