You wouldn't believe it.....

I've had some difficult times over the last few months or so, and it has dragged me away from my blog, my crafting, everything. From now on I will post when I can, will try to get some giveaways posted that I have entered, and more importantly, let you in on where my inspiration comes from, what blogs I follow, Facebook sites I like......just a little bit about me. My BIGGEST obsession is ClosetoMyHeart - and they have a fabulous promotion starting tomorrow - a special pack of Dotty paper for only $5 when you spend $35 !! You have to go look at this . And while you are at it, check out their Idea Book - this is the best one I have seen in awhile. And I save all my idea books, they have great inspiration and ideas. CYAL8R !!

Sporadic Postings

Sorry I haven't been keeping up like I hoped I would, but here's a couple of updates.

I won a glue prize from Helmar.com - all kinds of their zapdots - black clear and white, and some all purpose glue, and a tape runner. They are absolutely the best adhesives I have ever used ! Go on to their Facebook page and like them, and follow their blog too !

I also got 2 sets of Basic Grey stamps and a set of rubons from Kinderstampo.com - Jess is a very talented artist and you need to find her Facebook page and blog. She's also part of the McGill punch team, and she makes the best videos.

Then I got a few sets of Adornit letters from My Little Showbox - again - I just love their little letters - so many colors and different fonts.

And if you weren't aware that I am an addict to Paperwishes.com free tag downloads, you shoould be now. Just like I told you before, all you have to do is go to their site, type in free downloads in the search box, and it pops up 3 pages of paper pack. Within those descriptions is the link to download the tags. They are ALWAYS wonderful. Today I just downloaded Nature's Watercolors, Christmas splendor, Vintage Christmas, Lacy Paper and Roses in Harmony. They all blew me away - especially the Lacy Paper and Roses in Harmony. They print out nice on regular cardstock, but if you want a little more heft to them, try watercolor paper - Michael's has Canson paper pads of all kinds on sale thru Saturday for 50% off ! They are a little wider than 8.5 x 11, so you will have to trim it down to fit in your printer. Also sign up for their newsletters and their free catalog. They have a great online catalog, but I like getting it in the mail - there are so many ideas and inspirations in them.

Guess I was a little long winded - but there was alot to say - I have CTMH card class on Saturday and I will take pictures of what they have us make. Oh - and one more thing - go to CTMH.com and look for a consultant - I'd love it if you picked Joanie Ochsner - she's one of my local consultants, and get yourself the CTMH exclusive Cricut cart. It is a super deal with the stamps, the 3 sheets of chipboard sheets and the cart - all for $99 - and in the new Idea book, they have outlined in red the stamps that will work with the cart.

CTMH

Saw this, had to share it - too fun !
Close To My Heart

Close to My Heart - Hope for Japan

HERE is where you want to go to see a beautiful stamp that was designed specifically for help for Japan. It is only $5 !!! When you see it, you are just going to have to have one - or two or more to pass on to friends. All the money from the sale of this stamp is going out as a donation for the people in crisis in Japan. The article will tell you more.

And if you do not have a CTMH consultant of your very own, PLEASE contact my Joani O !! She's my go-to gal for all things CTMH. Click on the CTMH blinkie at the top of my blog, and that will take you to her "store". I think Joani would like it, I know you will love the stamp, and the best part is you are doing good where they desperately need it. I'm ordering mine on Saturday when we have Cards and Coffee.

Wednesday's Goodies

Sorry I didn't get back yesterday, but I got caught up in errands, supper, and was in bed at 8 pm. Once I get that go to bed feeling, I'm not much good anyway. I'll try to make up for it today.

One suggestion : before you go to enter a giveaway, create yourself a new email address, and use that address only for giveaways. I'd also suggest you sign up for newsletters, like them on FB, and follow the websites. On your email, you can create folders and filters to shift all email from one place into its own folder.
Now, on to the fun !

Close To My Heart be sure to follow them on Twitter, they are giving away the cutest little bird stamp to 10 of their Twitter followers, old and new - winners announced Friday !

Ayana's Creations  Watch her video about her Scrapbox, and leave a comment to maybe win a ribbon box !

Crafterminds  Not a giveaway, but a source of really good information - today's topic - How to attract readers to your blog. I know I'm going to read this one !

If you have an AC Moore in your neighborhood, you can register to win a pretty big gift card ! Details on the link.

Clearsnap Inc  is announcing winners of a goodie box tomorrow. If you haven't enterd yet, you have up to 3 entries you can submit. (This has been previously posted)

Paper Crafts Connection Blog  The Go-To Girls are nuts about Baker's twine, and if you aren't already, you will be after checking out this blog entry - plus leave a comment and you could win a big ole collection of colorful baker's Twine !

ShopWeR  Not a giveaway, but the online store for We R Memory Keepers products. They have a great deal on the Sew Easy - a package deal for $29.99. If you have tried to get these in stores, you know it's very, very difficult ! They have paper, stamps, the whole 9 yards. Go and look - there's a cute Easter collection in there too.

Spotted Canary  First, you have to login to be able to make a comment, but this is a good site to belong to. Check it out !

Little Yellow Bicycle  Take a look at this post, find the collection you like (see directions) and leave them a comment to win an LYB shopping bag. Wouldn't it be nice if it was full of LYB stuff ? I just hope it isn't one of those plastic bags that I have a ton of from every store I go to !

debbys dares  Debby tells us all about glue dots, and is offering up some Glue Dots® Adhesives Dot 'n Go Removable. Winner announced on Friday.

joyslife.com is having a 1-million-hits-give-away-celebration and giving away a GYPSY ! Winner  announced on March 13

And----that's all I can find so far today ! Have fun checking these giveaways out, and Good luck.

Still Alive, a couple of links

We're having a good snowstorm here, around 6 inches at noon yesterday, now comes the wind and the drifting. I have the camera battery charged up, but I don't know if I'm going to get much good light tomorrow, but I finally have several cards to show you that we've been making in the CTMH card club I go to on Saturdays.

I'm also making two tri-shutter cards I am making for my sons. Christmas cards. Yeah, I know.... The tutorial for that is on Splitcoaststampers.com . It looks a little intimidating, but once you get going, it isn't so bad. I had some troubles cutting the design paper the way the tutorial said, so I looked at the gallery there, and got lots of good ideas.

I was supposed to be going to pick up my new Sew Easy stuff today, but the roads are awful, and even the plows aren't out. They had an accident between a plow and a tractor trailer yesterday, no one was hurt, but when it's like this, you just need to stay home if you can. The Sew Easy is by WeRMemoryKeepers > They are also the folks behind the Cropodile - in versions 1, 2, and now 3 ! They have great paper collections and embellies, so go take a look ! There's a link at the top of the page that tells you where you can buy them. There's even a special program if you are a retailer.

Paper Grace designs is having a birthday giveaway, with 4 ways for you to enter. She's giving away a great selection of Baker's Twine, which is one of the hottest things for embellishing your projects. Go visit Lisa, and leave her some love after you look at the site.

You have to be under a rock if you haven't seen or heard about CHA - Winter, being held in Los Angeles. (I think if it's winter, they should have snow). There have been several giveaways on the spur of the moment, so if you have been following them on Facebook, you may have seen them. There have been alot of new products revealed there, and most will start shipping in the next couple of months. Seriously, so much pretty paper, embellishments, Sizzix and Tim Holtz, I think we're going to need to save our pennies for this new stuff.

I'll get back to posting as usual in the next couple of days, so I hope you'll stick with me. Remember, when I get to 25 followers on Google Friend Connect, I will have my own little sack of blog candy ! So, please tell your friends about me and ask them to join too !

xoxoLiz

Surprise - not so surprising

Was planning to have pictures up by this morning. Went to get the battery out of the charger, because 24+ hours should be enough, right ? Battery was dead as a doornail. Bad connection between the charger and the wall. The whole thing is close to 10 years old anyway. I have a 1.3 MP Nikon Coolpix, got it when it first came out for about $400....I think they sell on eBay for like $1.25 now...LOL. onestly, it takes great pictures, even if they are blown up to 8 x 10s.

Have a Workshop on the Go with my CTMH friends tonight, we're using the Magnifique Workshop - gorgeous blues and brown and teals. I hear a rumor there's a mini catalog coming soon, will clarify tonight if I can. Right now and until the end of Dec, if you spend $20 at a consultant's site (use the CTMH badge on the blog here), you will get a random set worth $22.95....now that's a deal. I can't do it myself this month, but like I said, hit that CTMH on my page and it takes you right to my Joani !

Close to My Heart

I met Joani at a local craft fair, and found out she does a Coffee and Cards meeting at a local coffee shop. They provide all the card stuff already cut up, and special tools if needed. She emails everybody once a week to let us know if we're meeting or not. I was so happy to find this out, because, other than WalMart, and Loopy's there really isn't any place in my little town that has crafting stuff. And Close to My Heart has GREAT stuff !!
Besides 3 great cards every week, there's a bunch of gals who work together and we talk and have a nice time. SO, I have added a CTMH badge on the blog, and it will take you straight to Joani's CTMH Page  where you can look around, maybe find something you want, and maybe...order ? She didn't ask me to do this, and I'm not really asking anything from you (well, sorta), and I'm not getting paid in any way. I just enjoy Saturday mornings so much more now, and I hope maybe some of you can get yourselves into a class wherever you are. And if you don't have a consultant near you....well, you figure it out ;-)