Giveaway Winner Announced!

Hi, all!  I meant to announce the canvaspop winner yesterday, but we've had a crazy week - getting back from a whirlwind visit to Michigan and taking pip to his first ER visit (you knew it was bound to happen...) SO.  I'm a little late.

First off, thanks for entering the giveaway!  Our winner, chosen at random by rafflecopter is:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jesslyn W.!  Yea!  So happy for you.  You will receive an email shortly with details.


If you didn't win, use this code (which is good through July) for a 35% discount!
BUGABOO35


I appreciate all of my readers - thanks for sticking around!  There're are a lot of projects and ideas I want to share with you that I haven't gotten to with my copious amounts of break taking lately, so stay tuned!

canvaspop Review! And giveaway! Woo-hoo!

This is the best post ever.

Not to toot my horn.  Actually, this post has very minimal parts me and many more parts something SPECTACULAR - so I'm not really tooting my own horn.

Really I'm tooting canvaspop's horn.  

Have you been to CanvasPop before?  I admit it, I had not.  I'd often thought of getting a photo printed on canvas, but the prices scared me.  And I didn't know where to go, there are so many options out there.  And what if I spent all that money and hated it?  The unknowns were just too much.

So I'm going to help you out: go to canvas pop.  And not just because I've got a nice little discount code for you (which you can find at the bottom of this post, you're welcome).  Let me tell you a little somethin' somethin' about canvaspop.

You can do so much!  Honestly.  It's crazy.  So, first of all, you can upload a photo from your computer OR straight from instagram or Facebook.  It doesn't matter the size or resolution, they work with nearly anything and they'll let you know if it's not going to work out.  Then, there's the customization.  You can order canvas prints with or without text, collages, mosaics, triptych canvas's... the possibilities are pretty much up to you and your creative mind.  You can add shapes as well as text.  Or filters!  And they've also got different border options.  You can choose to have it printed on paper or canvas and have it framed or unframed.  Nextly, they've got deals going on often, which is super nice if you're afraid of a canvas price tag as I used to be.  They've also got an option to chat live with a rep if you need customer service - which I didn't - but if you do, how easy is that?!  Oh, also, they have a 100% "love it" guarantee.  

I'd also like to point out how user-friendly their site is.  They walk you through all the steps so you can create exactly what you want.  Everything's laid out perfectly, with no guess work.

And by now you're like, so what?  Show us the money!!  So I will.  Remember the other day when I shared my foray into taking my own family photos (which I will never do again)?  I alluded to being on a deadline for getting them done and this is why.  I really wanted an updated photo where Pip isn't a tiny newborn.  So I weeded through all the outtakes, got the mr's opinion and chose this guy:

And I got this awesome 16x20 canvas:

And it's pretty much perfect.

I was so excited to open it up when it arrived... here it is all specially bubble wrapped.

One awesome thing I wasn't aware of is that the canvas's all come ready to hang.  Did you know you're not technically supposed to hang a canvas from the actual canvas frame?  Yeah, I did not.  Fortunately they had this totally official hanging hardware already on there

AND they included a nail/hanger thingy.  So I didn't have to go get anything - except my hammer and that was just in the garage.  Woo hoo!

They also have these soft rubbery circles on the corners of the canvas to protect your wall.  Or the canvas.  Or... huh... well, they're cool.

And look at how nicely these corners are wrapped.  I've tried those DIY wrapped canvas's.  They don't look like this.  (At least mine don't).

I opted for the photo wrapped edges, but you could get black or white if you prefer.

Then I just hammered the hardware into the Giant Green Wall, and voila!

Here is my awesome family canvas above my piano.  (admittedly, it probably won't stay there, since we have big plans for the Giant Green Wall - teaser, teaser! Project coming! - but it will get a place of honor, for sure.)  

So.  Now that you've seen how great canvaspop is, you want a canvas, don't you?  I don't blame you.  I'm already planning black and white canvas's of the kids for our upstairs hall.

Guess what.  GIVEAWAY!!  Yea!  You can win a 16x20 canvas from canvaspop!  You really can!  Enter below!

So, here's the deal:  The giveaway runs for a week, to give you plenty of time to enter.  It opens RIGHT NOW (May 5 2015) and closes next Tuesday (May 12 2015).  Enter using as many of the options as you want, one entry per option.  You must live in the US or Canada to win.  I will announce and email the winner on Wednesday May 13th, 2015.  The winner will receive one 16x20 canvas with a 0.75 inch frame and free shipping.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And for those who just can't wait to hear if you've won or not, use this code and get 35% off!  It's good until July 30th.  Go on!  Go do it!  (this can't be combined with any other discounts and is only available to orders shipped in the US and Canada)

BUGABOO35

You can find canvaspop on Facebook, instagram, pinterest and twitter. 

**Yes, you are correct.  I DID receive the 16x20 canvas from canvaspop in exchange for doing a review.  BUT all of the opinions expressed above are mine, mine, mine.  Yep, for real.  Mine alone.  I really do like canvaspop that much.  It's true.**

PS.  And since we sort of missed my blog's birthday in late February, we'll just consider THIS the party, mmmkay? 

Not sure where the summer went, but it's almost august.

It's almost August.  You know what that means!  
Yes, summer vacay is almost over.  But that's not what I'm talking about.

Gift it.  Gift it good. is coming up!  Yea!

For those of you who are unaware, Gift it. Gift it good. is an annual event around here.  All month long I share awesome guest posts about handmade gifts, give you some of my very own gifty tutorials, and round up some seriously awesome gift ideas from all around the web.

It's pretty much my favorite time of year.  Except for Christmas.  Which also involves giving gifts!  Go figure.

You can see the very first ever Gift it. Gift it good. series from 2012 here.  

And check out last year's Gift it. here.

So why am I telling you this NOW, in the middle of July?  Because I need you!  I'm accepting guest post submissions for this awesome handmade gift idea event now!  Some basic details: 
1. You should be a blogger of some sort.
2. Your gift idea/post submission doesn't need to be a NEW tutorial, but you may need to edit it to fit the guest post and relate to the series.
3. The idea/project needs to be YOURS.  I don't want you to submit anything you don't have the rights to.
4. I'm looking for anything and everything!  Birthday presents, Mother's Day, Teacher Appreciation, Neighbor Gifts, You Just Got a Promotion Gifts, I Kind of Like You gifts, everything!  Semi-handmade or handmade, gift basket ideas, round ups of your favorite go-to gifts, etc.  
5. email me with questions, comments, etc. 

bugaboo blog (@) yahoo (.) com

Let's make Gift it. 2014 the best yet!

*Be sure to check below for all the fun parties I link to!*

Nope. NOT condoning gun violence. Camera violence, maybe.

Hey all!  My photography post went up yesterday over on Hi! It's Jilly! where I'm a monthly contributor.  This month we're talking about:

10 tips for shooting your kids.  With a camera.  (let there be no confusion...)

So go check it out.  There are plenty of examples of what NOT to do thanks to my hooligans.

Heads up, it's bound to be a little quiet around here this week and next.  I'm recovering not only from Yarn it All! 2014 (which was epic, by the way) but also from Spring Break - which should NOT be called Spring Break since it is neither springy, nor a break for me.  It should be called Fake Spring That Feels Just Like Winter Fake Break That Feels Like Work Since There Are More Kids To Entertain And More Hours To Fill.  Right?  Anyway, I've got a few things ready to go up so I won't be completely MIA.

*Be sure to check below for all the fun parties I link to!*

YARN Features!

I had fun looking over all of the links at our Yarn it all! Link Party.  You should definitely go check them all out!  I had to set myself a limit of 6 to feature or I would have featured all of them.

Kellystar

Such a pretty Spring Wreath!  Love the bunny and the pastels.

Elizabeth Joan Designs

People.  You will never believe what this tres chic basket is actually made from.  Seriously.  Go see. 

homemade@myplace

Um, why yes, this IS an adorable fox crocheted from GRANNY SQUARES.  Hello?!  

See what she made it into here!

It's Always Ruetten

Such an adorable American flag inspired 4th of July Wreath!  It's right around the corner, so I should whip this up.  (It IS right around the corner, right?  Summer WILL get here eventually, right??)

Pickled Okra by Charlie

Oh my gosh, you HAVE to go see this doll.  (And then while you're over there, check out all her other dolls, too.  Holy cute.)  Her hair is a yarn wig!  I want a yarn wig for me!  

2 Crochet Hooks

This just made me laugh.  Love a little zombie action?  Check out this Zombie Tissue Holder.  Seriously.

Thanks for linking up everyone!  Loved it all!  

If you were featured, you can grab this button:

<a href="http://bugaboominimrme.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i799.photobucket.com/albums/yy276/kbmueller/Beautifying%20Blog%20Pictures/4f61340b-3671-45de-a753-ea30c981ee76_zpsb5e792ac.jpg"/></center>

*Be sure to check below for all the fun parties I link to!*

Call Her Happy - Makes ME Happy! And YOU!

Ooooh, super fun treat for you today!!  I'm so excited.  Have you visited the blog Call Her Happy?  Jenna's got your daily dose of mommy-dom, faith talk, cuteness (thanks to her babies), and craftiness covered.  Right now she's hosting a "stitch-along" for embroidery and the pattern is an adorable succulent print she drew up (talk about trendy).  

She recently opened up an etsy shop featuring her adorable embroidery hoop necklaces.  What am I talking about, you ask?  I'm talking about these:

ACK!  CUTE, right??  And those are just my SUPER faves - she has so many other cute ones in her shop - you HAVE to go and see!  

Call Her Happy on Etsy

She's also willing to create custom orders for you, if you like her designs or want to see something else brought to life in embroidery floss!

So.  Here's the deal.  Embroidery floss is just like yarn, right??  Ok, so it's close enough.  I'm so happy Jenna agreed to do a giveaway from her shop for all you lovely readers and followers of the yarn series!  Yea!  Here's what you could win:

It's her French Dot Garden in Dandelion, and I think it's no coincidence that she chose my absolute favorite color for this giveaway.  So the giveaway starts right now and will go until Midnight - Central Time - on April 15th.  Each item in the rafflecopter below gives you one entry.  A winner will be chosen at random and announced at 10:00 AM April 15th.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a revival

Ahem.  This is very important so go ahead and pause Breaking Bad or Parks and Rec or American Idol (if you still watch that) or whatever.  It's THAT big a deal.

Ready?

I'm doing a series.  Not just any series.  A series we all know and love.  Yes!  You're not dreaming!  It's true!

It's coming back this year!  Do you remember the first year of Yarn it all! in all it's glory?  

And the first comeback Yarn it all! made?

And then, sadly, it went on hiatus along with me when pip decided to kick my behind to the curb for months on end.

But all of that's in the past!  We're focusing on the here and now.  And the here and now is Yarn it all! 2014!  (cheering, applause, ovations, general adoration and some giddy and understandable mayhem)

Now try to control yourself.  This year will be slightly different than times past.  I generally have a cohost to take care of the crochet/knit side of things for me.  You know, since I'd only tie myself up in knots if I attempted that.  Alas, my partner in crime is otherwise engaged (did you hear??  Shannon, aka googiemomma, is in this season of PR&P!) so I let her off the hook.  For now (mwahahahahaha!!)

That means I've enlisted the help of several guest posters... er, guest crafters/bloggers to share their insane talents with you.  Oh, I'll be popping in too, don't you worry.  

Ah, yes!  There are also several similarities to years past.  Like, I cover lots of stuff in yarn.  Yea!  Also, there will be a link party (starting tomorrow!) and I will be featuring your yarn projects!  Also, there will be a giveaway!  Yes, for reals.  And it's awesome.  Also, there will be delicious cupcakes.  Ok, not really.  I'm just trying to entice you.  Like you need more enticement.  There's YARN!  And it's AWESOME!

Now you know what's in store.  Want to be a dear and help me get the word out?  Wonderful.  Thanks.

<a href="http://bugaboominimrme.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i799.photobucket.com/albums/yy276/kbmueller/Beautifying%20Blog%20Pictures/5bfe07cd-d182-4e81-b6f8-0a7a0b082333_zps7aed4c03.jpg"/></center>

*Be sure to check the right sidebar for all the fun parties I link to!

Top 10 Posts. According to you guys.

We're still in recap phase here at bugabooblog.  Hope you don't mind.  Since I was gone the first part of the month, and I was waaaay not organized enough to preschedule these "new year" type posts, I missed out on sharing the whole "top 13 of 2013".  So perhaps you will indulge me a bit with two more recap posts.

Today's is all about the posts.  The content.  The stuff you find interesting.  You know, everything but the food...

Bugabooblog's TOP 10 POSTS of 2013!

10.

Anthro Inspired Peasant Blouse (a t-shirt upcycle)

9.  A TIE!  (I love those):

50 Gifts in Jars (and other fun containers)

My Buddy and Me Stick Puppets (a "Kid Can Make" gift idea)

8.

A Very Organized Baby Gift (diaper bag organization - with free printable gift tags!)

7.

4 Easy Steps to Shorten a Skirt! 

6.

Ombre Freezer Paper Stencil Onesies and Matching Upcycled Knit Hats (A Baby Gift)

5.

Felt Bracelet Valentines (With Free Printable Card!)

4.

102 Ridiculously Cute Gifts for Baby

3.

DIY Rock Candy Kit Gift (With Free Printable Recipe Card and Gift Tag!)

2.

40 Etsy Shops You Don't Want to Miss

1.

60 Craftable Christmas Presents That Will Wow Them

This was illuminating!  Apparently you really like the round-ups - especially of gifts you can make yourself!  You also like gift ideas.  I'm sensing a trend...

You can be expecting more of both in 2014!

*Be sure to check the right sidebar for all the fun parties I link to!