With Love

Happy Wednesday, my sparkly and sweet friends! I hope you're having a lovely week. :o)

A new month means a new recipient of the treasured I Feel the Love Project! Each month we have the privilege of making cards for those in need of extra love and sunshine. I have the hardest time sleeping the last night of each month, as I'm so eager to discover who will be inspiring my creations over the following several weeks.

This month is extra special, as a former recipient of our crafty love has chosen the new recipients! Sweet Ashley (for whom I made my first ever mini album last year) has asked us to create for the Pediatric Floor of Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center, where she herself has received treatment as she battles a rare form of cancer.

My heart already has several cards aching to come to fruition for the children, but I was inspired to begin with a different angle. From following Ashley's progress, I've discovered (time and again) how grateful she is for the staff that serves with all of their might to help her during her many visits over the last year. They love her dearly and that love is so clearly reciprocated. Since we are creating in her honor this month, I thought it would be nice to squeeze in a couple of cards for the selfless staff for whom she cares deeply.

Blossoming with love is Sylvia Zet's sweet Rosetta, the flower fairy. :o)

Beautiful Rosetta is colored with Copics (listed below), with accents of Star Dust and rhinestones to sparklify the big hearts of the hospital staff. Seeing as she is a flower fairy after all, I had no choice but to surround her with an abundance of nature's beauty. :o) My Wild Orchid Crafts flower arrangements include sweetheart blossoms, cosmo daisies, a regular rose, and a cottage rose. One bouquet is adorned with vintage cream seam binding and pearl sprays (also from WOC), while the other is bubbling up with pearly love via heart stick pins.

Desiring paper as whimsical and flowery as Rosetta, I opted for Wild Rose Studio's Vintage Rose collection. It's delightful! :o)

The sweet sentiment:

The Cheery Lynn Designs heart is cut out with a gorgeous brown rose paper from the same pad... every time I see it I think of chocolate roses. I would love to give them all things sweet! :o) I created the banner and made it wavy, as it's ruffling with fluttery love. One heartfelt prayer, fluttering up to the heavens, is all it takes to restore a life. There was supposed to be a butterfly on this card, with a trail of sparkling memories of healed lives in that hospital, but in my rush I forgot. :( (Unbelievable.) The sentiment is from Close to My Heart.

For extra love from my and Ashley's hearts, I used a Martha Stewart Lace Heart punch for the middle panel's base. Love is timeless, and that's how I view each lacy heart. Every day the staff in the pediatric unit shares the love and strength found from within, encouraging those who are battling for their lives. While Ashley was sure to show them her gratitude, I can't help but want to do the same. I'm so thankful for the love they show Ashley and every child on that floor. Their work is tireless and it's my hope that this flowery, sappy, and sweet card, overflowing with heart, reminds them they are loved.

A glimpse inside, which is lined with a coordinating paper from the same collection:

Products from 7 Kids College Fund Store:

Sylvia Zet stamp: Rosetta

Wild Rose Studio Vintage Rose Paper Pad

Spellbinders Floral Ovals

Spellbinders Labels 18

Copic Sketch Markers

Neenah Solar White Smooth Cardstock

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Tim Holtz Distress Ink: Broken China

Stickles: Star Dust

Zip Dry Paper Glue

Thank you for fluttering on by! I wish you a sweet and sparkly week. :o)

Challenges entered:

 *613 Avenue Create~ Anything Goes (Optional: Felt)

 *Addicted to Stamps~ Hearts

 *Craft Your Passion~ Love is in the Air (Any love-themed project)

 *Crafting From the Heart~ Anything Goes (Optional: Red)

 *Little Miss Muffet~ Luuuuuuuurve! (Any love-themed project)

 *Love to Scrap!~ Who Loves ya, Baby! (Use the word 'love' on your project)

 *Make It Monday~ Anything Goes

 *One Stitch at a Time~ Anything Goes

 *Papertake Weekly~ Anything Goes

 *Pile It On~ Ribbon

 *Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge~ Flowers

 *Sweet Stampin'~ Love/Valentine's

 *The Ribbon Girl~ Card Challenge: Hearts

 *Through the Craft Room Door~ Anything Goes

Copics used:

Hair: E33, E35, E37; Skin: E0000, E000, E00; Clothing and Roses: R81, R83, R85, E23, E25, E27, E41, E42, E43; Leaves: YG61, YG63, YG67