A Mother's Love is Never Ending

Welcome to the Miscarriage and Infant Loss Awareness Month Blog Hop.

You should have arrived from HAIDEE, but if you did not, be sure to start at the beginning HERE! 

Today, October 15,  is National Miscarriage and Infant Loss Awareness Day. 

This hop was created for those that have either have Angel Babies, for those that suffered a devastating loss with the loss of their own child or someone in their life that has an Angel baby or lost a child. 

Here are a few statistics to keep in mind regarding Miscarriage and Infant Loss: 

75% of all conceptions end in miscarriage

30% of pregnancies end in miscarriage (1 in 3)

15-20% of confirmed pregnancies end in miscarriage

The majority of miscarriages happen in the first trimester

Chromosomal Abnormalities are the most common reason for miscarriages and still births

90,000 children die annually before their first birthday

Nearly 2,500 babies are lost a year in the US due to SIDS

Nearly 30,000 babies are year are born stillborn. This number jumps to 4.5 million worldwide

Stillbirth occurs 10 times more frequently than SIDS

More babies die as a result of stillbirth than all other causes of infant death a year

The above reference statistics can be found on both of the following websites if you would like to find out more information: 

**http://www.hiringforhope.org/pregnancy-infant-loss-awareness.html

** http://miscarriage.about.com/od/riskfactors/a/miscarriage-statistics.html

Too many people in this world grieve in silence over the loss of their children. This hop is meant to CELEBRATE them! You will see many different stories from the wonderful ladies in this hop. Some have themselves loss their beautiful babies, some had family members go through a loss, and some are here to show their support for the women who have gone through it. 

How can YOU show your support today? Here are a few examples:

Keep your headlights on all day

Keep your porch lights on all day

Wear pink and blue ribbons

Light a candle and display it in your window

Release butterflies 

The theme for this hop is any project centered around Angels, babies, pink and blue ribbons, condolence cards, tributes, and  layouts!

There will be a blog prize from Craftin' and Stampin' from online Close To My Heart store. 

The "Your Own Kind Of Wonderful" stamp set is the prize for today's hop. To be eligible, please visit each blog and make sure to comment and follow along the way. Winners will be announced on the Craftin' and Stampin' blog on 10/18/14.

I have been blessed with three healthy boys ages 24, 19 and 8.  Each time I was pregnant, I had a close friend who was unable to get pregnant, or had a miscarriage.  Other friends have lost their babies:  my neighbor, my sister-in-law, my Avon Lady (who lost her twins at 20 weeks) come to mind.  

My oldest son was in daycare and a baby girl (I think her name was Megan) had a SIDS episode.  The provider stopped the episode and the baby had vital signs when the ambulance took her, but sadly she died 3 days later.  Several years later, my Sister-in-Law's niece - Bailey Lynn Schneckenberger - died of SIDS.  This was a baby that I held in my arms at my brother's wedding.  I have been to several funerals, but her funeral was the hardest....

My heart breaks a little for each loss.  I also feel a little guilty because I never suffered such a loss.

I wanted to make something that could be displayed in a special place - on a shelf, on a wall or placed in a Memory Book.  I found an image online and cut it out in vinyl.

I used blue and yellow gelatos on an 8 x 10 flat canvas panel.  I used water and a paint brush to blend the colors.

I added my vinyl design and these words from my heart.  I inked the edges of the canvas with a black PITT artist pen.

If you are one of the many parents who have lost a child, my heart goes out to you!

You are now off to CARLA'S Blog. 

Here is the lineup should you get lost:

Jessica: www.craftinandstampin.blogspot.com

An'Jenic: www.anjenicgibson.blogspot.com/

Madge: www.thescrappinlounge.com

Haidee:http://created2bunique.blogspot.com/

Lori:  http://www.scrappinmystressaway.blogspot.com/***HERE

Carla: www.racincrafts.blogspot.com***NEXT

Alicia:  Www.goldengoddessdesigns.blogspot.com

Melissa L :Http://papershenaniganz.blogspot.com

Melissa C: http://pinkpolkadotscrapping.blogspot.com

Connie: http://conniecancrop.blogspot.com

Robin: http://www.create-a-latte.blogspot.com/
Sarah : www.sarahbiswabic.blogspot.com

Fall Ball - Challenge at Frosted Designs

We have a new Challenge up at Frosted Designs and I am the host!  The challenge is to use Fall Colors, Ink and Bling. 

As a Baseball Mom, fall is still baseball season!! I used a layout from Pinterest as my inspiration.  I found these pictures and knew they would work!!

My son went to college last year to play baseball.  He earned the back up catcher position on the Varsity Team as a freshman (proud mom here).  Tyler only got to scrimmage in the fall until he tore his UCL and needed arm surgery.  He had surgery over spring break and is no longer playing baseball.  I have not scrapped many photos from fall because it is hard to believe baseball is over for him.  I am still a proud mom though, because he chose another college that offered the classes he needed to get his Engineering Degree.

I used some pretty papers with a mix of dirt (brown ink), a bit of bling, and some journaling.

I painted the edges of this paper with Walnut Stain Tim Holtz crackle paint.  I planned to use the wood chip circle and sprayed it red - but later changed my mind. 

I inked the edge of my papers with Walnut Stain Tim Holtz ink.  I tore the edges of the papers - I haven't done this in a while and I have to tell you it felt good!! 

I did some handwriting on my layout even though I don't like my handwriting!! 

I added a bit of red bling across the wood chip banner pieces.  The bling and chippies are from past kits at Frosted Designs - you get so many goodies packed into each kit you will not need to shop for much else!!!

I did borrow some leather cording from the baseball glove repair kit (not sure why THAT was not in one of the kits - he he) to string across the layout.  I used my ATG adhesive to stick it down.

I used my Cameo to cut Fall Ball using Freshman font.

Please consider joining us for my challenge HERE.  You can make a layout, card, canvas, piece of home decor or anything else you can think of!!!

Products Used:

We Are Family Kit

Enchanted Kit

Walnut Stain Distress Crackle Paint

Laser Cut Wood Pieces 

Cali Anniversary Trip Layout

I am a Design Team Member at Let's Scrap and today starts a new sketch challenge.  I just want to say that being on this Design Team I have scrapped a ton of layouts that go right in my scrapbooks!  If you are trying to get or stay on top of your scrapbooking, consider joining us for our weekly sketch challenges - you could also win some great prizes!

I took several pictures in California on our 22nd Anniversary Trip in September.  We went to Disneyland, Sea World and the San Diego Zoo - without the kids!  I used my cell phone to take the pictures, and my Zink Happy to print them off.  The widest the pictures print on the Zink is 2 inches, so these photos were perfect for this week's sketch!

I had too many photos that I wanted on my layout, so I adjusted the sketch to accommodate!  That is the beauty of sketches - they are flexible!

I used Dylusions Ink Dirty Martini and Heidi Swapp Teal Color Shine to ink some white cardstock.  I trimmed these papers to 7 x 9 to mat the photo collages.  I used black cardstock to mat them and adhere them to my Heidi Swapp and Glitz Designs papers.

I used Beacon Quick Grip Permanent Adhesive to glue the lace trim and flowers to my layout.  The lace ribbon was curling and I needed a glue to grab it quick - this worked perfectly!!   

I tucked in a few flowers and some journaling.

I used my Silhouette Cameo for my titles.  I used muted colors in the background because my photos were pretty busy.  I like how it turned out!!

Come check out our new BLOG (we just moved from our ning site this month)!!  We have members from all over the world!!

Burlap Baby Keepsake

Hello - Today I am sharing my project with my good friend Sheila from She's A Sassy Lady.  I have a big favor to ask of you - will you please click the link to her blog and tell her Congrats for being Cancer Free 1 Year this month!!!  She battled breast cancer and is finally back to crafting and creating - I was so happy to share her news!!!!!

I made a gift for a special new baby!  Owen will join my home daycare in December.  He is the fourth child in the family and I am so excited to have this family for several more years - they are so good to me!!!

I got the design idea from Pinterest.  I have made several of these keepsakes out of vinyl, but this is my first burlap one and I really love it for boys!!

I started with this burlap product found at Wal-Mart.  It is laminated on the back side and sized to 8 1/2 x 11. 

I used my Silhouette Cameo to design and color in my words and hearts.  You can see my design process here - different fonts and phrases.  I had two different models, but liked this one the best.

I moved the image over to the top left side of my mat, making sure the overall design was within 8 x 10 inches so it would fit in my frame. 

Instead of sending the image to my Cameo to cut, I sent it to my printer. 

I went into my printer settings and changed the paper to "Other Specialiy Paper".  I loaded my burlap into my printer laminated side up (my printer pulls in the paper and flips it over - you may need to check your printer). 

I trimmed off the edges so it fit in the frame.

Ready to put in the gift bag - I just love making personalized gifts!!!

Isn't he just precious?!!

Selfie

We have a month long sketch challenge over at Let's Scrap Sketches.  You will find all four sketches in Link Up in the left hand side bar on the BLOG.

This sketch just screamed SELFIE to me!!  I used my cameo to cut out my title, camera, viewfinder, and sketched circle.  This is one of the many selfies that Tanner and I took.  Usually we both have our tongues out, but this one looked much nicer for a layout!!

Do you like to take selfies?  I take them because no one takes my photo unless I ask them to.  I don't have very many photos of my mom for the same reason!

Thanks for stopping by - have a wonderful weekend!!

Live a Colorful Life (Frosted Designs)

I have been playing with Gelatos lately and wanted to share one of my creations with you.  I am also on the blog at Frosted Designs today!!

I started with an 8x8 flat canvas board.  I sprayed it with water and picked out two Gelatos - turquoise and lime green.  I scribbled randomly on the canvas.

I have to admit that this part is fun for me!!!  Because the canvas board was wet, the colors started to run and blend.  I used a paint brush and my mini mister to blend the colors until the board was covered.

Once the board was dry, I pulled out some ink and some stencils.

I used Dylusions After Midnight ink with the diamond stencil from the Beauty of Nature Kit.  I masked off the rest of the canvas because I did not want to cover it with the dark ink.

I used the Mini Love Post Stencil from the Capture the Moment Kit with the turquoise gelatos to make the heart.

I used a spray sealer once the ink dried.

I cut out this phrase with my Silhouette Cameo and white vinyl.

I transferred the vinyl onto the canvas.  I almost gave up a few times during this project, but I remembered what fellow DT Member Sandee said - just keep layering!!!  I am very happy with the end result!!!

I hope you choose to Live a Colorful Life!!!

 

gelatos - mix & match designing with gelatos set

Dylusions Ink Spray

Beauty Of Nature

Capture the Moment

InLinkz.com

Trick or Treat Spooky Tree

I used a piece of 12 x 12 burlap from DCWV, some vinyl and a frame to create this fun Halloween craft.

I modified a file that was shared in a group (sorry not mine to share) and added the Trick or Treat from the Silhouette store.  I also added the moon and witch from the Silhouette store.

I put the vinyl on the glass and the burlap inside the 12 x 12 frame.

I love the look of burlap right now, but regular vinyl does not stick to it.  I do not have a heat press, so I found a better way for me to make my project!!!

Halloween is my favorite holiday to decorate for - I hope you have a Crafty Halloween!!