Give Away Winner (February Ad Spaces)

So I did this give away "old school", tallying up everyone's entries and then cutting the strips of paper up and putting them in a bowl, makes me feel like it's the Hunger Games... so I kinda like it. It's also more fun for me, getting to be more engaged in the process rather than hitting a button and having the computer randomly pick you.

(My Hunger Games Moment...)

AND THE WINNER IS... (Insert Drum Roll Here)..... 

KELLY from The Houtz House Party!

Yay! If you e-mail me, I will send you all the required information and pass your info along to the other lovely prize givers!

***There will be another give-away sometime around St.Patty's day... less ad space oriented, more great shop items!

Mini-Magnets

So this is one of my favorite projects!  I love magnets, I get one for every trip I go on... because they are fun, and usually open beer bottles ;)  Jk. But really, magnets are a great way to show your personality on your boring white fridge. With this new fabric button craze that is happening, it's easy to find the covers you need to make magnets... all it takes after that is your favorite fabric scraps, hot glue and craft magnets!

Supplies:
* Fabric button kit
* Scissors
* Hot glue gun
* Fabric
* Small craft magnets
** Wire cutters or pliers (to remove button attachment)

Supplies

Step 1: Remove the little button loops from the backing piece.

Step 2: Cut out the circles of fabric 

(the packaging usually comes with a small template for the circle size you will need)

*To finish the buttons follow the directions on the box, it involves putting your fabric into a plastic bobble and then pushing the back over that with another plastic bobble...

Step 3: Hot glue the magnets to the back of the buttons... then wrap them up all cute and give them away to all your friends... 

OR... keep them on your fridge to hold up that wonderful picture of your dad... because he's that cool. 

Hope you all enjoyed this little tutorial!  Please go and try it!! It's lots of fun and you will never run out of magnets again!

Quick Side Note...

"Love is more than three words mumbled before 

bedtime. Love is sustained by action, a pattern of 

devotion in the things we do for each other 

every day" - Nicholas Sparks

Okay so yes, I have been out of town for a conference, but I didn't want you to get all bored without me!  So I thought I would do a tiny little post on my feelings for Nicholas Sparks movies...

First off, his books are quite fantastic, touching, entertaining and only sometimes really sad - but usually have fantastic stories of lasting love...

His movies usually star beautiful men who you wish you could be in the movie with... that being said:

The Lucky One - is a great book!  Here is the main character 

"Logan"

The Notebook... a truly great love story! The book was amazing... 

"Noah"

"Dear John" - Ahhh, such a cute love story that makes you feel so bad for him because he chose her happiness over his own!

"John"

"The Last Song"... yeah okay so it's got Miley in it... but its sooo sad! This is way more of a family book/movie than usual, but it's just too good not to read it!

"Will"

"A Walk to Remember" - this book was sooo cute! It was way different than the movie, but amazingly touching

"Landon"

But really, you should read the books because they are all quite good in their own right! Or... at least watch the movies and fall into a love that is completely unreal in today's world! Grr....

Group Give Away

Holy Smokes!  If you are into the blogging world at all you will realize how awesome these ladies are for donating ad space to this give away!  Are you ready.... are you? Okay here we go:

Andi from The Hollie Rogue is giving away a Large ad space for March! (Details)

Nicole from The Lovely Poppy is giving away a 150X150 ad space spot! (Details)

Erin from Living in Yellow is giving away a medium ad space! (Details)

Stephanie from Sand&Starfish is giving away a medium ad space! (Details)

**Etsy Discount Code: 15% off "ArtsyAnthro15" @ Sand&Starfish

Jenni from Jenni Austria Germany is giving away a large ad space! 

Maddie over at Thriftary is giving away some adorable earrings "The Black Bettys" 

I am also throwing in a Medium Ad Space for March! 

Rules & What Not:

ENDS: AT 12:00PM (MIDNIGHT) PACIFIC TIME the night of TUESDAY FEB 28th.

The give-away winner will be announced at 11:00am Central Time Wednesday Feb. 29th.

The winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be chosen.

Entries:

1 Entry For Following Every Blog on Facebook (6 Likes = 1 Entry)

1 Entry for Tweeting about this (Link to @Artsyanthro)

1 Entry for Blogging about this (Add link in comments)

1 Entry for posting about this give away on Facebook (Add link in comments)

1 Entry for EACH blog you follow - Leave info in comments (please just leave the list of all blogs followed in 1 comment)

1 Entry for commenting on your favorite post or shop item from these lovely ladies (please just leave the list of all favorites in 1 comment)

Hollie Rogue

Twitter/Facebook/Blog/Shop

The Lovely Poppy

Facebook/Blog/Shop

Living in Yellow

Twitter/Facebook/Blog

Sand & Starfish

Twitter/Facebook/Blog/Shop

Thriftary

Twitter/Facebook/Blog/Blog Design

Jenni Austria Germany

Twitter/Blog

Artsy Anthropology

Twitter/Facebook/Blog/Shop

The Valentine Swap

Hey all, so I was fortunate enough to be a part of the "Valentine Swap" hosted by Caroline 

(Good Times Never Seem Sew Good) and Alissa (Rags to Stitches) - they are pretty awesome you should go stalk them.

I got tagged up with an amazing girl and new blog & twitter friend, Miss Jessica from The In-Between - LOVE HER!  Also love the fact that we both got each other nail polish - I GOT TEAL! Too stoked about that!

She wrapped everything! And I got a nice sweet card!

OH MY GOODNESS - how amazingly cute are my new bracelets?! And sooo me, I love the brown/gold combo - which is funny since it's the only time I wear gold - I dislike it very much when it's not paired with brown (I'm not just saying I like it because I got it, I legitimately have several other items in this combo and they are daily wears)

And seriously, who doesn't have an "inner child" that loves these? I think I ate them approximately 2 seconds after opening the package!

Anywhoo - that's my story! Go stalk them all through the links!

February Sponsors!!!

Okay so here are some of my lovely February sponsors! These are some amazingly great ladies!  So please feel free to go and stalk them - keep up with us for a large group give away that I am planning on hosting later this month!!!!

Who are you? Hi! I'm Maddie over @ Thriftary, of course!

www.Thriftary.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Thriftary/253590124672829?ref=tn_tnmn#!/pages/Thriftary/253590124672829

www.Twitter.com/thriftary

What is my biggest fear? Sadly enough, my biggest fear is balloons. Most people think I am crazy or kidding, but I'm not. NO I can't remember a traumatizing experience as a child. NO I am not a lunatic... I just can't STAND the fact that you never know if/when they are going to pop. If I am even in the same general area as a balloon, I get all antsy an then I hyperventilate and cry. Ask my husband. I am not proud, that's just the honest answer :)

How do you spend a rainy day? Currently, I would spend it finishing the Hunger Games series... So freakin' good. Normally though, I would get some coffee with sugar free vanilla cream, catch up on some blog lovin' and then maybe watch an entire marathon of 30 Rock (this is one of those "care free" rainy nights, not the ones where you still have stuff to do so your curse the rain).

What is your favorite Starbucks Drink? EASY! I get a grande coffee with sugar free cinnamon dolce sweetener. Add a dash of cream and BAM! So good.

Why do you blog, etsy, cartel, etc? I got into bloggin because I wanted to share my life with my family and friends that I wasn't living around at the time. Little did I know there was a whole WORLD out there in blogland waiting for me. I started meeting people, becoming obsessed with other blogs, and REALLY falling for the world of design. SO... now my blog is an outlet for me as a web/graphic design enthusiast trying to teach myself enough for it to become my full time profession! I still get to meet amazing people along the way.

Random Thoughts?

My current obsessions are learning to sew garments, my new day-planner (I'm in love), Green Journals from Italy, the new Ingrid Michaelson album, and Skype. I know I'm a little behind the times with Skype, but I just realized it is the cure for my "I hate talking on the phone"  syndrome. Genius!

Nicole @ The Lovely Poppy:

Who are you? Your shop name, blog name etc. The Lovely Poppy

What is your biggest fear? Dirty houses (just kidding, but it is a huge fear of mine) I'd probably saving loved ones dying or losing touch with a close friend

How do you spend a rainy day? Crafting in the studio or cuddled up on the couch

What's your favorite starbucks drink? salted caramel hot chocolate.. mmmm

Why do you blog, etsy, big cartel, etc? i love meeting other handmade business owners and creating something that makes someone feel good about themselves

Erika @ Rouge & Whimsy

 Who are you?

I'm Erika-- a twenty-something, handmade, fashion and DIY lover living in Seattle with my husband and crazy pup. I find inspiration in vintage pieces, thrift stores and pretty things and document it all on my little blog Rouge & Whimsy. I also sell handmade and unique accessories for you and your home in my shop Rouge & Whimsy.

What is your biggest fear?

My biggest fear-- pretty heavy question-- but being like Will Smith in the movie I Am Legend-- all alone, seemingly abandoned by God and everyone. I'm also really afraid of monkeys.

How do you spend a rainy day?

I spend a rainy day (which is all my days in Seattle-ha) like any other--work, cooking, hanging out with my husband! But I do love to fall asleep to rain falling on my house's eaves. 

What is your favorite Starbucks drink?

Just give me a plain soy latte or americano. Nothing too schmancy. :)

Why do you blog, etsy, cartel, etc?

I had a private, more family-focused blog in 2009 but after finding some pretty lifestyle and handmade blogs, I decided that I wanted to somehow merge the two. Around the same time I was sewing and making things for friends as presents and decided to try and sell some of my items after my mom introduced me to etsy! (She used to sell aprons on there.)

Random thoughts?

It's been proven by a guac-off, that I make the best guacamole. :)

Hey there pretty ladies.

My name is Erin and I blog over at Living In Yellow.

Paige has asked a couple of questions, and being the obedient person that I am

{sometimes}

I figured I should probably answer ;)

1. What is your biggest fear?

My biggest fear is losing the ones nearest to me.

And there being a day when macaroni & cheese doesn't exist.

I shutter thinking about it.

2. How would you spend a rainy day?

I would spend a rainy day like I do most of my other days.

At home. On the couch. With slippers on.

Somewhere around 3 pm I would get bored though.

So then I would make my husband dance with me.

Or take me shopping.

Or anything else that involves getting my butt off the couch.

3. What is your favorite Starbucks drink?

What is Starbucks??

Kidding.

This is easy.

Tall Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte--WITH whip and sprinkles.

4. Why do you blog?

Another easy one.

Because I love it.

And I love awesome people.

Even more so--I love meeting awesome people through blogging.

{I think that means you. As in, get your booty over to my blog so I can meet you} 

What are you waiting for?

Jump on it.

Blog//Facebook//Twitter//Pinterest

Andrea @ Love is ...

Who are you? Your shop name, blog name etc.  

I'm Andrea, a newly married twenty-something from Minnesota.  I came across blogging while I was planning my September 2011 wedding.  I found it to be a great place to let get inspired & inspire others.  I blog about things I love & things that make me happy & I'd love for you to stop by & say hi! = )

What is your biggest fear?

Job loss... Which I'm experiencing right now.

How do you spend a rainy day? Cuddled up with a good book & a hot drink, with the window open so I can hear the rain!

What's your favorite starbucks drink? Mocha Lite Frap... Pretty sure I have to go get one now!

Why do you blog, etsy, big cartel, etc? I blog because I love being able to connect with people & share my thoughts, ideas & DIY projects. It's such a great platform & I love the blogging community! = )

Other places you can follow me...

Bloglovin' -  http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/3100733/love-is 

Pinterest -  http://pinterest.com/mikenandi/ 

Twitter -  https://twitter.com/#!/Andrea_Loveis 

RSS -  http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/XTzTD 

Facebook -  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Love-is/126378950812048

DUVET! DUVET! DUVET!

Sorry, I felt that the post called for repetition, and exclamation points!!! Because I am just that stoked about it! Also I still use the word stoked...

     Okay first off, this post is about a re-vamp of my old "spring" duvet, back when I was going for the whole neutral look for the boy at the time - yeah well needless to say that is not an issue anymore as can be seen with my "winter" duvet... which I love! Yep, that did take FOREVER to cut, organize, lay out, sew... sew... sew!

     Now, this is my old duvet - boring right? But for 35.00 from overstock for a King, can't beat it... but you can dye it! And dye it I did... 3 times actually because the first was way too light grey, the second wasn't dark enough and I stopped when try 3 took me from grey to purple. 

     But alas, the recipe for Charcoal Grey should be 1 cup salt, washer of hot water, 1 tablespoon of royal blue RIT liquid dye and 1 tablespoon of black for every 2 lbs of fabric.

     I also bought some white lace to dye and sew over the blue outlines on the duvet... how cute is that lace pattern? Tell you what for 27.00 it had better be cute! (Note, please add tan to this, or it will be way too bright yellow).

     Now once everything is dry, ironed and ready to go... sewing time - which was sooo frustrating when I got up onto the top row, because the whole duvet was crammed up into my sewing machine - not conducive to sanity...

Now... after much patience it is time to put it, wait for it, wait for it... all together on your bed! 

Then you add pillows and a West Elm duvet [that you snagged for, FREE due to a gift card perk thing from Apartmentfinder] (for the other comforter you keep at the foot of your bed, because you are ridiculous like that)...

Hope you enjoy my new covers as much as I do!!!

Last Chance - February Follower Winners

Hey ladies, so as promised if you didn't respond to the first post about winning - I would not tell you, and you would miss out.


I have had to choose three new winners... the two ladies that have already responded:

Jenni Austria Germany

Sand and Starfish

The three new winners, who must contact me by Wednesday for their free swag, are the last that will be chosen.

Jessica K.

Eleanor M.

Sarah @ {the fontenot four}

Like I said, if I haven't heard from the three new winners by Wednesday - this will be the last chance at winners.

Friday 2/3 - The Day The Music Died

Hello, and welcome to my little corner of the cyber world. Hope you enjoy the boring week that I had... it's been crazy busy with school and work! 

First to explain my week, this is my car clock... that's AM... lately I have been getting home or crawling into bed around this time every morning! Yay for working.

YIKES!

 

OH MY GOODNESS! This is for a fun new project I hope to have finished in the next week or so, I will post more about it later... but sneak peak, I'm revamping an old duvet cover to redo my bedroom for the spring :)

So sometimes in Louisiana it rains really really really hard for a few hours and tends to flood things... this usually only happens when I have a car full of groceries. You can't tell but I'm standing in 2 inches of water - this right here is why I didn't post on What I Wore Wednesday - because I literally had to peel of my outfit once inside.

Follower winners for the month of January - don't worry Feb. has all kinds of fun new things in store!

HIGHLIGHT of my week! These are sooo cute! I got them to wear to work because my uniform has a red top... but I loved them so much I just bought a few more pairs in sea foam and peacock! OH MY GOD!

Yeah, so I got lots of compliments on my duvet last week, thanks I love it too!!! ... I apologize for this, but I am not a messy person... so you now realize what my week has been like... the pile to the left is about 4 loads of clean clothing... the grey blob on top of my duvet consists of the new clean sheets I haven't had time to put on (the sheets on my bed are clean too... the new ones smelled like packaging and had to be washed)... the pile by the window is a second comforter that I usually keep at the bottom of the bed - it's a complete disaster! But soon it will be clean and pretty and redecorated for spring!