Swimming for Katie Blog Hop and Fundraiser!

From October 10-12 a large community of stampers are joining together to support and encourage our friend and fellow stamper, Katie Renz, who is currently battling inoperable gastric cancer. If you're not familiar with her, Katie’s cancer story started just before Christmas last year. This young, beautiful, healthy, vibrant mother of 3 with her infectious smile was suddenly diagnosed with an inoperable cancer, virtually overnight. A few tummy aches and then stage 4 gastric cancer. Her first post about it is here. The idea of “Swimming for Katie” came from her recent post here.

This exclusive stamp used in my sample, designed by Becky Oehlers is available as a clear stamp, as well as a digis or a dig and SVG cut file. 100% of the profits go to Katie's fund to help her and her young family. Her husband Kevin and her three young children need our help and support. In addition to the Keep Swimming Octopus, Marianne Walker and True =D Doodle Designs both also donated digis that are for sale. Direct donations are also being accepted. Information central is HERE. This is a permanent page that will stay active at i {heart} papers with current information and the full 3 day blog hop listing, as well as the donation button.

HERE are all the items available for sale!

To help raise money for Katie, Creating for Causes has generously donated a FREE ticket (value: $249.95) to one of their upcoming 3-day Scrap & Stamp Retreats.

The winner of the free ticket will enjoy 3 days of non-stop fun and creativity with fellow scrappers, stampers and papercrafters, and can choose between the Charlotte, NC Scrap & Stamp Ritzy Retreat at The Ritz-Carlton on October 21-23 or the Orlando, FL Scrap & Stamp Retreat at the Marriott World Center on November 4-6. Both retreats promise to spoil you and provide 48-straight hours of creating, camaraderie and fun!

To learn more about the events, please visit: http://www.creatingforcauses.org/our-events/scrapbook-events/.

Not only will you be raising money for Katie by making a donation, you get a chance to win a wonderful weekend getaway for yourself! And, because all of Creating for Causes' events are charity events that raise money for local charities, you'll be giving back twice!

Wow, a weekend retreat for you and two chances to help others. Does it get any better than that?

Here's how it works:

Simply make a $33 donation for Katie and indicate that you want to be entered in the Creating for Causes Retreat ticket drawing. Everyone who makes a donation of $33 will be entered into the drawing and one lucky person will be attending this 3-day retreat for FREE! That lucky person could just be you!

I hope you will join me in supporting Katie through a purchase or donation.

Donations can be made here:

The following is a list of everyone who has projects posted today. I hope you will be inspired by them and moved to purchase or donate. If you would like to send Katie a card, her mailing address is:

Katie Renz
PO Box 5913
Bellingham, WA 98227-5913

Amy Heller

Jackie Pedro

Julie Masse

Kecia Waters

Sandie Dunne

Susan Liles

Latisha Yoast

Laurie Schmidlin

Lisa Arana

Lisa Henke

Lisa Silver

Lydia Fiedler

Lyn Bernatovich

Lynette

Maria Gurnsey

Meg Craig

Melissa Bickford

Michelle Woerner

Mona Pendleton

Niki Estes

Robyn Weatherspoon

Sarah Jay

Sarah Martina Parker

Savannah O'Gwynn

Stephanie Washburn

Susanna Boyd

Tobi Crawford

Julie Lacey

Kim Kesti

Shemaine Smith

Danielle Lounds

Debbie Carriere

DoBea A.

Fran Gumprecht

Geny Cassady

Gina K.

Holly McMillen

Jak Heath

Javablustamper/Jacquie

Kimberly Crawford

Jeanne Streiff

Trudy Sjolander

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you have a beautiful day!