Charity Blog Hop - and a Give Away!

Hello, crafty & creative friends!

I'm excited to be a part of this wonderful blog hop that is all about one of my very favorite things in the whole wide world...GIVING!  We want to inspire you to think outside the box with your gift giving this year.  Perhaps instead of yet another gift of flowers for Mom on Mother's Day, you might consider a special gift to a charity of your choosing in Mom's honor.  ...something that could make a REAL difference.  Isn't that a fun & beautiful idea?!!  

There are SO many truly wonderful charities out there, and you're sure to discover some new ones on today's hop.  I chose Samaritan's Purse as my charity of choice.  This is the same organization that does Operation Christmas Child each year, filling up thousands and thousands of shoeboxes with all sorts of wonderful goodies to send to children all over the world.  Many of those children have never ever received a gift, let alone a shoebox full of gifts!  My family has participated in this for many years, and it is always lots of fun for us to choose the special items to go inside.  We always include a photo of our family, along with a personal note, and we are even able to track where our shoeboxes end up.  We have tracked ours to Columbia, Ukraine, and this past year to the Dominican Republic.  It is an amazing program, and one that is great for your kiddos to get involved in!

The Samaritan's Purse organization does so much more too!  Read on to learn about who they are:

Mission Statement

Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ. The organization serves the church worldwide to promote the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

They do so much good around the world, and I'm thrilled to be a small part of that!  An easy way to get involved with this wonderful organization is via the Gift Catalog.  You simply choose a gift, such as "Feed a hungry baby for a week.", "Restore sight to the blind.", or "Help a poor farming family."  There a many, many options!  You can give the gift in honor of another person, which is when it becomes a perfect token to tuck into an Easter basket or Mother's Day card, etc.  
I chose the following gift:

The number of children in serious crisis around the world is staggering...and heart-breaking.  When I think of how we live in such comfort and luxury here in the US, I am reminded of how important it is to not forget those who are less fortunate than we are.  If we each help just one person, we will have made a huge impact in this world!

They sent me this sweet card for me to give to the person in whose honor my gift was given.


I created a card today using Mo Manning's Wagon digital image in honor of my gift of rescuing children.


This little sweetie's forlorn expression just called to me.  She's just waiting for someone to come along & pull her in her wagon.  The floral patterned paper is from Chickaniddy Crafts Scrumptious collection.

I colored her using a wide array of Copic Markers, including the 6-Piece Ciao Skin Set, which is all I used on her skin.  If you're looking to get started coloring skin with Copics, get this set!  It's a perfect combination of light to dark skin tones.

Here's a look at the other Copic Markers I used on my project:


If you look closely, you can see that I added some texture to her baseball cap.  I did that by coloring it up first (before any other part of her is colored), and then spritzing a piece of denim fabric with Colorless Blender solution and pressing it briefly down onto the colored hat image.  Voila...texture!  Love that technique!

I do like to decorate the inside of my cards as well; so here's a look at the inside:


The stamps & sentiments are from Power Poppy's Simply Camellias stamp set.

Before I go, did I mention that there are PRIZES on this blog hop?  No???  Well, check it out!

How awesome is that?!  

To get in on the prize packages, you'll need to leave comments on each of the blogs on the hop between now & Wednesday, March 22nd.  Winners will be announced on Sandy’s blog on Thursday March 23, along with a total amount we’ve raised together!  

I SO hope we've inspired you to do a little charitable giving, and maybe get a little creative with it as holidays, birthdays, and special occasions come up.  I can think of no gift that would make me happier than knowing a gift was given to someone in need in my honor.  THAT is the best! :)

Here's a full list of today's charitable blog hoppers.  If you haven'd made it through them all yet, you'll want to grab yourself a cup o' java, and start back at the top of this list...and enjoy!

Sandy Allnock  

Lisa Stein

Caryn Davies

Carly Tee Minner

May Sukyong Park

Lisa Spangler

Aimes Gray

Jessica Frost-Ballas

Ellen Hutson

Julia Stainton

Emily Midgett

Taheerah Atchia

Joanne Soukup

Melissa Miller

Libby Hickson

May Flaum

Cindy Lawrence <---You are here!

Have a beautiful & charitable weekend, friends!

God bless!

~Cindy

 

Comments

[Kristina CraftyPaws]

1.

OMGEE your coloring is crazy gorgeous! Wonderful charity to support too. TFS and inspiring!

[Chris Handy]

2.

Darling card. Awesome coloring. Wonderful charity

[Melissa Teeling]

3.

Wow! Your coloring of Mo Manning's Wagon is just stunning! The contrast in colors (shadow and light) is so pleasing to look at and gies your image so much depth. Thank you for sharing and being part of the bloghop! :)

[El Ivens]

4.

Love love your cards. Your coloring is gorgeous. Thanks for sharing your talents with us and sponsoring such a worthy charity. You guys have made it really hard for me to pick one to donate to.

[JoAnn]

5.

Love your card. A very worthy charity. I have supported Samaritan's Purse for years also. They do a great work with the children and other projects also. Thank you for sharing. God bless.

[Jeanne-Marie]

6.

Your Copic coloring is just outstanding! I absolutely love your card and the organization you chose!

[Lagene]

7.

AWESOME cards! Thanks for sharing your charity choice.

[Sandy]

8.

Love your coloring as ALWAYS---and that little child represents so many who wait for one of us to come pull their virtual wagon! Thanks for highlighting Samaritans Purse---and sharing your heart for kids! ❤

[Carol Casavant]

9.

Love your card...!!😊😊

[Maxine]

10.

I love your cards, I love the charity. So many little hearts that need love!!

[Julie]

11.

Lovely cards to highlight the important work of a great charity.

[Mary Lovill]

12.

Your card is amazing! I love your girl, and the inside is just perfect! I give to Samaritan's Purse and I'm happy to be reminded that it is time to donate again. Thank you so much for sharing and have a wonderful weekend :)

[Jennifer Scull]

13.

oh goodness, your card is absolutely precious! Mo would be tickled to know you chose one of her images for this fabulous blog hop! :) such an amazing charity, too. we make lots of boxes every Christmas. it's always fun to find things to put inside them, but also to hear of the impact they have upon the people who receive them.

[Angharad Jayne locke]

14.

Lovely card and a great charity.

[may]

15.

This card (and charity) is awesome! Thank you for sharing - this hop has been so uplifting and inspiring.

[Gilda (McStamper)]

16.

Wonderful card. Awesome coloring.

[Patty Eifert]

17.

Excellent gift and the card is stunning...you color beautifully!!

[Nancy Wilcox]

18.

What a wonderful idea for a blog hop! Love the card.

[bev p]

19.

Beautiful job and a worthy cause! Thank you.

[Marsha D]

20.

What beautiful coloring on your card. I too love Samaritan's Purse and all that Franklin Graham and his organization does. (Looking forward to the movie, Facing Darkness, at the end of the month!)
Thank you for the denim tip - genius idea. Definitely going to try that.

[John K.]

21.

Wow I'm impressed with your comic coloring abilities. Thanks for sharing on a great hop for great causes. Thanks for the chance to win as well!

[Adoree]

22.

Just a beautiful card!

[Nora]

23.

Your Copic coloring is AMAZING, as is that card. Thank you for sharing this charity. I made a Pinterest board with a bunch of charities on this hop. I want to remember them for later!!

[Jeanne]

24.

Such a cute girl. Thanks!

[Barbara]

25.

Wonderful card, coloring, and what an important charity as well. I love this hop!!

[Lorie Bradberry]

26.

You are talented! Love the missing you card I wish I could do that! Thanks for sharing an important charity. This blog hop is the best!

[Karen Judy]

27.

Your card is so beautiful. The coloring in amazing!! Thank you for participating on this charity blog hop!

[Rebecca Ednie]

28.

What a beautiful gift.

[Barbara]

29.

Beautiful coloring and deserving charity, thanks..

[Caryn Davies]

30.

Wow, such a beautiful card - and an amazing charity.
Hugs,
Caryn xxx

[Kristy]

31.

Love your coloring! I am sure the gift will be appreciated.

[Ann K]

32.

Very nice, thanks for the inspiration!

[Hannah Rubenstahl]

33.

I love your coloring, Copic markers are pure magic! I also enjoyed your choice of charities, children are so precious. :D

[Melissa Miller]

34.

What a beautiful card and your coloring is AMAZING! My local stamp store collects items each year for Operation Christmas Child. :)

[Lynda J]

35.

Awesome card!

[Preeti D.]

36.

beautiful work :)

[sharon]

37.

Really beautiful card...the coloring is gorgeous and those eyes really speak to me!

[dmc4042]

38.

Great card and great cause. Thanks for sharing both.

[Caitlin Rebecca]

39.

Love your cute card and this wonderful charity blog hop!!!

[Linda Patti]

40.

Amazing card and a wonderful charity!

[Miriam Leech]

41.

Wow! What a card and what a gift!!! Thank you!!

[Mary-Anne V.]

42.

Gorgeous colouring of this image and love the texture you created.

[Valerie]

43.

Great card and wonderful charity!

[April B]

44.

How sweet! And what an awesome job you did on the copic coloring! Thank you for being a host for this charity blog hop!

[terriavidreader]

45.

Gorgeous card.

[Kleri F]

46.

Gorgeous card and a very good cause!Thank you for sharing!

[Marcie Lovett]

47.

Cute! Love the texture technique tip.

[Ruth Carnes]

48.

This is a beautiful card and an amazing charity! thank you for sharing

[Donna V]

49.

Great cards and wonderful charity!

[Christy Bray]

50.

Love this cause!!! I've supported them thru the years

[Lisa]

51.

This is a lovely card and a lovelier gift. I need to check out this cause, looks like a great one.

[Heather Mills]

52.

First, your card is adorable! That image is very sweet and goes perfectly with the sentiment. And I love the color combo you used; so fresh and fun. Second, Operation Christmas Child is my favorite charity as well. I am the OCC coordinator at our church and we have been packing shoeboxes for years. Also, for the past several Christmases, my husband and I have taken the money we would have spent on each other's gifts and donated to families in need through Samaritan's Purse. We figure they will appreciate it so much more than any gift we could give each other. Thanks for promoting them on this hop.

[Donna Dacy]

53.

I love the idea of this charity. Sounds like they do lots of great work. And your card is adorable. Love the image and colors and patterned paper. The recipient of the card and donation gift will be so pleased to get them. TFS

[Abby]

54.

Great card and coloring!

[robin patrick]

55.

I've never seen your work before. Your coloring really makes a card come alive. Adorable card! I also love Samaritan's Purse. We've supported them for many a year and they are just ending up all over the world! Keep up the beautiful art and the giving.

[Jude Unnone]

56.

Great card and great charity.

[Cynthia Johnson]

57.

What an awesome card and beautiful coloring! Samaritan's Purse is one of my favorite charities, good choice!

[Lynda]

58.

Great card with some amazing colouring. Well done.

[Joyce Boylan]

59.

Love both cards! And your choice of charities as well!

[Jean Marmo]

60.

Wonderful cards!

[Robyn m]

61.

Wow! Absolutely gorgeous card.

[Isabel Z]

62.

What a wonderful idea for a blog. I have been inspired by all of you to donate to our local food bank. Thank you for the inspiration

[Kathy J in Ellicott City]

63.

Love the card! Beautiful!

[Penny]

64.

Love your card. Amazing coloring... Wonderful blog hop.

[Liz mcallister]

65.

Loved this blog,hop! So many great ideas and charities

[Dee Earnshaw]

66.

Beautiful card. Such a great charity:)

[Denise Bryant]

67.

Beautiful card with awesome coloring!

[Tami B]

68.

The coloring on your card is outstanding and thank you for highlighting Samaritan's Purse which is near and dear to my heart.

[Ericka Strange]

69.

Wonderful cards. So darling and I love this charity we donate to it every year. Thanks for sharing!

[Sabrina Fioretti]

70.

Beautiful coloring, great charity!

[Meghan P.]

71.

These are such sweet cards, thanks so much for sharing! And what a beautiful gift you gave!

[Sabrina Radican]

72.

Beautifully colored and two very lovely cards!!

[Jenn Bishop = Jennifer Bishop = Jennifer B. = Jennblb]

73.

Your coloring is amazing! What a great texture idea! Thank you for your charity donation, and for taking part in Sandy's Charity Blog Hop! This Hop has been terrific!

[Kim Kieffer]

74.

Wow, I am liking finding out about all these charities and seeing the nice cards. I look forward to checking out all the blogs!

[Cary Ann Lombardo]

75.

I love when people add a charity component to something they are already passionate about. I also love how you always stamp the inside of your cards- it adds such a beautiful touch.

[Cristina]

76.

Thanks for sharing this charity! Your card is stunning - your coloring skills are amazing!

[Arianna Barbara]

77.

Wow!!! This is such a wonderful idea!!! Love your adorable card! So cute!!!

[Amy Corson]

78.

I like that you used Copics for the project. They're my new favorite craft supply.

[Michele H.]

79.

I LOVE your adorable card! The little girl is so sweet and your organization is amazing!

[Sue LD]

80.

Great charity and fabulous coloring of this sweet little girl.

[Kirsty Vittetoe]

81.

Oh wow, you have two beautiful cards there, I love this hop, it is very meaningful, we contributed to three squares on a monthly basis, I find very rewarding to the soul when one is able to give back to the society!

[Lisa A creations]

82.

You chose a great organization. I like the work Samaritan's Purse is doing, especially with Operation Christmas Child.

[Kitty T]

83.

Wow great job on the coloring! My Copic skills are less than great lol. Thanks for the info on Samaritans Purse, i will have to check out your link.

[Carla Hundley]

84.

Awesome coloring
on your adorable
card! Wonderful
cause.
Carla from Utah

[Jane Schroeder]

85.

Samaritans Purse sounds like such a great charity to give to! I love you pretty cards too!

[chark]

86.

beautiful coloring!

[Glenice]

87.

I too have promoted Samaritan's Purse and the shoeboxes...lovely card