A very talented artist and breast cancer survivor herself, Mary created this wonderful assortment of gorgeous cards for LittleLifePreservers - which are sure to find loving homes. Mary has a blog here and you can see some of her art here.

Thank you Mary and shine on!

Mary is also very sweet and talented and generous! She donated 11 pounds of papercrafting goodies to aid in creating cards. Thank you so much Mary - You are awesome!

My name is Mary Reece. I was first aware of breast cancer when I met my husband, Tom. His Aunt Cora died of breast cancer the year we met at the age of 47. That was 41 years ago. Back then they didn’t have the treatments available like they do now and Aunt Cora went through Cobalt treatments for her cancer. It was an awful treatment that didn’t have very promising results. Cancer runs rampant in Tom’s family. His younger sister, Jan (age 45), was diagnosed last year with breast cancer. She caught it fast, and only had to do radiation treatment. She has had two surgeries where they removed tumors, but is now clear. She is a single mother and is raising two children, working and going to school. She has a tremendous attitude and a ton of family and friends cheering her on.

Your efforts and your recovery is very heart warming. What you are doing for current cancer patients is a wonderful thing and I will help you in any way that I can. Thanks for all you do, Lesa.

Love ya,

Mary

Right back at ya Mary. xoxo

Angie is another fabulous friend who has supported me through my breast cancer fight and has donated some very cute cards to LLP plus a few goodies for me like a little album and some stamped images. She has a fun blog here.  Angie has a big heart which shines daily through her career as a pediatric RN.  I asked her for a few words about her crafting:

I was introduced to the craft world by my cute mom, Mary.  She worked for a large craft company and started getting into scrapbooks and papercrafts through her friends at work.  Then she met someone who introduced her to the card making and rubber stamping world in the form of card parties.  Being the dutiful daughter, I did my part to help out.  After the first party, I was hooked.  Now I’m into both card making and rubber stamping big time.  The best part of my obsession is all the new friends I have made that live all over the world, thanks to the internet.  That’s how I met my amazing and wonderful friend, Lesa.  I want to support her any way I can in her mission to help those battle the brave battle that she’s been through.

Thanks Angie - you are a gem!!

Traci rocks! She is very talented and has a very inspiring blog here.  She is another avid supporter with my battle with BC and donated generously to this endeavor at it’s launch.  In her own words…..

I started stamping about 6 years ago when my friend Heather invited me to a Stampin’ Up! workshop.  I didn’t even know what a rubber stamp was at that point.  Now I am a demonstrator for Stampin’ Up! myself, so to make a long story short, I guess you could say I was “hooked”.  I especially love to make cards.  My grandmother was very much a “card sender”.  She sent cards for any and every occasion, as well as no occasion at all.  She also sent them to a lot of people.  She died from colon cancer several years ago.  I often think of her when I’m making or sending cards, so it just makes me happy to do so! 

I have never lost anyone close to me due to breast cancer.  I met you shortly after you were diagnosed when we went to the Mall of America, and I have just thought about you a whole lot ever since!  You are so brave and determined, and I have so much admiration for you.  I think your website is awesome, and I just want to help in any way that I can!

I’m also proud to say that I’m 37, and I had my first mammogram when I was 35!  Go mammograms!

Keep getting those mammos Traci and all you women out there!

Big hugs and Big Thanks,

Lesa:)

Sally is a sister-in-bc. She is super talented and has sent me beautiful cards of encouragement through my darkest hours. She has also donated TONS of wonderful cards and stamps and envies to this site. In her own words:

You are doing a wonderful service to those touched by breast cancer and I am honored to help in a small
way.

My life was personally touched by breast cancer in 1996 when I was diagnosed at age 41.  After a  lumpectomy determined that my lymph nodes were clear I had 7 weeks of radiation treatments.  I had gotten mammograms religiously since age 35 and thankfully so far have had no further diagnosis.   There is no family history of breast cancer in my family so I am so thankful that it was found
early and was treatable.

I got interested in rubber stamping in 2003 after receiving a hand-stamped birthday card from a close friend.  I enjoy this hobby because it affords me to share with others who may be experiencing pain or difficulties in their lives.

Thanks again for everything you do to make Little Life Preservers a success to those experiencing bc.

Much appreciation Sally - Rock on!

Ladybugs creating some Art Bar cards at Colorful Creations

My favorite papercrafting/rubberstamping/scrapbooking store is Colorful Creations. Located on 388 main St.  Hyannis, MA. Not only do they have the absolute best variety of scrumptious supplies & offer tons of fun and inspiring classes but the owner (Jayne), manager (Jenn) and creative chicks ( M, M & E ) are AWESOME. Generous of heart, talented to the max, FUN, gorgeous, inspiring, etcetera etcetera. Simply said: They Rock!

When they found out I launched this site they jumped right up to help by hosting an Art Bar fundraiser and creating a pink donation box that sits prettily in the store and accepts donations of handmade cards and supplies. How cool is that? Waaay cool I say. You can visit their blog here.

They are always “giving back” to the community and different charities in some form or another. This speaks volumes of one’s character. I was blessed the day I walked into Colorful Creations and met Jayne, Jenn, my Ladybug friends, Stamp Club friends & the Creative Chicks. My life is richer for the knowing.

Much Love, Big Hugs & boundless APPRECIATION!

Lesa

Jenn & Jayne

Joanie is a great friend and also one of us “Ladybugs.” There are four of us in our little buggy group : Joanie, Vicky, Noreen and I. We all met through our favorite paper crafting  store Colorful Creations.  Joanie has donated some wonderful cards and here is a little bit in her own words:

My good friend Sherri has been a steadfast supporter through my battle so far with ugly breast cancer. She eagerly donated super cute cards way before this site was launched. She maintains a personal blog here. I asked her about her obsession with papercrafts and how she has been personally affected by breast cancer:

“I have been rubberstamping for about 6 years now.  I started out by going to a scrapbooking retreat. I did not scrapbook or rubberstamp, I just wanted to go away for the weekend. Someone showed me how to rubberstamp and I ended up stamping all my Christmas gift tags that weekend. It was so fun and I was hooked!!!  I had a very dear friend Robin who I lost to breast cancer almost a year ago. I still cant’ believe she is gone but she put up a good fight for 6 years. I think about her everyday and miss her like crazy.”

Thank you for the donation Sherri, thank you for your continued support and thank you for your friendship. You rock!