Winner Is...

MandaPanda is the winner of the gift giveaway from the shop of www.EverImprovingMe.etsy.com Congrats! Email me your addy and I will have your gift shipped! Thanks!

Welcome- Giveaways

There are some new readers around here! Welcome! Please know that I read EVERY one of the comments left on my posts and I thank you for your support and your time! So to a few that have "introduced" themself- Jamie, Ms. Cheryl, Kate, etc. Welcome! Please feel free to leave your blog address on your comments so I may visit and others too! Oh- I am going to post a new button on the right at the bottom for those who have asked for a 62cards button for their site! Feel free to add! Don't forget about the giveaways! Comment! :)

Teresa Collins

OMG! I am on Teresa Collins blog today. OMGOMGOMG. I made this layout using several of her projects and amongest the thousands of layouts and submissions she gets a day, she posted mine. I am going to have the biggest smile on my face today! Thanks Teresa! You are incredibly talented and I admire your creativity and I LOVE your products!

Giveaway Monday!

Okay, so it was wrobg of me to make you wait :) I recently ran across a new shop on etsy called Downtown Girl Designs. I bought some cute little elephany cutouts b/c I couldn't resist. After talking a second with the owner, She said she would love to send some little samples to giveaway on my blog! When my package arrived, so did the freebies! HOW CUTE!!! So, to win- visit her shop and or her blog tell us something you like. The winners will be drawn at random on Monday! Good luck- spread the word- Oh and for an extra entry, post about this giveaway on your blog and included a link to ths post! (Let me know you did!)

Giveaway

We have an 8 winner giveaway starting Monday! WOW! Get excited!

Recipe Saturday

Nutter Butter Banana Pudding :: Southern Living. For real. The world will never be the same. Wow.

Free Subscription!

So, what is better than a free gift? Answer- A free gift that comes all year long! The folks over at Scrapbook and Cards Today are giving away a free subscription for a year! (Can you hear the excitement in my vioce :) Head over, read the details and get your name on that list! Of course, I hope I win, but if one of my readers win, that's great too!!!

New!

So, I have decided to a a new item to my store! Paper Dollss! I had so much fun making these! The cowboy is by far my favorite. I love the love of the distressed ink on his chaps and rope that give it a leatherish look! Hope you enjoy! Remember that February is coming to an end, comment for a chance to win the February giveaway! (See top of page for more details! Also remember to read yesterday's post. That giveaway ends tonight and winner will be announced tomorrow!


Update at 2:17 pm- One of these dolls is featured in a treasury! Thanks! http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=43962

Giveaway!!!

Sickness around our home! UGH! Don't forget about THIS GIVEAWAY I am doing!!!!!! You only have until Thursday!

Sunday Special- Discover this!

I will now be making Sunday's my blog day of linking to great new sites, blogs, stores, etc. If you would like me to include yours,Email Me! On with today!


1. Above All Fabric- Craft projects, Wonderful fabric, and stories that will make you smile! Melanie and the team are wonderful!
2. Covered in Crafts- Great crafts, tutorials, ideas, giveaways and more!
3. All That Is Good- Great stories and just a great blog overall! I have enjoyed readin about Kasey, her life, and her antics!
4. Stop and Scrap- If you love discounts on scrapbooking materials- here you go!

Enjoy!

Happy Heart Day!

Happy Single's Awareness Day to you all! :) I really think this is a bogus holiday to celelbrate, but to each his own. I try to show my family, husband, friends how much I love them EVERYDAY. I think the media nad Hallmark frenzy around Vday is just that, a frenzy! But to all you love bird's out there who are awaiting flowers and candy, I hope you get them if they remind you that you are loved. LOVE makes this world go around. I love all you guys, my bloggy readers for your support! Don't forget to read and comment on yesterday's post for a chance to win a free gift from the artist that I am giving away THURSDAY!

I leave you with a picture of something I am thankful for and love!

A New Store and a GIVEAWAY!!

I met such a nice person through Etsy the other day. I put a custom order bid in on a request she had up and she picked me. While creating her order, I fell in love with it! We talked a little more and after readig her profile I wanted to share her talents with you! Her name is Johanna and http://www.everimprovingme.etsy.com/ is her store. Who doesn't send praises for that! The pictures is of the custom order I completed for her!
She has tons a goodies and a direct quote from her profile, "I will be using most of the money I make on etsy sales to donate to various charities such as Wish Upon A Hero. I will be donating it through money donations or using it to get items that people request. If you are not familiar with Wish Upon A Hero everyone has the ability to make a wish and everyone has the ability to grant a wish. I like the site because I really enjoy that I can help someone in need for a small bit of time, money or effort on my part. I encourage anyone with a caring nature to check it out. Thank you for checking out my shop. Please ask if there is anything you would like custom made."

NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY! I am giving away a gift from Johanna's shop! To enter, you need to visit her Etsy store and look around, finding two things you like about it, her, etc. and come back here and leave me a comment with your opinion. A winner will be picked from the comments on Thursday the 19th. SO, you have ONE week to discover her store! Good luck! (Be sure to leave your email address so I can easily get ahold of the winner!)

Thank you for 100 sales!

A milestone mark for my store today - 100 Sales! The 100th sale was to a lovely and frequent customer of mine, Cherry of CherrynMillerDesigns. Check out her site. Super cute cards and such! Also- check my store for a great 100th Sale Day Deal! Oh Happy Day :) Watch for some great new items to be posted- paper packs, new tags, new punches, chipboard albums, kits, alphabet die cuts and more! Something you want to see or something you have been looking for and can't find??? Let em know!

Something sweet...

I am sure you have seen it everywhere- the Cupcake Craze! For me, it started with adorbale cupcake fabric I had found...now I am making all thinks cupcake, with more coming soon! Here are a few things just added to my shop, part of my love for cupcakes! Expect for the February Comment Winner to have lots of cupcakes in the gift :) I know Karen L, the winner from January had some go out in her package too! On that note, comment so you have a chance to win! ALSO- you get an extra entry if you sign up as a follower to follow this blog! See the button to the botton right!!!

FREE Amy Butler for K & Company grab bags*

So, I am in the 'loving" spirit. For my blog readers only, today through midnight EST on the 14th, receive a *FREE Amy Butler for K & Company grab bag with each order from my ETSY store*. Grab bag will include paper, cut outs, an AB fabric covered button brad or two, sticker set, etc. No extra shipping cost, just my way of saying thank you for your posts and thanks for reading my ramblings! (Oh and if you post about it and send emthe link to your blog, I will through in a little extra!) Enter BLOG14 in the notes to seller section at check out! One per lovely reader please :)

Passing Time...

Those of us with kids are always looking for neat games to use to pass the time. Quiet as a Mouse doesn't seem to work well :) Check out these great ideas! Whar games work for you???? Comment and let me know!

And yes my little is listening to my ipod :) I was trying to pass the time unril dinner arrived on our last cruise :)

Giveaway!

Another great giveaway on Day number 2! See the details at http://mylilyeden.blogspot.com/ - check out her blog for the 7 day giveaway!!! see you there! I am a huge Amy Butler fan...what???you didn't know??? lol :)

Tic Tac Toe- Vday Style!

Another great idea! Shared with
you from Alpha Mom's blog about a super cute Vday craft idea~ Visit HERE for a set of step by step pictures and details! Happy crafting!

7 day giveaway!

Another great giveaway! See the details at http://mylilyeden.blogspot.com/ - check out her blog for a 7 day giveaway!!! see you there!

FREE ...

Since I got a ton of emails about the vday heart crayons, thought I wwould share a few more crafty ideas through the weekend. All my moms and grandmas around here will be sure to love them. Visit HERE for some great FREE printable Valentine's and directions on some neat ideas like this green guy!!!

Fee calculator!

I found a great link today for all of you with Etsy shops. It's a fee calculator. You basically enter in the price you want to clear after Etsy and PayPal fees. It figures it all for you and shows you what your price needs to be to "bring home" what you want. It's a really neat tool and saves a ton of time figuring prices!http://www.rolbe.com/etsy.htm Check it out and pass it on to your Etsy friends!

JANUARY MONTHLY GIVEAWAY WINNER!

Congrats to Karen L, the January giveaway winner. Want a super cool prize pack like Karen is going to get? All you have to do is comment on my posts and at the end of every month names go into a pot and one is pulled out to win! Everytime you comment, you get entered! (only one entry per post!) Good luck for February!

Valentine Crayons!

Looking for a great and inexpensive craft for Valentine's Day??? Well, Matthew and I made one the other day, and so far, it's a big hit! Simply take all your broken pieces of crayons you have laying around and plac ethem into silicon molds. I bought a 2 pack at Target for $2.50. Then place in the oven at 250 degress until they all melt. When they come out, let them cool and they pop right out! We placed them in cute bags, attached a tag and WAH-LAH instant and inexpensive Valenttine's gifts for all his friends. I have to admit that I have been enjoying them too :)

Bloggy Carnival Winners

CONGRATS TO MY CARNIVAL GIVEAWAY WINNERS!!!!!!

To all the 77 entrants- Thanks! Visit our blog often! Freebies and Giveaways often!

1. Fontaine- Southern California
2. Angel - Oak Habor, Washington
3. Martha- Haughton, Louisiana

Thanks for visiting and I hope you come back again soon!

Prayers...

Another request for prayers, thoughts, or good vibes for my family. My great uncle who was like a grandfather to me and like a dad to my father passed away this morning in his sleep. My dad and him are lifelong farmers and farm several operations together. This came out of left field. He was 74 in great health and such a wonderful man. He served in the Navy aboard the USS Sellstrom. He and my great aunt Nancy are/were only 1 month away from celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on March 1st. My little guy thought the world of him and just talked to him on the phone yesterday and told him he wanted to come play with his tractor. (Uncle Bob lets him play with a collectible tractor when he visits) I pray that the good Lord be with our family and comfort my dad, Aunt Nancy, and the rest of us during this time. Times like this make me realize my own mortality. When we leave this earth, we take nothing. I hope to leave memories for my family of good times, laughter, and love. God bless.

A Casual Discovery!

I discovered such a cute shop over at www.casualcloud.etsy.com. This is the "Everything Box" listed in her shop! She has several others as well! Head on on over her little corner of Etsy all the way from Texas! (As a note, she is a member of the February Embellishment Swap at 62cards. Can't wait to see what she sends! )

NEW Amy Butler Cuts!!

New cut outs from Amy Butler papers are in My Etsy Shop! My customers LOVE her designs, as do I!!!! Here are a few of the new items- scalloped rectangles and mini tags!

Power outage.

News says the count without power is 600,000 across the state. Sure hope everyone stays safe.

New items and an Ice Storm. Grand!

Been busy doing lost of exciting new stuff, until yesterday. KY got a huge ice/snow storm. We have no power, but are safe, warm, and blessed down the road. Over 75,000 in the Louisville area without. My parents an hour and a half away are out as well. Dad has the generators all hooked up via tractors at the milk barn, yes, we have a dairy farm. Needless to say, ice, snow, hills in the country, milk tankers, broke fences, powerlines, and the water supply shut off makes for an interesting and tiring scence. Please send thoughts, pryaers, or good vibes, your choice, to my Dad. He is a hell of a man.

Here are a few pics of the new items.

GIVEAWAY DAY!!!

I am participating in GiveAway Carnival Over at http://www.bloggygiveaways.com/ Add yourself as a follower of my blog and get an extra entry! Let me know you addded us in your comment post!!!

MY GIVEAWAY:- ANY 3 ITEMS FROM MY ETSY SHOP! I have lots of scrapbooking supplies, embellisments, card making items, etc. Take a look, leave a comment of your 3 picks, and wait to see if you win!!!!! I might just pick more than one! ENDS: February 1st at 12:00 am EST. I will notify the randomly picked winner(s) via email. If you comment w/o a blog, be sure to leave your email address.

We do a giveaway every month of lots of new stuff! Be sure and come back soon!
Looking for a scrapbook page swap or embellishment swap? Join us, for free of course, at Club62

Club62 Scrap Page & Embellishment Swap!

New things happening here! Introducing the Club62 Scrapbook Page and Embellishment Swap! Read al the details HERE and email me to join us! We already have participants from over 7 states! Share your talents, drive traffic to your store or website, gain follwers to your blog, or simply join in to get some great new pages, embellishments, and ideas!!!! From beginner to super scrapper, you are all welcome!!!

Giveaway!!!

January is coming to an end! Remember to leave your comments for a chance to win this month's giveaway!!! Lots of goodies!!

Cruise Crazy!

Here are a few pics I wanted to share from vacation. Matthew was wonderful and the 13 of us who went had a blast together as we always do! More to come later!

Baby Shower Invites

I was asked by my Mother-In-Law to create inviations to a baby shower she is hosting later this month. Here is the finished product. Hope the gals in texas enjoyed them! Thanks to my friend KC who was kind enough to let me borrow her New Arrival Cricut cartridge. I don't have that one...yet. :)

New!

New things happening around here! Yes, we are back from Vacation . All orders placed while I was gone have been shipped. I will post pics of vaycay later! For now, check out my new store at Artfire. Super excited. Only $7 a month and I can list unlimited items and no fees when I sell an item. BIG difference than Etsy. For example. Etsy bill last month- $42.40. If I had been with Artfire- $7, no matter what. Interested? Go HERE and sign up! I can earn points for those registering through me! I would appreciate the support! Nonetheless, I support any site that is trying to HELP crafters by keep fees low!!!
Good to be back- I miss the warm weather of the islands though!!!

Great sites!

Want some great craft ideas from a super crafty lady??? Check out Grace Violet!

I don't quilt. Wish I could, but I have never tried! Iknow one of my loyal readers, Lovie, does though. SO, for you quitlers, here is a site I found for quilting supplies! Wish Upon A Quilt! Enjoy!

And on a side note, Today we are at sea heading to Ocho Rios. This is my son's 1st cruise and I don't know who is more excited, him, us, or my parents and sister, who are all with us, along with some of their friends! Bon Voyage!

VAY CAY!!!!

Okay- So as I mentioned my family and I are on vacation in the Caribbean, so I have scheudled posts while we are gone to share with you more great sites, blogs, finds, etc. If I get a chance to post an active post while at sea, then I will! So, please be patient if you ask a question and it takes longer than normal to reply! All orders from MY SHOP will be shipped Tuesday, January 20th. I decided to leave the shop open while I was gone for those needing items, just be aware of the ship date please!!! Stay tuned for more great links!!!

Welcome!

Just wanted to say welcome to new visitors! Thanks for the comments! Please come back! Just to let you know, for every post comment you leave, your name is entered into my monthly giveaway! You can only have one entry per post, but you can comment every day and have 31 chances to win!!!!

Can you believe that Valentine's will be here before we know it! In college I decided that February 14th was Singles Awareness Day. If you were single in February, come the 14th you were VERY aware of it :) My sweetie, who I met in college, never let me forget I was loved, but I really think there should be a singles day! Enjoy these cute tags!

And more pretty little things!

I will save you the details, as you can read them from yesterday's post! The only difference here is that these are four layer flowers instead of three and have a lavender and a coordinating paper. A neat look nonetheless! Enjoy!

Pretty little things!

Lately customers have been loving the embellishments and add ons I have been offering in my shop. When I see something is well received, it inspires me to make and offer more! I LOVE these cute new flower embellishments! I punched three different papers, a green/white dot, a pink, and a frosted yellow. When I put them together, I noticed basically elementary color combos! Yellow and pink make orange! Who knew that 1st grade class would come in handy at 27! lol. Thanks Mrs. Hatcher! The orange look really looks neat! These will more than likely be a hit with cardmakers and scrapbookers!

Tag it!

A new year means NEW items! I found these great Amy Butler buttons on CLEARANCE, (I know, right????!) I think they were making room for the new line coming soon. Anyways, I could see them as cute little tags and some paper, string, adhesive, and a punch or two later...WAHLAH!

Check Out these blogs!

I love finding new and exciting sites and blogs! SO, thought I would share a few of my discoveries with you today! Check them out!

Who doesn't love a giveaway???? So, follow Bloggy Giveaways for chances to win all kinds of stuff all the time! All you have to do is comment for a chance to win. (Same way to win as here!!!)

Diane over at Four Paws & Co. always has something creative to say and shares tons of pictures! Stop by and tell her hello!

Want good food and recipes on a budget? Try a bite from the crew at Prudence Penny Wise!

More to come tomorrow!

Battle in the Bluegrass

Just so you know- I am a HUGE UK fan!  today, the country's #2 biggest rivalry as listed by ESPN- Kentucky vs. Louisville. So, in the spirit of the Big Blue- GO CATS! (Just for the record- we won the football game this year!)

ANd the winner is......

So many great comments to read adn number! So, I decided to pick 2 winners for December Gift Bags! Congrats to LOVIE and ALLY! Please email me your shipping address to sammyejo@62cards.com so I can get your goodies to you!! As for the others, PLEASE continue to post comments, link/follow to my blog, and spread the word! Thanks so much! January's giveaway is underway! As usual, leave a comment to be eligible and *new* link to my blog somewhere on your site! In a post, a sidebar, as a follower, etc. For every comment you will receive one chance to win (only one per blog entry). If you link to this blog, post about this blog, or become a follower, you will get another "ticket"! Thanks so much!!!!!

Happy New Year's! NEW ITEMS!!!

Happy NEW YEAR!!!! Each year I say a pray that this one be even better than the one before. I got a major creative surge after the new year's kiss with the hubby. I ran upstairs to my craft area, sat down and for the past 2 hours have been working on my new luggage bag tags! I bought these adorable purse/bag sticker embellishments (Amy Butler for K & Company) not knowing what i was going to do. What I did know is that I would find SOMETHING to do with them. I just didn't know it would come to me at midnight on new years! :) So, here they are! No more ugly tags at the airport!!!! See MY SHOP for more!
Check back later today for the winner of the Dec. 2008 giveaway! Remember to keep the coments coming in January for your chances to win!

SPECIAL- The 1st sale of $10 or more in 2009 gets a FREE bag tag!!!!!!!!!!!!!

happy birthday bubba

Today would be my brother's 22nd birthday. I have thought about him all day. It seems unreal that this is the 4th birthday I have spent without him here. For those of you who don't know, or haven't read my profile, he was killed in a car accident 3 years ago Sept. He was 18. He was/is so very special to my parents, sister, and I. the 62 in my name was his football number. My son was born 11 months after he passed. He is named after his Uncle Matt.

Bub- We miss you and love you with all our heart and soul. There isn't a day that goes by that we don't wish you were here with us making us laugh, giving us those big bear hugs, or cracking a joke. Your spirit lives on in the stories we share, the scholarships we give, the photos we have and the memories we made. You were our rock. Life isn't the same without you, nor will it ever be. WE LOVE YOU. Samuel Matthew Monroe 12-.30.86-9.28.05

Sneak a peek!!!!

Sneak peek of what's to come for Valentine's! I LOVE using this recycled paper. It's 100% recycled and 20% is post consumer waste. Makes me feel like I am doing a little something good for the planet!!!!!!

Stamp makers....

I ws looking for a neat stamp a while back and ran across etsian Tommie! Here is her blog. She hand carves all her stamps and I have been very happy with the sets I have bought. She is VERY reasonable too! I had her do one for my shop, one for my cousin who is starting to make some cards herself, and bought a couple of her doodles! (Hearts, bumblebees, etc) Enjoy and have a great day!

OH- working on more Amy Butler paper embellishments to list in the shop! I know one reader, Diane, will love that for sure! Thanks for the support!!!

Happy Birthday cards!!!

I am so excited about these new cards! I am just waiting for my aunt's upcoming birthday so I can use one! I used my cricut wild card program, 65 lb 100 % recycled kraft paper, and those yummy Amy Butler

papers I talked about earlier. Then, I just got creative! Enjoy!!!! Don't forget the end of the month giveaway is coming up! Comment for your chance to win!