Operation Julie's Smile + Unity Friends With Flair {Oct 7th}

Welcome to Operation Julie's Smile! Today, Julie Ranae's dear friends and colleagues are blog hopping to raise money for Julie so she can get the dental treatment she needs. Thank you to Nicole Rixon of Sweet Stamp Shop for organizing this fundraiser for Julie. I know that if I were in Julie's shoes, I'd be speechless at the richness of friendships and generosity of those participating and donating so she can have a new smile. If you've just arrived from Amy Kolling's blog, you're on the right track. If you'd like to start at the beginning, please head on over to the Sweet Stamp Shop Blog for all the details, including a full list of more than 120 participants.

Two companies I design for, Lil' Inker Designs and The Twinery, have donated prizes to Operation Julie's Smile and have made monetary donations toward Julie's surgeries so there was no way I could turn down the invitation to participate today. Julie is the Design Team Coordinator on both these teams, puts in an insane amount of unpaid hours into a job that I could not do and still takes time to be a wonderful friend to me and countless others. That's why I support this benefit wholeheartedly.

My first card features all Lil' Inker Designs products. I made a butterfly out of the Pinwheel and Mini Pinwheel Dies. The body was made by folding the Fringe Flower Die, first in half and then in thirds. The grass/ground was created by repeatedly stamping 'Smile' from the Rainbows & Clouds Sentiments set. The antennae is, of course, The Twinery's Honeydew baker's twine (single strand, double knot).

My second card was published in the now available Holiday Cards & More, Vol. 6. This is the first time I've had a card published featuring The Twinery's baker's twine but certainly not the last. ;) I used a now-retired Suzi Blu (Party Love, still available at various online stores) with a sentiment from my favourite Kit of the Month, Happily Ever After, both from Unity Stamp Company.

Thank you so much for stopping by today to enjoy these cards and for a chance at winning more than $2,500 in prizes provided by generous sponsors. Prizes will be drawn from both comments left and donations made through Sunday, October 9th. If you could find it in your heart to donate, however small, I know that all of us participating today, and especially Julie, will appreciate it more than you'll ever know. :)

Your next stop is Jen Carter!
Enjoy the rest of the hop!!

Sources for Smile: Gina K Designs pure luxury kraft cardstock; Basic Grey Out of Print 6x6 paper pad; Lil' Inker Designs Rainbows & Clouds Sentiments; Memories Black ink; Lil' Inker Designs Rainbows & Clouds Dies, Mini Pinwheel Die, Pinwheel Die & Fringe Flower Die; The Twinery baker's twine in Honeydew; Stampin' Dimensionals

Sources for Joy & Happiness: Gina K Designs pure luxury white & kraft cardstock; SU Early Espresso cardstock; Echo Park Wintertime Collection; Unity+Suzi Blu Party Love; Unity July 2010 Kit of the Month - Happily Ever After; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Tim Holtz for Ranger Antique Linen & Walnut Stain distress inks; Copics; The Twinery baker's twine in Maraschino; SU Basic Rhinestones; Stampin' Dimensionals