June 21, 2008

time for some blog candy...


...Let's Make a Deal style! I came across this adorable little tote on Cindy's blog yesterday and I knew I *had* to make one too! So cute, don't you think? So here's the deal - I've just passed 20,000 hits on my blog and I'm just so floored and excited that you all keep coming back here to say hi and check out my cards and other little crafty items. I originally started this blog so I would hold myself accountable to use the things I buy to scrapbook and make cards and it has turned out to be so much more fun than I imagined. It's only been 5 months too! I've "met" some wonderful people in my journey and I'm very excited to see where the next 20,000 hits take me. Thanks to you all for lifting my crafting spirits! Ok, back on track here - I have some blog candy to give away and the winner will pick which bag they would like. From left to right, #1, #2, and #3. The winner will receive the bag and all the contents, which I'll reveal after the lucky winner chooses the prize. Be sure you don't pick the one with the donkey and cart full of hay, ok? Ha! Sound fun? Here's how to enter. Please leave a comment here at this post and tell me how far you've come in your crafting journey - Do you hoard less than you used to? Are you using more layers and bling? I know when I first started making cards it was pretty scary - my layers were miscut and crooked and forget coloring! I've definitely obtained more fun tools and accessories to use - I still have my eye on that Cricut, but that will have to be purchased on a major sale! Ok, enough rambling for now.

If you'd like to make a tote, you can view the tutorial here at Diana Gibbs' blog.

I'll choose a winner Sunday, June 29th at 2:00 when I get back from my MOPS retreat. Have a fun weekend! See you back soon.

~Karen

Details -
#3
stamps: seeing spots
paper: cutie pie dsp, so saffron, whisper white cardstock
ink: so saffron
accessories: a.muse mini twinkle stickers, round tab punch, 1/4" circle punch, slit punch, white grosgrain ribbon

#2
paper: east coast prep dsp, wild wasabi, soft sky cardstock
accesories: flower punches (ek success), black brads, round tab punch, 1/4" circle punch, slit punch, white grosgrain ribbon

#1
paper: berry bliss dsp, close to cocoa cardstock
accessories: flower punches (ek success), pretty in pink brads, round tab punch, 1/4" circle punch, slit punch, pink/cocoa grosgrain ribbon

45 comments:

  1. #1 never wins but someone has to start! What a fun way of doing blog candy! I love your blog and it is on my list of ones to check daily!
    As for how I've developed, I am definitely using more layers and bling. I was too cheap to use many layers before 'cause it used too much paper and made it hard to hoard it all!
    Keep the great work coming.

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  2. I'm just beginning my crafting journey--

    Very cute bags!

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  3. WOW 20,000 HITS THATS INCREDIBLE! (MIND YOU I'D LIKE TO THINK I HELP I VISIT YOUR SITE DAILY!)I HAVE PRETTY MUCH JUST STARTED MY CRAFTING JOURNEY, (LESS THAN A YEAR) BUT I THINK I HAVE GROWN, I TOO USE MORE LAYERS, ALWAYS TONS OF RIBBONS AND DIMENSIONALS ALWAYS HELP TOO!
    LOOKING 4WARD TO SEEING WHAT YOU COME UP WITH OVER THE NEXT 20000 HITS :)

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  4. I am terrible - I hoard everything and if I find that I only have 1 piece of card-stock in 1 color left, I FREAK and run to order more. I have no idea what I will do when SU's In Colors are gone. They are my favorite and I can't bear the thought of never getting any more Wild Wasabi!! I don't even want to think about it - UGH!

    Love the bags! Have to say that #2 is my favorite - could it be the "Wild Wasabi" calling my name!
    -Mandy

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  5. 20,000 hits in 5 months thought I was doing well with 2900. That's right it isn't a contest that is the old me talking. I'va been crafting in paper since the early 90's that is 1990 not 1890.
    I get to craft 24/7 until the man upstairs takes me home.

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  6. Congrats! I look back on my first cards and see that I do use more layers and "extras", especially if I don't have to mail the card. I am glad that there are so many blogs out there to help inspire. Keep on inspiring!

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  7. Hi! Congrats on 20,000 hits in 5 months!! That's great & you have every right to be so proud!! I just found your blog today, but it is awesome, and I will be back every day!! I already had to try one of these cute bags with some of the stuff I have hoarded!! My stash is getting smaller as I have found more time to craft!! I do use more layers and bling than I used to, which also is depleting some of my stash!! #2 is my favorite, but they are all cute!!
    Linda Larson

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  8. I have been a SU demonstrator for just over a year and feel so happy to be able to try out new things all the time. I still tend to hord ribbons, but also have to put them on each card. I still haven't tried a Cricut so let me know how that goes.

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  9. Congrats on hitting 20k... your blog is FAB!!

    I have ben stamping for 6 years and right at this very moment I am in a slump. My mojo went on vacation sometime last month and I am just waiting for it to come back to me... yah know??

    Thanks for the op tp win some really YUMMY blog candy and congrats again!!

    Char in So Cal
    scrampaddict@cox.net

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  10. Congrats on your hits! Adorable blog candy! I think I've grown mostly in realizing what I like and don't like- which helps me narrow down my shopping list. I'm more purposeful in which stamp sets I buy!

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  11. WOW 20,000 hits in five months?! That's great!
    I think Iam much better in realizing I don't have to "have it all"...........Iam really choosy now about my stamps etc..........and remembering if something retires.........there is always something 'New" right around the corner......Thank you for the chance to play.Elizabeth Glass...navyamdo@gmail.com

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  12. Congrats on your many, many hits!! Woohoo!! I love bag no.2! :) I'm a noob in my crafting journey :P
    Thanks for the chance to win!

    bunnybox9 at gmail . com

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  13. Congratulations on your hits Karen! That's awesome! I think the biggest improvement I've made is to stop hording. At first I was so scared to use HPH, ribbon or DSP. I didn't want to waste that stuff on ugly cards, lol. I definitely am using more layers too. Now when I make a card, I don't concentrate on how much stuff I'm putting on it, I just go with it. =)It's a lot more fun that way too.

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  15. I posted my comment withoug saying what my imporvement is. LOL. I have become more organized and that has helped me tremendously. Thanks again for the chance to win these super cute bags!

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  16. Well CONGRATS on all your hits!!!
    And wishing you many many more!!!
    I've been card making for about 8 months or so.I buy lots and use it over time,everything I see on these fabulous blogs I want it all.
    Which is impossible,I love layers and primas and blings and so much more!!! You're pouches are fabulous,and thanks for a chance to win one of them!!!
    Hugs,Diane

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  17. Congrats and thank you for sharing all your wonderful card creations. I have learned over time that adding "more" to a card always makes it look better! Number 3 is my favorite. Thanks for the blog candy!

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  18. Love the colors of #2. I use lots more layers and ribbons, love lots of ribbon! Thanks to some great tuturiols from amazing stampers blogs I have finally learned to tie the ribbon!

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  19. Oh, how darling are those! Ok, so you know me & I love pink & brown, so I'd have to pick #1. My crafting journey has come to a dead & I mean dead stop. The journey stopped awhile back when I had my 3rd child...BUT, hopefully I'll pick up here again soon! Maybe this bag full of fun things will be just the ticket! Have a great day my friend! Hope you're well!

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  20. I started making cards about 10 years ago and my first creations were good but I have so many tools, stamps, gadgets and bling that they look totally different now. Since I started HA challenges and then progressing and finding the world of blogging which I never knew was here until about a month ago I have found so much inspiration and card sketches and layouts to use and not to mention all the lovely people I have met on the internet. Such a lovely community of crafting people. Loving the little totes. Have a nice retreat
    :)

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  21. They're all so cute!! Your projects are always gorgeous! Congrats on the 20K posts!!

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  22. How fun! I LOVE those bags! When I first started scrapbooking it was ALL ABOUT how much STUFF you had! So I collected and collected! Even bought silly stuff like paper pads when I only liked one or two designs in it! Over the last couple years I have gotten SO overwhelmed trying to keep up and make the "perfect page" with the "latest" paper, it has become more of a chore than a pleasure. I've started weeding out my papers and supplies and getting down to the things I truely love and making pages I like - not striving for "magazine" perfection. The same goes for my cardmaking and stamping. I'm finally at a happy place in my crafts :)

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  23. Congrats on the hits! I've been crafting for about 7 years, and stamping for 2!! I am getting better with layes usually, and I'm trying to get better with bling!!

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  24. Karen, I love all your work. I became familiar with you through Kristina's challenges.

    I like bag #3.

    I've been stamping for a little over 10 years. I'm definitely more picking when buying stamps than I used to be. I have so many sets that I never use. What was I thinking? Like you, I like Tagger's Dozen.

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  25. These are so cute - thanks for sharing the link - I might make a few for my first event on Thurs. I've been stamping for 8 years and a recent "growth" for me is using dimensionals. I always thought they were too expensive. But the way they improve a card - totally worth it!! And they aren't really expensive anyway!! Thanks for the chance to win these totes - I'd be happy with any of them but #1 is my favorite!! Congrats on you 20K mark!!

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  26. How fun. I still hoard a little bit but I use different techniques I've learned from blogs and much more bling.

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  27. The middle one is my fav!
    I definietly hoard less....I've found that I love and just 'have to have' whatever the latest is, so use up what you get when you get it...there will always be something else fabulous!

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  28. Congratulations! You have a wonderful, inspiring blog. I use a lot more of my stuff now rather than hoard it, I'm making a lot of cards for cardsforheroes.org (cards for the troops to send home to their loved ones)
    Claudia
    scfranson@charter.net

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  29. These are just fabulous and I *love* your game show inspired blog candy idea. I remember watching that show on days when I was sick and had to stay home from school. The donkey was the best part (probably only because I wasn't the one who chose it over the car behind door #2!). Now I've totally forgotten what I was *supposed* to comment about. Hmm... Oh, crafting journey. Well, I certainly have acquired more "stuff" along the way. I also have a better sense of my style, what I like and don't like now...

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  31. What a great idea for giving away blog candy. I love to try new things so I am always looking for new techniques. Lately I have been doing a lot more coloring on my cards. I will pick bag number 2. Thanks for the chance to win, this was fun.

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  32. If I win, I'll take tote #1 - the pink one, of course!

    I have a bad habit of hoarding everything: paper, embellishments, etc. Everything's so cute, I don't want to use it! I have just started learning how to use Prismacolors in my work and it's so fun!

    http://stampinwithanita.com/

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  33. Congrats on the blog hits. I tend to hoard. But I have been better at using what I have so I can buy more and better, or different. I also learned that casing means similar not exact.

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  34. Oh, I like #1! I have been stamping for 18 months and I am finally giving away some of my cards! LOL! I couldn 't give them away at first cause they were like works of art. I am starting to do the tutorials on blogs and really like to learn new techniques.

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  35. Congratulations on 20,00 hits... that's wonderful! I am finding whole new ways to use paper, and it is amazing the number of new ideas all the clever crafting gals create. I LOVE the bags you made!

    Swedie

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  36. Congratulations on your 20,000 hits! I love bag #2!!
    I hoard everything! I have been known to buy 2 of something so I will be able to use it.
    Ellie

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  37. Out of necessity, I'm in "quick and simple" mode now-a-days. I have to just get it done. But, I've been amazed at how nice (and not necessarily simple looking) my stuff has been turning out despite the amount of time and effort I've been putting in. Others still seem to enjoy the cards they are receiving too, so that always makes me happy!

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  38. Congratulations! What a fun way to do blog candy! I am just getting into stamping; I've been blog stalking for quite some time, but am just getting into making my own cards. I am getting more confident with myself though :)

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  39. Hi Karen

    Congrats! On your 20,000 I wonder your art is wonderful. Thanks for share. I like you love the tools and accesories. I have toons of them. I have the cricut the first one, but I would love to get the cuttle bug. That would be my next toy. I've been stamping for 10 years now and I love it.

    Bluett
    karlett@msn.com

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  40. hope you have a great time at the MOPS retreat!
    I am grateful for the CB. It really adds so much to my cards! And especially when I use a sketch. Not that I make cards as good as the "pros" but I'm trying!

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  41. I have to say, I have learned the beauty of mass producing. If I am going to take the time to get everything out and design a picture then I am going to make at least four of them. I am not a one-card kida girl!

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  42. Wow! You've come so far in such a short time! When I started out, I was invited to a swap and REALLY was embarrassed to show my cards. Now I have a blog that I try to update and am watching the visitors count slowly creep up. I was so hooked on stamping from the word GO and I have SO MUCH STUFF!

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  43. Those bags are so adorable, I have yet to try one. Maybe I'll win one!!! I definetly layer more but I am still guilty of hoarding! Thanks for a chance to win.
    Ilene B.

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