Winners of inspiration, support and a blog candy thank you!

Twenty one wonderful readers left me a note on this post explaining what inspires them when his or her muse seems to be in hiding!

And now, from those comments My Guy has randomly chosen the winners (yelled the numbers 17 and 13 from his office).

The first prize of a single Octopode collage sheet goes to: 

• Sandy Ang said...Not here for the candy but just to share my thoughts on your question. when I'm not inspired, I take a break. try to look at the world around with fresh eyes. anything from mismatched shoes to graffiti posters

Thanks for your comment Sandy! We could all benefit from using "fresh eyes" now and then (even when we're not talking about art)!

Finally, the Grand Prize of five Octopode collage sheets goes to:

• The Craft Cupboard Under the Stairs said...What inspires me? You do! And many of the other talented artists that share their techniques, talent and selves on their blogs and in their posts. Everyone I've "met" has been so supportive and positive. But, when I'm in that "hole" I encourage myself to start with just the simple basics - reall routine stuff that doesn't require thought - cut out the tag, distress the edge, color a piece of ribbon.....sometimes, the bits start talking to me and I'm off and running.

Now our friend at Craft Cupboard Under the Stairs had previously commented on my muse-less post from May 17. So Craft Cupboard receives the grand prize, plus an additional VIP prize in the form of an additional collage sheet! Yay!

And we all win when reading Craft Cupboard's comment: Because it's brilliant to start again with the basics to get your muse back into shape!

Thanks again to everyone who commented, and who shares his or her ideas on their own blogs, forums and Web sites: I hope we see each other 'round the blog-o-sphere for a long time to come!

Inspiration, support and a blog candy thank you

Holy cow friends! I was feeling a total loss of inspiration through the middle of May!

Then, after mentioning my frustration in a blog post, all of you dropped by with supportive, empathy-filled messages!

I still have to admit that art is a matter of waiting for Ms. Muse to reappear, but it sure is helpful in the world of art blogging to know that you understand and commiserate and, best of all, can forgive me the occasional disappearance.

This time 'round, as in the past, all of you made my disappearing inspiration situation less stressful. You helped to bring me back to a creative state of being!

And since I find myself so often inspired by the wonderful creatures at Lily Chilvers' Octopode Factory, I'm going to show my appreciation to you by offering a couple of Octopode blog candies!

This blog candy is designed as a sort of First Prize and Grand Prize situation. The Grand Prize winner will receive five Octopode Collage sheets, and the first prize winner will receive a single collage sheet!

OK. To be entered into the drawing leave a comment on this post before noon June 9 telling me what most inspires you when you're not feeling "It." If you're an anonymous reader, make sure you leave an e-mail address where I can contact you if you win.

Also, everyone who reads this blog knows that I always treat my prior friends and followers to a VIP pass. In this case, the VIP goes to everyone who left encouraging comments on my May 17, 2011 post. VIP friends who leave a post here will receive an extra collage sheet, if they're one of the randomly chosen winners.

Tell your friends and followers that I'd like to know what inspires them, too: If I receive more than 50 comments I'll add a third Octopode prize!

Winners will be chosen randomly from comments received before noon June 9, 2011 (PST) and announced on June 10, 2011!

St. Patrick's Day prize ... at least it's before Easter!

Hello bold bloggers of the world! Way back in March I offered up some Guinness can flats to anyone who commented on my St. Patrick's Day post.

I bet a lot of you think I was too busy drinking the contents of the cans to remember that post, but you're wrong! Well, there was that one day, but otherwise you're wrong.

I've only been busy and couldn't get to cutting down the cans and getting this post written!

But, here I am, with the name of the winner *drum roll please* ....

It's Zoe at This Little Place!

She even gets a few extra flats and gewgaws because she was a follower prior to the St. Patrick's Day post!

Drop in on Zoe's blog when you have a minute, she's doing some absolutely beautiful art using all sorts of mediums -- it's really amazing to see what she creates!

Just look here at the gorgeous journal she sent to me as a Pay it Forward gift!

Have a fabulous, art-filled week everybody ... and Zoe, I'll be mailing your Guinness flats next Tuesday!

A St. Patrick's Day message and prizes

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!

I'm thrilled to see that you've dropped by to toast, prost and cheers the day away!

In honor of this special day, you who leave a comment, erm, toast on this post before Friday, March 26 will be entered to win a six pack of Guinness can flats! Yay!

What do you mean you don't know what I'm talking about? Didn't you see my post about the Bigz die and tattered flower magnet thing?

Ah well. We're all too busy to catch every last thing, aren't we?

Basically, the deal is that an aluminum drink can is good to cut down and use as a product to die cut ... except it's too small to cover an entire Bigz die surface so the whole die image doesn't cut. But then! Bring in the Guinness cans (or any of the alcohol-filled beverages in a taller-than-average aluminum can).

These respectfully-emptied cans cut down to fit nicely on the die with a bit remaining to use for whatever a crafter wishes.

Luckily they also fit well inside of a six by nine inch Duck brand bubble wrap envelope! Because that means prizes of aluminum for you!

Plus, don't forget my promise to prior followers: If you're in that group, leave a toast and win in the random choosing, I'll throw in a few extra sheets of Guinness aluminum!

And, here's a real challenge for you: If you leave a toast with an Irish poem, saying or wish that I've never heard before ... I won't enter you in the random drawing ... you'll automatically receive a package of aluminum flats!

OK ... I've got one to help you before I sign off for the day ...

Here's to a temperance supper,
With water in glasses tall,
And coffee and tea to end with --
And me not there at all!

Winners of the Greatest Day!

Woohoo! This blog is now one year and a week old!

I appreciate everyone who stops by, who comments and who follows my sometimes random and nearly always unintentionally off point blog!

It's always a great feeling to read what people have to say after I've posted a bit of art or a recipe or a random description of my garden -- though I know someone isn't being perfectly honest since not a single commenter has ever said "Why are you talking about this boring crap?"

So, it's with a big fat bloggy smile that I get to give away two prizes today to people who obviously like me too much to tell the truth (I'd love to give something to all of you, but that will have to come after I've won the lottery).

For the $15 gift certificate to eclectic Paperie, Simon Says Stamp or Alpha Stamps my very own random chooser (My Guy) picked from the hat:

Terry said...

And who are you??? Happy Blogaversary to one of the coolest artists I am happy to know! Always love your art and humor! Big Blog Hugs!

And, for the $10 gift certificate to eclectic Paperie, Simon Says Stamp or Alpha Stamps My Guy chose:

*******

Thanks again and again to everyone who drops by -- I know we're all busy, so it means a lot when you share your time to read and comment!

OK winners: You have 24 hours to let me know, via e-mail, which of the offered companies you'd like your certificate to come from, and to confirm the e-mail address where I should send the e-certificate!

Editor's update: *******The second winner did not respond in time, so this prize will be saved for a future winner!

Greatest Day In the History of Blog Land

Or, well, you know a fun day in my personal history anyway.

Sunday, February 6 is my blogaversary! That's right folks! It's been nearly one freakin' year! I know it seems as if it's been a lot longer the way I yammer on endlessly, but just think of how long it must seem for My Guy who has weathered more than six years with me!

In my one year here as a blogger I've learned a few things, including this: In Crafty Blog Land ... Blogaveraries are gift time! And damned if I'm not a fanatic about gifts!

The thing is, despite being a random blogger person and gift fanatic, I'm also a bit of stickler for manners and etiquette (I know, who would have imagined this considering my constant swearing) (just wait until my nieces grow up enough that I don't feel the need to type freakin' instead of, ahm, well, you know what I'll be typing in the future, right?).

Anyhow, my manners and etiquette stickler-ism  means that while I'm bothered by blogaversary gifts that require "become a follower" as a caveat ... I'm going to require that a winner here be a follower (I hope you'll understand why as you read further).

I'm really annoyed by the concept that prior followers don't receive special treatment in these little blog gift times on our blogs. So, on my blog, anyone who is a follower as of the minute I post this bit and who leaves a comment on this post before February 13, 2011, is eligible to win by random pick a $15 gift certificate to eclectic Paperie, Simon Says Stamp or Alpha Stamps (winners' choice of certificate from the options listed) (I definitely know which of you are prior followers).

Plus, whoever becomes a follower after this post and who leaves a comment before February 13, 2011, is eligible to win by random pick a $10 gift certificate to eclectic Paperie, Simon Says Stamp or Alpha Stamps (winners' choice of certificate from the options listed).

The final caveat for my blogaversary gift time is this: Each winner has 24 hours from post time to respond to the announcement of having been named a winner; and I'll announce winners at some point on February 13 (who knows at what time folks, after all, this blog is for fun; in the meantime I work for a living).

If the winner of either pick hasn't responded within the first 24 hour period ... another winner will be chosen every 24 hours until a winner has responded (or until I'm tired of waiting and give the gift certificate to my mom "Hi Mom!" ... after all it's my blog and I know my mom loves presents).

I'm sure you newcomers are wondering: Why worry about becoming a follower and comment to perhaps win one lil' ol' $10 gift certificate? Because throughout the upcoming year I'll have other prizes and giveaways during which special treatment will be given to anyone who is already a follower.

Yup. There you go: I love my bloggy friends and followers and commenters despite not always being able to get back to everyone individually.

So, to show my love now and in the future ... anytime I host a giveaway ... prior followers will ALWAYS receive a bonus!

(p.s. the certificate sources I chose are based on personal experiences ... they are not hosts, supporters, advertisers, etc.)