It’s time for another Silhouette promotion!  This one involves vinyl, which is probably the thing I cut most with my machine.  Check my next post for how I used vinyl as a stencil to make the Sound of Music nursery art in the DIY Blogger House, but for now here are the details on the promotion and a giveaway!

Don’t have a CAMEO yet?

Go here to take advantage of that deal.

You can find the vinyl here.

Now onto the reason you’re all really here. 

Want to win a CAMEO plus white vinyl, black vinyl, and transfer tape?

(I know you do!)

One lucky Crap I’ve Made reader will win her (or his) very own Silhouette CAMEO™ + vinyl bundle

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment on this post.

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES:

Follow the Silhouette blog.  Come back and leave a comment ON THIS POST (on the blog, not on Facebook or in response to your email subscription) saying that you did.

Follow Silhouette on Pinterest.  Come back and leave a comment ON THIS POST saying that you did.

***3 possible entries per person***

Giveaway is open to US residents age 18 and over only and closes Wednesday, August 29th at noon MST.  Winner will be chosen at random using a WordPress Plugin (And The Winner Is…) and notified by email.  Winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Be sure to check back because I’ll be updating this post with other giveaways in blog land as I come across them!

For some reason (probably related to my blondeness), I forgot that when I posted my porch makeover earlier this month I was also supposed to give away a $100 gift card to Lowe’s.

So, I’m doing it now.

What’s in it for you?

A $100 Lowe’s gift card.

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment on this post telling me what “curb appeal” project you’d tackle with $100 from Lowe’s.

That’s it.  Quick and easy!

Giveaway is open to US residents age 18 and over only and closes Tuesday, May 29th at noon MST.  Winner will be chosen at random using a WordPress Plugin (And The Winner Is…) and notified by email.  Winner has 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen…I need the winner’s info before the end of the month!

And while you’re waiting to see if you won, head on over for your FREE Subscription to Lowe’s Creative Ideas Magazine:

Or, check out the Lowe’s Creative Idea’s app (also free)!  I have it on my iPhone and it’s delightful!

+

1 roll 12-inch Black Premium Vinyl

1 roll 12-inch White Premium Vinyl

1 roll 12-inch Transfer Paper

=

$269.99

Go here to add the bundle to your cart and use code “CRAP” to take advantage of the savings.  This promo runs through May 16th.

If you already have a Silhouette, you can get 40% off all vinyl using the same link and code “CRAP”!

WANT TO TAKE YOUR CHANCES AND TRY TO WIN ONE?  HERE’S WHAT COULD BE IN IT FOR YOU:

One lucky Crap I’ve Made reader will win her (or his) very own Silhouette CAMEO™

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment on this post.

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES:

Follow the Silhouette blog.  Come back and leave a comment ON THIS POST (on the blog, not on Facebook or in response to your email subscription) saying that you did.

Follow Silhouette on Pinterest.  Come back and leave a comment ON THIS POST saying that you did.

***3 possible entries per person***

Giveaway is open to US residents age 18 and over only and closes Monday, May 14th at noon MST.  Winner will be chosen at random using a WordPress Plugin (And The Winner Is…) and notified by email.  Winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

I’ve already showed you one of the things I made with the roll of vinyl Silhouette sent me this month:

Vintage sign tutorial here.

I’ll have my latest vinyl project for you tomorrow.  I’ll also be updating this post with links to the other giveaways going on in blog land as I become aware of them, so be sure to check back!

Infarrantly Creative

Skip to My Lou

Crap I’ve Made

I Heart Naptime

House of Hepworths

Craftaholics Anonymous

Way to get the week/month started off awesome, right?

First of all, here’s the promotion if you don’t think you’re going to win:

+

=

$269.99

Go here to add the bundle to your cart and use code “CRAP” to take advantage of the savings.  This promo runs through April 10th.

If you already have a Silhouette, you can get the heat transfer starter kit for $24.99 and/or take 40% off of all other heat transfer material using the same link and code “CRAP”!

WANT TO TAKE YOUR CHANCES AND TRY TO WIN ONE?  HERE’S WHAT COULD BE IN IT FOR YOU:

One lucky Crap I’ve Made reader will win her (or his) very own Silhouette CAMEO™ PLUS a heat transfer starter kit!

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment on this post.

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES:

Follow the Silhouette blog.  Come back and leave a comment ON THIS POST (on the blog, not on Facebook or in response to your email subscription) saying that you did.

Follow Silhouette on Pinterest.  Come back and leave a comment ON THIS POST saying that you did.

***3 possible entries per person***

Giveaway is open to US residents age 18 and over only and closes Sunday, April 8th at noon MST.  Winner will be chosen at random using a WordPress Plugin (And The Winner Is…) and notified by email.  Winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Want to see what I made?

I’ll have the details for you tomorrow (plus a free download if you want to make it yourself).  I’ll also be updating this post with links to the other giveaways going on in blog land as I become aware of them, so be sure to check back!

Infarrantly Creative

I Heart Naptime

The Idea Room

Crafting Chicks

Whipperberry

Craftaholics Anonymous

UCreate

Eighteen25

SugarDoodle

House of Hepworths

The nice folks at Silhouette offered to let me give away another Cameo and I jumped at the chance…I know how many of you are dying to get your hands on one.

The Cameo is the new and improved personal craft cutter from Silhouette.  The Cameo connects to your computer allowing you to cut fonts and images in cardstock, vinyl, heat transfer material, fabric, etc.  I was a HUGE fan of the Silhouette SD and I wondered just how much better the Cameo could be.  The answer:  WAY WAY WAY better.  In addition to the bigger cutting area, it’s quieter.  The blade adjustment is easier and you don’t have to worry about losing the little caps.  Your media loads SO much easier and there’s a pause button.  The display is lighted, in case you like to craft in the dark. 

If you’re not feeling lucky and NEED to get your hands on one, here are the details on the current Silhouette promotion:

Fabric Ink Starter Kit

Silhouette Cameo + Fabric Ink Starter Kit for $299 using code “CRAP”.  This promotion is valid December 29th thru January 5th.  You can wait and see if you win or you can order now.  Supplies for this month’s promo are limited.  (Add the machine and the kit to your cart separately and then use the code at check out.)  If you already have a machine (The SD or the Cameo) and just want to get your hands on some of the ink, code “CRAP” gets you 20% off any of the ink supplies (starter kit included).

WANT TO TAKE YOUR CHANCES AND TRY TO WIN ONE?  HERE’S WHAT COULD BE IN IT FOR YOU:

One lucky Crap I’ve Made reader will win her (or his) very own Cameo!

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment on this post.

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES:

“Like” Silhouette on Facebook.  Come back and leave a comment ON THIS POST (on the blog, not on Facebook or in response to your email subscription) saying that you did.

Follow Silhouette on Pinterest.  Come back and leave a comment ON THIS POST saying that you did.

***3 possible entries per person***

Giveaway is open to US residents age 18 and over only and closes Tuesday, January 3rd at noon MST.  Winner will be chosen at random using a WordPress Plugin (And The Winner Is…) and notified by email.  Winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

I’ll have a fabric ink project for you in the next couple of days.  If you want to see it in action before then, you can go here.  I’ll also be updating this post with links to the other giveaways going on in blog land as I become aware of them, so be sure to check back!

Infarrantly Creative

Tatertots & Jello

Today’s Creative Blog

Crap I’ve Made (You are here!)

Skip to My Lou

The Idea Room

Craftaholics Anonymous

My Repurposed Life

Whipper Berry

All Things Thrifty

Eighteen 25

Brown Paper Packages

Sew Dang Cute

Shanty 2 Chic

I Heart Naptime

Tip Junkie

Oopsey Daisy

House of Hepworths

Lil Blue Boo

The Cameo is the new and improved personal craft cutter from Silhouette.  The Cameo connects to your computer allowing you to cut fonts and images in cardstock, vinyl, heat transfer material, etc.  I was a HUGE fan of the Silhouette SD and I wondered just how much better the Cameo could be.  The answer:  WAY WAY WAY better.  In addition to the bigger cutting area, it’s quieter.  The blade adjustment is easier and you don’t have to worry about losing the little caps.  Your media loads SO much easier and there’s a pause button.  The display is lighted, in case you like to craft in the dark. 

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

One lucky Crap I’ve Made reader will win her (or his) very own Cameo!

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment on this post.

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES:

“Like” Silhouette on Facebook.  Come back and leave a comment ON THIS POST (on the blog, not on Facebook or in response to your email subscription) saying that you did.

Follow Silhouette on Pinterest.  Come back and leave a comment ON THIS POST saying that you did.

***3 possible entries per person***

Giveaway is open to US residents age 18 and over only and closes Tuesday, November 22nd at 10pm MST.  Winner will be chosen at random using a WordPress Plugin (And The Winner Is…) and notified by email.  Winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Random story alert - Purple and yellow = pretty much my favorite color combination EVER.  It reminds me of pansies.  I owned a purple car and a purple couch at the same time.  The maid of honor at my wedding wore purple and there were yellow flowers in her bouquet.  Poorly scanned photographic evidence of that:

Where was I?

Oh yeah…the fabric!  When Mark got back to me and told me what the nice folks at Free Spirit were willing to giveaway, I may have squealed out loud.

Are you sitting down?

(If you’re not, that’s kinda weird…who reads blogs whilst standing?)

Free Spirit has agreed to give SIX YARDS of Morning Tides to FOUR separate (and SUPER lucky) Crap I’ve Made readers!

I KNOW!!!

TO ENTER:

(Do as many or as few as you want, leave a separate comment ON THIS POST for each.)

1 – Tell me what you’d make with SIX YARDS of Morning Tides.

2 – Click on over to Mark’s blog.  Leave him a comment.  Tell him hello, tell a joke, compliment his designs…whatever.  Just let him know you were there and you appreciate this fabulous giveaway.

3 – Like Mark’s design page on Facebook.

4 – Follow Mark on Twitter.

5 – Tell me what color your prom dress was.  (Mine was midnight blue.  And what does that have to do with anything?  Nothing.  Nothing at all.)

Giveaway closes Sunday night at 10pm MST.  The winners will receive an email from me.  I’ll post first names on the blog as well.

Ready?  GO!

Let me introduce you to Canton Village Quilt Works, one of the newest Crap I’ve Made sponsors.  Canton Village Quilt Works is an online shop for ALL your quilting needs: fabric, notions, patterns, magazines…even long arm quilting and AccuQuilt die cutting.

Do you waste a lot of time standing in the aisle at the fabric store trying to decide which prints to put together?  (I totally do.)  Canton Village Quilt Works has an excellent selection of precuts to help with that.

They carry thread collections, too.

Delightful, right?  The packaging alone makes me pretty sure I need some!

Still not enough for you?  They carry the most INSANE selection of Kona Cottons that I’ve ever seen.

Canton Village Quilt Works also has a blog chock full of quilty goodness.

What’s in it for you?

Canton Village Quilt Works has provided a Kona Cotton bundle for one lucky reader.

TO ENTER:

Click on over to Canton Village Quilt Works.  Have a look around.  Come back and leave a comment ON THIS POST (on the blog, not on Facebook or in response to your email subscription) saying what your favorite item in the shop is.

Optional bonus entries:

Like Canton Village Quilt Works on Facebook.  Come back and leave a comment on this post saying that you did.

Subscribe to the the Canton Village Quilt Works Newsletter.  Come back and leave a comment on this post saying that you did.

Giveaway runs through 10:00 pm MST on Friday, September 23rd.

I introduced them as a sponsor a few months back?

If that’s still not ringing a bell, here’s the lowdown…

Pick Your Plum offers a different crafting supply type deal (at an INSANE price) every morning at 7:00 MST.  I’m a little bit addicted, and most days I’m not even awake before they’re sold out (my PayPal balance is thankful).  Let’s discuss a few of the things I’ve personally purchased:  outdoor vinyl ($1 per sheet), heat transfer material (50% off), and most recently personalized name stamps for the kiddos ($6.50 each…and when you name your kids weird crap like I do, you know how expensive custom personalization can be).

(I heard a rumor that today’s deal is related to this picture ^)

I’m still kind of mad I missed the day they had jumbo ric rac.  I LOVE ric rac.  If these have already been featured, I’m mad about that, too:

And do you have any idea how hard these cupcake pop things are to find?

Not on Pick Your Plum, baby.

So, why am I talking about Pick Your Plum again?

Because they have a $75 crafting supply kit (full of ribbon, Mod Podge, paint brushes, wrought iron, ric rac, buttons…all sorts of goodies for a crafting goddess) for one lucky Crap I’ve Made reader, that’s why.

Awesome right?

TO ENTER (leave a separate comment ON THIS POST for each entry):

Like Pick Your Plum on Facebook

Sign up to receive the Pick Your Plum Email

Confess what you’ve already caved and bought from Pick Your Plum

***GIveaway closes Sunday night at 10 pm MST***

NOW GET OVER THERE AND CHECK OUT TODAY’S DEAL!

So, about that giveaway.

Let me introduce you to UglySofa.com.

UglySofa.com sells new condition slipcovers from pretty much THE most well known company out there.  They refer to them as “Brand X”, in honor of the X they put on the tags to prevent returns to said company.  I’m going to refer to them as Lottery Yarn, if you catch my drift.  And I think you do.  Right?

You start by determining if your ugly sofa has square cushions

or T cushions

and then you get shopping.

On many of the covers, they show you a real life shot of the cover on a couch, no catalog magic involved.

So, what’s in it for you?

UglySofa.com is giving THREE of you a slipcover (up to $179 retail value) of your choice!

TO ENTER:

Click on over to UglySofa.com.  Have a look around.  Come back and leave a comment on this post saying which slipcover you’ll pick if you win. (Entry #1)

Extra entries:

Go back to UglySofa.com.  Sign up for their newsletter (left hand column).  Come back and leave a comment on this post saying that you did. (Entry #2)

Like UglySofa.com on Facebook.  Come back and leave a comment on this post saying that you did. (Entry #3)

Giveaway will run for one week.  I’d also like to point out that UglySofa.com is running a ridiculously good sale right now where all one piece slipcovers are $29.99 and all separate seat slipcovers are $49.99.  (If you’ve ever priced slipcovers before, you know what I’m talking about.)

Have you heard about GiftCardRescue?

The premise is simple…you sell your unwanted gift cards and get cash in return (or an Amazon credit, if you’d rather, get all the details here). This idea really appeals to me.

Why?

I seriously just pulled all of those out of my wallet.

Yikes.

Some of them have been there for three or four a couple of years.

And the best part about GiftCardRescue? Many of the cards sell for up to 30% off face value!

So, what’s in it for you?

A $50 credit to GiftCardRescue, that’s what! Cool, right? $50 to pretty much anywhere!

TO ENTER:

Click on over to check out GiftCardRescue’s inventory. Have a look around. (Seriously…click over and look at their list. I see some people posting stuff that’s in my picture and NOT on GiftCardRescue at all. They’re offering you $50! You can make one click, right?) See which card looks the best to you. Come back and leave a comment ON THIS POST (not on Facebook or in response to your email subscription) saying what card you’d get with your credit.

Giveaway is open to US residents only and will run through the weekend.

So, Neighbor Kirsten to the rescue!

I’ve mentioned before that some of the best women on Earth live in my neighborhood, right? Remember when I was on TV and a whole bunch of them showed up wearing “CRAPPY FRIEND” shirts?

Pretty great, right?

I want you to meet another one of my neighbors!

This is Kirsten:

The one on the right…obviously.

Aside from being one of the happiest and most pleasant people I’ve ever had the privilege of meeting and a SUPER mom of 5, she’s INSANELY talented! Her kitchen cabinets are green and her piano is red. She LOVES fabric and is “semi new-ish” to designing patterns. She also works a little at her (and my) favorite quilt shop, Material Girls, to get her fabric fix in.

Want to see some of her stuff? Of course you do!

And, my personal favorite, her Mongo bag:

I’m leaving this next part in Kirsten’s own words, because it makes me giggle:

I’m giving away 3 “Lucky” burlap pillow patterns (a greenishly embellished burlap pillow, to be exact)–it is a fun and festive pillow that uses burlap, green fabric scraps, torn cream satin, a variety of green buttons, a big blingy dangling gem, and my favorite ginormous green pom-pom trim. (Any excuse to use what may be the best fabric of all time, the Amy Butler geen dot, has got to be a good thing.)

Kirsten is giving away THREE patterns to make her LUCKY pillow.

These are actual paper patterns, which will be mailed to you. So, for that reason we’re keeping it brief (actual giveaway end date will be plugged in here once I confirm with Kirsten) and US residents only, please.

TO ENTER:

Click on over to Kirsten’s (work in progress, she’d like you to know) site, Pieceable Pear and have a look around. Come back and leave a comment on this post saying which of her patterns is your favorite.

That’s it!

Ready? Set? Go!

If you want to buy the pattern ($6) or a kit to make the pattern ($28), you can pick that up locally at Material Girls, along with burlap, jumbo ric-rac and pom-pom trim, giant flower buttons, and all other manner of fabulousness.

And, $50 value giveaway that EVERY single one of you can use coming your way tomorrow.

I’ll admit that I was not, until they contacted me about reviewing their products. I do, however, own 2 other brands/types of can rotation systems, and they were WAY more expensive than CanOrganizer’s. So, I was interested to see how their stuff compared.

The organizers arrived flat and wrapped in plastic. I was a little nervous about assembling them so I turned that job over to Macy. Plus, if a 10 year old can assemble them, anyone can…right?

Here’s what your CanOrganizer will look like straight out of the package:

I liked the fact that it was clearly labeled with which parts to remove and discard. One of my organizers was not labeled, which I’m guessing was a fluke thing, but it wasn’t a big deal. We used one of the others for reference.

There were also printed instructions. We had a little incident with ours getting cut in half by an over zealous kid with scissors:

No worries, though, because there’s also an assembly video online.

And then she got to work.

Success!

I got the cupboard size, because my pantry is RIDICULOUSLY small. It might be my least favorite thing about this house.

The cupboard size held 7 cans, in my highly scientific experimentation.

What I liked:

Both of the other can rotation systems that I own have tracks, making it so that you can only use very specific can sizes. The CanOrganizer boxes have “ramps” (for lack of a better term), so you can use a a variety of can heights. See how the mandarin oranges are way shorter than the rest? They rotated just as smoothly.

The different size options. My pantry is so shallow that the other systems I have don’t work in the pantry and are relegated to a storage room in the basement.

The fact that they could be easily labeled or even craftily embellished.

What I’m not so sure about:

I’ll admit that I’m a little worried about durability, with them being cardboard. However, the cost is low enough that I’m willing to take the chance and I’ll definitely be getting some more.

And, we definitely could not have put them together using just the diagram. We for sure needed the video.

What’s in it for you?

A chance to give your own pantry/cupboard/storage room a CanOrganizer style makeover!

CanOrganizer is giving one lucky reader a 4 pack of organizers in the size of her (I mean it *could* be “his”, but I’m pretty sure there are no dudes reading this) choice.

TO ENTER:

Click on over to CanOrganizer and look at the sizes. Come back and leave a comment ON THIS POST (on the blog, not on Facebook or in response to your email subscription) saying which size you’d choose.

Get a second entry for leaving an additional comment telling me what food item you stockpile (for me it’s totally brownie mix).

I’ll leave the contest open through noon on Monday.

Have you heard about Creative Estates?

Go take a look. I’ll wait.

And be sure to check out the INSANELY awesome list of speakers (more have been added, to0).

Did I mention there’s a handmade market?

Sound like fun? Want to go?

I’m giving away a pass!

(Does not include transportation or lodging but does include a Diet Coke from the bathtub in the room I’m sharing with Lara.)

Want to win?

Leave a comment on this post.

Want another entry?

Tweet about the giveaway and include the hash tag #creativeestates and leave a comment saying you did!

I’ll leave the giveaway open through noon on Monday to make up for my posting tardy-ness.

Are you familiar with Impel Clothing?

Impel is a modest women’s boutique. They specialize in high quality layering tees and trendy vintage inspired clothing. Take a peek at some of the looks they love for Spring…

Impel sent me a shirt to review, their Ribbed Henley Tee.

Here’s where you’d expect some pics of me wearing the shirt, but that would imply that the individual taking the pics (I’m not naming any names here) would have realized that the beeping sound meant there was not actually a memory card in the camera and no pictures were being taken.

Where was I?

Oh yeah…the shirt.

Despite not initially loving the color (it grew on me), I decided to wear it right away. I wanted to have the chance to wear and wash it a few times before my review. My first impression? The fabric was really, really nice and thick. And, the sleeves were nice and long. You know how sometimes you have to tug your long sleeves back to their proper location repeatedly throughout the day? You sure don’t with this shirt, which I enjoyed A LOT.

I’ve washed the shirt 4 or 5 times now. (Hey…I have 4 kids. We do massive amounts of laundry around here, like a minimum of 2 loads a day.) The fabric is still nice and thick and hasn’t lost its stretch or shape. There was no noticeable shrinkage, which means those nice and long sleeves are still nice and long. And, the color is as dark as the day it arrived.

I live in Utah, aka the home of modest layering tees, so I’ve experienced at least 3 other similar brands. The quality of this shirt from Impel Clothing is by far the best.

So, what’s in it for you?

Impel is offering one lucky reader a $25 e-gift certificate!

TO ENTER:

Click on over to Impel Clothing. Have a look around. Come back and leave a comment ON THIS POST (on the blog, not on Facebook or in reply to your email subscription) saying what you’d spend your $25 on.

That’s it…keeping it simple.

Ready? GO!

***Giveaway closes Friday, February 25th at midnight MST***

Amy Peters has been designing jewelry since she was 8! (Tangent: just the thought of Keller attempting that has me giggling like an idiot. We all come with different talents, right?) She’s been designing as Amy Peters’ Studio, since 1995. Amy says “I want the designs to be inspirational and to be keepsakes and talismans for everyday life. I especially love the time in a girl’s life when she is just finding her voice, My hope is that my designs can help them along their voyage.”

Let me share some of my favorites with you!

This is the family tags necklace. I love how personal it can become.

And these stacking rings are so simple and pretty!

The Pewter Simple Secrets bracelets are great, too.

So, what’s in it for you?

A $75 gift certificate to Amy Peters’ Studio, that’s what!

TO ENTER:

Click on over to Amy Peters’ Studio and have a look around. Come back and leave a comment ON THIS POST (on the blog, not on Facebook) saying what you’d buy with your gift certificate!

BONUS ENTRIES (Leave a separate comment for each entry):

Follow the Amy Peters’ Studio Blog.

Subscribe to Amy Peters’ Studio newsletter.

Like Amy Peters’ Studio on Facebook{leave a wall comment that I sent you!}.

Tweet about this awesome giveaway: “I entered to win a FREE $75 gift certificate from @AmyPetersStudio you should too!

Facebook about this giveaway and be sure to @AmyPetersStudio in your status.

They make cute and comfy (100% cotton jersey) dresses for the littlest girls (birth to 3T).

I spent some time browsing their Etsy shop (you can also keep up with them via their blog and on Facebook) and picked out a few of my favorites to share.

First of all, you KNOW how I love me some ruffle butts:

Look at all that ruffley goodness!

Are you loving gray and yellow together as much as I am right now?

And how do you feel about fluttery flowers?

I think I’ve save the best (or at least the most hilariously awesome) for last.

So, what’s in it for you?

Well, ALL of you can get 15% off anything in the Elk Dresses shop using code “CRAPPY”!

And, Elk Dresses is giving one lucky Crap I’ve Made reader a $25 shop credit!

TO ENTER:

Click on over to Elk Dresses on Etsy and have a look around. Come back and leave a comment ON THIST POST (on the blog, not on Facebook or email) saying what your favorite item in the shop is!

Giveaway will run through Friday at midnight MST.

They sell DIY jewelry kits as well as ready to wear jewelry.

Do you love owls? How about this?

Feeling Valentiney?

And my personal favorite:

How cute is that necklace?!?!

So, what’s in it for you?

Peachy Chic Boutique is giving one lucky reader a DIY watch kit with a watch face AND a DIY dangle kit with a chain ($35 value)!

TO ENTER:

Click on over to Peachy Chic Boutique and have a look around. Come back and leave a comment ON THIS POST saying what your favorite item is!

To make up for my suckyness this week, I’ll leave the giveaway open until bedtime Sunday night. I’d say that means you’re good until at least 9pm MST.

I like giving moms a place to promote their businesses,

and I like sharing stuff I love with you guys,

BUT

(there Char goes again with her big old but)

I need to do something about the way giveaways have been happening around here.

You see, doing a giveaway takes time. A LOT of time.

First there’s the initial email exchanges and calendaring and re-calendaring (I’d say about 50% of the people that contact me for giveaways are never to be heard from again). Time. Then there’s posting. I have to search through Etsy shops and websites and save pictures and write and rewrite and edit. More time. And then I have to remember to shut down the giveaway and pick a winner. Still more time. I have to post about that and take screen shots. Even more time. Then I have to try to contact the winner and contact the sponsor. TIME!!! Then I get emails from people who never received their prizes, and emails from people who are mad that there weren’t very many entries in their giveaway…See where this is going?

And (not to get all greedy here, but) what’s in it for me?

Usually nothing.

I heard from someone a few weeks ago that was under the impression that I got to keep one of whatever it is I giveaway.

Nope.

And when I do get a “perk” for doing a giveaway, you’ll see it clearly spelled out in the post. I disclose.

So, I’ve decided that things need to change. I can’t spend hours each week doing something I don’t love and “endorsing” (can’t think of a better word here) products I don’t believe in and have no experience with.

I DO, however, want to continue to give away good products. Especially from my sponsors. They support this blog and I’m happy to support them in return.

Here’s where you all come in:

Let’s talk about giveaways. What do you love? What do you hate? What do you want more of? What do you want less of? How often do you like to have a giveaway? Does the retail value of the product being given away matter to you? What else do you want to tell me?

***Because I know some people are going to wonder if I’m talking about any giveaway in particular, NO. It’s not a single event/person/product that’s provoked this. The majority of my giveaway experiences have been good ones. I just feel like things need some changing.***

The End

#57, aka Tania on the hill, who said:

“I’M DONE WITH MY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING, BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE MONEY TO BUY MY BOYS GIFTS, NOTHING FOR THE ADULTS THIS YEAR.”

And the winner of the Cozy Toesies made by abbiesolutely herself is…

#65, aka Randi, who said:

“Still left to do – finish baking cookies and brownies, create fabulous stockings (we let each girl make a new one every year, this might be passed over this year though), wrap a few presents, take my mom shopping (she doesn’t drive so I have to take her) and ship a box to the out of state family. Oh and I’m working non stop right now……..we’ll see what actually gets done.”

And, because the original MollyGear winner didn’t claim her prize, the new winner is…

#119, aka Stephanie, who said:

“I haul some of my crap (diapers, nursing cover, toys) in an ugly black diaper bag that I got when my oldest daughter was born. Stuff that doesn’t fit in there (primary song book, extra music, DH’s lesson manual) gets stuffed into a canvas tote that I decorated at girls’ camp years ago.”

Shoot me an email to crapivemade@gmail.com ASAP to claim your prizes!