Hope House Home for Boys

The cards that I sell here in Chapala and Ajijic, Mexico benefit the dental program for the boys at Hope House in the nearby village of Ixlahuacan. There are close to 30 boys at the home and many of them come to the home having received no dental treatment. If you live here at Lakeside and would like to order a quality, hand crafted card for a special occasion and help me contribute to this worthy cause, please e-mail me at bettyinchapala@yahoo.com Card price is 50 pesos; the entire sales price is donated to Hope House.

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Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Colleen's Hop


I made this card for my stamping/blogging friend Colleen. The stamp is named "Valerie's Gift", in memory of Colleen's daughter. I used colored pencils which were blended with baby oil. I put glitter on her hat, collar and cuffs and used a sakura clear glitter pen on the gift bow, tissue paper, and around the oval that was cut with a nestability. Background paper and punch outs on the inside of the card are from a Colorbok paper pack. The butterflies were cut and embossed with a Cuttlebug die and folders. A shimmery ribbon, flowers, and pearls were the finishing touches on the front of the card.

It was such a pleasure for me to be able to join in this blog hop to honor our friend and to let her know how much we care about her. I never imagined that you could make such good friends over the internet but I have been so blessed by my internet friendships -- Colleen is just one among many!!
Listed below is the order of the hop. If you arrived in the middle, please start at Mary Anne's because these ladies are fantastic card makers. They inspire me each and every day with their creations!
Mary Anne http://lakesidestamping.blogspot.com/
Patti J. http://cherisheachpreciousday.blogspot.com/
Shirley http://www.glitteredpaws.blogspot.com/
Linda Payne http://paynehollercards.blogspot.com/
Dee Marie http://aninkyimagination.blogspot.com/
Betty Benton http://bbstamps.blogspot.com/ YOU ARE HERE!
Patti Sue Nelson http://stampersize.blogspot.com/
Theresa Pollock http://theresastudio.blogspot.com/
Cheri Weston http://stampnboomer.blogspot.com/
Geri U. http://geriscards.blogspot.com/
Rebekka Reed http://diamondintherough24.blogspot.com/
Selma S. http://selmasstampingcorner.blogspot.com/
Patti Painter http://papercreationsbypatti.blogspot.com/
Olga http://craftieodamae.blogspot.com/

19 comments:

A Consuming Passion said...

Beautiful card Betty - Colleen is so lucky to have such a great group of friends! Thinking of her too as I admire all these lovely projects!

craftieodmae said...

Gorgeous card, you have done Valerie proud!

Theresa's Studio said...

How lovely! Great choice of colors. Happy to see so many versions of Valerie's Gifts.

Mary Anne / MA54K said...

Thanks so much for being part of the hop! I just love the color combo you chose to use. Isn't this just the sweetest stamp. Fingers crossed tht Colleen is not upset with me, cause me thinks she knew something was up!

dee marie said...

Betty your card is a beauty! Love the colors you chose and all the sparkle you added! Hope all is well with you!!

The Other Patti Sue said...

Awww Betty this is adorable! Valerie looks just as sweet as can be!

Patti P. said...

Beautiful, Betty....love all the butterflies and your colors, also your bling was the icing on the cake.

Glittered Paws said...

Love all the blues/greens especially with the butterflies, Valerie just pops with color.

Selma said...

Betty this card is so cute. I like the way you added the flowers on the side. Your coloring is beautiful as always.

Patti J said...

Betty, your card is just darling! Your colors are such happy hues! Lovin' those flowers and butterflies, as well!!! Great job, my friend, and I SO agree with you about blogging friends! You all rock!

Cheri said...

Betty, your details (especialy the butterflies) are gorgeous. And just the right amount of shimmer to make Valerie sparkle with joy.

JustYolie said...

Adorable card, love the choice of paper. Pretty!

Laura said...

LOVE the butterflies! so pretty, so very pretty

redwasher1 said...

Betty, your card is fabulous!!! Awesome coloring!!! Hugs, Geri

Janice M said...

How cute!! Love the sparkle!

Colleen said...

Betty,
I love your card and I'm totally speechless. I had no idea. I really gave Mary Anne a hard time yesterday when we talked and she told me to check her blog out at midnight. I had to be to work at 5am this morning and I just wanted her to give up the secret right then and she wouldn't. (I think she would be safe with any secret because I can tell you I really worked on her) I can tell you this was not all what I was expecting. You gals, my friends have made a wonderful difference in my life. Not just this week which I now will look at much differently even before this. Thank you so much for this honor.

Donna said...

Gorgeous card, Betty! What a wonderful tribute. Love the sparkle! Sounds like you really surprised Colleen.

Crissy Armstrong said...

Hello Betty! Crissy here, the one who drew Valerie's Gift! I have hopped through all the blogs and have come back to leave comments. Let me say first of all, that I have never before done a blog hop with tears streaming down my face. But I sure did today.
What is even more significant that you may not realize, is that I also have a daughter named Valerie. And so I feel there is even more of a connection there.
The fact that I could be a part in touching Colleen in this way has made me feel so emotional, I can't stop crying.
I go about my life, not really thinking about small acts of kindness having so much impact in another person's life. When Denise (of Whimsy Stamps) and I agreed we had to name this stamp after Colleen's daughter, we had no idea of the ripple effect it would have.
There is such a significance to the things we do, whether good or bad. And today I was honoured to see some of that right before my eyes. Thank you for doing this for Colleen, and thank you for honouring and multiplying the small act of kindness from Denise and I. I am really touched that I was able to be a part of it behind the scenes. What a gift you have given not only to Colleen, but to me and Denise as well. Sending hugs to you and your friends.
Crissy Armstrong

Payne Holler Cards said...

she is just so sweet! love your coloring with pencils - perfect!! your colors are wonderful