Day Three of "Home for the Holidays"

My special guest today continues to amaze me. She is talented and energetic-better than any Energizer Bunny! I met Elena for the first time at Winter CHA 2008. She was passing out “Scrapbook Royalty” buttons during a photo shoot for the Fiskateers at the Fiskars booth. I still treasure my button. We’ve emailed, chatted in chatrooms, on messageboards, in the aisles of CHA or eating Pizza and we are proud to be Fiskateers together. I loved how much fun it was to hang out with her at the Fiskars 360 Party in July at Disney’s Ecopt. Elena makes everyone, individually feel very special. It is her gift.   Welcome to Debby's Dare Elena Etcheverry.

Side story. I had made some gifts to giveaway to everyone at the party. One of the gifts was “ear charms” (for our orange Mickey Mouse ears). Somehow Elena did not get one. She would ask and ask for one. I had one in my hotel room and it found it’s way to Elena by the end of the show. I felt honored by this talented lady that she asked for something I made.

I asked Elena for links to her projects or blog. “How can I share you with people who read Debby’s Dare?” Elena’s response was not her own personal blog The Traveling Princess. It was not her awesome project of the Lucky 13. It was Scrapbook Royalty, her heart and soul.

Elena is the Founder of Scrapbook Royalty, Charitable Crafters for Noble Causes. A 100% volunteer run Non-Profit Organization dedicated to raising money and awareness through unique crafting and scrapbooking events. Since it's inception in April of 2006, the charity has raised over $180,000. I have been an avid crafter all my life, and have also taught scrapbooking, stamping and crafting classes in the US and Taiwan for the past 7 years.

"I love crafting for charity, cute piggies, glitter, pretty shiny things, and sugar-free rock star!"

If you will be in the Anaheim, CA area Saturday January 23, 2010 attend Scrapbook Royalties attempt at the world record for the Worlds Largest Crop. You can read more about it on their website and blog.

Ms. Elena Etcheverry

What is one Family Holiday Tradition that was handed down to you from someone in your family that you continue to observe?

Not really one that was handed down since my family is from Taiwan where they have just begun celebrating Christmas in the last decade or so…but I love the tradition of waking up on Christmas morning as early as possible and waking everyone else up to open presents. I was always the over excited kid just dying to tear into the wrapping paper. Even if I know what is inside the thrill of it still excites me! Living in separate places from my mom and my brother means that I now have to wait for them to come over to open gifts but I still wake up early and call them to wake them and nag them till they get to my house!

I am a scrapbooker so I take photos of every single present that gets opened. I used to do 12 x 12 layouts with the photos but now I’m more a mini-book person. So I make sure and print the photos – NOT LEAVE THEM ON MY COMPUTER!!- and I try to put together a little something to remember the fun morning sharing and giving with my family. I also always set up the self-timer and go to town on the family portrait and we always take a series of funny photos. I love it when my family gets to ham it up! See if your camera has a custom setting on your self-timer. It is the most fun. It takes multiple pictures in a row several seconds apart. It is like having your own photo booth. Think of cute words to get everyone t make faces or act silly. The photos come out awesome! Notice my mom is too dignified to make a funny face in any photo but she loves it all the same.

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Tomorrow's Guest Blogger:  Lisa Pace
Gratitude List
1. Elena’s heart and her example to me
2. family, my family
3. strength
4. celebration all around me
5. God in His Son gives me the reason to celebrate and live