For those of you who didn't get my "photo clue", the photo is the top of one of the Copic markers. This has a retail value of over $150.00! Some of you who follow me regularly will probably guess that these are the markers I won over at Gina K Designs blog. I was so lucky to win these, but honestly, I just can't get the hang of them. I am so comfortable with my cheap colored pencils and OMS, that these have just sat in my drawer unused. I thought that this was just a shame and a waste, and I decided I wanted someone to have them that would really use them. I'm also throwing in a couple of surprises in the box as well so good luck to each of you!
YOU NEED TO READ THIS!
I would really appreciate it if you would read the entire post. I'm highlighting some special people, and expressing my appreciation to all of you who visit me on a regular basis. You are the reason for this blog, and I want you to know that!
The first thing I want to do is to highlight 3 people who I want to thank for their first encouraging posts on my blog when I started a year ago.
Julie Koerber (Out To Impress)
Julie was the very first person to post a comment on my very first post. I still can remember reading that first post and being so excited that she thought enough of my post and my cards to leave a comment! She was so kind, complimentary, and encouraging. I can't thank her enough. I also couldn't believe (when I went to visit her post for the first time) that someone as talented as Julie would even bother with my pitiful little cards, but she did. Click on her name above to see her blog, and then hop over to her SplitCoast Gallery. Some of her cards will literally take your breath away!
Janine Orchard (2bKrafty)
Janine has been a true blogging buddy, posting a comment on almost every one of my posts. Her work is not only gorgeous, but she is so amazingly generous because a lot of the things she posts are things that she is giving people. I have always loved her style, and her coloring is incredible. She is such an inspiration to me. Please click on her name above and check out her work. She is wonderful!
Pat Adam (The Rubber Maid)
Pat is Julie Koerber's Mom and she is certainly one special lady! Pat creates such wonderful cards, but the best thing I love about visiting Pat's blog is her hilarious sense of humor. Reading her posts makes me laugh out loud. Pat has a "no holds barred" approach to her blog and I would imagine to life as well. She is a joy to me. I invite you to click on her name above and check her out.
I have highlighted these 3 because they were the first 3 to leave comments on my blog. They were the ones who made me want to keep creating and to keep blogging. I also went to all of the blogs they had listed on their blogs and that's how I found some of you. And then from yours on to an infinity of talented folks.
Here are some statistics that really blow my mind:
1. My first post. 1 comment - My posts now average between 35 to near 70 comments
2. From 0 followers to almost 50 followers and growing!
3 I receive comments from Canada, Australia, England, Spain, Italy, Romania, South Africa, and many other countries. So amazing to me.
4. Blog hits as of this post is over 20, 800. Awesome!
5. In the year I posted a total of only 70 (with this post).
This has been such a wonderful experience for me and it is certainly been because of all of you. I can not thank those of you enough for leaving me consistently uplifting, smile-generating comments, post after post. You have been so inspiring with your comments and your creativity, and I like to think I consider you friends. I love spending time on your blogs, and I try to visit you all at least once a week. It amazes me that I can feel such a connection to people I have never met. You are truly special to me and I cherish each and every one of you.
OK, enough of the "Oscarish" speech. I just want you all to know that you make my life more meaningful.
Now I have a couple of projects to share and a card. Then I will get on to the deets of how to enter for the blog candy. I made these for my Mom's and Jay's Mom's Easter baskets. You might be surprised what I used as a template for these:
The stamp is a House Mouse stamp (gee, what a surprise, huh?) I love how this little guy is winking and holding those jelly beans. I stamped him in Archival Jet Black ink, and colored the image with colored pencils and OMS. The tulips around the box are a patterned paper from The Paper Studio, and the little picket fence was made with the Martha Stewart punch. I used my Nesties for the scalloped oval. Here is what I used as the template for the boxes:
Funny, huh? Every time I would buy these, I would think "this is such a great size for something." So I "undid" the box and taped it to card stock, traced around it, and cut it out. I had to alter it a little bit because the front flap is designed to be on the outside, and I wanted it to tuck in the box. The neat thing about this box is that you can open it by pressing each side of the box at the same time. It pops open like magic.
The next project is my famous candy bar sleeve with the faux belly band.
I don't know who the stamp is by or the paper either. I stamped and colored it with colored pencils and OMS and mounted it to the band with foam squares. Here is a pic of it unassembled:
My last thing to show you is my card. Forgive me for another HM stamp, but as you know, I got a new bunch of them and I just have to use them:
I loved this image the minute I saw it, and thought of so many sentiments that could go with it. I use two different CB folders for the embossing and of course colored pencils and OMS.
So, there you have it. Here's what you need to do to to enter the contest for the blog candy. Simply leave a comment here on my blog. For those of you who have been my long standing followers, I will enter your name twice. To find out if you are in that group, just look to see if your blog is listed on the side of my blog, or if you were signed up as a follower of mine as of yesterday. But remember, EVERYONE must leave a comment in order to have at least one entry. Every one else who leaves a comment will be entered once. I will use Random.Org to draw the winner. Since my Blogaversary is April 14Th, the person who comes out in spot 14 on the list will be the winner! Good luck everyone! You have until Midnight (EST) on April 20TH to enter. I will post the winner on April 21ST.
Well, thanks for sharing my 1 year Blogaversary! I appreciate you all so much and thank you again for being my very best "blogging Buddies"! I'll be seeing you on your blogs!
Best,
Curt O'Brien
"God help me be the person that my dogs think I am."
