Think Pink 2015 – Breast Cancer Awareness

We start the 1st of October off with a blog post that we hope will bring new awareness, creativity and joy to those who read it.  Whether you are a cancer surveyor, battling cancer or know someone who is, these creative projects were created by our Canvas Corp Brands Crew to bring a smile to your face.  We are so proud of all the work that has been done to raise money, to spread the word about prevention and to make everyone more aware.  

While a lot of research is being done to prevent, treat and cure Breast cancer, it is also important to focus on ways we can support those dealing with the disease.  We feel strongly that being crafty and creative is great medicine for those fighting and for those supporting those who are fighting cancer.  It is a way to forget the world around you, focus on beautiful things and let you mind go in fun new directions.  You cal so have something beautiful when you are done to remind you of how special life is and the beauty in little things.   As a mother of a childhood cancer survivor I saw first hand the importance of crafts in the healing process.  The kids looked forward to the daily crafts more than anything else in the day, the crafts were designed to take their mind off their worries and to create fun and beautiful things and it worked and many of the kids were introduced to their own personal style and artistic value that they took with them.

If you know someone who has just begun the battle or is in the fight, consider making them a crafty care package.  If they are not a die hard crafter, no worries, there are so many great products out there that “help” you to be creative including adult coloring books, color by number and step by step kits.  If you are creative consider spending some creative time showing off a few of your favorite crafty tricks and inspiring the creativity.  

Please enjoy these fabulous projects from the Crew and look for more projects to come that we hope will not only build awareness, but will also encourage those in the fight to let their creative juices flow.  While these projects are all Pink, to build awareness and to show our appreciation, there is no pink required when the crafting begins.

We know that crafting is good therapy for those fighting an illness, but we wanted to share some studies that back up this statement like this article Creative Arts Therapy Benefits Cancer Patients.  

You will find many of these project on the blogs of our Crew Members and we will also be featuring a range of projects throughout the month of October as a great way to build awareness and share step by step details.  

1 – Make a Breast Cancer Mixed Media Card  – ‘Be Your Own Kind Of Beautiful’  – Kathy created this amazing altered art card that filled with all that is vintage pink.  A layered card like this is so perfect for adding little notes, sayings and words of thought in fun little nooks and crannies.  This is given as a card, but cherished as a work of art.  To see how Kathy created her card jump over to her blog for all the details Kathy By Design.

 2.  Make Art with an Awareness Message – ‘Save the Hooters’  Wall Hanging can be framed or added to a stetted canvas to be hung in a special place or placed on a desk, side table or bookshelf in a frame.  Let the mixed media show through by removing the glass making room for all those layers and textures.  To see more of Tonya Trantham’s work, visit her blog Creative Addiction to Paper.

3. Make a Shadowbox with a Great Reminder  – ‘Be Life Aware’ – Kyriakos fills this shadowbox with specialty papers that come together to make a bold statement and a great way to create mixed media awareness.  For more of work by Kyriakos visit The Crafts World Blog.

4. Repurpose and Make a Pink Keepsake – ‘Time for Awareness’ Valerie Andrieux created this amazing repurposed piece that not only promotes the awareness that saves lives but is a true keepsake that will be cherished forever.  Decoupage papers, tissue, stamped paper, washi tape and other craft goodies onto a found object with a common color story such as vintage pink & glitter.  To see more of Valerie’s work, jump over to her blog Bonjour Scrap.

5.  Make a Survivor Card – ‘Believe Survivor’ From day one of the breast cancer journey the ups and the downs are many.  As survivors get the good news at the end of their journey “You are Cancer Free” the journey is not over, but a new one of enjoying life, making sure the little things are not forgotten and that the bucket list is written.  Irit Shalom shows us a great way to make a Survivor Card that is such a good way to remind the recipient that life is good and to enjoy the journey ahead.  So often those few words are never said, but oh so important.

6.  Make a Hope Journal – ‘Hope Journal’ – Dana created this amazing patchwork journal cover that can be made with paper, fabric, specialty paper, washi tape from your stash and it can even have cuts from special moments and events as the cancer journey is taken.  The cover can be made along the journey such as adding Breast Cancer Pins, Numbers that represent special dates or fussy cut pieces from a poster, card or sign that has special memories.  You can see more of Dana’s work on her blog They Call Me Tatar Salad.

7. Make ATC Cancer Journey Cards – ‘Dream Artist Trading Cards’ – Sanna created these special little works of art that we refer to as ATC’s ,but we think they are much more than that.  Traditionally ATC’s are exchanged among collectors and in many cases may travel across the world to find their final resting place. These ATC’s can be shared in so many amazing ways such as: 1- send one a week to someone in the fight to brighten their week 2 – bring together a group of crafty Breast Cancer patients and give them to tools and ideas to make their own capturing their feelings and then exchanging them with each other 3 – create journal of ATC’s as you personally go through the journey using creativity to capture how your feeling, thinking and dreaming.  The journey will have its ups and downs, creating or gathering beauty along the journey can helpful healing.  To see more of Sanna’s work drop by her blog Papierstau.

8. Crafty Check Up Reminder Board – ‘Get Your Boots Checked’ Memo Board is a fun play on words with a sassy western theme that is perfect for your desk, kitchen or by the bed with upcoming appointments, check up dates and monogram dates.  This fun reminder is fun to have out for show and to build awareness.  What a great gift for those you love!!!!  We will feature this this post later in the month with all the steps to create the memo board and these fun pink paper mache sassy boots.  To see more of Kimberly’s work stop by her blog.

We hope we have inspired you with a little big of creativity and a outlet to help you or someone you know through the cancer journey.  

Hope. It is Powerful.  It is Real.  It is all we got.  Cure Breast Cancer.

Please see links below to other projects shared by our Crew on their blogs and please look for more projects throughout the month where we will feature more inspiration.  

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