National Cupcake Day is happening today, February 29, 2015.  This national event was created to support the fundraising efforts of the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).

It’s so easy to bake your way in support of the SPCA and  the animals.  There are many ways to get your cupcakes into many mouths ( I mean hands).  Bake up your delicious treats and invite your coworkers, family and friends to enjoy the culinary delights in exchange for a donation to the SPCA.  The funds raised during this event go to support animals in need of care and/or sheltering.  Since National Cupcake Day started in British Columbia, over 2100 animals have been helped.

Rather than make a cup-cake, I made a birthday card.for National Cupcake Day.  I know that it doesn’t taste as good as a homemade one, but it certainly has less calories. It gives me a sense of contributing to the day.

Recipe

Stamps: Sprinkles of Life, Balloon Celebration.

Ink/Markers: Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, Mint Macaron, Tip Top Taupe, Tuxedo Black, VersaMark..

Paper: Whisper White Thick, Melon Mambo, Mint Macaron, Crushed Curry, Whisper White, Tip Top Taupe, It’s My Party DSP Stack.

Accessories: Balloon Bouquet Punch, Banner Triple Punch, Tree Builder Punch, Heat and Stick Powder, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, It’s My Party Washi Tape, It’s My Party Enamel Dots.

To make the cupcake appear to be floating, it was attached to three balloons stamped from the Balloon Celebration set.  Here are a couple of hints when using this stamp set:

1. Because the punch has 2 different sized balloons that can be punched, you could waste a lot of paper.  To eliminate this waste, either stamp you balloons vertically on a narrow strip of card stock.  If you do it horizontally, stamp the smaller balloon on the right hand side of the paper and the larger on on the left hand side of the paper.
2. It is much easier to stamp the balloon outlines and then punch and if you decide to stamp the the dots on the inside of the balloon, do that stamping after punching, You will be able to get right down to the bottom of the balloon and because the stamp is photopolymar, you can see where you are punching.  YEH!!!

Of course, what  cupcake doesn’t need glitter.  After stamping and punching the cupcake with the Tree Builder punch, cover the image with VersaMark, sprinkle with Heat and Stick Powder and melt with Heat  Tool.  Finally, sprinkle Dazzling Diamonds over the cupcake and you will have a very sparkly cupcake.

To view another card using the Balloons Celebration stamp set, check out this POST

I wish National Cupcake Day good luck in their fundraiser to support the animals, that are abused, hurt and/or need a good home.

If you are involved in National Cupcake Day, I would love to hear what you did.  Leave me a comment.

The post National Cupcake Day – Support the Animals appeared first on Simply Said With Karen.

Help stamp out Breast Cancer by subscribing to Paper Pumpkin.  Yes, Stampin’  Up! has announced a campaign to support the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Did you know that Breast cancer is a complex disease that will affect 1 in 9 Canadian women during their lifetime?

According to the latest statistics, it is estimated that 25,000 women and 220 men in Canada will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and that 5,000 women and 60 men will die from the disease in 2015.

How can you help to stamp out breast cancer?

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Paper Pumpkin is going PINK . . . or at least the October boxes are! And because we know that subscribers to Paper Pumpkin want to share the love too, Stampin’ Up! will be making a donation on your behalf to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF).

Stampin’ Up! will donate

• $1 for every active Paper Pumpkin subscriber.
• Plus, an additional $1 for every new subscriber.

Together, we can make a difference!

Here’s how you can help:

1. Subscribe! If you’re new to Paper Pumpkin, click HERE to get started. Your first kit will arrive in a limited-edition pink box that you’ll want to hold onto forever-and we’ll donate $2 because you’re new!
2. Stay active if you’re a subscriberStampin’ Up! will donate $1 for you. Only those who receive the October shipment will be counted for the donation.
3. Spread the word! Every current subscriber adds $1 and for new subscribers it’s doubled, so let’s get the word out and raise as much as possible.

Stamp out breast cancer by subscribing to the October Paper Pumpkin kit and you will be donating to a good cause and getting a one-time only, pretty pink Paper Pumpkin box!

You won’t want to miss it!!!!

More About BCRF

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) advances the world’s most promising research to eradicate breast cancer. Founded by Evelyn H. Lauder in 1993, BCRF has raised more than $550 million to fuel discoveries in tumor biology, genetics, prevention, treatment, survivorship and metastasis, making it one of the largest non-governmental funders of breast cancer research in the world. This year BCRF has invested $58.6 million in research, to support over 235 researchers at leading medical institutions across six continents, including $11.6 million to the international Evelyn H. Lauder Founder’s Fund focused on metastasis. By spending 91 cents of every dollar on research and public awareness programs, BCRF remains one of the nation’s most fiscally responsible nonprofits. BCRF is the only breast cancer organization with an “A+” from CharityWatch, and has been awarded Charity Navigator’s highest rating of four stars 13 times since 2002. For more information, please visit: www.bcrfcure.org.

Additional Details: 

• New subscribers are those who signed up between September 11 and October 10, 2015 and have not been a Paper Pumpkin subscriber at any time in the past.
• Mini spoiler alert! The October project inside the pink box is just as awesome as always, but we should probably let you know that it is not a pink project.

Don’t miss out on this worthy fundraiser to stamp out breast cancer.  Subscribe now to Paper Pumpkin.

The post Stamp Out Breast Cancer – Subscribe to Paper Pumpkin appeared first on Simply Said With Karen.

If you are not on my mailing list, you need to be!  Currently we are sending out the 12 Weeks of Christmas and you have missed the fist 4 weeks.  Don’t miss the last 8 weeks of the 2013 12 Weeks of Christmas newsletter.  Sign up now!

Use this link below to sign up and to see what the benefits of signing up for the mailing list are.

Simply Said with Karen Email List

I have another Christmas card for you that we did at the Cards for a Cause event.  If you missed seeing the first one, check it out at this link below.

Cards for a Cause Christmas Card

Recipe

Stamps: Wishing You (c – 131751, w- 131748, p27 2013 Holiday Catalogue), More Merry Messages (c – 126402, w- 126400, Online Only)

Paper: Smokey Slate, Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Island Indigo, Winter Frost DSP

Ink: Island Indigo

Accessories: Big Shot, Stylish Stripes Embossing Folder, Markers: Island Indigo, Smokey Slate, Bermuda Bay, Silver 1/8” Ribbon, 1″ Circle Punch

This is a simple and quick care to create and with the Blues and the Winter Frost DSP, this card is sure to please many on your Christmas card list.

There are also 2 cute sentiments that come with this stamp set and one you can use inside of the card if you wish.

For more details click on the image

Are you ever stuck for a certain colour ink?  You can use your markers to colour the stamp, huff on it to re-moisten the stamp and then stamp your image.

To get the 3 different coloured presents, the image was colours use the Smokey Slate, Island Indigo and Bermuda Bay Markers.

You have until October 31st to purchase the new colour markers.  After that date, you will not be able to purchase the markers separately.  You will have to purchase them in their colour family sets.

Marker DetailsVisit my online store for more details.

Happy Stamping

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Cards for a Cause was indeed a success!  Last Saturday, the Cards for a Cause fundraiser event was held and I am reporting that it was a success.  The net proceeds for this event is going the the Alzheimer Society of BC – Walk for Memories.

We received very positive feedback from those who attended and thank you to those that were able to get to the event.

We made 9 really cute Christmas cards and I will share the ones that I designed and prepared over the next several posts.

We had a Christmas tree, and yes, Christmas music that contributed to the overall feeling of the event—it’s never too early to get in the Christmas spirit of giving.

Right now, there is no known cure for Alzheimer and it is such a terrible disease, robbing people of their precious memories and for family members robbing them of their loved ones.

Recipe

Stamps: Merry Little Christmas (c – 131829, w- 131826, p27 2013 Holiday Catalogue

Paper: Whisper White, Baked Brown Sugar, Cherry Cobbler, Season of Style DSP Pack, Brushed Gold

Ink: Cherry Cobbler

Accessories: Big Shot, Petals a Plenty Embossing Folder, Pretty Print Embossing Folder, Labels Collection Framelits

This is such a cute stamp set.  If you are looking for quick and easy cards, you can purchase this stamp set as bundle and save $15.00 and whip your Christmas cards up in no time.

For more details, Click on the image

The stamp set is available in either clear mount and wood mount and the kit contains enough supplies to make 8 cards – complete with card stock cards, envelopes, envelope liners, die-cut Designer Series Paper and card stock accents, buttons and Bakers Twine.

Woo Yoo, let the fun begin.  Check out the details on my online store and pick up a set or 2.

Happy Stamping

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I have many friends and they do come from various places…my family, friends I have known since high school, friends from volunteer organizations that I have belonged to, my blogging friends that I have met on line, my fellow Stampin’ Up! demonstrators, those that I have worked for and worked with and the list goes on.

For me, each of these people or groups of people hold a special place in my life.  I know that each of them will give me support when I require it and are there to hold my hand and wipe my tears if need be.

I can’t imagine life without friendship because it’s the special relationships and bonds that we form from having common interests and sometimes not so common interests.

So where is this going you might ask.

Sometimes people are alone and afraid and may feel that at this time of their lives, they do not have the  family and/or friends close by.

Ronald MacDonald House supports many families in need through out the year. Each year, thousands of families stay at more than 160 independently operated Ronald McDonald Houses in North America. These Houses serve as temporary homes for the families of seriously ill children who are being treated in nearby hospitals.

In this time of crises, sometimes you need a friend and Stampin’ Up! and their demos help to make the burden a little less stressful.

Stampin’ Up! is a national sponsor of the Ronald MacDonald House Charities and help those families enjoy a creative environment in their “home-away-from home”.

Each year Stampin’ Up! creates a special stamp set where proceeds from the sale of this stamp set will go to the charity.   

This year, Stampin’ Up! is donating $3.00 from the sale of each stamp set.

Demonstrators are also encouraged to support the Ronald MacDonald House Charities to donate hand-crafted cards to the families so that they can use them…someone may need a Birthday card and just cannot find the time to go out and buy one.  At Convention and Regional events, there are always baskets where demonstrators can drop off their cards to be send to the Ronald MacDonald Houses.

Demonstrators will often organize events and volunteer activities…maybe it is a card making session with the children and the parents.  This gives the family some respite from the strenuous and emotional roller coasters that need to endure.

I am sure that many friendships develop when demonstrators are personally involved at the Ronald MacDonald Houses.

This year, the stamp set for the Ronald MacDonald Houses is called Moving Forward and I have done a card using each of the stamps in the set.

The post Stamping Friends appeared first on Simply Said With Karen.

Hi Everyone:  The cards I am sharing today will contribute to a fundraiser event for the BC Cancer Society in June 2011.  The  “Relay for Life” event is an annual event held in June in various cities in BC.  Teams of various people, run and/or walk for most of the day and each team fund raises to contribute to research and care of those afflicted with cancer. The day is filled with activities for the whole family.  There are tributes to the survivors and those that have succumb to the disease with the day capped off with a candlelight ceremony.

 

We likely all know someone that has been touched by this terrible disease.  While great strides have been made to assist in the cure, there is always more to do. 

The Lotto Ripper’s team from the BC Lottery Corporation is in the middle of their fund raising and I have made a set of cards which I will donate these cards so that they can sell to assist in their fund raising efforts.  What better stamp to use than the Hope and Strength stamp set where Stampin’ Up! will contribute $2.00 from each stamp set and MDS digital stamp set sold to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. 

You will notice that I mention Strength and Hope Designer Series Paper.  Not only did I purchase the physical stamp set, I also purchased the digital stamp set for My Digital Studio.  The digital stamp set includes the stamp brush set as well as various designer series papers and embellishments.

#1 – SSC203

Stamps: Strength and Hope (c-123660, $16.95, w – 118100 – $21.95 Summer Mini p 27)

Paper:  Naturals White, Whisper White, Blushing Bride, So Saffron, Hope and Strength DSP (My Digital Studio)

Ink: Soft Suede, So Saffron

Accessories: Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Tulip Embossing Folder ,Beautiful Butterflies Die, Scallop Squares Duo Die, Versa Mark, Clear Embossing Powder ,Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, Pearls, Decorative Label Punch, Oval Punch

This card will also be my entry for the Stamping 411 Saturday sketch.

#2

Stamps: Strength and Hope (c-123660, $16.95, w – 118100 – $21.95 Summer Mini p 27)

Paper:  Naturals White, Whisper White, River Rock, Not Quite Navy, Rose Red, Hope and Strength DSP (My Digital Studio)

Ink: Not Quite Navy

Accessories: Big Shot, Elegant Embossing Folder, ¾” Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Pearls, Versa Mark, Clear Embossing Powder

The ribbon on this card was made from Regal Rose card stock.  I folded the strip and used glue to hold the folds.  Looks rather scalloped.

#3

Stamps: Strength and Hope (c-123660, $16.95, w – 118100 – $21.95 Summer Mini p 27)

Paper:  Naturals White, Whisper White, Night of Navy, Marina Mist, Hope and Strength DSP (My Digital Studio)

Ink: Night of Navy

Accessories: Versa Mark, Clear Embossing Powder ,Marina Mist Taffeta Ribbon, White Gel Pen, ¾”Circle Punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Big Shot, Circles #2 Die

The Whisper White layer on this card was cased from Split Coast Stampers.  The layer is 3″ x 3″ and the Dotted Scallop Ribbon punch is aligned in the center of each side of the square.  

#4

Stamps: Strength and Hope (c-123660, $16.95, w – 118100 – $21.95 Summer Mini p 27)

Paper:  Naturals White, Whisper White, Tangerine Tango, Old Oliver, Soft Suede, Paisley Petal DSP

Ink: Tangerine Tango, Soft Suede

Accessories: Versa Mark, Clear Embossing Powder, Big Shot, Tasteful Trim Die, Lattice Embossing Folder, Postage Stamp Punch, Pearls

For this card, I tried to make it a little more masculine and still use the butterfly.  I accomplished this by using  a brown and orange colour palette.  Men also need to be comforted and provided with strength and hope as they support someone with cancer or have it themselves.

So there they are.  I know this is a long post as I wanted to showcase the different cards that I have crafted in support of the Relay for Life.

I hope you enjoyed and until next time…..

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