Glorious Giveaways Galore!

Does anyone remember Woot Loot? At the beginning of last year, I had introduced a monthly giveaway I called Woot Loot - and I gave away a book from my stash, some art, a piece of jewelry I'd made, etc. I named it Woot Loot because the "loot" was supposed to make you say "WOOT!". Has anyone been around long enough to remember me doing that? Or were the winners mostly just here for the prizes, and not interested in listening to me ramble?

One of the reasons I quit Woot Loot was the increase in postage. Another reason was, although I enjoyed the increase in readership, it's frustrating to give things away to people who are just visiting your blog to win. Does that make any sense? I started Woot Loot as a way to bring other artists, crafters, and people interested in arts and crafts, to my blog. Not just contest seekers. I was hoping to make a few new friends, find some interesting new blogs, and have fun in the process. I also gave it up because frankly, I couldn't afford to do it, and it became difficult to do it monthly, when I didn't know what my health was going to be doing.

Don't get me wrong - I enjoyed Woot Loot. It was really fun to look around and figure out what I would offer as a prize. I even had a great time giving away some of my art and jewelry on other blogs, to celebrate their blogiversary or blog tour or...whatever. It was so fun knowing I was contributing something to someone else's blog, tour, contest, etc. I quit because the people I sent things to were friends while the contest was going on - but I'm pretty sure they couldn't tell you my name now. Not that I expect to be best friends with everyone I send prizes to...but it would be nice not to feel "used". Make sense?

Good.

I'm thinking about bringing Woot Loot back. With a twist. Rather than just giving stuff away, people will have to work for it - by entertaining me/us, convincing me/us why they should win, or solving a rhyme/riddle/joke.

What do you think? Is anyone interested in bringing back Woot Loot? Would any of you participate if you had to work for the prize? Or, if I bring it back, should I just keep the rules the same as everyone else's...leave a comment, follow me, Tweet about it, etc. I'd love to know what you all think...because I'd really like to reward you for reading my blabbing.

Let me know. I'll probably wind up doing the opposite of what you suggest, but you never know. I'm still thinking I can follow the resolutions I didn't make.

Get Your Sexy On with Silhouette

Ok. You've got to hear this. Seriously. I'm trying to contain my excitement and not allow my total dorkiness show. Really, I am. I'm so insanely excited about this I feel like a little kid!
This is the most whopper of a giveaway...I can hardly believe Simple-Finds.com is doing this. Giving away a QuicKutz Silhouette AND $150 in download credit proves there are people nuttier than I am! Yes, you heard me right. This is just insane. As much as I want to cut off access to their site - especially since they are already sitting at somewhere around 519 comments - I couldn't not post this for my dear and loyal subjects.

I will be wildly thrilled if one of you win this - of course, not as bonkers as I would be if I won it - and just FYI, will fully expect an open invitation to come play if you win as a result of this post. A QuicKutz Silhouette...just saying the words causes my eyes to glaze over and take on a dreamy quality. Say it with me...Silhouette. Ahhh Doesn't it just roll off your tongue like a lackadaisical stream flows over well-worn rocks? Mmm I love it! The folks over at Simple Finds are incredibly generous for offering this...but I honestly think their kindness borders on crazy when you add on the $150 download credit they are throwing in with the Silhouette. Have they lost their minds?? Apparently...because they didn't even stop there. They are also giving the winner FIVE colors of vinyl to top off this luscious giveaway. The QuicKutz vinyl itself is worth a whopping $40!! If you're trying to add it all up, this giveaway is worth a whopping $560. Yep. That's right. Five hundred and sixty smackaroos. 7,647 pesos. 16,457 rubles. That's a lot of pesos and rubles!

ASTONISHING.

Can you even think of a better way to start 2009?

Is anyone even still here reading??

This is a whopper. Enter my Woot Loot and then tear over to Simple-Finds.com and enter this smashing giveaway.

You can thank me with flowers.

Resolution Revolution 2009

SORRY, NO MORE ENTRIES ARE BEING ACCEPTED - BUT TRY AGAIN WITH THE LATEST WOOT LOOT!

From dictionary.com:

res⋅o⋅lu⋅tion

–noun

1.	a formal expression of opinion or intention made, usually after voting, by a formal organization, a legislature, a club, or other group.

2.	a resolve or determination: to make a firm resolution to do something.

3.	the act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc.

4.	the mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute; firmness of purpose.

5.	the act or process of resolving or separating into constituent or elementary parts.

(Subsequent numbers, which had nothing to do with this post, were deleted)

New Years is a time when everyone starts thinking about resolutions and the changes one needs to make in order to have a "better" life. "Better" can refer to more (as in, money, power, creativity, possessions, etc) or less (as in, weight, negative influences, toxic relationships, and for some people it also includes power, possessions, etc).

I have come up with the phrase "Resolution Revolution 2009" in order to refer to resolutions recurring throughout 2009. To me it seems silly to pick one universal date to make changes in your life - I think these things should be a constant, not tied into one specific date. For example, if you know you need to lose weight in order to better your health, why wait until January 1 to institute changes? This goes for all the changes people need to make, not just weight. I know it's usually easier to procrastinate - and that I (personally) am usually convinced that if I have ____ (done/taken care of/in my possession/read/etc) first, then I'll undoubtedly be more successful accomplishing ____ (insert goal here). Why is that?

Without going into a bunch of psychology, reasoning, or excuses, I'm here to post a challenge. I'm challenging you (and myself) to stop putting off change. One day a year - and whether you meet or don't meet one goal - does not make you a success or failure. Personal success is not dependent on one goal. Life is an evolution and depends on constant change.

What are your goals for 2009? Have you written them down? Do you have both long and short term goals? And have you thought about the consequences if you aren't successful in meeting each goal?

A lot of times resolutions are tough to keep - which is why we put them off. When trying to meet a long term goal, the scientific community suggests rewarding yourself for successfully completing steps (or time periods) toward your desired result - that people are much more successful in realizing goals if they receive rewards for different phases. Do you think you are more likely to complete a goal if you are rewarded for completing phases on your goal journey?

There are many different realms people can set goals for themselves - personal (taking better care of ones self, learning a language), health (smoking cessation, weight loss), work (get the promotion, stop procrastinating), creativity (spend more time in the studio, complete one piece of art/week)...and on and on. Since my blog is focused on art, I'm going to make some creative resolutions here. I'm doing this because another point the scientific community agrees on is that by making a resolution public, you are more likely to stick to it.

In 2009, I am going to...
* keep up with my blog. Whether it is posting new Woot Loot, fresh art, links to other amazing artists, reviews of books/products, or even just a good quote, I will make seven posts a week.
* create at least one piece of art I really like every week. Things like my "ugly piece" do not count until they are completed. I can work on any number of pieces during a given week - but I must actually complete at least one piece I really like.
* try at least one new technique a month and post the results. I have a whole binder of great things I want to try - and never get to them. This is the year I will wade through the list.
* submit pieces/projects/articles to publications. Whether they get published or not is something I have no control over - but I can get over the fear of just submitting!
* take my camera with me everywhere. I have a bad habit of leaving it at home - then wishing I had it with me. This may sound like it doesn't belong on this list - but it does. And here's why...I am constantly looking for pictures of texture, cropped pictures of different things to include in my art. I don't create pieces using pictures like this because I don't want to track down the person who took the original photo - and (whether this is true or not) it feels like my art isn't authentically me because I've used someone elses art in mine. I suppose this could easily be said about using other elements as well - using something Doodlebug or Around the Block puts out, for example. In my own wonky way of thinking, it doesn't feel the same. So I am going to take my digital camera with me everywhere.

I hope some of my resolutions will resonate with you - and that my public posting will encourage you to make a list of your own. I plan on referring to Resolution Revolution 2009 throughout the year - and I would love it if you would join me in this adventure. Why not start right now by leaving a comment with your resolution(s)?

To kick off Resolution Revolution 2009, I'm having another giveaway. The term "giveaway" seems so dull - so in my kingdom, giveaways will be known as Woot Loot. I had so much fun with the first one that I can't wait to kick off this latest Woot Loot! It is super easy to enter - but you must follow the instructions, lest you be disqualified...and we don't want that!!

Ways to get ONE ENTRY
~ Leave a comment.
~ Leave a SEPARATE comment with your resolution(s) for Resolution Revolution 2009 (one entry for each resolution)
~ Follow me on Twitter (and leave a separate comment with your Twitter name)

THREE ENTRIES
~ Blog about Resolution Revolution 2009 on your blog (come back and leave me a link to get your additional entries)

And what, dear subjects, are you entering to win? Well even though this one isn't a surprise...it would still be very cool to win - it's a handmade WATCH! Done in beautiful sodalite.

SODALITE
Color: Mostly dark blue with some white calcite interspersed, can include small specks of pyrite. Is often confused with lapis lazuli. (Lapis has green included many times, which is how I usually tell them apart.)
Healing Properties: Offers inner peace. Harmonizes inner being (conscious mind) with the subconscious mind. Promotes peace and harmony. Athletes use sodalite to promote endurance; for writers it is supposed to be "extra lucky". It is associated with the thyroid, weight loss, good communication and will give the wearer the confidence to speak more (which the Queen obviously does not need!). Good to keep around your house so its peaceful properties can surround you.

The face of the watch is genuine Geneva, with a sterling silver heart shape. It has small numbers and quarter hour markings around the face. Black hands (including a second hand). Sodalite chips and small rounds work with sterling silver balls and short tubes (with antiqued "x" markings) to make up a double band. The watch is finished off with a heart spring clasp, and has 5 sterling silver puffed heart charms next to the clasp. Is easily dressed up or down. The band is for a larger wrist. Retail value is $30.

As always, my camera is awful - take that into consideration when viewing the watch. :)

The not-so-fine print - but important info - PLEASE READ:
This Woot Loot ends January 23, 2009 - the winner will be announced January 24, 2009. Please leave your email address in your comment(s) (if your comment doesn't link to your blog) so I can notify you if you win. Winner has 3 (THREE) days to respond to winning notification - if no response, I'll notify the runner up on the list. We'll just keep at it until someone responds and wants the prize. :) This time, the winner will be chosen by names pulled out of the crown by the Princess.

GOOD LUCK!

Happy Holidays Giveaway

Did she say giveaway?? She did! WOOT!

And this is going to be an easy one! I had originally come up with this clever post involving all the giveaways other awesome blogs are doing - and how I was wanting to do something to liven up someone's holiday as well. Then time ran short.

Curiously, I came across this little box I had made last year - on the front is a little stamped Santa suit on a hanger. Below that it says "HO HO HO" - and to the right I wrote "Happy Holidays!" It has a pretty burgandy ribbon wrapped around it.

The problem? I can't remember what's in the box! Seriously - I have no clue. I *think* it was wrapped up for an eBay sale - but the buyer flaked and never paid. Whenever I sold something last year, I wrapped it up - so the buyer got a little surprise. I did several different boxes - Santa suits, ornaments, reindeer...all rubber stamped and colored in. They turned out really cute...but then I had this one left. Apparently I stuck it on a shelf and forgot about it...until this year!

My inability to remember is now your gain! I honestly don't know what's in the box...could be a variety of things. Jewelry I made? Probably. But what? A watch? Bracelet? I have no idea!

I know it won't make it to you in time for Christmas - especially since it's Christmas Eve day right now. However, you have the chance to receive a little gift after the ornaments are taken down, the pine needles vacuumed, and the wreaths put away for another year. And since the stamps are done on a kraft box, all you do is untie the ribbon to open the box - no paper to get rid of!

The contents of this box could be $5...or $50 (retail value). I could probably save everyone some time and just open the box myself - but why? It's more fun gifting it to one of my fabulous readers - just to let you all know you are special and appreciated. I have several other giveaways planned for the next couple of weeks - but I want to get this out first.

So who is it going to be? Do I have any takers?? Bueller? Bueller?

It's easy. Here's how to enter:
Leave a comment telling me what you hope is in the box...OR...just how simply fabulous you think my blog is...OR...what makes you feel royal (besides reading my blog haha). Please be sure to leave your email address so I can get in touch with you if you're the winner!!

Now...since it's Christmas, I have additional ways you can enter:
~ For ONE additional entry: Tell me (or link to) your favorite quick gift idea. When you realize you need a gift - and have less than 5 hours to create one. Including drying time. Please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!
~ For ONE additional entry: Blog about this giveaway/my blog. Remember to come back and let me know you did by leaving me a comment - and a link to your blog. Please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win

So there ya have it. You can enter up to THREE times for this giveaway. Pretty good odds, eh? Just be sure, if you choose to blog about this giveaway to come back and leave a comment so I know. And one more time, but please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!!

The giveaway will end DECEMBER 31, 2008 - and the winner will be announced on JANUARY 01, 2009. The winner will have 2 days to claim the prize...and if it isn't claimed, I'll move on to choose another number. And we'll just keep doing that until someone wants the prize!

The winner will be chosen by one of those automatic number chooser thingys. (Scientific, I know!) GOOD LUCK!! I wish I could give all of you something...but be sure to check back. I DO have several other giveaways planned!
And BTW...If you were the person who won the Hero Arts stamps, would you please leave me a comment?? I've been trying to find you so I can send them to you! :)