Shutterfly Review and Giveaway, 2 Winners

This giveaway is now closed, thank you to everyone who entered and congratulations to our two lucky winners! Annette W, comment #2 and said: I follow you, too, through GFC and Sharon, comment #17 and said: Me! Me! Me! I SOOOOO need this right now! My favorite card is a simple one - classic with a blurred edge. I like for my pictures to tell the story - no need for any fancy borders!

Recently, I shared some of my favorite ways to use our photos on Shutterfly. Today I'm excited to announce I have a photo card giveaway from them, with TWO winners! The details are at the bottom, but first I'd like to show you some of the cards we've gotten from them.
Last year we took advantage of Michigan's fall foliage and did a little photo shoot at our local park. We sent these holiday cards, which fit the autumn colors of our photo perfectly.

On the inside, I picked a four picture design to show off more family pictures from the past year. I love that option! You can choose to have 0-6 photos, all pictures or a combination of pictures and text, on the left hand side. You can also use it for just text and then you might not even to add a family newsletter to your holiday cards. As you can see there is also plenty of room to add a message on the right hand side too.

Do you see the little green graphic on the right hand side? I also like how they recently added little details like that to the inside of many of their designs. Just another way to make it a really special card.After the holidays, you can also use Shutterfly for customized thank you cards. ER's Great Aunt Cheri sent her really nice handmade dress up costumes last Christmas. This thank you card design let me incorporate photos of ER in each outfit.

Since Aunt Cheri and Uncle Bill are out of state, it's a great way to say thank you for this very special gift and show them how cute ER looks in the costume. When I send thank you cards from Shutterfly, I always choose to have them address, stamp, and send the cards for me. For a little up charge it makes my life so much easier! Now that you've seen how cool the card designs are, I know two of you are going to be very happy!

Giveaway:
I've got a code for 10 free 5x7 flat stationery cards, one for each winner! Fine Print: Offer ends 12/31/2010. Taxes, shipping and handling will apply. Please note these are flat cards NOT folded cards, like the ones I shared.

To Enter:

Tell me what your favorite Shutterfly photo card design is.

Extra Entries:
I'd also love it you'd like to follow me via Google Friends Connect, email, Facebook, or Twitter so you'll be the first to know about giveaway opportunities in the future! Spreading the word is also appreciated. Just let me know what you do in a separate comment for each.

Giveaway open to US residents, now through September 10th. Winner will chosen by random.org and notified by email. He or she will have 48 hours to respond or a new one will be selected. Good Luck!



Disclosure: I will receive free product samples in return for posting about my previous experiences with Shutterfly. Opinions expressed are personal and unbiased. They've also provided the giveaway.

A Crafty Soiree

Welcome to our inaugural Crafty Soiree! It's time for the best kind of party, a crafty one, where you get to meet, mingle, and show off your latest projects. I am so excited to be starting this new adventure with Malia and hope you'll all join us. Normally I'd start off by featuring a few participants from the previous week, but since this is our very first one, I'll start off by sharing my most recent scrapbook pages.
There are so many fun beach themed papers and embellishements at the scrapbook stores now! I have to resist the urge to over buy; it's very hard for a paper junkie like me to hold back. I wanted to use some things from TPC Studio right away. The pictures from our recent 10th anniversary day trip were perfect.

I've had these vellumn alphabet stickers by Mrs. Grossman since I lived in California, over five years ago! It was time to put them to good use. I like how you can still see part of the pattern underneath and how their color changes slightly when they overlap. I will add a beachy quote to the green sticker tag you can just barely see to the right above.
Originally I had planned to do a single page layout but since I have so many pictures I love it turned into two. I kept things simple so the pictures would be the focal point.
Here are a few more detail pictures from the pages. Aren't those puffy stickers so darn cool! Almost all the supplies are from TPC Studio, with the exception of the solid colored cardstock, ribbon, brad, and the little white word tags and metal rimmed tag by Making Memories.

<a href="http://www.katiesnestingspot.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img width="150" border="0" alt="Katie's Nesting Spot" src="http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv157/KTnestingspot/Blog%20Buttons/KatiesNestingSpotButtoncopy.jpg" /></a>
<a href="http://www.yesterdayontuesday.typepad.com/" target="_blank"><img width="150" border="0" alt="A Crafty Soiree" src="http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/vv157/KTnestingspot/Blog%20Buttons/YesterdayonTuesdaypendantcopy.jpg" /></a>
Now it's your turn to link up! Here are some guidelines for our guests:

• Link up your creative projects! Crafts, Decor, Recipes, Sewing and Organizing tips are are welcome. Kids crafts are welcome too, we want to see how you're encouraging the next generation of artists!
• Add your links to the specific posts and not your blog's homepage.
• Add one of the Crafty Soiree buttons above, or link back to me in your posts, so others can find us and join in!
• All partygoers love meeting new friends... if you see something that catches your fancy-- stop by and say hi.
• Please consider following the hostesses, me and Malia, we want to get to know our guests
• Most importantly... enjoy yourself and have fun!

Don't forget, A Crafty Soiree is hosted on two blogs, so when you link up on one your link will automatically show up on the other one too! Please note, by linking up to A Crafty Soiree, you're giving permission to feature your project and photos in the future, with proper credit of course☺

K12 Virtual Academy & Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed, thank you to everyone who entered and congratulations to: Ticia, comment#7 , who said, "We're currently studying early history, so that'd be fun to have something else to refer to."

As many of you know, I am a former kindergarten and special education teacher. I get many questions from parents about how they can be active in their child's education. Many of my readers choose to home school their children and are looking for support and guidance. I would like to introduce you all to my newest sponsor, which provides an option for parents interested in home based education. I really like their emphasis on support for the parents, because I while I have the benefit of a education background, I know many do not and are afraid to make this momentous decision without help. Please read about one users experience and enter the giveaway at the bottom.
I never pictured myself as a “schooling at home” mom.

I was a big yellow bus believer! I even threw a party for myself when, after 20 years, I sent the last of my six children to school! The balloons were not all popped from my party when my husband, a state legislator, invited me to see some of the new education options now available in our state.

I went along just to be with him, so when I heard the words, “schooling at home,” I scoffed, “Not for me!” But something happened inside my mind and heart as I listened to what could now be offered to my children--at home. My mind drifted to my 12 year-old daughter who had been holding back in class, afraid to be labeled a “brain” or a geek.

I was told that the Virtual Academy option could open up doors for her and let her excel at her own pace. I remember the sigh that escaped when I knew this was something I wanted to try in my home.

My family has been enrolled since 2002. I am now the parent of a Virtual School graduate, and though it has not been an easy road, I cannot speak highly enough of the Virtual Academy option for schooling children.

A Virtual Academy is an online public school with most of the bells and whistles of a traditional school, but with all the comforts of home because that is where the student is—at home.

The Virtual Academy became my choice when I learned that this online school could provide my children with:
1. The top quality K12 curriculum
2. A state-certified teacher assigned to my family
3. All the supplies I would need to put together the highest quality education available
4. All this would be paid for by my tax dollars.

The Virtual Academy has remained my choice for more than eight years because I discovered that the curriculum can be individualized to the needs of each of my children. I no longer wonder where they are in their education or if they are grasping the material. I know...
~Online tools show where to begin and suggest a plan for each day.
~The teacher brings the lessons and the online learning all together with regular contact, live lessons, and help with individual needs.
~Office hours are conducted online so that a family can virtually drop in to visit about a lesson or receive more instruction.
~During the day, I work directly with my child, as the child’s learning coach.

The child knows that education is important to me, and something to value. This encourages deeper dives into subjects that hold our interests. K12 provides resources for just such research in many of the lessons. There is a lot of multiple generation learning going on here.

The K12 curriculum builds lessons that include flash technology, brilliant photography, and exciting interactive programming to give variety to each lesson and peak the interests of students. I was stunned when my second grader watched the news and informed me that the Middle East conflict was taking place on the Fertile Crescent. And when one of them wanted to go for a drive so they could see a cold front and a warm front meet in the sky so they could explain how it worked. What inspires the child, inspires the Learning Coach, as well.

The Virtual Academy hosts regular meet-and-greets, as well as local activities for families to get to know one another and to network support. Activities are optional, but families tend to come and enjoy visiting museums, libraries, movie houses, parks and local historical sites. Parents pool their time and talents to offer additional support as Virtual Academy Boosters. These events are parent-run activities that vary from region to region, but include co-ops, clubs, gym days, bowling leagues and field trips.

My virtual academy hosts spelling bees, geography bees, science fairs and literacy fairs. My children have had pen pals, dance partners, and lego robot races. In enrolling my children in this program, I have found “virtually” everything my children need to have a top-notch educational experience right at home

This article, written by Heidi Higgins, is a sponsored post on behalf of K12 and was originally posted on ThinkTank12.

GIVEAWAY
I've got a copy of the book, "The Human Odyssey: Prehistory Through the Middle Ages" edited by Mary Beth Klee, John Crib, and John Holdren (all K12 employees), to give to one of my readers.

It's more than a history book--it's more of a storybook of history, complete with images, diagrams, maps, and charts in full color. This volume begins the odyssey of the development of civilization over a twelve-thousand year span from the Ice Ages to the Middle Ages. A great addition to any home school classroom or home library.

Here's how to win:
Please leave a comment here simply saying how you'll use the text or what you think about the Virtual Academy. That's it!

(Please include your email address so I can reach you if you win.) Winner will be chosen by random.org. This giveaway ends at midnight on 09/8/10.



Disclosure: This is a compensated post on behalf of K12 Virtual Academy who provided the content and giveaway.