Eco Friendly Holiday Project Countdown: tonight at midnight!

Join us tonight at midnight as we begin our Eco Friendly Holiday Project Countdown! The holidays are about GIVING, not receiving, so we @ Creatively Green want to spread some holiday joy by giving away a prize a day, to one lucky commenter! Every day from midnight tonight until December 20 ( 25 days total), we will put up a project, an idea, or even a cool eco friendly gift idea, just leave a comment about what you like about it, and each day we will select one winner and you get a prize...its that simple...so spread the word- a prize a day just for leaving a comment!

Enjoy your Thanksgiving!

Get out Your Cameras,Open Your Heart, Change someones life December 12th!!

I know most of us are always looking for something simple to do that can change the world. Here's you chance to change someones life with a photograph. I am doing this and I encourage anyone with a camera to take this challenge as well, a completely selfless and easy thing to do. Lets all get together and change the world, December 12th, 2009!

It is a worldwide movement called Help Portrait.



Its a simple mission:
One day, December 12th, 2009: Grab your cameras, and take pictures of people who would never be able to have a professional photograph taken. Heres the catch: its not about your portfolio, your blog, or your website, its about the people, its about hope, its about change. None of the people involved in this keep the photographs, we give them to those we photographed. They wont be used for promotional purposes, posted on blogs, or websites, they are given to those who have been photographed. Its a chance to change someones life, a chance to give a professional photograph to someone who may not ever be able to have a photograph of themselves.

How This Works: ( Ready for this)
1. Find Someone in Need.
2. Take their picture.
3. Print the picture.
4. Deliver them their picture!

That's it folks!

Who Can You Help:
Elderly, homeless, single moms, single dad and their children, people in hospitals, people on the street, your neighbor- anyone who you feel can benefit from a photograph.

As scrapbookers and paper crafters, we all know the impact a good photo can have. It allows us to see beauty in the simple things. Give the chance for a stranger to see beauty in themselves, with a picture! One photo can change a life, see for yourself!



How I will do My Part:

On December 12th, 2009 I along with a small team of 40 professional photographers will descend upon the St. Francis Mission, located in Denver Colorado, with cameras, lightboxes, backdrops, and do what we all love to do- take photographs.

St. Francis Center (SFC) is a refuge for men and women who are homeless in the metro Denver area, providing services that enable people to meet their basic needs for daily survival and to transition out of homelessness. It is a safe, inviting place to be during the day when other shelters are unavailable. St Francis is the ONLY center in Denver that is open during the day. Their staff includes a social worker, nurse, mental health counselor and employment specialist and each of them is available to assist SFC guests* with their concerns. More than anything else, St. Francis Center offers hope when it is needed most.

Our very small team, although may seem like a large crew, we expect to take close to 400 photographs that day. On a daily basis , the center assists anywhere between 500-700 people.

Local Denver Peeps- we still need your help!
It doesn't stop here though, we are looking for other vollunteers and businesses to donate food for the afternoon, clothing, and a myriad of items that the mission needs on daily basis. We need printing companies, and printers who would be willing to print the photographs taken onsite!! We need soap, socks, towels, jackets, all the things we take for granted- We need YOU!

If you can help out in Denver, all businesses welcome to participate. Please contact me directly
info@creatively-green.com

If your not in Denver- you can still participate in this event. To date there are over 1,700 photographers involved in this, from over 620 cities, in over 40 countries. Go the website and find out more information. They also have a message board where you can find a group in your town. If you cant find a group- do it yourself, all you need is a camera.




I challenge YOU to change someones life!

10 Simple Ways to Green Your Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time when we can all be thankful for those we love such as family and friends. Yet, at the same time Thanksgiving can be filled with STRESS- the bird, the family, the company, cleaning the house, "oh god I have to get ready to go holiday shopping". Anyway you look at it, sometimes the holidays just bring on a little bit of craziness. Like thinking about being green just cant possibly be added to that list. Well, while we are all getting ready to sit down an enjoy the holidays, lets all be thankful for the earth. Here are 10 simple ways to create the earth friendly atmosphere this Thanksgiving- trust me no stress involved, just a few simple tips...

1. Gobble Gobble: I know the most obvious way to green your thanksgiving is to not eat turkey and to opt for a more organic, maybe vegan day- but that takes away the whole turkey day without a turkey..lol! If you are cooking a turkey, buy a free range turkey. Basically a turkey that has not been caged and allowed to walk around- so you get a much "fitter" turkey. Free range turkeys are a bit more expensive than a store bought bird, so if ou cant swing the free range bird think of supporting someone local and buying the sides organic.

2. BUY LOCAL: I say this so often, but I really do mean it. Buy local, buy organic. Its healthier for you and you can feel good about giving your money to a local farmer- that is what thanksgiving is all about anyway, a chance to be thankful, so lets thank all those who work hard on their farms.

3. Light Candles: Save a little green, ( I know you paid your electricity bill...but...) the fact is, wintertime it gets cold, but the more people you have in your home makes it hot, so shut off the ac, turn the heat off, and dim the lights, save a little electricity and you can call it AMBIANCE...As a wonderful alternative, you can always use some soy candles around the house- they smell great, and will create a warm and inviting feel to your family gathering.

4. Cooking for the Army: Every year, my mother used to swear she was cooking for the army- there were the same 8 people every year since we were kids- but she did cook for an army- and we had more leftovers than I could count. I love me a turkey sandwich- but after week 2 of turkey leftovers- I was dying for a hamburger! So here's a simple tip- COOK LESS! Figure out how much leftovers you had last year, and cook half that amount this year.

5.Use Your Good Dishes: You know the ones Im talking about- there sitting in your china cabinet on display from when you first got married-lol! Dishes were meant to be used, not on display- take them out! If you must use paper goods, buy biodegradable ones. Just about every grocery store in America has biodegradable plates and cups- Give the landfills a break- we have enough trouble clearing the ones we already have.

6. Buy In Bulk: Im not talking the 100 pack of toilet paper here, Im talking about foods, here. Buy as much as you can loose, forget the packaging. Purchase products with the least amount of packaging as possible or purchase products with biodegradable packaging.

7. Bring the Outside In: Not necessarily in the literal sense, but when it comes to the holidays and decorating we all seem to go just a little bit overboard. Reuse as much as you can from last year for decorating. Thanksgiving is in a wonderful part of the season, where leaves and acorns, and flowing trees are abundant. Take the opportunity to bring a little bit of the outside into your home for the holidays. ( Stay tuned for tomorrows post: Six Simple Ways to Decorate for Thanksgiving)


8. Get some FRESH AIR: Remember when we were in school and our teachers would tell the tale of the pilgrims and Indians sitting down for a wonderful feast- well no part of that story do I ever remember them saying- 35 people crammed in one house at one table. A slight exaggeration, but lets be honest, the thought of all those people in one house is daunting, and quite frankly, can get a bit hot. So before you jack up the ac- open a window, let some fresh air in, go outside, play a little football, sit on the porch, no matter where you are or what the weather is like- take a step outside, you will feel refreshed...

9.Plant a tree. Winter season is a good time to plant trees and shrubs so take this time to plant a tree and keep the green growing. It's also a great way to be outside in an activity that the whole family can enjoy- maybe it becomes a new tradition...

10. Say Thanks: This ones free, you dont use up energy by talking, so have a little conversation, free your mind, and be grateful- and dont forget to say thank you-

Product Hot List Pick #1: Recycled Pearlized Raffia Ribbon

I promised to bring everyone some more insight into whats hot and green! My first pick is one of my ultimate favorite items, for a few reasons. It is our 100% recycled pearlized raffia ribbon. It is made from junk mail, completely recycled, an d completely cool. Shown above is the burgundy pearlized ribbon, as as you can see it definately has some shimmer!


Reason #1: Why I love this: Can we say amazing color selection! It comes in over 30 fabulous colors ranging from pastels, to bright colors, to soft muted classic colors!
Purple Shimmer
Pastel Pink Shimmer
Chocolate Pearl ( Our #1 Seller)


Reason #2: Can I say CHEAP? Well I am saying it: We offer this fantastic ribbon at just $1.00. Not for a a yard, but you get 5 yards for $1.00 - Seriously can you beat that price?????

Reason #3: Lets talk about versatility: Can you even imagine the possibilities, and uses;;;;;Just in case here, are a few little ideas to view it in in action....
"Your a Nut" Card
designed by Nicole Terry - DT Member
features: chocolate pearl raffia ribbon A beautiful Happy Birthday Card Set designed by one of our members: SMK
I just love the contrast between the bright orange and pink and the lovely chocolate ribbon attached, adds just a beautiful touch to the cards...
You can view more of her lovely work on our Message Board & Gallery!


Enjoy & Keep Creating Green!

And the winner of our blog candy is....

Thank you so much for all the wonderful comments by our readers. The winner for our blog candy is Nannette . Nannette has won a sampling of our most popular selling products, which includes our 100% recycled cardstock, our 100% recycled pearl raffia ribbon, our Clay Artz embellishments, a little bit of vintage and a little bit of fun. Nannette: if you can pm me your address- I will pop your prize in the snail mail! Congratulations!

Reindeer Roundup Holiday Extravaganza- over $1,000 in prizes!

Because there's no place like home for the holidays, we're pleased to give you the gift of entertainment---a holiday shop hop you can participate in from the comfort of your own cozy abode! Even Santa can't beat our prizes and delectable discounts, so put on your comfiest PJs and settle in for a winter of savings and shop hopping fun.

HOW IT WORKS

From November 15 to December 15, 2009, you may participate in Reindeer Roundup.

A reindeer image will be hidden in each participating store website. Once you find it, you will click on it to enter your email address. If you find the hidden reindeer in each participating store, you will be eligible to win prizes.

Anyone can participate... all you need is access to the internet and a valid email address.

Participation is FREE.

If you are interested in participating, we request that you submit your email to the host of the event and contact information so that we can keep you informed of important updates.

You MUST register for the event!

This is so they can track your progress by your email address when you find the hidden reindeer on the sites. The more you find, the more prizes you can win!


There are over 25 online stores participating in the Reindeer Roundup!


Prizes
Over $1000 in prizes will be awarded during the Reindeer Roundup.

Prizes include:

* Ten winners will receive a current copy of Scrapbook Trends and Bead Trends , retail value $32.90.
* Ten more winners will receive a 3 month all access pass to Scrapbook Trends and Bead Trends online subscriptions.
* Find all the hidden reindeer, and be entered to win a $25 gift certificate from each particpating store.

Get out and spread the word- free to participate, just find a reindeer and you can win some cool prizes- get your holiday shopping done by doing what you already do- browse the web-LOL!

Makeover Madness - and a little blog candy too!

Well, it has officially been only a few months since we opened our doors to the concept of creating green, and we have continued to rapidly grow. We have gone through some changes all around and we have some fun exciting news coming in the next few months...shh..we're not giving up the goods quite yet! But what we do have going on, is a brand new website & logo! You remember the plain old drab crazy orange flower going on...yeah- thats all gone! What we have now is a clean, fresh, new site- free of clutter with a much cleaner image....
So heres the skinny here... leave a comment on here about what you like about our new design and website, and let us know what else we can do to improve our site- tell us what you like and what you want to see more of....I'm listening! I will choose one random winner from the commentees- to receive a special sampling of our most popular products in the store....so comment away! You have until Friday evening to leave a comment- I will choose 1 winner and announce it on Saturday!

View our new site here!

and in December...we will be adding some more pages to our site!

New features being updated on December 1st.....

Product of the Month: we will be highlighting one eco friendly green manufacturer of the month, with the usual, why we love them, whats green about them, why we chose them and what we think is cool! In conjunction with the product of the month will be a full review of the product by myeslf as well as our design team....

Projects of the Month: On our main website, as well as on our blog and message board, we will be showcasing projects designed by our design team members showcasing our featured products of the month- so yes- lots more ideas on how to incorporate green products into your scrapping....

Events: We're on the move in 2010...come and check us out...we may be coming to a place near you...