Blog Candy Alert

Seems I've been a blogging fool the last few days. That's the advantage of Blogging Without Obligation...I blog when I have something to say.

It's always the right time for Blog Candy, though. This time I'm offering a set of notecards I like to call my Chocolate Series. Pccrafter.com distributed a set of graphics by Beth Yarbrough which included a cool frame that looks like a box of assorted chocolates. It inspired me to research the web for catchy quotes about chocolate (a very renal unfriendly substance which I eat in moderation). I found more than ten cool quotes, but limited the set to ten notecards. Perhaps one day, I'll have to make a sequel! A favorite quote that's included in the set is:

Forget love--I'd rather fall in chocolate!

Leave a comment by clicking on the word COMMENTS, and I'll draw a name from all of those who comment here at the blog. (If you need further info about commenting, read "How-to Post a Comment" in the right column.) Because more and more people are able to post here at the blog with my instructions, I'll only choose Blog Candy winners from those who comment at the blog by 30 Nov 2008.

More Fall Cards

Happy Fall, Y'all

Just sharing a card made for my good friend, Brigitte. After stamping the scarecrow image with Staz-On Jet Black ink, I colored the image using Prismacolor 4-in-1 markers which are so much fun to work with because the colors blend so easily with one another.

I used Stampin' Up's (SU) inverse corner rounder on the image layer and the blue border behind it then adhered them together. Using SU's Really Rust ink, I stamped fall leaves on the rust-colored Bazzill cardstock. After I wrapped three coordinating Autumn Harvest Sassy Strands from Close to My Heart (CTMH) around the rust cardstock, I popped the framed image layer with foam tape. I took the entire assembled panel and adhered it to a white, textured card.

For a coordinating envelope, I printed out a fall plaid paper pattern from pccrafter.com at 70% color then traced an A2 envelope template onto the back of the paper. After cutting it out and folding the 4 sides, I glued the edges. For a finishing touch on the envelope, I stamped the same leaf stamp used on the rust-colored background (above) along the front bottom of the envelope.

Recommended: Corduroy Mansions

Read a good book lately? Enjoy an eclectic group of characters? Like dry, British humor and laughing your fool head off?

Then, have I got a book for you!

Alexander McCall Smith is writing his first ever online novel Corduroy Mansions exclusively for Telegraph.co.uk. A new chapter will appear each weekday until mid-February 2009. As of this writing, Chapters 1-50 are published.

A friend and fellow cardmaker in Israel suggested this read. I'm a tangible sort of person when it comes to books, scrapbooks, and things like that, so I wasn't sure how I'd like reading a book online. My daughter Pine expressed my feelings perfectly when she said about herself, "I like the feeling of a book in my hands." Even so, I wanted to check out my friend's recommendation.

In practically no time, I'd begun reading the published chapters enthusiastically, wondering what new situations would arise? McCall Smith provides fascinating insight as the characters' lives play out, and his turns of phrase are amazing.

I soon caught up with all the chapters and am now forced to read the rest of the entries day by day! If you think you, too, might like reading this fun book, click here to go to the Corduroy Mansions home page and, Enjoy!

Blog Candy Winner!

Although the previous entry shows no comments, I did receive 4 comments privately. Had I received any "official" comments (at the blog), I would have only chosen a winner from those, but because there were none, the winner was chosen from the private comments. Clear as mud?

And the winner is...Wendy J. in Michigan!! Congratulations, Wendy! Because I already have your snail mail address, I'll be sending your Elvis Collection notecards shortly!

Many have noted that they aren't sure how to post a comment at the blog, so I'm going to go through that now.

As you're reading this, glance down to the bottom of the post. See the where it says: POSTED BY JEANIE AT [the time]? See the word COMMENTS directly to the right of the time?

--Click on the word COMMENTS and a new window appears that says Post a Comment On: Simply Stated.
--Type your comment in the box on the right hand side.
--Next select your identity. Most likely, the only two choices under identity that fit you are either Name/URL or Anonymous.
--Select the radio button, for your identity choice and fill in the appropriate info.
--You are welcome to leave a comment anonymously, but if it's a Blog Candy give-away, it might be hard to give you your gift if you win and I don't know who you are.
--Click on the Orange Button to submit your comment.

I hope this helps!!

Blog Candy from Me to One of You

Some of you may be wondering "what's 'blog candy'?" I'm clueless who coined the term, but it's used here, there, and everywhere by different bloggers who have something to give away in exchange for comments on their blogs.

One of the terrific dialysis techs at my clinic (Gordon) occasionally draws a sketch of something in the most unlikely places like the back of another tech's lab coat. One day, I saw Elvis zoom past, riding high on the back of Don's shoulders. I called Don over and said, "I know you throw out those coats at the end of the day, but I want that sketch!" I brought it home, scanned it, then started making cards I call "The Elvis Collection" with Elvis's song titles or lines as the inside sentiments. (All with Gordon's blessing, of course!)

Courtesy of Simply Stated and Gordon Greene, I'll draw one name from all of those who post a comment telling me their favorite color (or colors), and send the winner a box of ten Elvis cards and envelopes. I'll pick the winning name on Thursday, 13 Nov, and let everyone know who the lucky person is! [I told you this blog was just for fun!]