Winter Scrapbook Retreat Sponsor Swag Giveaway: Day 2

Welcome to Day 2! Here’s a recap of Day 1 and info about the giveaway. There is a lot of product featured below, only that written in bold pink type is part of the final swag bags.

Naturally, crafting is fun, therapeutic and rewarding. But crafting with friends takes on so many more wonderful dimensions. Just like at our scrap retreat, spending time with friends, new and old, while creating individual projects is more special than I can possibly describe. So if you ever have or can make an opportunity to do such a thing, I recommend it many times over. One way to do this is by having a craft party of your own. I blogged about this idea here. And there’s no better way to get a craft party started than with these hot-off-the-press

Craft Party Invitation Kits by B.Nute Productions!

Betsy from B.Nute Productions designed and put together this fabulous kit just in time for this swag bag promotion! One kit serves 8 party guests.The B.Nute Party Kit includes 8 each of beautifully designed:

  • Invitations
  • Envelopes
  • Circular Tags
  • Menu cards
  • Matching 2-Sided Papers

Betsy’s Shop, B.Nute Productions, offers a wide range of whimsical and vintage style invitations, decorations and craft supplies for your next get together or craft day. Whether you are throwing a childrens party or adult party, baby shower or bridal shower, or craft party gathering, she’s got your theme covered!

Betsy is offering JSIM readers a discount good through March 31, 2012, so head over to B.Nute and use the code BNUTEJSIM15 to get 15% OFF your purchase! And if you love her style don’t see a craft paper, invitation or item in the theme you want, be sure to let Betsy know. She loves adding to her collection!

Keep up with Betsy’s B.Nute on Facebook and make sure to head over to the B.Nute blog, for loads of free printable and party & craft inspiration all year long.
Thank you Betsy!While we’re on the subject of friends… I recently contacted a jewelry designer I’d purchased from in the past- Beth Philbin of Heart On Your Wrist, a true pioneer in the stamped jewelry industry. She was so kind to custom design and stamp a very special charm many years ago to add to my Mother necklace in celebration of my baby Grace. I contacted Beth again recently and she designed the sweetest thing for the swag bags:

“Friends” with Dotted Heart Necklace by Heart On Your Wrist!

How sweet is that?! The sweet little 5/8″ Sterling Silver disc charm hangs from a 16″ Sterling Silver box chain. Friends necklaces are now in her shop and I’m simply smitten with Beth’s Heart On Your Wrist products and designs and limitless  ways you can customize her jewelry.

Her latest awesomeness is the silhouette work she creates using your own family photos!What sets her unique jewelry apart is her dedication to quality and craftsmanship. Here’s a blurb from her website:

We use the best materials we can find from suppliers around the world — silver from the Karen Hill Tribe in Thailand, Balinese beads, stones from New Mexico, and more. You’ll find our charms are a little more substantial than some other designers, because we think thicker charms provide a more quality feel. And we care about the details, like soldering our jump rings closed to improve the durability of our bracelets, which can take a lot of abuse. Finally, I double check every piece before it goes out the door to ensure it meets our standards. It’s a little more work, but the result is worth it.

I hope you’ll click over to Heart On Your Wrist to see all the amazing choices in custom jewlry. Keep up with her ever growing line of charms and designs by signing up for the newsletter and connecting on Facebook . You can also keep up with new product by reading Beth’s blog and learn about the purposeful things she does like supporting deployed single moms in the military service.

Thank you Beth!A couple of years ago at a blog conference, I made a new friend, Mela Kamin singer, songwriter, speaker and founder of 4:10 Ministries.
Mela is a mom of three in Minneapolis, Minnesota who in 2008 decided to use her skills in writing and love for music to step out in faith as a singer/songwriter. She sponsored our swag bags with her debut album:

Summer in My Soul by Mela Kamin CD

Mela has the sweetest voice and now offers her music for free on her website for all to enjoy. You can’t help but come away from her music and website inspired to do more with your gifts. Mela is a beautiful example of someone taking a great leap of faith to serve and inspire others through her music and ministry. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you Mela!How could I possibly put together a swag bag without including my favorite publication? Courtesy of Country Living, each swag bag has tucked inside:

The November Issue of Country Living Magazine!

As a new contributing craft editor to Country Living, I am more than loving working with the editors on exciting and innovative craft projects. And although I don’t have a project in the November issue- it’s the first one with my name officially tucked among some very talented people such as Heather Bullard and Serena Thompson!The December/January issue of Country Living should hit the stands very soon and you will find my easy memory game project along with some other thoughtful handmade Christmas gift ideas!Bookmark CountryLiving.com for keeping up with constantly updated inspirational ideas from some pretty talented people! Country Living’s Facebook and Twitter are daily reads of mine, it should be yours too! You can also sign up for their email newsletter directly from their website.

Thank you Country Living!Feeling inspired yet? Ever feel so inspired you wish you could craft for a living? Well thank goodness my newest friends and editors at Chronicle Books sent along the newly revised edition of

Craft, Inc. by Meg Mateo Ilasco

The Ultimate Guide to Turning Your Creative Hobby into a Successful Business

This book will get you on the fast track to taking your dreams further than you imagined. Just a quick perusing through Meg’s book and I’m already learning very important business tips I had never even considered relating to forming an LLC and property insurance I should look into for my home business. Craft, Inc. will help you narrow down your creative options, boost your small business self esteem and prepare you to embark on a lucrative creative journey to the land of financial success doing what you love. Here’s a quick look at Craft, Inc.

I am still somewhat new in the craft biz, (less than 4 years), so I will be sourcing information from Craft, Inc. for a long time. You may also want to look into Meg Mateo Ilasco’s Craft, Inc. Business Planner: The Ultimate Organizer for Turning Your Crafts into Cash.
Chronicle Books publishes the most beautifully creative books, stationery and gifts. Their website is a candy store and you can find them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. For more on the super talented Meg Mateo Ilasco click here.

Thank you Chronicle!Are you ready to get crafting? Then let’s start with a trip to Amy Barickman’s Indygo Junction for

Metallic Zipper Accents

and

Mixed Metal Zips Fashion Accessory Patterns!

Amy is also sharing several of her inspiring Indygo Junction newsletters in the swag bags. You may know Amy as the author of Vintage Notions, a book I reviewed earlier this year and one that is sure to be a cherished Christmas gift for any of your creative friends or family. I went out and bought one for my mom and sister right after reading it.

This is the first time I’ve ever crafted with these zipper accents and I’m seriously hooked! There are SO many things you can make with them and the results are really cool! Here’s a video from Indygo Junction with several ideas:

Each package of metallic zipper accents comes with 1 yard each of brass, copper and aluminum teeth zipper trim with black tape. Indygo Junction offers several fun patterns for working with the zipper trim, or if you’re an innovative type, you can design your own project. With my brass zipper trim I made a pinback prize ribbon with a centerpiece made from a modified St. Christopher Medal for travel. I had a blast with this project which used needle & thread and hot glue.Indygo Junction carries such great supplies from zipper trim and vintage style hankies to purse hardware, ornament kit supplies and beautifully rich wool packs.
The have unique patterns for just about everything in styles you can’t get enough of. Craft patterns, apparel patterns for all ages, aprons, home decor, loungewear….and so much more.They also carry tools for embellishing, sewing and needle felting. Indygo Junction is a treasure trove for everyone from the professional textile artist to the novice home crafter. Check out the How-T Media Gallery for great project tutorials.

Keep up with Indygo Junction and keep creative by following them on Facebook and Twitter. You can also subscribe to their e-newsletter!

Thank you Indygo Junction!To finish today’s post on a new friends note, I’m excited to share sponsored product from a company of great designers and creatives–several of whom I had the great chance to meet last month at SPARK. Here’s a shot of my new friends from DCWV and me. I enjoyed a lovely dinner with these talented women just the night before and loved learning how each of them contributed to the great products and services of the company. This awesome company sponsored last Spring’s swag bags and does it again by sharing product from their newest collection of fabulous designs for each bag-

DCWV 4.5″ x 6.5″ Mat Stack

These thick little MatStacks are packed full of delicious coordinating prints and patterns in really great colors and designs. You can use them in so many of your crafting projects!Since I packed all of the Swag bags, I got to pick my favorite DCWV MatStack- Lemon Flower!

You’ll be so inspired by the DCWV Idea Gallery and find even more great ideas on their fun blog, Facebook and by following them on Twitter. Find DCWV stacks in stores and online.

Thank you once again DCWV!!That’s it for Day 2… see you back here for more tomorrow!

SEE WHAT ELSE IS IN THE BAG, CLICK ON NEWER

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Winter Scrapbook Retreat Sponsor Swag Giveaway: Day 1

Here we go folks! It’s time again for the semi-annual Just Something I Made Sponsor Swag Bag Giveaway! Here’s how this promotion goes:

(1.) I hand-picked several of my favorite companies, contacted and request fifteen sponsored products from each, 11 to share with my scrap retreat buddies, one for myself, and enough to fill 3 more bags to giveaway on my blog. This means, not only do my local scrapbooking friends score with amazing product, but so do THREE lucky JSIM readers!

(2.) I’ll spend Monday through Friday of this week (Day 1 – Day 5) showcasing each and every scrapbook-&-retreat-related product in the giveaway along with the fabulous companies that sponsored them.

(3.) Friday, Nov. 25, will be the final post of this promotion and the one you should comment on to enter. Feel free to comment on any of the posts throughout the week, but know that only comments on Friday’s post (DAY 5) will count towards your entry. Please carefully read the Day 5 post for any and all rules of entry, (I promise to keep it simple!)

(4.) As you visit JSIM throughout this week, PLEASE visit sponsors’ links, “like” the sponsors on Facebook and follow them on Twitter- none of which is required to enter- it’s just a favor I ask and a really nice thing to do.

(5.) All product highlighted as BOLD PINK TYPE will be in the giveaway bags.

(6.) I sincerely appreciate all of the JSIM international readers, however, I will be opening this giveaway up for continental US shipping addresses only. I realize this will disappoint many, but hope to make it up in other giveaways down the road. Thank you for your understanding.

Whether you craft in a studio, travel to crops or retreats or scrapbook from your kitchen table- I’ve put together a load of swagaliciousness just for you! Are you ready? Here we go!!!

What’s a swag bag extravaganza without a fabulously extraordanary bag? Feast your eyes on this baby:

The Four Boys Bag: Jumbo Scout Tote by Bungalow!

Bungalow is all about toting, storing and celebrating your stuff, and their line of SCOUT bags rock that very concept. Thanks to Bungalow, all of this week’s sponsored swag fit perfectly into their Jumbo SCOUT tote Four Boys Bag! in“Pink Lady”.

(Speaking of “Pink Lady”, that’s our retreat hostess-with-the-mostess, Lori O’Donnell, below left!)

It is ENORMOUS!! (24″ x 19″ x 12″). It collapses flat, opens up easily for filling and zippers closed.I have loved Bungalow’s SCOUT products for years. They have totes, travel, cooler bagssuper-cool storage & recycle binswork & laptop bags, even accent rugs! SCOUT products come in multiple sizes, great colors and really, really great graphic patterns and trim. They make excellent special event bags, as you can tell.You’re going to get such a kick out of the SCOUT online store. Not only do they have more cool and practical product than you can imagine, but if you dig enough, you’ll find a few fun surprises.Don’t leave their site without checking out the Scout-let for really great bargains! You can keep up with them on Facebook, Twitter and on their blog.

Thank you Bungalow!

Before we start scrapping, crafting, movie-watching and snacking….let’s get cozy with

Acorn Leeda Mule Slippers

Swag bag giveaway winners will receive their own size Leeda Mule slippers directly from Acorn.

Upon finding their new assorted colors of Acorn footwear in the swag bags, several retreat-goers put theirs on at the same time with a collective “Aaaaahhhhhhhhh.” So soft and comfortable! Most of us kept the Leeda Mules on our feet all day every day with the only exception of our walks down to the main lodge for meals. Because of their non-slip weatherproof outsole made for indoor/outdoor wear, we could wear them outside to gather wood from the pile for the fireplace. (I’m wearing mine as I write this!) These puppies had us crafting in warm comfort and transitioned perfectly into the next room for feet-up movie watching.Acorn, makers of high quality slippers and other comfort-based footwear has perfected the Leeda Mule with textured floral uppers of soft Italian wool-blend, fully lined in sherpa fleece, memory foam midsole over featherweight EVA and duragle suede sidewalls. I think Acorn slippers would be a fabulous gift for anyone in your family and they offer free shipping on purchases over $50. Be sure to check out Acorn’s website for footwear designed for every season, (I’m loving these EarthRoamer Mocs in Shale!)

Follow Acorn on Twitter and Facebook to learn about upcoming promotions, like one they had earlier this month on Veteran’s Day donating a pair of slippers to a veteran with every pair purchased.

Thank you Acorn!

Now that we’re warm and cozy, let’s get even more comfortable with a few goodies from a previous retreat sponsor, Magellan’s, the experts in travel comfort! It’s lights on/lights off with two fantastic products:

A pair of

Mini LED Flashlights/Lanterns

and the

Lights out Sleep Mask!

These lightweight Mini LED Flashlights/Lanterns are just right for keeping in your purse and auto glovebox. They worked great as bright lanterns in our rooms and were essential for lighting nighttime hallways or walking to the main lodge for dinner.I wasn’t home from the retreat 1 hour before my son snagged one of mine for his car. The Mini LED Flashlights/Lanterns come in pairs and have six powerful, energy-efficient LED bulbs and with just a twist, convert to stand-alone lanterns that can be used as a nightlight, for power outages, or anywhere you need a little extra light. They are water-resistant and have non-slip grip wrist straps. Awesome holiday stocking stuffers for absolutely anyone!

However, if you need things dark, I mean really dark, then you’re going to love the ultra-soft Lights out Sleep Mask! It’s designed to allow Rapid Eye Movement (REM) and promotes deep sleep. This mask blocks out light, but you can still blink in it, not that you will need to, it just doesn’t press on your eyes, I love that! It has an elasticized strap with Velcro closure for a comfortable fit. A couple of the ladies at the retreat used the mask while having their one-hour massages as the only room our masseuse had to set up in was a little too bright for complete relaxation. I have a feeling that I’ll be loosing my mask to Mr. Wonderful since he likes to knock off long before I’m finished reading in bed.

If you’ve never visited Magellan’s you’re in for a great treat. They carry everything for the casual day-tripper to the professional traveler to everyone in between. Bags & wallets, luggage, in-flight comfort products, electronics, adaptors & converters, health & hygiene products, and high-quality, and attractive & comfortable clothing for travel or everyday wear.

Here are their Twitter, Facebook links. You can also find them on YouTube for product details and really great travel tips, such as packing like a pro!

Thank you for another great sponsorship Magellan’s!

Several years ago I was drawn to a booth at a local craft fair that smelled soooo good that once found I could hardly pull myself away. It was the incredible scents coming from I Melt With You handcrafted soy candles and bath & body products. I purchased several for myself that day and more as gifts and have continued to buy at times when I find them at other shows in the San Francisco Bay Area. Lucky for me, I’m on their mailing list and they keep me up to date on such shows!Several of their products are good for travel, but this was simply perfect for taking on retreat:

I Melt With You Travel Soap Twist-Up Tubes!

Fresh, fragrant genius in 18 different scents! My favorite- Mint Mango Tea. Just think, no more hotel soap bars, no more plastic-bagged soap or leaking body wash bottles. These 2 oz solid scented soaps in twist-tp tubes are:

  • Self Contained
  • Portable
  • Airline Compliant for Carry-On
  • Great for travel, gym bags, camping & more
  • Gentle, moisturizing veggie glycerine soap

Once again…perfect stocking stuffers! Keep up to date with I Melt With You products on Facebook and join their mailing list.

Thanks I Melt With You!!

It’s hard to be creative & crafty when you’re craving chocolate. So it’s a really good thing that my favorite go-to chocolate company sent us

The Scharffen Berger Chocolate Variety 12-Pack Tasting Squares!

I was a guest of Sharffen Berger’s on a bakery crawl back in October and had the privlege of tasting several delicous desserts elevated with Scharffen Berger Chocolate made by several celebrity bakers. It was such a delicious experience! And Scharffen Berger not only shared their tasting squares and $1.00 Off coupons for the swag bags, but they also sent along a 70% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Baking Bar to me for making John’s Favorite Brownies for the retreat. Mr. Wonderful, the resident baker, whipped up a batch for me to take (sans the walnuts due to known allergies at the retreat.) I took several photos of him in a Sharffen Berger apron holding the paper-doily-lined tray of warm stacked brownies, only days later to realize I had my brand new camera on demo mode. Those shots are lost forever so I’ll have to leave that image to your imagination. I was, however, able to snag a shot of the very last extremely delicious brownie before it was devoured. They were completely sensational.

You should also know about Scharffen Berger’s latest contest, Elevate a Classic Dessert, with a chance to win up to $10,000 and enough chocolate to keep you happy for a long time! Keep up with them on Facebook and Twitter for amazing recipes, events and conversation.

Thank you Scharffen Berger!
That’s a wrap on Day 1. Now that we’re comfy, cozy, safe and deliciously satisfied with all the wonderful retreat-related products, let the crafting begin! Tomorrow I will start featuring the exciting sponsored craft products! So check back daily to watch as the bags fill up! Feel free to leave a comment on this post, I’d love to know what you think so far, but remember- entry comments are only on Day 5.

SEE WHAT ELSE IS IN THE BAG, CLICK ON NEWER

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“Handmade” Label Freebies and Giveaway from Everything Etsy / WorldLabel.com

I’m still on retreat, but found just enough WiFi to bring you a great label giveaway over on Everything Etsy. Together with WorldLabel.com, they are offering FREE printables (designed by yours truly!) and the opportunity to win free label stock to print them on.

If you’ve never been to Everything Etsy, believe me- you’re in for a real treat!Have a great weekend, see you on Monday!!

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