Birthday Blog Candy, finally! Ends 3-16 at midnight

Finally, all the goodies are here and I can finally get my birthday blog candy up and running!  I hope you have not grown disinterested while waiting.  There are a lot of goodies, and I am awarding them as one prize.  You do not need to follow my blog or post the candy on your side bar to participate.  If you follow, I would like it to be because you want to, not for the candy.   Making a card according to my inspiration photo will entitle you to an extra chance to win the blog candy. 

So, let me start listing the birthday blog candy:

First, from Virginiasvignettes on Etsy:  You can see the breakdown of the items in the first photo  by visiting the 2-18 blog entry.  Virginia is so talented.

In this next photo, the carded vintage ribbons and fibers are also from Virginiasvigettes on Etsy as are the beautiful vintage salt and pepper shakers with mica flakes and glitter.   Also included are pink crystal leaves and rayon ribbon from other sources.

Okay, the next photo shows the three Magnolia stamps, flowers and bling.  The Magnolia stamps were donated by the very generous Diana Crick of

Magnolia-licious and are:  #3030 Tilda with big ribbon, #294 Tilda with balloon and #226 Birthday Tilda, all from the "You Are So Special" collection.  The pink and purple flowers are also from Diana:   Flower Patch, pink and purple.  The other large packets of flowers are Recollections Boutique Fleur from Michael's and the smaller packs are Jolee's By You.  The white pearls are Recollections.  The pink pearls are KaiserCraft.

Next items include: an 8 x 8 paper pad by K & Co. in Julianne; Tim Holtz adage tickets;  Cosmo Cricket Rub-A-Dub-Dub rub-ons; Mary Englebreit 3-D stickers;  an Oriental chipboard pack and two friendship-themed wood mounted stamps by Hampton Arts.

Next items include: A Richard Simmons dessert cookbook;  a recipe book for gourmet coffee-based drinks;  a chocolate strawberry (strawberry flavored chocolate - yummy); hot cocoa scented body cream; a chocolate-scented candle; feathers; vintage beaded lace;  silver charms and a packet of Jolee's By You pink button flowers.

This final photo shows the last of it:  6 sheets of Basic Grey Nook & Pantry cupcakes 12 x 12 paper (the back is delightful also); another small recipe booklet using boxed cake mixes; a Making Memories storage container and one piece of vintage sheet music with text in English and French.  There is a series but this is only one of the series, entitled La Biche (the doe) from a poem by Rainer Maria Rilke (a favorite of mine).

And finally, the photo for the card challenge.  You may use any aspect of this photo for your card.  It does not have to be an exact interpretation.  I just want to see how it inspires you to create a card.  There is no right or wrong.  Just have fun with it.

Okay, I got Inlinkz figured out.  I am going to add two blue frogs.  The first one is for those of you entering for the blog candy without making a card.  EVERYONE should add her info here.  The second frog is for those making a card,which as I said, gets you a second chance at winning. 

Okay, this second frog is for those making a card also:

Addendum re birthday blog candy

I figured out the little blue frog and have added TWO to the birthday blog candy posting.  The first frog is for all entrants, as this is your first chance at winning.  The second froggie is for those making cards.  Here you can post a thumbnail of your card.  Please make sure that the URL you post takes us to the blog post with the card.  If you have already left a comment, intending it as an entry, please enter again with the first frog.  If you are making a card, enter using the second frog, once you have your card finished.  Thank you again.  Oh, and one correction on the hot chocolate "lotion".  It is actually bath and shower gel.  Guess I need new glasses.   I have added three additional pieces of hand-dyed rayon tape, in berry colors, each 1 yard long, offered by Ribbonsmyth.  Forgot to add these yesterday.   I cannot get a good photo of the colors so you will have to be surprised.  One is a pink to lilac shade.  One is medium purple shades and the third is dark purple shades. 

Waiting for blog candy goodies to get here and current reads

While some of the things I will be offering in my blog candy are here, others are still on their way.  I swear it feels like Christmas, waiting for them, so I can offer them to you, along with my card challenge.  Maybe by Monday.  I probably should be splitting the goodies into two offerings, but am going to keep it as one win.  I hope to offer another when I hit 100 followers.

So, what am I doing while I am waiting?  Since I cannot make any cards, or do any sewing my the dolls, because of the splint on my wrist, I am reading and then reading some more.   I live in an apartment complex served by the local Books on Wheels. Sometimes the driver just knows what I would like to read, and will bring along a treasure with the books I have requested.  A few weeks ago I discovered Lee Child and his Jack Reacher stories.  While I started with the newest, I have gone on to read in the order suggested by Mr.Child, reading in the order written, not starting with the prequel which would give too much away about Jack Reacher.   I have devoured these two this week, and am hoping for two more when the Bookmobile comes back.



I am also fond of the Amish stories by Beverly Lewis and Wanda Brunstetter.   Beverly Lewis has a new trilogy - the Rose Trilogy, and I just read the first in the series, "The Thorn". I am looking forward to the second book which is to be released in April.  Living so close to Lancaster, I have always been fascinated with the Amish and the simple lives they lead.  I am not sure I could do it. 

Oh, I have also been re-reading the entire Cherry Ames series, from the beginning, when the library can locate the books.  I particularly love it when I get one of the original books, and not a newer reprint. 

I have been on prednisone for my wrist and it is really creating a sleepless state that is getting old.  I hate being up all night, I really do. It affects me adversely, and I don't seem to be able to catch up, ever, sleep-wise.  However, I did get two more books read during one sleepless night:

"What a Difference a Dog Makes" is written by a man who felt the true value of his dog as he recovered from radical surgery for prostate cancer.  Since I have two friends currently dealing with cancer, I strongly recommended this book. "Pukka" is a pure delight,  a story told primarily in photographs, with some narrative, but told from the puppy's viewpoint as he relays details of his life with his new friend (owner).  For all of you who have ever loved a Marley-like lab, Pukka does not seem quite as crazy, but he still is all lab, and delightful.  Apparently, the author, Ted Kerasote, wrote a book about his previous dog, "Merle's Door", and this is now on my request list from the library. If you are a dog lover, please read "Oogie" as soon as you can.  If you have ever rescued a dog, it will touch your heart, and may do so even if you are not a "dog person".

Hopefully by Monday all of the goodies will be here for the blog candy, so if you are a card maker, start thinking about the photograph I posted about a week or so ago, for inspiration.  Making a card will get you an additional chance for the blog candy. 

The candy will include the following:  two cookbooks (one for desserts, one for coffee drinks), some vintage lace beading, the wonderful Hershey thin filled with goodies that I showed you before, a chocolate strawberry (wonderful real candy treat that you have to whack on something to get the pieces to open up!), a chocolate candle, hot chocolate scented body lotion, hand-dyed rayon seam-binding, two packs of Recollections flowers, three Magnolia stamps, one packet of Magnolia flowers, one 8x 8 K & Co paper tablet (Julianne), two Hampton Art wood-mounted friendship stamps, a Tim Holtz packet of Adage Tickets and an oriental paper and chipboard pack byJenny Ellory.  Whew!  I think that it is.  If not, the rest will show up when I take photos of everything. I want to thank Diana Crick of Magnolia-licious, for her very kind donation of the three Magnolia stamps and a packet of pink and purple Magnolia flowers for my birthday candy.  She is the best!

Blog Candy coming - STICKY POST

This is a Sticky Post which will remain at the top of my blog at least until February 18 to give me time to acquire the candy.  Please page down for newer posts.  Thanks!

Keep watching this spot because Blog Candy is coming.  My birthday is on February 16th and I will celebrate by posting blog candy.  Once I post it, I would love it if you would follow my blog and post the candy on your blog.  However, this is not mandatory.  I want you to follow because you want to follow, not just to win some blog candy. 

I am busily collecting the goodies for the candy at this time and can tell you only that it will include something from Magnolia-licious, donated by the wonderful and generous Diana Crick! 

Now, if you want a second chance at winning, then WOW me by making a card using the photo below as inspiration.  It was the only bright spot around during a recent snow storm and I love the lines of it, and the use of the sheet music.  I will state that the Magnolias are my favorite stamps but it is not mandatory that you use a Magnolia stamp.  

The 16th is not far away so be watching.  My youngest son's birthday is Valentine's Day and then mine is the 16th.  When I was married, our anniversary was February 12th, so it was always a big week!   This will be my first candy offering and I hope you will like it.

By the time I post the photo of the candy, I hope to figure out how to use the little frog linky to make this easier.  Don't sign up now for the candy, in the comment section, in case I can get the froggy working.  If I cannot, then I will ask you to leave a comment with your email address and a (1) or a (2) in parentheses, indicating the number of chances you have, based on whether or not you made a card.  Hope this photo isn't too difficult for inspiration.  Oh, you do not have to use Mardi-Gras colors. 

 

BLOG CANDY - Partial

Eventually, everything will be here and I can finally post all of the blog candy for my birthday, but I have decided to whet your appetites, and show you part of what will be included.

As some of  you know, my right hand/wrist have been in a splint for almost 2 weeks now, and I still cannot do any paper crafting.  I found a lovely set on Etsy to purchase and include as part of my blog candy, courtesy of Virginia's Vignettes.  The  photo is Virginia's  and I have her permission to post it here.  Photos of other blog candy items will be included as they arrive, or as I can take photos.

From Virginia's listing:
This Vintage style tin is part of a series,and this one is Edition #4,with a 1995 date on it....Tin was never used for food,inside is very clean(NEW),outside shows a little ware due to aging,but no dents or off coloring...

Now for the fun part.  Inside I have created a few goodies to celebrate a Love for Chocolate...done in chocolate and pink colors, as follows: small notebook(4 1/2in X 3 1/4in,160pgs) with a floral cover, an embellished couple with sweet words, antique lace....

2 round glass magnets depicting words of chocolate...

a pocket tag that holds 3 cards of vintage chocolate ads images,  and antique(1919)ledger paper stamped with a To Do List on back...

a circular notepad with a floral design...

a floral designed journaling tag with a Chocolate saying on back...

all wrapped up in chocolate paper,with a decorative pink doily....

Tin measures 6in square and 2 3/4in high....

I will add only that the rest of the goodies will include Magnolia items, two specialty cookbooks, real chocolate and other goodies.  Keep watching.