THE BIG KICK OFF! Suggested Donation Give-Away Items Unveiled

It's finally here! THE OFFICIAL KICK-OFF!

If this is your first visit here, scroll down a few posts and read about The Rippee Family.

I'm hoping that there will be additional items addded to this list in the coming days. But I am SO excited to get the word out to you now and let you pass it on to others though email and blogs and yahoo groups. Seriously, please pass this along to whomever you can think of. Maybe you even have friends who just want a chance at a nice gift to spoil themselves ... while benefiting another family! This suggested-donation give away has SO many incredible prizes! Scroll down to check it out.

BUT WAIT! Here's how you get your entries:

There are MANY ways you can gain entries to win. So here is the basic outline:

• 1. Receive ONE entry simply for leaving an encouraging comment for Rita and her family on this post and pr*ying for them!

• 2. Receive ONE entry for your suggested donation of $10.00 OR you can get FOUR entries by donating $25.00!

• 3. Receive TWO entries for posting about our fundraiser on YOUR blog/FB and linking it back to this blog.

• 4. Receive TWO entries for grabbing our fundraiser button (sidebar!) and posting it on your blog where I can see it! (*leave a comment to let me know where I can find it.)

• 5. Receive ONE entry by becoming a follower of THIS blog, "www.blessingsahundredfold.blogspot.com"

• 6. Receive ONE entry by stopping by MY blog and leaving an encouraging comment (Valerie) www.almyfamilyjournal.blogspot.com (Hey, I love to meet new people and I would love for you to stop by to say hi. I cannot wait to meet you and hear about your journey!)

So, really you have the opportunity to get over 13 entries!!!! (AND extra entry(s) for donating an item!!!)

Make sure that you let me know about each entry (and make sure I have a way to contact you--in case you win so we can get your prize to you!)

You do not have to leave separate comments for each entry. Just tell me which ones and how many total you qualify for in your comment, and that will be fine! :) Thanks!!

Thank You SO Much and Praise for there soon to be one less orphan in this world!!!!!

*Please note that the Chip-In box is completely safe to use and the donations will come through your PayPal account (which can be set up to come direct from your bank account or your credit/debit card.) I personally have used PayPal for 5 years and had no security issues whatsoever. If you do not already have a PayPal account and are uncomfortable using one, you are welcome to send your donations direct via the postal mail and you will still be entered in the drawings for the prizes. Feel free to email me directly at the address on the sidebar if you wish to mail your donation and I will send you the address. You can also send me an email me if you do not wish to publicly comment on this blog, or do not have a profile set up for commenting.

I want to respect everyone's right to privacy.... and I love hearing from all of you!

Thank You SO MUCH for your support and pr*yers...they mean the world to us!--The Rippees

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The Rippee's Adoption Fundraiser List of Prizes:

MeiFaith Studio

Shelley is an adoptive mom to two beautiful little girls from China. She and her husband are currently in the process of bringing home a son and brother for their family of two girls and by the time this auction closes, they will be on their way to a family of 5!

At her MeiFaith Studio, Shelley designs exquisite jewelry! You really must go check it out! I won a beautiful necklace at a recent fundraiser that she created from gems from her previous adoption trips to China. It is gorgeous! So when she offered to donate to this fundraiser too, I was thrilled! She has such a big heart for orphans.

Shelley is donating these two stunning pieces of jewelry that the winner will be sure to treasure for their beauty and also the story of the creator behind them. Stop over to her etsy-site to see more of her work ... because she is also including a 50% off store coupon for anything in her etsy- store for each jewelry winner! Happy Shopping!

• A.) PURPLE PASSION Semi Precious Amethyst Fresh Water Pearl Sterling Silver Matching Necklace and Earrings Set--Retail price $55

(From the artist: This matching necklace & earring set is all about the color PURPLE, PURPLE and more PURPLE! Both are made with the finest stones...Semi Precious Amethyst, Fresh Water Pearls (both creamy white and purple buttons), Austrian Crystals, and Sterling Silver...I could find. The necklace is also made with non-tarnish memory wire so you won't have the hassle of clasps or hooks, while the earrings are also made with sterling silver hooks. I did construct this necklace with a bit more of a length in case you don't like that true choker style and the earrings measure a little under 2".--PLUS ~ there will be a coupon for 50% off {with no experation} any item listed in the studio's etsy store! )

• B.) THE FAR EAST Large Sky Blue Indian Turquoise Round Amethyst Red Coral Sterling Silver Necklace Pendant--Retail price $28

(From the artist: Listed here is a new pendant that I actually just completed! The design on paper started off nothing what became as the end result - it is even better! With using only the finest materials...one very large sky blue Indian turquoise, some semi precious round Amethyst, some 4mm accent red corals and sterling silver...I could find, this pendant is becoming a fast favorite! This pendant measures 3" in length and the Indian Turquoise bead itself measures 1 1/2". This pendant will truly make "a statement" whenever you wear it!

--PLUS ~ there will be a coupon for 50% off {with no experation} any item listed in the studio's etsy store! )

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It's Poppy Dip

This adorable dress is from It's Poppy Dip. Sallee is a very talented lady who not only sews all the dresses for her store, yes, they are all 100% made with her own love, but she also has a huge heart for orphans. Sallee, has three bio and two adopted children. They are currently working on bringing home their next family member very soon! Sallee has heartfully created and donated this beautiful size 5T dress just especially for this auction!

Her collection is so adorable you're going to want to check it out and bookmark it. What a blessing she is to so many ... and so many little girls especially!

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Firefly Photo Jewelry

Shawna, at Firefly Photo Jewelry, is an amazing lady. Not only is she a terrific mom to two adorable daughters, she also is a fine jewelry designer AND a fabulous photographer! If you're a follower of either of our blogs you may remember THIS post where we discovered that after two years of seeing each other at church AND having our kids attend school together that we actually knew each other from years ago when she was a summer camper at the church camp where I was HER camp counselor! Oh isn't God just so fun in the details of life! What a beautiful woman that camper has become! She is generously gifting us with 2 beautiful necklaces! I just LOVE these ... but make sure to check out her site to see ALL of her wonderful creations!

I love you to the Moon Hand Stamped Soldered Pendant Necklace

Description

Every night before bed I tell my girls "I love you all the way to the moon and back." This necklace is a perfect reminder to any mom about how much love we have for our children. A 3/4 inch double sided photo pendant is next to a moon shaped sterling silver disk holding the ever popular quote from the children's book. A little freshwater pearl completes the look. Pendants dangle from a 18 inch sterling silver chain.

Handstamped adoption necklace- Born In My Heart.

Description

{Perfect necklace for the adopted mom}

A handstamped 7/8 inch sterling silver disk with words {born in my heart}. Overlapping is a silver heart with a clear crystal in the center.

Hung from an 18 inch sterling silver chain.

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Kay Bratt

Kay has graciously donated an autographed copy of the Encore edition of Silent Tears: A Journey of Hope in a Chinese Orphanage for our fundraiser. She will be glad to personalize it especially to your child, to be read when they are old enough to understand the realities of institutional life in China.

Silent Tears is the true story of the adversity and triumphs one woman faced as she fought against the Chinese bureaucracy to help that country’s orphaned children. It is an incredible book that will light the fire within you to make a difference for so many in the world who do not have a voice! I read it ... and it's why I'm doing this very blog fundraiser today!
Kay is an amazing woman and continues to advocate for orphans. She is the founder of the Mifan Mommy Club, an online organization which provides rice for children in China’s orphanages, and is also an active volunteer for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for abused and neglected children. Kay currently resides in Georgia with her husband and her daughter.

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Scarlet Threads

Carrie from Scarlet Threads contacted me the other day to let me know that Scarlet Threads wanted to donate one of their aprons. If you don't know about Scarlet Threads you must go check out their web-site. Scarlet Threads is based in a rural Chinese village.

It is a compassionate boutique, specializing in unique products designed and produced by talented seamstresses in rural Asia. All Scarlet Threads products are fairly traded and created in compliance with their core vision and values in mind: making a positive impact on economic development, making a difference on impoverished communities, as well as a way to give back to a community.

Work. Dignity. Beauty.

It's a beautiful thing!

One lucky winner will receive this beautiful "Anna" apron.
"Functional yet fun, this apron is perfect for kneading the sweetest dough. Combining retro flowers with a geometric pattern, the dark blue fabric is a perfect blend of funky and feminine. The eye-catching button on the adjustable neck-strap makes this apron a perfect fit for any woman! A favorite among many of our testers, this apron is up to your toughest kitchen tasks. We know you'll love it; just promise to share the cookies!"

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GirlyGirl Bowtique Package

Kelly is an amazing artist who has a HUGE heart for orphans like many of the contributors to our fundraiser. She has been a joy to work with in the past as we have collaborated cross-country to make outfits together for the Love Without Boundaries Art Auction! Her talents run deep in SO many areas. Which is obvious from her incredible hair bow bowtique! Her "bowtique" specializes in adorable, gorgeous and funky hair-bobs and bows for girls. But she doesn't stop there, she also has fabulous things for moms too with headbands and key fobs! Stop by and check out her studio and support her as her family prepares for their own adoption journey to unfold very soon!

Kelly is donating a special bowtique package especially for The Rippee Fundraiser. Check back for photos--you'll sure to be delighted!

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Girly Girl Bowtique $20 Gift Certificate

Kelly at Girly Girl Bowtique also has a $20 gift certificate for anything in her store that I happened to win on my very first donation to an adoption fund-raiser last Fall! I would like to have her transfer that certificate over as a donation to this fundraiser!

Yes, I have three boys myself ... with no hope of a girl anywhere on the horizon, it might seem funny that I was SO EXCITED to win this prize at Mandi's fundraiser. But I was! I cannot explain it fully ... but I knew God had big plans for this prize (besides the fact that she has cool stuff.)

Sure, Kelly has great things for moms and I have lots of friends with little girls to bless ... but as we see here now, God has the perfect plan for things in the end doesn't He?!

I cannot wait to see who wins this and the joy of adoption gets passed along!

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Junk Posse

Tracy from Junk Posse is an extremely creative artist who loves to create things from "found items" others have castaway. Her work is beautiful and it reveals her deep passion for orphans. I have seen her beautiful jewelry mentioned on so many blogs during the last year, you truly must go and check out her site and you will discover so many beautiful treasures and her beautiful and generous heart! By the way, she is an Adoptive Mom & Grandma of 2 Amazing Guys and 2 Beautiful Bio Girls. Adoption is a family-thing for this artist and it shows in her amazing work!

She is donating a gorgeous "China Necklace," valued at $70.00! (photo to come soon!)

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Jewels of My Heart

Daleea from Jewels of My Heart is truly a gem herself! She and her family are immersed in so many beautiful avenues in order to bring their daughter/sister, Isabella, home. If you have not seen her 3,000 Bracelets Campaign you simply MUST check it out! She is keeping these bracelets set apart and extra-special from her other work in order that each bracelet that is sold in the Campaign (3,000 in total) will be a beautiful legacy to her daughter about the journey her family embarked upon to bring her home. It's simply beautiful. Please support them in this fundraiser specifically for their daughter!

She also makes these adorable note cards at Bella Blush Notecards and is offering 2 packages: "LuLu Friendship Note Cards" and "Sophie Friendship Note Cards." Each NOTE CARD SET includes:

• 10 Blank Note Cards (with a small IzzyBella girl on the inside bottom right corner)
• 10 Envelopes w/coordinating Envelope Seals
• 10 Picture Insert Cards (has the coordinating IzzyBella Sweeting on the front and the information about her on the back. Suitable for framing)
• Measures 5.47" x 4.21"
• Each set has been professionally printed. They are bundled with a decorative ribbon and sealed in a cellophane bag.

One Note Card Set

Version A: LuLu-Friendship Note Cards

Version B: Sophie-Friendship Note Cards

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Debbie Gentile

I met Debbie when I sent in my first quilting submission to the Love Without Boundaries Art Auction last Spring. Debbie is the LWB Art Auction Coordinator and is an adoptive mom herself! It was by chance that Debbie found out about this fundraiser and I'm so glad she did. I happened to email Debbie looking for some contact information for another artist who donated this year to the LWB Auction. She not only graciously offered to pass along my email to the artist I requested, but she also offered this beautiful photo for our prize list! Entitled, "Sisterhood," it was taken by Debbie at her daughter's China reunion. Not only is it artful and adorable, she also made it available for others to purchase and raised nearly $2000 for a little boy's heart surgery through LWB. What a heroic tale this photo has to tell--the sisterhood helping a brother in need! SO sweet!

The winner will receive a matted 8x 10 black and white photo ready for framing!

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Heather

Heather is an incredible mom of 5 ... going on 6 beautiful children--3 bio and soon to be 3 adopted! She has an incredibly beautiful heart, which I discovered as G*d perfectly timed our meeting. She won my interior vinyl lettering donation from the Operation Giggle Christmas gift program for ND in December. Little did I know that she was advocating SO deeply for a very special little boy that we share a passion pr*ying over, then AND now! Heather has been using these camera strap covers to raise money for her upcoming adoption of their son AND to help this other precious child. If you don't win one here, definitely check out her etsy site which will go live in June (or contact her via email at straps4china@cox.net.)

She has blessed me by offering to donate FIFTEEN! of these camera straps. They fit DSL cameras (see measurements below) ... and although I can't supply that part of the deal, I am sure that these will be SO cool on one that you already have or will get down the road (what better excuse to buy the camera than because you won a camera strap!) She has many seriously cool fabrics to choose from, here are the 15 that she is donating! (And as a side note, I'm thinking it would look cool on my diaper bag strap!)

From the artist:

Make your camera FUN and make a DIFFERENCE at the same time! This is an easy way to customize your camera with no worries about the integrity of the manufacturer strap. This cover slips right over your current camera strap! Each strap is 100% cotton, removable and machine washable! Easy to change to suit your style - Buy a couple and switch them out!! Measurements: Fits most SLR DSLR Canon or Nikon cameras. Approximately 24 inches long x 2 ½ inches wide (actually opening to accommodate the strap is 2 ¼ inches wide)

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HEATHER is also donating a $50.00 gift certificate to Amazon.com! Who couldn't find a hundred good uses for this?! Thank you Heather!

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Rufflestiltskins

Melanie is an adoptive mom to THREE Chinese treasures and has offered to donate a gift certificate for $50.00 toward anything through her website, rufflestiltskins.com. These tights are super cute and comfy and come in various sizes, colors, and designs. Ruffle Stiltskins is owned and operated by Melanie and the best thing other than the tights is that Melanie donates a portion of every order to Love Without Boundaries. So whether it's for a cool summer's day/evening or if you're already anticipating Fall, these footless tights are a must for your little princess! Oh, and they are super inexpensive. (I LOVE the Fourth of July ones in the photo!)

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Wheat and Wildflowers

I recently discovered Wheat and Wildflowers while reading a friend's blog. What a find! I just love how these threads are woven together from person to person between blogs!

Kimberly, at Wheat and Wildflowers, designs jewelry with heart and personality that would make any outfit and heart sing louder! She has a sweet heart herself for adoption and has enthusiastically offered a $50 gift certificate to anything in her store of the winner's choice. Her items are all incredibly reasonable in price and the photography of her jewels is pretty sweet as well. You'll enjoy the task of browsing! Check it out!

These are some of MY favorites!

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Molly

Molly and her family just returned from China with a beautiful treasure in their son, Evan. Despite the fact that she is probably more than busy enough settling back into things at home, she has generously offered these 2 handcrafted and designed, beautifully-beaded watches for this adoption fundraiser. Thank you Molly! She has an incredible heart for orphans and such a deep love of the Lord! What a blessing she is to so many! (Make sure to notice her use of red wire securing the watch face to the beading ... representing "the red thread." What sweet details!)

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Valerie

I am offering a few things from my studios as well:

First is a little painted chair. It's just the right size for little bums to take a rest and is great for playrooms or to pair with a little table. It even sweetens the occasional "time-out" spot! (Who says ya can't look cute while learning a lesson?)

Dimensions are 23"h x 12"w x 12"d

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Also, I will be offering a $30.00 gift certificate toward a custom designed vinyl wall art saying from my store, Wit & Wisdom Interior Lettering. This is just one example that has been quite popular. Possibilities are endless and adds a unique touch to any home!

"For I know the plans ... Jeremiah 29:11"
Size: approx. 34" width
Colors: Black over Gold

Posted by Valerie