May Challenge!

Welcome to May! Well, we are definitely speeding through Autumn. I am sure the weather is cooling off nicely wherever you are (in Australia). Time to warm your day with the reveal of our new challenge. This month we have a sketch for you, courtesy of our very own Boss Lady Vicki, (who right at this very moment is up here enjoying some Qld weather with me!)

Here is Vicki's sketch...

Besides the sketch, the only other criteria is to make sure you include a handmade embellishment (it doesn't have to be made by you). How easy is that?

This month, we are very happy to announce that we have a wonderful new sponsor joining us...

Scrappers Garden is a family owned online store that specialises in handmade paper flowers and products. They also carry a great range of branded flowers and chipboard products. Scrappers Garden are generously providing a $15 store voucher for our winner this month! We will be back later in the month to tell you more about Scrappers Garden, but in the meantime, you will find their store HERE; their Facebook page HERE and their blog HERE

Now onto some inspiration!

This month, we are placing a special feature on our DT member Ali's layout.
As many of you may already be aware, back in mid March Ali's 18 year old daughter Zoe was caught up in Tropical Cyclone Pam whilst on a volunteer teaching placement on one of Vanuatu's outer islands. After the Category 5 storm passed, leaving many areas of the island nation in ruins, Ali and her family suffered an excruciating wait for news from Zoe's village. After a very long week, Zoe was finally able to contact home and let them know she was OK, but her poor village was not.

Here is what happened next, as told to us by Ali...

When Zoë's Pentecost community was without food and water, our Facebook community rallied behind her cause to charter a helicopter to deliver life-saving supplies. Donations flooded in, and in less than three days we had a total of $8000. More than enough to cover our mission.

Once Zoë delivered the aid she returned home for a month to raise awareness and support for Vanuatu. People have continued to be incredibly generous.

Zoë will return on 3 May, but sadly as the Level School community is still without a water tank her placement there is not viable. She will instead take up a teaching position in another village whose gardens and water supply were not destroyed in TC Pam.

Zoë and her new volunteering partner will make the five hour journey by foot to Level to deliver supplies including school supplies, medical supplies, blankets, clothing and food such as rice, flour and sugar.

School attendance in Vanuatu is compulsory but not free. Families sell their crops for cash to pay for their kids' education. But now that their crops have been wiped out, there is no money to pay for school. Zoë will also give Level School funding to help cover the cost of keeping the 45 students in school.

It's estimated that it will take five years before Vanuatu's gardens fully recover. That's a lot of lost years of education. If you'd like to help Zoë keep the Level kids at school please contact Ali on alisonabernethy8@gmail.com and we'll add you to our Facebook page. You can also follow Zoë's journey on her blog HERE 

Zoë's Dad will be travelling to Pentecost in June and will take further supplies. He and Zoë will again travel to Level School community and together with the Principal will work a long-term plan.

Here is Ali's layout documenting that very special aid flight, with her (now famous) daughter aboard...

Ali

D-lish Scraps flair; Charms Creations star

And from the rest of our team...

Vicki
Burdy's Embellies cogs and arrows; Lovelybug Bits n Bobs fabric button

Leanne
Rainbow Splendour cork polaroid frame; Charms Creations heart; Lil' Red Rocket button

Kim
Flutterby Designs flair

Sue

D-lish Scraps flair

(If you have made it this far in the post, thank you!) We hope you will all play along with us and share your take on the challenge. Entries close midnight, 31st May. Happy scrapping! :)