I wanted to send out a little reminder about the 10 Minute Craft Dash DT call. While I’ve received enough entries to last me quite a while, I didn’t want to leave anyone out. If YOU would like to submit your application, the deadline to submit is TOMORROW, January 13th, 12 pm PST!
Remember, those who are accepted will get to be a part of the very FIRST DT for the 10 Minute Craft Dash. How fun would that look on your design resume?
Thank you to everyone who has applied so far. I have a special folder for all of my applications and I must say, it’s packed FULL of beautiful creations. This is going to be a tough decision and I’ll definitely have to call in for reinforcements to help me make the final decision.
If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below, or send me an email! I’m looking forward to seeing YOUR application soon!
If you ask a blogger if they have goals or dreams for their blog, chances are they’ll say yes. Usually the list consists of having heavier blog traffic, more blog followers or pins on Pinterest. For the serious bloggers, the list consists of sponsors.
I have debated on whether I wanted to offer companies, Etsy stores or blogs to sponsor my site for quite some time. After an influx of consistently higher traffic volumes, and the amount of time blogging increasing, I decided to give it a go.
Welcome, re.Served. This is a local Seattle Etsy seller who I have purchased from multiple times {ie SEVEN times in one month} and can stand behind 100%. Fabulous items, great quality and a super sweet seller.
Here are just a FEW of the amazing things in her Etsy store.
Aren’t these items amazing? There are LOTS Of other designs, along with different pieces in the store- visit re.SErvedtoday! Oh, and if you purchase something, let me know what you got! I love hearing about all the pieces my friends have been getting!
I am so grateful to have Victoria as my very first sponsor here on Pretty Pink Posh. She has seriously been such a gem to work with and I’m a fan for life.
In closing, I wanted to mention that if YOU think your company, blog or Etsy shop might be something my growing readership will enjoy, visit my sponsors page! Please note that I will NEVER allow an ad to run if I don’t think my readers will enjoy it or the products aren’t something I stand behind. You all mean way too much to me!
I hope you have a fabulous Friday. I’m off to go spend the day with family!
Do you ever buy a stamp {or set} and then forget to use it for months? I am guilty of this occasionally. I have gotten a LOT better about my spending habits, but sometimes I’ll forget about something I purchased. This card features the set that fell into this category, Folk Art Florals by WPlus9.
I have loved this set from the moment I saw it, but didn’t want to make an impulse purchase. Since it had been about 11 months since it released and I still wanted it, I decided to go ahead and buy it. It’s not my usual style {hence the hesitancy}, but sometimes you just have to buy sets that you long for.
Sadly, most of my light colored inks are getting dried out, so I had to reach for my bold inks this time around. The beauty of this set? It looks great with all sorts of colors!
Have you heard of WPlus9 Design Studio before? If so, I’d love to hear what your favorite sets are! I recently picked up another set, along with some dies, that I’ll be featuring soon. Can’t wait to play with those new goodies!
You know the feeling that you get when a huge project is almost completed? I have that right now. For the past few months, I’ve been busy working on a new stamp release at work {ie DeNami Design} and tomorrow is the day it officially launches. Months of organizing, planning and preparing and it is almost completed. Come Friday, I’ll be breathing a huge sigh of relief.
In honor of the new release, I have a card featuring some of the new stamps! I simply adore all of these images- they are so versatile and easy to use. I recently purchased my very first ZING embossing powders and I am in love. The colors are so vibrant and they work fabulously with solid images.
I only picked up three, since I wasn’t sure if I would like them or not. Now I’m kicking myself for not getting more! You can be sure I’ll be getting more soon! Here are the links to the colors I got:
Note: I am an Amazon affiliate, so I’ll receive a small commission for anything purchased with these links {or on my sidebar on the right}.
Have you tried ZING embossing powders before? If so, I’d love to see what other colors I *must* add to my collection.
In closing, I want to point you in the direction of the DeNami blog for a look at the new Spring/ Summer 2013 release. We had all sorts of fun things happening over there this week- giveaways, videos and cards- I hope you’ll check it out!
Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope you have a fabulous day!
You all have made me one happy girl. I’m so thrilled that one of my 2013 goals was accomplished in the last 10 Minute Craft Dash. We reached a whopping 100 entries in that one challenge! THANK YOU to every single person who submitted and helped get to this monumental number.
Well, it’s time to announce the 10 Minute Craft Dash #9 Highlights. Boy, oh boy, this was a tough decision. I sincerely wish I could pick every single entry- you all did a great job using the “holiday” theme for this challenge. Alas, there can only be one winner.
Please give a warm congratulations to the winner, along with the favorites!
Congratulations to Julie Hoffman!
Please email me with your contact info to claim your prize. Also, you get to grab the badge below and proudly display it on your blog!
I honestly couldn’t just pick five entries as favorites this time around. Here are the eight cards that caught my eye. Be sure to stop by each of the blogs to take a look at the beautiful cards! {Ladies, feel free to grab the badge below and put it on your blogs!}
There will be a BRAND NEW 10 Minute Craft Dash challenge coming next Wednesday, January 16th. I have a fantastic sponsor lined up, along with some special guests. I hope you all will be able to join me in the first challenge of 2013!
In closing, I want to remind you all there are five days left to submit your application for the 10 Minute Craft Dash DT. I’ve received applications from all over the world-have you sent YOURS in yet?
For those new to my blog, on the first Monday of each month, I feature one of my favorite bloggers. When I read blogs, I always enjoy getting to know the person BEHIND the blog. Whether it be a crafty blogger, a lifestyle blogger or a fellow young single gal- I love putting away the formalities and having a “conversation” with a blogger I enjoy.
Today I’m thrilled to be introducing you all to a Amber Kemp- Gerstel from Damask Love. I was able to meet Amber a couple years back {before she became a blogging extraordinaire} and she is a doll. If you flip through paper crafting magazines, you will often see her beautiful items gracing the pages. Not only does she create and blog her crafting projects, she also has a heart of gold. The tragedy in Newtown, CT tugged at Amber’s heart and she took action and put together a wonderful cause for that community. She was able to raise thousands of dollars and assemble lots of kits for the children in that town. Her report can be found here.
Let’s get started with some blogging questions! Tell us about your blog. When and why did you start it?
When you create tons and tons of crafty stuff like I do, there is an urge to share it with all the other crafty people out there! That is precisely why I started Damask Love – as a place for me to share my projects and creations; a place to give a little bit of purpose to my hobby! Over time, the mission of Damask Love has evolved. Today, I use my blog as a place to give inspiration to crafters at all levels. I do my best to provide clear instructions for each of the projects I post so that anyone can follow along!
Do you ever find it hard to come up with blog content?
There was a time when by blog schedule was a day-to-day battle. I had no plan, really, Each day, I’d try to come up with something to post on the following day. It was chaotic and way too much pressure! When I started the new Damask Love, I also started a ongoing list of blog post ideas. Ideas that popped into my head throughout the day. Today, I have a list of over 100 blog post ideas, and whenever I’m feeling tapped out, I refer to that list.
Is there a particular feature (on your blog) that is your favorite?
When I launched the new Damask Love, I added several features to the blog that would contribute to the theme and continuity of the content. Of these features, Office Hours is my favorite! The Office Hours feature, allows me to directly answer questions that are submitted by readers. Questions like: “How do you take your photos?” or “Where do you find inspiration for your projects?” This features helps me feel like I am interacting directly with my blog readers, which is great!
What has been your favorite part about blogging?
The best part about blogging is that I am the boss of my own blog! It’s a great feeling to control my own content, when it will be posted, how it will be designed. It’s like being the editor of my own magazine! Blogging also provides such a great format for interacting with readers! I love reading all of the emails and comments! I also have a great time interacting with readers on my Facebook page, where I can have more of a conversation with everyone! Last, blogging is a great avenue for growing my own skills as a crafter and businesswoman. Growing a blog is a full time job and I enjoy every minute of it. I enjoy learning to strategies for reaching new readers and trying out techniques for engaging my readers in the content of Damask Love. All in all, blogging is the perfect format for me to share my passion for creativity and eventually growing that passion into successful business.
When you first started your blog, did you have any specific goals or dreams for the future of your blog? If so, what were they?
I started my blog two years ago, in January of 2010. At the time, I really had no plans for it. Just a place for me to post fun photos of my project. That was it. No expectations. No goals. Boy, has that changed! Today, I treat my blog as a business. It’s a place for me to reach creative people who enjoy all things DIY. Everyday I challenge myself to provide unique and creative content that will engage my readers. I strive to work with other bloggers who may teach me some of their own strategies for blog growth. I do my best to remain an relevant and active participant in the blogging community so that I can soak in as much as possible! Every day is a learning experience with blogging and the “field” is always changing! That is the great part of being a blogger. I am constantly learning and challenging myself. It never gets old.
Do you have any advice for people hoping to take their blog to the next level?
Be a good blog neighbor! Before I launched the revamped Damask Love, I sort of existed in a vaccuum by myself. I posted to my own blog but never went much further than that.
To take your blog to the next level, I think it’s imperative to stay on top of the other blogs out there. What are they posting? What trends do you notice? Who’s content to you aspire to? Who could you collaborate with? All of these questions require that you get involved in the blogging community! That said, this does take a lot of work! Each day, I give myself an hour to browse my Google Reader. This time allows me to see what is out there and how I can contribute to the themes and trends I see. Also, I am always inspired by the work of other, which gives me more ideas for how I can make Damask Love a better blog!
Okay, now onto some fun questions that are non-relevant to blogging…..
Besides crafting, what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Spare time? What is that? I’m not terribly familiar with that term!!
Honestly, I don’t have a ton of spare time. Most of the minutes in my day are filled with work or blogging…and I really wouldn’t have it any other way. I love being busy. To me, busy means blessed. If I do have a few minutes of down time, I’m usually on the couch with Andrew (my husband) watching TV and catching up on emails. It’s certainly not a glamourous way to spend my time, but I love it.
You get to spend the day with any celebrity, would would it be? Why?
Oprah is the easy winner here. In my imagination, Oprah and I are besties. We eat beet salad together and talk about books that we’ve read. We go on shopping sprees at Bergdorfs and we hang out in fluffy robes at her home in Chicago…and sometimes Ina Garten comes over and we all cook together.
If you walk into my craftroom, chances are I’m watching OWN. I admire Oprah’s business sense, her motivation for success and her constant aspirations to better herself through being more self-aware. Mostly, I love Oprah because I really an truly believe that we could kick it. If I met her, I don’t think I’d really be starstruck. I’d just wanna go hang out and have a cup of coffee with her.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Greece. Hands down – mostly because I want to eat my way through the country and lay around on white sandy beaches all day!
List 5 things you are passionate about:
My husband. My craftroom. My shoes. My home. Carbs.
A great big thank you to Amber for taking the time to answer these questions. Now that you see how fun she is, I’m sure you want to follow her too! Here’s where you can find her:
Have a great rest of your Monday. I will see you tomorrow for the 10 Minute Craft Dash Highlights and info on how you can get a sneak peek at the upcoming challenge
My first post! I’m excited to be a contributing to Pretty Pink Posh! Thank you everyone for such nice comments and the warm welcome.
In this post I’ll be showing you a step by step tutorial on how to create your own gumball machine. Since Valentine’s Day is coming soon, there are many cute candies you could fill this with.
Supplies needed: Paint, round glass vase, flower pot, flower pot saucer, flat marble, foam brush, and a hot glue gun
Step 1: Paint the flower pot, the flower pot saucer and the marble. Dry.
Step 2: Flip the flower pot upside down and (using the hot glue gun) place four dots on equal sides of the pot. Immediately place the vase on top of the hot glue and press down.
Step 3: Place the saucer on top of the vase to cover the opening. Use the hot glue gun to place a dot onto the center of the saucer and immediately put the marble on top. Dry.
Step 4: Place candies or gumdrops inside and show it off to your friends. Then enjoy!
I can’t wait to hear what you think of this idea and if you try it out! I have lots of ideas that I am looking forward to bringing to the blog, I hope you will continue to visit!
Thank you all for your sweet comments on yesterday’s post. I, too, am excited to see what Krista will be creating for her posts. She has tossed a few ideas my way already and whatever she chooses, you all will be in for a real treat!
If you have perused Pinterest or blog land recently, you have probably noticed that “chalkboard art” is popular. I can understand the hype- this look is so much fun. I’m usually a stickler for clean art, but there’s something about this trend that has my heart. After a few failed attempts, I finally got the look that I was aiming for. There just may have been a little happy dance once the design was achieved.
To create the oval, I traced one of my Spellbinder dies {with a pencil} to get the desired oval shape. Next I used my well- loved Versamark pad and inked up my stamps and added White Embossing Powder. Heated it up, added some white ink smudges and adhered it to a card base. After the initial design was done, mass producing these were easy peasy! Side note: there are NEW {not yet released}DeNami Design stamps on these cards, along with a WPlus9 sentiment.
Have you tried the chalkboard art look yet? If so, I’d love to see! Feel free to leave your link(s) in a comment below and I’ll take a peek at what you created.
Just a reminder: TODAY is the last day to submit your item(s) for the 10 Minute Craft Dash #9. We are almost to 100 entries, which was one of my goals for 2013! How neat would it be to achieve a goal within three days of the new year?! Words can’t describe how ecstatic I would be if I met this goal. :)
I’m so thrilled you have stopped by today! I’ll talk with you all soon…..
2013 will be a year of growth, changes and excitement here at Pretty Pink Posh. If you haven’t already, be sure to Subscribe to Pretty Pink Posh by Email so you don’t miss any posts. I have new sponsors, giveaways, Featured Bloggers and much, much more coming!
One of the things I’m most excited about? My sister will be contributing her amazing crafty creations & food items to this blog occasionally! Now you may be wondering why I’m bringing on someone new to add content to the blog, I know I did before when visiting other blogs. The biggest reason: you get fabulous inspiration from another source with a different style.
Krista majored in Professional Baking at a local community college during high school and graduated with honors and an increasing desire to learn more than just the art of baking and pastry work. She began the Culinary Arts program while taking outside courses to achieve her degree in Applied Sciences. She had the opportunity to compete for the Student Chef of the Year 2010 competition for Washington State and achieved the title “ ACF Student Chef of the Year”. After graduating, she interned at a prestigious restaurant in Seattle and was later hired on and became a sous chef. While working, she was also on the ACF Culinary Youth Team for the United States and competed in Germany for the competition among young chef worldwide. {The team won both gold and silver!} Now she is resting up after her whirlwind adventures to Germany and Japan and planning where she wants to go next.
While Krista has gone into the culinary field professionally, she is EXTREMELY talented in crafting and photography as well. I’m constantly amazed at her talent and skills. It’s not unusual to find her sewing, creating unique decor items, trying out new crafting techniques or doing random photo shoots.
Here’s a peek at some of the things she made in December…..
I have told Krista about the amazing community of people I have met via blogging and I can’t wait for her to get to know you all {and vice versa}. Please join me in giving her a great big welcome- she’s a little hesitant about this new endeavor.
Thank you so much for joining me today. I hope your new year is off to a great start!
Some of you may be familiar with having a word for the new year. I have seen it in blog land in years past and wanted to take part of it this year. These past few days I’ve been pondering what I wanted my word to be. After going over a few, I finally decided on the word COURAGE.
2012 was a rough one for me. There was some ups, but a lot of downs. As we go into the new year, I will admit, I feel defeated and run down mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually….. I have been a fighter in the past, but it seems like that fighting spirit has faded away. I miss that part of me and I’m going to try to bring that back in 2013. I want to have courage to face the health issues, courage to tackle my goals & dreams, courage to walk in the path God has for me.
As we look to this new year, I’d like to encourage you to choose a word. Have one? I would LOVE to hear what it is!
Wishing you a wonderful 2013. Looking forward to sharing this new year with you all!
Thank you to everyone who has applied so far. I have a special folder for all of my applications and I must say, it’s packed FULL of beautiful creations. This is going to be a tough decision and I’ll definitely have to call in for reinforcements to help me make the final decision.
Good morning!
Tell us about your blog. When and why did you start it?
When you create tons and tons of crafty stuff like I do, there is an urge to share it with all the other crafty people out there! That is precisely why I started Damask Love – as a place for me to share my projects and creations; a place to give a little bit of purpose to my hobby! Over time, the mission of Damask Love has evolved. Today, I use my blog as a place to give inspiration to crafters at all levels. I do my best to provide clear instructions for each of the projects I post so that anyone can follow along!
