OWH Mem. Day Blog Hop winner

I am pleased to announce Rhonda Miller at http://bluepoohbear753.blogspot.com 
the winner of my blog candy for the OWH Blog Hop
which is the Bow Easy and a set of Autumn Leaves  Clear stamps

CONGRATS RHONDA!!!

Cottage Charm Jr. prizes

I am very surprised and shocked that 7 people did not get back to me with either "Southern Belle" or "Gardener" as their choice for a chance at winning. I said in the post I was giving them til 6pm Monday night. Well I actually gave them til 2am Tuesday morning.  So does it make me a bad person that I picked winners without those 7 people? 

Part of me feels a little guilty. Ron says, "You'd be nuts to feel that way, afterall you're the one giving stuff away for free, plus the postage, if they really wanted to win, they would have replied to your emails."

OH, well... I really can't put any more time into this, I have lots on my plate, including trying to put some more $$ into our home, which means I have to get moving on making stuff for my etsy shoppe.
I have a commitment to Operation Write home. I have a gazillion Dr. appts. and tests coming up, plus my Birthday.(Amanda and I are going to spend the day at the thrift stores looking for goodies)

We do not have the A/C units in the windows yet, and not sure how we're gonna do it. Hubby and I can do one by our selves, but not sure about the others. Our son kinda left in the middle of the job, and I wouldn't have been upset, as it was an extra job on top of putting the window in, but he ended up staying overnight at a friends, so he could have stopped back here and gave an our of his time.


OH WELL...with that being said NO, I will not feel guilty...choosing the names right now...


Gardener first>>>>drum roll>>>....the winner of the Gardening bundle is SHERRY @ Blessings from Our nest

CONGRATS SHERRY!!


Now for the Southern Belle>>>>drum roll>>>...The winner of the Southern Belle Book bundle is Tiffany @ The Cranky Queen  (and NO it was not fixed...I won her giveaway)

Congrats Tiffany!!


I hope everyone that participated in The 5th Annual Cottage Charm giveaway, won something! Let's face it,everyone likes winning :)
 Hope you all had a good memorial day, and remembered to take time to reflect.  Have a good week coming up, I may not be posting as much, over the next week or so. I have lots of Appts. scheduled and also have some artsy deadlines.  plus if it stays as hot and/or humid as it was today, I'll be melting. LOL

HUGS TO ALL!!
Susan

Winner Grand prize-Cottage Charm giveaway

***If you are here for the OWH Memorial day weekend Hop, scroll down one post***


Hello cottage - y People!!

Yesterday I used random.org to pick the winner for the grand prize, (minus the overseas comments)
and an UNUSUAL thing happened...it actually picked #1, people always say that doesn't happen but it does, obviously...because the winning comment was by....


KATHY  at A DELIGHTSOME LIFE...

Kathy said...
What a delightful Cottage Charm Giveaway! Love the teacups and the swan candy dish - the runner is so very beautiful! Thank you for this opportunity to win.
Kathy

 I do not believe she was back to see the add-ons, until she went to the post yesterday to refresh her memory on what she won. (scroll down 2 posts)

She won all the lovely PINK goodness: 2 tea mugs, table runner, the exquisite swan (which I found out is much older than I thought it was...someone commented to me that their parents had received this exact swan candy dish as a wedding gift in 1948)  The vintage reversible Apron, and the pair of Damask pink napkins.


Now I have the 2 Jr. prizes to giveaway, and I am waiting on just a couple of people to respond to emails I send out yesterday asking them to choose:

Southern Belle, Gardener, or Neither, thanks anyway. I will then put all those names in a "respective hat" and draw the winners of the 2 Jr. prizes. If I have not heard from everyone by 6pm tonight, I will draw by the names I have already.

I want to sincerely thank  KIM over at THE TWICE REMEMBERED COTTAGE for hosting such a wonderful annual event, and for all her hard work.

Furthermore I would like to announce that I was the CHICKEN-LOVING WINNER over at THE CRANKY QUEEN !  Tiffany will be sending me these FAB ITEMS: a yard of Vintage Chicken fabric, a vintage Hen and chicks postcard, and a Bottle she Altered in a CHICKEN - Y way!!

The Hubster, thought I won the Green home on HGTV, the way I was hoot-n-hollerin and doing the CHICKEN happy Dance!!  I did the dance with the grand-dog, I did the dance with the Pretty cat, and I even did the dance with the Grand-cat!! When I was done, and Hubs was  laughing and telling the animals how crazy I was, he finally said "so what exactly did you win?" I told him,  He then shook his head and said, "you are nuts!" I was so totally LMFAO!!!  The grand-dog was laughing with me, (ok other dog owners KNOW what I mean) I really am not nuts!  The grand-cat left as soon as he possibly could, and the pretty cat gave herself a little shake, and went back into her sleeping-in-front-of-an-open-window-mode.
My son was here for a bit with 3 friends to put the window in his room where the Fire was, Luckily, they were gone by the time I found out I won, or he probably would have suggested to his father that they call "The men in the white coats" for me. LOL  Part of the time they were here was good, and the last part not so much as they were supposed to help put the window a/c units in, but the 2 main A/C units seem to have disappeared out of our Barn/garage...Or hubster is truly not remembering where he is putting things.

so... A/C status...one A/C unit on floor in the room it goes in, down stairs, one A/C unit on the floor of the room it goes in upstairs. 2 A/C units on the tailgate of the big truck, and 1 small never used by us A/C unit on the table outside...they were needed yesterday...hot and humid, and they are really needed today, as it looks like it is going to be MORE humid, and rain...my sinuses and asthma are acting up a bit, so I am GLAD I had reason to do the happy dance yesterday!! cause today I may just be a CRANKY QUEEN myself!!


Whoa, it is now thundering, storm comin'!


I wish you all a wonderful memorial day, remember what the day is REALLY about...FREEDOM is NOT FREE!

OPERATION WRITE HOME MEMORIAL weekend Blog Hop

**Giveaway Now closed**

Hello and welcome!!

 

It is the annual MEMORIAL DAY weekend OPERATION WRITE HOME blog hop.  I am proud to say this is my second one. I am a very small part of this HUGE organization.  I make cards that are shipped over seas to our enlisted, to use to write to their friends and loved ones and sent home to them. Anyone can join us, and I fully encourage anyone who makes greetings cards to do so. There is no amount that is too small to be sent. I have some disabilities and am not always up to making cards, but I do the best I can when I can.  Our enlisted totally ENJOY what is sent to them by OWH, and  they have even sent messages to the homefront blog saying the OWH packages are usually the care packages "looked forward to the most".

I am surrounded by Veterans both living and passed on, to me this is a small thing I can do to help serve those who serve our country. The latest change in the war in the middle east is no reason to not join, as we are continuing to create and ship cards until all our men and women are home. So, give it some thought!! :)

We were asked to create one "Miss You" card for this hop either patriotic or not. Since almost every other hop I have made patriotic cards, I went for a non-patriotic card this time. I hope you like my card :)

 This is a slightly off-center "Gate-fold" card, (scores at 2.25" on one side and 2" on the other side)

Card stock: Glorious Green and So Saffron from STAMPIN' UP, white is GEORGIA PACIFIC.

Stamps: Chick and "Hey Chick" both from CORNISH HERITAGE FARMS,  inside sentiment is a digi stamp by SHANNON'S Sentiments from RAINDROP ECHO DESIGNS, Bkgd. stamp on front--"Antique Cracking" (retired) STAMPIN' UP

STAMPIN' UP markers used: Pumpkin pie, Really rust, Only orange, More mustard, 

Cameo coral, and Creamy Caramel

other items used: SPELLBINDERS Nestabilities Die- Labels 16, Orange Stickles by RANGER,

Raffia bow and green button. 

MONO permanent adhesive runner by TOMBOW and Craft size GLUE DOTS.

Inside of card :)

When you leave my blog, PLEASE proceed to see Jennifer at JUST COFFEE PLEASE

BUT, before leaving I am offering Blog Candy, you are eligible if:

* you are a Card maker

*you have a blog (since this IS a BLOG hop)

Just leave a comment on THIS post with a link to your blog and your email (post it in this manner: cardmaker AT gmail DOT com--do NOT use symbols or punctuation, that is a good way to get lots of spam in your inbox)

* you get a 2nd entry if you become a PUBLIC follower, leave a comment saying so, or if you are already a follower.

Here is the candy:

 a BN Bow Easy and a BN set of clear stamps by AUTUMN LEAVES- Big embellished words: Always, Imagine, Grin, Love, and 2 floral and flourish stamps.

If you get lost along the way, the icon/link at the top of all the blogs will lead you back to the first blog, which will have a list of all the blogs. 

Thank you for visiting me today, and remember to pause a moment this weekend in reflection, for those who lost their lives serving this country.

**If you are looking for my COTTAGE CHARM GIVEAWAY POST, please scroll down one post. Drawing winner of Grand prize on Sunday, The junior prizes will depend on how fast commentors get back to me.

Cottage Charm giveaway blog hop -the whole month of May(EDITED)

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

 ***scroll down for newer posts***

I am joining in this year for the annual "COTTAGE CHARM" blog hop and giveaway hosted by  
THE TWICE REMEMBERED COTTAGE

I at the moment do not live in a cottage, but I hope to in the future, or at least have several rooms in a smaller home that are cottage style. I have always liked COUNTRY style, and EARLY AMERICAN...revolutionary times are my favorite era.  I also have a passion for Native Americans, my Den was decorated NATIVE AMERICAN, before a leak and problems needing repair.

So in the Future, I will still have one room dedicated to Native American decor.  My plan is for my Bedroom, and at least my kitchen be in the cottage style. and I have already begun collecting some things.(much to hubby's chagrin...because we have too much stuff already)  I have to start going through room by room and get rid of stuff.  This is tough for me, as I am disabled and I do not have anyone to help, it is also difficult for me and painful to go upstairs. However, I have started, in small baby steps. I have always loved antiques, especially furniture. Whenever I say that to someone, my hubby steps in and says, "That's why she married me"(he's 19 years older than me) LOL

Anyway, for my initial giveaway. I have a pair of vintage "Nantucket Home" tea mugs, in Rose pink, with roses in the mold of the cup. A vintage Bone China Swan candy dish. with pink roses and 24kt gold trim. Along with a vintage Table runner in white with pink.

I say initial, because I plan to add to this prize, and also have 1-2 "jr. prizes"
The grand prize is only for the continental US. The 2 jr. prizes can go anywhere.

Here are the pictures of the prize:

 Newest addition to the grand prize

 a vintage reversible apron. Sheer black fabric on one side with deep pockets, trimmed with the pretty pink and white flowers on a black bkgd. fabric, which is the reverse side (no pockets)

Final addition to the grand prize

 2 lovely vintage pink (damask?) napkins

Wouldn't this be lovely for an afternoon visit with a friend?! Perhaps some Lindor truffles in the candy dish?! Maybe Home made cookies?! Would you like to win this?  or one of my Jr. prizes listed below?

You would?, then please follow these rules:

Comment on this Post...1 entry

 ***

Post the top picture with a link to THIS blog post on your side bar, post a comment saying so...2nd entry

 ***

Become a follower of my blog, post a comment saying so...3rd entry

 ***

Post the top picture with a link to THIS post on your Fb page or wall, post a link here so I can see it...4th entry

 ***

POST on your blog about My Cottage Charm giveaway,post a link here so I can see it...5th entry

Now for the 2 junior prizes


Jr prize #1 is for a lady from the south, a Southern Belle, or someone who feels like a Southern belle 

 A May 2011 issue of Southern living Magazine (with a section on Mid-Atlantic living), and a BN Touch Point(NLE) Bible, this was given to me by my oldest daughter in 2007 or 2008, the book was never opened except to read the sticker she put on the first blank page, that day, and to remove that sticker today. This bible is a $22.99 value at Amazon, But I have seen listing for up to 100$ +, so not sure if it is a collectible, or OOP or whatever. There is also included a BN inspirational Book mark.

  

Jr prize #2 is for a gal that likes living things around her, specifically plants and flowers, a gardener, a "yard-scape" aficionado. 

 Included in this prize is a BN edition of Container Gardening, a Used(but in great condition) Book--"Ever lasting Floral Gifts", BN ladies  gardening gloves, a package of Columbine seeds. (colorful perennials)

and a 4 plant root pack of Ferns (Tennessee Ostrich variety)

I hope you like the prizes I have chosen, as these all represent what I think of for cottage living:

**Tea and visits with people you enjoy

**Decorating YOUR way

**time with your own faith or spirituality(be it Christian, Buddhist, Pagan or other)

and 

**gardening in any form

I'd like to say, that the lucky winners of these prizes, might still find a surprise when they open their packages.

Thanks for visiting my not so Cottage lifestyle (yet)Home, and blog which will ALWAYS be eclectic, as that is who I am, a mosaic of many style tile pieces :)

I wish you all the best of luck, Susan

Le Circue and other ATC swaps

Hiya! 

Here are some recent ATCs I have made for swaps

For The Stamp Man's ATC monthly challenge swap
Here are March and April's ATCs:

Bird: white Card stock misted with Tattered angels glimmers mists 

in a gold and a blue, gold music bars on vellum piece over that(torn)

Bird stamp by Cornish Heritage farms, floated on foam tape,

colored with Prisma color pencils and blending pencils, 

2 different types of leaves from The Altered Abby, 

That I covered with flower soft. then added a quote.

Wise words: Vintage encyclopedia page on Asia,

Stamped and gold embossed Travel definition-

stamp by Lost Coast Designs, sharpies, rhinestones

and a travel quote.

Here is one for a swap on the FB group "Artist's Trading Cards"

the Theme was Frogs

 2 views, so you can see the shimmer: 2 stamps (I forget by who)

on water color paper (140 lb) and painted with 

Twinkling H2Os. added a bow.

Finally for a Vintage Le Circue swap on yahoo group The Sum of All ATCs

I am sending 9...1 for the hostess and 8 to swap, the other 3 I may keep or add to a trade pile or to my Etsy shoppe as ACEOs since they are all individual cards, no duplicates.

 Pay Attention: Graphic 45 Le Circue paper, an image of Houdini, stamp from 

Graphic 45 Le Circue paper, floated on foam tape, wording by me, lock rec'd as RAK, 

key by ARTchix, German scrap, and Stickles.

French Sad Clown: Paper by Graphic 45 Le Circue, clown from Skinnymini 

collage sheets (enlarged), Black Rhinestones, Stickles, Ranger's Black enamel, 

white rose applique

Pretty ladies all in a row: paper by Graphic 45- LeCircue, Image from LOC, 

circus stamp from Graphic 45 Le Circue paper, wording by me,  small interference red 

flowers by SkyBluePink, Large flower charm rec'd as a RAK(it says wild in the center)

Tricky trio: Paper by Graphic 45 Le Circue, Image from skinnymini collage sheets (enlarged), 

clown stamp  & word from Graphic 45 Le Circue paper, which is floated on foam tape, 

and covered in Judikins Diamond Glaze, Flower stick pin from Collage Stuff, 

German scrap and Stickles

 Sweet Clown: Paper and stamp by Graphic 45 Le Circue, Image from Skinnymini 

collage sheets (enlarged) mounted on black card stock, stamp floated on foam tape and 

covered in Judikins Diamond Glaze, German scrap.

Spirited Gals: Paper & words by Graphic 45 Le Circue, image from a free image site, 

that I do not remember, as I got it a few years back (sorry) mounted on red card stock, 

2 different German scraps, and Judikins Diamond Glaze on "thrilling".

 Good Dog: paper by graphic 45 Le circue, Image from LOC, mounted on red card stock, 

wording by me-"Good Dog, now smile!" also mounted on red card stock. Chipboard button 

rec'd as a RAK, and a piece of "spring" (or coil) string.

Pose-a-Clown: Paper by Graphic 45 Le Circue, image from Vintage blog, floated on foam tape, 

inside hoop covered in Judikins Diamond Glaze, word from skinnymini collage sheets,

German scrap, Bling & Stickles.

Animal show: Paper & paper stamp by Graphic 45 Le Circue, Image by 

The Sum of All Crafts, wording by me, German scrap and dew drops.

Let's Run Amuk: Paper by Graphic 45 Le Circue, image also. Punched balloons, 

sharpie paint pen, shiny stars stickers

Tom Foolery: Paper & paper stamp(floated on foam tape) by Graphic 45 Le Circue, 

image from LOC, wording by me, crackle finish by Ranger.

3 Ring Circus: Paper by Graphic 45 Le Circue, Image from The Sum of All Crafts,

duplicate parts of image (main ring and 3 mini rings) floated on foam tape, main ring covered 

in Judikins Diamond Glaze, wording by me, White enamel drops By Ranger.

Linked up with Dezinaworld:

and

PLEASE stop back tomorrow for my OPERATION WRITE HOME Memorial day weekend Blog hop post

I want to bring your attention to something...

JUNE 4 is SKULL APPRECIATION DAY

go here to get all the info, and lots of freebies etc.

and Check this out, an online art community is having 

a blog hop that day, they are inviting people who are 

not part of the community to participate in the 

blog hop as well. 

Show your brain and the rest of the world that 

you appreciate the cranium!! 

I am participating, how about YOU??

Fellow stampers and scrappers

Check out your local Walmart. Look what I found on CLEARANCE for $2 each

These are all "Autumn Leaves" brand cling stamps (I still prefer rubber) I got 3 different packages of Borders: "forever", "Remember", and "Celebrate"

Then 1 alphabet set called "Alphabetically sent" as they are like postmarks, even comes with the wavey postmark ink lines.

Then a birthday set called "Light the Candles"

A set that are "sentiments" that are "Postmarks"...called...."postmarks"


then a set called "Funky flowers", which are fun and funky!

a Lucky Streak

Back on April 28, it was national Charm day, I was supposed to participate, I had some charms made and everything. However family crap got in the way, and I forgot to put my post up. I never even went to any of the blogs to see their stuff, except for one, as she posted it at least a full week before. She had some awesome goodies to giveaway, and guess what?  I WON!!  I couldn't be happier, I loved the book mark, and the earring and pendant set, the other goodies were icing on the cake. This blog is Naturally Me Creations and it is owned by a talented woman named Monique.

The best part is how she came to pick a winner, read the adorable post here I love Dee Dee!!!
Now the sad part, some thievery along the way from South Africa to the US, the beautiful earring and pendent set and the heart charm on the bottom of the charm picture were missing. :( You can see the envelope had been opened, and they just pressed it back together. However, Monique; being the sweet person she is, has told me she is going to make me a new set and send it off! How about that? She's the best!! Please visit her blog and show some love :)

and now the other wonderful winning!



Then a couple weeks ago, a friend and fellow artist was doing a dream journal giveaway on her blog, I entered and, also won!!! Tami at Raeven's Nest was very generous and was giving away this yummy goodness!  I can't wait til it arrives :)

it's Friday, that means...

something FREE:

  

click the pic then save it

something FUN:

Here are some ATCs I made for a swap at "The Stamp Man", The Theme this month is FRIENDSHIP.

a girl and her doll, I used some flower soft on top of the flower images on the bkgd. Stamped "adore" added some mini Primas and a heart brad.

2 Kitties having tea, I trimmed the draperies in beads, floated the word friendship, and used diamond glaze on the word and on the purple flowers, finished it off with a top border of German scrap

2 "tumblers", I colored in their pants and shoes, used black rhinestones, a black sharpie on different areas of the Bkgd. and a bit of German Scrap. Yippee is floated on foam tape

and something FRANK:

I do NOT believe they got OSAMA, I think it is a political tactic to raise OBAMA's Popularity. (which let's face it- has tanked)  He is really good at one thing...self promotion.

AND...why is HE getting the credit anyway? it would and should be going to our operatives and military, especially the navy seals.

show of hands, anyone else sitting with me on a grassy knoll?

Cricut giveaway

I just found out about this great chance to win a cricut!! (that is what I get for being a bit of a slacker lately in bloggyland)

Please click the picture above to go to PRICSILLASTYLES, to enter!!