Positive Choices -

Again, I joined a swap with the challenge to design an elaborately decorated bingo card.  I went to the hardware store and purchased various crimp washers that look like gears.  I had been gifted steampunk tags and accessories from a previous swap.  I found 2 feathers on the floor of Walmart that must have come off a feather duster and I had stamps of feminine faces.  And brads that look like flat head and phillips screws. The challenge was to use a minimum of five elements.  This is what I came up with.  I inked up the bingo cards with a mixture of 3 inks from American Crafts.  The netting is from the hair nets that I have to wear at work.  I am always looking for ways to repurpose ordinary things for crafts needs.

The goal I was trying to accomplish was an elaborately altered bingo cards.  I had die cuts from My Minds Eye, American Crafts, and Die Cuts with a View. I had some ribbon and brads and this is what I came up with. Two have wobblers that make the design spring. We were to use a minimum of 5 elements.  I like how my design came out.  I swap at www.scrapbook.com

The fireworks wobbles

The big graphic in the middle wobbles

I have engaged in a challenge to swap an altered Altoid tin in a whimsical fairy in a romantic design.

So I painted the tin in white gesso.  Followed by a mixture of paints by Claudine Hellmuth.  I used a paper plate as a pallet.  I placed a small amount of painterly pink, smudge of blue with a large drop of  Scribbles shiny petunia purple,  I brushed it over the inside and out side of the tin.  I didn't like the look.  I washed my hands and dried them on a paper towel and began dabbing at the tin.  While still wet I sprinkled silver DreamWeaver metallic F/X. Then I took an eye dropper of alcohol and poured it over the over the metallic F/X which caused it to mottle.

After it was dry I placed a fairy Dazzle from Paper Wishes inside the tin.  I found a branch off the tree and glued Sweet Pea Flower Soft onto the branches with some blossoms from my stash.  The border on the inside of the lid is
Recollections: Glitter on a rolls.

I placed lace on the outside with flowers from my stash and called it complete.

I hope my swap partner likes it as much as I do.  I was almost wanting to keep it.

something folder

summer favorites

summer favorites

money

Birthday

My swap categories I chose this month was something folded, summer favorites {which I made 2 sets}money and birthday.  I like the fun of making these cards and love receiving cards from my swap buddies.  I swap at www.scrapbook.com

Bingo ATC (art trading cards) were so much fun to make.  I found a swap on Scrapbook.com and was excited to join in the fun.  We had to add five elements and could use any type of bingo cards out there.  I chose the exact size of an ATC (2.5 inches x 3.5 inches) and some that were smaller.   There were four categories and I chose two which were spring and feminine. Here are the results.

spring

feminine

Haven: Revenge of the Viper by D.C. Akers  Book # 2
The winner is Paula Justus . I know she will enjoy the adventure of this book and the writing style of D.C. Akers.  Thanks all for playing.

Disclosure: I received this product as part of an advertorial.

Book # 2




Win your copy of Book #2 by leaving a comment.  Drawing will be on Sunday 3/17/14 using random.org

HAVEN SERIES: Known as a place of refuge, Haven is a sanctuary for those with supernatural abilities. Decades of peace between the Witches, Vampires, Goblins, Elves, and Orcs is coming to an end. Now the once tranquil world is shrouded in deception and corruption. Dark secrets tear at the very fabric of their alliance giving way to an evil that stirs in the shadows. Exhilarating and utterly gripping, the HAVEN series is an action-packed journey full of suspense, magic, mystery, and intrigue.

Disclosure: I received this product as part of an advertorial. Overcoming your Shopping Addiction: The Guide to Beating your Addiction to Shopping and Ending the Shopping Addiction Cycle by Stephen Howe.

Wow! what a fantastic book.  I am a binge shopper who stays within my budget.  As a social worker I love to read self help books and promote them others when necessary.  I love the description of the differing types of shopping additions, the reason we get into trouble and the goals to overcome it.  This book is well written and easy to read.

This book is available at www.Amazon.com

The product description details the book better than I:

"You’re about to discover proven steps and strategies to help you better understand the underlying causes of compulsive spending and develop the right approach needed to effectively combat shopping addiction.

Addiction to shopping is arguably the most socially reinforced among all the known forms of behavioral disorders. In a highly consumerist society, spending is seen as a key exercise in validating your worth, so it is not surprising to see the act of shopping being equated with personal happiness.

But therein lies the biggest challenge: when left unchecked, excessive shopping has the potential of spawning serious emotional, financial, and even physical problems. In fact, similar to other forms of addiction, getting hooked to shopping can also extend beyond the self and pose significant challenges to your relationships with other people.

It goes without saying, therefore, that anyone keen on getting rid of this disorder should be equipped with the proper mindset, motivation, and attitude needed to keep it from wreaking further havoc into his life.

Here Is A Preview Of What You'll Learn...

• Understanding the Retail Therapy Culture
  Identifying the Symptoms of Extreme Shopping Addiction
  Coming to Terms with your Shopping Triggers
  Sporting a Proactive Demeanor to Combat your Shopaholic Tendencies
  Leading a Healthy and Sustainable Lifestyle"

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Disclosure: I received this product as part of an advertorial.

Invisible Witness: Healing From My Family's Legacy of Domestic Violence by Lisa Kroulik is available at www.Amazon.com.

Lisa Kroulik is a freelance writer, writes on such a personal level it is heart wrenching and enlightening. It is apparent that domestic violence has lasting scars and can be generational but I have never read such a personal account. Lisa does not stop with the personal account she further explains how to begin a recovery. Keep in mind that a recovery is not over night but a process.

The following is one of the excerpts:

“Adults who witnessed violence between their parents when they were children often carry emotional scars that last a lifetime. The trauma to their developing brains can be so great that some psychologists have compared it to what soldiers experience in war. Like soldiers, children from violent homes are hyper-alert and expect to see danger at every turn. Since they don't possess the skills to process what they have witnessed, these children often suppress the memories well into adulthood. It often takes employment and relationship problems, a mental health diagnosis, addictions, and other serious life issues for them to make the connection between the events of their painful upbringing to what they are experiencing in the present.”

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

We have a winner for the Comfortable Socks, Bedding and Underwear by Wearever.  It is Steven Thomas Peirce of Ft Wayne IN.  I know what ever product that he chooses he will not be disappointed. 

From my personal experience of the underwear that I evaluated I can say they continue to be the most comfortable I have ever purchased.  I have difficulty with latex allergies.  I was concerned about the construction but I had no problems.  There was no binding or rubbing or irritation.  My next purchase will be the socks.  I can't wait to feel them against my skin.

Support Ovarian Cancer National Alliance with Wearever Purchases this February

A portion of proceeds from sales of select Wearever products will benefit nonprofit Ovarian Cancer National Alliance this February. Wearever is partnering with the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance to raise money in support of ovarian cancer awareness and programs for women with this disease. Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death among women and the deadliest of all gynecologic cancers.

Throughout the month of February 2014, 10 percent of proceeds from the Wearever women’s underwear line will be donated to OCNA. This includes all sizes, styles, colors and purchases in singles, three-packs and six-packs from the Wearever Women's Incontinence Panties line. To learn more, visit www.WeareverUS.com.

Disclosure: I received this product as part of an advertorial.

Support Ovarian Cancer National Alliance with Wearever Purchases this February

A portion of proceeds from sales of select Wearever products will benefit nonprofit Ovarian Cancer National Alliance this February. Wearever is partnering with the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance to raise money in support of ovarian cancer awareness and programs for women with this disease. Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death among women and the deadliest of all gynecologic cancers.

Throughout the month of February 2014, 10 percent of proceeds from the Wearever women’s underwear line will be donated to OCNA. This includes all sizes, styles, colors and purchases in singles, three-packs and six-packs from the Wearever Women's Incontinence Panties line. To learn more, visit www.WeareverUS.com.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.