Christmas Tags

Have you ever run out of Christmas tags on Christmas Eve while wrapping gifts at the last minute? read this blog:

Creative Christmas Tags

There have been a lot of questions from people that have read the Tag blog about what those tiles are and how I made them. Go to this blog to read more about my tiles.

Christmas Tiles

You can open an account to purchase paper for your tiles at www.storybookingbyyou.com

I did it!

I did it. I have 26 ornaments. I love setting a goal and reaching it. It is one of the best feelings ever. I want to say thank you to everyone that sponsors and supports me and my passion. I can wait to hear back from everyone after Christmas about how much their family members love their books. That is my favorite part of January, the flood of emails that come in with stories of gratitude about their books and family members responses to their gift of Heritage. My dad and I were talking last Christmas about it and my business and how many people I was helping to try to get books under the tree in time for Christmas. My dad is a big fan of these books and he said, "I would love to be in each of those living rooms on Christmas day and see each of those people open up their books." He has felt the feeling of receiving a book and he knows how special it is. So if you are putting a book under the tree this year, leave a comment hear about what your family members said as they opened it.

Merry Christmas to all of the Heritage Makers out there

Happy Birthday to So Many People That I Miss and Love

I had wanted to start the tradition of blogging about people on their Bdays but so much passed right by me this month. Please forgive me.

First I want to wish a very very belated Bday to my Father in Law, Paul Zabel. His bday was almost a month ago, November 24th. He is a funny guy and loves Scott and our little family very much. We wished we got to see him more.

Mike (Scott's Bro), Scott and Paul their dad

Then next is my Mother In Law, Pattie. Her Birthday was December 8th. Even though I did not blog about her Bday on her Bday, I did not forget it at all. I can never forget her bday because it is the day after our anniversary. She showed up at our hotel with Scott's four siblings the morning after we got married. It was so funny and it was my first time meeting three of Scott's siblings. We got married on a Thursday and his mom and siblings were not going to come to our wedding in San Diego or reception in Arizona because it was close to Christmas time and we had planned to have a reception in Idaho later that month any ways, but at the very last minute, just a day or two before the wedding, they found amazing deals on tickets from Idaho to SD. They missed the day of the wedding but they arrived EARLY the next morning. We got a call early from them at the airport, "WE'RE HEAR!!!" We had a fun day together and took Pattie to Lunch for her bday and we all went shopping for the day before heading to Arizona to get ready for our reception on Saturday. She is such a wonderful lady. I love my Mother in law and I am very close to her. She is a woman who truely understands unconditional love. We don't get to see her hardly at all either. My dream is to fly her out here some time. She works hard and is unable to take time off of work and it has kept her from coming out to VA to visit, but we try to get back to Idaho as much as we can. Unfortunately our trip did not happen this year so it has been 18 months since we last saw her and the rest of Scott's family. We miss them all so much.



Two Girls on the 18th......Happy Bday Tiffany and Katie....Sisters born same day 13 years apart.

Tiffany is such a great niece. She is so cute. and I am amazed by her talents!!! She is a wonderful artist. She can paint and draw the most wonderful pieces of art. She is like her mother in that way. Then also I am so envious of her dedicatoin and skill on the drum and precussion instruments. I always wanted to grow up to be a drummer. I played on the snare drum for two years, then quit. I wanted to be a drummer like my Grandma Minerva. He would put on the best jazz music and play his drum set along with the music while my Grandma would dance with me. I loved it. It was so cool. My sister told me yesterday that Tiffany just started on set. So cool! She loves two things in life, hoodies and converse tennis shoes. She is living on an island rght now with her family and often refers to the island as "This Stupid Island." So now as a family that is what we refer to it as. I don't know why she calls it stupid though, I get jealous when I see a picture of the beach and palm trees. But I can imagine that for a teenager a small island with no mall and no movie theater would get old and "stupid"





Her little sister is Kaitlyn Noel...Katie is so funny. She is just a few months younger then my Delana. The two of them are so funny together. We are both a little nervous about this coming weekend in getting the two of them together. They are both two and very much in the two year old mode of not sharing and throwing tantrums. Delana loves to rub on Katies hair, Katie is not a big fan of it. Katie is my sister Christen's little doll. Katie lets her mom dress her up and enjoy having a girl. Tiffany never liked the dress up thing very much and is kind of a tom boy. My sister is very very girly and waited 13 years for another chance to have a girl to play dress up with. Katie does not seem to mind yet. She seems to enjoy it and is very danty. Happy Bday to the two Scofield girls. 15 and 2

Katie and Delana only a few months old, March 2007

Help Me Decorate My Tree

I am putting a plea out for some help to decorate my tree. This is not your standard tree that I need help with. I need help decorating my virtual business tree. Heritage Makers has been running a Christmas promotion. I have been working hard to earn ornaments and stars for my tree. I set a personal goal of 25 ornaments and stars. The promotion is over on the 21st, time is running out. I have 24 ornaments. I am only one away. I am so close!!!! If I get to 25 I get to pick a present from Santa's stocking. I want to be on Santa's nice list. I have been working so hard and I am too close. Please don't let me end up with coal in my stocking. Every little purchase will help me reach my goal.

Here are some little things on sale. These are all great stocking stuffers. If you have anyone in your life that you think would like to try out Heritage Makers this is a perfect gift for them. Or if you have ever wanted to try it out yourself. Pick up one of these deals: (Everything comes with one free month of premiere, nonrenewing so you can give the gift without worrying about your credit card being linked to a premiere account charge)

*You can get one month of premiere account for just $15

*8x8 book credit for just $39.95

*5 12x12 pages for just $14.95

*Deck of playing cards $19.95

*Calendar $29.95

*18x24 poster $14.95

*This is the best deal ever: Storybook Starter Package...you get all of the following for just $89.95: 8x8 book, 5x5 book, 18x24 poster, Deck of Cards, and a family fold

Check out more sales Here

If you want to purchase something please contact me. If you have been reading my blog and have ever been curious about Heritage Makers, now is your time to try something out. Please help a friend out.
storybookingbyyou@gmail.com

My Grandmother

My Grandmother Ruby Craig, my father's mother, passed away this Sunday. She had two heart attacks this last week. She had 90 wonderful years. She had three sons, no daughters. I am amazed by mothers of boys. My dad always says that she is his hero because she raised three sons in small trailer. She was always a hard worker. She used to run her own restaurant out of her house in Illinois when the boys were younger. Then they moved to Yuma and she began to work as a waitress. She would work long hours on her feet all day. She was a widow twice. My Grandpa Charlie Gideon passed away when my father was only 18. I never met him. Then she remarried the man I knew as grandpa Wally. They were married for several years before he passed. I wonder what that reunion is like in Heaven for the all of them right now.

My grandma was the most faithful, prayerful and forgiving woman I have ever met. She lived to be 90 because of her routines. She would get up every morning and read her Bible while riding her stationary bike. She would spend her days serving others. She attending a joy club for widows and widowers and was always driving and picking up others to go with her. She spend Tuesdays doing service by taking people's blood pressure. I am not sure where this was that she did this at, but I know she did it every week. She taught Sunday School for several years at her church. She would spend time preparing for the holidays by sewing tons of stuffed animals for the children at the church. I get my love of photos and preserving them from her. She would make a photo album for every year. She would do a title page with a funny caption for the year and end the album with a funny picture and saying as well. She would type out captions for the photos with her old fashioned type writer. One of my favorite memories was one weekend when stayed with her and I helped her type out her captions for her albums. We had always wondered what we were going to do with her photo albums when she passed. Who would get them? How would we divide them? She took care of all of that for us. She has spent the last three years breaking them apart for us and remaking albums for all of us with our special pics in them. How amazing is that? She is so amazing. She will be missed.

Her full name is Ruby Irene Craig. I named Delana with her middle name, Irene, because that was always my Grandma's wish to have someone share her middle name because she got it from her mother. I am so honored that for the rest of Delana's life she will have her legacy and Grandma's story behind her name.

Her funeral is on the 27th. Our family is blessed enough to be traveling to Yuma for the funeral. I look forward to being with family and remembering all of the wonderful things she taught us. Her favorite color was yellow so my sister told me today that we should all plan on wearing yellow. I think that is a wonderful idea. I thought I was covered because all of my clothes are black (its slimming). Now I will be happy to find the most beautiful yellow something to honor my grandma. And also she makes Raggedy Anne Dolls for all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. We are all going to take our dolls with us.

My sister took this pic and I love it. Farewell until we meet again.

In The News Again

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

This is a dear friend of mine, Sharon Murdoch. She is the co-founder of Heritage Makers. I just love her and I am grateful to her everyday for creating such a wonderful company with such heart warming products.

New Pages And A Saturday BLITZ!

I taught a masters class at Heritage Makers last night and made these fun pages with Maranda's Photos, She has a new website at www.UrbanChicPortraits.com

I am holding a 5 hour sale on Saturday. I will be having a holiday blitz. If you want to be on the list of people contacted about the sale then leave a comment here. I have not revealed what is on sale yet, but it will be great. You won't be able to find out until tomorrow.

Happy Anniversary To My Husband

I know I just posted about Scott a few weeks ago during the Marine Corps birthday.....but here I go again. We just celebrated our 8th anniversary this past Sunday the 7th. I woke up that morning and before I got to see Scott and wish him a happy anniversary, Delana walked in the room and right away I could not help but squeeze her and tell her "happy anniversary." I had the strong impression to wish everyone in our little family happy anniversary. It dawned on me that we were celebrating our family's anniversary. More than just an anniversary of husband and wife. It was actually the day our family was established, December 7th, 2000 in San Diego California at the LDS Temple.

What did we do for our Anniversary, it was on Sunday, and we both worked all day Saturday, so not much. We did go out for dinner as a family Monday night, which was very very nice. What did we get each other? Some of the best gifts ever this year. Scott bore his testimony of his faith at church on Sunday. The best gift ever!!! I was so grateful to hear his testimony and it reminded me of why I fell in love with him in the first place. This post is my gift. I did actually get him a gift, but it has not come in the mail yet. I ordered him a 20x24 canvas poster of a recent picture of our family. He has been begging for over a year for a new family photo. He said it looked as if Delana did not exist around our house according to the walls. The poster has not come yet, but I was asked on Sunday to write up a bio about Scott for a cooking class that he will be teaching at a local Single Adult Conference.

Here is the bio I submitted. Happy Anniversary honey:

Scott Zabel, born and raised in Boise, Idaho, got his start in cooking at Wendy's of all places, when he was 15 years old. He loved working in the food industry and got his second job as a short order cook at a restaurant called Shari's. One day he was driving by a military recruiting office and he decided to pull over and he walked in. He joined the Marine Corps in April 1999. When the Marine Corps asked what field he was interested in, he said cooking. I am sure they laughed, not many people ask to go into the cooking field in the military. It is usually something people get "stuck" with. Scott went to cooks school in Fort Lee rigth out of basic training (boot camp). He gradutaed first in his class with the highest marks of all of the new Marines. His first duty station and chow or mess hall was in Yuma, Arizona. He was self motivated and earned the title of "Oorah Motivater!" He was motivated enough to go out to the local community classes and take some culinary art classes in the evening. He discovered there that he loved baking. His love for baking lead him to take the Wilton cake decorating classes at Michael's. His baking skills and cake decorating skills stood out and he was put in charge of the bake shop. He loves cooking and being in the kitchen but he had dreams outside of a base chow hall. He had dreams of someday in his millitary career working as a private enlisted aide to the Generals. He wanted to cook for the Commandant of the Marine Corps. This sounded like a dream that he would eventually work his way up to late in his military career. In January 2003 he was called to fight in a war that had not even begun yet and did not have even have a name yet. He spent 8 months in Kuwait and Iraq supporting the troops in Operation Iraqi Freedom. When he returned he needed to be transferred out of Yuma and onto his second duty station. He had a Gunnery Sergeant, Gunny Myers, that had left Yuma to go to Washington DC to be an enlisted aide. There was an opening in the Enlisted Aide Field and this Gunny remembered how hard working and motivated Scott was. He ignored Scott's young age and the fact of his short military career and experience, and gave him a chance. He called him up and said there was an opening and that he should try for it. The other leaders at the chow hall all agreed that though Scott was young, he was ready. Scott was accepted in 2004 and got a position working at the Pentagon where his main duty was to poor coffee for the Commandant of the Marine Corps. After a few months of pouring coffee Scott was asked to work on a team of four chefs and aides to the Commandant, General Mike Hagee. Scott then earned another title and nick name, "Junior." He was one of the youngest Marines in the enlisted aide field. The list of Generals the scott has cooked for include the following, Commandant General Mike Hagee (2004-2005), Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, General Peter Pace (2005-2007), the current Commandant of the Marine Corps, General James T. Conway(2007 to present). Scott enjoys the education opportunities that he has received while serving in the Marine Corps. He returned to cook school in Fort Lee a few years ago to attend a NCO Cook School and he graduated top of his class again. He has had the privildge of taking a few courses at the Culinary Art Institute of America in New York. He looks forward to more years of experience. He is proud to be a Marine but his favorite role in life is that of husband and father to two very beautiful little girls, ages 6 and 2. He is a wonderful missionary and example to all those he serves with and serves for. He seems to stand out and shine and excel at all things he sets out to do and accomplish. He is living his dream job because of his self motivation and dedication to service.

Happy Anniversary Scott. I Love You.


--

Oh Christmas Tiles! Oh Christmas Tiles!

I just had the most fun today making some fantastic gifts!!! I have a variety of pages I made with just some fun sayings on them. I am giving away a secret, but this is what everyone in my life is getting for Christmas. If you are in need for a wonderful gift check out these and others I made Here, at Ellie's CT Blog.

All of the pages to create these were printed using Heritage Makers. Our paper made this project so easy. I could not imagine doing this project with any other kind of paper. It is thick, sturdy, and the wet layers on them did not affect them at all, no crinkling or cracking or curling. And the colors did not run or fade. There is plenty of time to get the pages ordered and back in time for some crafting. I have a Heritage Makers template that I can transfer to your account. It has a variety of about five different styles of pages perfect for everyone in your life. All you have to do is place the order for pages. Leave a comment here if you want to place a Heritage Makers page order and I will put the templates I created into your account. Order today! Our 12x12 pages are on sale too. They are 10 for only $30 because of our Oprah Sale.....we were in the O magazine as Oprah's favorite things. And we were on Good Morning America. Just think, you could give your friends one of Oprah's favorite things for Christmas, Heritage Makers. Let me know if you want pages to make this project at home.

Click Here To See What You Will Be Getting When I Mail You The Template

(disclaimer on this preview...Page 15 will not be in your template set. I have changed page 15 to different artwork. I can not pass on this one because it is not an HM premiere collection. If you like that kit then you can go to GingerScraps Shop to buy Whoville. I love this one and wish I could pass it onto everyone but that is illegal. The preview just keeps showing the old version of the page, you will actually be receiving the HM premiere art one which is almost as cute. Same quote, just different artwork)
Get a Free account today at www.storybookingbyyou.com and get a Premiere account by placing your order today.

My Favorite Thing Was On Good Morning America

Click Here or On Image to watch a clip of Good Morning America. You have to see this. It has me so excited. www.storybookingbyyou.com

Cards To Our Heroes

Would you like to send a card to our Heroes fighting in the war?

Click Here To See Flier

Open up an account at www.storybookingbyyou.com

Create A Card

Send it to this address
Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

Thumbs UP!!! WAY UP!!!!!!!

Rick (her husband), Maranda (my bestest friend), and Robbie (her bro)

I am making Christmas Cards for a friend of mine for her photography company. She just sent me all of the pics to start on the cards. All I have to say is that I give this girl big thumbs up!!!!!!!! I know I might sound biased because she is my BESTEST friend, but she is really is great. If you live in Arizona you have to have your picture taken by her. I am going to visit her in April and I can't wait to soak up all I can from her bank of photography knowledge. I am hoping she will take some pics of me and my girls. She is a great friend and photography mentor. I give her thumbs up! Two big thumbs up...way up!!! 

 

Check Out Maranda Peterson Flickr

Her Website Link Is Under My List of Fav Photographers 

Deck Of Cards Sale

Heritage Makers is having a Thanksgiving sale on our deck of cards. If you and your family is like mine and likes to sit around the table for family games ranging from go fish, phase 10, clue, and many more then HM decks are for you. You can personalize the front and the back of cards. Design whatever you want or use one of our many templates to create a one of a kind game for your family. I am in love with these decks and have several plans for these little cards. You can even make gift tags!!!! Check out our template gallery to see what you can create.

Send me an email with your phone number to place your order before Sunday the 30th.

Then and Now

I wanted to share a special story about my maelee. Most of you know I am a Heritage Maker. I make books about my family and help others make books and products about their family's. Two years ago I made a wonderful book about my mom's relatives from Italy (my Grandpa Minerva's family). View it here. Sadly, it does not have any story. The stories are missing. I would like to redo it and write more story if Icould get some. And last year for Christmas my sister Christen made a wonderful book for her family members. It was so great that I ordered a copy for myself. View it Here.  I have made several books about the happenings in our family, but not a little special one yet like my sister has. That book is on my long list. After this experience I had with Maelee it is being moved up to the top of my list. So, Now back to Maelee and her story:

Last week Maelee came up from the basement with these two books in her hand. She walked over to her backpack and put them in her bag. I asked her what she was doing. She said she was taking them to school to show her teacher because they were learning about then and now. She held up the ancestors book and said it was our cousins then and then she held up the other one and said it was our cousins now. She got it!!! My six year old gets what her heritage is. She understands that our family existed then and it exist now. I was so touched. 

My friend Lena, a fellow storybooker, shared with me story about the co-founder and president of Heritage Makers and a dear friend of mine, Doug Cloward. Doug is fighting a battle with cancer right now. Heritage Makers is just getting off of the ground and this business is a dream of his. This summer Lena was doing a booth at a local fair. Doug came by the fair. He stopped at Lena's booth and chatted with her and I am sure he looked at her books. Then she said he started looking ill, so she asked if she could walk him to his car. I really hope I get this next part right...As they were walking he started to ask her, "do you think they get it?" Lena asked "get what?" Doug said something about wondering if people really get that Heritage Makers is more than just books. It is about families. It is about Heritage. She said he got a little teary. He is a tender hearted man, but especially these days. But of coarse you would have already guessed that he is tender hearted by such a wonderful company that he has created. I recently wrote Doug to tell him that people are "getting it." People are starting to understand that these books are about family heritage. I know my 6 year old gets it. I get it. Have you gotten it yet? Everyone has a story......who is telling yours? and do your kids know your story? 

Speed Scrap Today, Tuesday 11/25 at Noon EST

Today's Speed Scrap Just ended. We had a blast!!! Thank you for all of those that participated. Here were the rules for those that missed it and want to try it.

1.Pick out three pictures with a “thankful” theme to the page.

2.Chose one piece of paper as your background paper. Make it a solid/monochrome piece of paper.

3.Chose a pattern paper to put behind all three of your pictures

4.Frame one of your pictures by using four pieces of ribbon.

5.Put at least one thing on your page from nature: tree, flower, stick, leaf, etc.

6.Chose one final embellishment to add to your page. Use that embellishment three times on your page. THREE times, no more, no less

7.Put a title on your page and list three things you are thankful for on your page for your journaling

1. My page:

2. Carrie Rodriguez ( I am not even going to try to guess or write about who is in this page...I always get it wrong...I call her son her husband, her grandson her son and vice versa!!! )




3. Bonnie and her lightening page:




4. Melissa made a card for her sister




5. Leslie like most of us is thankful for her family

6. Lori had a great day. she got two pages done and got a package from the UPS man...8 HM books delivered!!!

7. Joyce made a great card for her grandchildren




8. Carrie Svozi has a new grandson

9. Sidney was one of our first timers...welcome to all of our new comers...great job!



10. Jan Judd is grateful for the happiest place on Earth

check out her CUTE page Here

11. Amber was very busy and made three pages. She has a lot to be thankful for

12. Debbie Adams, I did not get this via email, I stole it from her from her blog. 

WE Have a winner. This winner was picked randomly at random.org

Carrie Svozi

Help Wanted! Now Hiring!

I am looking for women who are interested in learning more about Heritage Makers. I love sharing this gift of Heritage. I want to give it away to one lucky winner. Heritage Makers has blessed my life in so many ways and I want to pass the blessings on to someone else. How to apply to be hired for my team:

1. Learn More About The Business Opportunity Here.

2. Go to www.Storybookingbyyou.com to begin your business by opening a new consultant account

Now it is time for my gift to you. I am going to do a drawing by the end of the day on Saturday out of all of the new consultants. I will send a $200 check to one lucky person to reimburse you the cost of your consultant kit. What will come in your kit when you sign up?

Check out Kit Here

Hear More About The Business Opportunity

Heritage Makers has put Christmas presents under my families tree for two years in a row now. I love what I do. I never had intentions of getting into the sales arena, but this is something I have never had to sell. I simply share it. I simply do my favorite hobby and pass time and show off my products to my friends and anyone that is willing to look at pictures of my kids and everyone always says, "how did you do that?" and I get to tell them how I did it. I cash paychecks of the heart twice a month. You can too. This is your opportunity. I invite you to join my team. One of you will get to join it for free. It could be you. Just think, only one person may end up signing up and they will automatically become the owners of their own business for free. To Boost I will give an 8x8 book credit to everyone that signs up by Saturday night. So everyone wins. Post a comment here if you want me to personally contact you to answer any questions you may have. Remember to go to www.storybookingbyyou.com when ready to sign up.

Be Thankful!

Click Here To Read My Be Thankful Post

Instructions for Speed Scrap 11/18

We had another speed scrap tonight. We had a great time. We almost doubled in our

numbers.

The prize is the same as last week. 5 12x12 prints. Below are the entries.

1.Pick out one picture. Make the picture as big or small on your

page as you would like (remember to always leave

room for plenty of journaling)

2.Pick Two pieces of paper. Send one to the back and use as your

background paper. Make the other one slightly smaller than

your background paper and layer.

3.Pick a third piece of paper to pu

t behind your picture, using it as a mat.

4.Chose a Photo Frame to put around your picture.

5.Now time to Embellish. Find a place to put stitching on your

page.

6.Use at least three of the

following shapes: Hearts, Flowers, Diamonds, Stars. You can use

four of one, or mix it up.

7.Most importantly we must journal. Give your page a jazzy

title. And you must have at least three sentences of journaling

for your page.

8.Email me your page or pages by

the end of 2nd hour at storybookingbyyou@gmail.com

1. Amber: Fun pages by Amber. she is starting to dabble in photography and just took these fabulous pictures.
2. Dixie's great colorful pages.


3. Karen was inspired by the speed scrap to complete her Christmas Cards.


4. Another great layout by Bonnie. That looks like a fun party!

5. Joyce looks like she had a wonderful Christmas Cruise with the author of The Christmas Box. I love these ornaments.


6. Jennifer is a wonderful friend and Neighbor to the woman featured in this 12x12. Jennifer made this page for her neighbor. She is going to love it.


7. Melissa looked like she had a great trip to Disney. She shared that she had originally lost the digital copy of all of her Disney pictures when her computer crashed. Lucky for her she had printed out all of her pictures before her computer crashed (printing them cost her $300. Shortly after this experience she discovered Heritage Makers and was amazed that there was a cheaper way of printing pictures into books). She scanned all of her pictures back into digital form and is working on a Disney book.

8. Brenda made this fun page. She said she was forced to do some new things but says she is happy with her final product. I like it too

9. This page is by Hilary. I love the bright colors and cute subject.


10. Carrie made a great page about her a very cute little boy, that I am assuming is her grandson. I could be wrong. Last time I thought her son was her husband, sorry Carrie!

Check out her page by clicking here

11. Debbie was lucky enough to have taken a trip to Hawaii recently. We are lucky enough to see this page

Click here to go to Hawaii

12. Barbara made this project. I believe this is a poster. It is so beautiful. I love the bling!

Click here to see project

13. Kelly made this page while she was doing a workshop. Way to multitask! What a treat for her workshop attendees to be able to see this page being made.

Click here to see her page

I hope I did not miss anyone's page. If I missed it please let me know and I will post it. I will be announcing a winner in a little bit. Thank you everyone for participating. I had so much fun! Thank you so much for my friend and director, Lena, for being on the call to help and support me. Everyone check back to this post for registration to next weeks speed scrap.


WE HAVE A WINNER: CARRIE! CONGRATS!