As in the past, our family spent Spring Break in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. And as we have done before, we visited the Casa Hogar orphanage.
Unlike the United States, Mexico does not have a foster child program. So although there are true orphans at Casa Hogar, any child that has been abandoned or abused…
or whose parents are imprisoned is also sheltered there until such time that the parents are able or allowed to care for them again.
This year we had some “homemade” books to handout to the children.
Our church group took an evening and cut out pictures from magazines. We then organized them into books, and one of the woman in our group who speaks fluent Spanish wrote in them for the children to read. I was the lucky one who got to deliver them.
They were a huge hit!
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We love Puerto Vallarta. From our terrace we are able to see the pirate ship that sails daily filled with tourists.
And we can hear the singing and dancing and cannon fire and are treated to a fireworks display every evening!
But this year something was different!
They are building a second pirate ship and we witnessed it’s maiden voyage. (Okay well it was maiden to us.)
See the mermaid?
I was inspired by her and couldn’t wait to ink up my newest set from Crafty Secrets called “Mermaids” when I got home.
We also got an email from one of our renters there that she had left a charger in the condo. So before we came home, we found it and mailed it back to her. I made this card to send to her along with the charger.
Thanks for sharing PV with me!
Happy Crafting!
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Mermaid Card:
Stamps: Crafty Secrets “Mermaids”; Rubber Moon “Happy Birthday”
Papers: SU! Whisper White, Summer Sun, Pink Passion, Taken with Teal; PTI True Black; Graphic 45 “On the Boardwalk Collection”
Just a note: Ellen Hutson has put all of her in-stock Graphic 45 papers in her store on sale at 15% off through to the 28th!! Use the promo code G45.
Inks: Memento “Tuxedo Black”; SU! Taken with Teal; Copics:
Mermaid: 
Water:
Seawall: 
Accessories: Circle Nestabilities; Kaiser Flatback Pearls; EK Success Butterfly Punch; SU! Border Punch; GG Ribbon; Beads and Sequin Ribbon
Palms Card:
Stamps: Viva Las Vegastamps “Palm Forest”; PTI “Scattered Showers”
Papers: SU! Summer Sun and Whisper White
Inks: Versamark; SU! Summer Sun, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust and Not Quite Navy
Accessories: Embossing Powder; Ric-Rac; Corduroy Brad
What a wonderful thing to do for the children…and what sweet faces as well!! Your pictures are gorgeous, and it looks like a fabulous time!!
Your mermaid card is soooo gorgeous, and I am loving your palm trees as well, Susan!!
Susan, how can I, a mere mortal, ever thank you for your kindness? I’m grateful to you and your church beyond words for your selfless and loving gesture to these children who because of their (our) race, are so often forgotten or worse, thought of with disdain. Thank you. THANK YOU!
Susan what a great church program you have to visit these kids. It sounds like you all had a blast 🙂 !!! Love all the photos of the kids and the pirate boat…..so cool!!!
Your two inspired cards are just fantastic!!! Love the design and the mermaid image on the first card. The embossing and the sponging on the second card is WOW!!! Hugs ~S~
The pictures of the children were delightful to see. Having grown up in Costa Rica I have such a soft spot for the children in Latin America. Blessings to you for sharing some love with them and providing them with some joy and things they can enjoy for weeks to come!
Love the pictures of the pirate ship!! Reminds me of Pirates of the Caribbean LOL! Darling cards and your condo looks wonderful!
Oh how wonderful – I know those children will always remember your kindness! Thanks so much for sharing these lovely pictures with us.
The photos of the children are pricelsss, Susan and your cards are beautiful!
Susan, thanks for sharing your pictures of PV with us. Taking those books with you is a wonderful thing to do for the children there at the orphanage. Their faces tell a story all their own. Your cards are also just fabulous!!! I’m partial to the mermaid one but the palm trees card is fantastic as well.
What an AWESOME thing you did for those kiddos. I’m totallly fascinated by the pirate ship….SOOOOO how totally COOL!
Your cards are absolutely amazing. Both have such incredible detail. Love your stuff, girlie.
Sounds like a very fun and interesting trip, love your inspiration card, like the pearls coming down the side, and you can just feel the warmth from your sunshine card!
FAbulous post and amazing pictures! How wonderful you could visit and share at the orphanage. The pirate ship reminds me of our honeymoon…doing the macarena with the pirates all lined up in the rigging! Gorgeous card…way to remind someone of PV…looks like you had a fantastic trip. I hope we can connect next time, it’s my fav place to vacation.
What a great post, Susan
Thank you for sharing all those beautiful photos. What a great idea to make and give away the books.
I really enjoyed hearing of your activities and seeing the two delightful cards.
Ohhh wow! What a wonderful experience!! And what a wonderful thing to do. Thank you for sharing! 🙂
Susan you are such an amazing inspiration to others!!! What you did for the children is just too precious for words! I love the card you made and to have the heart to send a special handmade card to go to your renter is just too special!!! What a big heart you have!!
Thanks for sharing your special trip with these fabulous photos! Those sweet faces just melt your heart and I’m sure they loved the books you made for them. Thank heaven for people like you who truly care about those who are less fortunate! Your cards are beautifully created, and a perfect memory of your trip to PV! Awesome!
These pictures make me want to adopt all of these beautiful and yet sad looking children. It’s heart breaking to realize so many children need loving, but your kind gesture with the book program seems to reach out to heal some little part of their lives.
Bless you for what you were able to do. We need more people like you in this mixed up world. TFS. Pat
Susan these are amazing pictures.. Makes me so sad to think of children being without so much when I am so blessed.. what a wonderful thing to give them those books.. I bet they will treasure them.. Your pictures are precious.. I love your cards. They are so pretty. The sunset one is perfectly done.. Great job.
What wonderful pictures, Susan…the children are all sooo beautiful!!! I would love to take them all home….you and your church group are such a blessing to those sweet kids!!! Your cards are gorgeous, too…the mermaid is fabulous and I love the awesome sunset on the second one!!!!
wonderful photos and your cards are lovely! What an awesome mermaid!
Susan, you are so sweet! What a wonderful thing to do! Thanks so much for sharing it with us.
Your cards look amazing!
Hugs and smiles
What a great thing to do – what a great project of your church! I do a similar thing over here, in a little village, where my BIL as a doctore takes care for a orphan project and usualy gets the whole family involved.It makes one feel sad and happy at the same time.
Thanks for sharing these pictures!
Oh, Susan… What a kind thing to do, it is so wonderful that there are people like you and at your church. I can see that kids were so happy to see these books! You made them feel special and loved!
Your mermaid card is gorgeous! I love how you colored it! Really like the layered ribbons. And your second card is like a real sunshine! Love the warm feel of it!
Susan that is so cool! I think that is wonderful of your church to make those books and to see that they loved them. I am just touched you guys are able to do that and see the kids. Oh big hugs to you! I liked the pictures of the kids, I want to reach in and hug them. Your mermaid card is pretty. Very cool ribbon/shells you used on it.
Such a great program and that you can go and volunteer there! Love your card based off the pirate ship that is too cool! Great photos!!!