Holiday Gift ideas

The holidays are just around the corner... Is it sneaking up on you too. get a jump on your holiday gifts by making a few of these simple one of a kind gifts that will have everyone talking. Visit the template gallery for more ideas.

Create your own home decor using our scrapbook pages and a little creativity... Its easy, inexpensive and one of a kind. Wall hangings, ceramic tiles, coasters, wall clocks, mini books, Heritage Blcks... The ideas keep coming. Heres a few of my favorites. You can also visit my friend Heidis blog for more creative ideas.

FREE Halloween Candy

Thats right I said free.

I will briefly state that I have recently begun clipping coupons again and found that the world of coupons has eveloved. I am no longer clipping to save a few dollars here and there but learning the art of getting things for free... and yes its legal.

I am having so much fun finding deals everywhere that you will probably see me post a few here when its just too good not to share. I might even start a whole new blog about it. we'll see.

SO to the FREE CANDY. This is at Walmart. And is so simple its amazing.

Go to www.coupons.com (it has coupons you print at home)
There is a coupon for $2 off a bag of willy wonka candy. Walmart sells bags of nerds, laffy taffy, or pixy stix for $2 a bag (2/$4). BINGO FREE CANDY.

There is also a coupon for $2 off a bag of nestle brand candy. At walmart this sells for $2.50 a bag. So this will cost you 50 cents. Still an amazing deal.

You have to look through the coupons on the website to find them, there are usually 20 pages to sort through but you may find other coupons you can use too. Heres the thing you can go back and print this coupon 2-3 times PER computer.

I printed 3 coupons for Willy wonka, and 3 for nestle. Went to Walmart yesterday and found the kind I wanted. You might be tempted to get the bigger bags and use it as a discount off but why bother?

In the end I got six bags for only $1.50.

Nestle is also 2/$4 at stop and shop this week so it will work the same there too.

Hope you enjoy. Happy Halloween.

Melissa

Twitter Moms: The Influential Moms Network

Breast Cancer Fundraiser

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month

I recently reconnected with an old friend on Facebook, Emilie. Its so fun to see what everyone has become now that we are "grown up". Emilie was one of those people you just wanted to be around, who's smile was always beaming. She was like me, just happy and positive. Not surprising she is now an amazing wedding photographer. A romantic at heart her photography shows every emotion.

She has also kept her positive, "I can change the world" attitude. Bravo, its hard to do in this world. She began a non profit called pink inititive which is a group of wedding industry professionals who raise money for breast cancer research. This month they are stepping up the efforts with a goal of $10,000.

Inspired by Emilie I have created a few projects through my Heritage Makers business http://www.digitalstorybooks.com/ . The projects are posted below and I will be donating the profits from any orders back to this amazing organization.

If you would like to order, donate or help in some way please contact me via email celebratefamily@digitalstorybooks.com or my cell 603-493-2431

please forward my blog to everyone you know so we can reach out to more people and make the $10,000 goal a reality.

.

Breast Cancer Playing Cards

One thing always comes to mind...how this disease attacks the very essense of being a woman. I am always amazed at the strength and courage that women show when battling this disease. How they attempt to hold thier families together, most hide thier own fears so they can continue to hold up everyone else. I am creating a deck of playing cards to celebrate these women of strength.

The back of the deck will read "Your strength Inspires me". The front sides I am asking for your help. I would like to fill each card with a photo of someone who has battled this disease or been instrumental in helping someone who has battled this disease. In the end I would like to have photos celebrating 52 courageous women..




Sponsor someone you love and show them how they have inspired you. I am asking $40 to sponsor someone. For the $40 you get to put a photo and/or message on a playing card.

When the deck is completed I will mail you a deck. You may keep for yourself or give it as a gift. (maybe to the person who inspires you.)

If you wish to sponsor more then one person or cannot afford the $40 but really wish to sponsor someone please contact me and I may be able to work out a discount.

But please remember all profits will be going to help fund research.
Extra copies of the deck can be purchase for $30+ s&H.

Breast Cancer Jewelry

I have also created some jewelry to celebrate those close to you affected by this disease. Not only are these stunning pieces which celebrate these personal heroes but they are certain to get attention everywhere you go. Inevitably you will be spreading awareness and be able to direct people back to me to purchase thier own which means more money will be donated back to pink inititive.

This is a new product and I dont have a fisnished one with the design to show you but heres the stock photo I have of a finished bracelet with other photos.

Its quite stunning in person and gets lots of attention. Photos dont do it justice. You can see the computer mock up of my deisgn here. please remember this is a computer version and it appears blurry. The finished one wont be.

This one says "Once you choose HOPE anythings possible." but I also have a version saying "Your strength Inspires me" . When ordering please specify which wording you prefer. These are $39.95 +s&h

Pendants and necklaces are also available. Pendants have a photo on one side and saying on the other. Some have related them to a locket that you dont have to open. You can order a single pendant without a necklace for $14.95* or a 1 pendant necklace $34.95* or 3 pendant necklace $54.95*. Please specify which wording you prefer. s&h are added to total.

Breast Cancer Digital Artwork

All the artwork in these projects has been created by me personally, except for the white flowers on the playing card deck. (i will have to find the name of the designer). If you like my artwork and wish to use it for your own projects I have created a whole digi collection called Think Pink which you may recieve by making a seperate donation. I am not going to set an amount as I feel everyone should be able to donate what they can afford. I am hoping for between $5-15+. these can then be downloaded to your computer for personal use in any digital project.

MY TEMPLATES IN THE GALLERY!!!

I submitted a bunch of templates to the gallery again. I checked this morning and found 2 of them have been added. my Halloween matchbook favors which I already showed you in the last post... I told you how excited I was obviously they impressed someone else too.

The other one was an early reader I made Allie about our trip to the Farm. Check it out.

I tried embedding the preview screen but it kept having an error. Maybe I will figure it out sometime. see you don't have to be a technical guru to be able to use computers. :)

From Farm to Gallery

Well, over the summer I took Allie to McCrays Farm in S. Hadley, Ma (sorry I didnt find a website for them). They have all kinds of animals to feed and hommade ice cream. The real kind of ice cream, with amazing prices. Allies cone was only $1.50!!! Sometimes you go to an ice cream stand to find them serving out of big tubs of Hood or bryers... This they made themselves!!!

I wrote a quick book for her. Not my typical designer books I do but very simple and kid friendly. Shes started learning to read and I wanted her to be able to enjoy this book even if I couldnt sit with her to read it. I am qauite proud of it even in its simplicity and today found out it was accepted to the gallery.

Now everyone can make an early reader for thier child about a trip to the farm/petting zoo.
How exciting. If you would like to make your own check out the preview above and click on make one or visit my website http://www.digitalstorybooks.com/ and browse the thousands of templates we have available.

I hope you have a day worth celebrating. :)
Melissa

Halloween Favors

I am so excited. I just got done making these Halloween favors in my Heritage Makers studio.

Once printed I will cut them apart and fold them like matchbook covers and staple a piece of wrapped candy inside. how super cute are these. I cant wait to give these out to my friends. I love all the different things you can do with Heritage Makers.