These are for you to save and print for your own creativity card jar. Remember my post a little while back on using a jar with cards in it for those days when you just can't think of what to do creatively speaking? Here are 2 more cards you can print out and put in your jar.
I mentioned a while back that I'm now keeping a jar of "creativity cards" handy for those times when I'm free to create but can't get myself started. I like the cards so much that I've designed some cards for you to print out. I'll post cards now and then which you can right click and save for yourself. Here are the first 2:
There have been three winners so far this month. Karen, Jacqueline and Teresa! I will be drawing more names during February - you can be in on it if you follow this blog AND leave a comment. Current followers need only leave a comment. Teresa has chosen a pair of earrings I made using vintage charms, glass buttons, bits of chain and miscellany.
Jacqueline chose a vintage brooch that I re-fashioned by adding transparent aqua beads to the inside of the tulips.
Karen opted to let a young friend take her gift. Maggie has chosen her gift.
Go to the end of this post for information on how YOU can be in on the giveaways!
In the last few months, I've received several handmade gifts, which has prompted me to wonder, why do I like them so much? Hand made gifts have a reputation, generally speaking, for being somewhat less than the best, because they're often flawed, or possibly impractical. I remember my Mom making gowns for my piano recitals when I was a girl. Getting a "storebought" gown for senior prom was like paradise! Looking back, I'm ashamed of how little I valued the dresses my Mom made for me (except for the faux leopard skin vest with matching pants - I still feel relief that those are long gone). If you're a parent, you know how special it is to get craft projects from your children, or another crayon drawing to add to the growing file. Somehow, kids recognize how special their own efforts are. When do they stop giving us their art?
Today I've come to realize that the gift made by hand is a gift beyond anything available in the marketplace, a reflection of its maker. How precious! Just as, looking and wondering at all of God's creation, we are looking at Him, the Maker, so also, when I wear the socks my aunt knitted, with the toe of one going top to bottom instead of side to side, I am somehow with her, my dear aunt who lives so far away. My favorite gifts are the ones made by hand, by the people who love me enough to make something for me. The next best thing is something hand made by someone I don't know, like what you find at Etsy... but the bottom line is that if you make something for me - I treasure it!
I would like to share some of my own handmade goods with you! I have lots of handmade/redesigned jewelry, small tags for gifts, tree ornaments, or bookmarks, and raggy taggy fabric bracelet cuffs with vintage button closures! I've started a facebook photo album with pictures of various small projects that I'm willing to give away - if YOUR NAME IS DRAWN - you can choose what you want from that album. I'll be adding pictures during the month - there's no telling WHEN I'll add more, when I'll be drawing a name, or even how often!
During the month of February, leave a comment on this blog AND become a follower of this blog by clicking the follow button on the right margin. If you are already a follower, just leave a comment.
I will put your name in extra times for sharing (twitter, facebook, your own blog) the link to this particular blog post to get the word out - just comment again or email me with a link to your post so I can verify it. The link to this blog post is http://www.cindybettinger.com/gateway/2011/02/my-favorite-things-are-hand-made-and-february-giveaway.html
During the month of February, I'll randomly draw at least 5 names - I hope yours is one of them!
