I Just Might Explode

Sponsor Giveaway! June.

I'm changing things up with the sponsor giveaways and now we are doing one giveaway to one winner! So one lucky person gets all these great products!

Here's what my wonderful sponsors are giving away:

Natalie is giving away a 8x10 print of this lovely lady. It was a print originally created in a personal art journal.  

Natalie's Blog & Shop.

Hope is giving away one spot in a Paper Relics journaling class of the winner's choice.

Hope's Blog and Shop. 

Lovely Notions: Creating an inspiration journal, one that analyzes the things we love and why we love them to help us focus to follow our hearts in daily life.

Nostalgic Musings: Journaling walkthroughs and prompts, as well as detailed posts about journal types, supplies and more.

Three Times the Charm: Live journaling class (starts june 20th) with walkthroughs, prompts and challenges.

Melisa is giving away a fabric hair bow.

Melisa's Blog and Shop. 

 

To be entered in the giveaway, just comment on this post by Tuesday the 28th(be sure to include your email address!). 

To get more entries, visit each shop and tell me your what your favorite item is. Do this individually by each comment(in the end you could be entered four times). 

Good luck! 

Sponsor Giveaway! Pattycakes Vintage!

It's a sponsor giveaway day!

First up is Patty from Pattycakes Vintage. Patty and I were first online friends, turned real life friends once I moved to New York. She's super lovely and has a great Etsy shop.

"I am a 31 year old nanny in the big bad NYC(well its big but not bad) If I had my way I would live off of selling awesome vintage items, working out of a house in beautiful upstate NY.  Of course this house would have the perfect porch for me to drink my coffee on and read a good book after all this shop keeping has gone on.  One day:)  As you can see, I dream big but feel that its not that far out of reach.  My shop started with my very minor hoarding problem of all things beautiful, unique and well old.  After awhile I realized that I just could not keep every retro camera and mug I found so I decided to open up Pattycake's Vintage on Etsy.  I have enjoyed sending off my items to good homes and actually learning along the way about one of a kind items I come across. It has been a fun experience and I hope it continues on being just that."

Some items from Patty's shop:

(vintage wooden dutch shoes)

(vintage typewriter)

Patty is "giving away one vintage ice cream dish perfect for that lazy day 2 scoop treat or as a great catch all on your dresser for your rings and baubles". 

Patty is also offering a 10% off coupon code, FROMOURSPONSORS. Thank Patty! :)

To enter the giveaway, just comment below with your name and email address by Monday night. For more chances to win, favorite Patty's shop on Etsy or comment seperately with your favorite item in her shop. 

Good luck!

 

Moxie Mandie Giveaway!

One half of today's double trouble giveaway is a $10 store credit for my awesome sponsors's shop, Moxie Mandie. Mandie makes some adorable sewn pouches AND is one of the sweetest ladies on the web. I was so pleased to have her sponsor this month. I asked her a few questions and here's what she said!

Tell me about yourself?

I'm a mid-west girl that's been living in the desert for the last 4 and a half years since marrying my husband, Gabe. I like paper, fabric, and design, and live a very clutter-y life. I sew, blog, take photos & LOVE babies, though we don't have any of our own...YET. :)

Why did you start Moxie Mandie?

I learned to sew a little less than a year ago, and LOVED it. I'm quite the accessories girl, so it occurred naturally that I began sewing purses, pouches, and other fun accessories for my family & friends, and when they loved the gifts I sent, I thought that this might be a fun, creative way to make some moolah. You see, Gabe will be quitting his job in the next year to finish his degree, so I'm hoping to use my shop to supplement our income & have fun making pretties at the same time!

What's your favorite part of your shop?

Oh goodness- I love it all, well almost all! I really enjoy finding patterns that complement each other, but that aren't too matchy-matchy. I enjoy pairing modern and designer fabrics with thrifted goods- not only to upcycle, but to create a one-of-a-kind product. Getting an email notification that I've made another sale is pretty awesome, too! :)

Guilty pleasure?

Ooooh...Lately, I've been really digging those teensy little Haagen-Dazs cups. They are SO good, and only a little bad for you! ;)

So, to get your hands on one of Mandie's stitched pouches, leave a comment on this post by Monday night with your name and email address. If you want to triple your chances, you can always visit Mandie's shop and tell me what's your favorite or tweet about the giveaway!

Thanks, Mandie!

Wild Olive giveaway

Mollie's been sponsoring for quite awhile and I can't believe I haven't had a sponsor interview+giveaway with her yet! She is crazy talented and SO nice. Today she's giving away a $10 shop credit to her darling shop.

Now, let's meet Mollie!

Tell me about yourself?

Like most people, I'm a mix of so many things, and they all come together to make a crazy girl who makes lots of things, loves Jesus, could listen to Sufjan Stevens all day, leaves creative messes all over, likes baking treats, loses her temper with her brothers, sees potential in nearly everything, spends too much time looking at lovely things online, and thinks things are better with faces.

Why did you start Wild Olive?

I didn't put a whole lot of thought into it up front, which was probably a mistake, but the reasoning had something to do with needing a creative outlet. Even though my "regular work" is doing graphic design, there's something different about the things I create for my blog and shop. I think about what my customers and readers like and want, but ultimately, I get to make things that I love. I need that.

What's your favorite Wild Olive item?

Usually it's whatever I'm working on at the time. I get so excited about new things! But overall, I really like all of the Teeny Tinies. They are oh so cute and tiny!

What's been the biggest positive about your shop and blog?

Can I have two? Because first, it's the people that I meet. Even though it's through a computer screen, knowing that I have people that support me, and love the same crazy things I do is so wonderful. But I'm also thrilled to have a way to support ministries and organizations that are doing so much. Both the blog and the shop have been a fantastic platform, for which I am so thankful.

Allright. You know the deal. Leave a comment on this post by Monday night with your name and email address for a chance to win. Like always, you can visit Mollie's shop and tell me your favorite item or tweet about the giveaway for more chances. (Be sure to comment seperately).

Much love!

Kara

CSN Giveaway Two!

Giveaway time! This giveaway is cool. You could get anything from a counter stool to a pillow to a blender.

The nice folks at CSN are giving away a $70 gift certificate to use in one of their stores. I thought it'd be a fun way to get started into some Christmas gifts or just something for yourself. Leave a comment on this post by Friday night (the 3rd) and be entered away!

 

 

(retro stool)

Happy Tuesday!

Winter Stories class giveaway!

Helllllo weekend! I am SO excited for this one. I'm heading out of the city again with Patty to her sister's house for Saturday and the night. They are making me homemade food and I've heard promises of a fire, crafts, and movies. I'm not bringing my computer and looking forward to disconnecting and enjoying lovely people. And homemade food. HOMEMADE FOOD. This is huge, folks.

Anyhow, it's time for a Friday sponsor giveaway and I'm really excited about this one. You may remember the interview I did a few months back for Hope from Paper Relics? She has teamed up with the darling Kari Ramstrom and they have created what looks to be such an amazing class called Winter Stories.

Here's more...

Tell me about yourselves?

I’m Kari, otherwise known as ArtsyMama. I have 
blogged for just about 5 years and have enjoyed hosting swaps, blog parties and several holiday classes . I fully immerse myself in each season through photography and journaling. I love to weave living a creative life into the ordinary moments of each day, savoring the daily celebrations I share with family and friends. 

I'm Hope - from Paper Relics and I have had a love for old paper and journaling for years. Recently I started to combine the two, along with lettering - and I have become addicted to art journaling. I love documenting things from the smallest every day details to trips with my friends and family to holidays - which is what helped inspire some of my ideas for this course. More about Hope in this post.

What's your e-course about?

This class is about taking this particular time of year and capturing its essence. Collecting images, artifacts and memories of our winter stories for 2010. Ultimately, in the class, each one of us will come up with a keepsake book/art journal. The class is about seeking beauty and meaning in everything and embracing it, then documenting it. Each weekday beginning November 29th, we will provide a prompt or creative project and it will continue for four weeks. There will be a journaling prompt to fill your book up with memories, traditions and wishes, a creative project, and a post from one of us exploring a topic we love.

Why'd you create the class?

We created the class because Hope and I both have our own individual styles and we wanted to share the season from a variety of perspectives and exercises. Working with the two of us, you will get techniques and points of view from two different creatives whose styles overlap, but are very different, which will help you discover or enhance your own style.

What do you think people will get out of the class?

We are hoping that people will take the prompts and creative exercises as an invitation to make the holiday season an authentic and cherished time of the year. They will also have a keepsake book as documentation of the season, that they can then share and add to each year, if they’d like.

And guess what? You can win a spot in the class! (Or if you want to go ahead and purchase the class, you'll be reimbursed if you win). Leave a comment with your name and email address. While you're at it, tell me what you are most looking forward to this winter. 

Have a great weekend! :)

Kara

Ciera Design Giveaway!

It's Friday. Which means it's almost the weekend.

And today is a sponsor giveaway day. Which means your weekend will be even better!

This giveaway is from the lovely Ciera Design.

I am a graphic designer born and raised in New Orleans. This city plays a huge role in my creativity. The passion that people have here really motivates me. My parents have also inspired me to pursue a career in a creative field. They started a sign shop together before I was born, in what turned out to be my first bedroom. Being raised in a creative family is the reason I started to take art classes in 2nd grade. I continued taking art classes and for high school I was excepted to New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA). I went to my normal high school for half of each day and NOCCA for the other half. During my time at NOCCA I realized that I could not see myself pursuing a career as a fine artist. I also realized that I was very organized and systematic while working on projects. We had a few computer/design sessions and although I was not exactly sure what it was, I knew that I wanted to be a graphic designer!

I went to college and studied design and photography. When I graduated I got a job at a great advertising agency and gained a lot of experience in my four years there. I recently decided to break away and start my own company - Ciera Design! I also just opened my first etsy shop. Right now I am selling my photography but I will soon be adding some items from my graphic design collection. I have been self employed for a little over a month and I am loving it!

What's your dream? My dream is to continue to grow as a graphic designer, to continue to push myself creatively and most importantly to HAVE FUN and enjoy my life with the people I love!

Biggest guilty pleasure?

I would say that my biggest guilty pleasure is cheese. Pizza, cheese and crackers, cheese fries, I can't get enough of it!

Thanks Ciera! You can also find her at her blog, Etsy, and website.

Ciera is giving away two prints from her shop,  so you get to take your pick from her awesome  iphoneography prints.

To be entered in the giveaway, leave a comment on this post with your email address. To get more entries, visit Ciera's shop and tell me your favorite item. OR, you can tweet about the giveaway. Seperate these entries by different comments. I'll pick a winner on Wednesday night!

 

Paper Relics Giveaway

Apparently it is giveaway month. But, that's alright! Giveaways are fun-fun and especially this one!

It's coming from miss Hope from Paper Relics. Hope is running a six week class called Nourish Your Soul and offering a spot in the e-course up for grabs! 

I am so intrigued by Hope's journal pages and I think you will be too. Let's get to know this lovely lady.

Tell us about yourself?

Hope is known for mixing old elements with modern principles to create unique and whimsical designs for her greeting card line, Paper Relics. Her work has been featured in several national magazines, including Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion and Country Living.

Hope also works as a freelance designer, helping small, creative companies develop identities and grow their businesses. She aims to live every day with grace and authenticity while listening to her heart and finding balance throughout her life. All of which are reflected in the projects she takes on.

Hope also has a love for art journaling and enjoys sharing her pages with others to inspire them to start a journal of their own.

 

Why prompted you to create your business?

Really people loved my collages and asked for prints to be made availabe for purchase so I obliged. Then I started adding some postcards to the collection and next thing you know I was designing cards and collage sheets. I also started to get into the freelancing a bit when people started asking me who designed my site, business cards, etc.

It started out as a fun hobby, and now it is my full time job.

Tell us about the journaling e-course?

This class focuses mostly on prompts, ones to make you think, explore your mind and stretch your imagination. For every prompt, there will be a video of my finished prompt, showing my spread from start to finsih, the video will show what I was thinking, how I completed it, including any techniques I used.

This course was developed after having people express interest in a prompt only class after taking my Nostalgics Musing Journaling course, which offers both prompts and exercises showing some fun techniques.

What's a perfect day for you?

Cuddled up on the couch with my husband by my side, my pup snoring at my feet and a good book in my hand.

Ahhhh. I am seriously inspired to do some art journaling just looking at these pictures.

You know the drill. Leave a comment on this post by midnight on Saturday the 17th for a chance to soak up some of Hope's mad skills.

As always, if you want another chance at the giveaway, tweet about it or add Hope on Twitter.

(P.S. I'll pick a winner for the Indie & Chic Giveaway tomorrow!)