November 14th is World Diabetes Day and one that I simply have to mark each year. In June 2017 our son died from complications arising from his type 1 diabetes, he was just 31. My 15 year old niece also has Type 1 diabetes having been diagnosed four years ago. This disease is not caused by poor diet or lack of exercise. It is an autoimmune disease where the body’s own cells attack the pancreas destroying the cells that produce insulin. There is no currently cure.

In 2006 the UN introduced a pale blue circle to unify the global fight against diabetes, and that was the jumping off point for today’s project.

BLUE CIRCLE FOR DIABETES

I began by using Tuxedo Black ink to stamp the fox image from the Nature’s Beauty Stamp Set onto a layer of Whisper White Card. I wanted to keep the fox image clean so I stamped it again onto a Full-Adhesive Post it® Note. Then I cut out the image using Paper Snips and placed it over the fox on the card.

Next I cut a hole in a piece of scrap paper using the #7 plain-edged die from the Layering Circle Dies (counting from the smallest up). Then I placed the scrap paper over the card, before using some Stampin’ Sponge to add a light layer of Balmy Blue ink inside the circle. Once that was done I removed the scrap paper and the mask on the fox.

For my sentiment I chose “Thinking of you at Christmastime” from the Greatest Part of Christmas (Host) Stamp Set. Then to keep things really simple I used Tuxedo Black ink to stamp it on the sponged piece.

PLAIN LAYERS

With the main layer complete I used Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) to mount it onto some Night of Navy Card. Then I wrapped some Linen Thread around the bottom of the piece and secured it on the back with Tear & Tape Adhesive.

Picking up on the pale blue sponging I used my Paper Trimmer to cut and score some Balmy Blue Card. I folded it along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder. Then I added the assembled layers with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

On another layer of Whisper White Card I stamped the fox using Tuxedo Black ink in the bottom right corner. I placed the Post-It Note mask over the fox then sponged a little Balmy blue ink around the edge of the image. Then once I’d removed the mask I fixed the layer inside the card base with liquid glue.

Finally I stamped, masked and sponged the fox image on the front of a Whisper White Medium Envelope and my project was complete.

CHARITY DONATIONS

Did you know that for every Nature’s Beauty Stamp Set sold in Canada Stampin’ Up! will donate $4 to the Center for Addiction and Mental Health.

If you want to support my own fundraising efforts, please consider buying the Artfully Aware Stamp Set or Support Ribbon Dies through me. For every one of these I sell I will personally donate $5 to diabetes research in Canada.

PRODUCT LIST

HOST STAMP SET – The Greatest Part of Christmas Stamp Set is a ‘host’ set and so can only be purchased using Stampin’ Rewards. These are earned as a percentage of your order once it reaches $200 before shipping and taxes. For this reason I’ve included this stamp set at the end of my product list.