HEY FRIENDS! I’m sure that I’m not the only one who is sadden by world events. It’s easy to think of the situation in Ukraine as someone else’s problem on other side of the world, but it hit home recently when Yana Smakula posted about her situation in Western Ukraine with her family. Suddenly, one of our own was in danger….

These past few days, card makers have been posting projects in support of the efforts to defend the people of Ukraine. You may have seen the hashtags #papercrafterssupportukraine, and #cardsforukraine among others on Instagram.

If you’d like to participate, Marcella Hawley is offering free digital downloads of her sunflower images so that you too can join paper crafters around the world to show your support. I’ve posted the card below on my social media accounts. It was made with two Power Poppy clear stamp sets: In Praise of Sunflowers and M-Powering Words, both of which are now retired.

I recently read that a partner of St. Jude Hospital for Children was working to provide safe haven for Ukrainian children being treated for cancer. As if being a child with cancer wasn’t bad enough, imagine being a child — or the parents of a child — in need of life saving treatment in a war torn country. The St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s Global Alliance has been working with their world-wide partners to move patients from the Ukraine to Poland for treatment.

So instead of a crafty purchase, please consider making a donation to the Tabletochki Charity Foundation through Global Giving to help children with cancer receive uninterrupted treatment during this difficult time.

If you feel helpless when the world is in crisis, here’s an opportunity to make a difference in the life of a child.