Inking Pink Blog Hop - Keep your "Girls" in Check!

Welcome to our first Annual "Inking Pink" Blog hop.  You should have made your way here from True's Blog.  If that's the case then guess what... you found the finish line!  If you arrived from somewhere else, you may want to head on over to Patricia's Blog and follow along.  This hop will take you around the world, so please sit back with your morning coffee or evening tea and celebrate our stories and projects with us.  There's lots of  "Pink Candy" out there to be had.  You won't want to miss your opportunity to get your hands on some of it.  Be sure you leave some {{{ LOVE }}} by posting a comment on each of the wonderful girl's blogs.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  It's the time when the pink ribbons come out to remind us it is time to get the "girls" checked.  Like any form of cancer, breast cancer knows no age.  It can strike when you least expect it.  Our lives can often spin out of control and we forget to take care of ourselves.  Regardless of age, it is important conduct a monthly self exam and a yearly mammogram, especially if there is a history of breast cancer in your family

Our paper crafting community spans the globe and brings all of us together under a common roof.  We are grandmothers, granddaughters, mothers, daughters, aunts, sisters, best friends, wives, cyber-friends and design team teammates. Many of us have family or friends touched by breast cancer and all of us want to encourage all of you to check "The Girls"!  For those of us at The Beary Scrap DT, we have recently found out that our dearest friend and alumni team mate Elise has breast cancer.  In her honor, we are "hopping" in hopes of helping to spread awareness throughout the world.  So, have you checked "The Girls" lately?

For my card, I chose an adorable image from Belle's 'n Whistles.  I chose this image because the recipient of this card adores Elizabeth Belle's images and is known to tinker with them quite often.   The picture came out a little fuzzy.  I will try and take a new one in better sunlight tomorrow - it's was raining today.

My image was colored with copic markers.  I used Bazzill Cardstock as my base.  My DP's are from My Mind's Eye Madison Avenue collection.  Oh, they are so pretty.  DP edges have been distressed and inked with some Stardust Stickles applied for more sparkle - not like the paper isn't already glowing with prettiness.  I added a few KaiserCraft pearls (Dollar Buys at TBS), a satin ribbon and a few mulberry paper roses.

In case you missed visiting a blog, here is a recap of all the beautiful Ladies that have participated in The First Annual Inking Pink Blog Hop for Awareness:

Patricia <--- START HERE

Betty

Bonnie

Carisa

Catherine

Chelsea

Danielle

Emma

Gini

Jamie

Jennifer

Jess

Karen

Kellie

Liz

Lori

Marlene

Meredith

Nicole

Shelly

Stephanie

Susan

Trudy

Kimm <-- YOU ARE HERE

Now, I know you are waiting for that Blog Candy...

 

Now isn't that pink goodness at it's finest.  My blog candy contains

• 1 of each of everything from My Mind's Eye Madison Avenue Collection (brads, buttons, letter stickers, glittered accessory sheet, dimensional die cuts, glittered layer stickers, ribbons & trims, 1 stamp set, 5 tags & titles, 1 chipboard album, 10 papers) 
• Lots of Mulberry Paper Flower 
• 1 Bubblegum Glimmer Mist 
• 1 Pink Stickles Glitter Glue 
• 1 Stardust Stickles Glitter Glue 
• 1 PINK ATG Adhesive Applicator 
• 2 yards of crochet lace trims 
• 1 yard each of ribbons in pinks & browns

If you would like a chance to win this sweet goodness, all you need to do is...

1. Please become a follower if you aren't already.
2. I would love for you to post a picture of my candy or about the Inking Pink Hop on your blog.  By doing so, you are helping to spread the word of Breat Awareness.  You may be doing someone a favor.  
3. Post a comment below.
4. Take the oath to check "The Girls".

Wasn't that easy?   You have until Sunday, October 31 at 11:59pm eastern time to enter.  I will announce the winner on Wednesday, November 3.

For myself and all the amazing Ladies that participated, remember... Keep "The Girls" in check!  Monthly self-check and an annual mammogram.  Why... because you are LOVED!

__________________________________________________________________________

Added Content:  10/27/2010:  My Story in brief

We have entered into the 24th hour of The "Inking Pink" Blog Hop.  I am speechless at how many of you hold this cause so dearly to your hearts.  The stories I heard about your triumph with any kind of cancer via comments, posts, emails and phone calls at our store have been quite touching, and tear jerking.

I am, relatively speaking, a quiet and  reserved person.  That is until you get to know me.  Although I have never had to deal with the impact of breast cancer in my family, we have had several family members taken by cancer.  Regardless of the origin, cancer is evil, it is unforgiving and it is heartbreaking.

I had lost my Mom over 5 years ago to cancer.  This is very difficult for me to "put out there" so I ask you to bear with me since I don't know how my words will flow.  Cancer is cancer... it is  evil!  My mom had become very ill.  We had thought she stroke.  She was hospitalized on December 13, 2004.  After 5 days in the hospital, we were told she had a tumor on her brain and a spot had been found in her lungs.  Both were most likely related.  She was diagnosed with lung cancer on December 18, 2004 and transferred to a more prominent hospital where they could better exam her condition.  This facility was almost 2 hours away from home. 

Hours after her transfer we found out that she had lung cancer that had metastasized to her brain.  They diagnosed her with stage 4 lung cancer.  The doctors remained optimistic and gave us much hope that she would pull through.  Within days, the brain tumors were "aspirated" and she was sent home to spend Christmas with us.  Treatment plans were discussed and to occur after the holidays.  We were told that Mom would pull through.  I knew in my heart that she would not recover.

That was the last Christmas we got to spend with our Mom.  She was home until New Years.  Her condition worsened, she was unable to walk, talk, or even write.  After repeated phone calls to her doctors and specialists without a response, our family physician had suggested Hospice Care.  She was 53 years young when she passed away on January 16, 2005.  Not even a month from her initial diagnosis.  To young, to soon, and NOT fair.

Christmas is difficult is our household.  We celebrate her life each holiday, regretting that she was taken from us.  I miss my Mom.  If she had been more proactive about her health, she may still be here on Earth enjoying her grandchildren.  My Mom was (and still is) my best friend.  I think you get the picture.

My mom was a nurse. As most people are in the medical field, she was as stubborn as can be when it came to taking care of herself.  She was too busy taking care of everyone else that the one person she forgot to take care of was her.  I'm trying not to get to "deep" into this story of one of my personally pasts with cancer.  This is hard enough for me already.  The moral of the story is... we need to take care of ourselves if we want to be there to take care of our loved ones.  Breast Cancer is one of the leading causes of death among women.  Any form of cancer is devastating.  I MISS my Mom dearly.  So do my sisters.  My children never had the chance to get to know their Grammy.  My youngest has never met her, but I see Mom in her eyes everyday.  I wish they had because she was an amazing woman.  She IS the reason why I gave up my career in the medical field.  I pursued her passions in art and photography in this happy medium known today as scrapbooking and card making.

Thank you all for joining us in our Hop for Awareness.  I hope that we have made an impact on you.  Remember to TAKE CARE of YOU.  Encourage others to do the same.  After all, we can't be there take care of others if we don't take care of ourselves too.  Yes, a light bulb flashed over my head.  Life is too short.  For goodness sake, take CARE of YOU... TA-TAS, and ALL!

♥ Hugs ♥