A plan is in motion….

Remember my story about Anita?  This story is near and dear to my heart.  If you haven’t read it yet, click on that link and then come back here when you’re done.  It’s okay; I’ll wait for you.  I need to ask you for a favor, though, sshhh…..don’t tell Anita because it’s a surprise.

The shortened version would be this:  I read a very brief story in May about Anita in a magazine newsletter (Scrapbook & Cards Today).  Her friend had entered her in a contest to win scrapbooking supplies because she’d been too sick and worn out from fighting cancer to make any pages or scrapbooks for her youngest child of 3 years.  When I read that, it spoke to me.  It touched me.  I go along my way in life, doing what I always do, working, taking care of my daughter, slogging along in my boring existence.  This thing somehow touched me deep in my heart.  I can’t describe it, really.  And I couldn’t stop thinking about how she was fighting for her life and she had this 3-year-old little girl who had no scrapbooks of herself, no photo records of her and her family, her and her mother.  And it just bothered me.  It made me want to DO SOMETHING.  I wanted that little girl to have a scrapbook.  I contacted the magazine and eventually got in touch with Anita and began corresponding via emails.   She was so happy that I offered to make her a scrapbook.  And it’s not just me.  I asked 7 of my scrapbooker friends to help make the pages.  We live scattered across the United States.  Some of us have met in person, but most of us have not.  Anita sent me 150 photos and I divided them up and sent them to 5 different states to my friends, who have making scrapbook pages with them since September.  I can’t even tell you how good this makes me feel, that this dream of mine to help Anita is becoming a reality.  I feel proud that we friends have banded together for this cause that is bigger than us, that we have joined forces to help this woman, this momma, who is fighting a battle that no woman should have to fight.  I hate cancer!

My friends and I are featured in Creating Keepsakes magazine in their February 2009 issue (page 91)!  Out on newstands now–check us out!  I’m happy that my friends get a public thank you and that someone else may be inspired by us to help someone, but my dream and ultimate goal is to be able to deliver this scrapbook to Anita in person.  I feel such a connection to this woman, such a strong desire to meet her and see her face when I put this scrapbook, this labor of love, into her hands.  And I want this to be a SURPRISE visit.  How fun is that?

Back in November I put her address into Mapquest just for the heck of it and discovered that she is an 8-hour drive from my house.  I couldn’t believe my eyes!  That is totally do-able.  But I am not a rich woman.  It’s 940 miles round trip and entails gas money, renting a car, staying at a hotel, passport, etc.  I have been talking to friends & family about donating gas cards to my cause (I got a couple from Santa at Christmas), and someone suggested I contact my favorite manufacturers that I’ve been using in my scrapbooks and that we have all been using in this book for Anita and ask for their help.  This was not my intention when I first began this project, but I am willing to do whatever I have to for help in getting the job done.  However, the donations are not flying into my mailbox and I realized I have lots of etsy shops I’ve ordered cool stuff from that might like some publicity, and that there are some awesome scrapbooker celebrities out there that are generous and that scrapbookers in general just ROCK and might have supplies lying around or an extra $1 to spare.  

So my favor is this …….Would you be willing to help me make this trip by donating something?  There’s a “donate” button at the top of the column on the right if you’ve got an extra buck to donate to my Paypal account (it’s a secure transaction).  Got some supplies lying around that are doubles and you could spare one?  I’m trying to gather donations of supplies that I can then pool into a huge pile and auction off on ebay or have several smaller little auctions to raise money to fund the trip.  I don’t really know what I’m doing because I’ve never done this before, so if you have a brilliant idea feel free to donate THAT to me also!  

My friend Dona’s parents started out my little fundraiser by donating $100 to me, and I will forever be grateful to them for that.  It allowed me to get my passport, which was exactly $100 believe it or not.  So I’m off to a good start!  But I still need help so if any of you readers want to and are able, just use the contact link up in the right top corner of this page or feel free to email me at kcsummerrose@avenuebroadband.com. 

And if you’re a scrapbooker and want to bid on the auction, check back.  If you go up to the top of the column on the right under the donate button, you can subscribe to my blog and get updates as I plan and announce when exactly the auction is and post a list here of what will be in it.  I have begun the auctions already, and will be adding new auctions every Sunday.  The trip is scheduled for the 3rd week of March!

Right now the donations so far are:

Making Memories sent a box full of stuff!  (website here)  See photos on my blog here.

Cathy Zielske from Simple Scrapbooks fame is sending one of her books.  (Her blog is here.)

Shabby Chic Crafts agreed to donate some of their awesome tags.  I have purchased them in the past and love them.  They’re top quality.  The website is here.

Adornit ~ Carolee’s Creations sent a box of products.  Their website is here.   

Karen Foster Design donated a box full of products!  Their website is here.  See photos on my blog here.

Reminisce agreed to donate some products.  Their website is here.  

Jennifer McGuire from Hero Arts and Creating Keepsakes magazine sent me 5 Hero Arts clear stamp sets!  Her blog is here.   See photos on my blog here.

Angie from the ScrapScene blog  is donating 3 e-books -  “Scrapping Spring”, “Mini Book Projects”, and “Scrappy Gifts.  I subscribe to this blog and love all the information and cool projects that are always on there.  The blog is here.

Shimelle Laine is donating 2 spots in 2 of her online classes later this year (“Learn Something New” in September and “Journal Your Christmas” in December).  I have taken several of her classes and love them.  I also love reading her blog.  Her website is here.

Dorothy McCarthy sent a box of scrapbook supplies and the tool she invented, 2nd Chance.  Her blog is here.  You can go there to watch a video of how her tool works.  You can see photos of what she sent on my blog here.

Kelly Panicci from SandyLion sent a box of products from her new line His and Hers.  I love this line!  Her website is here.  You can see what she sent on my blog here.

Kelly McMaster from Keep In Touch Card Shop is sending some products.  (she has awesome kits)  Her website is here.

Kelly Purkey who’s a 2Peas Garden Girl and and American Crafts design teamer is donating a copy of her Creating Keepsakes book called “Month by Month Scrapbooking” !  Her blog is here. 

I’m sure getting lucky with the “Kellys” in the scrapbooking world, aren’t I?  Must be somethin’ special about that name!  It means they’re nice, of course!

Donna Downey donated a green (of course) Inspired event tote bag.

My scrapper friends Jill Brush and Thea White donated some scrapbooking supplies.

Big Picture Scrapbooking donated 5 passes to Stacy Julian’s “Glimpses” class.

Noell Hyman donated a membership to Paperclipping.com.

Elizabeth Dillow donated a TON of supplies.  I can’t believe the generosity of this girl!

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