Cards for Hospitalized Kids

Mackenzie is a normal happy, healthy college student, but her life hasn’t always been normal. In 2011, while her friends were enjoying their senior year, Mackenzie spent weeks in a hospital waiting for a new heart. During that difficult waiting period, Mackenzie received multiple cards from strangers letting her know they cared. That year, Mackenzie got more than a new heart. She received love from the hearts of many caring people who contributed to Cards for Hospitalized Kids.

About Cards for Hospitalized Kids

Cards for Hospitalized Kids (CFHK) is an internationally recognized charitable organization that strengthens the spirits of hospitalized kids through uplifting, handmade cards. Individuals and groups across the world, make handmade cards and send them in to CFHK for distribution in hospitals nationwide.

Cards for Hospitalized Kids was founded in 2011 by Jen Rubino, who had undergone multiple surgeries during her childhood to correct a connective tissue and bone disease. She received a handmade card from a hospital volunteer and it not only brightened her day, it inspired her to create CFHK. She was just 16 at the time.

Recipients

Cards for Hospitalized Kids distributes cards to hospitals and Ronald McDonald Houses nationwide each month, as well on as major holidays. We want to give cards to as many hospitalized kids as possible and we need your help. 

How to Get Involved

For complete instruction on how to get involved, visit their web site. CFHK welcomes people from all walks of life, age, location, and artistic ability. All you have to do is donate a little time and creativity to impact a sick child.

In general, CFHK accepts encouraging cards with messages like Stay Strong, I Believe in You,  or You’re Amazing. At the request of hospitals, CFHK asks that you do not write 'get well', 'feel better' or other comments related to the child's illness because some of the patients suffer from medical conditions that are chronic, life-long, progressive and/or terminal.  Also, please do not include any personal information or religious comments. Hospitals treat patients with various religious beliefs.

After signing your name on the cards, send them to:

Cards for Hospitalized Kids
6567 N. Olmsted
Chicago, IL 60631

Today, Mackenzie is a thriving college student who is no longer on the receiving end of CFHK. She is actually a contributor!! What an inspiration.

Below is a card I made to give to Cards for Hospitalized Kids using the Supermom Set.

Annette

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Double Take | Letters and Thickers

Hey Sweet readers! Today’s Double Take is going to be a fun, messy, therapeutic crafting session!! I recently watched this video by Celine Navarro (a very inspiring mixed media scrapbooker) and was SO inspired by her use of old thickers that I decided to make that my theme for these projects.

If you’re anything like me, you have packets of old thickers in your stash – you know, the ones where the adhesive is starting to get weak, or where you’ve used all the “good” letters and just have a bunch of Qs and Zs left. Well, we’re going to put them to good use today, so get out your collection!! Here’s a look at the ones I took out:

The first thing I did was to choose letters that would actually work for a title – I spelled out “Happy Days,” using an assortment of styles and fonts, and even cutting up my stickers to make the letters I needed if I didn’t have them. In the end, everything will be covered up, so the differences won’t be very apparent. After my title was laid out, I chose all sorts of random letters to scatter about my page, making sure to leave a space for my photo. It was really SO fun and therapeutic to get these thickers down on a project, because they’d just been sitting in my stash for a while, and it felt good to use them!!

With all the letters down, it was time for the messy (aka really fun) part – painting over ALL of it with gesso/white paint. Make sure to cover your work surface when doing this!! By the way, I knew that my paper would get covered in paint, so I just used an old sheet of cardstock that I didn’t like… in fact, I taped TWO sheets back to back, just to make it sturdier for the gesso. In my head, I’m using up paper that would never get used anyway, so it’s a win-win!

While the paint was still wet, I spritzed different colors of spray ink and blended it into the paint with a foam brush. If you’re interested in this process, you should watch Celine’s video, because she walks you through the whole thing! I can’t even explain how FUN this was!! You really should try it sometime… there’s a sort of freedom in being artsy and messy with things like paint and mist :)

After that’s all done drying, I was able to quickly finish my layout with some strips of washi tape and some random embellishments that were sitting on my desk. I also stamped some sentiments from the new Monogram It set as well as the cute arrow from Made By #2 to add more contrast and interest to the background. The great thing about this technique is that you’ve put so much into the background that you don’t need a lot of embellishments to finish your project!

I loved this technique so much that I decided to do the same thing for my card. Here’s a look at the first step, with random letters stuck down to and old scrap of paper:

And then after some good old gesso and mist:

Then some stamping from Monogram It and Wheely Like You, and it was complete!

These projects are a very different style than I normally do, but it was really fun and inspiring for me to try a new technique. I hope you enjoyed seeing my process with it, and if you’re inspired to try it out for yourself, be sure to leave a link in the comments!! And if you think this technique might be a bit messy for you, you can easily recreate a similar idea with the new Monogram Alpha stamp set - check out these posts by Nicole and Dana for some inspiration!

Here are the stamp sets I used in my projects:

I’m sad to say that this is my LAST Double Take post for Sweet Stamp Shop… for now at least! Of course, I plan on continuing to be a part of the Sweet family here because it’s been really awesome!!! A big THANKS to Nicole and Danni and all the other wonderful Sweet designers I’ve had the pleasure to work with – and of course, you sweet and wonderful readers ;) If you’ve been enjoying the projects I’ve been making here, make sure to follow me at my blog :)

Just as a quick reminder, if you're not already part of the Sweet Stamp Shop Facebook page, make sure to join to be updated on all the latest happenings!

See you around,

xo Michelle

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November New Release

Jumping up and down pumping hands in the air - it's finally here! We're so excited to be introducing Alyssa of Alyssa Lea Designs as our new illustrator (squeal!!) --- If I didn't say so already, if you think her stamps are sweet... x100... that's how sweet she is. 

Ok, enough of that - are you ready to see the new release and get in on the sale (that's only good for today and tomorrow!) 

Ready for the Sale?! 

20% off all the new release stamps for today and tomorrow only! 

Use coupon code: NRN20

**good on the new release stamps *in stock* stamps. 

www.sweetstampshop.com

We were lucky enough to welcome several guest designers on the blog today - and so, we'll organize this release post just a teenie tiny bit different ... we'll show off the new releases then showcase each designer and their amazing creations. Grab a cup of coffee - we've got quite the line up! 

Without any further yappin' here's the new stuff - 

Monogram Alpha 

Monogram It 

Super Panda Face 

Yummy, Love. 

And we've even brought in some matching flair - cause you guys are loving that! (hooray! We love it too!!) 

You can find the matching flair in our 'new release' section of the website (yep, that's new!) HERE. 

Ready to see what our amazing design team (and guest designers) created for your viewing pleasure... 

We'll start with our design team - 

Dana did such a lovely job - look at those candles! They're awesome! Be sure to stop by her blog for a closer look... HERE. 

We love Judy's bright and cheery cards... just perfect for the holiday season. She really used her crafty genius when she was creating these projects - can't wait for you to go look a little closer... HERE. 

Not only does Danni work super hard behind the scenes as our design team coordinator - she's also amazing us with her design chops! LOVE these creations and she's done such an amazing job showing them off! Love her! Check out more on her blog HERE. 

Kristen can always be counted on for clean and simple - and amazing cards! This release is no exception! Take a moment to visit her blog and you won't regret it! HERE

 Jessica has been with us the longest (about as long as Danni!) and we've LOVED having her - she is so creative with the stamp sets and we're always so surprised with all the unique ways she uses the stamp sets - be sure to check out more on her blog - HERE. 

Michelle did such a great job showing off how to use these stamp sets in project life - and she made the cutest cards. Swoon - we love Michelle - visit her at her blog HERE. 

Tyra - WOW. She had so many amazing cards I couldn't even show them all here... you'll have to go straight over to her blog to check them out! She's so great at a clean and simple style - but, she's not afraid of glitter either - LOVE that! Head over to her blog HERE. 

Alyssa and I invited some of our friends to guest design with us this month and we're super excited to show you what they have up their sleeve. 

Emily Branch - of Emily Branch Designs stopped by this month and let us borrow her crafty genius brain for the month of November. She did not disappoint! Please take a moment and visit her on her blog HERE - you'll love Emily and her blog! Promise! 

Jennifer Rzasa did a fabulous job highlighting Alyssa's new stamp line - we love how she colors and her cards just make you think, AWEEE CUTE! -- Be sure to stop by Jennifer's blog HERE. 

You probably recognize this talented lady creative work, Ms. Thienly Azim! Isn't her fun use of stamps just so darn creative - we think so too! Head right over to her blog and hit 'follow' you'll love everything she posts! HERE. 

Wida Miller also took some time out of her busy schedule to craft with Alyssa's new stamps - and boy did she! We're so thankful that she got her hot little hands on these stamps - she did such an amazing job! Be sure to stop by her blog! HERE. 

We even got Lisa Arana to play along too! Awe! She used some of the new flair! It looks perfect! Hooray! Take a moment and say hello to Lisa on her blog HERE. 

Are you loving the new release?! Now's the time we send you over to the shop - www.sweetstampshop.com ... remember the coupon code is only good until tomorrow - so if you're eyeing something - you'll wanna pop it in your cart while the sale is on! 

Also, Alyssa has the matching SVG's and she has a bonus Digi set for sale on her blog - SO CUTE! (and a great way for you to support the artist herself!) Be sure to check it out HERE. 

Thanks for stopping by today! We think our customers are just the SWEETEST! 

Happy Stamping - 

Happy Shopping - 

Happy SALE! 

The Sweet Family

P.S. 

Because we think you guys are pretty darn cool and would love to get a teenie tiny peek at what's coming up in December.... we'll share a little something ... (mark those calendars - it's hitting the selves the first week of December!) 

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