Cards For Little Hearts Blog Hop Winners

Hi, Blogging Friends!

We are into our 6th week of the CARDS FOR LITTLE HEARTS card drive.
Thanks to everyone who has been making cards, and sending them to Christina Hor.

Today's post is to announce blog hop winners. OH BOY!

Winners for the blog hop can be seen on Christina Hor's blog here.

My blog candy was this darling Snowman Set by Bugaboo Designs:

My BLOG CANDY WINNER is:

KraftyKoolKat (Cathy Tanner)

THERE IS STILL TIME TO DONATE CARDS,
but hurry as the deadline is August 25,
and become eligible for prizes from the following kind sponsors:

If you were not able to do the blog hop, but still want to contribute to the cause,

all the details are found here for card guidelines and fabulous prizes.

EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATES WILL RECEIVE TWO DIGITAL SETS.

Please be sure to read all the guidelines before sweetly creating for little children!

Below are two cards I sent, just to give you an idea of how simple these thoughtful gestures can be. Precolored snowman with additional shading and coloring with pastel chalks.

Happiness is a heartfelt hug and a hot mug of holiday cheer:

Since we are using A2 size cards (that was my biggest challenge) with very little embellishing, I found it a perfect time to use paper scraps in my layering.

Thanks for doing what you can, and remember, even if you cannot send a card, I hope you have enjoyed the little snowman Winter Cards of Encouragement.

In case you missed it on my previous posts:

Here are some freebies for your cards. Just click on the Heart(s) you want, then right click to save to your computer. Resize on your word processor to whatever size you like. These are PNGs and are transparent outside of the heart area. Ink them up and play! Please, no commercial use, and no reproduction for selling.

Enjoy!

Playing in the following fun challenges:

1. Christmas Cards All Year Round "Must Use Yellow" 9/1
2. Die Cut Divas (Aug) Anything Goes using die cuts 9/1
3. Kerst-Christmas Challenges (Aug) Anything Christmas 9/1

on a personal note:

https://youtu.be/VVPl1lAguzk

(for my email followers, link is above)

Heartfelt Snowman Hugs,

Cards For Little Hearts Card Drive Blog Hop

Hello, blogging friends!

We are now one month into the CARDS FOR LITTLE HEARTS card drive.

Thanks to everyone who has been making cards, and sending them to Christina Hor.

Today begins our "thank you" blog hop.
(there is a little freebie at the bottom for you.)

The card drive's purpose is to cheer the pediatric cardiac in-patients at Nationwide Children's Hospital. They suffer from a variety of congenital heart disease issues, and it is hard for them to be in the hospital during a time when others are enjoying parties and celebrations. 

The cards lift the children's spirits, inspire them to fight the good fight, and to know they are not alone. Several prizes are being offered for those who donate cards to the card drive:

As a big thank you to everyone, today we have the CARDS FOR LITTLE HEARTS blog hop.

There are prizes from generous sponsors for winners who hop along with us. A few of us also have blog candy we'll be offering. We hope you will spread the word of this worthy cause, because the drive continues until August 25.

Randomly-discovered Blog Hop Prizes for those leaving comments on each blog:

$15 Simon Says Stamp gift card

$15 Ellen Hutson gift certificate

My blog candy is this darling Snowman Set by 

Bugaboo Designs (thank you, Jodie):

(My blog hop prize has one extra sentiment with the snowflake on it.)

To purchase this adorable set, please visit Bugaboo's Snowman-Snowflake.

Winners will be announced on Christina Hor's Blog at 8AM on August 8.

Winners of individuals' Blog Candy will be announced on our personal blogs.

My winner will be announced on my blog at 8AM on August 8.

My little snowman has been printed for an A2 size card (4.25" x 5.5").
He is darling in his lavender cap and scarf.
He has been colored with Copic Markers, and a little ink distressing here and there.

Tip:
To make your digital stamp collection go a lot further, try changing the size of the image, where it is die cut, and flip horizontally:

Here is the enlarged version of the snowman where he is facing the opposite direction:

He is also colored in the same color Copics, but the cap is green, rather than lavender.

Be sure to put a white piece of paper on the inside if using dark cardstock:

Blog Hop Order:

Christina Hor

Jo's Scrap Shack

Edwina Brown

Cara Malmrose

Andrea Norris

Sybrina K

Sandra Blaricum

Lori Kobular

Donna Ellis (hey! that's ME!) giggle


Here are some freebies for your cards. Just click on the Heart(s) you want, then right click to save to your computer. Resize on your word processor to whatever size you like. These are PNGs and are transparent outside of the heart area. Ink them up and play! Please, no commercial use, and no reproduction for selling.




Enjoy!

On a personal note:

My Hoya Rope Plant has vines approaching 10 feet (over 3 meters) long. The leaves are curled and very waxy. They do not require big pots for their roots. This one has begun blooming. The blooms are both waxy with honey, and velvety soft:

Here's a shot using Apple's new "portrait" mode shot on an iPhone. (giggling more)

Thanks for stopping by today!

Challenges I'd like to play in Please:

1. Crafty Friends Challenges #63 "Christmas in July" 8/10
2. Christmas Card Challenges #18 Snowman Inspiration 8/7
3. Dream Valley #160 Anything Goes (C10) 8/12
4. Kerst/Christmas Facebook Challenge - (Aug) Anything Christmas 9/1
5. Merry Monday Christmas Card Challenges "Summer Link Up" (comment 3 - 37, 107, 77) ends 8/31
6. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #1731 "Circles" 8/6
7. The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #11 Anything Christmas Goes 8/5

hugs,

Cards For Little Hearts - Card Drive for Children's Hospital

We are nearly four weeks into the CARDS FOR LITTLE HEARTS card drive.
Thanks to everyone who has been making cards, and sending them to Christina Hor.

In a few days, the CARDS FOR LITTLE HEARTS blog hop kicks off!
There are prizes from generous sponsors for winners of those who hop along with us.

If you're not able to do the blog hop, but still want to contribute to the cause,

all the details are found here for card guidelines and fabulous prizes.

EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATES WILL RECEIVE TWO DIGITAL SETS.

Not only will your cards cheer the heart of a hospitalized pediatric cardiac patient (ages 0 thru 19),

but you'll have chances at winning several great prizes donated by a number of sponsors.

I will be having candy here on my blog as well,
kindly donated by Bugaboo Designs accompanied by fun, new sentiments, 

during our blog hop beginning August 1! The Blog Hop Winner will be announced on August 8.

The card drive lasts from July 1st thru August 25th so get ready to make those cards.
Card Drive winners will be announced on September 1.

Please be sure to read all the guidelines before sweetly creating for little children!

To purchase this adorable set, please visit Bugaboo's Snowman-Snowflake.

My blog candy will be this darling Snowman Set by Bugaboo Designs:

(My blog hop prize has one extra sentiment with the snowflake on it.)

Below are two cards I'll be sending, just to give you an idea of how simple these thoughtful gestures can be. Precolored snowman with additional shading and coloring with pastel chalks.

Happiness is a heartfelt hug and time spent with your best friend:

Since we are using A2 size cards (that was my biggest challenge) with very little embellishing, I found it a perfect time to use paper scraps in my layering. In the frame below, I die cut from glitter cardstock because the glitter will not rub off into little eyes:

Thanks for doing what you can, and remember, even if you cannot send a card, I hope you will still hop with us on August 1 and become eligible for prizes.

Here are some freebies for your cards. Just click on the Heart(s) you want, then right click to save to your computer. Resize on your word processor to whatever size you like. These are PNGs and are transparent outside of the heart area. Ink them up and play! Please, no commercial use, and no reproduction for selling.




Enjoy!

Challenges I'd like to play in please:

1. Kerst Christmas "July" Christmas Always 8/1
2. Christmas at Sweet Stampin' July "Anything Christmas 8/7 (sep post)
3. Crafting by Designs (July 26) Anything Christmas 8/1
4. Christmas Cards All Year Long (July) Anything Christmas 8/1 
5. The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #11 Anything Christmas Goes 8/6 (sep post)
6. the Unicorn Challenge #23 Christmas in July 7/27 (sep post)
7. Winter Wonderland (July 21) "Use A Digi" 7/5 (sep post)

Snowman Hugs,

Cards For Little Hearts - Card Drive for Children's Hospital

On your mark...
Get set...
GO!

It's officially here!
The kick off date for 

CARDS FOR LITTLE HEARTS
card drive from July 1 thru August 25!

All the details are found here for card guidelines and fabulous prizes.
EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATES WILL RECEIVE TWO DIGITAL SETS.

Not only will your cards cheer the heart of a hospitalized pediatric cardiac patient (ages 0 thru 19),

but you'll have chances at winning several great prizes donated by a number of sponsors.

I will be having candy here on my blog as well,
kindly donated by Bugaboo Designs accompanied by fun, new sentiments, 

during our blog hop beginning August 1!
The link to my blog candy is Snowman Snowflake Digi Set.

The card drive is from July 1st thru August 25th so get ready to make those cards.

Please be sure to read all the guidelines before sweetly creating for little children!

My blog candy will be this darling Snowman Set by Bugaboo Designs:

Here are two cards I'll be sending, just to give you an idea of how simple these thoughtful gestures can be:

Precolored snowman with additional shading and coloring with pastel chalks.

Happiness is a heartfelt hug and time spent with your best friend:

Since we are using A2 size cards (that was my biggest challenge) with very little embellishing, I found it a perfect time to use paper scraps in my layering.

Thanks for doing what you can, and remember, even if you cannot send a card, I hope you will still hop with us on August 1 and become eligible for prizes.

Challenges I'd like to play in please:

1. My time to Craft #349 Christmas in July (7/14)
2. The Merry Christmas Challenge (June 30) Snowmen 7/4
3. Winter Wonderland Challenge (June 23) Snowmen 7/5
4. Christmas at Sweet Stampin' (June) Anything Christmas 7/12
5. Crafting by Designs (June) Anything Christmas 7/5
6. The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #9 Anything Christmas 7/10

PS - I'm embarrassed to say this, but I apparently saved "over" my original posting, and the links to the challenge blogs were lost. If you are visiting from one of those challenges, if it is not too much trouble, will you please say so in your comment so I can relink? I'm so embarrassed, and tried to find all of the challenges I originally submitted to.

Snowman Hugs,

Cards For Little Hearts - Card Drive for Children's Hospital

It's approaching that time where the 

CARDS FOR LITTLE HEARTS 

card drive takes place!

All the details are found here for card guidelines and fabulous prizes.
EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATES WILL RECEIVE TWO DIGITAL SETS.

Not only will you cheer the heart of a hospitalized pediatric cardiac patient (ages 0 thru 19),

but you'll have chances at winning several great prizes donated by a number of sponsors.

I will be having blog candy here as well, 

kindly donated by Bugaboo Designs accompanied by fun, new sentiments, 

during our blog hop which will begin on August 1!

The card drive is from July 1st thru August 25th so get ready to make those cards.

Please be sure to read all the guidelines before sweetly creating for little children!

Here are two cards I'll be sending, just to give you an idea of how simple these thoughtful gestures can be:

Precolored snowman with additional shading and coloring with pastel chalks:

Here is the same snowman in pink and brown, sporting a heart on his vest, and shedding a little hopeful light with the starry night and candle. I love those rosy cheeks!

On a personal note:

Thankfully, about 2 weeks ago we came out of our Fire Season (drought) with wonderful daily rains, so well known in Florida's hot, humid summertime. Today's unusually overcast morning provided the perfect opportunity to show a few photos of what happens after 3 or 4 days of drizzle and/or rain. (apologizing in advance for my very shaky hands)

The cap on this white mushroom is about 4" across. It was not here yesterday.
It grew so quickly, that the damp leaf and twig debris covering the ground is sticking to the cap as it grows!

Despite the severe drought, the 8 foot-tall (2.5 meter) gardenia bushes are amass with fragrant blossoms. Each blossom is about 3 inches across (7,6 cm). Mmmmm, smells yummy!
The older, yellower blossoms don't look as pretty, but they are far more fragrant!
Kind of like the people and pets in our lives! (giggle)

These staghorn ferns are over 35 years old. They have moved with us 3 times and adjusted to their new environments. Even here when the temps dip below freezing, they not only survive, but allow squirrels to make winter homes in the middle! The squirrels climb down into the "hole" in the top center of the plant. It's way too hot for summertime habitation, but perfect in the winter. The ferns are at least 6-7 feet across (2 meters) during the "end-stage" of winter. Their fronds will thrive in the summer humidity, and grow even more. The remnants of our winter/spring vegetable garden are in the background:

For my favorite part!
I love the wood mushrooms. They are colorful and always artistically arrange themselves. They usually grow out of a lightning wound in a still-living (oak) tree. But sometimes, we have to take trees down as they age or are damaged. These mushrooms were growing out of a tree "stump" remnant from years ago:

The cluster grew in a matter of days because the old stump was damp, and ripe with "rot".
In case you cannot see the stump, it is below ground level. The following smaller cluster is from the same tree, but growing out of an old "surface" root a few feet away:

Such interesting color patterns - each cap growing from ivory to rusty hues. I wonder if a wood mushroom's coloring is similar to the interior of a tree, since that is what it is feeding on?
Whatever, they are amazing, and prolific, too!

Wishing you loveliness no matter what the weather or circumstance.
We can usually see beauty if we take time to look for it.

Challenges I'd like to support:

1. The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #8 anything Christmas Goes 6/28
2. Christmas Card Challenge #14 anything Christmas 6/25
3. Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #337 Non Traditional Colors 6/17
4. Jingle Belles Christmas Challenge (June 9) All Bundled Up (using more than 3 layers) 6/22
5. A Snowflake's Promise #41 Anything winter/Christmas Goes 7/11
6. Crafting from the Heart #163 Anything Goes 6/19

hugs,