Do you like to play with paper?

Yeah, me too. Sorry that I don't have any projects to share with you today - I've been under the weather this last week - allergies have backed up into a sinus infection. What I do have are some fun candy alerts over in my right sidebar that you might want to get hooked up with.

Today, I'm adding Pixie Dust Paperie to the list - they have a GORGEOUS kit up for grabs that will help you scrap the upcoming Christmas holiday or make some fantastic cards for friends and family. Click the picture in the sidebar to be taken to the drawing or click on their name in this post to be taken to their blog so you can see all of the cool things Kirsty and her friends do over there.

Good luck & happy crafting!

A Different Kind of Candy

The blog candy alerts that I've posted in the past usually have tied to crafts. This ties to creativity of another kind...makeup as art. I have to confess ~~ I have makeup issues. My mother used to inundate her bathroom with Clinique and a few other pricey brands. I swore I'd NEVER spend for foundation what I could spend on an entire outfit in my closet. To me that was crazy! I was, for years, the "cheapo girl" - Maybelline, Cover Girl, NYC, Rimmel London, etc - and I was good with it. (NOTHING against them...for their cost, they were good makeup brands at the time).

Now, after 3 kids, living in the mountain desert for almost 15yrs, and just flat-out getting older, my skin needs have changed, so my makeup needs have, as well. I don't wear makeup most days. I'm too busy & don't get out as much as I used to so I don't need it as often. The biggest reason, it really screws up my skin. Too many chemicals. They either leave me with big dry flaky areas or I blister and break out. I even have problems with it making me itch and BURN. Not cool any time, but on your face? YIKES!

About 5yrs ago, I moved to Neutrogena for my mascara & have done really well, and the Physician's Formula for eyes, lips & foundation was working. Now the makeup is giving me problems, and the mascara? OMGosh...itchy, blistering, watery...making my eyelashes fall out! I cannot believe how sensitive I've become to things that I took for granted every day. It's very disheartening at times.

I'm considering trying new brands, but some of the "better" cosmetics are so EXPENSIVE...I bought a sampler of Bare Minerals last month to the tune of $20 plus tax...folks, I've had lip gloss pots that were bigger, lemme tell ya! I'm okay with their foundations, but I really like their concealer. Nice & smooth going on and doesn't cake up in those teeny creases...you know the ones I'm talking about.

I even like the matte moisturizer from Lauren Hutton, but at $30 for a small bottle, I haven't ordered any in quite some time. I'm perfectly content with my Dr Bronner's/baking soda facial scrub, apple cider toner, & grapeseed oil moisturizer. For now, it works and works well, so I'm sticking with it.

I have found a place online where I can buy minerals to MAKE my own - foundations, eye shadows, & lip colors. I just have to wait till I can afford it...the starter kits aren't cheap. Everything but the mascara. I did make some of that last month & it was a success, to a degree, meaning my eyes didn't water or burn, but it's missing something to make it thicker & I think I know what it is, but I want to verify with some experts first. I'll share that with you tomorrow.

Today, though, I thought you'd like to know about a GIVEAWAY from Jangsara...yup, you guessed it...makeup! {You knew I'd get to the candy portion eventually, right?} Sign up once between now & the 30th of this month & you could win what's pictured below. Click her name under the picture to head that way....good luck!

Jangsara

Thanks for stopping by & have a great rest of your day!!

Anne's Candy

Anne is one of the sweetest gals around Blogland. Seems like every time I leave her a comment, she always writes back (wish I were that good). Her photos are amazing. So amazing, in fact, that she's featured in a 6pg spread of the summer issue of Romantic Country Magazine! If you're like me & can't splurge on the magazine but would like to look, enter for a chance to win it AND a copy of the book, Romantic Prairie Style. Winner will be announced April 15th. Click on the button & have fun looking around Anne's house on the WWW.

Darcie's Got Candy

I first found Darcie's digital clip art (bought a 5-6 CD set for a song) because another blogging buddy was using her art on cards, found her on FB a few months ago, & have followed her around ever since. Super talented AND super sweet lady!

Today on HER BLOG, she's announced that she's giving away 2 sets of rubber stamps! They just happen to be the sets in her current month's club (BTW, great price for everything you get!) are just too cute for words...and the projects made with it...OMGosh...that bird pinwheel is so UNIQUE! Go check it out (click above, where it says HER BLOG) & good luck.

Vicki's Got Candy!

And you've got THREE chances to win some of it, so click HERE to go over and sign up!!

By the way...chopped off the hair this morning...pictures tomorrow...see you then!!

I have a treat for you!!!

This giveaway is now closed.

How fun is this?!? I have been asked to give one of you $30 to CSN online stores. This will apply to my American & Canadian friends, because right now, that's their shipping area. Sound like fun? I think so too! CSN Stores have everything from lighting, home decor, kitchen utensils, to outdoor things like swing sets...after spending a couple of days looking through their more than 200 online sites, I've pretty much decided if they don't have it, you don't need it anyway! *LOL* Let's see how many stalkers we can get signed up between now & March 1st. I'd really love it if we can get 100 (or more)...

'K! Here are the rules:

(1) If you're already a follower, living in the US or Canada, leave me some love saying you're a stalker (1 entry)

(2) If you're NOT stalking me...DO IT...jump over to my right sidebar where it says "MY STALKERS...I LOVE Y'ALL" (I do!) & leave me a comment that you're a new follower. (1 entry)

(3) Blog about it! Come back and leave me a direct link to the post you've written (1 entry)

(4) Post it on FaceBook for your friends to see & link them here so they can join in on the fun...come back & leave me a comment with the link to your FB status so I can see (1 entry)

(5) You can Tweet about it, if you'd like, but I don't Twitter yet and may not for quite some time so I have no way to verify this for an entry.

Entries will be verified on March 2nd & 3rd, with the winner announced Friday, March 4th. So, go out & spread the word, and let's see how many stalkers I can get signed up.

I'm gonna go play at the crafting table while my guys are watching things blow up on the telly, so hopefully I'll have something to share with you by Monday. Thanks for stopping by & have a fantastic weekend!

12 Days of Christmas Goodies

HURRY! There's still time to enter today on ALL TWELVE days. Good luck!

Christmas Candy Treat

Christmas candy going on right now over at Funky Junk Sisters. I don't have any pix to share, but believe me when I say you will NOT be disappointed! Head on over & leave 'em some love! Good luck!!

Blog Candy

Who doesn't like candy? This offering is the fabric kind - 3 styles, 1 meter of each of the prettiest blue, khaki, cream color combo that I've ever seen. Has a GREAT vintage feel to it.

Head over to French Larkspur to find out more about it. Winner will be drawn 25Nov & announced 29Nov - good luck!

Win this bike!

How COOL is this?!? I found this on another blog & decided to join the linking competition. Winner's name will be drawn 17November. If you have a blog & want a cool (and HANDY) grown-up bike, go enter this contest. I just did!

Blog candy

Do you love pillows? I mean LOVE them? I do...I've always looked at pillows as an "affordable extravagance." All shapes, all sizes, colors, textures...they're versatile & great for layering or finishing a look. I REALLY love pillows covered in vintage fabrics. Kristine over at The Painted Hive is having a giveaway. She has this gorgeous grain sack with pretty charcoal stripes for a grown-up treat. Giveaway is on the 31st.

Click HERE to enter & good luck! While you're there, have a look around...you might enjoy her blog enough to become a follower...I did.

Thanks for stopping by & have a great rest of your day!!

Blog Candy

Chrissy has a wonderful candy offering that runs till the 31st...click HERE to hurry over & sign up!

Blog Candy

My online friend, Maddy, has a wonderful blog candy giveaway going on right now. Her boyfriend, Calv, who happens to be a very talented crafter and another online friend, carved this AMAZING door for you to put in your home for the fairies to come in, play, & leave little gifts (you know how fairies are!). She's leaving the candy open till 22October (my Aidan's birthday) and if you'd like a chance to win this beauty, run over and sign up! While you're there, look around her blog...she's an amazing card maker & her creations in clay are to die for.

Thanks for stopping by & have a great rest of your day!!

They say that the 3rd time is a charm...

I hope it is! Eldest Child took a turn helping me pull my final attempt at a winner of the tote bag...

And the winner is......{drumroll}

Inger, you said you'd give it a good home, so please contact me in the next 48 hours & I'll ship this out to ya, Sweetie!!

Okay, so here's the deal...

I've drawn two names since my blog candy ended on Sunday. Neither follower has responded. My dilemma...do I draw another name or just let it go & do the candy another time? I really don't have a problem drawing a third name...I just don't want to establish what could become a disturbing pattern and get to a point where I'm whittling through my list of followers, know what I mean?

New winner chosen

*sigh* Well, I gave RachelF an extra 2 hrs, but still didn't have any contact, so we tossed the names back into the hat and we'll try this again...

Kirsten, if you can e-mail me in the next 48hrs with your address, I'll get that tote out to you.

Hmmmmm....

Still waiting to hear from RachelF...you have till noon Tuesday (MST the 17th), Hon. Please scroll to the bottom of the page & click on the picture of the girl at the mailbox.

Winner chosen!

With the help of, Devin, one of My Favorites...

We tossed the names of my followers into his new fedora...
He drew a name...and the winner is....

Congrats, Rachel F! You have until noon (MST) Tuesday 17August to e-mail me with your mailing address so I can get your prize in the mail to you. If I don't hear from Rachel by then, I'll have to choose another name.

Thanks so much to everyone that signed up to follow me. I hope you continue to follow and come back to visit me often.

Thanks for stopping by & have a great rest of your day!!

Followers Candy

NOTE: This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all that signed on to follow my blog - I hope you continue to visit me!

I'm hosting my first blog candy (been long enough, right?)!! Here's what I've got for ya ~ made by lil ole me....

And here's the entire project. I really had fun making this & now it needs a loving home.

Here's what I need you to do:

1) Become a follower of my blog (the button to follow is on the right sidebar - see 'My Stalkers' - you've got to follow, because I have no way of tracking subscribers). If you're already stalking, then your name is in the drawing!

2) Spread the word so others can join in by posting about it on your blog, FB, or twitter

I'll ship ANYWHERE. Winner's name will be drawn on 15August2010 at noon (MST) & you'll have 48 hours to contact me with your mailing address. Good luck!

Thanks for stopping by & have a great rest of your day!!

It's Time to Get Your VINTAGE On!

First, let me apologize for not being here Sunday for KISS or posting before now. Sunday was my wedding anniversary & it was such a weird/crummy weekend that I couldn't bring myself to do anything but watch old movies and blog surf. I've not been very good at shaking it off, like I normally do. Definitely a "MIBAD!" for that one - I should have crafted to get myself out of my funk!

School is ending tomorrow and all three boys are absolutely WIRED...not sure where I'm gonna stuff them for the summer...I'm thinking maybe the crawlspace (don't flame me or call child protective services -- I'm just KIDDING!).

Our weather's been crazy, which is not helping my moods, & Al Gore's theory of Global Warming has been soundly DISPROVED yet again...I drove Chris down to Mapleton EARLY Monday morning & once we hit "Point of the Mountain" (just south of Draper, UT) we drove into....SNOW, of all things! It snowed on me so bad through Provo that I couldn't see past the hood of my car (traffic was moving at a rip-roaring 25mph). It was like that all the way back UP till I got to Layton (just over an hour's drive on a clear day), and by the time I arrived back home in Ogden, the clouds had parted & the birds were singing. *LOL* Just gotta LOVE springtime in the Mountain Desert region!

Now, I normally put blog candy alerts on my Candy Jar page, but this one needs some front page time because it has the vintage girly-girl in me jumping up and down, waving her arms in the air in a VERY un-lady-like fashion, squealing "OH, PLEASE....PICK ME! PICK ME!" *LOL* You can see why...just LOOK at all of these pretties...
Doesn't that look DELICIOUS?!? Don't they make your mind just WHIRL with the possibilities of fun projects you can whip up...or is it just dorky ole me? I know that my fate is going to be up to a random generator, but oh, to win this would be such FUN! Click the pic to go enter for your chance to win if your vintage girly-girl is squealing now, too. {winner's name will be announced Monday}

I'm off to work on a project for the CONTEST that the Vintiquities Workshop is having - some really fabulous prizes being offered and the pieces that she's challenged us to work with are just amazing. Chris is riding with his Club to California for the Memorial Day weekend, so in addition to doing the "Summer Widow/Biker Boogie," I'll be crafting in the ole she-cave, so I'll be back soon to share what I've made...I've got so many ideas running through my noggin that I may have to enter over there a couple of times, since I've got till June 14th! *ROFL* Oh, if you have a bit of extra time, be sure to look around her blog & if you'd like to, become a follower like I have...she has so many different inspirational crafts to get your mojo hopping in excitement - you'll be glad that you did.

Thanks for stopping by, good luck to ya & happy crafting!!