Etsy's Burlap & Blue

 Burlap and Blue is one of the other Etsy shops Beatrice Banks is featuring in her $125 giveaway.

 You could win a $20 gift certificate and use it towards the purchase of one of these lovely items.

You can see this entire shop right here, and you can enter to win the $125 giveaway here. So much possibility for so little effort, what do you have to lose?

My first A Muse Studio Card!

 When I made this card, it was the first time I had ever used an A Muse product. I've been aware of A Muse for years, but they were a CAS (Clean And Simple) company and I'm, well, not a CAS stamper. When I told my sis I was thinking of signing up with A Muse Studio, and told her about the SCREAMIN' sign-up deal, she said I should absolutely do it just for the products alone. But every now and then throughout our conversation she would say something like, "A Muse, really?" She knew a|s was not my style.

HOWEVER, have you seen the new catalog? What I see there is finely done art with universal appeal. A Muse Studio is not just for the one-layer bunch. If you are a stamper with little restraint, like me, don't be too hasty to judge a|s as not suitable. You can click on the logo on my sidebar to see the catalog. You can shop there or just browse, but don't pigeon hole a|s, as I did. Because if you do, you'll be wrong, just like I was.

 This box was a custom request from a bride. I made them for her bridesmaids, and put their names on the leaf, instead of the word "joy." The original box was Aged Mahogany, this one is Broken China, and I like it much better. I have gotten many wonderful ideas from customers, two heads are truly better than one.

 These are the boxes I used for that order. I had to buy 100 of them, so I've put them in my Etsy shop. I have tried to make my price as fair as possible. I really want the big box of little boxes out of my stamp room!

 This is a super easy altered box with a belly band and a little vellum envelope with a tag.

I love glassine bags. I am now the proud owner of 2000 of them. So yes, they are in my shop. I have to have a shop because I have no restraint and wind up with thousands of tiny little bags!

I Copied This From Beatrice Banks!

I just cut and pasted this entire post from Beatrice Banks because I wanted you to see just how pretty her blog is! I was lucky enough to be chosen to participate in her big giveaway, and it has been such a pleasure working with her and the other featured merchants. Please do yourself a favor and stop by and see her and the other participants. You'll see some gorgeous stuff and hopefully make some new friends along the way! BIG HUGS! Carla

 

$125 GIVEAWAY

Via

WELCOME!

 

I'm celebrating 600+ following friends!  Sometimes blogging can be a love/hate relationship.  Can't live with it and cant' live without it.  Either time or inspiration lacks momentarily and we all think of quitting, or at least a lot of us do.  But we keep blogging because it's fun. 
I am so very grateful for all the wonderful friends I've met.  Your words of encouragement, creativity and ingenious posts are such a great source of inspiration.

So with gratitude...

It's a $125 shopping spree provided by me and 5 other awesome and kind sponsors!

1.  $25 Ebay gift certificate from Beatrice Banks
2.  $20 gift certificate from Burlap and Blue
3.  $20 gift certificate from Cards by Carla
4.  $20 gift certificate from Raggy Girl Vintage
5.  $20 gift certificate from Cotton Breeze
6.  $20 gift certificate from Bella Rosa Antiques 

These shops have fabulous stuff!  Check them out by clicking on the above highlighted names.

Via

It has become increasingly difficult to keep up with everyone. At one point, I kept all of my followers on the sidebar and would visit daily. Now I randomly choose a few to visit each day along with those who visit me.  I don't like it but, it's a time factor.  I've learned, "The lack of commenting is not the lack of interest."  I'd like to hear your ideas on this or another great blogging tip.

Via

How To Enter

1. Leave a comment letting me know you are a follower of  Beatrice Banks . 
There are 7 other ways to increase your chances of winning!
Choose as many or as few as you'd like but leave a separate comment for each action. 
( Feel free to come back and add as you please.)

2.  In one sentence, give the best blogging tip you've received or learned.
3.  Copy and paste giveaway button on your sidebar and/or post about giveaway on your blog.







<br /> <a href="http://beatricebanks.blogspot.com/2011/04/125-giveaway.html"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBf2DRcsJHsr_cY2rJB9k53D3lpYeA50CJHw9gSie-8vcaJslfMMnI38mab1CMS010reIwYJPWC_JV2nOWEaQrIqw8mCm2853WY_QCEXOMLvSn9FPrObEyi5h-Jc19dHsZ3Azzetqxuk/s1600/125dollargiveaway_button.png"/><br /> </a>









Be a follower of:
4.  Burlap and Blue
5.  Paper Pastorale
6.  Raggy Girl Vintage
7.  Til Death Do Us Part
8.  Bella Rosa Antiques


April 30th is the last day to enter. 
Winner will be announced May 4th.
Winner from outside of the U.S. will be responsible for extra shipping.  
Shipping costs are at the discretion of sponsors and may or may not be included in the gift certificate.

Via

Posting to Pink Saturday

Happy Spring!

Harmony

 The older I get, the more I like HARMONY, and I don't mean the singing kind, although I like that, too. I just feel a little less like always making my viewpoint known, whatever the cost, and a little more like listening to the viewpoints of others. In most cases, once you cast off egos and whatnot, you can reach a sort of harmony. It's nice.

 This picture is overexposed. Expert photographer I'm not, but the Artistic Outpost image is beautiful. Complex in detail, simple in mood, I've loved this stamp from the first time I saw it. See a better view here.

 Authentic German glass glitter. I bought a ginormous bag and am selling reasonable portions in my Etsy shop. This stuff is so pretty, and because it's actual silver, it tarnishes in a charming, graceful way. Delightful stuff I tell ya!

 I make fairly elaborate bookmarks, but these aren't them. Here, I've just let the pretty papers do all the talking.

More of that pretty paper, this time in little gift cards. These come with their own tiny envelopes. You sort of want to squeal when you see them. I don't squeal of course, because I'm way too sophisticated for that. Plus, I teach junior high, so I've usually endured my quota of squealing by the time I get home.

Christmas in April? Yes, sometimes!

 Sweet as sugar, or so it says. Layers of hearts on top of a PTI stamped die cut. That's K & Co. paper, SU!'s Blush Blossom, a true love of mine, works as the base here. Dashes of yellow make me happy lately, so I add them.

 I have this HOTP paper I am trying to use up. I'm bound and determined. I paired it with SU!'s Handsome Hunter. I don't enjoy these colors much, but they do say "Christmas" to me, so that's how I wound up with Christmas in April.

 These tags are in altered coin envelopes. I enjoyed this Christmas project much more, and I like the finished results better, too. See that sweet little ol' cherub with the wreath? I bought that from the cutest little stamp shop on Etsy called picture show. Why not stop by and give 'em some love, you know you want to!

No stamping at all here. Just pretty paper. That's enough for me sometimes.

Loving Spring Color!

 Pink and green. Green and pink. I love these colors! Darling Crafty Secrets image and some K&Co paper. I bought that paper while shopping with my sister.

 More CS and K&Co here. The ribbon is American Crafts and I've had it for years. It's gorgeous and shiny, but the colors were a bit much for me. I don't even know why I bought it, but I blame my wretched sister. We buy way too much when we're together!

 You can't see it well in this pic, but the chipboard hearts are sprayed with glimmer mist. They are lookin' good.

 How many scraps can I fit on one card, anyway?

My cherished Melissa Phillips Papertrey Ink butterfly. To find true happiness in life, you must have this die! The deer and sentiment are  rub-ons that came with a stamp set I bought when I was with- you guessed it-my sister. I LOVE the yellow here. I didn't even know I liked yellow at all until I started CRAVING it about a month ago. You think you know someone...

Stay tuned for some upcoming news, I'm sure you will find it amusing.

Here's what I've been working on lately...

 This is an upcycled jar, simply decorated. I spray painted the lid and stamped a label and some tags.

 I've been stitching little felt and fabric flowers lately. It's fun choosing the colors and the buttons. Sometimes I add a few beads to the center. None of this is advanced crafting, let me know if you have any questions.

 I have some exciting news to reveal, so please check back soon. First I have to get my act together, though, and Lord knows that's not an easy thing to do!

 This is an odd journal I made. It features an image from a vintage American Literature book. I'm not a normal person, and sometimes I do inexplicable stuff. Here's the evidence.

Here I used one of my favorite Gina K. sets, Bold Flowers. It's odd that I like it so much, because it doesn't have a shred of vintage about it, but like it I do. I also have the coordinating Marvy punches. It's very satisfying to stamp and punch and have everything be so perfect. I'm simply horrible at cutting, so this stamp/punch combo helps me look good. The friend circle has glaze on it, and yes, I shaving creamed the background. How old school is that? Very, actually, since bookmakers have been marbling for centuries.

I will try to be back tomorrow. My craft motivation far outstrips my blog motivation, so I have pictures for at least a year.