Lessons Learned

So, I have learned some things in the course of my fundraising extravaganza! DO NOT fund-raise TOOO much around the Holidays. Everyone else is selling their wares, having deals, etc. And I can't compete with Black Friday sales at the retail stores. So, that lesson learned. Also, tooo many fundraising events is toooo much for friends and families. They don't want to say no, but they can't keep participating. So, spreading out my fundraising events would be more practical for us all! I think I will do one in March, one in June, one in September, and one in late November. So, once every three months (idea given to me by my wonderful friend and cleaning lady, Melissa - thank you!).

A Successful National Microcephaly Awareness Day!!! 2011 ROCKED

I want to thank our supporters this year.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=247333261966131
Check out the link above. It is the invite I did for the NMADay this year and we reached over 2,600 people on FB. Very excited! So, far my Fundraising is going well. I had an on-line Silpada (Sterling Silver) Jewelry party for a couple of weeks. The profits ended up being $168. That total was sent to the Foundation for Children with Microcephaly by my wonderful friend and consultant, Cathy! She donated alllll of her profits to our cause.

Currently, I am having a Scentsy (wickless candles) on-line party and hope do to as well if not better than my other party.

Look for the Tastefully Simple party that will start at the end of the month of October.

Those that showed their support also did so by wearing yellow. See some pretty yellow pics below:

On that day, I also had a personal party to honor the Microcephaly angels and Ella and her on-line Micro. friends, who live everyday with the challenges of Microcephaly. Below are some pics of my family and friends' celebration:

National Microcephaly Awareness Day is Around the Corner!

Once again this year, Heather's Heart-Made Gifts is spreading awareness and raising funds for the Foundation for Children with Microcephaly for the up and coming National Microcephaly Awareness Day! September 30th, 2011 is the day to remember the lives that have ended in some way due to Microcephaly and to honor those that live with it everyday! My daughter, Ella Hope is one who is living despite Microcephaly. On this day me and many others are wearing yellow to remember and honor. Please join us in doing so.

Heather's Heart-Made Gifts will donate 10% of proceeds from any baskets, cards or scrap-books created or made for you from September 1st through the 30th. Also, Heather's Heart-Made Gifts will be making a temporary necklace line for the month of September. Get yours soon. More information to come on this necklace. Look for a picture and what else you can get with it. The necklace will be $5. It will most likely have a pendant in the shape of a yellow ribbon and yellow beads. This will be the perfect necklace to add to your yellow ensemble for NMA Day!

CHHHHhhhhanges.....

~This Summer ~

With two events that didn't accrue as much money for the Foundation for Children with Microcephaly as I had hoped, I have made a decision to mainly just make this an order only business. I have some samples in stock, but if you want cards or baskets, please order. A new kind of basket that I am now doing is a wine basket. I made some up for a benefit Heather's Heart -Made Gifts and may other local companies, vendors and some national chain stores sponsored for Maddie Smith (baby girl of my friend Beth, who had cancer). I made them up with the help of the ladies from Wine Night in Harford County, who donated wine and other items. The baskets were donated to the Silent Auction that we had at the actual event at Mountain Branch Golf Course. See the flyer to the right and the basket below.

~I Not Only Will Creaet Baskets for You; I Will Create a Custom Scrap-book for You! ~
A new development is that I will also make your scrap-book for you! I love scrap-booking and would be happy to create a wonderful memory book for you. Pricing will depend on how big the book is and how many picture and embellishments you want. If I have to develop the pictures and purchase the book and embellishments, a large book will cost $75, including the time it takes for me to put it together. Without developing (you provide me with already developed pictures) a large book will cost approximately $45 - 50. If you already have the supplies and pictures you can save A LOT of money. I will charge $5 an hour. On average it takes me around 4 hours to create a nice scrap-book, so the cost to you will only be $20 +. Other options are available upon request.

New Products Available for Spring 2011

Sesame Street Basket

 Birthday Bash Basket

On the go Baby Basket

Some really cute baskets have been created for you to purchase RIGHT NOW! All of the above are very reasonable in price. 

The Sesame Street Basket ~ (ages + 3) ~ Inside this green see-through basket is an assortment of cute and colorful Sesame Street items, including a Coloring and Activity book with stickers, and big triangle crayons. There is a book about Grover, a note pad and a Cookie Monster stamper. This cute and fun basket can be yours for $9.00. If you want it gift wrapped it will cost $10.

Birthday Bash Basket ~ This is filled with beautiful spring colors, but it would be great for any tween, teen, or adult lady. Cute Happy Birthday sunglasses, Vanilla hand lotion and a neat fizzy birthday cake (not edible) for your bubble bath! This one is yours for $16.

On the Go Baby Basket ~ This includes a small pack of wipes, powder, baby lotion, shampoo, and Destyn. Great for a trip with baby. $10. This can be bought all year round, but the colors and little chick on front mesh with the Spring and Easter theme as well.

More Info. About the Arts, Crafts Show!

Silent Auction Notes:

• We have the three items pictured in the post below: The ornament, the Cuddle Cloth, and the Ice Cream Blanket. 
• I will be donating a pre-made scrap-book with a starting bid of $25. It will be a Year in a Life, which will include monthly pages from January - December as well as all of the main holidays. (a picture will be put up as soon as it is completed)
• My father will be donating a landscape photo probably worth $30 dollars, so the starting bid will be $30. 
• My mother will be donating a watercolor picture with a starting bid of $25. 
• Each silent auction item will have a paper attached to it with the bids from each person. You can write your name, phone number and address (if you live far away) and you can keep checking in at the table at the auction. *** If you will be participating on line, me or someone else will keep my on-line auction people updated every 30 minutes, so you will know if you are being out-bid on an item that you wanted. 
• The auction will end at 4:45 and the WINNER will be announced at the Show at 5 pm as well as on-line! 

A Very Special Donation and Fundraiser table is being added to the Craft Show~ In Honor of Maddie Smith~ 

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1472089580493&set=o.209749445706992&theater

The story is in the above link. Yet, to summarize. The beautiful 8 month old, Maddie Smith, had a large tumor and her kidney removed in early March of this year. She has had another surgery to fix some complications caused by the previous surgery very recently and has been at Johns Hopkins Hospital off on for most of this month (March), so needless to say the Smith family is just reeling from this. They need help with the hospital bills. So, any profits made at this new table will go their family. 

Microcephaly Awareness Arts, Crafts and Vendors Show

It is official the date, time, venue and many of the Crafters, Artists, and Vendors have been selected for Heather's Heart - Made Gift's FIRST ANNUAL:

~ Microcephaly Awareness Arts, Crafts, and Vendors Show ~

When: April 30th, 2011

Time: 12 noon to 5:00 pm

Where: Faith Orthodox Presbyterian Church ~ 405 N. Market St, Fawn Grove, PA

Why? ~ To raise funds for the Foundation for Children with Microcephaly http://www.childrenwithmicro.org/, as well as Awareness. Heather from Heather's Heart - Made Gifts has a young daughter with Microcephaly (means small head, which is neurological disorder).

What: Businesses, Individuals and Vendors that will be there or represented:

Heather's Heart-Made Gifts (featuring baskets, cards, and scrap-book pages)

Rich Sklar (wooden pieces like banks and mobiles)

Jackie Sklar (hand-made dish clothes and baby blankets)

Laura Tuttle (decoupage boxes and tiny water-color pictures)

Robert Tuttle (photography)

Tastefully Simple

Thirty One Gifts (bags, purses, cards, stationary featuring stylish monograms)

Celia Special Critters (felt animal creations)
Door Prizes will be given out every hour ~ First ticket is free, each door prize chance ticket will be a small donation of $2. : )

Silent Auction will be held for some very nice products. See pictures below:

Cuddle Cloth for Tub Time Ice Cream Quilt Blue, White, Ornament

Springing into Sale ~ New Products Available for Sale Now!

The Spring collection is starting to be created now. The two baskets above are available for cash and carry now or at the craft show in April.

The top basket is called "Home / Office Cherry Blossoms". It includes a pen, note pad, sticky notes, decorative paper clips, 10 pencil pack, and magnetic clips. This is $10.

The bottom basket is called "Home / Office Spring Floral". This one is larger the first and includes a pen, magnets, small clip board, magnetic list pad, 10 pencil pack, sticky pad, mini note book,and memo cube. This one cost $14.00.

Small Tins of Love Made for the Lovely Ladies in Your Life

Above is the "Stay Warm Inside and Out" Tin,which includes warm black gloves, pink socks, and four tea packs. $10 is the lovely low price. NO LONGER AVAILABLE!


"Unique Love Gifts" Tin is the name of the above penguin tin. It includes a little book called Advice from a Tree a "love" plaque and Wild Berry hand lotion. Cost to you is $20. GIVEN AS GIFT TO A FRIEND.



The "Take - Along" Tin is a grouping of items that fit perfectly into a purse: Fancy ribbon & heart pen, 2011 - 2012 Planner, chapstick, key-chain camera, body lotion, hand lotion, sticky notes, and gum. OR take the whole tin to work with you and have items you may want or need during your busy day. $18 is the cost to you. THIS ONE WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON WITH CHANGES!

Baby Girl and Toddler Girl Baskets

Above is the "Sweet Pea Love" Basket. This can be given to a Mom-To-Be or a New Mommy and her little baby girl anytime during the year, but it has pink and red, which is perfect for Valentine's Day, too. The basket is pretty with multi-colored stripes and a purple ribbon handle. Inside there is an entire outfit to dress that adorable baby girl from head to foot: Pink romper with Strawberries and Daises on it, three baby head-bands to match and little booty socks with "I love Daddy" on them. Also is a cute book called Eat Your Peas for New Moms. The cost of this basket is $28 and comes with a free card ($2 value). STILL AVAILABLE! CLEARANCE $26.00

The basket above is rectangular with Love and hearts and bird cages. It is called "Build Your Love" Basket. Inside includes a small Winnie the Pooh Favorite Colors block book and blocks with Valentine words, a cute plush elephant holding a heart, milk chocolate heart candies, toddler heart socks. This one cost $12.00. NO LONGER AVAILABLE!!!!

NEW ~ Kitchen Kits ~ Bake up Some Yummies for Your Sweetie

"Love, Hug and Bake" Bowel is sooo much fun! It includes a pot holder glove with cute cupcakes on it. It also includes a Betty Crocker Baking cook book, clear spatula with kisses on it, heart shaped ice tray, a "love, hug" dish towel, heart-shaped measuring cups, 2 heart shaped cookie cutters, and X & O cookie cutters. This one comes in a HEART shaped bowel. It cost $18.


This one is delicious! It is called "Cook up some Love". It can be for a little girl who is helping Mommy bake for V.Day or any day or her Mommy. Inside~ Heart shaped ice tray, cupcake shaped pot holder, 2 cookie cutters, a pink spatula, and a dish towel with pink polk-a-dots. It also includes heart shaped measuring spoons. This one is in a rectangular basket with muti-colored stripes. It cost $12