Junk Mail Project:: Mosaic Birdies & Giveaway Winners

Well, here I am posting on a Saturday. What was I thinking ending the Giveaway today? Don't you people know I don't work on the weekends?

Actually, this weekend Mr. Smarty is wearing his professional athlete hat -specifically, a bike helmet--and doing a century-ride in some Texas town I've never been--so I've got some time. Thought I'd post what Belle and I did yesterday afternoon while I'm posting the winners.

We sketched a parakeet and an owl (or I did and Belle traced mine), but you could easily use a coloring book image.





Scrap paper--really anything goes here-wrapping paper, candy wrappers, cellophane, foil, cardstock, junk-mail..ripped in the shapes needed to give definition to your picture.





And now I interrupt this post to bring you the winners:

Thanks to all who entered my Uprinting.com postcard giveaway! I wish they let me pick everyone, but since I couldn't, I let Random.org do the hard part. Congrats, Lauraslefthook and 3Blessings! I'll contact you soon with the details!

Aren't custom cards super sweet? I would just hate to make 200 of these babies-think I would scan it and let Uprinting.com handle the masses.





What else can we do with junk mail?

Giveaway:: 200 Custom Postcards from UPrinting.com

UPrinting.com is a fabulous company that offers high quality printing at the most affordable prices. And they love helping bloggers (and everyone!) with great products to help promote their businesses/websites/blogs. They do Business cards, Stickers, Vinyl banners, Custom Greeting Cards and Custom Postcards.



This week UPrinting.com is offering (2) Pajama Mama readers 200 Custom Postcards!!!!

You can personalize your custom postcards for invitations, thank you cards, announcements, Christmas cards! And these are fancy postcards- you choose your size: 4x6, 4.25x6, 5x7"; 14pt gloss or matte, 13 pt uncoated; Full Color on both sides (4/4)!

See that postcard at the top there? Yup, that's what I'm ordering. I was going to be really practical and order Christmas cards so I could be the first to get mine out this year...and of course, I wish I could use them now for an adoption announcement, but that is even farther away than Christmas, in all likelihood. So, I'm splurging a little, and having this fun logo printed up. My Bro-Bro designed it for me years ago when I was sewing more and considering a little side business.

How would you use 200 Custom Postcards? Leave me a comment telling me how and I will choose 2 comments on Saturday, August 29th.

DISCLAIMERS:
Giveaway is open to US residents.
Shipping of prizes is not included and must be paid by winner.
UPrinting.com reserves the right not to print obscene or offensive materials.



Much thanks to UPrinting.com for this review and giveaway opportunity! And for those who saw my DIY Backdrop Photoshoot from Monday, check it out again, and see how my bro-bro fixed Bell's picture. I love having talent in the fam.



Printing my own postcards Works for Me!

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Take a Photoshoot In Your Neighborhood

This past week, I drove around our town with fresh eyes on the lookout for great backdrops. Specifically, I was looking for painted brick walls, solid bold colors, textures that create interest without distracting from the character of the picture. These are some photos I took around our town.

This is the stool that normally sits in front of our fireplace. But I brought it with me and thought it was perfect for this outbuilding across the street from the downtown park:



The backdrop for this photo is a park bathroom. I also brought a tripod and one of the kids' chairs:



Belle at a used car dealership. I love color wheel opposites combined like this orange and blue.




Perhaps this is the new version of pulling over to pick some wildflowers. Only now what we capture on the side of the road can leave a much longer lasting impression.

More DIY backdrop ideas::

Amy of I heart faces posted on creating a studio look in her daughter's nursery.

Emily of Chatting at the Sky gives her tips on getting so close, there's no need to clean the house.

I'm linking this to Kimba's DIY Day. If you're visiting from Kimba's, thanks & check out my Giveaway before you leave!

Pajama Mama Featured at TCB!!

My blog has arrived.

Kim at Today's Creative Blog featured Pajama Mama and made my year!



I adore Kim and all her features-she works so hard to spotlight creativity and inspire more.

And she knows and understands how much we showdogs need comment love. So, thanks, Kim and all her sweet readers who've dropped in to say hi!

Square Foot Gardening Anyone?

Reading:: Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew.

And now I'm getting really excited about spring.

Sheesh, did I just say that? It's not even Labor Day. Okay, so I'm over summer. Ready for fall. And I'll use the winter to plan my own square foot garden.

(I know it's a strange time to be reading about gardening, but our library's wait list for this one was a mile long. Mr. Smarty just brought it home today.)

So far, here's what I've found fascinating:

The author suggests to start with a 4 foot by 4 foot block per person. If you start in early March, in two months those 16 square feet can produce:

4 head Oak Leaf lettuse
16 standard size carrots
9 bunches of spinach
32 radishes
16 scallions
4 heads Salad Bowl lettuce
16 beets, plus 4 bunches beet greens
5 pounds sugar snap peas
4 heads Ruby lettuce
9 Japanese turnips
8 bunches Swiss chard
1 head cabbage
4 head romaine lettuce
1 head cauliflower
1 head broccoli
16 small, round carrots

And by then the weather is warm enough to start planting and harvesting tomatoes, peppers and squash.

Some friends brought this gi-normous zucchini discovered in the garden. We used maybe a fourth of it for dinner one evening, and another half for zucchini bread.

Anyone already square foot garden? I'd love to hear any experiences with it!

Artistic Grace

"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep."


-- Scott Adams, creator of Dilbert cartoons

Give Gifts People Really Want

What makes a gift special?

Gifts say alot about the relationship between you and the other person. A most meaningful gift is one that says:

"You are known and loved. You matter."

Gift cards and neckties can be meaningful-when it it unexpected and unique and special to you. But most often, for a gift to be truly meaningful, to exude: "You are loved and cherished and worth it," - it has to be personal.

And the best way I know to make it personal; to show someone they are one-in-a-bajillion is to give something that is one-of-a-kind. A hand-made gift.

(in)courage.me, THE site for encouraging women where they are, is launching today. Part of the festivities of the day are posting on what inspires and encourages you.



People who care so much for those around them that they give with their hearts inspire me. People who think time and attention are more valuable than dollars. People who get their hands dirty to make something of beauty for someone who is beautiful to them. They inspire me. And their gifts warm me and tell me I am loved.


Some of My Hand-made Kindred Spirits:

Songbird Tiff actually has an entire blog devoted to the gifts she makes all year to give at Christmas. Quite a challenge, and I fear for her all year that someone in her family will stumble upon her site! But if you're not a mother or sister to Tiff, check it out!

Simply Vintage Girl, Emily Rose, hosts A Homemade Christmas. This years series will begin in October, where she will share the gifts she is working on, and others can link up with our creations.



Sew Mama Sew's blog makes November Handmade Holidays:30 Days of Gifts to Sew. Many of the ideas are simple, and all give complete tutorials.

And although Chatting at the Sky Emily's Letter may not seem like a hand-made gift, she describes the thoughtful handwritten words of a friend as life-giving. Life-giving! Emily unwraps gifts like these every Tuesday.

Do you give handmade gifts to you (in)courage others? Are we hand-made kindred spirits?

More Felt Fun

My folks are stepping on a plane headed for Texas right about now. I should be vacuuming or making sure the dust on the nightstand in the guest bedroom has been taken care of. Or watering the plants so they don't all look wilted and ignored. Or playing with the kids so they don't look ignored when they go berserk with all the fresh grandparent attention.

But I'm not.

I'm sewing. Again.

Turns out Bro-Bro and Laura had something called Incase for their iPhones, so their new felt cases were too small. And the little birdie got claimed by my mother, who's iPhone does not sport an Incase. So Laura's got a new design-an owl for the teacher!

Then Laura's friend, and my fellow bridesmaid (Yippee-wait til you see my dress!!!! I mean Laura's dress-it's all about her. That's right. ), anyhoo. Grace, Laura's friend and my fellow bridesmaid,loved my cases so much, so I made one for her too (the turtle).



Okay, so since I don't own an iPhone myself, I have no use for a little case like this. But they were fun and quick to make. Any suggestions for little cases? I really don't think my check book needs any felt. And did I mention that I carry no technology?

This post is linked to Kimba's DIY Day.

Dining Room for Nothing: A Before and After

As promised, here is my Summer Project #2. For those who've been wondering where I've been, Summer Project #1 was my painted armoire.

Sometimes having a zero-dollar budget actually allows you to follow the most current trends.


What?

Did I just say you can have the latest trends with no money? without breaking any laws?

Well, that was my thought when I had an inherited dining table that looked like this:



I also had a can of white paint and some brownish craft paint.

So for $0, a brillo pad, and a couple of days worth of rest-time painting, I was able to jump on the white dining room trend.



That is a trend right?

No?

Oh.

Well, at least I'm not out any money.



If you're visiting from Kimba's DIY Day, thanks! While you're here, check out what I made with felt in today's post, too!

I'm also linking this post up to Gina's Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage.