I canNOT believe that we are on the final day of . . .
I have had so much fun sharing my stories with you and have been
so very thankful for the heartfelt comments you've left along the way.
I know that giveaways always 'urge' comments, but most of you have
gone above and beyond sharing a simple answer to a question
that has been asked as part of those giveaways.
When the PRE-party began on Facebook last week, I was hoping for
1000 followers by celebration time. Now I am ever so close to
1100 and am GOBSMACKED ! ! !
When the PRE-party began on Facebook last week, I was hoping for
1000 followers by celebration time. Now I am ever so close to
1100 and am GOBSMACKED ! ! !
Let's start off tonight's post with a few giveaways ! ! !
A little over a year ago, I met a fabulous designer online
who was starting her own company of dies & matching stamps.
She contacted me to ask if I would have time in my schedule
to come be a part of her company as their first
design team coordinator. I was so impressed by the
vision she and her business partner had, that I absolutely
said YES . . . and that was the day I came on board at
It was time for me to move on in my creative journey and
I miss the designers who still create for them.
They offer some of the most unique dies & stamps and
now offer another stamp line as part of their catalog.
Here are a few of my favorite projects designed with
my favorite dies from their line . . .
Look at what Lil' Inker Designs have offered TWO lucky people . . .
oh . . . but that's not all . . .
My wonderful friend Michelle Ogdahl started a company
just a couple years ago that really hit the ground running
and I couldn't be more happy for her
The same day I met my friend Angelica over at MSS, I also got
to spend time with Michelle. We met at CHA the summer before
and used the phone & Facebook private messaging
for the majority of our conversations prior to that,
so it was great to see her again. Here I am doing a little stamping
while chit-chatting away with her . . .
Avocado Arts offers a stamp-set-of-the-month club & is a very
popular brand in the marketplace today.
How would you like to win . . .
I've met a lot of people by way of connecting over at Facebook.
One of those people is Martha Pineda. She has a sweet blog
called 'Creating is Fun'.
It's so fun to get to know so many people and learn about
their creative journeys.
Martha has offered one lucky winner this terrific prize . . .
A HUGE thanks to all of these fabulous folks who have offered
giveaways during the celebration.
There are more . . . but I thought I would share a few 'personal'
fun facts with you.
My favorite color has always been Orange.
When I was a teenager, I asked for my room to be painted orange
and my parents made it happen. I loved that room !
When I was a pre-teen, I ended up being the proud owner
and caretaker of TEN freshwater aquariums in a variety of
sizes. The biggest was a 55 gallon.
One summer day, I took what money I had, which approximately
EIGHT DOLLARS and walked down to the local Ben Franklin store.
I came home with a standard fish bowl, orange (of course) gravel,
fish food and a Black Moor goldfish. Those are the brown, fantails
with big bug-eyes . . . and I was hooked.
My favorite action (?) movie is 'Twister'
My husband the movie-buff laughs at me because I call it
an 'epic'. I know it's no epic movie. But I love it.
My favorite comedy is 'Raising Helen'
I watched this movie for the first time on the last return
flight we made from the UK and fell in love.
My favorite movie of all time remains 'The Blues Brothers'
I also love movies that involve travel, especially when people
pick up and move to a new country.
'Under the Tuscan Sun' can be found on my DVD player quite
often when I am creating.
I also love the PBS series 'A Year in Provence' based on the
series of book written by Peter Mayle.
Which brings me to my dream destination . . .
Provence
If you've been reading my blog for any length of time,
this is NO secret. I love reading about the region and dream
about a life in an old farmhouse in the countryside.
HERE is a post I did about it just a couple months after
I started my blog.
How about some more giveaways ? !
My friend Jennifer Ingle, DT Coordinator over at
Skipping Stones is a gem !
She has arranged a fabulous prize for one of you . . .
Have you seen the stamps from this fun company ?
They design a variety of photopolymer stamps that
specialize in humor using 'puns'.
They also share a line stamps which support causes such
as Breast Cancer Awareness.
Make sure you check out their website.
I 'met' Elizabeth Pujalka when I used some of her illustrations
over at EAD Designs. She is the owner & illustrator of
Softpencil Studios and is generously offering THREE of my readers
Another fabulous company, who just happens to carry the
clear stamps featuring TinyTwinies is Latina Crafter,
owned by Diana Maldonado.
She is celebrating her First Anniversary with a June release
so I hope you will check out their fabby line.
She sent me one of my favorite images and I can't wait to
play with it . . . am hoping for some time this week.
Here is what Diana is offering . . .
As I type all of these giveaways onto my post, I am just
stunned at the show of support for this celebration.
I feel so blessed to know that not only do I have friends
who want to celebrate with me, but I recognize as well,
that there are companies out there who know that my
blog is capable of bringing new business their way.
As someone who has spent more than half of my life
in retail marketing, it's so gratifying to take what I've
done in my professional life outside of my home and
make it work for me here inside of my home.
When I was 8 years old, I started going door-to-door in
my neighborhood (back in 1968) to sell Christmas cards
that were personalized. Of course, because it was before
'technology', they had to be ordered nearly two months in
advance. I managed to sell a couple of boxes, but that was
just enough to fuel a fire that never left me.
I love EVERYthing about retail and always have.
OK . . . the hours aren't always the best.
My dream as I got older was to own my own store,
but what 'type' of store that would be would remain to be
seen until my early 30's when Paul & I opened up our first
rubber stamp store. That was back in the days of ONLY
red rubber on wood-mounts. After two years, we expanded
into a second store. I am proud to say our store was the
largest in Illinois & outside of my family, was the love of
my life. I gave it up several years later because family life
was getting ready to make a shift and I knew it was time.
I would encourage you to HAVE a dream and then do
what you can to ACHIEVE it.
Speaking of which . . .
If you're not familiar with the name Tanner Bell,
you SO should be ! Tanner is a 13 year old
entrepreneur who started his own stamp company
and has been sharing his love of stamping with the world.
I've loved getting to know him . . . I love his story and his
passion. He reminds me so much of me when I was his age.
He specializes in making videos and sharing all kinds of
fun things from his world.
I am very excited to know a BIG secret that Tanner
will be sharing soon . . . until then . . .
Here is what Mr. Cricut Crazy himself is sharing with you . . .
I love this next company because I love the people
who own it. Kelly Marie Alvarez & her husband Mike are
two of the sweetest people you'll ever meet.
They are the owners of Lawn Fawn Stamps.
I met them last summer at CHA and I can tell you that
Kelly Marie's smile lights up a room!
They have graciously offered . . .
StopandScrap.com is a relatively new online store
that features some of top lines in papercrafting !
They have an amazing design team who bring you
wonderful inspiration using products from the website.
Here's what you can win from StopandScrap.com
Another terrific giveaway is being provided by
Her Royal Highness, Theresa Scrapbooking Queen
She offers a beautiful variety of stamping sentiments
and paper crafting accessories in the
She is generously offering . . .
AND
We are almost to the end.
Well, I don't know HOW
that photo got in there ; )
My grandson Finn's first Christmas . . . he will be one in July already!
Speaking of Christmas though . . .
The next to the last giveaway I have for you is a
very special company
Owner Korin Sutherland asked if I would be a guest designer
for them last December and it was such a pleasure to get
to know this fabulous company and their team.
They have such beautifully designed images and I am so glad
they are here with us for the celebration.
Here is the beautiful set of stamps being shared by
Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps . . .
Retail Value $11
Well . . . I know you've been with me for quite some time
on this post, but I saved the most precious story for last.
If you've been with my blog for at least a year, then you
will be familiar with this story. If you visit every now
and again, you may have missed the update I shared last month.
Most of you probably recognize this photo from my blog
This was taken a little over four years ago while holding
my then, newborn grandson Alex jr.
You may recognize this photo from out and about as well
You also may have noticed that in all the other personal
photos of myself, that the 'smile' was pretty much the same.
This is me today . . .
and here is a BIG reason why . . .
Rather than share the ENTIRE story here, I will invite you
to read the post about this most amazing benefit HERE
I had 100's of people to thank . . . 100's . . .
People who donated $5 up to $100
People who donated time to participate in a blog hop
Companies & Designers who donated $2500+ in prizes
and the person & company who helped me to regain my smile
I was blessed to be asked to be a guest designer for this brand new
stamp company & it's very first release. Within a couple of months,
owner Nicole Rixon asked me to be their Design Team Coordinator.
It wasn't long after that I found myself in a terrible state with missing
front teeth and what turned out to be the need of $14K to
'create' a new smile. As you'll read, this community came together
to help make it a possibility.
I was finally able to have the dental surgery just two months ago
having 17 teeth removed. I have said publicly that having my 2 children
and the labor that went with them was 100 times less pain than this
experience. I am still adapting of course, but I am truly, truly
thankful for my new smile.
I will NEVER be able to thank everyone properly and I will forever
be grateful. Even now as I try typing the final words of this
celebration post, I am moved to tears for the outpouring of love.
I saved the last giveaway for this story because it's from my
dear friend Nicole over at Sweet Stamp Shop.
She offering one lucky winner . . .
This wonderful collection is a $57 value !
So how can you win one of the
giveaways from this post?
Simply leave a comment.
Period. End of story.
Before I go, I just wanted you to know
that the goal of this celebration was to
thank you. thank those who support me.
to make it all about what you have done
in my blogging life.
To inspire you to always . . .
Don't forget . . . you can still have an opportunity
to win giveaways from
any of the other posts between Friday, June 14th and today.
Just read the posts and follow the instructions that pertain specifically to that day.
Deadline to leave comments to win on any of the posts is
11:59pm EDT, Monday, June 18
Deadline to leave comments to win on any of the posts is
11:59pm EDT, Monday, June 18
Because there are so many prizes up for grabs, please give me the better
part of the week to make the announcements of winners.
All will be chosen randomly and shared in a post here on my blog
and over on Facebook no later than Friday, the 22nd.
All giveaways will be coming directly from the sponsors
but I will be asking you to contact me to claim.
{Because all prizes are coming from the sponsors, there will be
14 days for you to claim your prize}
{Because all prizes are coming from the sponsors, there will be
14 days for you to claim your prize}
All that I can say is . . .
Thank you.
A BIG thank you to:
Lil' Inker Designs
Sweet Stamp Shop
Avocado Arts
Skipping Stones Design
Latina Crafter
Mr. Cricut Crazy
Theresa Scrapbooking Queen
Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps
Action Wobbles
Softpencil Studios
Lawn Fawn Stamps
StopandScrap.com
Martha Pineda/Creating is Fun
