Blog Hop for a cause and Whimsy's Challenge!

Hi there everyone! This week I have some information to share with you about a fantastic blog hop taking place for a special cause.  Here in NH, USA, a family has experienced a horrific and heartbreaking crime.  A mother was killed and her daughter, severely injured in a senseless, random crime.  It was a robbery gone bad.  Fortunately, the strong little girl, named Jaimie, has recovered and returned to school.  But she has a long road ahead of her. The ladies at Stamp Something pulled together an ENORMOUS effort and started an International Blog Hop!  The goal is to bring smiles back to Jaimie Cates and show her love and support in this tough time.  Please read the following for more information:

"On October 4^th, 4 teenagers armed with knives broke into a home in a small town in New Hampshire. Alone and sleeping inside were a mother and her 11 year old daughter. These 4 boys broke into this home with the intent to rob and kill anyone inside. They stabbed the mom, Kimberly Cates, to death and left her daughter, Jaimie, for dead in their driveway.  It was a completely random act, their home was chosen only due to its secluded surroundings."

Our hope is that everyone hopping around today will stop for a moment and think about Jaimie and her father and what life must be like for them now. One moment in time has changed their lives forever. We are asking that everyone reading this message please take a moment to make a card and send it off to Jaimie. You can make something very simple or much more involved, but please share some words of hope and love and let her know that people do care and want the best for her. Please send your card to the address below:


Jaimie Cates
c/o Mont Vernon Fire Station
Main Street
Mont Vernon, NH 03057

I know what it is like to lose a parent at that age, and I know what it meant to get a card or have someone tell me that it was going to be okay.  That's why I wanted to be a part of this effort.


We have generous sponsors who have kindly offered up some prizes to anyone who makes a card, posts it on their blogs, and lets us know they mailed it out. The URL for the blog is:  http://spreadthelove-forjaimie.blogspot.com/

Our hop will beginning on Monday, November 2nd at 10am ET, this is New York, USA time.  If you need help with the time zones, please refer to this site....http://www.worldtimezone.com/  There is a world map with current times listed.

The hop will run a full week to allow people time to participate and make their card for Jaimie. So the hop will end on Monday, November 9th at 10am ET. At that point we will draw random winners to receive the prizes offered by our generous sponsors.

The hop begins at:
Katharina Frei  http://katharina1704.blogspot.com/

Please go there now to participate, and follow the directions to the next hop.  If you have come here before Sharon Traynor's blog http://cardsngreetings.blogspot.com/, you need to go back to the beginning of the list and start at Katharina's blog The hop will end on the new blog Stamp Something...for Jaimie on Monday, November 9th. 

You should visit here next:

Jennifer Stricker randomvintagefinds.blogspot.com
Thank you everyone for your support with this hop/drive!

Now onto Whimsy!  Whimsy's Challenge this week is Rounding Up Love for Jaimie! It's to coordinate with the efforts of the blog hop.  So we would like you to do something with circles and send it to Jaimie!  I made this round card as a base.  I found this adorable button paper from DCWV.  I used cardstocks to coordinate.  The image is Summer Day Emma...but I colored her in more fall colors.  I hope you enjoy her and if you do, go buy her at Whimsy Stamps!  :)  Thanks for stopping by today and have fun hopping!  And thanks for your support!


This also fits the challenges at:   

Daring Cardmakers: Getting Punchy (small circle is punched)
Ildi Co.: In stitches
Inky Impressions: Stitching 
La-La Land Crafts: Ribbon 
Crafty Cardmakers: Stamp Something