My FIRST Giveaway!!!!!

TADA!!!!

My very first Giveaway (it's not much at first but let's see if this sparks any interest) to thank the readers and friends that have read my little piece of journaled life in the last few months.

I've seen so many great blogs and journals and this is just a simple way of saying "Thanks!"

We are living in depressing times these days so having something sent in the mail to cheer one up is always a big welcome!

For my first giveaway I went with a black and white (think 30's film) theme.

Included you will get two sets of black and white blank greeting cards (you can use them plain or embellish them with your own touch), a red/white writing tablet and a fridge magnetic "TO DO" list. Also, you will get a cute chandelier rubber stamp with black stamp pad and a box of chocolate covered toffee (to eat while you watch your 30's movie).

This is how the giveaway will work:

Post a comment to this post. It can be about anything. If more than one person comments, I will conduct a drawing and announce the winner on the blog sometime this weekend. You will have till Saturday morning to add a comment. Once the winner is announced, I will have you email your address to me (tempfishie@gmail.com) and it will be merrily sent to you.

A second drawing may take place (if I have enough interest) and the winner will get a set of their very own custom "calling cards". They are modern cards with a vintage touch to send to friends and family, especially during holiday season gatherings. Tuck the cards in your purse if you run into an old friend, go to a reunion, tuck it into a Christmas card. Show folks how to keep in touch! It sure beats looking for a piece of paper in your purse or a pen.

It will include your name, email, phone number, website, blog site, etc. Just about anything you want it to say. Think of it as a personal business card only for your personal life. The Victorians knew a good thing by sending out calling cards....can you imagine if they had blogs and cell phones back then? It wouldn't just be a name printed on them.

Keep in mind, they are the size of business cards and they are enlarged to show detail.

Here are some samples I played with:

Well, that just about sums it up. Spreading some love to my friends in BLOG world and wishing you a very happy Autumn Weekend!

As always, thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

A Day Trip with the Fam....

Mid-week trip to ATLANTIC CITY with Family

My parents live in a 55+ community where daytrips are planned quite frequently. Being that mom and dad haven't been out of the house in over a year due to Grandmom's health, they felt it would be a good idea to get out and enjoy the Autumn air by the sea and take in a show. Dad wanted to treat me to accompany them and my aunt (who also lives in the same community) to the bus trip.

Bless their hearts...always thinking of others.
Now keep in mind I was the youngest one on the bus....The median age was 70. I was outnumbered! But, I knew my mom especially needed a chance to get out of the house after everything that she went through this past year. I wanted to go and make sure she was having a good time.

check out vintage Atlantic City Boardwalk. Then...

....and Now. I kinda like the "then" version better.

The highlight of my day was when I started to get bus sick.

I have a terrible time with middle ear and motion sickness...and at the very moment I told my aunt next to me that I feel sick, I received a text from my husband: "Are you BUS SICK YET?"

The man knows me well...Perfect timing.

I think I need to lie down...I may faint.

Tums? Air? Bed? Anything?

Also perfect timing was the fact that he was driving his truck back from work on I-95 norhtbound at the same time the bus was going southbound. He told me to look out the window and there was my cutie husband beeping the horn and waving to me! That made my day!

Finally got out of all that noise and lights and enjoyed the scenery!

I brought some fresh Philly Soft Pretzels to hand out on the bus in the spirit of Give and Get. "If I give them pretzels, maybe I'll win some cash on the slots". I am not a gambler. The thought of spending so much time in a loud, noisy overstimulating casino makes me edgy. Still, I had 4 dollars set aside to play in the nickel machine. My first spin, I won $11.50. My 2nd machine awarded me $12. The pretzels cost $13. I spent about 5 dollars in the slots. So I came out ahead by 5 bucks. I'm a winner, dangit!

Wish you were here!

Always glad you took a moment to read!

WEB WEDNESDAY - Sweet Cottage Dreams

This week's Web Wednesday find is from a little blog that has cuteness all over it:

I began reading this little blog about a month ago and I love the simple layout, design and just overall fresh and fun posts. It's a great blog to read with hot chocolate or tea and cookies!

She really welcomes you into her site with many added little bloglets (side graphics). Her dog, Doughall, is adorable and becomes a part of experience. Her photos are inspiring and I feel like I am in a grandmom's kitchen pouring over good reads and inspiring pictures. It looks like she knows her way around a needle and thread too!

Cute bunting she has on Etsy

I think this blog is so full of warmness. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

MOVIE MONDAY - CINDERELLA MAN

At this time in our society, we need a movie like this!

click on the trailer video below:

"When America was on it's knees, he brought us to our feet"

I didn't think I would enjoy this movie as much as I did. It had all the makings of a raw, modern Frank Capra movie...

That being said, I think it's a great movie to watch especially now with the US economy in peril as it is.

It's much more than a boxing movie. It's a soul-searching movie of determination, sacrifice, dedication and persistence. However, the main element I took away from this movie is PATIENCE.

Patience is a virtue and for all those who are fed up with the way things are in society right now, WATCH THIS FILM!

Based on the amazing true story of an average modest man with a family in need of shoes, James Braddock and his quest for survival in the hardest time of U.S. financial history. He boxed to survive, not to claim a reward. It is also a sentimental love story of husband and wife and what they believed in for their family.

With OUTSTANDING performances by Russell Crowe, Paul Giamotti and Renee Zellweger. This is a movie I would be proud to keep in my library. It makes you appreciate the times our grandparents survived. IF they could do it with much less, we could do it too. I love this film. It makes you cheer not just for the underdog boxer, but for the humility of what is right and decent in this world.

I Heart Business & Calling Cards

I love interesting business cards.

I also like the idea of passing out the old-time calling cards
as people used to do.

Instead of digging in your purse for pen and paper, you would hand them a calling card with name and address...nowadays we could update them with email, cell, blog address, etc.

It's so interesting to see the different designs and patterns and unique styles of business and calling cards. Here are a few I am currently admiring and drawing inspiration from:

Brilliant! Two-sided business card w/owner's self branding! Cute!

Wet Paper Bag gets a four star rating for ingenuity in shape!

Wow. Look closely, you can almost feel the letters pressed into the card just from viewing it!

I love the rounded corners and simple illustration of Paulabirdy's card! from Paulabirdy's blog
Clever use for an old ruler! This is genius to put a business card on wood!

I love the vintage image used for this card! found on one of my favorite magazine, Victoria Magazine

A great visual hangtag for business design by Phrizbie-Design, Inc.

Really cute die-cut look from Phrizbie-Design, Inc.

the scrolled edges on this card are so elegant!
from Smashing Magazine and Creative Bits

Hope you gained some inspiration from these wonderful designs! Thanks for stopping by!

Crafting 101 - FOUR CIRCLE CARD

Today's DIY is great for upcoming seasonal holiday cards as well as invitations or announcements .

I love unique shapes and designs for card-making so seeing this tutorial on E-How made it really easy to design something creative.

1. Start with four circles of even size. Use a circle punch or circle cutter to cut your circles. Make two circles of each color/design. Two dark and two light circles look great together

2. Fold each circle in half, then unfold. Make the creases sharp

3. Arrange the circles so they are overlapping, with the creases from the middle of the circles lined up in a square shape. Arrange them so the colors/designs are alternating.

4. Glue together the overlapping areas
5. Glue a square of cardstock in the center of the inside of the card, if you wish. Add a greeting or decorate the square.

6. Fold circles along creases, folding down in circular order. Enjoy this DIY and show me your pics!

WEB WEDNESDAY = Hydrangea Home

I thought I would start my very first Web Wednesday post with a visit to lovely Hydrangea Home.

I love the idea she had of spray painting spritzes of bronze to her mini pumpkins! Makes them look so rich and romantic.
She has a lovely blog to read and enjoy during lunch breaks as well!

Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
Thanks for stopping by

Introducting ~ Wonderful WEB WEDNESDAY ~

Here is a new feature I want to add for Wednesdays. It will be spotlighting and focusing on websites, blogs or webpages that I think are just fun to read. I usually will showcase them due to their content, or design or something interesting. It's just what I need to pick me up during the middle of the week!

I hope you enjoy this feature!

It's not Much but it's Something!

Here are some pics of my outdoor Autumn decor that we put up last weekend. It's not much for our shabby little home, but at least it's something!

My husband picked out the pumpkins and mums, and I picked out the Mr. & Mrs. Scarecrows. As you can see, we need a lot of help with our old tiny place...but that will come in time (God willing).

Thanks for taking a look!

My New Product CRUSH

I love all things paper.
I love all things vintagey.
I love all things vintagey and paper.
So I went on Cavallini & Co. website and found all the stuff I lust over. I will be keeping my eye open for these products in specialty shops like Barnes & Noble and online stores like Papersource. Thanks for stopping by!