Giveaway Winners & another chance to win!

Waaaaay back in July, I did a giveaway for the PDF book binding tutorial that I was working on. Well... months and months later, I've finally finished the tutorial and am ready to send it out to the winners! (I know, you forgot all about it, right? Well... me, too, kinda!)

Without further ado, the winners are:

Jingle who said, "This is a fabulous book and I would be thrilled to both create one like and and help you edit your tutorial to bring it to the point you are looking for! What a great idea this is! If it is doable, I would love to create these as holiday gifts!"

Frau S who said, "I would love to try this tutorial. The book is gorgeous and totally different from any journal I've ever made."

and

Nae who said, "I admit it, I haven't made a journal in over a decade. I haven't because I don't really know/remember how to do it! I have all sorts of raw materials and would love the chance to win your tutorial - I KNOW it'll be very inspiring and I'm a great proofreader/attention to detail! Plus I like to make photos too so I would love to help out!"

I'll send out emails to the winners, as long as they left me their emails, but if you are a winner, please contact me for your free tutorial!

Didn't win but really want to tutorial? Give me a good reason to send you a copy and I'll choose another winner from the comments I receive. (If you are a member of Falling For You, you'll be getting a copy very soon!)

Giveaway Winner: Free Falling For You Class Spot

Wow! I had 45 entries in the giveaway to win a free spot in the Falling For You class. And, let me tell ya, your favorite art journal techniques are so varied and awesome! If you are ever lacking for inspiration, take a peek at the giveaway post comments and you'll find something to get ya going!

Some of you love using acrylic paints; others are fans of watercolor. Some like to draw, either with pencils or pens; others love finding the perfect collage image. Some of you love Inktense pencils and color wash sprays, but you all really love watercolor crayons. (Me, too!) A common theme was that everyone loves making backgrounds, particularly with credit cards and baby wipes. We are all, clearly, long lost siblings!!!

 I know everyone is waiting to find out who the winner is, and I am thrilled that you are all so excited about it! So, without further delay, I'm happy to announce that the winner of the free spot in the Falling For You class, per Random.org is:

 

Congratulations! I will be emailing you very soon letting you know that you've won and sending you an invite to the classroom. [edit - Actually, when I tried to email you, I realized that you aren't set up to receive emails through blogger. Here's a page about no-reply bloggers. Please email me for course details!]

Didn't win? Don't worry! Class starts tomorrow, and you have the rest of the day today to join the class at the discounted returning student rate of $15, which for an eleven week class is a steal! After today, the class will return to the regular price of $20, which is still an awesome price, if I do say so. For today only, I will honor the $15 returning student rate for ANYONE, so hop on that train right away!

So what's up for Falling For You?

Lots of awesomeness! We will be having weekly art challenges coupled with a giveaway. I'm excited about the challenges & can't wait to see what you do with them! We'll have prompts, inspirational image collections, technique videos, and a couple other cool weekly features. I have the first four weeks pretty solidly planned out, and will begin recording the first technique video today: Dirty Dozen -- 12 ways to use stencils in your pages. 

When I first got my stencils from the Crafter's Workshop, I had no idea what to do with them, so I just started experimenting. Some stuff worked well, others not so much. I came up with 12 different ways to use them for different looks and I'm going to share them all with you! Cool, right?

[And, actually, I think there will be 13 now, because Bernice left a comment about her favorite technique using water and water-soluble inks.... sweet! Thanks, Bernice! I tried out the technique last night and I love it!]

{Don't worry if you don't have stencils: I'm going to share some information on making your own stencils using things you likely already have around the house!}

Other techniques will be: creating awesome textured backgrounds with a few simple supplies, exploring pastels, & everything image transfers. (The others are still yet to be determined, but will definitely be fun!)

Some days we will have specific prompt assignments or challenges; other days will be all about creative play. We'll have one day per week that is a "catch up day", where I'll post a round-up of images & pages created by students that week.

Can't wait to see you there!

Giveaway: Book Binding Tutorial (PDF)

Future travel art journal!

Okay, I'll admit it: this is a giveaway with a catch.

I am working on a PDF tutorial for making the journal above. I developed the technique after not being able to find a tutorial available to make what I wanted to make: a hardback journal with a fluffy spine. I don't really know why I wanted to make such a journal, but I did, so I figured out how to do it. I took a bunch of picture of the one I was making last night, intending to make a tutorial for on the blog. I realized, looking at the picture this morning, that they would be perfect to turn into a PDF for me to sell, both on the blog and in my etsy shop. It's really too long for a blog entry anyway.

Future art journal... so pretty, right?

I have bought PDF tutorials from other artists, and I see people selling them online all the time, but I have never taken the time to write one, though there are plenty of projects I could do! [My next venture will be to make a tutorial for the tri-fold wallet I designed around Christmas time - I'm so proud of it!] After working on this one for several hours today and barely making a dent, I can totally see why I haven't made one before! Whew! It's a great thing, though, if it's done well, because you do the work once and theoretically sell it over and over again. I found comparable (but different!) tutorials selling on etsy for $15 - $25. I was thinking $5 - $10, when I started this project, but I might change my mind depending on how much longer it takes to finish it up.

I am doing a really in-depth tutorial. I have 38 high-res photographs and have already identified a couple of places where I need a few more photos to clarify my point. While this makes it sound like the journal is really complicated, it's not, once you get the hang of it. Plus, I have thought of a couple ways to adapt it so that it's like getting a few tutorials in one.

Here's where you come in: I need a tester (or a few) to try out the tutorial once I've gotten it finished. So by entering this giveaway, you are hopefully entering because you'd like to give the tutorial a whirl -and- would be willing to give me feedback on your experiences with it. I teach people how to make things in person all the time, but doing a PDF is a whole different ball game. I need to know what's confusing and what's overstating the obvious. I need to know what questions people might have that should have been answered in the tutorial and I need to know that the way I explain the steps makes sense to people other than me.

In exchange for this service,  you'll get a copy of the tutorial free of charge and, hopefully, a beautiful book made by you at the end of it. [I will be available to help you with anything that's confusing, naturally!] Plus, if you are selected and you get back to me with feedback within a timely manner (One week? Maybe two?), I'll send you any pocket mirror, bottle opener, or button you'd like from my shop or make you a custom one with your own image. Not bad, right?

To enter the giveaway, just leave me a comment telling me why you'd like to learn how to make this book. That's it. Being a follower is not required. If you have friends who might be interested, feel free to tell them! If you really, really want to win, tell me that in the comments, because I might choose a few extra people! I will choose a winner this weekend, or when the tutorial is finished, whichever comes later.

Giveaway: Zippers Like Wow, Part Two

Yay! I am FINALLY able to announce the rest of the winners for the Zippers Like Wow Giveaway! I am so sorry to keep you all anxiously waiting! Okay, so yeah, maybe a lot of you already forgot all about it... in which case, won't it be a pleasant surprise if you find out you are one of the ten extra winners? In case you forgot, I promised to draw an extra 10 giveaway winners if I reached 200 followers during the SMS giveaway days... I reached that goal (amazing!) and so without further delay, the ten winners are:

#87 - Erin
#114 - Brittany Gale
#632 - Melissa
#71 - Monica
#321 - Debbie
#658 - Kimmysue
#476 - Rachel
#26 - Lethargic Lass
#648 - Suzie Button
#286 - Tamie

Each of the ten winners will get a gift pack of 10 assorted zippers each. Winners, please email me by noon EST on Friday with your address in order to claim your prize. I'm going to send out emails to the winners now. If I don't hear back from any of the winners by Friday, I'll draw new winners and post them here.

{Edit: Two of the winners didn't have email addresses listed so I couldn't contact them. I'm hoping they will see this post and be able to claim their prize in time. If not, I'll draw new winners.}

Feeling sad that you didn't win?

Just for you, I have a special offer running in my etsy shop, Literary Tease. When you use the coupon code: ZIPPYFABULOUS you will get 15% off your total purchase PLUS I will send you five zippers with your order just for stopping by my blog. (Coupon expires June 30.) If you use the coupon, just leave me a message telling me your favorite color(s) for zippers. I can't promise you'll get exactly that color, but I will do my best! (I have everything but black).

Giveaway Winners: Zippers Like Wow

Thanks so much for everyone who stopped by my blog during the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day! I never expected such an amazing response! I was absolutely shocked to have just over 700 entries from happy folks looking to win zippers! I'm glad I was able to offer a giveaway that people were excited to win. I suspected it would be good, since many people were giving away fabric, I knew zippers would be a nice compliment. I found out about the SMS giveaway on the very last day to email to sign up. I've always been of the school of thought that it's way more fun to give than to receive, so I am thrilled to be a part of it.

In case you didn't know, I didn't have very many followers before this giveaway. {Full disclosure: I had 38!} I've been blogging for only a few months here. I thought that maybe I'd reach 100, if I was lucky, and was completely amazed to end up with a final total of 266. I know that someone of you might decide to "unfollow" me and stop reading once this giveaway is over, and I completely understand if you do. We live in an information-overloaded world, and if you don't enjoy my blog, I get it if you don't want to waste your time. No worries. I figure that if only a handful of you become regular visitors and readers, I'll be absolutely thrilled.

Before you go, I hope you'll take some time after the madness of SMS Giveaway Day to look around at your leisure. Crafty Moira is my place on the website to discuss my growing artistic practice, including the growth of my small crafty business, Literary Tease. I have an ongoing series called Etsy Tips & Tricks where I offer suggestions and advice to people interesting in selling more on Etsy. I post pictures of projects I'm working on, links to tutorials I want to try (plus some of my own), and interviews with artists I admire. When I'm not crafting, which is, like, never, I am likely teaching arts-based jewelry classes to middle school kids (Best. Job. Ever.) I also love to cook, and I share a lot of my recipes here. I hope you'll come back to visit!

One last thing before I announce the winners of the Zippers Like Wow giveaway: I started moving into my new apartment in Providence, Rhode Island last night. Hurray! The apartment is right across the street from my friend Jen, which is so awesome. I completely forgot to take pictures, but luckily, Jen snapped a few:

Stairway up to my 2nd floor apartment

The huge living room which will be our dual studio.

Now for the winners! As you might recalled, I promised extra zippers based on how many followers I ended up with -- I never expected to have that many... but I did prepare packages of zippers, just in case. Since I reached over 200 followers (WOW!), I am giving out FOUR boxes* of zippers, one each to these lucky winners:

Val of Deep Thoughts with Val

Rachael of Cut // Sew // Repeat

Laurawilson25 of A Day of Grace

Mary of Quilt Genius

I'm going to send out emails just as soon as I've got a cup of coffee. Ladies, please email me with your addresses so I can send out your magical packages of zipper love right away. The four winners will have three days to get back to me, and if by some reason they don't, I'll draw for replacement winners as needed on Monday.

Feeling sad that you didn't win?

Just for you, I have a special offer running in my etsy shop, Literary Tease. When you use the coupon code: ZIPPYFABULOUS you will get 15% off your total purchase PLUS I will send you five zippers with your order just for stopping by my blog. (Coupon expires June 30.) If you use the coupon, just leave me a message telling me your favorite color(s) for zippers. I can't promise you'll get exactly that color, but I will do my best! (I have everything but black).

Plus...
the giveaway's not over yet!

I am also going to do a separate drawing for ten packs of ten assorted zippers a little bit later today or early tomorrow. I hope you'll forgive me for not doing it right away, but I need to email the winners then start packing! More soon! Thanks again for stopping by!

*Okay, box will probably be a flat-rate envelope stuffed with zippers for the US folks. International winners will still get a box. :)

Giveaway Winner: Candy Is Certain

Looking for the crazy awesome Zipper Giveaway? You have until 5 PM EST on Thursday, May 26th to enter!

Congratulations to Katherine who is the winner of the Candy is Certain giveaway. Katherine will receive my mixed media painting, Candy is Certain, plus 5 resin settings to make her own art and jewelry. Congrats, Katherine! I'll be emailing Katherine in a minute here, and she'll have 3 days to get back to me with her address. If for some reason Katherine doesn't respond, I'll pick a second chance winner and post it here.

Thanks so much to everyone who entered!

Giveaway Day: Zippers like Wow

I can't believe I didn't think about this when I did my first Giveaway Day giveaway post: Candy is Certain, but I'm so excited that I thought of this that I'm doing ANOTHER giveaway! Yes, there's this one and the Candy is Certain giveaway. Just think: you could win both!

A few months ago, I came across a fabric and sewing store that was going out of business. They were selling zippers hella cheap, so I got carried away and bought a ton. Seriously. I came home with about 15 bags of zippers. I counted the zippers in one of the bags and it had 175 in it. So that's more zippers that I will ever use. Here's where you come in.

I will send FOUR lucky winners a box stuffed full of zippers. All of the zippers have plastic teeth. Some of them are YKK. Some are regular zippers, some are invisible zippers. All of them are at least 16 inches long? All could be cut easily to any length you need. I have zippers in every color of the rainbow, except black, and I will send you an assortment. You'll get as many zippers as I can fit in a box, at least 50. You will have enough zippers to last for a year, or maybe a month if you are really industrious.

We all know that zippers can be crazy expensive, so that's why I want to share the zipper love with you all! If you buy zippers retail, you'd easily pay over $100 for these zippers! I always wanted to craft with zippers but couldn't afford to buy them until I found this deal! Now, I'm overloaded with zippers. I've already made tons of pouches and used a zipper on a mixed media painting. Soon, I will make lampshade covers with zippers (not sure how yet, but I'll figure it out.) What will you make?

Become a follower of my blog, if you are able*. Leave me a comment telling me what you would make with a massive win of zippers. If you are a follower (new or old), leave another comment telling me you are and you'll get an extra entry. Wait, anxiously, for me to pick a winner on May 26th using a random number generator. I will ship internationally, no problem! {* You don't have to be a follower to win. But if you are chosen as the winner and you are a follower, you'll get a bonus gift!}

As an added bonus, I will include a pocket mirror from my etsy shop: Literary Tease. For an extra entry, visit my shop and tell me which pocket mirror (or other item) you like best.

Also, if I reach 75 followers during this giveaway, I will include an extra surprise handmade gift for the lucky winner! (Goal reached!)

If I happen to reach 100 followers during this giveaway, I will choose an extra winner who will receive their own box of zippers!!! (Goal reached!!)

If by a long shot I reach 150 followers during this giveaway, I will choose another two extra winners, which would mean that FOUR lucky people out there will win giant boxes of zippers!!! Think of all the projects you could make! (Please note: the extra giveaways will be for followers only -- just another incentive for you to be a follower!) (Goal reached!!!)

Just to be completely crazy, if I reach 200 followers, I will choose an additional TEN people who will get a small package of 10 zippers each! (Crazy, I know!)

So to recap:

One lucky winner will get:
a box of zippers (50+) in all shades of the rainbow
PLUS a pocket mirror from my shop, Literary Tease

If by May 26th @ 5 PM EST, I have 75 - 99 followers, the winner will get an extra surprise gift. (Note: I reached 75 followers, so the winner will DEFINITELY get the bonus gift!!!)
If I have 100 - 149 followers, TWO people will win all of the above. (Extra prize for followers only) (Goal reached: I'll be choosing two winners for sure!)
If I have 150 - 199 followers, FOUR people will win all of the above! (Extras for followers only) (Goal reached: I'll be choosing four winners for sure!)
If I have 200+ followers, FOUR people will win all of the above PLUS ten people will win a package of 10 zippers each. (Extras for followers only)

You have THREE CHANCES TO WIN these awesome zippers:

1 - Leave a comment telling me what you'd make with the zippers
2 - Become a follower & leave me another comment telling me you are
3 - Tell me your favorite item from my etsy shop, Literary Tease

Good luck! See all the giveaway day giveaways here.

Giveaway Day: Candy is Certain Mixed Media Painting

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. WINNER TO BE ANNOUNCED TOMORROW A.M.

Want to win this?

I've been wanting to feel like more of an artist lately, so in January and February, I made a bunch of mixed media paintings. This piece is called "Candy is Certain". [I think it's on a 9 x 11 canvas, but don't quote me on that!] The text on the image reads: "Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first." The materials are: canvas, paper, vintage dictionary, and, naturally, candy in the form of rainbow sprinkles. I added embellishments using a Sharpie Poster-Paint marker. This is a signed, one-of-a-kind original by me. I hope you like it!

If you win, you'll get this piece PLUS an added bonus: 5 adorable resin settings with an 18x25 center.

I use these frames to make pendants, brooches, rings, and magnets. I've glued them onto mixed media pieces, too. Just glue on your choice of jewelry finding with E6000 and add your image to the center. I'm sure you will find something fabulous to do with yours!

All you have to do is leave me a comment telling me your favorite candy. It can be something that you liked when you were a kid or your current addiction. That's it!

My current favorite candy are these maple hard candies that I bought at a gift shop in Maine (the one with the giant chocolate moose!) I always like those maple sugar candies, but they are pretty pricey. The hard candies don't have the same texture, but the taste is FABULOUS. I think they are even better because they last way longer.

Want a bonus entry? Become a follower of my blog and leave me another comment telling me you did (or that you already are).

{Want to win some zippers instead? Enter my other giveaway day giveaway here!}

I will choose a winner using a random number generator. The last day to enter is Wednesday, May 25 at 9 PM. Winner will be announced on Thursday, May 26th. I will ship internationally.

See all the giveaways!

Congratulations Giveaway Winner

 

Via a drawing on random.org, the winner of the $25 gift certificate giveaway is #12, or Cathey, irishdancer2459. Please contact me by Monday at 5 PM to claim your prize. Thanks to everyone else for entering! Don't feel bad! You can have a free pocket mirror just for visiting my blog. Enter the coupon code: FREEMIRRORMAY when you check out from Literary Tease, and you'll get a free pocket mirror of your choice from my shop + 1% off your entire purchase. Please don't enter the mirror in your cart -- instead, leave me a message to seller telling me the mirror you'd like to receive for free.


Got giveaway fever?
Here are some other giveaways taking place right now:


Win a stash bag of cute fabric from Fairy Face Designs.


Win an awesome Elmer's gift pack from The Path Before Me.

Giveaway: $25 Gift Certificate to Literary Tease

{Note: Giveaway is now closed & a winner has been announced here}

Maybe you've been eyeing up the items in my shop, Literary Tease, but you haven't bought anything yet. Or maybe you have already made an order, but you want to try a new product. Or maybe you need an awesome gift for your Mom this Mother's Day, but you have no idea what to get her!

Enter this giveaway for your chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Literary Tease. You can use the certificate to buy great Literary-themed jewelry and accessories for yourself or your friends. The certificate is valid for anything in the store and, yes, it can be applied towards your shipping costs, too. In fact, if you want a custom order, such an a locket with your choice of word or picture or a custom pocket mirror with your own photograph or drawing on it, you can your your certificate for that, too. Finally, if you'd like to get a gift for someone, you can give them the gift certificate so they can choose their own present. (They'll just need to let me know who gave them the certificate, or, conversely, you tell me who will be using it.)

You get up to 6 entries:

1 entry - leave me a comment and tell me your favorite item in the shop and what you like about it
1 entry - leave another comment and tell me what you'd like to see in my shop in the future
1 entry - like Literary Tease on Facebook and leave a comment telling me you did
1 entry - follow Crafty Moira on blogger and leave a comment telling me you did
1 entry - tweet about the contest and leave a comment telling me you did
1 entry - tell your friends on Facebook about the contest in your status and leave me another comment

(Note if you already follow my blog or like me on Facebook, just leave me a comment telling me your already do!)

Your last day for entries is one week from today: 5 PM on Friday, April 29th. The winner will be picked using a random number generator and posted here on May 1st.

(Note: I heard that some people might be having trouble leaving comments. If that's the case for you, please send me an email at moira{dot}richardsonATgmail and I will enter you manually!)