Celebrate! the test came back negative!!

Its been weird. About 3 weeks ago my mom nonchalantly tells me and my brother that they found a lump in her breats and she has to get a biopsy to check it. Total shock. I mean total. We talked about it just a little bit then didn't. Jean-Claude wasn't there when she told us and I wanted to tell him that night but I just couldnt do it. Every time I tried, I feet the stinging behind my eyes. I feel it now. She had the test on Monday. My brother, Stepdad and Me waited in the waiting room for her to have it done. I know it is silly but I just wanted her to know I was there. Then she came out all smiles and we went and had lunch but the whole time, those stinging tears were on the verge. I was thinking selfishly of myself a little too. Like what would it mean if she really had cancer. I am a carbon copy of her. And it scared the crap out of me.

But I am happy.

She got the results and she is fine. Negative. They will check it again next year. So for another year at least, I am a happy people again.

whew!

Altered Crown class, crop and raffles galore

This Sunday 11am -2pm I am finally teaching the Altered Crown mini book at Pink Pineapple 760-598-2222. Call the store to sign up! I am so excited to finally do this! The cost of the class is $38 and it is packed with all sorts of cute little goodies. I seriously put everything including the kitchen sink in it!

Here are some photos. I asked everyone to bring a snack to share since we will be working through lunch.

I also want to announce that jennifer and I will be hosting the March Theme crop at Pink Pineapple. The theme is "Crop like Royalty!" You know it is going to be so great. Each person will be getting a tiara and goodie bag. We will be doing a free raffle as well as a little bonus raffle that will raise a little money for Scrapbook Royalty. We need all the help we can get right now. This economy has really made it hard to support SBR so I am turning to my friends and family to help me keep this charity going. If you want to help. You can click on the donate button below and make a 100% tax deductible monetary donation.




Another way you can support SBR is by visiting our auction and raffle blog. There are some really great items on there and it is totally open to the public! Please take a look when you have time.

And I wanted to share a photo of Julie Emily and I going to the InterFaith homeless shelter in Escondido to drop off socks. It was so amazing. I have never been to a homeless shelter before and to be honest I was a little nervous. so lame! but I am so glad we went. The volunteers there were so happy to take our donation of 112 pairs of socks, 2 winter coats and 3 scarves. They said especially with this weather, they really need socks. This was part of the Sock it to Poverty Sock drive that I did with the Fiskateer Charity Fiskamittee. Our next big effort is to collect blank handmade Mother's Day and Father's Day cards to send to the troops overseas. Click here to see the info.

It's been a little busy..

I am off to an event at Pink Pineapple, Jennifer is teaching her owl book as part of the Royalty on the Road tour. I will be bringing fairy fly bys and goody bags for each participant. I hope we raise some good money for the Cancer Coping Center today!

My Luncheon at Summers Past Farms.

I wanted to raise the rest of the money to pay off the attny fees for the 501c3 so with Kat's help, I held a very special luncheon for 12 ladies on Thursday. the invitations were the first indication of how special it was going to be... They are in the post below. And here are some photos of the event. Kat and I transformed this.... (i had already added thes streamers when I took this photo)

into this....

Unfortunately it started raining as soon as Kat and I got there and we had to move everything inside but it worked out fine. It was just a lot of hauling stuff up the stairs in little heels that just about killed me!

First we had a little tea and sweets

Here are some of the goodies I had for them to take home. Inside that little box are flower shaped and laser etched buttons that I found in my favorite notions store in LA. They will be going in my book club kits as well!

Since we had to do lunch inside, we set up at thier seats. They were making the little owl book by Jennifer Priest. Thank God for Jennifer since my original plan to have Michelle Hill provide the kits fell through last minute. Jennifer's book is amazing and they ladies loved it! They got to keep the little lace food umbrellas. Another great find! And they got to keep the little pillows on the chairs which they all loved!

here is everyone toasting with Martinelli's my fav!

And here I am teaching the fun little owl book by Jennifer. It was adorable. Thank you Jennifer. You are amazing and as usual generous beyond anyone's expectations!

So thank you to Debby, Maryam, Birgitte, Sally, Gloria, Anita and Georgia for coming to the luncheon. I had a great time and loved spending time with you all. Thank you to Krystie, Diana and Sandy who were coming but didn't make it for one reason or another but still supported the event. and most of all, thank you to Kat who helped me all day! I could not have done this without her! And now we are officially a 501(c)(3) and paid off and I am so thrilled to have that off my todo list!

Invites all sent!

"To the Fairest of them all. Please join me for a creativity luncheon ball..."



this is the first line of the invitation that I sent out in these cute boxes.



I am having a fabulous luncheon next Thursday 10 am till 4 pm at Summers Past Farms. I am so excited! It is for 12 lucky ladies who will each be donating $200 to Scrapbook Royalty to help me pay for the lawyer fees for the 501(c)(3). Im so glad we got it but it was really expensive. So weird that it costs so much to become a charity!!!




I am doing it up big time. Inside this box is a pretty invitation and godiva chocolate! Michelle Hill, the most amazing designer and a super supporter of Scrapbook Royalty is doing a really cute class. Well, I am going to teach it but she is designing and making kits for me! She is so awesome! I am also doing a fabulous lunch and some very special gifties fit for Royalty!





I might have room for more people if you are interested in joining me! Please email me! I would love to have you! I didn't know who to ask really, it was kind of awkward. I mean I know times are tough and it is on a weekday during the day so... If I didn't invite you, please dont be offended. I just didn't know who would be interested in coming :)

i am a Fairy...

Elena Lai Etcheverry, Lead Fairy and lover of pretty shiny things.

Here are some dollys I made for a doll swap with my ZNE friends. There were 9 total but only 4 left to send out...

I used the maya road chipboard people and then added tulle, irridescent ribbon, and pearl boobies courtesy of Kaisercraft :) of course my fav part is the tiara with real diamonds!

ZNE was such a blast last year. I wish I could go again! Instead I am going to be going to some fun retreats in Dutch Flat with my friend Miss Vicky. Check out her blog for more info... She is doing the most amazing vintage apron retreat in April and June is when I will be going for a really awesome retreat that I have not figured all the details out about yet! imagine that!

Want a Fairy Fly By Goodie? Are you on Facebook?

Please spread the word about Scrapbook Royalty on facebook to your friends. Ask them to become a fan so we can keep them up to date on all things "crafting for charity". Do this and send me your address to elena@scrapbookroyalty.org letting me know you have done your "Good" for the day and I will send you a fairy fly by goodie in the mail :)
its on the honor system so I trust you if you email me :)

Peace, Love and Fairydust,

Elena Etcheverry,Lead Fairy

"I love pretty shiny things!"

I'm baaaaack!

What is it about a Squishy face picture that we just can't resist!

Well, i am totally and completely exhausted! But holy mole did I have a successful week! CHA was amazing. I am totally totally wiped out from talking non-stop for the past 5 days and I have one more day of it tomorrow but I am happy to say that it has been completely worth it!

just a couple of quick pics and I can add more later...

are these the cutest things ever???

first day was madness but everyone in this picture is beyond awesome!

Now thats a real big princess!

oh what wonderful friends I have

My little Jessekins came over today again to help me finish the 100+ welcome packets for The Royal Slumber Crop. She is such an amazing friend. She has been to almost every single SBR event and just slaved away! And since the begining she has been enthusiastic and willing to help any time I call. I just love this girl! She is also the only friend that came to visit when I was living in Taiwan last time! The rest of you missed out! We had so much fun. But how can you not have fun with Jesse???

And my new slogan is "Never underestimate the power of a Princess" This was in the inside of this crown key ring that Rachel ( I call her blewie) gave me today. She said she saw it and couldn't resist. It makes me feel so special that she thought of me. Nothing is better than a spur of the moment gift just because! Thanks Blewie!

and I got a new signature from a new friend Bonnie G. It reminds me of fairy wings! If you get an email from me, it will be on there :) i just love it!

I am an Evangelist...????

Today I went to a dinner to honor the Channel 10 Leadership award winners from 2008. I met some very nice people that are all about charity! It was wonderful to see Geni Cavatt again, she is so funny! and now on to the Evangelist thingy...

I was told by my husband that I am an Evangelist for Scrapbook Royalty. This may sound stupid but I really didn't realize that people that are not in the bible call themselves that! But they do. Its a title like President or Sales Representative. I am not going to add that to my business card, but I did look it up (dictionary.com) and it is kind of interesting...

e⋅van⋅ge⋅list   /ɪˈvændʒəlɪst/ [i-van-juh-list] –noun
1.
a Protestant minister or layperson who serves as an itinerant or special preacher, esp. a revivalist.
2.
a preacher of the gospel.
3.
(initial capital letter) any of the writers (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) of the four Gospels.
4.
(in the primitive church) a person who first brought the gospel to a city or region.
5.
(initial capital letter) Mormon Church. a patriarch.
6.
a person marked by evangelical enthusiasm for or support of any cause

So I guess the last definition applies but then I thought I'd better look up "evangelical" and here is what it says:

e⋅van⋅gel⋅i⋅cal 

 /ˌivænˈdʒɛlɪkəl, ˌɛvən-/ [ee-van-jel-i-kuhl, ev-uhn-] –adjective
1.
Also, e⋅van⋅gel⋅ic. pertaining to or in keeping with the gospel and its teachings.
2.
belonging to or designating the Christian churches that emphasize the teachings and authority of the Scriptures, esp. of the New Testament, in opposition to the institutional authority of the church itself, and that stress as paramount the tenet that salvation is achieved by personal conversion to faith in the atonement of Christ.
3.
designating Christians, esp. of the late 1970s, eschewing the designation of fundamentalist but holding to a conservative interpretation of the Bible.
4.
pertaining to certain movements in the Protestant churches in the 18th and 19th centuries that stressed the importance of personal experience of guilt for sin, and of reconciliation to God through Christ.
5.
marked by ardent or zealous enthusiasm for a cause.–noun
6.
an adherent of evangelical doctrines or a person who belongs to an evangelical church or party.
Origin: 1525–35; < class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">evangelicus (< LGk euangelikós; see evangel 1 , -ic ) + -al 1

So #5 applies and I am starting to feel it but I thought I'd better look up the origin "evangel" cause it sounds like Angel to me and that I know I am not! and this is what i found:

e⋅van⋅gel1   /ɪˈvændʒəl/ [i-van-juhl]
–noun
1.
the good tidings of the redemption of the world through Jesus Christ; the gospel.
2.
(usually initial capital letter) any of the four Gospels.
3.
doctrine taken as a guide or regarded as of prime importance.
4.
good news or tidings.

So #4 works for me. I hope that when I am "marked by ardent or zealous enthusiasm for a cause." that I am bringing "good news or tidings" to the people I am talking to. That they see that I am really doing this from my heart and my only ulterior motive is that I get to brag about doing good. I really am "a person marked by evangelical enthusiasm for or support of a cause" But I know it is almost impossible to believe. I am so not a saint! I just get the best feeling from doing charity work and I really can't explain it because it is work, but I just really really love what I do. It makes me the Happiest Happy People!

I knew I loved Starbucks and then....

They made me love them even more! I am such a junkie. my drink has evolved... my new drink is a Grande 1/2 soy 1/2 non fat 2 pump chai with not water and no foam. yes, its a mouthful but thankfully they only screw it up once in a while!

And the real reason I love "Bucks" is that they are doing a really cool thing to promote volunteerism. Jennifer posted about it on the SBR blog http://scrapbookroyalty.blogspot.com/2009/01/say-im-in-and-get-free-coffee.html


pledge 5 hours of volunteer work and get a free tall coffee! I don't drink coffee but I know a lot of people do and I think its a great motivator right? go on line and pledge and you know I am always looking for volunteers for SBR!


And today is the last day to vote for Jennifer... scroll down a couple of posts for the details... I really hope she wins!

And I have been working hard, to get ready for CHA. the biggest networking opportunity for SBR all year. Jesse came over last night and helped me bling tshirts and kit for the Slumber Crop. So much to do!!





Thank you Michelle for the pre-event challange kits. they are perfect!

What a turn around...

When life gives you lemons...? Lemonade is not always possible. It's been a bit rough lately. This whole getting older and wiser thing is really hard. Life lessons and all. Well, at least I can say that I am never bored or boring. and I can still say that I am a Happy People! No matter what I wrote on my facebook update :)

So for some fun, I am posting a little giveaway from SoCalScrap These girls have been amazingly supportive of Scrapbook Royalty and I just love love love their logo. They are doing a give away on their blog so click here and find out how to enter!

I am running around like a crazy person getting ready for CHA and the Royal Slumber Crop and 4 other affiliate events and a fund raiser just for SBR. Its crazy here!

I-I-I...

I am thinking today:

I am not sure where I am going but I know where I have been. Where I have been has made me who I am and that is all I can be. Accept me for me and we will be friends forever.

I am blessed to have lots of friends and people who care about me. Some have come and gone but I am blessed to have a few who accept me for who I am...

I have good news:
Scrapbook Royalty's story and mission has been published again! Page 94 of February's Creating Keepsakes Magazine is all about SBR! CK is pretty much the biggest magazine in the industry and we are in it! it is amazing! I have not seen the magazine yet but here is a picture of it from Gloria's blog

I have a request:

and my wonderfriend and Scrapbook Royalty Creative Director, Jennifer needs votes for her adorable book! she is a finalist in the Quickutz Deck the Halls Contest!!
WOoohOooOooOoOoooo!!!
Please vote for her here:http://www.quickutz.com/qk2/myqk/memberProject.aspx?projectId=3146

You'll have to register with Quickutz but it is painless, I promise.

You can vote once every day so please vote for her!!!

Whew! Marathon Day!

I am laughing because I just typed in Marathong!!! Hee hee!

Ok, so yesterday was bananas!! I was driving around from one fun thing to the next like a crazy person thinking "This day is bananas B-A-N-A-N-A-S!" - my tribute to Kelly Kapur :)

I stared with spending about 2 hours just trying to get the new SBR logo to work on a business card. It took forever but I finally got them ordered. Then finished putting together the fun kits for Scrapbook Club at Pink Pineapple and then rushed out the door to meet one of my fav people, Georgia!

we had a nice visit in Carlsbad and I got the cutest picnic set by The Piggy Story I love cute little piggies and I definitely love eveything do! the happy laughing fairy pig is irrisistable to me!

Then I went to a meeting with Lisa K from Heritage Makers at the Boys & Girls club to talk to them about doing a digi crop there! I can't wait!

Then it was off to an American Girl Tea Party at Julie M's house to celebrate Emily's birthday. When I was leaving the house in the morning with the American Girl Bitty Baby doll that Julie and Emily got me last year, Jean looked at me and said "Have you lost your mind?" and I just laughed so hard. I guess at times the answer would be a resounding "yes!" but this time I actually had a reason for carrying a baby doll out to my car :)

And then I ended my day with a wonderful Scrapbook Club meeting at Pink Pineapple Scrapbooks where my guest was Diva Danielle and Rayme Royale from the Diva Craft Lounge Radio Show. Which you can listen to any time on the interweb! We did an adorable valentine's inspired ATC make and take using the oh so cute images from Miss Vicky . Here are some pics from the seriously so fun event.

I have been doing this club at Pink for almost 3 years. Every month 20 + women gather and exchange ideas and ooh and ahh over eachother's creations. It is really an amazing group and I am so thrilled that it has been going on so long. I feel really special every time people attend something that I am planning and enjoy themselves enough to keep coming back!

Speaking of something I am planning! The Royal Slumber Crop is at 102 sign ups! We can only take 120!! So if you were waiting to sign up, I would not wait any longer! Its going to fill for sure and the sponsors are seriously making this event amazing! The feeling of charity, the classes, the creativity, and the comradarie, that is what makes these events so worth it and what keeps people coming back! Hope you can make it!