The Hop to Stop - Domestic Violence Awareness (2 cards)

Hello, everyone!  I'm popping in from my blog break because I want to support The Hop to Stop. This important hop is raising awareness about domestic violence.  Thank you to Becca at The Damsel of Distressed for organizing this hop for the third year. I made four cards.  I am sharing two of them here, and I'll be back later today with the other two.

One in three women will experience domestic violence over the course of their lifetimes. That's one-third of all the women you meet. Women between the ages of 15 and 44 are more likely to be injured or die as a result of domestic violence than through rapes, muggings and car accidents combined.

I want to be involved in this hop because this is an issue very close to my heart. It's not an easy subject for me to think about or remember. My mother was a victim of domestic violence, from my birth father, and I am not exaggerating when I say that she is lucky to be alive. She escaped with my brother and me when I was three. I have never had a desire to be in contact with my birth father. I have memories of that time and they are full of tears and terror.

Please become informed about domestic violence, its impacts, and available resources. For more information on domestic violence in Canada, see here. If you are a woman experiencing abuse in Canada, there is someone you can reach out to any time of day or night; see here.

Purple is the color for National Domestic Violence Awareness Month so participants in the hop are creating cards featuring purple.

Card #1

Sadly, approximately every six days, a woman in Canada is killed by her intimate partner. With this in mind, I created a sympathy card.

I fussy-cut a botanical flower image from Graphics Fairy and popped it up on foam tape. The sentiment is die-cut with Simon Says Stamp - With Sympathy.  The embossed panel was in my stash (source unknown). I finished off the card with a few clear sequins.

Card #2

Domestic violence is a serious subject but I wanted to make a fun card. I was a small child when the traumatic events happened in my life, so the card I made is suitable for a small child.

I recently won this adorable Kitty's Balloon image from Di's Digistamps (thank you, Di!). I coloured her with Prismacolor pencils and fussy-cut so I could pop her up on foam tape. I added clear Wink of Stella and Glossy Accents to the balloon. The sentiment is from SugarPea Designs - Smitten Kitten, which I stamped repeatedly in Simon Says Stamp Wisteria and once in Memento Grape Jelly. The white cardstock was die-cut with Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangles.

The design of my card is inspired by Jennifer McGuire and her technique called Sentiment Backdrops. This is the first time I've tried it!  I fell in love with her cards and decided to CASE this one:

I would also like to support these challenges: 
Card #1
613 Avenue Create AG 1/8; Cardz TV AG 1/3; Craft Your Passion AG 1/3; Crafts Galore Encore AG 1/3; Creatalicious AG 1/3; Creative Corner Sympathy 1/3; DL.ART October Linky AG UE 1/d; Glitter N Sparkle AG 1/3; Great Impressions AG 1E; Happy Little Stampers AG w Dies UE; Just Keep on Creating October AG UE; Not Just Cards October AG UE; Penny's Paper-crafty AG 1/3; Word Art Wednesday AG w Uplifting Sentiment 1/5 wk 1

Card #2
613 Avenue Create AG 2/8; Cardz TV AG 2/3; Craft Your Passion AG 2/3; Crafting Circle Crafty Awesomeness AG 1/3; Crafts Galore Encore AG 2/3; Crafty Gals Corner CASE it 1/2; Creatalicious AG 2/3; Crop Stop Linky 21 AG (Memento inkpad sold at Crop Stop here 1/5); Digi Designs Add a Sentiment 1/3; Doodle Pantry Any Digital Image 1E; Glitter N Sparkle AG 2/3; Just Keep on Creating October AG UE; Little Scrap Pieces Show it Off Saturday 1E; Love to Scrap AG 1/5; MFP Stamp Shop Photo Inspiration (I was inspired by the cats) 1/3; Not Just Cards October AG UE; Penny's Paper-crafty AG 2/3; Send a Smile 4 Kids Celebration Cards 4 Kids 1/3; The Crafter's Cafe Use a New Technique (Sentiment Backdrop technique new to me) 1/3; Word Art Wednesday AG w Uplifting Sentiment 2/5 wk 1

Thank you for looking at my cards! Wishing you a joyful day!