christytomlinson

Giveaway and Autism Speaks!

I am sure many of you know miss Ali Edwards. She is an Editor for Creating Keepsakes magazine and also a dear friend of mine. She and I both share something in common, our sons both have a form of Autism. My son Parker, is now 10 and has a mild form of autism called Aspergers.

Well, while I have been out of the country for the last month, Ali has been working hard, hosting a fund-raiser through an organization and badge at Six Degrees (started by the famous actor Kevin Bacon) for another organization called Autism Speaks Inc. The cool thing about this particular day, is that on the Six Degree website, Kevin Bacon has personally said he will donate $10, 000 dollars to the person who's "donation" has the most money earned by the end of day today. I spent along time last night reading all about it all last night and was so moved by Ali's efforts and how much money she and other scrapbookers have raised!  I am so sad I am just seeing it now, as it's the last day of the contest.. but there is still time!!

She is right now at #1, but in order to keep her there.. everyone needs to donate to Autism speaks through her Badge. You can donate as little as $10 bucks or as much as you want, and it all goes to the organization Autism Speaks.

Here is a link to her first post on her Blog. you can also go to www.aliedwards.typepad.com with more info and on where you can go to donate and how.

Also as a way to say thank you, I am going to do a GIVEAWAY on my blog in behalf of Ali's efforts! So go! make a donation.

Also make sure to post a comment here, and I will give-way a fun prize pack with the new Show and Tell book by Making Memories and some other great goodies! I will pick someone randomly tomorrow morning and post it on Monday. (Sorry will be traveling home tomorrow from our Spring Break trip.. no Internet). This giveaway is open to everyone (not only to those who donate), but it's a great incentive.. so give give give :)

Ali is also doing some fabulous giveaways on her blog and also giving classes as a way just to say thanks for everyone's efforts.

It's the last day.. it ends at midnight tonight, so let's all help Ali reach her goal!

One last thing! I have to give a HUGE shout out to someone VERY important today. Today my husband turns 36!!!!  I felt bad I couldn't take him out to breakfast or anything.. since we are here camping in Utah.. but Maybe we can all leave him some good wishes too!

Love you babe! HAPPY 36th BIRTHDAY!!!

and thanks to everyone who participates! now go donate! :)

Christy

Brazil, spring break and family

Update!!  Making Memories blog is turning 1 year old today, so make sure you check it out! They are giving away prizes to celebrate. Check it out now at www.makingmemories.typepad.com

okay, so it's been weeks since I last posted and I feel bad. But I do have a great excuse. Brazil was such an amazing experience for both Ben and I. We met such WONDERFUL people there and the land is just beautiful. The culture is so fascinating and the women (and men) are so kind and generous. Just happy people. Everywhere we went, people were going out of their way to help. Ben and I spent the first 5 days on a small island in south Brazil. We rode the bus around the island and beach hopped. It was so great to just relax and get to know the people a little better before my classes in Sao Paulo. Flor Beck was our guide for the most part, but she left us alone for a fews days on the island and that was interesting! Most people there don't speak English and so it was interesting trying to get around, order food and even ask for simple things like juice or bread. We went on a boat trip one day and met a done of great people on our boat. It's actually called a schooner" and looks more like a pirate ship. That was pretty cool!  there was only one other person on the boat of about 40, that understood and spoke English. So luckily she translated alot of the stuff we saw. Of course the subject of kids came up, and when we told her we had 6, she about died. Then she told everyone else on the ship and they whole boat let out this cry of disbelief. Most Brazilians only have 1 or 2 kids at the most. It's so expensive to live there, specially in the south and school (grade school) is about 400-800 a month per child. We stood out like a sore thumb, being the only Americans there. We also stood out because we were the only ones not in speedo's or string bikini's. I was wearing long board shorts and a tankini that went down past my waist, and Ben long board shorts too.. so to them, we looked pretty funny and everyone on the boat was so curious to know about us. It was a great time. The only bad part was most of the pictures we took on the island, Ben accidentally erased! I wanted to be mad at him, but I was so relaxed.. I couldn't.

Back in Sao Paulo, I taught 2 days. First night at a local store, and it was so great. The local stores there are so beautiful, with wonderful woodwork, wood doors, and just a breezy tropical feel. They even have a terrace that you can go out and sit in the hammock. It was great. The next day i taught all day at an event put on by Flor Beck. Flor actually lives in a town nearby me, but grew up in Brazil. She was such a fabulous host. She travels to Brazil every few months and does an events. She has a great bunch of ladies from Brazil that help her and the ladies who come to the events are SO fabulous. I cried after the event was over.. got pretty tear eyed. I want to give a huge shout out to all the ladies at the event! They took tons of pictures.. but i was too busy teaching, so didn't get a chance.. so remember.. to send me pictures!! I will post a few..

Anyhow.. we had a great time. Then the last day of our trip, we went to Embu, which is a town where basically is just a huge market place.. with handmade home decor items, clothes, furniture, food, etc. We got a ton of great stuff there for people back home. We are home now, but on the way home, i was already telling Ben that I missed the women already.. I met so many wonderful new friends.. and had experiences that changed my life. Ben and I would love to go back someday with our kids and live there for a year or so. We really really enjoyed it.

Well now we are back home, actually not. We got back and then 2 days later took off for spring break with our kids. We missed them so much! it was funny though.. they had so much fun while we were gone. They had grandma's, aunts, cousins and all sorts of people take care of them while we were gone. Every time we called.. they were like.. oh yea.. hi.. um.. can I go now?  We promised them we would do something fun as a family for spring break, so we took our camper and headed down to st. George. Utah. It's so warm here! We are staying at a really  nice RV park, just outside of Virgin. They've got a heated pool, game room, playgrounds, hiking paths, laundry rooms, showers, etc. you name it. it's seriously so nice.  The only thing is our cell phones don't work here.. but funny enough we have Internet service!  Well better go, today  is a little cold (it's been in the 80's and will be again in a few days). so we are all inside.. we are going to play some games.. but wanted to fill you in on my trip to Brazil. I wanted to thank Flor Beck again for taking me out. She is a friend for life. She is a good soul.. Ben and I really had a great time with her.
Here are some pictures from Brazil!

  UPDATED: well I got one image uploaded.. but can't seem to upload anymore! This picture is of the market place in Ebmu with Fabrina and her husband. (they took us there for the day).  I will do more when we get back from spring break trip!

UPDATED! challenge day shares...

Update!: Scroll down to the bottom to see the layouts of those who also took the challenge! And also make sure to check out Scrapbook Chalet as well, to see what they did!

okay so today is the day we are supposed to share and post our challenge layouts from last week. I challenged everyone to do a layout about "betcha didn't know"... and then create a 9x9 layout, using 5 products or less about eight things in your life.. that most people didn't know.

But wanted to update you all, most of the kits, I posted about 2 days ago are now gone. I only have 2 pocket book classes left. Thanks for all those who purchased them, the are mailing out today with a small goody bag along with them :)

So since I posted the challenge I thought I better do the challenge! LOL.. but once I got into it, I realized that I didn't just want to create "one layout".. because what would I do with that one layout? I decided to create a mini album and instead of doing all of my 8 betcha didn't knows on one layout.. I would make 8 separate layouts and put it in one of the new 9x9 anthropology scalloped albums from Making Memories. I also didn't have pictures for a lot of things, because alot of them were from my youth, so I did a google search for images for a lot of my pictures and found website were I could save them onto my desktop for free and then print them out. I even found pictures of the places I used to work! cool huh?

Okay, so for those of you who did the challenge with me, I know some of the ladies will be posting their layouts on the gallery at www.scrapbookchalet.com. But if you want to share them here, send your layout to me in an e-mail, 800KB or smaller and I will post them tomorrow morning after I get everyone's! You have until Midnight tonight!

So here are my layouts, I will post them one and a time and tell you a little bit about each one.

oh! I also wanted to share really quick, since it will probably be a while until I post again (hopefully with pictures from Brazil!).. I found this REALLY great website with long "board shorts". You know the kind the surfers wear? I am so self conscious about my legs when I wear a swimsuit.. and even don't like wearing the little skirts you can buy.. or the little short shorts. I mean, who am I kidding you can still see my cellulite, not to mention BUTT when you slightly bend over, or are getting out of a pool. I am always pulling or fidgeting in those things.    So I struggle to find any long board shorts that really fit WOMEN. I have used men's swim trunks in the past, but they have this added "bulk" in the front, that I don't need ( ha ha).. and sometimes just too bulky with all the pockets etc.. So anyhow, I found this website out of Hawaii that sells long board shorts. I am 5"2' and on me they go just to my knee. (my perfect length). They are SO lightweight and sit just slightly on the hips.. .for a more flattering look. They are super cute and only cost me around $25.00 a piece with shipping (when you order 2 or more). I got size 15, because I was so nervous of the size.. since it appears to be "juniors".. but was pleasantly surprised that they were baggy! I measure according to their size chart and it worked great! They also have "shorter shorts as well, but again.. for me.. not loving short shorts. Just wanted to pass this along in case any of you have the same problem as me. They are called Busy Bee Enterprises and the website is dchawaii. They also sell mens, boys, and girls swim shorts as well as clothing, food, jewelry etc. LOVED em!

Okay so onto the challenge. Here my layouts! For all of the background pages, I used the 9x9 deco edged card-stock by Making Memories. They come in a pack and have both scalloped and pinking edges. Love em! Just a note, I kept my product under 5.. but that didn't include paper :).  Just also want to say sorry about the placement of the words below. I tried to make each "layout" wordage bo above each picture.. but when I publish my entry, it screws it all up. sorry!

Layout one: Cover page- betcha didn't know (product used: Making Memories, American Crafts, Heidi Swapp, Heidi Grace, Autumn Leaves)

Layout 2: Waking Up (products used: Daisy D's, Scenic Route, Making Memories, Heidi Swapp, Prima Marketing (cool bling on the left hand side), Autumn Leaves.)

Journaling: the one of my most favorite things is to wake up to the sound of a lawn mower. Since I was little It has always brought a huge smile to my face and makes me so happy!

Layout 3: Ricky Schroeder (products used: Prima Marketing, Scenic Route, Making Memories, Chatterbox, Autumn Leaves)

Journaling: In fifth grade I was in love with Ricky Schroeder!

Layout 4:  Lucky (products used: Making Memories, Prima Marketing, Scenic Route, Autumn Leaves)

Journaling: Ben and I were engaged only 3 days after we met. And if I had to really admit it, I asked him.

Layout 5: Worked (products used: Hambly Screen Prints, Scenic Route, American Crafts, Making Memories, Cloud Nine, Autumn Leaves)

Journaling: that in high school I worked at Pizza Hut, making pizza's. At funereal home, selling cemetery lots. I also sold water softeners by cold calling and bred corn in the corn fields during the summer.

Layout Six: Come on Down (products used: Scenic Route, American Crafts, May Arts, Prima)

Journaling: A dream of mine has always been to be on the Price is Right. When  almost made it there on our honeymoon but were sad to find out they weren't taping that week. That was the only reason we went to LA on our honeymoon too!  Love you Bob!

Layout 7: EEK! (products used: Dream Street Designs, Prima Marketing, American Crafts, May Arts, Making Memories, Autumn Leaves, Adorn IT)

Journaling: When I was six years old, I was out trick-or-treating (funny enough, directly across the street from where I currently live) and a Masked H.S student stole my bag of candy, as I was just finishing. He ran into the school (which was then the high school). NOT FUN (didn't mention that later it got returned to me, and found out it was a neighbor boy down the street and his mom made him bring it back!).. too funny..

oops! forgot layout eight!!

Layout Eight: (products used Junkitz, Prima, Making Memories, Scenic Route)

Journaling; When I was in H.S, I wrote and directed a play called the "Lavid Detterman Show" which was a spoof on the real thying. I also won best director for that show.

Jill Hinton's Layout:

Laura Vegas's layout:

Thanks and class kits...

Just wanted to give a shout out to all the ladies who sent me such wonderful e-mails this last week/weekend about my classes on scrap-a-faire. SO THANKS!  Scrap-a-Faire is now officially over... It's sad.... but I think it was a pretty big success! They will be doing it again this November, so can't wait! Love to be able to teach from my home!

Speaking of teaching. My 2006 classes are now retired for the year and I have a few extra class kits left over. I just taught at my last event in New Hampshire and made some extra kits just in case I needed them.

I only have a few but here is what I have left and the cost. This includes shipping within the United 48 states. For shipping outside US 48 contact me. We'll figure something out. The cost of the kit includes all of the supplies needed to create the class, except basics like adhesive, staplers, etc. * Also for the calendar class we used shared foam stamps by MM IN CLASS, on the bottom of each month, and those aren't included in the kit, but I give you ideas on other things you can use or if you have your own stamps.

The kit also comes with instructions and I will e-mail you full size color pictures upon request as well. Here is what I have left! If anyone is interested e-mail me! :)

Ribbon Book Class: Total left: 7  Price: $30.00

This class you learn how to get the LOOK of ribbon with paper! We make a matchbook album with tag inserts. 9 tags total. This classes uses the fun new cheeky line from Making Memories.

Calendar Class: Total left: 7 Price: $30.00

This class we make a 12 month day planner/mini album. Each month has a full size calendar on bottom and decorated themed "layout" on top. The book is not only fun but functional and can easily fit into a purse. It also serves as a great brag book! We use lots of product including Making Memories, Chatterbox and Prima Flowers.

Pocket Book Class: Total Left: 10  Price: $25.00

In this class I teach you a very fast and easy way to make a Faux paper bag book with only 3 sheets of 12x12 paper. It's a cool technique that you can do over and over and is easy for gifts! in this class we use a Chatterbox Page kit and you are left over with TONS of extra goodies. 

Oodles of Doodles: Total Left: 2   Price: $30.00

In this class I teach you how to do both freestyle and graphic style doodling on your pages. We use the new chatterbox doodle genie as well of lost of other goodies from both Making Memories and Chatterbox. We make 2 one page layouts.

Below are some pictures posted.. oh! and I was going to tell you. We are leaving for Brazil this friday, so if you want your kit mailed out before then, contact me by Wed. of this week. If not, I will mail it out when we get back. E-mail me for details on that! 

Well since I got up so early this morning, 3 AM to be exact! I was able to get a little "work" done on my Challenge!! If you don't know about it, read my last post... but I wanted to post a challenge for all the chat girls I met over the weekend at both Scrapbooking Chalet and Scrap-A-Faire. So I worked a little on that. Can't wait to post what I got done on Wednesday morning! I encourage you all to take the challenge with me! Well hope you all have a wonderful day!
Here are the pictures I promised! They are in order:

Ribbon Book Class ( 2 pictures)

Calendar Mini Album/Day planner Class (4 pictures)

Pocket Book Class (one picture)

Oodles of Doodles (last two layout pictures)

a challenge!!!.....

last night I had the pleasure of chatting at Scrapbook Chalet and wanted to give a shout out to those ladies! I also wanted to post a challenge for them and to all the other scrapbookers out there that need a challenge! :) so here's the idea....

Yesterday I was able to participate on two chats.. one at Scrapbook Chalet and one at the Scrap-A-Faire. At both chats, I had several woman talk about the Three Hearts class I am teaching at Scrap-A-Faire. This class really deals with the different hearts we show and share others and even ourselves. It's a very personal class and sometimes very emotional. I had alot of them say this is the first time they had scrapbooked about themselves! I was surprised.. but then realized.. I really don't scrapbook myself too much either.  It got me thinking that there are alot of things people really don't know about me. Not necessarily serious things.. but just things! Facts I am sure my kids and grandkids would find interesting in the future.

So this challenge is a spin off from my three hearts class: but this time, not so emotional just alot of fun! So the challenge is: Create a layout with the theme

betcha didn't know...

Then I want you to list at least 6 things people don't know about you. It can be more if you like.

For example:

betcha didn't know that when I was in 5th grade I had a huge crush on Ricky Schroeder

betcha didn't know that when I sleep, i have to have my hands tucked into my pockets of my pj's. it makes me feel more secure.

betcha didn't know that when I was 7, I had my candy stolen from me on Halloween night by a 10th grader in a masked costume.

betcha didn't know...

So there you go! If you are feeling you want a little more rules, here are some I am going to follow

layout size: 9x9

layout colors: Pick 3 colors you wouldn't normally scrapbook together or just ones you don't scrapbook often enough.

Let's put the challenge due date as: Wednesday March 7th by midnight. I will post mine Wednesday morning with details on how to post yours!

Hope you all have a great weekend!! and happy scrappin!

Catch up....

dang that word seems to creep into my life just about every week.. doesn't it?

Got back from New Hampshire for the Kiss event, late Monday night.. and had a FABULOUS time. The women in the east are SOOO NICE!! Laid back and just fun! Seriously, all the women in my class were just so great! They said they were usually known for being so "cold".. but I don't think that at all. I must have been there on a good week! LOL. The staff, my Ta's and the ladies who put on the show.. were so great. Just an easy going weekend.

Granted.. when I got there.. I was not functioning very well, since I hadn't gone to sleep that night.. and by the time I did sleep, it had been 48 hours since I had slept. BOY i will NEVER do that again! It screwed me up the entire weekend! I just started to get adjusted to the time change too, and then came home! Sunday, my friend, Debbie came and picked me up from the hotel and we headed back to her house. She let me stay with her until Monday night, when she took me to the airport! She is SO dang funny. Her poor house. Her water heater broke on Friday night (she came to the event to hang out and right when she got there, she received a phone call from her oldest son, that the water heater has broke and the basement was flooding!).. She had to hurry back home, an hour away. I felt terrible. But Sunday we had a great time. We just hang out at her house, with her boys.. watching TV and playing games. Her kids are so handsome! and fun.  Monday we decided to take a trip into the city and go to IKEA... but we took a wrong freeway.. (this is in Boston).. and got lost. Nearly 2 hours later we FINALLY found it! LOL. She was GOOD for putting up with me. THANKS DEBBIE!! :)

So back now and just having a relaxing week. Scrap-A-Faire started this week.. yesterday actually, and just really nervous about it. One of my classes, the Three Hearts class, shares alot of personal stuff and is a VERY different class. I am excited.. but nervous at the same time, about the reaction of it. People have started posting reviews of the classes on Twopeas and so I get nervous even looking! LOL.. oh well.. such is life!

This week, gotta get my scrapbooking room cleaned. I have a NEW  Making Memories book I am working on and need to have space to do my projects! My husband was so wonderful, when I got home, he had the entire house spotless clean and all the laundry done and put away. He actually does it all the time.. but I still am so grateful everytime he does. He's a great guy. I am lucky he puts up with my crap!

Well, I hope everyone has a great week! If you have taken my classes at Scrap-A-Faire. I would LOVE feedback.. positive OR negative.. because it only helps me get better at classes. This is my first attempt at on-line classes.. and it's so different than teaching in classroom. But it was fun.

Can't wait for the weekend! It's my dad's birthday and we are having a big party for him. My brothers and sisters are all coming up to join us. Can't wait to see them all!

working out has been okay. Have to admit. I had planned on doing it while in New Hampshire.. but honestly.. I slept pretty much the entire time, when I wasn't teaching. I just couldn't get over the time change and not sleeping for 48 hours. That hit me hard! But Tuesday night. was back at the gym.. and worked out hard.  Trying to get some really good workouts in this week. To make up for it! LOL.

I hope everyone is still doing good on their workouts! and eating right. I can't tell you what a difference it makes to eat 6 smalls meals a day, versus 3. AND to eat protein in every meal.. and lots of good veggies and fruit. IT REALLY makes a big difference. I found this great new Oatmeal.. called Weight Control. I think it's by Quaker. It's instant oatmeal and comes in several flavors.. but it's great for breakfast! It has added fiber and added protein, but the calories are lower than regular oatmeal. REALLY good!

Well better go. My scrapbooking room is seriously a mess. I got 4 huge boxes of product from MM while I was gone.. and some cool stuff from American Crafts too! So not only do I have a messy room, but fun product to put away and start using!! I will have to post pictures of the product. Maybe I will even be able to scrap something! I also got some cool stuff from Scenic Route too! Can't wait to look at it all :)

hugs!