In 2009, after the tragedy of the Black Saturday bushfires, I started up a card drive called "Heart Cards" where I asked card makers and paper crafters to make thank you cards for victims of the fires to hand to those they wanted to thank for helping them during such a heart breaking time.
I was overwhelmed with the response and we received well over 1000 cards that were distributed to families and businesses in the bushfire zone.

 And in 2011, Heart Cards swung into action a...gain when we asked for Thank You Cards for those affected by the floods in SE QLD. And your response again was amazing.

 

And now I find my own community in the grip of a natural disaster after the levee protecting our town (including our CBD and many homes) was breached late on Thursday night (April 30)
Although not affected ourselves, neither our home or our business are in the flood area, so many of our dear friends have had their businesses totally inundated and have lost much, if not all of their stock and had shop fittings, etc totally engulfed by the swirling muddy waters.

The damage is unbelievable and devastating.

 

 

 

 

 

But our wonderful community has swung into action and thousands of people have descended on our town to help with the clean up and to help their fellow man get back on their feet.

 

I am still recovering from knee surgery so much of the physical stuff is beyond me but I can ask my friends in the crafting community to again dig deep and make just 10 thank you cards and send them to me so I can distribute them to the people in my community.
They must be a standard size - 10 x 15 cms - and if possible incude an envelope (although not necessary)
They can be all the same or of different designs - the cards will be re-packaged once they reach me so each pack will have different designs.

 

Once you have made them, send them to me at....
SHARON PRATTEN
9 WINDSOR COURT
GOONELLABAH NSW 2480

If you have any questions you can email me - scraplounge@westnet.com.au

 

Please pass the word along to other paper crafters that you may know.
I would love to be able to distribute some card packs to the devastated people in my community as a way they can thank those who have helped them.

Thank you

~shazz~
xo

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 !!!