My Favorite Giveaway Sites

So, I would say I've been on a roll lately with winning stuff. I have won half of my Christmas presents already. So, that is the ultimate thrifty way to do Christmas! People keep asking me how I do it. To be honest, I have no idea. I just have found some great giveaway sites that list/host giveaways. That's it. That's the secret. Finding the giveaways and entering them. Silly, huh? I don't really do any of the work. I just find the sites that do. That's me, completely lazy! So, here are some of my favorite giveaway sites so you can start entering those contests, too! Add these blogs to you blogger dashboard and anytime you see a new contest appear, enter it. Makes it a lot easier to keep track of them all.

And if you have some of your favorite sites, let me know and I'll add them to the list.

1. A Giveaway Everyday http://agiveawayeveryday.blogspot.com/



2. Giveaway Today http://giveawaytoday.blogspot.com/



3. Ice Fairy's Treasure Chest http://icefairystreasurechest.blogspot.com/



4. Just for Me...and You http://justformeandyou2.blogspot.com/



5. Skip to My Lou http://www.skiptomylou.org/



6. Tip Junkie http://www.tipjunkie.com/



7. Today's Giveaway http://www.todaysgiveaway.net/



8. The Bragging Mommy http://www.thebraggingmommy.com/



9. Shop with Me Momma http://www.shopwithmemama.com/home



10. The Work at Home Mom Resource Site http://wahmresourcesite.com/



11. Blog Sweeps http://blogsweeps.com/



12. This Momma Rocks http://www.thismamablogrocks.blogspot.com/



Okay, there they are. Now go out and win some of those Christmas gifts you so desperately don't want to pay for!

Giveaway Winner!

The winner of my first giveaway contest is post #8 Lisa
Congrats! Winner has been notified. Enjoy!

Vinyl in my New House

My friend Rachel has a really great vinyl cutting business and she made the most amazing custom pieces for my home. I'm sooooo happy with them. They turned out amazing and I am definitely going back for more.


This is in my kitchen above my pantry door. It is Italian for kitchen. I have red as the major accent color and she matched it perfectly.


So, this is my front door on the inside. I am completely obsessed with the fleur d'lis lately. I love it. I think these turned out great, too. She made them custom.


Isn't this the most amazing font? I fell in love with it and had her make all of it in it. Stay tuned because I'm sure I'll come up with more projects to use vinyl on.

Its DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land

Head on over to A Soft Place to Land and join the DIY Party! Winner for the week of the best DIY Project wins a $50 gift certificate to the cutest ETSY shop ever.

Amazingly Easy Paper Snowflake Craft

Here is an easy paper craft to do with your kids and for winter decoration around the house. I can't claim credit for this ingenious idea but it was a lady that lives near me who taught it to us at a recent Super Saturday Craft Day. Here is what you need:

Paper - any paper will work. Computer paper is used for the tutorial.
Scissors or Paper Cutter
Ruler
Tape, Glue, Stapler or any other means to secure paper together. I've actually used hot glue before.


Here is what the final product will look like. I plan to hang them around the windows in my house.


Start with a piece of paper, any size will do, it will just change the size of the finished snowflake. I think that adding a few bigger or smaller to the decor would look great. If your paper is 8.5"x11" cut off the end so that the paper is square.


Next, fold the paper into a triangle.


Then, fold it in half one more time, so that total, you have folded it into a triangle twice.



Here is the tricky part, where you have to get this right or the piece won't work. Take your scissors and cut three long cuts starting from the double folded side running to the single folded side. (The longest edge of the triangle should not have folds at all, just the regular edge of the paper.) Stop your cut about half an inch before you reach the single folded side.


Next, start to unfold the paper triangle once it is cut. Here is what it should look like unfolded just once.


Here is what the paper should look like unfolded completely.


Next, take the smallest two cut triangles on the inside of the paper and secure them together with tape, hot glue, glue, or staples.


Next, turn the whole paper over and take the next largest two triangle cuts and do the same to secure them. Continue turning the paper over until all of them have been secured.


This is what a finished section looks like on its side.


Next we are going to secure several of these sections together. This is what it looks like when they are hooked together. In total, you will need to make six of these sections to complete a snowflake.


Take two sections and lay them next to each other like the photo.


Then secure them together in two spots. This photo shows the lower spot.


And this photo shows the upper spot to secure the sections.


Continue securing all six sections together and this is what you get! Instant snowflakes for your homes winter decor! Enjoy!

Penny Pinching Party!

I love any way that will save me money, so check out the Penny Pinching party at The Thrifty Home.

Fastest, Simplest, Most Delicious Rice Crispy Treats You'll Ever Eat. Guaranteed!

This is how my grandmother used to make rice crispy treats. At least, how I remember them.

Ingredients:

Rice Crispy Cereal



Carmel (for melting)



Marshmallows



Water

Wax Paper (tinfoil works, too)

Popsicle sticks (optional)

First, take the carmel and melt it on the stove according to package directions. Mine said to heat them on medium-low heat in a saucepan until melted. I recommend turning the heat off once your carmel is melted so that it doesn't get too hot and burn.

Next, take the marshmallows and stick a popsicle stick through the center.



Then, dip the marshmallow directly into the saucepan and twist until the entire marshmallow is covered in carmel. Twirl the stick to avoid any dripping.



Next, dip the carmel covered marshmallow into a bowl of rice crispy cereal and roll it around until covered.



Place the finished rice crispy treat onto a try covered in wax paper or tinfoil.

Let cool and enjoy! The refridgerator works really well to get the carmel to harden up enough that they aren't gooey or runny. See. That was easy, right?

My First Giveaway Contest!!!!

Okay, so I'm new to this whole blogging thingy and I wanted to host a giveaway contest in order to build followers. Your in luck, even if your the only person entering. I'm giving away two Cosmo Cricket Home Decor Lacing Card Kits.



Here's how to win:

One entry: become a follower of my blog and then post a comment with your name, e-mail address, and that you became a follower. The contest will go through November 9th and the winner will be chosen by random integer counter. Example: Tiffany Skabelund, biff_erin@yahoodotcom, follwer

Two entrys: tell a friend to follow my blog and then post your name, e-mail address, and that you told a friend. Example: Tiffany Skabelund, biff_erin@yahoodotcom, told a friend.

Enjoy!

Talk to Me Tuesday at Tip Junkie

Topic: Why do you blog?

I just started blogging and love it. I have one that is for family/friends and its great to keep them informed on what we are up to when they live so far away. My decor/craft blog is a great way for me to share the things I learn and create and just feel like I’m talking/sharing with somebody older than five years old from the comfort of my home. So why do you blog?

Very Easy DIY Plate Hangers

Here is a very easy, very inexpensive way to make plate hangers. This project cost me a total of $4.41 at the Home Depot. Here is a link to the Martha Stewart Living where I originally got the idea and instructions. Mine is a lot more detailed, trust me. But check it out anyway: http://www.marthastewart.com/good-things/wire-plate-hangers

Here's what you need:

- 16-18 gauge wire (I actually used fence wire minus one accidental shattering)
- plates to be hung
- needle nose pliers
- wire cutters
- pencil
- measuring tape
- patience (it took me two hours to make them all and hang 11 plates)


Here is what they look like in my home after I finished. Don't mind the not-so-great picture. The awkwardly placed light is another project.


Once you've gathered all of your supplies, Martha tells you to cut two pieces of wire 3" longer than the diameter of the plate to be hung. I found that it was easier to cut an ample length and then trim them down when I had them placed.


Just had to show off my e-bay find. These Bavaria, Germany blue floral china plates. I think the set of 16 cost me around $20.00, if I remember right. Gorgeous!


I chose to hang my plates around the wall that surrounds my dining table. Inspiration struck after weeks of pondering what to do with these walls in my brand new house. Plates, genius!


Next step is to take one piece of wire and twist it so that you have one loop in the middle; this piece is used to attach the plate to the wall.


Next, bend the other piece of wire into a V-shape. Then, slide one end through the loop of the first wire piece. Cross the V wire over so that it is secure (see picture). The V should hang upside down and rest on the bottom of the loop.


Next, make sure that the loop or first wire is resting just under the lip of the plates base. This is vital if you want the rack to stay secure and not come loose. Now, turn the plate over and wrap the ends of the wire around to the front of the plate and trim them to a uniform length. Leave enough wire to twist into a decorative loop. This is where you use your creativity or lack thereof. It can't be done wrong. It is so genius that it still looks good. Trust me, it's Martha.


Okay, so here is the part where you have to be careful. Once you have finished making and attaching the plate to the hanger, make sure that it isn't loose. I got a little zealous around the 10th plate or so and shook a little hard and whoops! Broken china, sob! Now make those wire plate hangers and enjoy!