Winter Scrapbook Retreat Sponsor Swag Giveaway: Day 2

Welcome to Day 2! Here’s a recap of Day 1 and info about the giveaway. There is a lot of product featured below, only that written in bold pink type is part of the final swag bags.

Naturally, crafting is fun, therapeutic and rewarding. But crafting with friends takes on so many more wonderful dimensions. Just like at our scrap retreat, spending time with friends, new and old, while creating individual projects is more special than I can possibly describe. So if you ever have or can make an opportunity to do such a thing, I recommend it many times over. One way to do this is by having a craft party of your own. I blogged about this idea here. And there’s no better way to get a craft party started than with these hot-off-the-press

Craft Party Invitation Kits by B.Nute Productions!

Betsy from B.Nute Productions designed and put together this fabulous kit just in time for this swag bag promotion! One kit serves 8 party guests.The B.Nute Party Kit includes 8 each of beautifully designed:

• Invitations
• Envelopes
• Circular Tags
• Menu cards
• Matching 2-Sided Papers

Betsy’s Shop, B.Nute Productions, offers a wide range of whimsical and vintage style invitations, decorations and craft supplies for your next get together or craft day. Whether you are throwing a childrens party or adult party, baby shower or bridal shower, or craft party gathering, she’s got your theme covered!

Betsy is offering JSIM readers a discount good through March 31, 2012, so head over to B.Nute and use the code BNUTEJSIM15 to get 15% OFF your purchase! And if you love her style don’t see a craft paper, invitation or item in the theme you want, be sure to let Betsy know. She loves adding to her collection!

Keep up with Betsy’s B.Nute on Facebook and make sure to head over to the B.Nute blog, for loads of free printable and party & craft inspiration all year long.
Thank you Betsy!While we’re on the subject of friends… I recently contacted a jewelry designer I’d purchased from in the past- Beth Philbin of Heart On Your Wrist, a true pioneer in the stamped jewelry industry. She was so kind to custom design and stamp a very special charm many years ago to add to my Mother necklace in celebration of my baby Grace. I contacted Beth again recently and she designed the sweetest thing for the swag bags:

“Friends” with Dotted Heart Necklace by Heart On Your Wrist!

How sweet is that?! The sweet little 5/8″ Sterling Silver disc charm hangs from a 16″ Sterling Silver box chain. Friends necklaces are now in her shop and I’m simply smitten with Beth’s Heart On Your Wrist products and designs and limitless  ways you can customize her jewelry.

Her latest awesomeness is the silhouette work she creates using your own family photos!What sets her unique jewelry apart is her dedication to quality and craftsmanship. Here’s a blurb from her website:

I hope you’ll click over to Heart On Your Wrist to see all the amazing choices in custom jewlry. Keep up with her ever growing line of charms and designs by signing up for the newsletter and connecting on Facebook . You can also keep up with new product by reading Beth’s blog and learn about the purposeful things she does like supporting deployed single moms in the military service.

Thank you Beth!A couple of years ago at a blog conference, I made a new friend, Mela Kamin singer, songwriter, speaker and founder of 4:10 Ministries.
Mela is a mom of three in Minneapolis, Minnesota who in 2008 decided to use her skills in writing and love for music to step out in faith as a singer/songwriter. She sponsored our swag bags with her debut album:

Summer in My Soul by Mela Kamin CD

Mela has the sweetest voice and now offers her music for free on her website for all to enjoy. You can’t help but come away from her music and website inspired to do more with your gifts. Mela is a beautiful example of someone taking a great leap of faith to serve and inspire others through her music and ministry. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you Mela!How could I possibly put together a swag bag without including my favorite publication? Courtesy of Country Living, each swag bag has tucked inside:

The November Issue of Country Living Magazine!

As a new contributing craft editor to Country Living, I am more than loving working with the editors on exciting and innovative craft projects. And although I don’t have a project in the November issue- it’s the first one with my name officially tucked among some very talented people such as Heather Bullard and Serena Thompson!The December/January issue of Country Living should hit the stands very soon and you will find my easy memory game project along with some other thoughtful handmade Christmas gift ideas!Bookmark CountryLiving.com for keeping up with constantly updated inspirational ideas from some pretty talented people! Country Living’s Facebook and Twitter are daily reads of mine, it should be yours too! You can also sign up for their email newsletter directly from their website.

Thank you Country Living!Feeling inspired yet? Ever feel so inspired you wish you could craft for a living? Well thank goodness my newest friends and editors at Chronicle Books sent along the newly revised edition of

Craft, Inc. by Meg Mateo Ilasco

The Ultimate Guide to Turning Your Creative Hobby into a Successful Business

This book will get you on the fast track to taking your dreams further than you imagined. Just a quick perusing through Meg’s book and I’m already learning very important business tips I had never even considered relating to forming an LLC and property insurance I should look into for my home business. Craft, Inc. will help you narrow down your creative options, boost your small business self esteem and prepare you to embark on a lucrative creative journey to the land of financial success doing what you love. Here’s a quick look at Craft, Inc.

I am still somewhat new in the craft biz, (less than 4 years), so I will be sourcing information from Craft, Inc. for a long time. You may also want to look into Meg Mateo Ilasco’s Craft, Inc. Business Planner: The Ultimate Organizer for Turning Your Crafts into Cash.
Chronicle Books publishes the most beautifully creative books, stationery and gifts. Their website is a candy store and you can find them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. For more on the super talented Meg Mateo Ilasco click here.

Thank you Chronicle!Are you ready to get crafting? Then let’s start with a trip to Amy Barickman’s Indygo Junction for

Metallic Zipper Accents

and

Mixed Metal Zips Fashion Accessory Patterns!

Amy is also sharing several of her inspiring Indygo Junction newsletters in the swag bags. You may know Amy as the author of Vintage Notions, a book I reviewed earlier this year and one that is sure to be a cherished Christmas gift for any of your creative friends or family. I went out and bought one for my mom and sister right after reading it.

This is the first time I’ve ever crafted with these zipper accents and I’m seriously hooked! There are SO many things you can make with them and the results are really cool! Here’s a video from Indygo Junction with several ideas:

Each package of metallic zipper accents comes with 1 yard each of brass, copper and aluminum teeth zipper trim with black tape. Indygo Junction offers several fun patterns for working with the zipper trim, or if you’re an innovative type, you can design your own project. With my brass zipper trim I made a pinback prize ribbon with a centerpiece made from a modified St. Christopher Medal for travel. I had a blast with this project which used needle & thread and hot glue.Indygo Junction carries such great supplies from zipper trim and vintage style hankies to purse hardware, ornament kit supplies and beautifully rich wool packs.
The have unique patterns for just about everything in styles you can’t get enough of. Craft patterns, apparel patterns for all ages, aprons, home decor, loungewear….and so much more.They also carry tools for embellishing, sewing and needle felting. Indygo Junction is a treasure trove for everyone from the professional textile artist to the novice home crafter. Check out the How-T Media Gallery for great project tutorials.

Keep up with Indygo Junction and keep creative by following them on Facebook and Twitter. You can also subscribe to their e-newsletter!

Thank you Indygo Junction!To finish today’s post on a new friends note, I’m excited to share sponsored product from a company of great designers and creatives–several of whom I had the great chance to meet last month at SPARK. Here’s a shot of my new friends from DCWV and me. I enjoyed a lovely dinner with these talented women just the night before and loved learning how each of them contributed to the great products and services of the company. This awesome company sponsored last Spring’s swag bags and does it again by sharing product from their newest collection of fabulous designs for each bag-

DCWV 4.5″ x 6.5″ Mat Stack

These thick little MatStacks are packed full of delicious coordinating prints and patterns in really great colors and designs. You can use them in so many of your crafting projects!Since I packed all of the Swag bags, I got to pick my favorite DCWV MatStack- Lemon Flower!

You’ll be so inspired by the DCWV Idea Gallery and find even more great ideas on their fun blog, Facebook and by following them on Twitter. Find DCWV stacks in stores and online.

Thank you once again DCWV!!That’s it for Day 2… see you back here for more tomorrow!

SEE WHAT ELSE IS IN THE BAG, CLICK ON NEWER…