Cards and case sets are coming in for Safelight, and it is exciting to see this project take off so quickly.  We hit our donation goal within 48 hours of the first announcement, and have now gone well over.  I knew that the shelter was completely out of bags for new residents, so I wanted to get some done right away.  I ordered the bags online, and put in a bulk order for some of the items from Dollar Tree.  That shipment will have the sunglasses backordered, and the other items are estimated to arrive on the 23rd.  I’ll just get some from the store so I can move forward with the next delivery.  Going to the mailbox this week, I picked up cases and cards that had arrived from Ruth Jones.  Cute prints and lovely garden theme cards were really appreciated.

That same day, cards arrived from Jennie Rauch.  These are so cute, and I loved the messages inside.

I went to my stamping workbench and made several cards with mostly the same design so I would have a total of 20 to start.  I used the ‘Smile’ stamp, with just a simple layered decoration and a sticker, with an inspirational message inside.  The back has a cute stamp that says ‘inking of you’.  I stamped the envelope with another message to ‘shoot for the moon’.  Each one was signed ‘a friend’.

Then I got out what I had left in the stash.  As usual, I was delighted that that the variety of sunglasses colors fit beautifully with the case prints.

I had one hair treatment, one pedicure kit, 10 pairs of sunglasses, 8 tissue packs, and a couple of dozen lipsticks.  I matched up the sunglasses with cases.

When the bags arrived, I could go ahead and do the first run.

I stopped off at Dollar Tree to pick up enough other items to complete 10 bags.  Seven case sets from Nancy Grimm and three more from Linda Brayton went into the first delivery.

Each bag is a nice medium weight canvas, with two cards, cosmetic case with lipstick and nail hardener, tissue case with travel tissue pack, sunglasses case with new sunglasses, along with a new hairbrush, hair treatment, hand lotion and pedicure set.

When I had 10 bags filled, I put a piece of glittery tissue in the top of each one to make it seem more like a gift.

I delivered the first 10 bags to Safelight, picked up by Denise, one of the Safelight volunteers.  Residents that have recently arrived and are still at the shelter will receive one right away.  So, pressure is off, as they have enough to last a few days, hopefully past the point where I can do the end of the month delivery.  That is the Dandelion Cafe in the background, the place that has that fabulous Tomato Pie.

More goodies arrived in the mail this week, beginning with Heidi’s beautiful cards.  Heidi blogs about her creations at My Little Stamping Blog.

Inside, Heidi’s cards are inspiring and cheerful.

Helene Cline sent case sets with wonderful happy prints.

Becky Harbour sent fun case sets.

These cheery cases came from Kathie Laposata, along with a nice donation.

Sallie Minnich sent two sets with lovely flower prints.

Mary Ann Lyon sent four sets with a fun flip flop print, a button print, and 2 pretty floral prints.

So, here is where we stand.  Enough donations have come in to do 130 bags for women and five men’s bags, 35 more than our original goal.  I ordered all the bags we need to complete this project online.  The women’s bags have arrived in two large boxes.  The men’s bags will get here this week, and I’ll get the items for those to deliver this month.  I have done one bulk order to Dollar Tree that will arrive next week, which will complete 48 women’s bags for the next delivery in March.  So far, 56 case sets have arrived, 10 already delivered.  I have had an email from Lenora Scott that she has sent 50 of her beautiful cards and they should arrive this week.

Here is what I hope you can help with.  To finish the project, we need
Case sets – 74
Cards – 146 (so each bag can have 2)

In this time of everyone staying home rather than go to meetings or outings, I hope my stamping readers will get out their supplies and stamp some inspirational cards for the shelter.  And I hope some more sewing readers will have some case sets on the way.  If you have already sent a contribution in any way, thank you.  The drawings for the great prizes from Fat Quarter Shop, Aurifil, Quilter’s Dream, and Impression Obsession will be in late April, so you have time.  Tomorrow, I’ll have something special for you, to have some fun while we are ‘self isolating’.  Stay safe, stay well.

What are you going to work on this week?