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? 

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

Better late

right?  right???  


I didn't hear back from the winner of the yarn giveaway from Gnome Acres... so I picked a new one!  I really hope you're out there,  

Rachel @ The Philosophers Wife said...

Oh my goodness, what a great giveaway and what a fun store! I think I would love to make a scarf out of Magneto - Hand Dyed Peruvian Highland Wool. Or one of the blue shades...

MARCH 24, 2012 10:48 AM 

because you just got yourself some "No place like gnome" yarn!  PLEASE EMAIL ME WITH YOUR MAILING ADDRESS and we'll get you your yarn ASAP!  Thanks!

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

YARN. For free.

Giveaway Now Closed!  Thanks!

Ahem.  You now have a few yarn projects to hunker down with for the next few weeks.  In the coming days, you'll have even more.  And if you go check out last year's celebration of yarn, you'll have enough yarn projects to keep you busy for... well, a long time.


But will you have enough YARN?


Hm??


Lucky for you I just so happen to be doing a yarn giveaway today.  Right  now.  Right here.  I know, right?  

Gnome Acres is your go-to spot for amazing wool textiles.  They have hand dyed and handspun yarn in different weights, hand dyed fiber for spinning and felting, and bird nesting fiber kits (which are so cute!)  You won't believe the artistry of this yarn - and the names are so fun, too!  Check out the "Polyjuice Potion" for instance:

You can find mini skeins:

mini skeins, hand-dyed

handspun:

Over the Rainbow, handspun

and just plain gorgeous:

Bertie Bott's, hand-dyed 

So go ogle the amazing selection and get yourself some yarn for all of these awesome yarn crafts you're going to be making!


Today, Gnome Acres is giving away a skein of their super pretty "No Place Like Gnome" hand-dyed rainbow yarn.  It's Superwash Merino Worsted Yarn and 220 yards.

The only requirements are that you must be a follower and you MUST show me what you make with it.  (I kid)  (But not about following me.  You have to do that.)


TO ENTER: go over to Gnome Acres and pick your favorite item.  Come back and leave a comment letting me know what it is and what you would make with it!


This giveaway will run until next Friday, March 30th.  A winner will be picked via random.org and announced that evening.  


Also.  I have it on good authority that there is another yarn related giveaway over at Shannon's.  You know you want to go enter. (Trust me.  You do.)

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

Because I FELT like it.

Well, I've got some fun news for you today!  It's party giveaway time!  How would you like to gift something totally unique and adorable at your next kids' party?  Check out the pdf patterns at Gulf Coast Cottage!

You could take a trip to the market to pick up the essentials.

Supermarket Tote With Groceries

Do you love seafood?  I love this kind!

Lobster Crab Seafood Felt Food Pattern

How about a Pizza Party??

Pizzeria Fun

 And to continue our PARTY THEME, how about:
A tea party?

Some yummy pie?

Or decorating your own cake?

She's got fruits, veggies, sweets, Italian food, breakfast, and the pots and pans to cook them in!  (She's even got a felt GRILL and a felt TOASTER, people!)


But she's not one note, no way.  She's got more than food patterns.


There's an adorable Ballerina Bunny.

A doctor set.

And this crazy cute castle complete with Princess and Knight in Shining Armor.

So now that we've established how adorable all of her patterns are, and how I want to blow my budget to buy EVERY SINGLE ONE, let me tell you:

Gulf Coast Cottage is giving away a free pattern 

of the winner's choice!  

I'm so excited.  (I think I'd pick the toaster.  Not that I can win...)

What can you do to win this awesome prize? 
Hop on over to her etsy shop, then come back and leave a comment telling me what pattern you'd pick!  

This giveaway is open until Sunday, March 11th.  The winner will be chosen via random number generator and announced that night.

NOW, on to some features from my party board on pinterest!

Parties I'm Fairly Certain We'll Have To Attempt

Mad Scientist Birthday

                                                                      Source: sewastraightline.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

Spy Party (those streamers are "lasers")

                                                                Source: chickenbabies.blogspot.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

A Fairy Party (with bower)

                                                                     Source: meandmyinsanity.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

Completely Yellow Party

                                                      Source: lorajeansmagazine.blogspot.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

Decor I Most Certainly Must Make

Adorable wreath from party blowers.

                                                                          Source: sillypearl.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

Glow in the dark balloons

                                                                        Source: Uploaded by user via Kimberly on Pinterest

A waterfall of white lights

                                                                                 Source: google.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

Are you working on anything inspired by a pin?  

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