Think You're Funny?

Check out this new contest at Hallmark to become their next Shoebox Greeting card designer! I just discovered that Hallmark holds regular contests to find great new artistic talent. Check it out here: Hallmark Contests Who knows; the next card we buy may just be one designed by someone we know!

enjoy the possibilities! -dw.

What I've learned...

Our new truck (ok, actually an SUV, but in our minds it's a truck!) is tucked safety into the bay at Performance 4x4 awaiting her shiny, new wheels, big beefy tires and 6" body lift. This is only important because last night while driving through an intersection I swear our truck was sitting at the adjacent light. Headed NOT for Performance, but in the completely opposite direction, somewhere unknown and unapproved by us! I will never know if it was ours for sure, but it's like a mother and her baby...you can always spot your own!! So, to put both our minds at rest last night we drove to the shop and verified she was where she was supposed to be! Ahhhhh...now if they will just get it done so we can have her back in time for Saturday! Because frankly, the loaner Altima I'm driving is nowhere near the same!

How quickly technology is changing and how cool it is! Okay, I already knew this, but it never ceases to amaze me! I got a new phone this week as my old one was limping pretty badly and wasn't Bluetooth capable (so I can talk hands free in the new truck!!). It wasn't super expensive so I wasn't expecting all the bells and whistles to be included. I didn't go for the PDA-type that I have been eyeing for quite some time now, I just wanted a basic, good quality flip phone. My only real requirement was it had to be Bluetooth enabled, and that it was a Sanyo. They hooked me up with the Katana DLX. And, WOW...it is certainly DELUXE! It has a mini-SD card so I can upload pics to the computer instead of e-mailing them to myself (well, back when my camera still worked in my phone!), and it even tells me what the local weather forecast is and what movies are playing at my nearby theaters! A phone that actually gives me movie times!!! No more having to run home and look on-line or spend 5 minutes wading through the theaters phone tree! WOOHOO!!!! I am in gadget heaven!!! While the pink color was not my first choice, I opted to get it so Rog could upgrade his phone and get the silver one. He's much more a gadget-lover than I am so I'm sure it is only a short amount of time until his current phone is just not working well and it needs to be replaced too! LOL!

On the Scrapbook side of the world....

'Lil_Davis_Designs has joined the Fiskars Craft Division! I had heard they were going out of business, so it was nice to learn they are still around and will be releasing new stuff...just under a new umbrella!

Unfortunately, Arctic_Frog is going away. They are super nice people and I hate to see them close, but understand how hard it is for the little guys to survive in this industry, darn it!

A friend and I were talking about Glimmer Mist and at that moment I couldn't remember the name of the company it was from...I looked it up...it is Tattered_Angels! I can't wait to get some of their mists and start playing with them! So many ideas...so little time!!!

And to see fabulous uses with the mist, check out Vicki_Chrisman's blog - she uses the mist a lot! She is sooooooo talented and I love seeing all the beautiful things she comes up with!

Feeling Lucky? Here are a few contests currently going on...

CK always has great giveaways going on and on the chance that I could win a QK Silhouette and other great stuff, I had to enter! Check it out at: I_Want_One_Too!

100_Proof_Press Stamps Bi-annual Design contest

Rubber_Trouble Rubber Stamps Publication Rewards

enjoy what new things life brings you today!

-dw

Flair Designs Fall Layout Contest

* Flair wants to see your best fall layouts using products from our "Autumn Splendor Collection," "Family Ties," or "Year Round Collection." Layouts can be 9x9 or larger and can be a single- or double-page spread. * The contest will start on October 9, and the deadline for entries will be midnight on October 31!
* The Flair Design Team will then judge the entries based on creativity, craftsmanship, and overall design. The winner will be announced on November 5.
* To enter, click on contest gallery, register, and then upload your entries sized no larger than 2mb.(note: after you register & login, simply click on "gallery" and then click on "October contest album".)
* You may enter as many times as you like.

For complete details check out Flair's new blog: http://www.flairdesignsblog.typepad.com/

CK's "Hall of Fame" Under Fire....

Excerpt from Nancy Nally's Scrapbook Update Blog....
Controversy Surrounds Creating Keepsakes Hall of Fame Book Release:

Rumors of impropriety have swirled around Creating Keepsakes' annual Hall of Fame contest almost from its beginning 9 years ago. But with the release of Vol. 9 of the Hall of Fame annual, featuring the 2007 contest winners, the whispers have become a roar that Creating Keepsakes and the scrapbook industry can no longer pretend not to hear.
The 2007 contest rules explicitly stated that all photos in the entry had to have been taken by the entrant. But when the book hit newstands recently, at least one layout by winner Kristina Contes was accompanied by a photo credit to past Hall of Famer Nisa Fiin. Outraged entrants have besieged online message boards, including the one on CK's own site, asking why Contes was made a winner of the contest instead of disqualified.

Read the complete article at: http://www.scrapbookupdate.com/scrapnancy/2007/10/controversy-sur.html

And the WINNER is.....

Elaine!!!
She has won the tickets for her and a friend to enjoy the Crop Pink Event in Olympia!!!!

Congrats Elaine, I hope you have a blast!!!

enjoy a day away for a great cause!
-dw

Crop for the Cure GIVEAWAY gets bigger!!!

My good friend Kathi has decided to add her ticket to the crop into the giveaway pot as well. So now, we are giving away a SET of TICKETS for that one lucky winner and their friend. 'Cause, heck...it's more fun to crop with a friend, right?!

All you have to do is leave a comment on this site before Noon on Monday! All the details are in the earlier post...

enjoy cropping for the cause!!!!!
-d.

Good Deal Alert....

A couple good deals I wanted to pass on to the locals...

Prospect Liquidator's in Everett had a screaming deal on an Epson R1800 (12x12+) printer! Only $417 including tax!
For those not local, Epson has it on sale as well...for a little more.
http://www.epson.com/




Our "test" weekend at the Creative_Outlet retreat house is coming Oct. 13-14 and I've decided to open it up to guests...
If you need a mini-get away (Noon Saturday - 5pm Sunday) and would like to spend the weekend relaxing, crafting, laughing, and then providing feedback, let us know! We will be providing a Spaghetti Feed on Saturday evening and Biscuit & Sausage Gravy Breakfast on Sunday! Reserve your special "test-run" rate of only $45 per person before space runs out! e-mail me at dw-shain@comcast.net for more info!

I am also going to do a GIVEAWAY!!!
One Paid Registration for Sharin' Memories' Crop Pink Event on Saturday, Sept. 29th in Olympia will be given away to one lucky poster on this blog site! Simply post a message by Noon on Monday and get a chance to win! Sharin' Memories has great group of ladies putting on a super-fun event for a WONDERFUL cause!!!

"Celebrate a Special Woman in your Life" All day crop for the Cure
10am-10pm at Sonrise Church located at 2805 Boulevard Rd. SE, Olympia
Includes: Non-stop Cropping, Pizza, Snacks, Drinks, a Silent Auction, and round trip transportation to and from Sharin' Memories and Starbucks. A portion all crop fees goes to support Komen’s mission to find a cure for breast cancer through research, education, screening, and treatment.

enjoy the savings...and a chance at winning!
-d.

Wanna Go to CHA Winter?!

Ebb_Creations is holding a contest that could send YOU to CHA!!!

How cool is THAT?!

Go here for all the layout contest rules and details!

See you in Anaheim!

-d.

Call Out for Digital Submissions!

Call for submissions......Somerset Digital Studio Magazine
As seen on: CottageArts.net:
Digital artwork is HOT right now and we’re super excited about the premier of a new publication that will feature all digital designs. Somerset Digital Studio will focus on all things digital — scrapbook pages, ATCs, collages, cards, invitations, calendars, clothing, heritage pieces — anything that is unique, distinctive, artistic and created digitally.
Be awed and inspired by this full-color 144-page magazine devoted to digital art to be released in March 2008!
Deadline for submissions: November 15, 2007
Submission Guidelines:
In order to be considered for publication in Somerset Digital Studio, please send via e-mail the following for each submission: a high-res image (300 dpi, at least 6 x 6 inches), a brief paragraph describing the artwork (who's who in any photos or why you were inspired to create it), instructions on how you created your digital artwork including the specifics as to what tools, programs, etc. you used. Please include your name, e-mail and mailing address with every submission. E-mailed submissions should be directed to the managing editor, Jana Holstein, at somersetdigital@stampington.com. Please put “Somerset Digital Studio” in the subject line.
For more information, visit www.stampington.com.

and the File Caddy goes to.....

Dana Hollis!!!!

She was the first to reply that it was Jimmy Buffet who sings, "Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On!" I meant to ask for the Album title, not the song title, as I had revealed that already! Oops!

Here is a little bit of trivia for you...In August 2006, (Jimmy) released the album Take The Weather With You. The song "Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On" on this album refers to 2005's Hurricane Katrina. The song was written by Jimmy Buffett and Matt Betton.

From Wikipedia

Congrats Dana!!! E-mail your mailing address to me and I'll get your prize on it's way to you!

enjoy it!

-dw

Stardom, anybody?!

Cutter Productions is searching for artisans who are interested in being a guest on their national television show, Paint Paper & Crafts.
If you are looking for a way to show your talent to their viewers and are willing to travel to Raleigh, NC either August 1st, 2nd or 3rd, please email Tabitha Zaffuto. Travel expenses are not provided. Please include photos of your work and/or a link to your website (if applicable).
PP&C "focuses on the widespread phenomenon of paper crafting and scrapbooking that has taken the craft industry and American public by storm. Paint, Paper and Crafts will be a collaboration of painting, crafting and paper projects. It’s a show that will mix the most exciting artistic aspects of scrapbooking including decoupage, altered art, and card making."
For additional information on their line-up of programs visit their website at www.cutterstv.com

*brought to you by Angie Petersen's Scrapbook Industry News!

enjoy your 15 minutes of (possible) fame!
-dw

Ready, Set, Enter...

I am off and running today, so not a lot of time to write. I thought I'd take the opportunity to share some contests going on out there and maybe prod some of you into entering!!!

Good luck...and remember, you can't win if you don't enter!

Martha Stewart Scrapbooking Contest
Martha Stewart has begun her search for five master scrapbookers. Martha's Scrapbooking Contest Contest runs from April 10, 2007 to April 27, 2007. Entries accepted ONLY online. Winners will be notified by between April 28, 2007 and May 11, 2007.Enter now for your chance to win.
Five Grand Prizes will be selected from among all entries received, based on the following criteria: Creativity/Originality (0-50 points); and Workmanship (0-50 points). The five highest scoring entries will be deemed the Grand Prize Winners.
Each Grand Prize consists of a HP Photosmart c7180 All-in One unit, a HP Photosmart R837 Digital Camera, a HP Customer 02 Series 150-Sheet Photo Value Pack, fifteen sheets of HP Premium Photo Paper and a $250 Michael's Gift Card.

Fine Print: Contest entrants must be legal US residents, aged 18 or older. Since Michael's (Arts & Crafts Store) and Hewlett Packard are two of the sponsors, employees "and their immediate family members (mother, father, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters and spouse, regardless of where they reside) and/or those living in the same household of any such individual, whether or not related, are not eligible to enter or win."

A Writing Competition
Borders, CBS News The Early Show, and Mitch Albom, author of For One More Day, are bringing you a writing competition: Times Mom Stood Up For Me: A Writing Competition. Featuring Mitch Albom.
Honor your mother or her memory by writing a short essay describing a time she stood up for you – perhaps when no one else did. Gather members will select the 10 finalists by reading and rating the entries, and Mitch Albom will select the Grand Prize Winner from the finalists. You could win a fabulous trip to New York City with Mom, or whoever you're honoring this Mother's Day, to join Mitch on CBS News The Early Show!
Grand Prize: You and the someone special you're honoring on Mother's Day, will win a trip to NYC to appear on CBS News The Early Show plus a fabulous Royal Caribbean cruise vacation!
Entry Period: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 to Wednesday, April 25, 2007. Winner will be notified before May 10, and will appear with Mitch Albom on the CBS Early Show on Thursday, May 10, 2007.
To enter the contest, join Gather and the Borders group on Gather.com. Entrants should submit an original, previously unpublished, article/essay relaying a childhood memory of a particular moment in which a mother stood up for them. Submissions should be no longer than 300 words and can include one or more JPEG images. Photos are NOT required, but are encouraged.
[fine print: open only to US residents, excluding Puerto Rico and other US territories, at least 18 years old. Official contest rules here.]

GALLERY IDOL CHALLENGE
Paper Crafts is hosting a gallery challenge—Gallery Idol. They will be holding open auditions until Friday, April 20. The theme for open auditions will be Hello cards. To participate, post your original designs in the gallery under the category "Gallery Idol Challenge: Hello Cards." You could win fabulous prizes and the chance to move on to the next round of the paper craft competition!
Click here to find out more.

enjoy the process, and maybe even the win!

-dw