Best Blogger Contest

As a designer member of the Association for the Creative Industry (AFCI), I am privileged to work with some of the most talented artists, designers, and bloggers in the industry.

This past January, during the AFCI annual trade show "Creativation"  Prime Publishing/Fave Crafts invited the creative influencers to their annual Blogger event. The evening is sponsored by some of the best creative manufacturers in the industry.

The event is designed to allow the two groups to mingle and get to know each other. Allow the manufacturers to learn about the designers, artists, and bloggers, areas of expertise, and let the creative influencers learn what the manufacturers are looking for to see if a partnership can be formed between the two.

One of the absolute funnest parts of the event is that all those "creative influencer  types" get to participate in Prime Publishing/Fave Crafts "Best Blogger" Contest using products from the sponsors.
There were over 40 entries, and 20 were chosen as finalists and mine was one of them.

My "Modern End Table from Wedding Keepsakes" is up against 19 other amazing projects. The prizes are all cash awards and determined by public vote.

 You can check out the amazing projects including my end table here at -----> Best Blogger Contest and then vote for your favorite!

Thanks to Prime Publishing/Fave Crafts for being amazing hosts, and to the wonderful sponsors: Deflecto, Leisure Arts, Love Knitting, Marvy Uchida, Premier Yarn, Plaid, Polyform, Red Heart, Sakura, Share A Sale, Testors/Rust-Oleum, Xyron, Yarnspirations

National Mod Podge Day Winner

National Mod Podge Day was a blast. I loved viewing the videos on  Live Stream and seeing the projects being promoted by Plaid Crafts. We hope you enjoyed our "wobble people" are inspired to make your own!

As promised, we had a $50 prize pack to give away  sponsored by Plaid Crafts. The winning comment was made by:

Amy L

My favorite childhood toy was a cupcake doll. I begged for one for Christmas when I was 4. It is the first thing I remember really wanting.

Congrats Amy! You will be contacted on how to claim your prize.

A big THANK YOU to Plaid Crafts for sponsoring the give away!

Doodled Handkerchief Doll-April Mystery Box Challenge

Challenge Accepted!

My friends over at I Love to Create asked if I was up to the April Mystery Box challenge and you bet  accepted no questions asked! I love playing with their products and couldn't wait to see what I had to create with! 

Photo courtesy of Margie Higuchi

This fabulous assortment of products came in my mail box and I couldn't wait to play with it! (In fact so much I didn't snap a quick "before" photo! Thanks Margie for coming to my rescue!) I was excited to play with the Tulip Fabric Markers and inside our package was a plain cotton handkerchief. 

When I was younger, I remembered having a hankie (or a cloth napkin if we were at a restaurant,) turned into a doll to keep my sister and I amused when there was a long wait. The dolls were put together with very little effort, and kept us amused for quite some time, first with the "creating process" and then using our imaginations to play with our babies.  I thought it would be fun to recreate a doodled version of my childhood memory.

 To add some color and fun to the plain white of the cotton cloth, I started with some doodling around the hem of the hankie, before I tied her into doll shape. 

After doodling, I created her head by stuffing it with a few inches of cotton batting and tying it off with ribbon. I knotted the top hem around her "neck" to create her arms/shoulders, then drew on a simple face. 

I love how she turned out and how little time it took. From beginning doodle to finishing touch she took less than 20 minutes! I can't wait to make more! This sweet baby is going to find it's way into a shoebox gift for Operation Christmas Child and I'm sure she will be joined by more than a few sisters and brothers as well!

Thanks I Love to Create! I had so much fun recreating a childhood memory!!!

How would you like to win a fun prize package from i Love To Create?  Use the form below to enter :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Red Heart Yarn-Contest!

Do you remember the first "yarn craft" you made? I do! I was 4 years old and just read the book Charlotte's Web. I wanted to be like Charlotte and so I decided to make my own "web" in my bedroom. I found a skein of yarn (it was orange)  and started tying it to every imaginable surface. The idea was to make my "web" all over my bedroom and then be able to crawl on it. I worked hard on it, so imagine my disappointment when my mom came in and wasn't as pleased with me as I thought she would be. (Apparently it took almost 2 hours to cut down my "web".)

Image from "String Fling"

As I have grown, naturally  my yarn crafting abilities have grown too.  From the humble beginnings of web making, I progressed to "god's eyes," and finger weaving, to knitting. My skill level knitting wise is basic, but that doesn't stop me from appreciating the gorgeous creations of my mother-in-law and friends. I love seeing what they create and then learning about the creative process and what supplies they used. I then use those recommendations to guide my purchasing decisions.

Apparently I'm not alone what influences my purchasing decisions. In a 2012 Fleishmen Hillard Survey.  Women value the opinion of others very highly when it comes to making a purchasing decision, and half of all women consider it their role to help others make smart decisions when it comes to purchasing product.

 The "Women's Choice Award" has a goal of helping women make better purchasing decisions. This product seal is awarded to companies and products, that are most recommended in a poll of thousands of women across the united states. For 2015 that seal was awarded to Red Heart Yarn. It's important to know this isn't just the brand used by women, it signifies that women are are willing to recommend it to others. As Delia Passi  CEO and Founder of the Women's Choice Awards states:

“When a woman is willing to recommend a brand or service to others, it means that business has earned her loyalty. Those are the businesses we wish to recognize for their efforts and commitment to the No. 1consumer – women." 

To celebrate their achievement. Red Heart Yarn is sponsoring a giveaway right here! One lucky reader will win a $50 prize packages sent directly to them by Red Heart! The prize includes:

Approximate Retail Value $50 

3 Red Heart Sizzle

2 Red Heart Medley

2 Red Heart Boutique Swanky

2 Red Heart Boutique Sashay Boho

1 Red Heart Boutique Treasure

1 Red Heart Tote Bag

 

What do you have to do to win???
Leave ONE comment telling me how about what influences your purchasing decision.  How important are "friends' recommendations" to you when buying a product?  Do you solely listen to friends? Do you research and also get recommendations? What influences your purchasing decisions?

Comment by Midnight March 26th, 2015 CST. One winner will be chosen at random from all eligible commenters. As a special 'thank-you' to my followers I'm awarding all followers that comment an extra entry. (Indicate in your comment if you follow my blog.) This contest is open GLOBALLY...yes you red that correctly. Red Heart has generously agreed to ship the prize anywhere in the world.

A HUGE thank you to Red Heart for generosity in sponsoring this contest!