Becca's Hop and More Fall Foliage

Hello, my friends!

I hope you had a lovely weekend doing what you enjoy and that you are looking forward to the start of a brand-new week!

I've got a medley of cards to share today. First, this card to support my friend Becca Cruger (The Damsel of Distressed Cards), who is running her annual hop to focus on stopping domestic violence. 

My card has a purple base, matted with a plaid layer and bejeweled with sequints. The beautiful NBUS sediment is from My Favorite Things. The branch and bird are from Memory Box: the branch is from "Meadowbird Branch" and the bird is from "Finnegan Fronds."

It's wonderful of Becca to spotlight domestic violence. It's important to talk about the help that is available to anyone who is the victim of physical abuse. It's also good to remember that domestic violence sometimes comes in the form of emotional abuse. 

Actually, that's true of any relationship. Words can cut deeply and emotional bruises sometimes take the longest to heal. Because our high-level politicians practice schoolyard nastiness and immaturity, it's easy for that behavior to trickle down and be reflected throughout society and in all ages. Kudos to today's parents! It's a lot harder being parents now than it was 30 years ago! 

Oops, I went off track. That's a hop for another day. Thank you, Becca, for continuing to keep the issue of domestic violence in the light of day and tell your story. Mwah!

Challenges

• The Hop to Stop: Use purple. (Please take a minute to read Becca's moving post.)
• Addicted to Stamps and More: Anything goes.
• Double D Challenge: Use plaid.
• HLS: CASE the Designer: Birgit Norton.
• Memory Box Challenge: Use sequins.
• Pixie's Snippets Playground: Use snippets.

~~~

I also made several QACAS cards to send, but I only photographed a couple of them. 

The hello is from WPlus9, heat-embossed onto vellum in gold, which is reflected in the gold matting.

The thanks on this card is from Winnie & Walter.

I've had some beautiful sheets of fall leaf PP for ages. I simply fussy-cut the leaves and attached them to pretty embossed paper that I purchased at Michael's while at the Lake House. It's a Recollections "Embossed Neutrals" paper pad in gorgeous shades. EZPZ.

Every time I go to Michael's, I stop at the front and ask, "Is Mike here?" Some clerks laugh (he doesn't let everyone call him Mike, you know), but most of them stare through me, hoping I'll just walk on. Which I do. But, honestly, I just want to thank the man.

I do the same thing at JoAnn's, only I ask for Jo, of course. You should try it. It's fun.

~~~

Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy! LITS!*

As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse and special thanks to you if you take the time to join as a follower! Please let me know you came by so I can be sure and return the flavor!

*Life is too short!

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Mwah!
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Cards for Causes

Greetings, my friends! I hope you are doing well!

Things are still progressing here and, trust me, if you're going to gress, you want the pros on your side! Even by my prattling standards, this post is a lah-ong one. I know I should have done three separate posts, but in the interest of my nursing duties, and because the hamster just kept handing me the information, I just kept on keepin' on ... 

In Blogland this month there are some very special causes and happenings that are near and dear to me ~ and to the world of card art.

First Lee: 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. As I've said in my annual posts highlighting this important cause, it is rare to find someone whose life has not been impacted by breast cancer in some way. When it strikes close to home, we know our cards are a wonderful way to show our support, love, and encouragement.

For my card, I used my NBUS Triangle Trio die from PTI. The symbolic ribbon is cut from a Provo Craft die, and the NBUS sediment is from The Alley Way Stamps ("Life is Short"), heat-embossed in melon mambo. The Tim Coffey DSP is from my stash. The pretty sequints are from Pretty Pink Posh.

Challenges

• AAA Cards: Word Play.
• Cuttlebug Mania: No Squares.
• Words 2 Scrap By: Fight Like a Girl.
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes.

Twofer Lee:

I didn't realize this, but October is also Domestic Violence Awareness month and purple is the representative color for this cause, just as pink is for BCA.

My dynamic friend Becca is hosting "The Hop to Stop" at her place to raise awareness for this worthwhile cause. She's also kindly distributing to women's shelters any cards that you wish to make and send to her. And, there are even sponsors participating!

To join in the hop and find all the rules and deets, click on the above link. Thank you, Becca, for being a kind and generous soul!

Here is my purple contribution:

I couldn't wait to ink up this adorable NBUS stamp from Purple Onion Designs called "Jolly!" The papers are from my stash. I watercolored the image with my Ziggies and then winked the colors. The sediment is from SU. I think it is also NBUS, but I'm not for sure.

Challenges

• CASology: Silly.
• Christmas Card Challenges: Color Combo.
• Damsel of Distressed Cards: The Hop to Stop.
• Less Is More: Jewel Colours.
• Muse: Christmas Visions: Marilyn Cotter. See below.

And, Third Lee:

Vera Yates and Jennifer McGuire are holding their annual Caring Hearts Card Drive. Along with a few volunteers, these ladies unselfishly use their own time and money to collect and distribute hundreds of Christmas cards to nursing homes! (You may stand and applaud! They deserve it!) For rules and complete information, please visit either special lady!

New Friends Corner

I'm delighted to have you meet five more fabulous card artists!

Purvi Gadewar of Craft Concoction. Purvi started bloggin in 2013. She doesn't get a chance to post often, but I love seeing her craft concoctions when she does. She has been interested in making cards since she was a girl. When you visit, you will find cool and unique inspiration, including hand-lettering and hand-carved stamps!

Karen Letchworth of My Cup Runneth Over. Karen has been blogging since 2011. Her range when it comes to designing knows no boundaries. You will find card art, of course, but you will also find oodles of 3D creations, journals, and stitchery. I'm sure Karen is familiar to a lot of you from all of her guest design and design team positions. If not, you are in for a treat!

Crafty Hazelnut of My Crafty Outlook. Take your hats off, everyone: Hazel has been blogging since 2007!! That alone tells you why you should visit Hazel and how much inspiration you will find when you do. There is always fun going on around Hazel's place as she is also the owner of several challenge blogs! I don't know about you, but I admire and respect a blogger who has been at it since 2007!

Marlena McDeavitt of Marlena is Faithfully Crafting. Marlena has been blogging since 2010, so she's also an experienced blogger. She is the mother of three sweet girls and she enjoys sharing her faith in her card artistry and her blog. Marlena enjoys entering challenges and her cards and 3D projects are always clean and thoughtful!

Susanne Rose of Susanne Rose - Paper Blobs. (I'm not sure about the translation!) Susanne has been blogging since 2013. You probably know her from the work she has done on several design teams. If you don't know Susanne, however, I assure you that you'll be impressed by her wide range of artistic talent, jewelry designs, and tutorials!

Thank you for joining, ladies, and welcome to the Playhouse!

~~~

Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy! LITS!*

As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse and special thanks to you if you take the time to join as a follower! Please let me know you came by, so I can be sure and return the flavor!

*Life is too short!

To open the pop-up comment box that let's you jump to the end w/o scrolling:

Click CTL + Home. 
Click the Home tab under my blog banner which resets the post.
Click Page Down to reach the end of the post.
Click Comments and the pop-up box opens.
Click Jump to Comment Form; no more car pool tunnel! Mwah!
If you ask me a question in your comment, please remember to leave
me your email address so I can respond. Thank you!