Blog-O-Versary Giveaway!

**note: this post will stay at the top until contest is over. please scroll down to see current posts**

oh hello there! the title of the post may be a *tad* deceiving as i'll be sharing more than just a blog giveaway with you.

in fact, i have a LOT to talk about, but hopefully i'll make it as short as humanly possible :D

so first off, i have some Christmas cards... my my my how i've loved making them! i actually used some "summer" paper from K&Co's ocean line (can't remember exactly what it's called) that i figured would make some great "guy" cards for the holidays... so i kept them simple (well, hey! it's ME here we're talking about... as simple as I can make them!)

border punch from fiskars, velvet ribbon, martha stewart snowflakes, and the paper. oh, a mcgill punch too. add a button, and YAY! guy card. i asked my brothers for approval, and it was given wholeheartedly.

and here's a closeup of one of the cards i made--dude, didn't i tell you i was in love with that snowflake punch?

the colors were actually chosen because my dad and brothers ALL love either green or blue, and who knows, maybe they'll be getting one of these. plus, the plaid/ stripes pattern was perfect for the masculine theme...

i like 'em a lot.

edited to add:

yay! i got to participate in the 2sketches4you challenge this week. it's Laura's sketch #38, and it's so fabulous. last night (friday, 11/06) as i was thinking about the CK convention in Seattle that i was going to, i decided to get a little crafty, and i couldn't wait to break out the BG eskimo kisses, so here's my card:
it's some of my favorite paper, and i love the BG letters and that MM heart (i actually stamped over the glitter and embossed it because i needed a lighter pink). the ribbon is from Michael's, and the dotted cardstock is from Bazzill. i like this card a lot :D

speaking of liking, i have some news! i like reading. i like writing (hence, the blog). so...

i am writing a novel. a 50,000 word novel. by Nov. 30th. (go here or to my post here for more info...) i think you can even track my progress with THIS link. if not, then just search for my username *ginnygurl* in the NaNoWriMo database, and you can add me as your "buddy." and ALSO speaking of "liking," can i just say a HUGE w00t! w00t! for all those participants from Seattle--we're leading the word count scoreboard :D (and i'm part of that!)


as of 11/04, 9:10pm, i have written exactly 6,088 words. amazing, huh? i'm a tad behind the daily goal, but as soon as i'm done here, i'm working on the story. maybe i'll divulge some details about the plot line... maybe... just maybe...

so i've included a widget/ picture in my sidebar in regards to the novel writing--just a reminder to encourage me to write the 1,667 words a day to keep on track. actually, the founders really do suggest telling as many people as possible about the novel--in hopes that those people will in turn encourage/ shame the writers into actually finishing on time. here's the quotation... i found it hilariously funny:

tell everyone you know that you're writing a novel in November. this will pay big dividends in week two, when the only thing keeping you from quitting is the fear of looking pathetic in front of all the people who've had to hear about your novel for the past month. seriously. email them now about your awesome new book. the looming specter of personal humiliation is a very reliable muse.

so there. i've done it. i've told you. please please please shame me into finishing. it's my goal.


so that brings me to the POINT of my post--giving away stuff!

how to enter...

1. leave me a way to contact you (via blog, email, etc) and a comment answering the question:
   

   "What is a goal that you have made and accomplished? How did it make you feel?"



2. leave a SECOND comment if you are or become a follower of my blog


3. leave a THIRD comment if you are or become a follower on my twitter


4. leave a FOURTH comment if you add my blog candy to your sidebar or a post!

so you have lots of chances to win these wonderful goodies... please play fair and follow the rules--that way everyone will have fun. internationals may enter too!

the contest will run until the BIRTHDAY (or blog-o-versary) of my blog on Sunday, November 15th, at 9pm PST.

after that, i'll pick a random winner and post the results on my blog on Monday. sound like a plan? well, good. check out the goodies and see if you like any!

here's the whole she-bang together--quite a lot of stuff if i do say so myself. you can see some lovely stickers on the lower portion--alphas, fuzzy velvet stickers, and then some fall chipboard pieces and stickers--perfect for scrapbook pages, or as embellies on cards :D

oooh, we've got some Basic Grey paper, Cosmo Cricket, Making Memories, and SEI


those snowballs i love so much are here, along with lovely 2' ribbon, and some chippie embellies and fabric brads

and don't forget the felties and blossoms from sassafras! then the woolies! *sigh* also, peeking behind the back you can see a couple of mini-albums from We R Memory Keepers.

anyway, hope you like what you see, and don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win :D

thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

embellish owl card + pink snow bunny

okay, so i just have to say that whoever wins my blog candy will have a ton of fun with the Cosmo Cricket Jolly by Golly papers... at least if they like Christmas, pretty paper, and having fun :D hehe, the snow bunny card features a snippet (that i made into a tag) from one of the Cosmo 12x12's and also some new felt i got at the CK convention, as well as some WeRMemoryKeepers Christmas paper (the polka dots--i embossed some Hero Arts snowflakes in white over top). and yummy yum yum, don't you love the mini mini pom poms and the tulle? :D such a cute card!

and here's my submission for the Embellish Magazine owl and color card challenge. i bought the Webster's trim (the velvet/ ruffled brown ribbon) and that adorable owl stamp (pirate owl with a skull/ crossbones eye patch--so sassy!) at CK too :D i *told* you i had too much fun. oh, and see that new border punch and October Afternoon flower stamp that i used as background? ha--both buys at CK as well... yeah, now i'm realizing the dent i made in my budget i'm kinda gonna be spending ZERO for the next few weeks...

anyway, i'll be back to post some tags and cards soon--and don't forget to enter my blog candy as well as check up on my NaNoWriMo status!

thanks for looking :D

snow day snow cones...

yay! i'm quite the happy camper today :D first of all, this card was made using some more of the eskimo kisses paper from BG that i used to make the "home" card for 2S4U. and guess what?! that card made the fab 5! w00t w00t! :D that gave me a boost, and i know that my week will only be getting better...


so here's the big picture...

see that cute little polar bear holding some snowcones (or snowballs)? which, btw, i'm giving away in my blog-o-versary candy HERE. isn't he the cutest? he's a recent buy from Impress when i went to a stamp night--i paper pieced him and put him on a pop dot for dimension. i also used some fun fluff (flocking) from DeNami Design for the snowy portion of the card, but it's hard to tell in this picture.

anyway, yesterday i got to go up to CK Convention in Bellevue, and BOY, did i have fun (waaay too much fun. my sister threatened to rat my spending habits out to friends/ family, but i think i'll be doing that anyway--probably post some pictures of what i got here on the blog)!

anyway, i'm off to a write-in for NaNoWriMo. i'm happy to report that i have almost met the daily quota, and that Seattle is still in the lead (by a lot, actually :D)

have a great day, and thanks for looking!

be merry {365 cards--day 246}

see, told you i'd get another post up soon... :D

this is based on the sketch over at 365 cards by Pam.
i don't think i would have ever thought of these angles for a card, but it was stretching to think of a way that it could work for the idea i had in mind...

i used a combination of MM paper and some DCWV Holiday die cuts too. i like the Costco ribbon on this card, but i might save it for Christmas present wrapping :D there are a couple of DeNami buttons here, one of which is topped with a glittery snowball...


so this is a quick and simple post, i think i'm off to writing some more for NaNoWriMo. if you're wondering what the heck of a kind of language i'm talking about, then check out my previous post from yesterday HERE.

thanks for looking, and have a great day!

I.N.S.A.N.E. (cards + NaNoWriMo)

**warning: slightly longer post than normal**

oh my goodness. it's been forever since i posted last! so so so sorry :/ it's been ridiculously busy this week--i made cards on wednesday, but didn't get to taking pictures/ posting until today. yesterday was my mom's birthday, my last swim meet coaching for the season, and this whole week was chock full of things to do (clean the house, wrap the presents, go to work, etc etc)

anyway, i decided it was about time i get on the ball, and i'm super excited to share some of these cards with you. unfortunately, some are kinda old (as in--i'm behind in posting). i'm going to be putting a "schedule" together of my weekly activities so i can organize my time better. i'm a list person--do so many more things when i go to check them off a list. speaking of why i need to make lists...

i have to tell you--i'm doing something CRAZY. like literally I.N.S.A.N.E. i am participating in NaNoWriMo. it's crazy. here's a little info about it.

National Novel Writing Month is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing November 1. The goal is to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30.

Valuing enthusiasm and perseverance over painstaking craft, NaNoWriMo is a novel-writing program for everyone who has thought fleetingly about writing a novel but has been scared away by the time and effort involved.

Because of the limited writing window, the ONLY thing that matters in NaNoWriMo is output. It's all about quantity, not quality. The kamikaze approach forces you to lower your expectations, take risks, and write on the fly.

Make no mistake: You will be writing a lot of crap. And that's a good thing. By forcing yourself to write so intensely, you are giving yourself permission to make mistakes. To forgo the endless tweaking and editing and just create. To build without tearing down.

As you spend November writing, you can draw comfort from the fact that, all around the world, other National Novel Writing Month participants are going through the same joys and sorrows of producing the Great Frantic Novel. Wrimos meet throughout the month to offer encouragement, commiseration, and—when the thing is done—the kind of raucous celebrations that tend to frighten animals and small children.

okay, so you realize i'm crazy, right? 50,000 words?! and i teach! and i craft?! o.m.goodness. i can't believe it. i am LITERALLY insane. and am in need of support. so please! encouragement would be awesome. and maybe i'll be brave enough to share some of what i write.

you can follow me on twitter as ginnygurl if you're interested in seeing what i'm stressing about next :D / :S should be interesting no matter what.

okay, and on to the cards... the first one (at the top) was made using two stamps and lots of punches/ paper. i used the DoodleFactory gingerbread man stamp. there are actually two sides to the stamp--one where the little guy is happy, the other where he's sad... so cute. i used the DeNami Design "Merry Christmas" sentiment... i just love how swirly the script is--perfect for all sorts of things.

okay, and here we go with a "bird cage card." the transparency is from Hambly, and then i used a new technique *yay* of glitter tape along with some red DeNami glitter. hmmm, and that ribbon, pom pom trim are fab too, eh? i like the fall colors here.

and that cute fall leaf brad? YEAH! i love it. i used it on my mom's bday card that i'll share later. oh! and last year when i went to CK Seattle i got some of these "calendar pockets"? that i have never used... but seeing as Christmas is coming up, i thought they would be a perfect countdown part for cards... and for birthdays... and anything, really.

so so so in love with satin ribbon right now. and i love the look of layered flowers, don't you? i used MME glitter paper for the card--anything with a vintage feel has been catching my attention lately... hmm, wonder why?

okay, this next card has a similar color scheme cause i couldn't bear to NOT use it again... i borrowed a flower idea i saw on a blog the other day. now i can't remember where i saw it, but it was where you cut a square piece of paper and folded it and eventually rounded some corners, and VOILA! a flower shape. yeah, i didn't do it exactly like it was explained, but the brown part of the flower was a perfect backdrop to make the embellie stand out, don't ya think?

that "always adorable" chippie piece is from K&Co. how do they always have the CUTEST products? i could spend the majority of my $$ getting stuff they release... *sigh*

okay, and lastly, here's a SUPER fun card i made at the stamp party last weekend... the group i went with turned out being bigger than i thought--so lots of fun was had! i seriously could NOT resist these adorable snowballs... they're like bling, but for Christmas! how cute are they with this snowman... looks like he's about to throw them at someone, huh? hehe.

all the stamps i used were from the Impress store. the way it works for the stamp night is you pay $20 for pizza, drinks (yay for martinis this time around) and unlimited use of stamps and ink pads. you also get entered for door prizes and get 10% off all purchases :D so yeah, i had a lot of fun, and it was so great to relax and create with my girl friends.

well, hope you enjoy, and look back soon... i have a blog-o-versary coming up :D

oh, i have a question. what do you think of my new blog header? the title, GinnyLou Studio, is actually the name of my Etsy shop that is somewhat neglected as of late. i like the colors, but would love your input as well... so be honest!


whew, so thanks for reading to the end! take care, and don't forget to comment--i love seeing what you have to say! :)

making memories anyone?

oh my goodness!

my friend Paulina is hosting an amazing BLOG CANDY giveaway! it's super simple to enter, so head on over HERE to post your comment.

check out these goodies!


seriously, i'm drooling over here :D

i'll be back soon with a LOAD of cards to share...

Amy Butler is my hero.

yay! yummy snowflakes, rhinestones, pearls, and ribbon...

okay, remember back to THIS post about my "non-traditional" Christmas cards? i'm posting the other cards i made with the wonderful Amy Butler paper... i think the card below is the closest out of all of them to a real Christmas color scheme, but paper crafting is all about trying something new and different, right?

i really love the satin ribbon... ahh, such great bows! :D

well, today is busy busy busy for me... i'm coaching a swim meet today starting at 3pm, then going to a stamp night (i miss the first part, but get there later :D), then spending the night with a friend before going to church the next morning. whew, do i have a lot to pack for!

oh, and i also got some coupons for frames that are SUPER cheap, just TODAY, and i'm going to be using frames for Christmas gifts this year... so i may have to fit in some shopping, too... hehe. wow.

anyway, thanks for looking, and let me know what you're thinking of this round of cards :D