Ladybug Sweetheart Birthday Card

Hello, my crafty friends! I hope you're having a wonderful week. :o)

A new month means new recipients for the marvelous I Feel the Love Project. For August, we are creating birthday cards for residents of SAFEHOME... a place where victims of domestic violence go to gain inner strength, build self-esteem, explore options, and establish a life free of violence. It is a privilege to help celebrate the birthdays of survivors of unspeakable violence.

At any given time, at least 50% of shelter residents are under the age of 17. Therefore, we are not only creating birthday cards for mothers, but also for their children as they rebuild their lives together.

All of my cuts are from the Silhouette Online Store. The ladybug girl tugs at my heartstrings, so I call her Ladybug Sweetheart. :o) I've been saving her for the perfect occasion and the moment I read about this month's IFTL collection, I knew it was time. I gave her a sweet Peachy Keen face for character, which is from the In the Garden Face Assortment. (A DT member used the same combo... it's truly a match made in heaven.) She's ready for the festivities with her rhinestone accents and Peppermint Stick trendy twine bows. :o)

Not only is our Ladybug Sweetheart sharing a precious friend with the little birthday girl, but also a bouquet of balloons! Three of them are filled with hearts, while the other two match her sparkling ladybug dress. :o)

For her landscape, I opted to put her in a rolling field of flowers with a dotty sky above. The papers are from Doodlebug's Lovebirds collection. Sporadic flowers are centered with sparkles, while a bunny off in the distance awaits the birthday girl. :o) The bunny is a Martha Stewart stamp. The sparkly tree leaves are embossed with the D'vine Swirls folder and its cute trunk are embossed with the Swiss Dots folder. I always adore texture, but especially when it's for a kiddo... their fingers love to explore.

The sentiment is from the Whimsical Designs' Everyday Sentiments stamp set. The fun ribbon along the bottom was purchased at Michael's, specifically for our Ladybug Sweetheart. She wanted to bring tons of her fluttery friends to the birthday celebration at the shelter. :o)

The interior is lined with ladybug paper for a fun surprise upon opening. :o)

I hope when it is received, the sweet child's heart is filled with an abundance of ladybug love. :o) I am so thankful for shelters like SAFEHOME, where mothers and children (like this beautiful daughter below) are shielded from the violence that was once a part of their lives.

Thank you for fluttering on by! I hope your day sparkles with love and sunshine. :o)

Challenges entered:
 *Card Crafter's Circle~ Dotty for Spots
 *Cute Card Thursday~ Anything Goes
 *Delightful Challenges~ Add Stars or Sparkle
 *DL.Art Thankful Thursday~ August Linky Party (Anything Goes)
 *Dream Valley~ Summer Days
 *Make It Monday~ Anything Goes
 *Peachy Keen Stamps~ Anything Goes
 *Simon Says Stamp~ Anything Goes