Children's cards

If you have been following my blog you will know that I have been doing a lot of cards for different charities. The latest being North Queensland Rural Family Services.

Well a few weeks ago I got a lovely phone call from Jeannie who lives in Charters Towers and is the one we sent all the cards to, for her to distribute. She wanted to thank us for all the work we had done and that for most people a card was just a nice card but for these people doing it tough it was something very special. I wanted to pass on this thanks to all the people that came to my studio and helped make this possible. Also thanks to Nikki Burton for suggesting we make these cards, when she attended our fundraiser. Now we are going one step further, we are creating cards for the children and will also divide these up so that Ronald McDonald House gets some as well.

Because colouring books are big at the moment we thought that the kids might like to have a card that they could colour in and give away or give them to their friends to colour in. So thinking caps on, what type of stamp could we use? "From the Herd" stamp set was suggested. That posed a problem as it is a discontinued stamp set that I did not have. Liz another of our Paper Angels had just sold hers so she put the call out to the other Angels and luckily Shelagh was quick to respond. Crikey, I can't believe how wonderful and generous people are when the call for help is put out.

So my lovely friend Astrid Howell set to work making a zillion cards. Well maybe not a zillion, smile!!

This is what she made.

Aren't they just the ants pants. I think they will go down a treat. Also Astrid printed out these little instructions to pop in with the card. Isn't she a gem?

Thank you for your support

Stampin' Up! which I am an Independent Demonstrator for, has been committed to giving back and making a difference since it began, and in 2003, they officially launched their Making a Difference program. Some of the ways they do this is to..

• Support Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) through annual financial donations. 
• Encourage demonstrators to make and donate cards to local RMHC Houses. 
• Raise funds to help people affected by natural and other disasters.

For the last few years I have been going once a month to Ronald McDonald House in Herston, Brisbane and teaching cards to any of the residents that need a break from the daily hospital visits or the long waiting times for babies to arrive or grow big enough to take home. On these card making days I always take a huge box of cards with me to donate. Some of these cards have been donated by other demonstrators and passed on to me. One very generous demonstrator Debbie Blake, who lives in Darwin posted me 3 boxes of cards last year. Isn't that wonderful.

The ladies in the office have these cards on hand for anyone that needs them, residents don't always have time to think of a birthday or anniversary, when there are more pressing things happening right now.So these cards are gratefully received.

Also Stampin' Up! received a letter from the Auckland branch of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) and I would like to share it with you where they express thanks for what New Zealand demonstrators have done to contribute.

Over the last few weeks I have been concentrating my efforts on making cards for North Queensland Rural Family Services and I want to send out a huge thank you to everyone that attended my card making days and helping make many gorgeous cards. Thank you, thank you, thank you... You have made a difference.

There will be more of these card making days, both for NQ and for Ronald McDonald House so if you want to come along and help, all you need to do is let me know.