An MSB challenge and a card close to my heart

Hi everyone! I know it's Saturday and I am so grateful for your visit today. :D

Modern Sugar Blvd. will be posting a fun new challenge on their site this afternoon. Along with a sketch, there is also a required digi and a color combo to go with it using turquoise, hot pink, and bright green. Fun summer colors! You can find more details later today HERE on their blogspot, but this is what I came up with:

This girl is so cute! She looks like someone's best friend, ready to lend an ear, share a secret, and hang out. I finally used my new CB folder, those candles are gigantic but I though it was fun for a bday card. I hope you all join in on the fun! And speaking of MSB...

I wanted to share this card with you that features a new image from the MSB store. This Precious Prayer image was originally designed for Kayleigh Freeman. (If you haven't visited her family's blog found here, I can tell you that it is one that will touch your heart. In summary, Kayleigh was born premature and at 1lb. 1oz. has fought for almost a year to beat the odds. Her parents Aimee and Adam update her condition and their experiences with such emotion and eloquence. Please click here to visit MSB's store; all proceeds from Precious Prayer and the Sweetnilla line will be donated to the Freeman family.)

Another reason that I created this card was because it brought back memories of 2007 when our DD (then 2 and a half) was diagnosed with retinoblastoma. While waiting for the MRI results after a very long day, I logged on to SCS and posted a thread in the Need A Lift forum to help pass anxious minutes. The response was overwhelming, incredible, and truly comforting. I posted updates as much as my heavy heart could handle just for my own clarity, not realizing that a sisterhood was growing stronger by the day.

Not long after that first post, Maali started receiving cards by the dozens. Her siblings received little "thinking of you" gifts as well as their own letters. People sent pajamas, pictures of their dogs, monetary donations, gift cards, stuffed animals, warm fuzzy slippers for her to wear to her chemotherapy treatments...the list goes on. It got to the point where she would wait for the mailman, knowing that she was about to be showered with happy mail. :D I have every single one of those cards and letters, all kept in a bin in my craft room. Whenever I glance at it, it reminds me that with His help we can overcome anything!

With that said, the layout for my card was inspired from a posting found HERE on Dare You To Digi's blogspot. I haven't been able to do many challenges lately, but this one was so close to home, as we understand what it is like to be with a hospitalized child. It has been sent to a beautiful little girl named Mollie who has Fetal Warfarin Syndrome. You can read more about her HERE, as well as other little ones who we should shower with happy mail.

The requirement is simple - use a digi image, gingham, and stitching, then send the card off to any child listed HERE on this website. The challenge prize is wonderful (a MS punch, flowers, and free digis) but more importantly, the connection with a child and his/her family can change their entire day with a simple card.

Now for a personal update, Maali is cancer free, turning 5 in July, and having a prosthetic eye has not stopped her one bit as you can see. :D Thank you for coming by, I hope you have a wonderful Saturday~ *Love and Aloha*