HEART TO HEART Blog Candy

WOW! I just cannot believe how big this got. As most of you know by now, I recently released my newest set through Gina K Designs called Whimsical Autumn, which benefits the Alzheimer's Association. My grandmother passed away in June from complications of this horrible disease and I wanted to try to help in any little way I could. I recently found out that today is World Alzheimer’s Day. The Board of Directors of the Alzheimer’s Association DOUBLED all donations given up until today so I asked Gina for some preliminary figures. After just two weeks, lots of sets have been sold. On Friday, I sent over my first commission--$450. So the first contribution ended up being $900! I am thrilled.

100% of my proceeds from this set will always go to the Alzheimer’s Association, but it was so much fun to send that first donation over. Here is the email I received after my donation:

Dear Carolyn,

Thank you for your friendship to the Alzheimer's Association. Your donation of $450.00 to our World Alzheimer's Day campaign is greatly appreciated and will be used to help fund vitally needed programs and services as well as critical Alzheimer research.
Your help is appreciated now more than ever. There are an estimated 5 million Americans currently affected, with another person developing Alzheimer's every 71 seconds ... By mid-century, someone will develop the disease every 33 seconds unless we do something.
Alzheimer's disease is an escalating epidemic due to our aging population. In fact, 10 million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer's disease in their lifetime.
Because of your gift today, we are one step closer to ensuring that more of us - our parents, ourselves, and our children - can grow older without fearing this devastating disease.

Sincerely,
Alzheimer's Association

So thank YOU! Because today is World Alzheimer’s Day, I wanted to do something special for another group of people who are affected by this disease---the caregivers. What began as a little idea----totally GREW! My hope was to get a few contributions from some stamping companies so that I would have a very cool prize to give away to one lucky winner who participated. AS you might have heard----the little prize turned into a GINORMOUS one! So many fabulous companies came forward and offered to contribute. I am so thankful to them.

In addition, I contacted a few WONDERFUL stamping friends to ask them if they would send a card (signed on the back) to add to the blog candy. Although I only asked a few people (and not my buddies out of the country because of the timing)—I had so many sweet emails and tons of handmade TREASURES donated by some of the best stampers/cardmakers out there!

So........ONE LUCKY PERSON WILL WIN OVER $1,000 in prizes PLUS ALL THE AMAZING HANDMADE GIFTS AND CARDS!!!!!!

I have been asked by a few people if I was planning on spreading out the prizes since it ended up being so huge….and I decided that I am going to stick with the original plan---that ONE person wins it all. Every person who plays along will receive a gift—the gift of making some person feel so special. But, I wanted this to be a big prize so that a lot of people play along. And, part of the fun of this blog candy is that whoever wins will be showered with gifts. I have a lot of them at my home and so the winner will receive a HUGE box from me. But some companies are sending out their own and many are gift certificates (as noted in the descriptions below) so the winner will be receiving goodies in the mail for a LONG TIME. How fun will that be?

***Before I get to the how you can win, I wanted to share that the Flourishes Design team all purchased the Whimsical Autumn set and are posting creations that they have made with this set today. Flourishes is one of the companies that donated to the cause and wanted to help generate more cards for this drive and so they took it one step further---please check out this link to see all of their fabulous cards. ((((Flourishes)))))

Special thanks to all of the companies and individuals who have donated the following for the Heart to Heart Blog Candy:

NEW ADDITIONS:

Angela Sgro: QuickKutz Rockstar Cookie Cutter mini alphabet set ($89.99 value); Card (Angela will mail prize directly to winner!)

Crafts 'n Things Magazine: Two Year Subscription! (Winner's information will be given to the subscription department of Crafts n' Things)

Paper Pretties: Entire collection of Sophia images! You can view them here (two are missing from picture) (Paper Pretties will send stamps directly to the winner.)

Precious Scraps: (new store opening soon!) Tim Holtz Tonic Scissors, 12 x 12 Basic Grey Eva Collection Kit.

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps: $25 Gift Certificate (winner's email will be forwarded to Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps for redemption code.)

Polka Dot Plaza: Large Square Nestabilities; Large Square Scalloped Nestabilities; $20 Gift Certificate (Polka Dot Plaza will send prize directly to winner.)

Layers of Color Art Stamps: Two Art Stamp sets-Winner's Choice ( Layers of Color will send selections directly to winner.)

Glue with UHU: UHU glue

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My Favorite Things: $50 gift certificate (winner’s email will be forwarded to MFT for redemption code) PLUS: Kim is running a sale through today (SUNDAY) which benefits the Alzheimer's Association. You can find all the details here!

Gina K Designs : $50 gift certificate (winner’s email will be forwarded to Gina K for redemption code)

Stamping Bella: $50 gift certificate (winner’s email will be forwarded to Stamping Bella for redemption code)

SmARTworks: $25 gift certificate (winner’s email will be forwarded to smARTworks for redemption code)

High Hopes Stamps: SIX stamps (on cling) from the NEW release –Release date is September 28 so I cannot show you the images but I saw them and they are AWESOME!!! (High Hopes will mail stamps directly to the winner.)

Jacksonbelle Embellishments: Surprise package. Lindsey’s son became sick this week so I am donating a few items in her name. She was one of the first people who offered to donate to the cause. (((Lindsey))) Hope your son is doing better!

Splitcoaststampers (Jenn Balcer): 1 Year Subscription to Fan Club Gallery

Papertrey Ink: Your choice of three sets (Let me know choices and stamps will be sent directly from PTI)

The Cat’s Pajamas :
Stamp Sets: It’s a Mod, Mod World, Puppy Love, You Say It’s Your Birthday
Cosmo Cricket- Cogsmo Blackboard pieces
Cosmo Cricket- Get Happy Blackboard pieces
Cosmo Cricket- Cogsmo 8 x 8 Designer Paper Pad
Cosmo Cricket- Get Happy 8 x 8 Paper Pad
Package of gemstones
Clear Scraps 5 page Clear Flower Tab Acrylic Album
Petaloo Magnetic Scrap Card with 5 Scrap Pages
Pack of Assorted tiny rhinestones
Memory Box Flirt Collection mixed cardstock
DCWV Gold Stitching Curly Q Rub-ons
DCWV White Stitching Curly Q Rub-ons
Sugar & Spice McGill Craft Punch
Pack of 10 Large Wood Clothespins













Eclectic Paperie : Exclusives from EP----Merry Muffins Mix (which includes Merry Muffin stamp set and White Liquid Applique, Red Liquid Applique, White fun flock, Sunshine yellow fun flock, red dot sparklers, silver dot sparklers, crystal glitter, quickie glue pen) AND Sushi Platter
(Prizes will be shipped directly from Eclectic Paperie to the winner)





Flourishes : Set from Simply Sophisticated Series- Mixed Greetings
Hambo Stamps : Stamps pictured below (Hambo and will send stamps directly to winner)



JustRite Stampers: Large Monogram Stamper (gold box), Damask Monogram Kit, Small Letter Set (Note: small letter set is not in pictures but it is included in prize!)

Scor-Pal (Scor-Pal will send directly to winner.)

Shimmerz Paints: Colors-Marigold, Candle Light, Pink, Lilac, Aqua Marine

Stamper’s Dream: Card made by Michelle Rodgers
Art Institute Glitter
Hero Arts-Set of four stamps
Cuttlebug embossing folder-Haunted Halloween
Cosmo Cricket – Get Happy 8 x 8 Paper pack
My Favorite Things-Built a Bouquet clear stamp set
Penny Black-Stickeroos

Starving Artistamps: Doodlefactory Witch’s Brew and matching sentiments; Doodlefactory Graveyard Shift and matching sentiments; Witches Trio and matching sentiments (Starving Artistamps will mail prize directly to the winner.)

Taylored Expressions: Frightful Night set (Taylored Expressions will send set directly to the winner.)

Unity Stamp Company: Stamps- Bitty Christmas Tags Set and Move Mountains Single

Verve Visual : Sets-- Beautiful You, Abundant Blessings, Cupcake Affair, Birthday Surprise, Here for You

Stacey Morgan: Card; Martha Stewart Holiday Invitation acrylic stamp set
Martha Stewart dimensional flower stickers
Paper Bliss- rub-ons
Kaiser rhinestones (2 different color packs)

Julie Dunn (Stampinjewelsd): (Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator) (will send directly to winner)
1 pack 8.5 by 11 assorted in color cardstock 2007/08
1 pack 8.5 by 11 assorted in color cardstock 2008/09
1 Pretties Kit
1 6 x 6 Prints Pack Designer Series Paper
Festive Favorites Stamp Set
A Little Bit of Happiness Stamp Set
1 Sherbert Ribbon Originals
Basic Black Classic Ink Pad
1 Pack of Fresh Favorites Blossoms

Confessions of a Ribbon Addict- Jody Morrow (TexasJodyLynn): 40 YARDS (4 colors) of May Arts Twill Ribbon and Card

Joanne Basile (basillefamily): Card; altered notebook; 3 packs of Karen Foster mini brads in black, vintage and dessert; Bazzill Collection crocheted blossoms; Heidi Swapp ghost flowers; Cuttlebug set of 4 dies-Garden Creatures; Cuttlebug Cat die; Karen Foster ribbon trimmings-ancestry.

Kim Hughes (Kim Hughes): Card and clear stamp set Hugs and Kisses (Kim Hughes Collection distributed by Cornish Heritage Farms)

Melanie Muenchinger (melmel): Card; Jumping for Joy stamp set (Gina K Designs)

Carolyn King (Cammie): Whimsical Autumn set (distributed by Gina K Designs) and Card

Jessica Rone (knightrone): Card; gift bag; Jewels & Gems; DCWV Blossoms & Butterflies; Rhinestone stickers; Pearl Embellishment pack; Assorted ribbon

Amy Rohl (Rohla)

Beate Johns (Beate)

Cambria Turnbow (Cambria)

Carole Burrage (TruCarMa)

Chat Wszelaki (nitestamper)

Charlene Merrick (lilluvsstampin)

Charmaine Ikach (Charmwarm)

Dawn Lusk (DawnL)

Deborah Anton (beadn&stampn)

Denise Marzee (peanutbee)

Emily Giovanni (Emilymomto3boys)

Jeanne Streiff (Jeanne S)

Jen del Muro (genie1314)

Kirsten Dubosque (Ked)

Kittie Caracciolo (kittie747)

Laura Canale (Lov’n Life n Vegas)

Lauren Meader (mytime)

Nicole Taylor (butterflyears)

Rose Ann Reynolds (Cutters Callous)

Sharon Harnist (StamperSharon)

Sharon Johnson (notimetostamp)

Susan Liles (susiestampalot)

Susan Roberts (Rainy)

Others fabulous people who offered to donate cards (I just don't have them yet so I cannot absolutely guarantee that they will be included--but I am sure they will be!):

Angel Rivera (Angela R): Card and Hot Spot Archivers stamps received

Shannon Tuebner (Stuebner)
Jessica Fick (jess jean) received
Tosha Leyendekker (Stamps4funinCA) received

Cindy Motherway (Mothermark) received
Laurie Schmidlin (lauraly)

Michele Boyer (Shel9999) received
Rae Barthel (Raescards) set of cards received
Jen Balcer (Jenn Balcer)
Mary Jo Albright (Mary Jo Albright)

Ana Wolhfahrt (Annieht)

Tracy Harp (Lodichick) received

Amy Sheffer (PickleTree)

**I wish I could add the pictures as I receive these---they are amazing but this post is already way over the top---moves VERY SLOWLY as I try to add more!!!

HOW YOU CAN ENTER TO WIN:
Because of the size of this blog candy, I am going to be strict about the rules! Please follow the all the directions to be entered. You may only enter one time per person but you can make as many cards as you want!

1. In celebration of World Alzheimer’s Day, we are reaching out to some amazing people who deserve to be thanked. ….the caregivers. Caring for an Alzheimer’s patient is HARD work and an often thankless job. There are so many people who help and so—I am asking you to make a card for a caretaker of a person affected with Alzheimer’s. Yes, you can send it to someone you know. If you do not know anyone to send a card to you can send it to the address below (this is the home my grandmother lived in for the last few years of her life. The nurses, aids and support staff there were tremendous. It is such a difficult job and I would love to see them showered with cards!)

To the Staff at the Artman Home
250 N. Bethlehem Pike
Ambler, PA 19002

2. Reread the donations above. I really want you to look at all the companies and individuals who gave to this important cause....cause they ROCK!

3. If you have a blog, please mention this blog candy on it. The hope is to generate as many cards as we can for those who could use a lift. If you do not have a blog, that is fine...just mention it when you upload your card. If you cannot upload your card (because you do not know how) that is fine. Just tell someone about this!)

Please, only one entry per person. In your comment please link your card and also list three companies and two individuals who have donated to the blog candy. Finally, be sure to link this post to your blog and spread the word! Don’t forget to include your email address so I can contact you if you win!

Your entry should look something like this:
Here is my card http://mycardrocks.com/ (FYI---not a real card!)
Three companies who donated are My Favorite Things, Gina K Designs and Flourishes. Two people who donated are Amy Rohl and Sharon Johnson. I have posted this on my blog. Cammie22@hotmail.com

Other important details:

All entries that follow the rules will be printed out on Friday, September 26 at @ 8 PM (central time) (MY GRANDMOTHER's BIRTHDAY). The entries will be printed out, cut up and RANDOM.CARA will pick the winner out of a box. (I will take pictures!) The winner will be posted on Saturday morning. (EDIT: Winner will be posted Saturday afternoon as I have an out of town funeral to attend in the morning. Sorry for the delay...)

I will not be posting on my blog for the next few days so that this stays on top. Everyone is eligible to play (even those who donated prizes.) The only person who cannot win is me.

Please note: By entering to win this blog candy you are agreeing to release your email address and contact information to some of the companies above in order for your prizes to be mailed. If you do not wish for your information to be released, please do not enter. One prize contains peanuts--please advise me before I send it if there is a peanut allergy in your home.

If you do not know how to take a picture of your card or upload it to a gallery or blog, don’t worry. Just make your card and let me know that it is made. I trust you!

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask them on this post and I will be sure to check back often to answer them. ****Please note---most questions you may have can be answered by re-reading this post!

Good Luck! Thanks again to all of the AMAZING people and companies who made this possible.