October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This horrible disease has affected almost everyone. I personally have an aunt and 6 close friends who are all breast cancer survivors. At the Craft and Hobby Association Trade Show this past summer I had the privilege of meeting another one. Melissa Frances has long been one of my favorite designers, and I found out that she is also a breast cancer survivor. Not only is she a survivor, she is spreading the word about cancer prevention. She has designed a wonderful line of papercrafting elements called “ Thankful”. Melissa was inspired to create this line after her diagnosis, treatment and recovery. The line is aimed at all women who have something to be thankful for. (And isn’t that all of us?) A portion of the proceeds from the sales of this line will be donated to www.breastcancer.org. This line quickly became very popular and Melissa received many requests to design a line specifically for breast cancer. Papers, Stickers, Transfers and a Ticket Book were added, all aimed especially at Breast Cancer. Two of my favorites are a rub on transfer that says, “ Even tattered wings can still fly” and a sticker that says, “ I have a glowing attitude from Radiation”. And of, course everything in the line is absolutely gorgeous. Here is a picture of Melissa with me taken in her booth at the CHA show.


Melissa was sponsoring a contest in her booth to decorate bras to show support for breast cancer victims. The bras were outstanding. Attendees were asked to vote for their favorite- a really hard decision! Here is a photo of the display.

The bra on the far right was the $1000 winner. Hanging at the ends of the ribbons were photos of breast cancer survivors-what an inspiration!!

I’ve designed 3 different cards with some of the papers and elements from this line. Here they are.







Directions for the long narrow card follow. As you can see, this line can also be used for many other occasions, too-it’s so absolutely beautiful. My favorite paper is Thankful – the one with the flowers and the script listing all the things to be thankful for.

Think Pink Card
Supplies-
White cardstock 8”x 9”
White #10 business size envelope
Papers – Endure, Hope (Melissa Frances)
Breast Cancer Stickers (Melissa Frances)
10mm Crystal Stickers, Pearl -2(Mark Richards)
12” pink mesh ribbon
Powder Puff Ink Pad –Green with Envy (Quick Quotes)
Zig Memory System Writer – Fawn (EK Success)
Ruler or 1 ½” square stencil
Adhesive of choice
Scraps of pink thread
Paper trimmer or scissors
1. Fold the white cardstock to make a card 9” x 4” that opens on the side.
2. Cut 2 Hope papers 8 ¾” x 3 ¾” and 1 Endure paper the same size.
3. Ink the edges of 1 Endure paper and the Hope paper.
4. Adhere the Hope paper to the card front.
5. Tear the Endure paper as shown and adhere on top of the Hope paper on the card front.
6. Place the ribbon off center on the card front, and adhere both ends inside the card. Tie a knot in the ribbon about 2:” down from the top and 3” up from the bottom. Adhere these spots to the card. Add the pearls on top of the knots.
7. Open the card and adhere the remaining piece of Endure paper to the left side to cover the ribbon ends. Adhere the “ Together” sticker to the right side. Use the pen to draw a square around the sticker.
8. Open the envelope flap on top of remaining Endure paper. Draw around the flap, and down 2 ½ “. Cut out this shape, cutting ½” of each side. Adhere the patterned paper inside the envelope.
9. Send to a friend or loved one who is battling breast cancer.

Now, if you haven’t had a mammogram in the past year-go call to schedule one! I’ve had mine!