In Memory of my Niece, 3 Cards For 3 Special Kids, Asking for Your Help!

In Loving Memory of My Niece

Mara Ann Smith

(December 16, 1998-December 17, 2000)

My Niece Mara passed away 10 years ago this month from a very rare genetic disease called Sandhoff's Disease. She was just barely 2 years old. She was such a sweet baby and she loved to giggle. She could really put a smile on your face, even in the harder times. Not to mention she was so darn cute! My sister in law posted this year asking for friends and family to do something to help a child during this holiday season, in memory of Mara. She asked that we donate time, money, or anything to help a child. I thought for a little bit on what to do, and then I heard about this wonderful site called Cupid Cards and I knew just what I wanted to do in memory of Mara.

Here is another picture of Mara with her big sister Gwen! Gwen is almost 14 years old now. To learn more about Sandhoff's or to see the stories of other children you can visit Here and Here.

The website, Cupid Cards is a wonderful site where people can nominate sick children who could really use a care package, also it is a site where people can help by making cards (although store bought cards are OK to) or donate money to help the cause. All of it really helps to put a smile on the face of some special kids who really need it. In memory of Mara I decided to make 3 cards for 3 special kids who need to have cards submitted by December 27th so they can receive their care package and really have something to smile about. So here are my cards:


This cute one is for Jessica. She is 14 years old and has Hemphagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis and Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis. To read more about her, click here. For Jessica I decided to make this adorable card using the bee from Create a Critter! I just love how cute this card turned out and it was made just for her. I used lots of stickles so that it sparkles and shines. Also the yellow paper was glittery to begin with. They don't want cards with loose glitter so stickles and glitter paper like this work the best. The sentiment is from Scrappy Moms. I hope Jessica likes her card!



This next adorable card is for Jillianne who is nearly 5 and has HLHS-Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, DORV -Double outlet right ventricle, and mitral atresia varient. To read more about her you can click here. For Jillianne I decided to use these pretty colors and this adorable patterned paper from DCWV Sweet Stack. I love it. I thought a pretty smiling dragonfly would be nice for her. As you can see I added plenty of sparkle using gemstones and I also used black stickles on her mouth. I used a sentiment from Scrappy Moms which is really awesome! They ask that the cards not say "get well" or things like that. They want cheerful happy cards. I hope this card puts a big smile on Jillianne's face!



And the last card I made is for a special little boy named Wyatt. He will be turning 6 this month and just so happens to share the same birthday as my niece Mara so that just seems meant to be that this little boy receive a card too! Wyatt has an inoperable brain tumor that they are treating very aggressively. To read more about Wyatt click here. For Wyatt I needed a very boy like card, so I used this adorable creature from Mini Monsters and I love the bright happy colors. I used the Spots and Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder and I made my own pattern paper at the top by adhering those tiny black circles. I used a Scrappy Moms sentiment and just stamped it right into his big belly! I really love how this card turned out and I am sure it will make Wyatt smile too!

So these are the cute cards I made. It took me about 2 and a half hours, just 2 and a half hours to put a big smile on the faces of some very sick children. That was me spending 2 and a half hours doing something that I love, and thinking of someone that I love and hopefully brightening even one day for these kids.

I hope that you will help me honor my niece this holiday season by making cards for even 1, 2 or all 3 of these special kids. It would mean a lot to me as well as my niece's family. It helps the spirit of one child live on as well as helping kids who really need it right now. If you want to help just use the links I have provided.

Also if you would you do participate please leave me a comment with a link to your card so I can take a peek at it or if you just want to leave me some comments about these 3 cards that would be nice too!

As for me, I am making a New Year Resolution to take some time out each month to send a card to at least one child through Cupid Cards because it really is a great cause.