Aaaaand, she's back!

Holy crap. What a week! That's all I can say. This deployment is kicking my butt, and we're only one week into it. You name it... it has gone wrong. Terribly wrong. I hope this isn't a sign of things to come.

Anyhow... on to more fun, pretty, crafty things! Today, I have a video tutorial (and a GIVEAWAY of *NEW* Pink Paislee) for this garden journal that I made using the new Pink Paislee "Amber Road" line...







In addition to being something nice to make for yourself (that is, if you're a gardener), these also make lovely gifts for any gardening friends you might have OR a lovely housewarming gift for a new neighbor! There are so many great flowers and veggies that make for great fall-starts in your garden. Here's an article that talks about all of your fall/winter vegetable gardening options.

As for the journaling kit, hey're quite simple to make and only require a few basic supplies. There are 6 coin envelopes contained inside the box that are the perfect size to store a packet of seeds, and have plenty of room on the outside for your gardening notes! So, shall we learn how to make one of these? Yes, let's...



Now that you've kindly sat through my video tutorial, I have an opportunity for you to win some *NEW* Pink Paislee "Amber Road" goodies. You will win everything pictured here:



It includes:
* A template for the garden journal box (that's right... no measuring or cutting for you!)
* 6 coin envelopes (not pictured)
* One of each of the new patterned paper designs that are part of the "Amber Road" line
* One pkg. "Amber Road" Bella Brads
* One pkg. "Amber Road" Punch Outs die cut tags
* One piece of "Amber Road" Patches canvas tag
* One pkg. "Chocolate" Expressions cardstock alphabets
* One pkg. "Pear" Expressions cardstock alphabets
* 1 yard cream grosgrain ribbon
* 1 yard jute twine
* 1 coordinating Prima flower

You have until Monday, August 31st at 11:59 pm PST to leave a comment on this post to be entered to win this nice little prize pack! I will announce the winner the following day (Sept 1st).

Speaking of video tutorials, my fabric embellishment tutorial was featured today on Mod Podge Rocks. So, if you missed the tutorial a while back on the Label Tulip blog, be sure to check it out!

As for all of the projects that I had been planning on featuring this month... not to worry. They will all be coming over the next few weeks. This start of this deployment has been much harder than I had anticipated... especially for the kids. That, and I've been busier than a one-armed paper hanger for the last several days (you'll understand VERY soon exactly why). *wink, wink* Thanks for your continued readership and support... I promise not to disappoint. There are lots of fun projects, new ventures and secret surprises in store! Stay tuned...

Just a Quickie...

Yes, I know I missed yesterday's post. Things have been absolutely crazy around here this week. Bryan deploys in a few days and we have in laws en route to our home as we speak. I've barely had time to think straight... let alone blog or even do anything creative. But, I wanted to go ahead and post the winner of the Label Tulip RAK real quickly. So, without further ado...

Here are your random numbers:

23
Timestamp: 2009-08-14 23:07:14 UTC

And, #23 is...

Stephanie Baxter said...
Wow...it looks so yummy!

Congratulations, Stephanie! You are now the proud owner of Label Tulip's add-on kit #1! Please send me a quick e-mail at charmedgirlnc@gmail.com with your mailing address so that I can get your goodies in the mail to you!

As for me, it will probably be a little quiet around these parts for the next couple of days. My Label Tulip gallery will be delayed until the 18th, but you can catch the rest of the girls' creations on the regular reveal night... the 15th! Once things quiet down on Tuesday, I will be back in full effect with lots of fun projects and tutorials to share (and another giveaway)! Stay tuned...

Trade ya'...

one contest for another? Here is what the trusty random number generator came up with for the winner of the Chatterbox goodies...

Here are your random numbers:

10

Timestamp: 2009-08-11 01:58:40 UTC

Julie said...
WOW that is sooo awesome!!! congratulations to you!!! have a great vacay.
and thanks for the fab giveaway!

So, Julie... send me an e-mail at charmedgirlnc@gmail.com with your mailing address, and I'll get your goodies in the mail to you!

Now, time for the 2nd giveaway for my blogiversay extravaganza! This time, I will be giving away a lovely Label Tulip add-on kit from the August kit selection. It is full of vintage-styled goodies. In fact, here is a peek...



***The only thing not included in this kit is the pearl head pin behind the flower***

If you're a Label Tulip subscriber, it will be add-on #1. And, not to worry... I will announce the winner the morning of the 14th. So, you'll know if you won before the kits go on sale (just in case you had your eye on #1). Just leave a comment here. You have until August 13th at 11:59 pm PST. Good luck!

*C*E*L*E*B*R*A*T*E*

Did you all see this? I can't believe I have been able to hold that exciting news in all weekend. I can't wait to get to work with all of the fabulous new American Crafts goodies! And, what an insanely talented bunch of ladies! Congrats to you all! I'm so honored to be a part of this team!

And, to help me celebrate... I'm sharing the love with all of you. I have a RAK filled with a rainbow*licious assortment of Chatterbox's artsy.licious goodies! I was saving this until a little later in my month-long blogiversary celebration. But, in light of this exciting news... I couldn't save it any longer! There will be at least one more giveaway this month too. *wink* *wink*

You will receive one of *almost* ever sheet of their gorgeous papers (there were a couple of designs that I don't have extras of).



You'll also receive one of each color of their lace paper designs.



In addition, I will include...

a kohl velvet mini-album,



alabaster frames,



bloom Splendid Ribbons,



chocolate tags,



peacock Fine Pressed chipboard letters,



ruby Fabulous Brads,



and willow Splendid Treasures.



All you have to do... leave a comment here. A link to your fave Etsy shop, some visual inspiration, just a friendly "hello"... whatever you like. You have until 11:59 pm PST on Sunday, August 9th.

We are leaving tomorrow for a 5 day trip to Illinois to celebrate my great aunt's and great uncle's 50th wedding anniversary (not to worry... blog posts are already scheduled for my daily blogiversary party). Once we get home, I will select a random winner from the comments to receive this rainbow assortment of goodies, and announce it here on Monday.

Thanks for helping me celebrate this exciting news!

LT Lovin'

Have you checked out all of the fun goings-on lately over at Label Tulip? We're giving away 2 fabulous prizes that you'll definitely want to get your hands on! Your first chance to win? Check out the LT blog for a simple little challenge that I posted today. And, when I say simple... I mean S.I.M.P.L.E. Just link me up in the LT blog comments section with the most fave of all pages that YOU have created lately. I want to see all of your pretty creations! You don't have to sub to LT kits... just be sure to get in on the action before 11:59 pm PST on Saturday to be entered into a random drawing for these goodies:



Your other opportunity to win? Check out the "Challenges" section of our forum for the "May Challenge" thread. Every month, I create a challenge for the Tulip Girls to participate in as part of their projects using the monthly kits. After we share our creations on gallery reveal night (the 15th of every month at 6pm PST), we pass the challenge on to you!

May's challenge? Scrap something that nobody knows about you. It doesn't have to be an earth-shattering secret... just something that not everyone might know. For instance, I'll bet a lot of you didn't know that I used to own and show hunter/jumpers for many years when I was younger...



You can check out the beans spilled by the other TG's here. Then, spill your own secret. Post it to the Member's Gallery, and then link it up here. You have until June 18th to participate in the May challenge, so get to creating so that you can be entered to win this nice little RAK:



And, as for me... I'll be busy cooking up lots of fun projects with LT's GORGEOUS June kit over the weekend. I'll be back soon with sneaks!

Here comes Peter Cottontail!

As part of the Pink Paislee design team, I am excited to bring you a nifty little Easter project as part of their rockin' blog hop this weekend!



I covered a little papier mache basket from Michael's with some of the new "Enchanted" papers. Then, I spruces it up with some handmade flowers and a little "Happy Easter" label. And, if you know anything about me and my craftin'... you know I love glitter. All glitter. Anything sparkly. So, I had a blast painting up these papier mache eggs and coating them with LOTS of Pixee Stix glitter in Coconut.



It makes for a nice little table top decoration for Easter... simple and adorable!

We also thought it would be fun for you to get to know the designers a little bit better...

1.) Where did you grow up? I was born and raised in Texas, but finished up high school in Alaska. Do you still live there? Nope. Neither place. I live wherever the army sends the hubs... currently: North Carolina.
2.) What is a typical day like for you? Crazy! Just plain crazy. LOL! I'm a SAHM to a 2 and 5 year old with a husband that is RARELY home. You never know what to expect around here, but I try to keep the basic routine schedule the same (i.e. lunch time, bed time, etc.)
3.) What is your favorite fashion accessory? Well, before I cut my hair, it would have been my collection of head scarves and headbands. My hair's a little too short now to put it up, and I miss using them terribly. Must. grow. it. back. Why? I just love how much changing your hairstyle can change your whole look. I love to dry different things with my hair. I'm forever changing the color, the cut, the accessories...
4.) What is playing on your ipod right now? "If It Kills Me" by Jason Mraz... totally diggin' on that song lately.
5.) Name one television show that you MUST TIVO each week? Well, I still haven't come head-on into the 21st century... I don't have TIVO. But, if I did, I would have to say The Hills or The City. I can't ever stay up late enough to watch them, and I always miss the re-runs. So, inevitably, I end up watching them in poor quality on my computer later in the week.
6.) What is your favorite movie of all time? Across The Universe.
7.) What is your favorite Pink Paislee product? That's a tough one... I love 'em all! I guess it would have to come down to a toss-up between the Pixee Stix and their whole variety of alpha stickers.
8.) If you could only keep 1 scrapbooking tool what would it be? My 9" Xyron machine. I can't scrap without it, and I use it all the time for other crafting and DD's school/cheerleading projects. Totally worth every penny!
9.) If you didn't scrapbook what other activity would you spend time on? Gardening. I spend quite a bit of time doing it anyway. It relaxes me, and I love the whole idea of planting something from seed, and watching it grow. Nothing beats the smell of fresh earth and flowers in the spring time.
10.) What advice would you give to someone who wants to start scrapbooking? Don't go out in the beginning and just start buying everything you see. Start with a few basic supplies and tools. Figure out your style before you invest a lot of money in a ton of product. I have so much stuff from when I first started that I've never even used. I just bought, bought, bought. Now that I know how I like my pages to look and what I use most, I am able to make wiser decisions and limit my spending.
11.) What would you say your scrapbook style is today? I never know what to say to this question. You let me know if you figure it out. ;0)

Now that you've made it through a little me-me, and I've shown you a quick little Easter project, I have a surprise for you. As part of this weekend's blog hop, Pink Paislee has been generous enough to allow each of us designers to give away a little prize pack on our blog! Here's a snap of the goods:



All you have to do is leave a comment on my blog, and you have through the end of the day on Sunday. I'll be drawing a winner on Monday, so be sure to check back! Hoppy weekend!

Wednesday already?

Eek! How did that happen? Every time I sat down to post the winner for the wreath, it seems like something got in the way of my time. Then, our electricity went out for nearly 8 hours yesterday. Not the best time to have that happen, considering it was only in the 30's yesterday. Brrrrrrr!

But, I'm back. And, not only do I have the winner to announce... but, I have some sneaks of the project kit that I designed exclusively for Label Tulip this month (along with another RAK)! First thing's first, let's announce the winner of the wreath! Drumroll please...

From the random integer widget: #2!

Chasing Keegan said...
Well, I have been coming to your blog for awhile now and to be honest I am more of an appreciative lurker then commenter. However, I just wanted to say that your work (this is not a brown noser remark) is really great! Being a military wife myself with one child, I am getting more and more things done, that I didn't once have time for and I figured if you could do it then so could I. So I leave this comment to let you know how much your updates mean to me. Can't wait to see what you have next...

So, "Chasing Keegan"... send me your address, and I will get the wreath in the mail to you as soon as possible! :0)

Now, how about some eye candy? Beginning this month, Label Tulip will be selling project kits designed exclusively for LT by our fabulous Tulip Girls! My project kit will be featured for the month of March, and here are a couple of peeks:







Anyone hazard to guess as to what this project is? Well, I have recently found myself in possession of an extra (unopened) copy of the Love, Elsie Recipe Idea Box.



I know it's a bit older of a book, but if haven't managed to snag one for yourself yet, I thought I would share. After all, I don't need two of them! ;0) To be entered to win, just leave a comment guessing what the project kit will be. Your answer doesn't have to be correct to win... you just have to take a whack at it. ;0) I'll be back on Friday to announce a winner (and share some more LT peeks)! See you then!