Blog Design GiveAWAY!!!!!

Don't you hate it when bloggers don't update their blogs? Gawd I hate that..........I mean why even have a blog if you're not going to keep it filled with exciting happenings for everyone to drool over.

Guilty........I've been a horrible blogger! Horrible! But the good thing about my blog is that I have over 400 back posts you can browse through for hours of inspiration. So give me a break.......training a puppy is hard work........it's taking my blog time........she better get this potty thing down so I can continue bringing inspiration to you on a more regular basis.

How about if I make it up to you with another give away? I had a few planned for my April Blogiversary.....well here is it the last week of April and I'm still not finished.

How about a FREE BLOG DESIGN GIVEAWAY!!!!!Danielle from THE DESIGN GIRL is one of those darling designers that has talent oozing out her finger tips. She is somewhat of a partner to TCB, she's one of our designers we refer people too for our smaller 100x100 button.

She has designed so many blogs! She has agreed to give away one of her GRAND blog packages! (value $120) Thank you Danielle........you ROCK!

This is big people.......I mean who doesn't want a new blog design. I need one for my personal site......have you been over there? Snoozeville.......but I suppose when you're as saucy of a writer as me, it can be plain right? ............... No? These are just a few header designs she's done.Since she's giving away a blog design, I would LOVE to show you her latest projects. She's designing stationary. I would SO love to possess this talent. I think I really should become a graphic designer.......I know I'd be good.......because I would just copy people like Danielle. :)This bird one of my fav! Sweet.......sweet peas..........For those of you who want to do it yourself........blog designing that is.......she has a few tutorials on her blog. Love that. Because sometimes I'm just too embarrassed to ask a simple question....it looks like I know what I'm doing because TCB is all purdy......thanks to Shannon......but in reality.......I know nothing. OK.........You have until Thursday at 5pm to leave me a comment. Tell me what kind of sandals or summer shoes I need to buy. (remember I am a very casual kind of girl who wears Nikes every day.......I wore crocks for cryin out loud, so obviously I need help.......make them comfortable!)

Saucy is Showing OFF!

Saucy.......a past feature is having a 3rd blogiversary party.........she is such a show off. She's giving away a free trip and tickets to the Jonas Brothers........so if you're a fan, head over and enter her give away.

Robin Rane is the WINNER! AND she has a great blog too!

Ooops, I slipped..........and fell off the blog world. I have a good excuse though.........you see it's been a lovely 80 degree's here in my neck of the woods, which is the beautiful NW. Not sure if you know this, but we've been under a cloud of rain, hail, wind.........normal NW weather that past few weeks and when the sun decides to gift us with a bit of warmth, we stop.......we stop everything and head outdoors. Because without the right amount of Vit D, I wouldn't be able to make sense on here................

I'm gonna make this quick. The winner is Robin from Robin Rane's All Things Heart and Home.................Love her! She totally deserves this and better keep it for herself............but I can see her giving it to her daughter who just had the most adorable baby girl.

Robin's site has been in my FFF...........yes you all had the right answer! FUTURE FEATURE FILE! I think we should have Tee shirts made.........."I'm in Kim's FFF"........I keep saying to my LIFT classes that we need tees that say "I packed on another 10lbs in Kim's class"............

Ooops, almost slipped again...........whoohoo, over here kim........ back to blog world.

Robin's site is full of all the things we love. Tutorials, decorating, crafty stuff........babies...........and cute husbands...........but even more important..........look at the kitchen he's standing in.......oh and is he cooking? Mercy!

Actually our kitchens look very similar........I have white cabinets with a Cayenne color walls..........yes that is the paint color, I'm not being a show off.

Since we're in the kitchen..........she has a few recipes too. YUM!

Crafty crafty girl she is. She takes old story books and uses the images for making fun things. She made up a few things for her new grand baby. Great idea! She has a tutorial on making a banner. I always love seeing how others work. Why stop with the paper craft tutorials............she re-purposed this table........you should have seen the before..........for those of you who can't bring yourself to paint over the wood look..............get over yourself..........PAINT IT! This is fabulous.When you visit her site.........if you scroll all the way down to the bottom she has it all organized in categories.........Love that.

Thank you all for entering the giveaway! Great necklace! I'll have another giveaway coming up.........probably tomorrow since it's supposed to rain again.

And if you're wondering what my little Mabelinne is up too, you can visit my personal blog.........it's turned into all things Mabie.

Oh oh oh..........Just wanted to point out that darling baby blue widget on the side.......DANG! There are some amazing sites signed up on there. Click through them.......come back and tell me who you found that you didn't know about. I have added at least 15 new blogs to my FFF from clicking through the widget.

Winner and ANOTHER BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAY!!!

I know! Can you believe it? Another give away!

This giveaway comes from Cynthia, a past feature. Who doesn't love stamped jewelry? I love this.......do you think I could enter my own giveaway? OK..........the trick with this giveaway today........leave me a comment by 10am Saturday morning (pacific time) and tell me what FFF means. If you've been reading my blog, then you KNOW what FFF means, right?

WINNER of the THINK BIG ~ Jamie

Oh.........you want to know who the winner is of the THINK BIG vinyl wall art? Well this gal is moving into a new.........well really old.......house. She's going to flip! Jamie from Something To Do.

And while I was there.......I had to grab a few photos.

Like this bench..........I love it all chippy and blue..........but wait!.............

ah, this just makes my heart sing! But we all know those pillows will not stay like that don't we?Remember when I said she was renovating this really old house? Here it is.........Isn't she lovely? All those french doors......great light..........And this sink! Could you die?!!!!Just another shot I saw while there........button garland! This adds such simplicity. Beautiful.Jamie........hey, I just realized that both winners have been Jamie's! WOW! What a great quinky dink. As I was saying, Jamie is in store to take us along on this renovating journey..........we couldn't be more excited! Can't wait!

If you'd like to be in the running for that amazing necklace from Cynthia, please leave me a comment and don't forget to tell me what FFF means!

The Party Continues with another GIVEAWAY..........the Winner is.......MEG! And I'd like you to meet Jamie!

The Winner is............. Meg Duerksen! Meg was a feature of mine way back when! I love Meg! She's been a loyal reader and I really really want to see her house.

I'm so sorry I couldn't pick everyone! But the party continues and we have another giveaway today! My dear friend Torreh is giving this vinyl piece away! Don't you LOVE IT! It could be yours! The one she is giving away will be RED! For some reason, I'm thinking you Texan's need this.

Just leave me a comment by 5pm tomorrow night ( wednesday )........the hoop you have to jump through on this one?..........you MUST have my button......it's SO DANG CUTE, I really don't know why you wouldn't want it. :) The code is at the very bottom of the blog.
If your name is drawn AND you have the code..........you win!


OK.......on with what you like about TCB..........

And a bit of a feature for you all. THIS is the reason I feature women like you! Women who are humble about their talent.......women who blush when they are recognized for their talent. I think it's important for people to get that pat on the back every now and then. I think we forget how unique we really are when we get caught up in our everyday lives.

Jaime with Busy Bizzy B is who I'm talkin' about.

Jaime commented on how she loves TCB and that she too hopes to be featured when she's more creative............or something like that. When I visited her blog, that's when I realized how much I love bringing the attention to a blogger and how much they offer. I'm bordering on getting sappy here, but really. We work hard, we want to be the perfect mothers, have the perfect house.......we're trying........and hopefully we figure out that it really isn't about perfection, it's about providing a perfect landing for our children. I can't tell you how lucky those of you are that you have a talent worth filling an Etsy shop full of. I think it's amazing that mothers can add to the family income and still be home raising their babies. I think it's even more amazing when we can all support that. Home Made is always better than Target. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Target........but in the spirit of crafty women workin' it to build an income.......my hat goes off to you!

Jaime does just that. She has two little ones and she sews or creates whatever her heart desires. It's all for sale in her etsy shop. Cute stuff too.

Like personalized cards.......cute. So many people would NEVER make cards, or even begin to know how......so if you're a card maker.........know that you are talented!

Or how about a cute paint can. Sure we scrappers or paper crafters have seen these forever.........we see the plain paint can in the craft store and know exactly what they're for..........but you know what? Not everyone has seen this and it steals the show more times than not! Love this. Love the colors, the ribbon,............love it all. And while we're talking ribbon............love this garland.Another reminder that THIS is a cute idea! I have yet to do one, but I'm thinking it may be a great teachers gift this year.Wait! But my son's teacher is pregnant............I bet she would LOVE these designer looking burp cloths. Beautiful. Jamie is pretty creative..........she made this cute little dress from a onesie. I never get tired of appliqued tee's. If I could sew.........I would do this.Besides being crafty with a needle........she knows her way around a re purpose job! We've seen these frames a dime a dozen at garage sales.........or you may have one around your house somewhere.Nothing a little spray paint can't enhance!

This girl is thinking..........thinking all the time. So here's to 2 years of celebrating the creative side, the nurturing side of all mothers just trying to make home a better place.

Don't forget to leave a grab my button and comment before heading to Jaime's blog.

What kind of cake should we have today?

Happy Blogiversary..........to TCB! GIVE AWAY!

Happy Birthday, blogiversary, .........happy anything to TCB! (giveaway alert at the bottom of the post)

Can you believe it? Well, you probably haven't given it much thought.........and honestly I haven't either, or I would have planned a big honkin blog party.........with cake. Lots of cake!

Today's Creative Blog is 2 yrs old! I have logged more hours than I'd like to admit, but it's been worth just about everyone of them.

I love bringing new creative inspiration to you all. I love promoting creative people. I love making someone feel good about what they do, hopefully feel special for the talent they have.......hopefully helping them realize how talented they are.

That's one thing I have learned this past two years..........I'm not as talented as I thought. LOL But it's OK. It gives me something to whine about. And you know what else I have learned? We are ALL creative if we just relax a bit. There's no grading system. It's all in how it makes us feel.

I love how bloggers get so excited to be featured! I love how they can't wait to share it with their readers. I love it when they can't wait to post the featured blogger button. I still can't understand the ones who don't post it.........all I can come up with is they're not a show dog like myself. :) But isn't that why we blog?

OK, on with the good stuff. I will be doing giveaways all week. Today's giveaway is a one month free listing on our new widget.

Your blog will be shown on possibly more than 100 blogs! Many bloggers have claimed that their visits have doubled in the one month they have posted with us. You choose one of the many categories you want your blog listed under.

So leave me a comment telling me how much you love TCB and I will place you in the running. :)

I will choose a winner by tomorrow, Tuesday at 5pm. (pacific time)

Oh, and one more thing? Thank you! Thank you for reading........and thank you for posting my other button........the super duper cute one on the bottom........way down there. The code is there for your taking.

Create Studio

OK......it's been a long week........you have no idea how guilty I feel when I can't post and really?..............in the great scheme of life.........it really doesn't matter does it? I mean........you CAN get through the day without reading a TCB post from me right? So I guess in the days before Easter.........no more guilt......... Cute story............my dad always said he gave up single life for Lent. My Mothers name was Lent. :)

Today's feature I found awhile go. Create Studio. I was hooked when I saw her etched glass tutorial and I cannot tell you how glad I was to see the tutorial. Do you know how many times I have picked up the glass etching powder at Craft Warehouse.........only to set it down again. Well, no more! I will be an etching fool.
The green apples sealed it for me. Love how this looks. With monograms being so hot right now, this is perfect for a wedding gift, teacher gift........any kind of gift.

Sarah is another one of those cute mama's who gets creative with her baby. I was happy to see she made a play house out of own boxes. I did that too.........I love it even more that this photo can be pulled out in about 15 yrs to show her son's girlfriend that he played with "girly product" boxes. She has NO idea the ammo she has for keeping his little guy in line when he gets older.
If you hurry, you can use a few of her Easter ideas. She shows another tutorial............WE LOVE TUTORIALS!........She shows this one for this cute little Easter satchel...........satchel? Who do I think I am? Jane Seymore? Who says sactel?
While we're speaking with an accent........look at this satchel..........it's her coupon organizer...........Whatever. Sarah also loves to organize........of course she does.

She has organized this gift wrapping station. See, you don't have to have a full room dedicated to this task.
Lovin this bulletin board idea. I would have never thought to use ribbon like this.
This is exactly why I love all you guys...........love all the different ideas.

Apparently I'm the only one that doesn't keep a decorating journal for ideas...........I keep saying I'm going to.......but I haven't.
Another look at her creativness..........heart shaped ice for a celebration. Great idea........not too difficult.........BIG showoff affect. My kind of project.

OK girls........well and maybe that one guy who reads this blog...............go tell Sarah how much you adore her ideas. Of course I never mind receiving your comments too...........even though I have a hard time commenting back.........but I read every one of them and love them........

Happy Easter!

Reinvented

I love a woman who is real. (and a woman who has my blinkie button posted as well as our new widget).....Kimm........besides having the same name as me, but with an extra M..........is real. Over at Reinvented, her motto is Home Decor for Real People, with Real Stuff and Real budgets. Isn't that the truth? Isn't that the struggle to decorating at times, is finding what works for you within your budget? Not sure about you, but at times I am accused of having a Champagne taste on a beer bottle budget. And like Kimm, I have learned to work my yard sale or Goodwill mojo to get things the way I want. We are women after all...........if there's a will, there's a way.

Stand back ladies..........would you look at that front door? It may not be red........but my second favorite is black......with a RED monogram. And those polka dot pots are da bomb! I think I'm going to steal that idea to place on each side of my new gate that my perfectionist husband built........he gate that we just found out we can't paint for 6 mo......something to do with it being cedar......bla bla bla........I don't want to talk about it.......but I know these pots will look super cute next to my gate when I have to painted white.....

While were looking at pots...........she did another one for a friend. I love this idea, I don't know why I just don't take the time to do a few for myself, or friends. I think it's one of those items that is pretty simple but has that high gasp appeal for originality.My neighbor JUST did this for her headboard this weekend. She painted hers black. This is a GREAT inexpensive idea and really........so much cuter than most. Kimm was actually the brains behind this below.............Yes, yes, I know I posted it a couple of weeks ago thinking it was from another featured blogger..........but she was only showing Kimm's work. If you missed it, then feast your eyes on this great idea for framing. She used an embossed wall paper as her background. She distressed it a bit, added the photos and TaDa!

She has a couple of before and afters on her blog too. We love those.........keep em coming.After...........she shows how she added the decorated embellishments before painting it black. Anytime we can find something to paint...........we're happy. Enjoy her blog..........leave her a nice comment.......she's sweet.

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Just a note to let you know we have SO many great blogs to click through on our baby blue widget to the left. I'm finding so many blogs for my FFF (future feature file) too.