Project:Me (or You)

So I'm the first to admit this is not a great photo.  And trust me, the mess you see in the background is my craft room and it is only slightly cleaner than in this pic.  But over at Sweet As Punkin Pie she is running a contest for some free photo editing from Miss Pineapple Princess...and I really need to win!  Unfortunately, or fortunately -depends how you look at it-I had to post a photo of myself to enter.  So ignore everything in the pic except the adorable baby.  That's my little bean, Natalia.  When that baby is with her momma and daddy, BunBun and I miss her terribly.  She is the cutest little thing!  So gander at the gorgeous Tally and then go to see Julia and enter the contest.  But don't win--cause I wanna!

Flyer/Brochure Giveaway

In the past I have tried to make flyers for an upcoming event-all with varying degress of success or failure.  But no more wondering if my flyers are gonna fly.  UPrinting.com to the rescue!  UPrinting has so many choices when it comes to promoting your event or business and now you have the opportunity to win

100 Brochures/Flyers ABSOLUTELY FREE!

These flyers are 8.5 x11" on 100lb gloss text paper ; 4 color printing on both sides.

Your folding choices are Half fold; Trifold/Letterfold; Z-fold; Accordion (4 panels) Roll Fold (4 Panels)

To get an idea of what UPrinting does, look at their brochures and flyers.

You have 4 different ways of entering this giveaway.

#1  Let me know in the comment section how you would use these flyers and which fold you would choose if you won. THIS IS A MANDATORY ENTRY.

EXTRA ENTRIES-EACH REQUIRES A SEPARATE COMMENT



#2 Become a follower of Tally's Place or let me know you already are.


#3 Grab my button for your blog and leave me a link to your blog



#4 Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link to the post.



THE NITTY GRITTY : A winner will be chosen on Novenber 9 at 8 am pst by random.org. The winner will be notified by email. As appreciation for my blogging about UPrinting.com I will also receive 100 flyers of the same quality as the winner.

Pick a Card-Any Card

Have you been wanting to get some new business cards because your current ones are tired and old?  Or maybe you are just starting a business and you're financial resources are running thin and you still need to get some business cards?  Then...HAVE I GOT A DEAL FOR YOU!!!

How would you like 250 business cards....absolutely free?

Enter this giveaway to win 250 business cards from UPrinting.com!

 One Lucky Winner  will win 250 2 x 3.5”, 2 x 3”, 2 x 2” (square card) or 1.5 x 3.5” (skinny card)

Are you asking yourself..."How can I win these business cards?"

Let me know in the comment section which size of cards you would choose  if you won. To check out UPrinting's business cards, go here. THIS IS A MANDATORY ENTRY.


EXTRA ENTRIES-EACH REQUIRES A SEPARATE COMMENT

*Become a follower of Tally's Place or let me know you already are.

*Grab my button for your blog and leave me a link to your blog

*Subscribe to Tally's Place in a reader.

Nitty Gritty:  The winner will be chosen by random.org on November 2 at 8:30 am pst. The winner will be notified by email. As appreciation for sponsoring this giveaway I will also receive 250 business cards of the same quality as the winner.

To see what others are saying about UPrinting, you can go here. 
You can also enter my other UPrinting.com giveaways.

* Stickers

* Postcards

*Flyers/Brochures

Sticker Shock

One lucky reader is going to win some stickers.  These are not Hello Kitty stickers or reward stickers.  They don't glow in the dark and they aren't scratch 'n' sniff.  There's nothing wrong with those stickers, but these stickers are from UPrinting.com, a really great online printing company.  I'm not the only one who thinks this is a great company.  To read reviews of UPrinting, go here.  By now you know that I'm a big fan of Uprinting and have become part of their blog sponsorship program.  They allow me to do giveaways of their products and give me the same thing as the winner of the giveaway.  So the winner of this giveaway will be winning 250 full-color sticker/labels and so will I.  It's a win-win.

How do you win these sticker/labels?  Let me know in the comment section how you would use them if you won. Also, tell me if you collected stickers as a kid...or maybe you still do!  THIS IS A MANDATORY ENTRY.

EXTRA ENTRIES-EACH REQUIRES A SEPARATE COMMENT



*Become a follower of Tally's Place or let me know you already are.



*Grab my button for your blog and leave me a link to your blog



*Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link to the post.

Nitty Gritty

The winner will be chosen by random.org on November 2 at 8:30 am pst.  The winner will be notified by email.  As appreciation for sponsoring this giveaway I will also receive 250 stickers of the same quality as the winner.

* You can also enter my other UPrinting.com giveaways.

Postcards

Business Cards

Flyers/Brochures

Great Postcard Giveaway Boosts Business

Have you heard of UPrinting.com?  They are this really teriffic company that makes all types of paper items to support your business.  Whether it's business cards, banners, stickers, or brochures, you can rest assured that you will find what you need at Uprinting.com.  I recently won a giveaway for 250 greeting cards from Uprinting.com sponsored by Simply Sweet Home.  They came in the mail today and they are high quality, brightly-colored greeting cards.  I plan on using the greeting cards I just won in lots of different ways. The first way will be to let people know about upcoming craft shows I will be participating in.

Cruising around Uprinting's website after my win I discovered their blog sponsorship program and signed up.  I was approved and am now able to sponsor some great giveaways on my blog!  Check out the giveaways below and enter to win something you can't live without. 

100 Postcards for One Lucky Winner

Size: 4x6; Paper: 14pt Cardstock Gloss; Printing: Full color both sides

Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping in the US

Eligibility: Limited to US Residents

To have a look at their postcards, go here.
 
To see what others have to say about UPrinting, go here
 
Will  you use your postcards to announce new products you are carrying, an upcoming sale, or to just say thanks to loyal customers?  Let me know in the comment section how you would use these postcards if you won.  THIS IS A MANDATORY ENTRY.
 
EXTRA ENTRIES-EACH REQUIRES A SEPARATE COMMENT
 
*Become a follower of Tally's Place or let me know you already are.
 
*Grab my button for your blog and leave me a link to your blog
 
*Subscribe to Tally's Place in a reader.
 
THE NITTY GRITTY : A winner will be chosen on Novenber 2 at 8 am pst by random.org.   The winner will be notified by email.  As appreciation for my blogging about UPrinting.com I will also receive 100 postcards of the same quality as the winner.

Enter my other UPrinting.com giveaways:

* Stickers

*Business Cards

*Flyers/Brochures

Look What I Got!

Some of you mya know I'm slightly addicted to Swap-bot.  For those of you that don't know what it is:  It's a website that you join and then are able to swap items with other members.  There are all sorts of swaps and all sorts of members.  Some of the swaps are for things like postcards or stationery, while others are for things like handmade jewelry or quilt blocks. 

I recently joined a swap that was called Shop Swap & Blog.  The basis of this swap is that you send your partner something from your online shop and then they blog about it.  I recently received the folloing items from littleZ. 

There are two adorable little iron-ons, a stamped goose, and her business card.  What is not pictured is a cute little hand carved heart stamp.  It was immediately taken by my little neighbor friend.  (She loves hearts!)  The heart stamp was on a cute little wooden disk that showed what the stamp was.  You can see what they look like in littleZ's shop, right here.   I can't wait to use the iron-ons.  I think I will use them on something for The Bean.  And the goose is perfect for a scrapbook page I have planned about my ancestors from Germany.  It just looks Old World to me.

Lisette - the person who is "littleZ" is from the Netherlands and she has an adorable little DaWanda shop.  She also has a blog where she talks about living on the West Coast of Holland, her artsy side and life in general.  She is very sweet and I love the look of both her blog and her shop.  I'm so glad I got partnered with her!  I know I will be visitng both her blog and her shop more in the future.  Thanks Lisette for the wonderful items.

This time of year

This is the time of year when I am faced with ambivalence.  I love the cooler days.  The smell of fall and smoke rising from chimneys makes me breathe deeper.  The vibrant colors that line the streets and highways make my heart dance.  Then...I walk into a store and am greeted by ugly witch masks, flashing-eyed skeletons, and wispy spider webs and my husband hears the phrase that he is quite sick of hearning by now, "I HATE halloween." 
If you read my previous post about halloween, you know why I despise it.  It doesn't matter how sanitized our culture wants to make this holiday, it's origins are not Christian and I will therefore have no part in it.  Neopagans, wiccans, whatever will tell you the origins of the holiday do not have anyone worshipping the devil.  They are worshipping the earth, celebrating and praying to dead ancestors, marking the end of one season and the beginning of another.  Well the Bible teaches that there are two masters a person can serve; GOD or satan.  If you're not serving one, you're serving the other by default.  That dosn't mean if you aren't out casting spells or wearing a pentagram that you are serving Christ.  Being a follower of Christ goes much deeper than NOT doing something.  To be a follower of CHrist you must walk the Roman Road to salvation.

Romans 3:23  "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."  This means that none of us is able to be "good" enough.  When an archer is aiming for the bullseye and his arrow falls to the ground before even nearing the target, he is falling short of his aim.  We are the same and can never reach the glory of GOD on our own.

Romans 6:23  "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  This means that the continual "falling short" or sin is punishable only with death.  There is only one alternative and that is Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:8  ""But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."   There are times when someone will give his life to save the life of a good man.  How often do you see someone give their life for an evil, dispicable person?  That is what Jesus did.  Before we even knew there was a better way, He died so that we might be saved from death.

Romans 10:9, "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."   God provided a way for us to escape death, His son, Jesus.  It just requires that we openly confess that Jesus is who He says He is and that we truly believe it in our hearts.

Romans 10:13  "for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."   It is not just a special few who have been offered this gift of life instead of punishment by death.  EVERYONE means EVERYONE.

Romans 5:1 "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."   When we accept the gift of salvation, we are justified, saved, set aside so we don't have to suffer the punishment of death.  We can live in peace knowing that we belong to Christ.

John 3:16

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

I Won!...again

Wow!  GOD is truly blessing me lately.  I recently entered a giveaway at MiMi's Babies and won these lovely wash cloths.  Charissa also has an Etsy shop with all kinds of lovlies in it.  Who can resist these owls?  ( I love owls!)  Or what about this as a shower gift?  Go check out Charissa's blog and shop.    I can't wait to get my gift.  Thanks Charissa!

Giving Away My Sister

There were times I would have liked to give my sister away.  She is younger than me by about 8 years and it has not always been easy to get along.  I moved out of our parents' home shortly after I turned 18, leaving my 14 year old brother, Aaron, and my 10 year old sister, Ammi behind.  I remember her begging me not to move out and, me being the  wise older sister, thinking everything would be fine and I would always adore my baby sis.  Oh how we grow up so fast when we are out on our own.  There have been some rough and tumble, down and drag out screaming matches between us over the years.  If you know our family, you know we don't do anything quietly.  So when I say screaming, I mean...

 SCREAMING!

As we have gotten older, and hopefully, matured, we have come to discuss our differences calmly and a little more quietly.  We may have tears streaming down our faces, but we have learned something important in the last year or so.  Those that we love and cherish can be taken from us at a moment's notice without any warning.  Time is short and even if we don't always agree with someone nothing is worth losing a relationship with someone you love. 

So even though there may still be times Iwould like to give my sister away, I never would.  (Where would I find a sister that knows exactly what I mean when I say "The Convincers," "Mom's Coke Bottle," or  "The Patteren Store?")  Give away my sister? NO  My sister hosting a giveaway? YES  Little Sis is now a Close to My Heart  consultant.  She is hosting a giveaway on her blog, Mockingbird Place, where you can win a stamp pad of your choice from Close to My Heart.  So go check it out, leave her some comment love, and tell her how much I love her.

The top pic is obviously Ammi and the other pic is my bubby, Aaron and um...some biker ho motorcycle women.

Scoutie Girl Gifts

Who remembers this girl?  Her true name was Jean Louise Finch, but to me and countless others she will always be Scout Finch; narrator of "To Kill a Mockingbird."  I've talked about this movie before, but it's not the movie I'm talking about today.  It's the name-Scout. Or more precisely Scoutie Girl Gifts.  I know Scoutie Girl Gifts was NOT named after Scout Finch.  (And if you want to know where the name came from, you will have to go to Scoutie Girl Gifts to find the answer.)  However, I hear the phrase scoutie girl and I immendiately think of Jean Lousie.  No one ever called me normal or said that my brain works like everyone else's. 

What am I really rambling about?

Scoutie Girl Gifts is this amazingly wonderful gift registry that supports and spotlights indie crafters.  We all know that our landfills are overflowing, that natural resources are being depleted, that most of our nation's manufactured goods DO NOT come from the USA.  What to do about it?  We recycle, we try to shop local, we use cloth shopping bags.  But there is so much more that can be done.  One way to start is by buying goods and products that we know are not adding to the landfills, not depleting natural resources and that support the manufacture of items made in the good ol' USA.

That is what Scoutie Girl Gifts is all about.  The crafters and artisans that are spot lighted are people that are doing their best to provide a quality piece of art or clothing, for example.  We all know the "stuff" we buy at the big box, or even the local shopping center is not usually quality made.  It is most likely made in another country in some big factory and will fall apart after a few uses.  The items that can be found at Scoutie Girl Gifts are made by artisans that sell at Etsy and Artfire and other independent online stores.  These are items you can be proud to say were made with love and care. 

Here are a few of the lovely things I found at Scoutie Girl Gifts

What better gift for the guitar-playing rock-music-loving guy in your life?

What about that hard to buy for teen that wants to be cool and different at the same time?

And how about this for the lovable geek/nerd/techie on your list?

I just want to point out that I wasn't paid or compensated in anyway by blogging about Scoutie Girl Gifts.  I have been following this blog for awhile and the person behind Scoutie Girl (Tara) for awhile.  She has another great blog, Handmade in PA that I've been following too.  I believe in what Tara and all the folks at HiP and SGG are doing to promote and encourage independent regular folks kind of crafters and artisans.  Go check them out and buy something if you can.  I know there are a few Christmas gifts I'll be picking up this year that I found through Scoutie Girl.

Doing the Winner's Happy Dance From My Sickbed

Oh. My. Goodness.  I'm still in shock...for real!  I just won one the most wonderful-fantastic-super-duper- terrific thing!  I won muvee Reveal from Patty Reiser at This Digital Life.  I cannot wait to use this fantastic editing tool.  Pics, video, music.  I see a whole new world of scrapping opening up to me.  Also, I will be able to use this to create info for crafts Starla and I make and sell.  I'm absolutely giddy with excitement!  (Ok, as giddy as one can get while running a temp, aching from head to toe and sneezing every five seconds.)   

I found McLinky"s Friday Blog Hops only a little more than a week ago and after entering I-lost-track-how-many giveaways, I have won twice.  Last week I won 250 custom greeting cards from Uprinting courtesy of Jerri at Simply Sweet Home.  So if you are keeping track, that's two wins in two weeks.  "Big deal" you might be thinking.  Well to the girl in the blue faded bathrobe with tissues hanging out of the pocket, it's a very big deal.  It's confirmation from GOD that I'm on the right track and doing what He wants.  Wow is all I can say.  God chooses to bless us in ways we can never imagine. 

If you want my advice, you need to get in on this blog hopping giveaway stuff right away.  I've never had so much fun sitting at my desk.

Tips I Could- and SHOULD Use

I just found a great blog Hemidemisemiquaver Designs  while I was checking out one of my daily faves Craftgossip.com.  Becky has this great info about how to organize and rethink your crafting.

 I can definitely relate to her theme of Imitate when it comes to trying something new.  Trust me, I am a great copier of other people's wonderful ideas.  Sometimes I imitate something only once before making it my own, while other times I have to make a few "non-originals" before I find my groove. 

When it comes to Assimilating or finding new uses for things I already have...I've got this one down baby!  Ask anyone who knows me, I can find a new way to use something.  Don't believe me?  Check out this, or this, or...even this.  Unfortunately, BunBun believes I need to do more crafting and less finding of supplies.

Sometimes I'm more Innovative than other times.  For me this ties into the assimilating aspect.  I might get a great idea while looking at something as simple as a pair of mittens, while other times I could be surrounded by "stuff" to spark creativity and....NOTHIN'. 

All in all, I will definetily be checking Becky's blog often to see what I can Imitate, Assimilate, and Innovate from her terrific posts.

Why I Hate October 31st

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."

Ephesians 5:11

If you know me well, you really don't have to read this to know why I hate October 31st.  I don't have anything personally against that day.  I mean GOD has ordained all the days of my life and each one is blessed.  However, many don't know or refuse to accept the facts of what takes place at this time of year.  And I'm not talking about the unchurched, unsaved, lost loved ones we work, play, and live with.  It saddens me to realize how many Christians continue to celebrate a holiday that is based on satanic rituals and evil practices. 

I admit that I have celebrated Halloween, both as a child and as an adult.  One of the main rules I had as a child and for my children as well, NO EVIL,  CREEPY, GORY costumes.    I have even stopped celebrating only to celebrate it again.  But how many times do I need to be slapped in the face with a dead fish before I realize it stinks?  You can dress it up in all the sparkly and cute costumes you want,  but the holiday is still being celebrated.  SIDE NOTE: Holiday= Holy Day.  This is not a holy day by GOD'S standards.  If you don't really know where Halloween comes from, start here at the info they have at KLOVE.  Then Google it.  You will,  or at least should be, disgusted. 

As followers of Christ and HIS representatives, we are to have nothing to do with the evil one or anything that he represents.  We also have a responsibility to the little ones placed, by HIM, in our care to teach them the truth and to to protect them from all things that are not of Christ.  You can choose for yourself what you want to celebrate or not.  But I urge you to carefully look at the traditions and origins of what we call Halloween.  I know for me, I will not celebrate it.  Just as Shadrach, Meshach, and Obednego would not compromise and bend their knee to the king, I will not compromise. 

"Abstain from all appearance of evil."

 1 Thessalonians 5:22:

RAOK...RAOK

Ok...I have just been challenged and I truly believe GOD is talking to me on this one.  I was just over at Mellisa's blog, Getting All My Ducks in a Row.  I told you about her before, she was giving away those adorable pillowcase dresses.  WHICH I DID NOT WIN!  Oh well.  So she has this Random Acts of Kindess thing going on and she talks about a challenge her best friend gave her.  I'm not even gonna tell you what it is.  You will have to go read her blog to find it.  But...I know GOD is telling me to take this challenge.  My marriage needs it. I need it.  My husband deserves it.  How is that for a teaser?   The story I want to share with you is one that happened not too long ago.

I have a wonderful neighbor.  She is like a mini dynamo.  She has I don't know how many dogs (all sizes) and a parrot that you can hear quite clearly on warm days when we both have our windows open.  Recently she came over to bring us a jar of homemade salsa.  Delicioso!  We started talking about this little kitten in the neighborhood who has a less then attentive owner.  What to do?  Well, Shelly told us about a friend of her's who is a veterinarian.  Shelly catches feral kittens, her friend spays or neuters them, and then Shelly takes them to her ranch she has in the hills.  People like this are amazing.  To top this all off, Shelly is going in soon for another heart surgery.  She needs to have a replaced valve replaced.  So keep her in your prayers please.  And the wandering little kitten?  Owner woke up and is now taking care of him. 

If you would like to promote RAOK on your blog, Mellisa has a link for you to do that over at her place.

10 & 10 - Revisited

So remember this?  I have 3 days left to complete the rest of my tasks...I don't know if I can do it.  I think I may be getting a cold. YUCK!  Anyway, I'll keep you posted.  Any hints or tips on how to accomplish the remaining tasks would be greatly appreciated.

And the winner is....

Junebug of Junebug's Musings!  She is the lucky winner of my sweater purse, according to the random number thingy found at random.org.  I found her blog somehow by linking to her courtesy of Stirrup Queens. I commented on her blog and she was kind enough to take a look at MY blog and she found I was doing a giveaway.  She commented and became a follower (so nice!) and now she is the winner!  Junebug muses about lots of things but mostly her experiences with infertility, depression and thriftiness.  You know I can't pass up a blog about thriftiness.  From reading some of her posts I've decided she is a swell gal and life just sucks sometimes.  But I will be praying for her cause I think she would make a great mom.  Hey she will be carrying my sweater purse, so you know she's hip and stylish.  Go visit her blog and give her some comment love.  I know she will appreciate it.

McLinky Blog Hopping Fatigue

Ok...somehow I found McLinky and somehow got sucked into all the possibilities of free goodies and signed up to give something away on my blog.  This adorable sweater purse that I made.  (ONLY 9 ENTRIES SO FAR!)  Every time I think I have signed up for all the possiblities at this week's blog hop, I find something else that I'm dying to win.  For example... Mellisa over at Getting All My Ducks in a Row is hosting a giveaway of these adorable pillowcase dresses.  Now you may be saying to yourself, "Self, I could easily make these myself.  Why do I need to win them?"  And Self would answer, "Because they are stinking adorable and do you really have the time to make them?"  I know I don't and I doubt that Self does either.  So go check out Mellisa's adorable blog and enter to win these dresses...but don't win them cause I want them and you KNOW I have the perfect little girl in mind for them.

Sweater Purse Giveaway

I'm participating in a Blog Hop and I'm happy to say I'm giving away this sweater purse I made to one lucky reader.  It is made from two felted sweaters.  The handle is braided with wool from both sweaters.  All you need to do to win this adorable handbag is leave a comment on this blog.  I will randomly choose a winner on Monday, October 12, at 8 AM (pst).

 Can you earn extra entries? 

YES!!!

Here are the ways you can earn entries into this giveaway:

*Leave a comment

*Become a follower (if you already are a follower, let me know in a separate comment.

*Add my blog button to your blog.

Remember to leave a comment for each method.  If you do all three of the above entry methods, I should have three comments from you.

GOOD LUCK!

10 Tasks-10 Days

This is the mission, should you choose to accept it.  Gina over at The Shabby Chic Cottage has challenged those of us in Blogland to get something accomplished.  Ten tasks that need to get done and ten days in which to get them done.  I'm up for the challenge (sorta) because if I don't have a deadline I may never get around to some of these things.  So here is my list.  You can check on my progress, nag me, question my sanity, I don't care.  I just want to feel like I'm getting something done.

THE LIST

Make applesauce

Complete 20 felt birds

Clean the craft room

Finish 1 Christmas present (sorta)

Take pics for a scrapbook I have planned

Give the dog a bath and trim her nails

Make a budget

Spend time with Callie

Donate AT LEAST one box to charity

Get a haircut