Footprints Giveaway!

Hello there! This is another installment of my Wednesday photography series. Today's photograph is called "Footprints".

Footprints Large Framed Print
(Click any image to view it larger.)

The wet footprints in this black and white photograph are simple yet symbolic. Footprints are often used to represent spiritual or inspirational themes, such as faith, peace, or serenity. What I like most about this photograph is the texture, and the contrast between wet and dry.

The feet in the photo are those of my husband, who agreed to be my model. It was taken on our back deck. It was so hot the day we did the photograph, that we had to keep repeating it, because the first footprints would already be evaporating by the time he took two steps! It was a lot of fun though!

Footprints Journal

Good news!

I was able to work with CafePress to find a solution that would work for both of us. As a result, I am still able to offer some of my photographic prints and gifts through CafePress, which has great customer service and quality products. For example, you can order Footprints as a large framed print, journal, or keepsake box. You can also order a photo greeting card featuring Footprints from my Etsy store. I'm happy that I can now offer you the best of both worlds!

And now for the giveaway!

If you like this photographic image, I'd love to hear from you! Simply leave a comment on this post and you will be entered in a drawing for a handmade greeting card, featuring a print of this photo. The card and an envelope will be mailed to you (blank/no message) in a clear bag, then in an outer envelope from me, so that you can use it how you choose. For example, you could use it as a greeting card or you can frame it and keep it for yourself. It's up to you!

The prize: a handmade card featuring a print of Footprints

The details:

• Comment on this post on or before Sunday, July 19th, at midnight EST, to be entered in the drawing for the handmade card featuring a print of Footprints. I'd love to hear what you like about this image. Or what you think about this series on my blog!


• Comments cannot be anonymous. If I can't click through your name to your blog, please leave your name and an e-mail address such as "yourname[at]email[dot]com".


• No purchase is necessary to win; however, commenters who also buy one of my CafePress items or one of my Etsy items (it doesn't have to be this image) before the deadline will get ONE additional entry into the drawing for EACH item purchased.


• Please leave only one comment per person.


• Commenters who do not follow these guidelines will be disqualified.


• Winner will be announced next week!

Good luck!

And thanks for stopping by!

Bubble Thank You Card

Hello there! Today I'd like to share a fun thank you card that I made for a friend.

Bubble Thank You Card:
(Click the image to view it larger.)

To make this card, I started with a textured pink cardbase (4.25" x 5.5" or A2 sized). I trimmed a piece of white cardstock to 4" x 5.25" to leave just a bit of a matte around the edges when I later mount it on the card base. I used a border punch to create the bubble effect across the bottom edge of the white cardstock.

Next I used three colors of pigment ink to stamp different circles onto the top half of the white cardstock: yellow, orange, and pink. I varied the placement of the circles and stamped some of them off the edges of the card and into the area I planned to cover with ribbon. Then I stamped the sentiment using pink ink and set the white cardstock aside to dry thoroughly.

Once the pigment inks were dry, I adhered the black polka dotted ribbon to the white cardstock, wrapping the ends around to the back. To finish the card, I adhered the white cardstock to the pink card base.

Materials used:

• cardstock: white and textured pink


• Clearsnap/Colorbox Cat's Eye pigment ink: marigold (yellow) and pink


• Clearsnap/Colorbox full-size pigment ink pad: orange


• EK Success EKPL8015 Swiss Cheese border punch


• Hero Arts CL196 Sparkle Clear Alphabet: G (dotted circle)


• Hero Arts CL203 Sparkle Clear Alphabet: N (dots and bars circle)


• Hero Arts CL210 Sparkle Clear Alphabet: U (twisted links circle)


• Hero Arts CL142 Thank You Messages (sentiment)


• ribbon

Thanks for stopping by!

Removed Followers Widget

Hi there!

Some of my blog readers have told me that they've been having trouble accessing my blog recently. I've heard that this might be caused in some way by the Followers widget. So, I've removed it from my blog - at least for now.

This does NOT mean that I don't appreciate my Followers! I do! Hopefully, Blogger will figure out whatever is causing the snafu and fix it.

Hope this clears up the issues for now! Thanks for stopping by!

Updated to add:
Removing the Followers widget from my blog has seemed to help more than one of my readers access my blog. This may be related to one of Blogger's known issues that says users are seeing errors when trying to view their blog ... and Blogger is working to resolve this issue. Hopefully it will all work out soon! :-)

Heart Flourish Art Card 2

Hi there! Today I'd like to share another Heart Flourish Art Card that I made using a different color scheme (see previous one). This kind of "art card" could be used for a variety of card-giving occasions.

My Heart Flourish Art Card 2:
(Click the image to view it larger.)

To make this card, I started by cutting out a 4" x 2.75" piece of fadeless art board. Fadeless art board is like posterboard only it comes in smaller sheets. It has a shiny side that accepts dye inks well.

Next, I spread Worn Lipstick (pink) and Broken China (blue) Distress Inks directly onto my non-stick craft sheet. I misted the inks with water until they beaded up. Then I placed the shiny side of the fadeless art board down into the ink and wiggled it a little. I turned it right side up and dried the ink using my heat tool. I dipped the card back into the remaining blots of ink a couple more times, drying it in between.

When the ink was dry, I stamped the Heart Flourish image onto it with VersaMark watermark ink. I sprinkled white embossing powder over it, shook off the excess, and heat embossed it. Once the central image was completed, I repeated the process to stamp bits of the same image onto the edges and heat embossed these areas also.

Next I trimmed a piece of purple cardstock to be a bit larger than the embossed piece. I adhered the embossed piece to the purple cardstock and wrapped it with matching metallic elastic cord. Then I trimmed a piece of white cardstock a bit larger than that, and adhered the purple piece to it. Finally, I mounted the whole thing to a metallic gunmetal gray card base (4.25" x 5.5" or A2 sized).

Materials used:

• cardstock: white, purple, and metallic gunmetal gray


• Fadeless art board (like posterboard)


• Hero Arts K5153 Heart Flourish


• metallic elastic stretch cord


• Ranger Distress Ink: Worn Lipstick (pink) and Broken China (blue)


• Ranger embossing powder: seafoam white


• Ranger Inkssentials Heat-It Craft Tool (heat gun)


• Ranger Inkssentials Mini-Mister


• Ranger Inkssentials Non-Stick Craft Sheet


• Tsukineko VersaMark watermark ink

Thanks for stopping by!

Lemonade Stand Award

Hi there! I would like to thank Suzi of Art with a Touch of Whimsy for kindly nominating me for this award.

The Lemonade Stand Award:

To pick up the Lemonade Stand Award:

1. Comment on this blog.


2. Cut and paste the award logo and use it in your own blog.


3. Nominate 5 to 10 blogs you feel show great attitude and gratitude.


4. Link to your nominees within your blog post.


5. Comment on their blogs to let them know they've received the award.


6. Link back to the person who gave you the award to show your appreciation.

I always find the passing along part so difficult. I have so many blogging friends that I enjoy. I am so grateful to have met so many wonderful artists, bloggers, and friends and I love being part of the blogging community.

That being said, I also understand the value of awards to expose us to a few blogs that might be new to us. So, in that spirit, here are the bloggers I nominate for the Lemonade Stand Award, in no particular order. I hope you'll stop by to visit them, too!

• Altered Route


• Deborah: Cards & Things


• Julie: They Call Me the Scrapnut


• Kathryn: Collage Diva (music)


• Kim Mailhot: Queen of Arts


• Liannallama: Llama Tales


• Mandy: Pearl Maple


• Tonje: A Step in the Right Direction

I hope you'll take a moment or two to stop by these blogs (including Suzi's!) and leave a nice comment. It takes just a moment, but it is soooooo nice to receive comments! :-)

Special thanks to all my blog readers, followers, and friends - even if you are not specifically mentioned here, I treasure you! I appreciate your continued friendship, support, and interest. Thanks for stopping by!

Remembering Michael Jackson

I am grateful that they decided to televise the memorial service for Michael Jackson. There were many moving eulogies, from Berry Gordy's, to Queen Latifah's, to Brooke Shields'. I especially liked Magic Johnson's story of sitting on the floor eating Kentucky Fried Chicken with his idol, Michael. I hope that Michael will be remembered for all the positive things he brought forth in this world, from his music, to his humanitarian and charitable efforts, to his children. I, for one, will miss him. May he rest in peace and may his family, friends, and children find comfort.

Heart Clouds Giveaway Winner!

Hello there! Today I am announcing the winner of last Wednesday's giveaway! The prize is a handmade greeting card featuring a print of one of my photographs. The card (blank/no message) will be placed with an envelope in a clear bag, then in an outer envelope from me.

The prize: a handmade card featuring a print of Heart Clouds:
(Click the image to view it larger.)

I selected a random winner from all qualified entries:

And the winner is ...
Lisa Lectura!

Lisa said:
Hi Anne! Congrats on your 200th post! Love your photo! What a great shot! Yes, please add my name to the pot. Have a lovely day!
Hugs,
Lisa :)

Congratulations Lisa! E-mail me (click the "e-mail me" link under my picture in the right column) with your snail mail address and I'll get this out to you!

Thanks to everyone who participated! I'll be having another giveaway next Wednesday!

And, as always, thanks for stopping by!