My Writing Process Blog Tour...and some giveaways!

You may have seen this idea making the rounds on some of your favorite blogs - so I admit I was flattered (and a little scared) when my friend Patricia Villas-Boas invited me to join the "My Writing Process" blog tour!  I've tagged two of my fabulously creative friends - Claudine Hellmuth and Sharon Callis - as the next stops on this fun tour, and I hope this will inspire those of you who write blogs, want to write blogs, or just enjoy reading blogs!

1. What am I working on?
Believe it or not - a website! I am the luckiest girl in the world and have a husband who is an amazingly talented craftsman and photographer.  Our "retirement dream" is to build a store where we can combine his love of furniture building and upcycling with our passion for antiques and the joy I get from people and from the creative process.  Since that dream is a long way off we are toying with the idea of creating something fun online.  We'll see where the road takes us!

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
Ummm...is it wrong to admit that I'm not sure?  I am SO fortunate in that the Xyron Design Team does most of the heavy lifting when it comes to content for this blog - the projects they create are amazing and my main responsibility is curating the projects and sharing their ideas with the world.  I think what makes my process a little bit different is that while I am an "industry insider" (which still makes me giggle) I approach this blog - and life in general - as a crafter who just loves the hobby and wants to share that excitement with others.  I am STILL tickled every time I get to go to HSN, can't believe my luck when I get to travel to exciting places and meet amazing people, and every day am overwhelmed with gratitude that I get to live this dream.

3. Why do I write what I do?
I am not someone who shares my feelings easily, and I also admit I struggle with whether my ideas/projects are "good enough", so I don't create content quite as often as many other bloggers.  I tend to really (overly) think through everything I post here - for example, when I wrote this very personal post about the pain and pride of being a military wife I actually asked my husband AND one of my blogger friends (and a fellow military wife) to get a second and third opinion before I posted it.  I care deeply about the people who read my blog and never want to steer anyone wrong or make people feel like I am trying to "sell" them on something, so I only talk about products I personally love and even that I don't do very often.  As I'm typing this I'm realizing I may have issues.  ;)

4. How does my writing process work?
idea + deciding whether it is worth the time it will take to photograph and edit + quiet time to write + overly agonizing over every word/photo (see #3) + a glass or two of wine + letting it sit overnight + hitting publish = a blog post.

Now is the time where I tell you that I was actually supposed to do this last week, but AGAIN - I struggled with making this post worth the read so dragged it out and agonized over it until today.  I am so grateful you all put up with my hot mess-ed-ness!  Claudine and Sharon will be sharing their blog secrets in the next week (see links and some of my favorite projects below) - I hope you will stop by and say hello!

Now for the giveaway goodies!  When I asked Claudine if she would be part of this blog hop tour she surprised me with a spot to give away in her Big Picture Classes Composition for Collage that begins June 19th!  Just leave a comment here on my blog and I will announce the winner on my Facebook Page on Monday June 16th.  Want the chance to win even MORE great prizes?  Scroll down for a link to Claudine's blog - she is giving away a $100 Xyron prize pack as part of our tour!  Wahoo!

Claudine Hellmuth is living proof that you can have a successful and profitable business that's driven on pure whimsy. She designs and illustrates printable boxes and kits that bring delight to customers young and old.
She's been featured in The New York Times, appeared on The Martha Stewart Show, HGTV, HSN, QVC UK and The DIY Network. Her client list includes projects with major companies like Smart Car, Capitol Records and national publications such as The Saturday Evening Post. When she's not covered in paper, glue and tape she's walking her dog Maggie, reading a book or enjoying a well deserved afternoon nap with her very fat cat Mabel.

Sharon Callis is a self-proclaimed craftaholic who lives in Ireland and has a serious addiction to glitter and upcycling!  As well as papercrafts she indulges in needlecrafts, baking, dressmaking, and digi design and feels like the luckiest girl in the world because she's working in her dream job and getting paid to play with craft supplies.  She has over twenty five year experience in the craft and design but still gets excited by new products and visiting craft stores.  Sharon is privileged to design for Xyron and is the Design Team Manager for Crafter's Companion UK.

Xyron, Teresa Collins Designs and CardMaker Magazine Day Five - and a Giveaway!

As the Xyron Design Team says goodbye to this week's blog hop with Teresa Collins Designs and Cardmaker Magazine we hope you have all been inspired.  We know we have!

Looking for a quick and easy home decor project?  Then head on over to Arin Flynn's blog!  She shares a tutorial for this fun and whimsical piece she created using just one sheet of paper and the new Teresa Collins Basically Essentials stencils and modeling paste. This is a great way to try a new technique!

Many of us create as a way to heal ourselves. On her blog today Ann Corbiere-Scott shares a tutorial for a banner she created to bring hope and healing to a loved one battling Cancer.  Thank you Ann for reminding us of what joy we can bring to others. What a gift!

Turn a plain old gift box in to something special by turning it in to a piece of art!  Pinky Hobbs created this darling winged gift box and shows us how to create our own on her blog today.  Wouldn't this be fun to give or receive?

Please head over to the CardMaker blog and Teresa Collins' blog and thank them for a wonderful week of projects and ideas.  We've also got a few more chances for some great giveaways!  Leave a comment here on the blog and two lucky winners will receive a paper pack from Teresa's Daily Stories collection, a Teresa Collins Xyron Mega Runner and an issue of CardMaker Magazine!

Then head on over to the HUGE giveaway we are hosting on Facebook!  We have not one but TWO GIANT prize packs filled with goodies from Teresa Collins, CardMaker and Xyron to give away.  Click on this link to enter - we will announce the winners on our Facebook Page on Monday (please note - if you have trouble entering try using Chrome or Firefox).  Good luck to everybody - have a great weekend!

Xyron Design Team Pinterest Challenge Day Four!

We hope you have enjoyed our week long Xyron Design Team Pinterest Challenge!  We are OBSESSED with Pinterest (as is the rest of the world) and all this week we challenged our Designers to create a project inspired by our "Not Xyron but Should Be" board.  They brought new life to some old projects and made us want to get crafty!

Looking for a fun and easy idea for your next party but don't want to break the bank?  Then head over to Virginia Fynes' blog!  She shares a tutorial for creating these super festive plastic cups inspired by some she found on our Pinterest board.  What a great idea for using your ribbon stash!  :)

Katie Skilton re-created this cute hanging photo frame with some fresh new colors and techniques. The coolest part - she made the entire project with just a few sheets of paper and some embellishments!

Stacy Rodriguez took a cool technique (vellum photos on a glass candle holder) and made it even cooler by creating fantastic mixed media home decor item!  She shares a quick tutorial on her blog today - this would make a great hostess gift!

Pinky Hobbs makes upcycling home decor easy with a quick tutorial on her blog for creating this neat map lampshade!  Inspired by this lampshade Pinky shares some great tips for working with oddly shaped (or hard to cover) lampshades to create something one-of-a-kind!

You will never guess what this cute notebook is made out of - a cereal box!  Inspired by this notebook Shannon Morgan created this super cute project and shares a full tutorial with us on her blog today.  This brings whole new meaning to recycling your cardboard!

We hope this week has inspired you to take a new look at some old projects and create something special - we'd love to see your Pinterest inspired projects on our Facebook Page!  Have a great weekend everybody!

Xyron Design Team Pinterest Challenge - Day Three!

Did you know Xyron has a Pinterest page?  We are OBSESSED and spend endless hours searching the internet for fantastic projects that we can't wait to make.  This week we challenged our Design Team to create a project inspired by our "Not Xyron but Should Be" board...they brought new life to some old projects and we can't wait to show you!

Forget Spring...this project from Lori Williams makes us want to run headlong in to Summer!  Lori was inspired by this barn star to create one of her own with a colorful beach theme - and she shares a tutorial on her blog.  This project can be easily customized for any decor!

This project from Denise Hahn is the perfect example of using Pinterest as inspiration for new ideas. Denise was inspired by this initial canvas to create something completely different - a votive candle holder with a cool masculine flair.  Head on over to her blog for a video tutorial - this would be a great Father's Day project to do with the kids!

These wooden coasters from Arin Flynn could be the cutest Summertime party decoration we've seen in a long time!  Inspired by these tile coasters Arin upcycled some recently trimmed branches and created these little gems that will be the talk of any event.  She shares a tutorial on her blog today - if this doesn't inspire us to do a little yardwork nothing will!  :)

Laurel Seabrook was inspired by these decorative clothespins to create an entire home decor collection - perfect for her recent trip to Europe!

We love color and this project from Karen Jiles just fills us with joy!  On her blog she shares a tutorial filled with tons of techniques - this canvas would be a great way to try your hand at mixed media and can be customized to fit any decor!

Tune in tomorrow for our final day of Pinterest inspiration!

Xyron Design Team Pinterest Challenge Day Two!

Did you know Xyron has a Pinterest page?  We are OBSESSED and spend endless hours searching the internet for fantastic projects that we can't wait to make.  This week we challenged our Design Team to create a project inspired byour "Not Xyron but Should Be" board...they brought new life to some old projects and we can't wait to show you!

Easter is on its way and Theresa Harris has a fun tutorial on her blog to help us celebrate the season! She recreated this egg banner using her Xyron 3" Sticker Maker - and also whipped up a few of these festive party straws.

Shellye McDaniel made a crafty (and practical!) change to this St. Patrick's Day banner and created a Good Luck banner that can be used throughout the year.  On her blog today she shares a quick tutorial for creating your own!

Angela Holt took these cute Easter eggs and recreated them as works of art!  She was also inspired by this card to create a gorgeous floral card of her own - and she shares a tutorial for both the eggs and the card on her blog today!

Jenn Cochran chose this card and framed art for her "makeover" projects - we love the bright spring colors!

Yvonne Yam blew us away with this gorgeous wedding cake!  She was inspired by this beautiful piece and created one of her own - and today on her blog she shares a tutorial with us so we can make this lovely work of art ourselves!

We hope this week will inspire you to take a new look at some old projects and create something special - stay tuned tomorrow for more great Pinterest project ideas!

Xyron Design Team Pinterest Challenge Day One!

Did you know Xyron has a Pinterest page?  We are OBSESSED and spend endless hours searching the internet for fantastic projects that we can't wait to make.  This week we challenged our Design Team to create a project inspired by our "Not Xyron but Should Be" board...they brought new life to some old projects and we can't wait to show you!

On her blog today Gini Cagle shares a tutorial for creating this GORGEOUS floral canvas that is full of fun techniques!  Gini was inspired by this heart canvas on our Pinterest board and she created the perfect project for Spring.

Sharon Callis shares not one but TWO tutorials on her blog today...two incredible canvases that were inspired by this painted canvas and this mini heart framed art piece.  These are lovely gift ideas - what a wonderful way to let someone special know they are in your heart.

Scrabble tiles can be found in almost any antique/vintage store - but then what do you do with them?  Rhea Freitag created this stunning home decor piece inspired by this frame on our Pinterest page...and shares a tutorial for making your own on her blog today.  Imagine this as a personalized gift for a wedding or other special event!  What a treasure!

We hope this week will inspire you to take a new look at some old projects and create something special - stay tuned tomorrow for more great Pinterest project ideas!

Meet the New Xyron Design Team - Lori Williams and Tammy Tutterow

We are having such a great time introducing you to our newest Design Team members - today we are saying hello to Lori Williams and Tammy Tutterow!

name: Lori Williams
lives in: Hendersonville, NC
blog: http://www.pinkcloudscrappers.blogspot.com/
why we love her: The detailing on Lori's work is incredible, her handmade delicate embellishments are lovely, her tutorials are easy to follow and full of great techniques - we just knew we had to have her!
a little bit about her: I'm a passionate crafter that shares the love with my sister Gini. I started in pottery yrs ago & moved into jewelry design/metal in college. I started working with paper w/the birth of my 1st son 12 years ago. I only serve on teams I'm passionate about & can promote that is why I'm so thrilled to be a part of the Xyron Design Teams. My style is detailed clean & I enjoy making realistic handmade flowers. I also have a wicked sense of humor and can always find something happy in every situation.

name: Tammy Tutterow
lives in: Belleville, IL
blog: http://tammytutterow.com/
why we love her: We have long admired Tammy's talents!  Her use of techniques to turn every day items in to works of art inspires us, and her willingness to share those techniques through tutorials makes us feel like we can become better crafters and encourages us to step "outside the box".
a little bit about her: I am a lifelong artist and crafter. I love all types of crafts but find my true crafting passion in papercrafts, ribbonwork, and sewing. I love to combine elements of all three into my projects. I have been an instructor and project designer in the papercraft/scrapbook industry since 2005 and my projects have been published in several books, magazines, and product catalogs and have been featured on television. I teach technique based classes at stores, conventions, and online. When I am not creating, I am a wife and mother of three who loves anything and everything shabby, chippy, and vintage. I love to scour flea markets for old treasures. I am also a fair weather gardener so if the spring breezes are blowing, you will probably find me playing in the dirt in my flower garden.

Welcome Lori and Tammy!  So excited to see what you create!

Something Old, Something New - Day Five and a Giveaway!

Happy Friday everyone!  We hope you've enjoyed our "something old, something new" Design Team challenge this week - we sure have!  Today we've got some fantastic interpretations of past projects - check out what Gini Cagle, Liz Qualman and Angella Peardon have created.

We love Gini Cagle's interpretation of this Halloween treat bag:

She completely revamped it for a fun springtime idea - a seed packet! On her blog today she gives you the measurements to create the packet yourself.

We can't wait for summer - and neither can Liz Qualman!  Inspired by this summer calendar wall hanging:

Liz created a fun and colorful summertime banner that would brighten up any room!  Today on her blog she shares some tips on creating your own.

Angella Peardon's old to new project just made us giddy!  Her take on these paper swirl animals:

is this whimsical, precious three-dimensional cat that anyone would love to receive! On her blog today Angella not only shows us how to make this, she provides a FREE template! Thanks Angella!

If you've been tuning in all week you've already had one chance at winning a Xyron 2.5" create-a-sticker - and today we're giving you two more!  Leave a comment here and two lucky winners will receive one a 2.5" create-a-sticker of their very own.  Deadline to enter is midnight on Sunday - names will be announced on the Xyron Facebook page Monday morning.

Thanks so much for joining us this week - have a wonderful weekend!

Something Old, Something New - Day Four!

Day Four of our Something Old, Something New Design Team challenge is about hats and holidays and home decor - we hope these projects inspire you as much as they've inspired us!

Xyron makes creating your own home decor a ton of fun - and Van Nguyen shows us just that!  She took this embellished lampshade idea:

and created a darling lampshade for her son's nursery using just a few supplies - and on her blog she shows you how to make your own!

Angela Ploegman gives you three makeovers in one!  She took this house luminary (one of her projects previously posted on Xyron.com):

and actually "re-skinned" it to turn it in to a Christmas luminary!  On her blog today she shares instructions as well as two other house luminaries with us.

Clearly our designers were in a holiday mood this week - Sharon Callis was inspired by this princess hat:

to create this fabulous witch's hat centerpiece!  On her blog she gives you step by step instructions for creating your own - I know you are going to save this idea for Halloween!

We can't talk about the holidays without New Year's Eve - and Denise Hahn took this NYE project idea:

and created a fun, sparkly tiara that you might not want to wait until December 31st to wear!  Head on over to her blog for a great tutorial!

Don't forget to check out yesterday's blog post for a chance to win a Xyron 2.5" create-a-sticker...and stay tuned tomorrow for even more chances! Happy Thursday everybody!