{Inspired} 2008 A Call to Comment

On of my goals this year was to select a word to sum up my year in 2009. It was one of my New Year's resolutions. My word for this year: Inspire. As I said on January 4th, "It is my goal this year to live a life that will inspire others. I want to inspire my students, friends and family members to follow their creative ambitions and do things that make them happy. I hope that I can do this through my blog and my scrap books."

Have I achieved my goal? I have sort of made a mental note of instances where people at work have told me that I inspired them to do something....(Robyn, Aprons) and when my friends have said that I inspired them (Jack, political activism). I am sure there are many other things that I have done to inspire my friends, I just don't realize it. I have gotten the sweetest letters from a few friends (Carrie and Lindsay) thanking me for showing them new techniques or craft forms.

I really wanted to write this post to find out, keep a record, and meter the success of my goal. Has my blog been inspiring? Have you done anything new because of my blog? Have you found an appreciation for something that you would probably not have because of my words, pictures and posts?

Please leave me a comment telling me something that I have done to inspire you this year. It doesn't have to be specific, especially if you are new to my blog. As always, I appreciate your comments and I rarely ask for feedback, but in this one instance, I hope you will consider leaving me a comment, especially if you RARELY leave comments on blogs.

Also, is there anything you would like to see more posts about in 2010? (personal details about my life, photography, cards, scrapbooking, art stuff, crafts?) If you are interested in knowing more details about being an art teacher, I just started a new blog This Little Class of Mine where {so far} I only have a few lesson plans, but I plan to share stories, websites and advice for other art teachers.


I appreciate all of my readers so much so I would like to offer a gift to one commenter. Please leave your comment on this post for a chance to win one print your choice from the "Inspirational Sky" photos below. I will select a winner on December 18th.

Prize Winner

So I just threw nearly 120 names into a bowl...(some names went in twice for linking me up to their side bar...btw, you can take me down now, thanks!!)

And the lucky winner is SARAH over @ Sarah's Paper Tray.

Congrats Sarah....enjoy your goodies!!

p.s. email me at nellie_mae_01@hotmail.com with your address and I will get your package in the mail ASAP. :-)

Thanks for all of your wonderful comments. I am looking forward to my future blog posts and I hope you are too.

And, tonight for some reason I am feeling especially creative. I just started an awesome recipe scrapbook for a bridal shower I am attending this weekend in St. Louis. It is going to be fabulous. I will post pictures soon, so look forward to that!

Blog Candy Update

I just want to say thanks to everyone who has posted a link to my site letting others know about my 1 Year Blogaversary and the sweet blog candy I am giving away. Also, I took a few pictures of individual items in the blog candy to boost your appetite to win. Remember, you only have to post a comment on that original post in order for your name to go into the drawing. Also, if you post a link letting others know, and you mention it in your post I will throw your name in twice.

This sweet card set has only been opened so that I can give you a good photo of all the card bases and envelopes that come in the fantastic box!




These robot stickers are da bomb! The little robot lights up...you can barely see it here, but you will love it!



And here are the cards you will be getting with your blog candy reward if your name is chosen:



Also, just for fun I made this little canvas for my scrap room. It has such a summer feeling and it incorporates some of my favorite patterned papers and favorite summer trends including: triangle banners, pinwheels, and clouds. If you have never made a pinwheel before, you should totally try it. It would be fun to make with your kids if you are home with them this summer.


You could use the cutting guide win any pretty paper and then use a straight pin and a pencil with a new eraser as the stick to hold the pinwheel up and it should spin when they blow on it. I glued these to the canvas and used rolled up strips of paper as the stick, but they would be really cute on a card or summer scrapbook page! I try to change up the normal tendency to always use a flower for everything.

I guess I will get back to work...I signed up for a Christmas in July card swap and I am trying to come up with a good design...but I am failing miserably!! UGH!

Anyway, I hope this inspires you today! Have a great day!!

Blogaversary BLOG CANDY--get it here!

Now is your chance to win!! I decided to give back a little bit as I celebrate my 1 YEAR BLOG ANNIVERSARY!

Prize pack WORTH OVER $75:
CTMH Christmas Creative basics--paper and ribbon (Worth $8.95)
With Love Stamp set--(Worth $22.95)
K&Co. Light Ideas Robot stickers-- (Worth $5.99)
Making Memories Boho Chic Trims--(Worth $3.99)
CTMH Connections Club rewards Metal Tokens and Rhinestone Frames--(Worth $1.95)
CTMH Exclusive Inks Bamboo--(Worth $5.25)
CTMH Garden Green My Accents-- (Worth $9.95)
CTMH Dimensional Elements--(Worth $4.95)
We R Memory Keepers Comstock Collection Stationary Set 'Kitchen' Notecards-- (Worth 9.95)
Hand stamped-cards by Nellie (Worth...well, priceless...but we'll just say a couple of bucks!)

To win:
Just leave me some love on this post by July 26th. Also, I will put your name in the drawing twice if you let others know about this blog candy and you mention it in your comment!

Finally, some play time!

Wow! My blog candy prize arrived on Friday and I am just now getting to play around with it. Lisa sent me the most wonderful package of ribbon and an awesome stamp set. I remember seeing a great tutorial using the stamp set featuring embossing and a brayer...I will have to look around for it...hopefully I can find it and make something equally as beautiful. My favorite part of the prize is the ribbon! A girl can never have enough. This wonderful stash found a home in this cute little jar!



Lisa also sent me this great card!! I love it, the layers are beautiful!!




Tonight was one of my first nights in my craft room in almost 2 weeks so I made a sweet little card using some of the ribbon. I also spent some time getting ready for my swap club on Thursday. I will be posting my cards and projects for that soon.




I decided to post a couple of fun little butterfly cards and make this one ginormous post with tons of goodies. These are great because I stamped on some watercolor paper.


HEADS UP ABOUT A PHOTO TUTORIAL

And by the way....seriously check out this tutorial on white balance. I figured out that I can do the same maneuvers in my iPhoto program....it is super easy and I don't even have to open Photoshop! It has made a huge difference in my photos already!!

I hope that you notice the difference and it will improve the quality of my blog overall. All of the photos in this post have been altered...because they were almost all taken tonight!

This is a pair of my favorite spring/summer shoes. I used it as a practice picture. The one on the bottom is the one that has the white balance adjusted...the one on the top is a normal photo that I probably would've used on my blog.



OOh!! And before I forget, I am a winner over at Simply Creating! Krista chose my card for the May challenge!! I just love the Treetops stamp set and I used it on this card for the challenge.

Okay, that is enough for tonight. I have been feeling pretty inspired lately. I think we are going camping this weekend so I will have to try to get some crafting in this week!

I may not have said this lately, but thank you for all the sweet comments on my blog. Every time I get a compliment it pushes me to work harder and do more. My 'one little word' for this year is INSPIRE. You inspire me with your comments, thank you...I hope that I can inspire you with my ideas and information. Also, I haven't forgotten about the blog awards....just been busy! Thanks for the sweet awards girls!!

Winner!! YAY!!

I won some fantastic blog candy from the sweet and talented Lisa @ ink and inspirations!! I never win anything, so I am super excited!! Thanks for the chance to win!!

Just for you,here is a little photo collage I made to celebrate the last day of school!! I have been out for a little over a week and summer school is in full swing!