Monday, November 30, 2009

Yum Yum Pendants

AND THE WINNER IS:
CARRIE!!
CONGRATULATIONS!

Ela has the most wonderful Pendant shop on Etsy.
Yum Yum Pendants has been on Etsy since the end of October. I was thrilled when Ela contacted me about having a give away on my blog! Everyone LOVES Pendants! And Ela has some really cute ones, inspirational ones, and just beautiful pendants. She also has a "Buy 2 Get One FREE" Sale happening till the end of December!


*Where are you from? Tell us a bit about yourself.
I'm originally from Ontario, Canada- just outside Toronto. I married a Texan 5 years ago and we both moved down to Texas 4 years ago. I now live in the Austin area which is by far my favourite place in Texas! Great place for arts and crafts.

*How did you decide on your shop name? Why did you start your business?
These pendants look good enough to eat!! YUM! As for starting this business- I originally started making glass tile pendants as a way to share my artwork with more people. My first shop on Etsy (steel) focuses just on my bizarre creations- paintings, postcards, and glass tile jewelry. Making the pendants was so much fun that I decided to branch out with a broader range of designs (both my own and from other talented artists) and start another shop!

*When did you start crafting?
Before this I was a full time artist (painter) and the crafting aspect sort of sprouted out naturally from that about a year ago.

*What or who inspires you?
My husband. I know it's cheesy! But he inspires me to work hard and do what I love.


*What would you love to add to your crafting space?

Um. How about a little elf that runs around and cleans up after me?

*What’s your supply addiction; is there a specific color or type of supply you just can’t pass up?
It's not in any way related to things I sell, but I'm a giant fabric junkie. I love to sew also and man.. drop me in the fabric store and you're in for some major trouble.

*Which item in your shop did you enjoy making the most and why?
Definitely my cold little penguin design! He was so fun to draw and absurdly cute.





NOW FOR THE GIVE AWAY!


Ela will be sending one lucky winner their choice of Pendant from her shop, with an 18" chain! (the picture is one I would pick)

large

Here are the Rules to enter the Give Away.
Please leave a SEPERATE comment for each Entry!


THIS GIVE AWAY IS CLOSED!!

The draw will take place on: December 18 at 10PM Central

This is open to EVERYONE worldwide!
Good Luck Everyone!!


***********************************************


Audrey's Country Crafts is in no way responsible for the mailing of the prize. After the name is drawn I will contact that person. They have 3 days to respond before another name will be picked! The name and address will be forwarded.
Thank-you for entering!!

Photobucket

Monday, November 16, 2009

Win 500 Business Cards

AND THE WINNER IS:
PETE!!
CONGRATULATIONS!


I was thrilled when
Overnight Prints contacted me about having a Give Away on my blog. One lucky person will win 500 Business Cards! Just think of all the people you can reach with that many! :)


Of course before saying "Yes" to the Give Away I went to check out their site. They have an amazing variety of products to help people promote their business. They carry: Business Cards, Postcards, Greeting Cards, Rack Cards, Bookmarks, Brochures and a lot more for every business and every occasion! I did "make" some business cards to see how the site worked. It is actually quite easy to use, and they have a wonderful variety of graphics, fonts etc. for you to choose from.

Another great way to promote your shop is with a Postcard. They have a wonderful assortment of graphics to choose from. The Postcard is a great extra to send with an order. Add a 10% discount code onto the card for the buyer's next purchase! A great way to get them coming back. Overnight Prints prices are actually quite reasonable.


If all you've used to promote your business so far is a business card, I would strongly suggest that you also consider Magnets. Everyone loves a fridge magnet :) That way the customer sees you every time they go to the fridge! You can even have them match your business cards.


NOW FOR THE GIVE AWAY!
Overnight Prints is giving one lucky person 500 Business Cards!


THIS GIVE AWAY IS CLOSED!

The draw will take place on: December 11 at 10PM Central
This is open to US & Canada Only!
Good Luck Everyone!!



***********************************************


Audrey's Country Crafts is in no way responsible for the mailing of the prize. After the name is drawn I will contact that person. They have 3 days to respond before another name will be picked! The name and address will be forwarded.
Thank-you for entering!!


Photobucket

My Blog is Featured!!

Stacie has featured my Give Away Blog on her amazing blog!!
http://stacievaughansblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/blog-spotlight-audreys-give-away-blog.html

Please check it out! Comment and visit the rest of her amazing site!

Simply Stacie

Amazing Cookie Cutters!

AND THE WINNER IS:
SANDYM!
CONGRATULATIONS!!

When Chris contacted me about doing a review/give away for their new business, selling cookie cutters, I thought "Sure Why Not!". When the boys werre young I used to make (or try to make) shaped cookies, but never had any luck with the cookie cutters. I've tried everything from stainless steel to plastic. The dough would stick to the cookie cutters and inevitably the cookies would be misshapen. Well - at least I would have an excuse to bake cookies:)

I had my choice of the Christmas Cookie Cutter Set (4 piece), the Mini Christmas Cookie Cutter Set (4 piece) or the Mini Mouse Ears Cookie Cutter. I picked the first set.

The Cookie Cutters came in the mail yesterday morning and after supper I went looking for a cookie recipe I could try them on. I found this wonderful recipe for Sour Cream Sugar Cookies and went to work making cookies.


When it was time to roll & cut the cookies I floured the cookie cutters & got to work. They are AMAZING!! After the first dip in the flour to get started, I never had to look at the flour again. The cookies just popped right out! These are easily the best cutters I've used.

Chris and Karrie have had their business on the net for just over 4 months now. They ship Worldwide! Here is what Chris says about their company:

We got in the cookie cutter business because “everyone loves cookie cutters” (this is a fun business), and they are fairly small (storage) and light (shipping). We store everything ourselves, and ship everything ourselves which means several trips to the post office a week.

Our less expensive cutters (under $3) are “average quality”. Not flimsy, but obviously not thick copper either (yes, I’m admitting they are average :- )
Our more expensive cutters (over $3) are “higher quality”.

Our less expensive cutter prices are “average” if not on the higher end of pricing compared to other sites out there (WHAT?, did he really just admit his pricing was high? :- ) will explain in a sec.

Our more expensive cutters are typically either very competitively priced, or next to impossible to find anywhere else on the planet.

Our goal is to have the LARGEST selection of cookie cutters available online by the end of 2010. We sell “convenience” more than anything. We take all forms of payment, our site is easy to navigate, and we are responsive to emails.

Although you can probably find a “star” or “heart” cookie cutter for less money on other sites, you will not find a “vintage Mickey Mouse”, “batman”, and “golden retriever” cookie cutter on the same site anywhere else online. Bottom line is that in the past, if you wanted all 3, you had to search for 3 different sites, pay for shipping 3 different times, and enter your credit card information 3 different times, and triple your chances of having at least one of the cutters lost. With our site, you save on shipping, you save on time (searching and entering info) when you order several cutters at once, and you save on risk that one or more would get lost or not arrive in time.

NOW FOR THE GIVE AWAY!
The winner will receive their own set of the Christmas Cookie Cutters!!

Photobucket


THIS GIVE AWAY IS CLOSED!


***********************************************

Audrey's Country Crafts is in no way responsible for the mailing of the prize. After the name is drawn I will contact that person. They have 3 days to respond before another name will be picked! The name and address will be forwarded.
Thank-you for entering!!


Photobucket

Pieces of Me Pendants

AND THE WINNER IS:

BONITA12
CONGRATULATIONS!!


Lisa has a wonderful shop on Etsy.
Pieces of Me is filled with the most wonderful pendants! She has a huge variety to choose from. I don't know how someone could pick just one.
Lisa is also having a Promo in her shop right now! Buy 3 pendants and get your choice of chain FREE! Lisa also has a wonderful BLOG.


Where are you from? Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am from London, Ontario Canada. Accountant by day, crafting goddess at all other times. Been crafting since I was little and enjoy painting, reading and of course Scrabble.

How did you decide on your shop name? Why did you start your business?
It just came to me one day, they're like little pieces of me and voila. I was taking a break from accounting and discovered Etsy. I decided it would be fun to turn my creative hobbies into a part time job and see how it goes.

When did you start crafting?
In the womb!

Where do you create?
I have a home office where I've taken over, kicked the husband out and do all my crafting there.

Which item in your shop did you enjoy making the most and why?
Even with the my new addition of earrings, key chains, bracelets, buttons, mirrors, etc. my favorite items will always be my pendants.






NOW FOR THE GIVE AWAY!
Lisa will be sending one lucky winner the Pendant of their choice from her shop, along with the chain of their choice! (the picture is of the pendant I would pick)

large

THIS GIVE AWAY IS CLOSED!!

The draw will take place on: December 8 at 10PM Central
This is open to EVERYONE worldwide!
Good Luck Everyone!!



***********************************************


Audrey's Country Crafts is in no way responsible for the mailing of the prize. After the name is drawn I will contact that person. They have 3 days to respond before another name will be picked! The name and address will be forwarded.
Thank-you for entering!!

Photobucket

Christmas Greeting Cards

AND THE WINNER IS:
THEONEREDHEAD!!
CONGRATULATIONS!


Stacy
has an amazing card shop on Etsy. Her shop is Skeese Greets. She has some of the most original cards I have seen and they look amazing!To see the full Skeese Greets card collection, visit www.skeese.com Stacy also has a BLOG.


How did you decide on your shop name? Why did you start your business?
The shop name of Skeese Greets comes from my own name. The first letter is my first name initial and the remaining is my last name: S from Stacy plus Keese. I always knew that no matter what I created, Skeese would be the name of it.
I started Skeese Greets because I saw a need in the cycling community for fun bike-themed products. I tested the cards out at the triathlon store that I own with my husband. They went over well with customers, so I expanded the selection and started selling to other bike shops across the country and also began selling online.

When did you start making cards? What made you decide to use bicycle chain?
I’ve created greeting cards for many years, even before I started Skeese Greets. The actual business began in December of 2004 with product testing at our triathlon store. I did not have a chain theme until the following Valentine’s Day in which I created the first chain card called, “Unchained Heart.” At that point I knew I could create many different styles from chain. I considered my business “legit” when I secured the business name with the state, set up sales tax, the website, and hired a sales rep. All of that happened in June of 2005. I don’t have independent sales reps anymore and instead have bike distributors in the US and Australia selling the cards to bike shops. I’ve also recently established a distributorship with a high-end stationary company and they will put Skeese Greets in greeting card shops across the country. I, of course, also work on sales, which is the part I like the least.

Where do you craft?
Since July of 2005 I’ve rented office space for my business. This was necessary for me to stay focused during the day. I get far too distracted in my tiny home to also work from it. I shared a very small office with a friend and paid $90 a month for it. It was within walking distance from home, so it was a great deal. I’ve since increased the space and office alone.
I’m able to do pretty much everything I need for my business in the office. I create the designs, do all the online stuff, take the pictures, ship and store everything in the office. When people walk in, they always mention how organized I am, though I never quite feel that way. The only thing I stopped doing early on was printing the cards with my own printer. I knew printing the cards myself was not cost-effective. I shopped around for a local print shop and found one that I liked. They’ve helped me and have taught me a lot along the way. I still use them for all my cards today.
What would you love to add to your crafting space?
The only space that I would like to add in my office is a designated photography space. I would like for it to be set up and ready to go on a moment’s notice. Right now I have to create a space and because of that, I procrastinate on anything that involves photos.

Do you have a day job?
Skeese Greets is my “day job.” Since it’s a very niche market with not many players, I’ve done quite well. I was lucky to already be in the bicycle industry and knew enough people to get the cards going. Regardless, it is a cyclical business because the majority of sales come in October, November, and December with the winter holidays. To help balance out the year, and to help promote the cards, I started an all women’s triathlon called the Skeese Greets Women’s Tri. The triathlon helps put some money in the bank outside of the holiday season.


Where are you from?
I’ve been living in Austin, TX for the past 10 years. It’s a great place for young, creative types to live and thrive. Almost all of my friends own their own successful businesses. We’re all a bunch of entrepreneurs and help each other out in many ways in those businesses.



NOW FOR THE GIVE AWAY!
Stacy will be sending One lucky Winner 3 boxes of her amazing Holiday Cards!

large

One boxed set of Santa's Hat
One boxed set of Snowflake
One boxed set of Jolly Holly
There are 10 cards/envelopes in each box!
Total value - $41.85

THIS GIVE AWAY IS CLOSED!

The draw will take place on: December 11 at 10PM Central

This is open to EVERYONE worldwide!
Good Luck Everyone!!

***********************************************
Audrey's Country Crafts is in no way responsible for the mailing of the prize. After the name is drawn I will contact that person. They have 3 days to respond before another name will be picked! The name and address will be forwarded. Thank-you for entering!!

Photobucket

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Artrageous Clay

AND THE WINNER IS:
SURGE!!!
CONGRATULATIONS!

Artrageous Clay is an amazing shop. Regina makes amazing one of a kind clay pins, earrings, beads and more. I happen to own a pair for Reindeer Earrings and a pair of Snowman Earrings from this very shop!! I absolutely love them, and have been tempted to wear them already :) Here is what Regina has to say about her self and her shop, they on to the Give Away!


My mom is an artist so I have always been surrounded with the creative process. My teenage years were filled with traveling to art shows and selling my parents handmade jewelry. It created a bug in me that has never went away!

As a single mom I was working nights and wanted more. I had never had much stick to it and was searching for something that could hold my attention. I started creating bug pins with glass beads to be worn on the shoulder or the hat. I am now creating all of my own clay beads. I love faces and felt the need to create something unique and different then anyone else I had ever seen. After much trial and error I now create all one of a kind pieces. I use a clay medium so that I can express the elegance that can come from the Earth. Just think it all began because of a bug!

Each piece begins with a combination of both porcelain clay and a high fire paper clay. Paper clay has 30% heavy fiberous paper included when it is made creating a lighter and studier product once it has been kiln fired. Both of the clays come in 25 pound blocks and I hand form and shape each individual piece. I then fire the piece. It is then glazed with up to ten different glazes for the perfect color combinations. Once the clay process has been completed I begin the next step, the jewelry process. I visualize the finished piece, and then begin to make it come to life. I use an assortment of semi-precious stones, freshwater pearls, and Swarovski Crystals.

I am completely self taught. And primarily exhibit at art shows. I was exploring the wonderful world on the web, and stumbled upon this site named Etsy. After finding this great site I decided to give selling online a try! And the rest as they say is history!

This is my full time job, creating my art. I travel and do 45 art shows a year . I am hoping that I can make Etsy another avenue to display and sell my art. I consider what I do a type of art, it is slightly outrageous and it is made from clay. Therefore I came up with ArtrageousClay.

I really do not have a favorite piece. I think each has its own appeal and personality. That is the great thing, I believe that each piece has a certain person that is meant to own it.

I have a house in Toledo, OH that I share with my parents and three children. I also go to Crystal River, Florida for the fall and spring art show seasons so that I can work at this full time. My children are in school in FL and we live in an RV Park for the school year. I work all week creating and then take off after school on Friday to do an art show. Once the art show is over on Sunday we pack back up and hustle home so the kids are back in school Monday morning. To me it is the best of both worlds, I get to stay at home and be available to kids, and I have a job that I enjoy doing and can support them. I always joke that by the time I am old enough to be a snowbird, I won’t want to do it any longer!

I take my clay and all of my jewelry supplies and am creating all the time. Then I have to transport the clay back to Toledo to fire the kiln. I typically work at least 10 to 12 hours a day on my jewelry. In FL I have a card table set up in a screen room, and in Toledo I have a table in the corner of the living room I would love to have a more permanent space for a studio, not any one thing. But I make it work.

NOW FOR THE GIVE AWAY!

Regina is giving one lucky winner a pair of these wonderful Snowman Earrings! (just like the pair I have!!)

Photobucket

I hand craft each piece out of a high fire paper clay. The paper clay is made using old recycled egg cartons creating a bead that is very light and sturdy. (Not nearly as heavy as you think!) Not a lot of breakage with these ceramic pieces!
The snowmen are 1 1/4 inches (3.175 centimeter) in height and 1/2 inch (1.27 centimeter) in width.


THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED!!

The draw will take place on: December 4 at 10PM Central Time
This is open to EVERYONE worldwide!
Good Luck Everyone!!



***********************************************


Audrey's Country Crafts is in no way responsible for the mailing of the prize. After the name is drawn I will contact that person. They have 3 days to respond before another name will be picked! The name and address will be forwarded.
Thank-you for entering!!


Photobucket

Snowman Collector

And the winner is:
Jennifer!
Congratulations!


Snowman Collector is a shop I absolutely love!! I too am addicted to snowmen. Sheila has some of the cutest ones I have seen. It was a thrill when she offered to give one of her wonderful snowmen to a lucky reader! Here is a bit more about Sheila and her shop, then on to the give away!


How did you decide on your shop name? Why did you start your business?
If you have a look around my shop you will see that the reason I chose that name is obvious! I have developed a great love for all things snowman!! I started with just a few things but then the ideas just kept coming and I thought it was something that other people would like as well.

Where are you from?
I am from a small village in northern Alberta, Canada. It is a close knit farming community where everyone knows everyone else. It’s great!

When did you start crafting?
I have been crafting for close to 20 years. I started doing quilting and things just kind of evolved. I started doing local craft shows about 10 years ago. I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to branch out a little but didn’t know how or where (I live in a very rural area) and then I discovered Etsy. I have been on Etsy since April, 2009 and became a verified member of Artfire in September, 2009.

Where do you craft? What would you love to add to your crafting space?
I craft in my home. My craft space is organized chaos. I have a laundry room/craft room that always seems to be overflowing into other parts of the house! I would love to have a little bit more room…and a door. That way I could shut out the world and get lost in my crafts all day long.



Do you have a day job?
I work part time in our local grocery store. I also have 3 teenage children. Does that count as a day job?

What is the item in your shop you enjoyed making the most and why?
I can’t pick a favorite item in my shop. Usually whatever I am working on at the time is my favorite item.


NOW FOR THE GIVE AWAY!
Photobucket

This darling winter top hat is small enough to tuck anywhere, with the base measuring only 4 inches across. The hat band is made from stained cheese cloth and tied with a rusty bell for even more country appeal. Tucked into the top of the black felt hat is a battery operated votive candle. The candle stays cool to the touch so it can be placed anywhere. The top of the hat is sprinkled with glass glitter for some added shine.


THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED!

The draw will take place on: December 2 at 10:00PM Central
This is open to EVERYONE worldwide!
Good Luck Everyone!!



***********************************************


Audrey's Country Crafts is in no way responsible for the mailing of the prize. After the name is drawn I will contact that person. They have 3 days to respond before another name will be picked! The name and address will be forwarded.
Thank-you for entering!!

Photobucket

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Amazing Necklace Give Away

AND THE WINNER IS:
TBird!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!



Sterling Roses Design is an amazing jewelry shop on Etsy. Mimi has been on Etsy since the end of July, and and the most wonderful & unique jewelry. I was very excited when Mimi asked if I would host a Give Away for her, and she has made the most exquisite necklace for the prize. But first - more about Mimi and her shop.


*Where are you from? Tell us a bit about yourself.
I've been an Ohioan all my life, born and raised in northern Ohio and most of my adult life in Cincinnati, Ohio where I moved after finishing college at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. I haven't quit my day job yet, which is me designing and building databases as well as doing Public Relations for an Engineering firm. I actually do love my day job too, most days, so I've accepted that my life will always be super busy. Better than being bored.


*How did you decide on your shop name? Why did you start your business?
I decided on Sterling Roses Design originally because I was mainly working with sterling silver, though now I'm starting to expand into working with gold. I started my business because I realized the work I was doing was becoming far more than a hobby. That, and I would never live long enough to wear everything I had made.

*When did you start crafting?
As long as I can remember. I've always been creative. I majored in creative writing and minored in Art. As for crafting, I come from a family of crafters. My parents own their own seasonal craft store, which is actually a year-long process in order to achieve the inventory they sell every year. My sister makes jewelry, along with other crafts. When I started making my own jewelry, designing just come natural to me.

*Where do you craft? Do you have a picture? If not, what does it look like?
I craft in the spare bedroom. I would share a picture, but it currently looks as if a tornado stormed through. I have a wrap around desk, the one part for the computer/printer, the other longer part for the actual crafting. On the shelving units next to the desk are the containers of beads and findings. Desk drawers contain the wire and tools. The other desk drawers are for the shipping stuff. I have another shelving unit for all of the finished products.

*What would you love to add to your crafting space?
Some art work or photography on the walls. It seems too bare at the moment.

*What’s your supply addiction; is there a specific color or type of supply you just can’t pass up?
I have a seriously hard time passing up any chalcedony of any color. I love citrine, moonstone, and anything blue, which is my favorite color. I'm also completely in love with Swarovski crystals, especially the 2xAB variety. Oh, and briolettes. I love the many different designs you can make.

*Which item in your shop did you enjoy making the most and why?
Recently, the Lilly collection has been the most enjoyable. I will admit I got the design off of something similar that my sister had made years ago. I was playing around with some different colors and beads and ended up with a pendant that looked like a Lilly water flower, thus the name of the collection.

NOW FOR THE GIVE AWAY!
Mimi has made this amazing necklace for one lucky woman!

Photobucket

The Sunshine Citrine Lilly pendant is made with micro-faceted heart shaped Citrine briolettes, spaced with multi-colored Tourmalin stones, centered with a large Citrine stone that shows its speckles in the light. The necklace starts out with more of the Tourmalin and finishes out with citrine beads. Necklace measures 16" long with a sterling silver fishhook ball clasp.
Values at $50.


Plus!! Anyone who enters the Give Away will get 25% off any purchase from Mimi's Shop during the Give Away!! (not including shipping) Just put the words
"blog give away" in a message to seller.


Here are the Rules to enter the Give Away.
Please leave a
SEPERATE comment for each Entry!

* For the first entry - Go to: Sterling Roses Design
Pick your favorite item and come back here with the link.
* 1 extra entry - blog about the give away, and leave a link. (or add a picture with a link to the sidebar of your blog)
* 1 extra entry - grab my button on the sidebar and add it to your blog, let me know
* 1 extra entry - twitter about this contest with a link, let me know where
You can twitter this:

@audreyscrafts Win an Amazing Handmade Necklace Valued at $50!! http://bit.ly/4mCZik

* 1 extra entry - mention it on Facebook with a link, let me know where
*1 extra entry for each of my other give aways you enter - just comment telling me which one you entered.
* 5 extra entries - purchase something from the shop - leave me a comment telling me what you purchased and a link to the invoice.


The draw will take place on:
November 25 at 10pm Central
This is open to EVERYONE worldwide!
Good Luck Everyone!!



***********************************************


Audrey's Country Crafts is in no way responsible for the mailing of the prize. After the name is drawn I will contact that person. They have 3 days to respond before another name will be picked! The name and address will be forwarded.
Thank-you for entering!!

Photobucket