AN ANNOUNCEMENT

Hello everyone.

I have a very exciting announcement for everyone.

I have joined forces with some very creative, like-minded ladies in my local area and we have formed a group called
"Compassionate Crafters"
~we craft with our Hands and give from our Hearts~

Heart Cards is proud to be associated with this wonderful group.

The first event being organised under a "Compassionate Crafters" event is a Heart Cards card-making and information day supporting "Harrison's Little Wings Charity" to help boost the number of cards we can give to this worthwhile charity as part of our current Heart Cards appeal.
We will also be giving you information on the plight of a butterfly native to our area, the Richmond Birdwing, that is currently listed on the endangered species list.

When: September 24, 2011

Where: Tullera Hall, Dunoon Road, Tullera
(but if you don't live locally you can always make some cards to donate to our appeal)

Cost: $15.00 per session
Morning session - 9am to 12 noon
Afternoon session - 1pm - 4pm
(Please be seated 15 minutes prior to the start of each session)
Morning and afternoon tea provided
BYO lunch if you are staying for both sessions
You will have 6 card making sessions taught by local experienced teachers
We ask that you keep your favourite card and donate the rest to our Heart Cards appeal.

Bring: Sharp pair of scissors + hand/baby wipes for cleaning stamps.

* Cake stall (with proceeds going to the Modanville Public School P&C)
* Raffles - lots of fantastic prizes
(all profits from the day will be donated to "Harrison's Little Wings Charity")
* Competitions & games
* Goodie bags

Limited spaces are available - all seats MUST be booked and paid for by September 16, 2011.
To make your booking or for more information, please phone Shazz Pratten on 0419 247 012 or send a booking request to shazz@compassionatecrafters.com
You will receive a reference number to use when making your payment.

Everybody is welcome, no experience necessary but make sure to bring your enthusiasm along.
We hope you can join us for a fun day or sharing and creating.

FINALLY....AN UPDATE...!!!!

Hello everyone.....I thought I should pop in and update the blog before this month ended and another month began....!!!
Not quite sure where the year is disappearing to - someone told me how many sleeps it was until Christmas the other day - and it wasn't a big number....!!!!

Thank you to everyone who has sent in Heart Cards and postage stamps so far.
We have a card count of 122 which is fantastic...!!!
If you still have cards to send or would like to make some for Harrison's Appeal, please do.
I am going to attend a crop day that Mel has organised on August 20 and I will be presenting her with packs of cards and stamps made up from those I have already received.

Just make sure that you follow the instructions carefully about the size and type of cards we need you to make.
(see June 2 post)
Any cards that don't fit the criteria are being held back for further Heart Card appeals.

Please stay tuned for exciting news about a Heart Cards crop day we have planned for September 24.
We are in the final planning stages and will have an announcement soon.
If you are in the Northern NSW area, you might like to come along for a fun day of creating and sharing.

Have a great day everyone
~shazz~
xo

NEW HEART CARDS APPEAL

Good morning everyone.....it's been a while.
Like most of you I have been busy trying to just live life - be a Mum, a wife, a business owner x 3, a friend and finding time to fit some crafting in there somewhere.

A while ago I was on Facebook and I came across this blog and the honesty and raw emotion that this brave Mum shared just touched my heart.
I started messaging Mel and yesterday we spoke on the phone for the first time.
What a brave and amazing woman she is.
Despite her own grief over the loss of her son, Harrison, she is reaching out to other Mums and families who live through the heartbreaking situation of losing a baby and providing a way for them to remember and honour these tiny angels.

Again we are asking paper crafters to help us give these Mums and families a way to say "thank you" to the people who have helped them through the difficult time following the loss of a baby.

So.......here is what we would like you to do.
(this is taken from a flier that you can obtain via email from me to be printed up and shared with your local craft groups, your LSS, etc)

On September 14, 2010 a little boy was born.
His name was Harrison.
On September 15, 2010, Harrison died.

Instead of taking Harrison home from the hospital, his family took home a box of memories that the Mater Mothers Hospital had kindly made up for them. This included Harrison’s monitor wiring, his foot prints, sunnies and ear muffs - just to name a few.

Being an avid scrapbooker, Mel, Harrison’s Mum, has started making 6 x 6 albums of scrapbooking pages to be included in the boxes, for other Angel families to take home in their boxes..
Mel has found scrapbooking Harrison’s photos a form of therapy, and a wonderful way to preserve the very special photos her family holds dear.

You can read more about Harrison’s fight for life here – http://harrisonsfightforlife.blogspot.com
And more about the Harrison’s Little Wings Charity here – http://harrisonslittlewings.blogspot.com

Heart Cards would like to help these families say thank you to the medical staff; support staff, family and friends who have helped them through a very sad and difficult time in their lives.

We are asking paper crafters to please make 10 thank you or blank cards to be given to families of these little angels.
Please be mindful that these cards are for grieving families so use appropriate papers and embellishments.
Personally I think the more simple the card and design, the better in this case.
Please make the cards non-gender specific; i.e. no boy or girl cards.
A paper butterfly is placed on the door of the rooms where families have lost a baby so a butterfly may be an appropriate embellishment on your cards.
Feel free to enclose 10 postage stamps which will be divided between packs depending on the number we receive.

Cards MUST be made to the size of approx 10cm x 15cm - fits a C6 envelope - (landscape or portrait aspect) to allow ease of packing and also to allow them to fit into the boxes given to the families.
If you use a card with a shiny surface, please add an insert into the card to allow ease of writing.
Please do not put postage stamps on the envelopes.
All cards will be accepted but may be put aside for future appeals if they are deemed to be inappropriate for this appeal.

Please forward your cards to Shazz Pratten, 9 Windsor Court, Goonellabah, NSW, 2480 by July 29.
The cards you send will be repackaged and delivered to Mel to placed in the boxes given to the families of these tiny angels.

You can keep up to date with the Harrison’s Little Wings Appeal via our blog -
Http://heartcards.blogspot.com/

Thank you for supporting this worthwhile cause.

The death of a baby is like a stone cast into the stillness of a quiet pool;
the concentric ripples of despair sweep out in all directions, affecting many, many people.
--De Frain, 1991

Can you help......if so, please carefully read the instructions on what kind of cards we need - designs, size, etc - and then get creating.
We won't be able to forward on any cards that do not meet the criteria we have specified but they won't be discarded.....we will be having other Heart Card appeals and we will just add the cards to future appeals.

On behalf of Mel and her family, her support team and the many lives you will touch with your generous donation.....
THANK YOU
Two little words but sometimes they just speak volumes.

You can contact me via email at
shazz64@westent.com.au
if you have any questions or if you would like a copy of the flier to pass around to friends.
You can also follow us on Facebook - just search for Heart Cards.

Wishing you all a happy scrappy day
~shazz~
xo

STICKERS FOR EMMA

Hello there all my Heart Cards followers.
This is a small request for a very brave young lady.
~*~STICKERS FOR EMMA~*~

Before I announce the next Heart Cards appeal, maybe you could find some stickers in your stash for Emma and mail them off to her.
Knowing how generous you all are, I am sure you don't mind this small request for this very brave little girl.

Just follow the directions in Mel's blog post and let's help bring a smile to this gorgeous girl's face.

Thank you all
~shazz~
xo

THANK YOU

The campaign for cards for the families affected by the floods in QLD and Victoria is now officially over.
And as you can see by the total in the side bar, we have had an amazing number of cards reach my doorstep.
Thank you all for your kindness and you support.
Cards have been distributed through Handmade Heaven and the Handmade Expo in Queensland.
Thank you to both these businesses for their support.
Jody Urquhart, from "Stick and Giggle" also distributed packs to staff members of the Bremer Institute of TAFE that were affected by the floods.
Thank you Jody for handing out the card packs.

Here are some of the comments from staff members at the TAFE who received packs....
“I work in the construction team and love the idea of the heart cards. Could I please have a pack as there are many in the community of Fernvale where I live that I would like to thank.” (Lucinda)

“Thank you for your kind words, what a wonderful enterprise “Heart Cards” is. I had been wondering how I was going to manage to say ‘thank you’ in a meaningful way to everyone who has helped and supported me. I would love a pack of cards. Thank you.” (Elaine)

“Thank you for your offer – it is a lovely thought. My husband John and I have already sent cards and a small gift thanking those who so kindly assisted us, so we will not need any (although I would love to see what they look like – they sound very nice).” (Carol)

“Thank you so much for the offer of a “Heart Cards” pack. I have so many people to thank, some of whom I don’t even know or don’t know how to contact to thank, so I would love to be able to do something for those people around me who helped in lots of special ways.” (Sheryl)

“Thank you very much for dropping the cards in to the library for me, I’m sorry I wasn’t there at the time. I’ve had a quick look and the cards are all absolutely amazing. I’ve already started picking out which ones I will give to which people.
Thank you so much and please pass on my thanks to all the other wonderful people involved.”

So yes....the cards are being distributed and yes....people do truly appreciate that they have been given the chance to say thank you with a beautiful handmade card.

More cards are being sent to Denise Szabo in Victoria and will be distributed by the CWA through their care packages being sent to families in the flood affected areas.
Of course there aren't enough cards for every family but the packs that we do have, will be distributed where they are needed.

So again....my most profound thanks for each and every amazing card that has arrived on my doorstep.
Each and every card has found a home and I am sure that the recipients of the packs are just as grateful as I am for your love and support in helping them out.

There will be a new appeal launched in the next few days so please keep an eye out for that here on the blog and though our Facebook Page.

Bless you all
~shazz~
xo

P.S. If I have forgotten anyone in the honour roll in the sidebar, please let me know.

FIRST PACKS DISTRIBUTED - YAY !!!!

The wonderful girls at Handmade Heaven are running a re-stash appeal for those crafters who lost their stashes in the QLD floods and kindly offered to take some packs of Heart Cards and offer them to people who stopped by their store in Ipswich as well as those attending the Handmade Expo in Ipswich last weekend.
Can you see our Heart Card packs piled up high just waiting to be taken...???
How exciting...!!!
Some of your cards now have reached those in need of a way to say
"THANK YOU"

I have had regular deliveries of cards to my door over the past few weeks which has been exciting for me - maybe not so much for the poor delivery guys that have to negotiate our steep (and slippery when wet driveway) to deliver the parcels to the front door.
And not to mention the two little misses, Tilly and CoCo, who greet each delivery with a herald of barking and dancing around to see what is being delivered.

I love opening all of the packages and seeing all the amazing cards that have been so lovingly created and so beautifully wrapped to be posted.
And I love sorting the cards into different packs so that each recipient gets a taste of so many different styles of cards.

I initially had a cut off date of February 25 for this round of cards but feel free to keep sending your "thank you" and blank cards - we will be having other appeals throughout the year for other causes and ALL cards donated WILL find a home.

Just keep popping back to the blog or find us on Facebook to keep up to date with our latest appeal.

Thank you again for all the beautiful cards you have sent.
And thank you to those of you who have included postage stamps too.

~shazz~
xo

P.S. I have set up a small area that my daughter affectionately named the "Heart Cards Hospital" (LOL) to do repairs on some cards that didn't make it through the Aus Post gauntlet in one piece.
I am pleased to say that NO cards have had to be discarded and a quick running repair using glue or double-sided tape has usually remedied any "blemishes.

P.P.S. And thank you to everyone who has put in a personal note for me with their cards.
I have kept them all and you have all written such lovely things.
THANK YOU !!!

OVERWHELMED

To say that I have been overwhelmed by the support I have received from everyone about the "Heart Cards" appeal would be an understatement.
Not only have the wonderful paper crafters of Australia been so supportive but we even have a set of cards received from an Aussie ex-pat in the US - thanks Christy :)

I have packaged up the first lot of cards and they are in the hands of Jody in Ipswich who is distributing them through Lifeline and Leanne who will be distributing packs through the Handmade Expo this weekend.
The cards looked amazing all packaged up - I am sorry I didn't take a photo but there are many more cards here to be sorted and packs so next time I will grab my camera.

Thank you to everyone who has already sent cards.
We still need more.
All the cards will l eventually find their way to families that need a chance to say "thank you" for the helping hand they have received during these difficult times.

Just check out the card tally in the sidebar and the roll of honour.
I feel honoured to be repacking these cards on your behalf.....they are all such gorgeous cards and the sentiment behind them makes them all the more special.

~Shazz~
xo

WOW...!!!!

In the past five days a number of quite heavy parcels have arrived on my doorstep containing packets of "Heart Cards"
Due to other commitments, they remained unopened until today.
OMGosh....!!!!!

I am speechless ladies.......a total of 217 cards have now been added to the tally..!!!!
Thank you so much to everyone who has donated cards and postage stamps.
(Maybe you can suggest to your non-crafty friends they could donate packs of postage stamps if they would like to help out in some way)

But keep them coming girls......every card and stamp will find a home in either Queensland or Victoria.

Thank you again - I have been overwhelmed by the support that I have received from everyone about this appeal.
When you have an idea like this, you often think....
"Will people think it's a good idea too?";
"Will they participate?";
or "am I totally on the wrong track...???"
Well...again I have been proven right in my belief that people only have to be given an idea of how to help out and they will.

THANK YOU ALL
~shazz~
xo

THEY HAVE STARTED TO ARRIVE...!!!

Thank you so much to everyone who has shown and interest in this current "Heart Cards" appeal.

It never ceases to amaze me the generosity of people when others are in need.

Another 45 cards hit my doorstep yesterday bring the total to 116 cards...!!!
THANK YOU EVERYONE...!!!

LOTS of people have organised crop days to make cards which is fantastic and I am quite overwhelmed by the interest we have been receiving, not only here in Australia but from overseas as well.

I have had a request from a Victorian resident to include families from Victoria in the donations - some towns in Victoria have been up to 80% affected by the floods as that all encompassing wall of water moves down the river systems.
We are more than happy to donate cards to Victorian families so your cards will either be distributed to QLD or Victorian families.

If you would like a flier to distribute to others, please email me
shazz64@westnet.com.au
and I will send you one.

Keep them coming girls......and keep checking back for updates too.

~shazz~
xo

And a big thank you to those including postage stamps in their packs as well.

HEART CARDS FOR QLD

Well girls......again we are faced with a natural disaster beyond belief and imaginings. So many of our gorgeous Lounge girls (both past and present members) have been affected by the devastating floods that have hit QLD over the past three weeks but especially the Sth East corner over the past few days.

After losing everything we owned in the '74 floods here in Lismore, I am in the unenviable position of knowing just what it is like to lose all of your possessions; of being left with nothing but the clothes you are standing in.

Already people are opening their hearts and their wallets, making monetary donations and donations of goods and services and again I am asking the paper crafters of Australia to take part in the "HEART CARDS" drive.

We are asking you to make 10 cards - thank you cards, blank cards or a combination of both - pop them in a snaplock bag and forward them to me no later than FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25.
Feel free to pop in a pack of 10 stamps too if you wish which will be sent with packs of cards - another way to help out.

We will repack the cards into packs of 10 and then they will be forwarded onto an aid organisation (yet to be determined) in Queensland and then given to the families affected by the floods.

So....get creating girls......
Scrap 10 cards - thank you, blank or a combination of both
(and please include an envelope with each card)
They can be as simple or as elaborate as you like.
Then pop them in a snaplock bag and send them off to

SHAZZ PRATTEN
9 Windsor Court
Goonellabah NSW 2480

Feel free to post this information on your blogs/Facebook pages and if you would like a flier to post in the window of your LSS (with permission of the owner of course) just send me your email address and I will send one to you
shazz64@westnet.com.au

A big thank you to everyone who decides to help out.

~shazz~
xo