Let's get swimming!

Hi all and happy Monday! I have a very special post to share with you today and I'm not alone. I'm with a "sea" of talented designers to honor one very courageous and talented woman and mom. Starting today though the 12th of October, some of the best stampers out there in blog land are joining forces to support and encourage our friend, Katie Renz, who is currently battling inoperable gastric cancer. If you don't know Katie, her fight with cancer started just before Christmas last year. After going to the doctor complaining of stomach aches, she discovered that she had stage 4 gastric cancer. This beautiful, bubbly wife and vibrant mom of three with an infectious smile was facing this very difficult diagnosis. Her first post about it is here.  The idea of “Swimming for Katie” came from her recent post here.

This exclusive stamp used in my sample, designed by Becky Oehlers is available as a clear stamp, as well as a digis or a dig and SVG cut file.  100% of the profits go to Katie's fund to help her and her young family.  Her husband, Kevin, and her three young children need our help and support.  In addition to the Keep Swimming Octopus, Marianne Walker and True =D Doodle Designs both also donated digis that are for sale.  Direct donations are also being accepted.  Information central is HERE.  This is a permanent page that will stay active at i {heart} papers with current information and the full 3 day blog hop listing, as well as the donation button.
 
Here are all the items available for sale... they are cute! You'll want to check them out!


On to my creation using this ever-so-darling Octopus!

I actually used the digi version of this darling little lady and colored her up with Copic Markers using BV0000, BV00, BV02, R81, R83 and RV00 to give her a bit of rosy cheeks! Afterward,  cut her out and mounted her on this fun Jillibean Soup paper. The zig zag paper is from My Mind's Eye and I just trimmed that along the design line. Add some sparkle, a stitched edge and some fun May Arts ribbon and that's prettymuch all there is to it! 

Here's a close up of this cute little gal...

I hope you will join me in supporting Katie through a purchase of one of these digis or through a donation. We are really hoping to do some wonderful things for her family during this difficult time. Like I said, we were blessed to have more than 100 designers join in today's hop. Here's the list -- we hope you stop by and leave these designers some love!

AJ Otto 
Beate 
Carolyn Mustopa 
Dawn Burnworth 
Deb Felts 
Gretchen Belknap 
Heather Jensen 
Jen del Muro 
Julie Ranae 
Kate - i {heart} papers 
Kendra Wietstock 
Lisa Johnson 
Loretta Lock 
Lori Tecler 
Lynn Mercurio 
Marianne Walker 
Michele Gross 
Stacy Morgan aka Twinshappy 
Tracy Schultz 
Debbie Olson 
Cindy Lawrence 
Cindy Haffner  
Julie Koerber 
Christine Okken 
Tammy Hershberger 
Danielle Kennedy 
Barbara Anders 
Makiko Jones 
Ashley N Newell 
Shannan Teubner 
Taylor Usry 
Jen Tapler 
Jenn Balcer 
Jenny Chesnick 
Jess Larsen 
Jessica Knutsen 
Jimmi Mayo 
Joan Bardee 
Joan Ervin 
Julia Aston 
Julie Day 
Julie Ebersole

If you'd like to send Katie a card, here's her mailing address. I'm sure she'd love some snail mail.

Katie Renz
PO Box 5913
Bellingham, WA 98227-5913

Or, if you'd like to donate to this fund set up to benefit her children, please click the Donate button to make a secure donation. 

I have to say a very special thanks not only to Becky Oehlers and Marianne Walker for designing such darling images but to Kate at i heart papers for organizing this amazing event. We hope it not only warms Katie's heart but helps provide some support for her family. God Bless!


~Julie