Monday, October 10, 2011

Swimming for Katie – Day One

swim-for-katie

Hello friends. I hope you had a great weekend! I am here today with a very bittersweet post. I am proud and honored to have coordinated Swimming for Katie, a fundraiser and blog hop for my dear friend but obviously the circumstances that this is under makes me cry.

From October 10-12 some of the best stampers 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 (on the left sidebar). 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.

For my card I used the Swimming for Katie stamp, colored with Copics and Stickles. I popped up the flag with my favorite Sticky Thumb dimensional dots, layered on Circle Nesties over a piece of Budding Bulb paper. Finally I added strips of white satin ribbon and Two Tone Purple ribbon.

Here are all the items available for sale.


Keep Swimming Octopus
Peachy Clear stamp

$5.50 with free shipping



Keep Swimming Octopus DIGIstamp
$3.00 with instant download


Keep Swimming Octopus DIGIstamp with SVG cut file
$3.50 with instant download


Keep Swimming Mermaid DIGIstamp
$3.50 with instant download


Keep Swimming Ribbon Fish DIGIstamp and DIGIpapers
$5.00 with instant download

I hope you will join me in supporting Katie through a purchase or donation. The donation button is on the left side of my blog.

The following is a list of everyone who has projects posted today. I hope you will be inspired by them and moved to purchase or donate. If you would like to send Katie a card her mailing address is:

Katie Renz
PO Box 5913
Bellingham, WA 98227-5913

Here is this list for today:

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

Thank you for purchasing and/or donating. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

I’ll be back tomorrow with the Day Two hop list.

21 comments:

Unknown said...

Thinking of and praying for Katie - hope her swim is long and steady.

Unknown said...

Beautiful card!
Thanks so much for helping Katie!

Hugs,
True :D

Jingle said...

Super sweet card!

Kary said...

What a pretty card!! So sad to hear about Katie...but so inspired by her strength and courage. Thanks for sharing her story!

Joan Ervin said...

The little octopus looks sooo pretty in purple....such a beautiful card for a wonderful cause!!! Thanks for all your hard work on this fabulous hop!!!

ChristineCreations said...

Adorable Kate.

You've done a wonderful thing too. Your investment in Katie's life is a precious thing to her. Well done all the way around. Thanks for allowing me to be a small part of it!

Ashley Newell said...

Thank you SOOOOOOO much for this hop, Kate! You are amazing and it's so wonderful that you and Becky thought to do this! I'm so honored to be your friend!

Deborah Frings said...

Lovely shades of lilac, and another really pretty octopus! Love all these cards. You guys are really great!

Jessica Griffin said...

adorable card!! xo I'll keep Katie and her family in my thoughts.

Jessica Griffin
http://www.canyoupixelthis.com

Lynn Mercurio said...

A royal image done in regal colors. Awesome job, Kate. Thanks so much for helping to organize the worthy fund raiser! God bless your heart!

Nichole Bryant said...

Cute card!

Kelly S. said...

Thanks so much for arranging this blog hop, Kate! It's such a wonderful idea and I am sure Katie will be so touched. I hope that these adorable images and everyone's wonderful creations bring in lots of donations for the Renz family!

Julia Aston said...

So pretty in purple Kate - what a great hop for Katie today! Thanks for all your work to make this 3 day event happen!

Unknown said...

Beautiful card and you're a wonderful friend.

Keely Livings said...

I love your beautiful card, Kate! Sending love and prayers to Katie.

Lisa Lara said...

Looks great on the circle Kate. Thank you for doing this for Katie!

Jessica Diedrich said...

Fabulous card and even more fabulous cause. I SO appreciate the endless energy, time, and LOVE that you've put into this cause. Such a wonderful thing to do for our sweet friend. Many hugs of thanks to you this week, wonderful girl!

Tenia Nelson said...

So so pretty!! Thanks for helping Katie!!

Vanessa Middleton said...

Hi, Kate. It is so sweet of you to do this for Katie. Her story breaks my heart and I wish nothing but the best for her and her family during this difficult time. I bought the stamp. I mean, how can you NOT? It's adorable. Thanks again for doing this!!! xoxo

Marilyn Nimmo said...

Love the card and enjoying the hop!

Cindy Haffner said...

SWEET SWEET SWEET!!~