May Arts Light It Up Blue Blog Hop - Autism Awareness Day

The May Arts Design Team has a very special reason to Light It Up Blue for autism research today.  

   
Research and education have erased many of the misconceptions about autism but it's important to keep the research going and to learn the signs of autism.  For more information, I encourage you to visit  The Autism Research Foundation and Austim Speaks.

The puzzle piece is often used as a symbol for Autism.  I wondered why, so I did a little searching and found this explanation:

"The puzzle represents the ambiguity and mystery around the causes and understanding of Autism. The puzzle piece is often used in graphics for Autism and Autism Treatment.

Many early Autism Awareness campaigns used the slogan

“Help Solve the Puzzle (of Autism)”

You also now see the puzzle pieces on the autism ribbons, as a multi-colored puzzle."
 

I have a couple of projects that I hope will inspire you to bless the life of someone you may know or the parents of someone you may know who is living with autism.

I found a puzzle cookie cutter and some gel paste food coloring at Sweet Baking Supply. (Excellent prices and fair shipping!) so I dug out my favorite Lemon Sugar Cookie recipe and created a "sweet" gift.   I found the free printable labels here. 

After mixing the sugar cookie dough, I divided it into 4 equal pieces, added food color to each piece, then rolled and stacked the colored logs.  Chill the dough, press any open areas together ;-) 

Cut with the puzzle cutter and bake.

If baking isn't your thing, I created this quick and easy flower seed envelope.  I chose Forget Me Not Seeds because I thought the name was most appropriate and they're a beautiful blue.

I hand dyed some beautiful May Arts eyelet ribbon blue then stitched and gathered it into a spiral flower.  Some beautiful sparkly blue embossing powder highlights the sentiment.  I attached all my elements to a pretty paper doily then just clipped them to the bag with a hand dyed mini clothespin.  

If you'd like the Lemon Sugar cookie recipe let me know.  It's a delicious recipe I've used for years.  

Be sure to visit the rest of the team on the hop for more Light It Up Blue inspiration and comment to win these beautiful blue ribbons of your very own.



Charlene Driggs (that's me!)

DeeDee Catron

Emily Lanham

Erin Thiem

Gini Williams Cagle

Jen Shears

Jenifer Cowles

Lalo Ik

Leah Farrar-White

Sandy Allnock

Virginia Fynes

May Arts Ribbons used:
Cookie gift - Mesh - AH04 (paper basket - Papertrey Ink)
Seed packet - Eyelet Ribbon - 447-1-01, Solid/diagonal Stripes 424-18-34, Paper Cord - 420-94 (stamps and label die - Papertrey Ink); Embossing powder - Sparkle n Sprinkle Blueberry