Cards for the Masses

Seriously, if you can't find even one card that you like at Shutterfly, well, you must not be one of the masses. :)

Most recently, I used Shutterfly to create a wall calendar for my mother-in-law for Christmas (don't worry, she knows it is coming).  I was blown away by the ease of the program, the many, MANY calendar designs and how quickly they arrived after they were ordered.  Heck, with the current promotion of up to 30% off calendars they were cheaper than any other personalized calendar I've made.  [I used the Fresh and Fun template--I know you were dying to know].

But, then I started browsing their card section.  Mercy me!  I just can't (and still haven't) decide what I want to do for Christmas. 

Do I go traditional and do a folded card? [love the richness those provide]  I prefer a religious theme if at all possible and love these three options.

Or, do I save myself the trouble of writing a letter and do this awesome top ten design? Seriously, this one is genius since the thought of writing a letter every year is almost too much for my Christmas/birthday/holiday loaded brain.

Thanks to Shutterfly's blog promotion, I can choose 50 free cards and while it won't make my decision ANY easier, at least my pocketbook won't be lighter. :)

So seriously, take a look at what they have to offer--the only thing you may do is get caught up looking at the gorgeous-ness!

Card Winners

Random.org has spoken.

Comments number 3 and 9 are the big winners!

That means a big congrats for Aubrey and Erica!

I have both of your addresses :) so I'll get those out to you right away!

And no, this wasn't rigged.  The fact that it was two family members who actually both have the same last name is a total coincidence.

A surprise for you

So you know how I did a card giveaway a while back?

And then I announced a winner?

Well, that lucky gal has never contacted me, so I went ahead and had random.org pick a new number.

Which was..............4!

Which means that Annie is the new lucky winner!

Congrats!

Annie, I think I have your address, but just to be safe will you email it to me again?
Carolyn H. If you ever realize your tragic mistake, I'll forgive you and mail you some cards anyway.

Card Winner

I'm sorry to make you all wait (I'm sure you have been checking the blog all day)!

But, random.org said the winner was:

#25

Carolyn H.

Congrats!

Email me your address at justkalee at gmail dot com.

Guess who made more cards?

I had another large order come in, so in the last two weeks I made a heckofalot of cards.

How many?

Don't worry, I'm not going to make you guess this time.

214

But, because I am nothing if not a giver (riiiiiiight), you can leave a comment (a nice comment) on this post and be entered to win an assortment of cards. There are way more than you see above, I promise!

Giveaway will be open until 11:59p.m. on Friday, June 26.

The Big Winner(s)

So, I've been keeping you in suspense long enough.

I made.....


210 cards.


I thought that was pretty darn impressive until guesses started coming in that were over it! Apparently, I have many friends and family who think very, very highly of me.

The winner is my cousin Jill, who is always Jilly Bug when I think her name, but I usually call her Jill to her face.

My favorite part of this whole thing was talking to people about how they came up with their numbers. My sister spent an insane amount of time trying to decide if her guess should be even or odd and didn't spend much time at all on the range it should be in. Others were very sure about what the number could be divided by or if I would have to make just one more to get to an "even" number. My favorite was the friend who was all detective about it and went to my online gallery, counted the number of cards I had uploaded recently and then tried to figure out how many of each one I would have made. Too bad all that hard work didn't pay off!

I've also decided that a bonus prize will go to Jeri, since she really guessed that I had made 425 cards. I need to bribe her so that she will continue to think highly of me!

Thanks everybody--I think we may just do this again (when I can stand to look at my stamps).

P.S. I had a few ask what I was doing with so many--I sent 92 down to my aunt who works in a doctor's office. Her co-workers love my cards and love me and pay money for them (a little $ that feeds my sick addiction). While I was in the groove, I decided to keep on going, so I could have some on hand for all of the requests I get. Sadly (or not so sadly) I'm already down to about 50!

Groovin'

You know how sometimes you get into a groove?

If you are me, you are never NOT in a groove.

For the last week, I've been in a stamping groove, resulting in neglected house, child, and husband.

So, to make myself feel better, I counted the number of cards I have made in the last week.

Here's a sampling. (Click on the picture to go to my online card gallery).


And now for a little giveaway.

Guess the number of cards I made in the comments.

The closest guess will win a sampling of cards.

Hint: It's above 100.

You have until Thursday, April 9 at 11:59pm.

Get your craft on

I saw and signed up for this on a friend's blog. I changed the title to Craft It Forward, it just seems more fitting.

Craft It Forward Exchange is based on the concept of the movie "Pay it forward". I will send a hand made gift to the first three people who leave a comment to this post on my blog requesting to join the CIF exchange. All the gifts will be made and posted out 'sometime within the next year'. How exciting to not know when your surprise package will arrive! What you need to do in return, is craft it forward by making the same promise on your blog. This exchange is only open to those with active websites or blogs. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PROMISE TO POST THIS SAME 'CRAFT IT FORWARD' MESSAGE ONTO YOUR BLOG, WHICH MUST BE ACTIVE IN ORDER TO PLAY. YOU WILL CRAFT IT FORWARD TO THREE PEOPLE WHO COMMENT ON YOUR BLOG. I'd love for you to join me! Will you? Other comments are welcome, but only the first three will be my Craft It Forward recipients. Come and join me who doesn't love a gift or giving gifts???

A Winner!

I plugged the numbers into Random.org and received the following:

Here are your random numbers:
8
Timestamp: 2008-10-13 15:51:49 UTC


Which means that the winner is Carolyn!


What do you win, you may wonder? Well, since I racked my brain all weekend for something uber-cool and was unsuccessful, you get my standby--a set of monogrammed cards!


I'd post the picture that I took of a few examples, but I prefer this one by Bethany. Because it rocks. And she rocks.

Congrats Carolyn!

Numbers Revisited

140: Handmade cards made in the last two weeks

14.25: Hours spent transcribing a videotaped summit for work (I’m almost halfway done)

7: Hours of footage that summit is long…kill me now

39: Degrees it is supposed to be tomorrow (it begins, dun, dun, DUN)

2: Hours a week that Easton and I do a Mommy/child swimming class—so fun

3: Days my sister is over her due date

10: Months old! Easton turns today!

4: Times Easton got up last night. I have GOT to figure something out.

0: Elk that Ronnie has killed. This is the weekend, I can feel it.

20,000: Hits to this blog! Tell me your favorite number from the last few days in the comments and you’ll be entered to win a prize!

1 entry per person. Contest ends Sunday, October 12th at 11:59p.m.

Squash Book Winner (and where I am headed)

Random.org selected two winners.

melissapher who wrote, "Great variation on the accordion bind! The papers are really cute."

and

Alicia who wrote, "Oh man I hope I'm the lucky one!"

Congrats melissapher and Alicia! Email me at the email in my profile with your mailing address and I'll get your books right out to you!

Also, I'll be absent for the next few days. We are taking an impromptu trip to the Black Hills. Yes, it is the middle of Sturgis. Apparently we are crazy.

Squash Book Tutorial and Giveaway!

What is a squash book you ask? It is a fun little thing that starts off as this size:

And unfolds to this:



Perfect to stick in your purse with pics of your family, or little ones, or dogs, or cats, or grandma, or...well, you get the point. You may remember that I mentioned being in charge of a mini-scrapbook at our Stake Girls Camp this year--this is what the girls made. It has a *slight* western theme to it (as the Girls Camp theme was Cowgirl Up!) but I think it is cute for any person (I may be a TINY bit biased).


If you want to learn how to make one of these little puppies--read on, if not--you can enter to win one of two anyway! [scroll down to the very bottom]




1. Begin with three square pieces of paper. You can make these any size you want. Mine are 8.5" by 8.5" purely because that is an easy square to make with an 8.5" x 11" piece of paper. This means that my finished squash book will be 4.25"x 4.25"

2. Fold each piece of paper in half. Now bend it backwards (on the same fold the other way). You want these folds to be "remembered" by the paper.

3. Unfold the first fold and fold the opposite direction. Remember to bend it backwards to get a really nice fold. *Note: the better you fold at this stage, the better your book will come together.

4. Unfold the paper again and fold diagonally. It does not matter which diagonal you choose, just be sure to bend it backwards to really crease that paper.

5. All three sheets should now look like this.

6. Line the papers up so that the diagonal fold is on the vertical (as shown).

7. With the adhesive of your choice, glue one paper on top of the other in one of the "solid" squares.
8. And then glue the third piece of paper on top of the second.
Your completed assembly should look like this.
8. Now comes the tricky part. Folding. Take the left hand side and make it fold under like this.
9. It will now lay flat, like this.

10. Do the exact same thing to the right side.
11. So that when those two are completed, it will look like this (only when your hands are holding it down though).

12. Now pick up the entire creation and make the middle portion fold under--as this picture shows. This is the hardest part of the whole thing--don't get discouraged!

13. Once that is done, your entire book should fold into a little square.

14. Now get out two 18" pieces of ribbon.

15. Apply your adhesive in the middle of the square (it doesn't matter which way) and place the ribbon on top. Don't worry if this is a little messy--it will be covered up in just a minute.

16. Now flip your book over.

17. And do the same thing on the other side.

18. now get the paper that you would like for the front and back cover of your book. Cut it into 4"x4" squares.

19. Adhere the paper over the ribbon. Repeat for the back cover.

20. And now, when you unfold your book, it will look like this on the inside.

21. Next select the papers you would like to use for the inside. You will need four 4"x4" pieces of paper.

22. Adhere them to the inside like so.

23. Now you will need the triangle pieces of paper. Twelve in total. To cut these, cut your paper 4"x4" square and then turn on your paper cutter and cut into triangles.

24. Adhere your triangles however you would like. And maybe add some stars and brads for good measure. At this point--you are done with the decorative base of your squash book. If this was for you, you might add pictures, journalling, etc.
25. Sometimes your book needs a little bit of a reminder on how to fold back the first time, so let's review. Fold the left side flat as shown.
26. Like this.
27. Now the right side should follow.

28. So that you have this.

29. Now we have to remind that middle part the way that it needs to go.

30. And then your book will lay flat.

31. Now tie the ribbons into adorable bows.

31. Now you may want some scalloped circles to embellish the outside.

32. These would normally be monogrammed on both the front and the back. I love me some monograms. I'm waiting until the giveaway winners are selected before I monogram these babies. I don't think everyone wants a "K" on the front of theirs.

Now enter to win!

Rules: Leave your comment by Wednesday, August 6th. One Comment per person. TWO winners will be selected at random and be announced Thursday morning. Good Luck!

Tag Blanket Winner

We have a winner folks! Random.org generated the number 5, which means that the winner is Lindsay who said, "That's awesome! Garrett went through the button/tag fascination phase a little while back (and, let's be honest, still hasn't completely crawled out...especially where zippers are concerned. He loves him some zippers). As I'd watch him reach for any button, zipper, or string attached to my clothing, I swore up and down that I'd sew something like this in time for the next child. Here's hoping, though, that I can just win one of yours instead (so much easier!). Count me in!"

Congrats Lindsay! Email me at justkalee (at) gmail (dot) com with your address and your prefered color scheme (boy, girl or neutral).

I'm a good mom

at least that is what I chant to myself when I am having a bit of a hard day.

Yesterday I tried to make that chant a little more true.

Easton loves two things above all others:

Buttons

and Tags

So, to fulfill all of his wildest dreams, I created this:

A tag blanket with buttons sewn on. Buttons that he can chew and grab all he wants to (the best kind in Easton's opinion). I followed this tutorial and just made a few tweaks (the adding of the buttons and one side being cotton fabric).

And because I love all of you--it's time for a giveaway! I'll make you a tag blanket with buttons. One side minky and the other a suitable cotton fabric (in either a girly or boyish design--your choice). Perfect for your little one, or your next shower gift.

What do you have to do to win? Just leave a comment (any comment) before Wednesday, July 23rd at 11:59pm and I'll draw a winner via random.org.

Good luck!

Sorting Winner

First of all, I was going to offer a prize in each category--but then I realized that it didn't matter because Anne Marie (who has a private blog) was the closest on all three!

I am moving 1 box. Just for the record, 20 boxes were shredded (my department handles all scholarships and donors for the college so there was a lot of personal information), and 8 boxes were recycled. Even the shredded stuff will be used in drywall (or something like that--so the shredding company told me).

The oldest document I found was Sept. 17, 1965. Although the documents from 1977 enthralled me the most since they were all typed on carbon paper so our office could have a copy of the letter.

Our office did their accounting by hand in GIGANTIC ledger books until 1993. Not as horrible as I made you all think, but still personal computers were around.

So, thanks for playing! Anne Marie--send me your preferred monogram for the cards and I'll get those right out to you!

Sorting

So I mentioned how I am quite busy at work currently. No, I’m not an accountant (though that would be a logical explanation for craziness at work this time of year).

I’m planning an event for a lot of important people—that is half of the craziness.

The other half is that our entire building has to move.

Into an old dorm building.

It will be as glamorous as you are imagining.

So, as such we are sorting. Sorting old files, office supplies, broken chairs, etc. I know that I am not moving one single thing that I don’t have to. In fact—with every job I’ve ever held, I’ve completely cleaned (or should I say chucked*) all unnecessary items about six months after starting. At that point, I usually have a good idea of what can go.

It is my belief that offices in general keep way too much crap. Yes, I used the “C” word and I’ll say it again. CRAP.

But now I’m going off on one of my pet peeves—so back to the situation at hand.

My office has a store room. I was shown where it was when I started, but have never set foot in it since. Not once. I haven’t searched for a single file down there.

So last week I tackled the job. 25 file boxes and 3 four-drawer filing cabinets.

And now I present a little contest. Answer the following questions.
1. How many boxes am I moving to my new storage room?
2. What date did the oldest document display?
3. Until what year did my department keep their account books by hand?

I’ll close the contest Wednesday, April 16th at 11:59p.m. (One entry per person please).

The prize?

You want to know about the prize?

A set of personalized cards from yours truly. Cuz, let’s face it—that’s about all my pocket book can afford to shell out at the moment.

*When I say chucked, I mean recycled. I am earth friendly. But recycled just doesn't make my heart sing like the word chucked. Say it with me. CHUCKED.

200th Post Winner!

Random.org generated the number 9 (when given 1-22 as options).

So that makes....

Ginny the lucky winner! Congrats!

Ginny--email me at kaleelopez at gmail dot com with your address and the letter you want on the monogrammed cards and I'll get them right out!

200th Post Giveaway!

I hope none of you have realized (because that would mean that you have hand-counted all of my posts) but this is my 200th post!

In celebration, it’s time for another giveaway.

What does KaLee have to give away? Handmade cards of course!

(You may remember my last giveaway).

This time you get a set of 12 monogrammed cards. Super cute. Useful for any occasion because I will include an assortment of sentiments that you can glue to the inside of the cards as necessary.

You want these, I promise.

What do you have to do? Just leave a comment praising my name (or any comment) by Wednesday, March 5th at midnight (Mountain Time) and I’ll announce the winner Thursday morning. (One comment per person please).

Good Luck!