Why I'm Inspired and An Inspired Giveaway

Back in the beginning of March, I caught a bug. I was in the mood to...craft. To create something. This had never happened to me before and I was rather taken aback by it. I didn't know how to handle it or even where to start, so I googled. I clicked. I searched. After clicking and backspacing for awhile, I came across a sweet little blog.

 It's called:

  .

Of course, the girl had tutorials out the yin yang. Easy to follow tutorials for novices such as myself. Not only were her tutorials bangin' she was also highly relate-able, funny and honest. I liked her instantly. I wrote an exultant blog about her, running the risk of sounding like a weird fan girl. The icing on the cake was when she commented on my blog. No big blogger has ever done that! Never.

That being said, not only did her tutorials inspire me, she herself inspired me by commenting. It flipped a switch in me and made me think that maybe I could expand my blog a bit; grow it and share with others. Since then, that's what I've done. I'm really proud of the little blog and realize I still have a lot more to learn.

I've been working through some of LMM's tutorials; want to see what I've done so far? Sure you do!

When I saw this I knew I could do it easily; basically, all you do is paint a board, carefully stick a vinyl on it and sand the edges. A little hint for ya: there is no such thing as sanding too much; it just depends how distressed you want it to look. Want to do this tutorial? Click here.

This head band made it to my Top Ten Tutorials I Will Conquer post. Guess what? I conquered it! I love wearing this headband. I changed LMM's original a little; stretchy headbands never stay on so I used a plain plastic one. Do you want a pretty headband too? Click here.

You know how some crafts you need to do more than once to get just right? Well, that's how this one went. It started off well enough:

But I quickly realized that I didn't pay enough attention to LMM's instructions and made all the flowers the same size and that size was too big. The necklace turned out looking like maybe it belonged to a fashionable clown.

 Craft fail.

I tried it again, this time with different lace and the correct sizing. I also gently folded down the top of the lace as it circled around to add some definition. Then I added a few extra pearls to accent it. Perfect.

What? You want to make this lovely necklace too? Click here for the tutorial.

I got to thinking though. I couldn't keep this lovely necklace for myself; I wanted to share it with you; the people who read my words and respond to my weird little peccadilloes. I want to say thank you; I'm over 100 followers and 100 followers on Twitter; that's a big deal! So, I'm giving this necklace away to one lucky reader. My intent is to tie together my newfound love of crafting to my inspiration; and then to share it with you guys.

You want that necklace, don't you? It makes a statement, so you could pair it with just about any top to make it pop. It works with my navy blue blouse and with LMM's lime green frock.

Here's how you can win it:

Mandatory:

Comment and tell me what your favorite tutorial ever is.
-and-

Follow me on GFC.

{Leave a separate comment for each.}

Additional entries:

Follow me on Twitter.

Like my Facebook page.

Comment and tell me what inspires you.

{Leave a separate comment for each.}

Giveaway will end Monday, June 6th.

I love you guys, really. We're bloggy BFF's for sure.

Smelling good: It Just Makes Scents {Giveaway!!}

Have you ever heard of Scentsy? 

It's a state of the art wickless candle system that doesn't need to be lit to smell good;

you just plug it in and go. 

I've known about Scentsy for awhile now but have never ordered; that is, not until my friend Veronica started selling Scentsy products. 

Soon after she showed me the catalog, I knew I needed a Scentsy warmer in my house:

Isn't it pretty? 

 I'm going to put it in our master bathroom, and I paired it with the luscious coconut lemon grass scent. 

In my opinion, the different scent bars are the coolest part of Scentsy;

you only need to buy one warmer to experience all the different scents available. 

I loved perusing the catalog; here are a few things that are on my wish list:



I would put this in my classroom; it would go with the decor AND make it not smell like a shoe after PE; Veronica is the PE coach at my school and she RUNS those kids!

One day, Toph will grow up and not be obsessed with pulling things out of the wall, like the beauty pictured above.  And when he does, I'll buy this. 

(But it's okay if that day doesn't come too soon.)

Y'all know I am totally into DIY and crafting; well, Scentsy caters to the creative and offers a warmer you can design yourself!  I love this!

If you have a baby at home, the Scentsy buddies may be right up your alley.  They're soft, they're cuddly and they smell divine!  I keep Toph's in his room to cover up that dirty diaper smell and it really works.

Toph has the lion and while we try to just let the lion sit on the glider and smell the place up nicely, he doesn't let that happen; he likes to play with his sweet lion.

Veronica has been a fan of this little blog for a long time (thanks, Veronica!) and when she expressed interest in hosting a giveaway,

I jumped on board immediately! 

Yes, ladies, that means it's GIVEAWAY TIME!!

Here's what you win:

(Pay attention to this part!!)

You will get your choice of one midsize warmer (found on page 28 and 29 of the online catalogue)

OR

you can choose any one Scentsy buddy (found on pages 8 and 9 of the online catalogue).

Both of these come with your choice of a scent (found on pages 36-40 of the online catalogue). 

I can completely and accurately attest to the delicious scent of coconut lemongrass.

Here's how you win:

Mandatory:

1.  Visit Veronica's Scentsy website and look at the catalogue;

specifically the pages that your goodies are found on and come back here

and tell me what you will pick and what scent.

2.  Follow me publicly on GFC and comment me that you do.

Here are some extra ways to win:

1.  Tweet this giveaway and comment with the link.

2.  Facebook this giveaway and comment with the link.

3.  Blog this giveaway and comment with the link.

4.  Order something from Veronica's Scentsy site (5 extra entries!).

(Just make sure you comment 5 extra times.)

You know you want some of this goodness in your home! 

The possibilities are endless.

You have until 6:00pm, next Tuesday, May 17 to enter.

Thanks so much to Veronica for sponsoring!

Y'all Made Me Do This...{Giveaway}

About a month ago, I decided I wanted to expand my blog.

Try for a bigger audience.

Meet more people.

Challenge myself.

Blogging is my creative outlet and I wanted to share it with others.

So, I began commenting on people's blogs, even though in the past I thought that would make me weird.

I networked through SITS.

I began to actually use my Twitter.

I started to follow more people.

And in one month, my readership jumped by 20 people.  I told myself that when I got to 50 readers, I would host a giveaway.
Here goes...

I'm hosting my first giveaway to say thank you and to encourage you to keep commenting, keep reading and when you feel like it, tell your friends about me.

Here's what you get:

Above is the Pedi Confetti kit.  In it, you will find:

Burt's Bees Peppermint Foot Lotion

Does this make anyone think of that part in Mean Girls, "Man, your face smells like peppermint!"

Princess Pink Nail Polish by Rimmel.

A pedi egg.

You see where I'm going with the Pedi Confetti kit?  

A home pedicure-if you're like me and STILL have not gotten that pedicure.

 

And finally, a half dozen of my personally made cascarones.  

Show someone you care by knocking them over the head with an egg shell filled with confetti.

I can't begin to explain how tired I am of vacuuming up glitter; so I'm sharing the love!

I bet you want to win, don't you?  

You need the Pedi Confetti kit in your life, I get it.

Here's how you do it {win, that is}:

(Leave a separate comment for each entry; complete as many as you like!)

1. Be a follower of Life as Topher's Mama.
2. Follow me on Twitter (@virginiajeanne).
3. Tweet, blog or Facebook this giveaway (leave one comment for each that you do).

Giveaway ends Friday, April 8th at midnight.

Winner to be announced Saturday.

Thank you again!