~ Pay It Forward & Giveaway

About a month ago I was looking at the WANTED listings on PoshPoints and I came across a listing for Soda Tabs. I knew I had 2 huge bags of cans outside ready to take to recycling. When I read the posting, I knew I had to respond. I had my daughter go through the cans and take of the tabs, we have already sent these to Tesse (as a PIF, not for the PoshPoints). I thought this was an incredible thing for a little girl to do, so I emailed Tesse asking her if I could blog about it. She was delighted!

Hello my name is Tesse, I have a little sister named Jordie. She would tell you she is collecting Soda/Beer Tabs for Kids with Cancer. But really the Tabs are donated for more than just children with Cancer. The tabs help provide treatment for kids, they help provide wheel chairs for sick children, and these tabs also help with being able to provide the parents of these children a place to stay. My sister is dedicated to collecting “more” tabs than anyone. She has “employed” me as her helper. I am so proud of my sister for wanting to help these children. So here I am, asking that you please take the 2 seconds to get the Tabs off your drinks and save them to send for her. Please feel free to contact me for more information or for shipping information.

Thank you,
Tesse & Jordie
Tabs4kids@yahoo.com

I hope that alot of you will find it in your heart to PIF and email Tesse for her address and send her some Soda Tabs for Jordie's cause! We are on our second bag of Soda Tabs (I hang them in a baggie on the Refrigerator).

I have decided to add a Giveaway to this PIF (I will post pics soon). Leave a comment on THIS post after you have taken a picture of your tabs in an envie with the address partially shown and blogged about it on your blog. I will pick a winner on May 1st, 2008.

~ Perfect Jeans?

5 Minutes for Mom Giveaway!

Is there such a thing as Perfectly fitting Jeans? 5 Minutes for Mom is giving someone a $200 Gift card for TrueJeans.com plus they’re giving a 15% discount on orders at TrueJeans.com until March 31st.

The 15% discount only lasts until March 31st, so I recommend you click over now and buy a pair. And if you happen to be the lucky winner, then you can get another pair or two.

These jeans have gotten rave reviews in the media. They have an awesome sizing method...and who hasn't been frustrated with finding jeans that actually fit? The jeans offered at True Jeans are high-end designer jeans, so they’re not cheap.

If you want a chance to win the gift certificate, click on their link above and leave a comment and follow their instructions.

If I win this giveaway, I will be ordering "7 For All Mankind
"A" Pocket Bootcut Short" or "iT Jeans Diva"

Good luck!

~*HAPPY EASTER*~

I hope you are all enjoying your day with your Families! It is a beautiful day here in Northern California and I will be spending it with my daughter and our second cousin is staying the week with us.

DBC Peaceful Rally at AGB Conference - CA

My daughter and I attended this DBC (Deaf Bilingual Coalition)Rally. It was wonderful to see the unity in the Deaf Community. My daughter (Hearing) and I (Hard of Hearing) are very proud ASL users and support DBC. We are also in this video, can you find us?

~ Tim Holtz Monthly Challenge

Every month Tim Holtz features a Challenge on his Blog. I finally had enough of his products to try one of his Challenges. As I was doing the March Challenge, my daughter came in and said she wanted to do one too. My daughter's tag is on the left and mine is on the right. I think we both need a little more practice, but it was fun to do! I own both of his Distressables books, which have many fun projects. I am in the middle of finishing one and will share with with you soon. I also own both of his DVDs, but was sad when I realized that neither one of them are Closed Captioned. :(

I would love to take a class with him, but we never seem to be at the same place at the same time! ;)

Artfull Blessings,

Kathryn

~ Look What I found

Now, I know this is not ART related, but I found this giveaway from The Opinonated Parent and thought that I would share! This is such a FANTASTIC idea!! The IdentityPal is a USB data storage device used to aid in the retrieval of detailed medical records, pet owner details, and general safety contact information in the event of an emergency.The unit comes pre-installed with easy-to-use identification templates. The templates are to be filled out with any amount of identification information that suits your specific needs.

~I LOVE ASL Bracelet

Here is my newest creation! I just love making these bracelets! I will be putting this one on Etsy. I will give you the link soon.

~ Dancing With The Stars

Are you voting for Marlee? I am. You can click the picture below to taking you to the voting site on ABC.



and you can call in 1-800-VOTE-4-12


"I'm in my mid-30s, I've won an Oscar, I have four children. You figure out if my deafness has adversely affected my life."
-- Marlee Matlin

~HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY~

Tonight, Dancing with the Stars starts and I will be voting for Marlee!!! I hope you will join me in voting for Marlee too. Feel free to take this picture and post it on your blogs, myspace, facebook, websites, auctions, or wherever to show your support!

~ The Ultimate Blog Party Winner~

Choosen by Randomizer drawing generator is # 15!!!

© Eclisse Creazioni Art & Photography

Congrats!!! I have emailed her to let her know she has won the TUBP Prize!

I am feeling Lucky today!

I opened up my email to find out that I won some GREEN today! Yep, cold hard CASH!!! $10 in my Paypal account from The UNpink Ladies!! Thank you Gina!!!

AND

I won a prize from Sew Gracious whose prize was offered on The Downtown Boutique

I am so excited, I can't wait to receive my Prizes!!

~ Scrapbook Expo

On Friday, I attended the Scrapbook Expo in Pleasanton, CA. I had only heard about it a couple of days before and wanted to try to takes some work shops. I was able to get into Quick Quotes "Canvas Al A Carte" Workshop. This class was so much fun! Here are the pictures of my unfinished project:





Here are some pictures of what the project will look like when it is complete.

Here is what I purchased for my daughter, with my 10% off coupon. So cute!

"Flip Flop Book"

After the work shop, I walked around doing "Make~N~Take" projects. This is where you sit down and make a small project. Sometimes for a fee and other times for Free.

Here is my first Make~N~Take that I did with "My Daughter's Wish" The fee was $5.00 and this is a cute Tag with a small tag book. I still need to add the ribbon at top, I did not like the ribbon they had there and knew I had plenty at home.



Next I did a Make~N~Take by Close to My Heart which was an adorable card, I just love the colors. My daughter also did this one on Saturday, see below for her Make~N~Takes.




The next Make~N~Take I did was FREE!! Heartstring Design had this adorable Clover shaker that I made in less than 60 seconds!




Then it was on to Chino Scrapbook Company there cute Paperclips were a must Make! This was another project that was quick and easy to do!



The next Make~N~Take for $2.00 was such a great little project. I bought 1 more of the one I did and 2 of the other coaster book to do at home with my daughter. S.E.I. has some great velvet papers and really cute iron-ons.

Here is the Make~N~Take that I didn't do there, but bought 2 to make at home with my daughter.

Here is what I purchased from them including the Awesome Monthly kit! I will get these every month because I signed up for Club S.E.I.

My last Make~N~Take of the day was with Kits to Remember or K2R their cute acrylic 4x4 albums were also a must MAKE!



I actually learned about the Expo from Jessica Guthrie's Blog. I had actually really liked her blog and products so much that I emailed her and let her know I was available Friday to work. I asked for Jessica after I had finished my Make~N~Take to meet her and let her know it was me who had sent her the email. She needed someone on Saturday and my plans had changed, so I told her I would be happy to help her out. I am so glad I did!! Jessica and her parents are absolutely delightful. If you ever get to take a class from her or meet her, you will see that her smile is so infectious and she is very helpful with questions. I was so proud to wear the K2R Krew shirt for the day! I had a lot of fun and offered to help Jessica anytime she has a show in Northern CA.




After using the Bind-It-All, I knew I wanted one. I imagined all the projects that this tool would help me to complete! I got the Bind-It-All kit from K2R.

Here are my daughter's Make~N~Take projects from Saturday.

All in all, it was a great weekend! I am so glad I found out about it! I am hoping to go to the one in SAC whether or not I work for K2R.

~ Theme Thursday & New Family Addition!!

~*Project Altered Torso*~

I did the Theme Thursday Challenge, today's theme was “torso - mannequin”! I made a fabric torso and stamped French script on the front, followed by a scroll stamp on the top and bottom, then I added beads along the side and finished her off with a fringe bottom. I am still not sure if she is completely finished, but I have put her aside for now.

~*Our Newest Family Member*~

Jackson David Metcalf

Jackson belongs to my cousin Cassie Del and her husband Jason. This is baby #5! Whew! He graced us all with his presence on March 6, 2008 at 6:45 a.m., he was 7lbs, 20 inches. Isn't he GORGEOUS!!!

ASL "DREAM" Charm Bracelet

My hearing loss has made me very passionate about ASL. This year I have decided to create more Art incorporating ASL. I made this ASL "Dream" Charm Bracelet recently and have it up on eBay.

KV Creative Designs ASL Bracelet

I recently learned that Marlee Matlin will be on "Dancing with the Stars". I usually do not watch this show, but to show my support for the Deaf, I will definately be tuning in (and DVRing).

I also recently learned that she will be appearing in a CBS special called "Sweet Nothing in My Ear" on April 1, 2008 (no April Fools here). This is another show I will be DVRing. It is an amazing story, that I am sure is a reality in many home of Hearing/Deaf Parents.

Spring Forward & Captured Easter Bunny???

Spring Forward!!!

I was enjoying my backyard over the weekend, taking pictures of all the signs of Spring. The green grass, the beautiful flowers in bloom and Oranges on our Orange Tree.

Beautiful colors everywhere, my daughter and her freind started cleaning out the Waterfountain/Pond and came across this little guy.

I am not quite sure what to do with him, so he is still sitting on the edge of the Waterfoutain. I was over near the Aviary, which is where we keep our bunny Oreo,

When I saw the slightest movement in the yellow flowered weeds.

When I bend down to take the above picture and the little critter ran into the Aviary with Oreo. I ran into the house and retrieved a glass jar. When I retured, Oreo moved out of the way and I was able to scoop up the little guy. Imagine my surprise when I found out it was a Mini Easter Bunny.

He told me he is not very good because his eyes are crooked. I thought he was the cutest little thing. He told me he was worried about his friend Quakers since they got separated in the yard and they are BIG squirrels out there. He asked me if I would put a bit of bird seed out for Quakers. So I did, and wouldn't you know it, Quakers came right out of his hiding spot for his treat. After he was done eating, I scooped him up to be with his beloved friend Mini EB Jr.

I added some moss and a few sprigs of Pink Crystal Ice tree and some Glittered Easter Eggs. They are rather happy in their new home and want to come visit YOU! Mini EB Jr. & Quakers are currently listed on eBay.