Hi there! Welcome to my little blog celebration!
NOTE: In case you are missing me, I am taking a blog vacation and will be returning
Sunday, July 24th. I don't have anything crafty to share today but I do have some treats to share! Things have been a little busy for me between working to pay for my crafty addiction, family affairs, summer vacations, design team commitments and just having fun. I recently have reached 1000 Sweet Blogging Friends ~ a milestone of sorts in the blogging world. Never have I required anyone to join along. I feel so blessed and thankful for a life filled with lots of love, good health and great friends including my blogging friends which brings me to why I am here today.
I started blogging less than two years ago to become more involved with crafters around the world sharing the same passion as I have for creating. I find paper crafting quite rewarding in so many ways. For me it is a great way to use the other side of my brain that I don't get to use at my real job, it's a great stress reliever, thought it was cheaper than therapy but boy was I wrong! :) I enjoy making something whether it is a card, layout or a special homespun gift for family, friends or coworkers. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that I would connect with such a vast number of kind, creative people and my little blog would blossom and grow like it has! I couldn't have done it without all of the support and encouragement from all of you who take the time to visit and WOW! What a BONUS to receive sweet comments :)
To show my appreciation and gratitude, I have a couple of small gifts to share with
TWO randomly drawn commenters.
***If you would like a chance to win either of these items, simply tell me what motivates you to create?*** One comment per person please. Deadline to leave a comment is Saturday, July 23rd 9:00 pm Eastern.
First is a PTI Delightful Doilies stamp set and coordinating dies:
Second is a $25.00 Amazon.com gift certificate:
Winners will be posted here on my blog on
Monday, July 25th. Winners will have until
Wednesday, July 27th 11:59pm Eastern to notify me. Thanks so much for all your support and sweet comments :) Good Luck!
Be Sweet :)
Posts
77 Sweet Comments So Far:
Hi Mona! Creativity is a way to express myself. I've never been a creative person, never painted, not studied music. But I found myself in scrapbooking. It was an excellent therapy after a long day of work for me. This is a great way to relax and refresh my emotions!
I started making cards after visiting some challenge blog. I am always motivated by the prizes offered by the challenge blogs and I love challenges because they have made me tried a variety of style in card making besides gaining lots of inspiration from them.
Congrats again, Mona!!! What motivates me is three-fold: relaxation & fun; to make new sweet crafty friends; and occasionally to win a challenge and possibly a prize. Those PTI doily stamps/dies are sooo on my Wish List -- thanks for a chance at such fabulous prizes!
I hope You`ll gonna have a great vacation :)
I create when I`m sad and wen I`m happy. I cant panint or draw, I just use glue and paper and I`m very happy i found scrapbooking 3 years ago.
Hugs
Monia
Congratulations Mona,
Nothing can motivate me as well as creating a card.
But, to create a beautiful card sometimes I need inspiration and tutorial, therefore I found YOU.
Card challenge also help me a lot to create.
Wow Mona great gift of you. My motivation is the pleasure and fun to create something for someone else. Sorry my english is bad but I hope you understand what I mean.
Hugs Ageeth
Hi Mona, I just recently found your blog and have found your work to be absolutely amazing. What motivates me to be creative? When I was a teenager my mother owned a flower shop and I began working by delivering the arrangements and then I moved into arranging the flowers then wedding flowers. What got me was the face of the people when they saw what I put together and the happiness it brought them. I find that same feeling with my cards and scrapbooks. I enjoy making people happy. The other thing that motivates me are people like you. I want to get as good as you and others in blogland!!
Have a wonderful break and I look forward to following you and seeing your beautiful creations.
Have a wonderful vacation!
I too have met so many crafty people on my journey through blogland. So many other crafters inspire me.. a few of my faves? : YOU!(love pouring over images on your blog), melissa phillips, cherry j( some of my other fave bloggers) but lately I'm finding inspiration from home design, etsy, pintrest, tumblr.. just looking at images gets those gears going.. inspiration is everywhere as long as you are willing to look.
Hi Mona, great prizes and congrats on passing 1000 followers! That's quite an accomplishment but not a surprise given your talent and the way you inspire people! My motivation is the fun and joy of creating something out of "nothing"! I'm still, to this day, overjoyed when I complete a project and it looks beautiful!
Congratulations! I've enjoyed your blog. Tapping into my creative brain makes me happy. My motivation comes from the feeling of creating. The finished product is an added bonus.
I am always motivated after visiting your beautiful site and seeing all your gorgeous creations, Mona! I also motivated by the surprise my friends or family get when they see what I've created! Thanks for a chance to win!
Hi Mona I am new to crafting, what keeps me motivated is looking at blogs like yours that give me so much inspiration! Hope you have a wonderful vacation.
jjocarlson@yahoo.com
My motivation is just the fun of creating and giving somebody something handmade. Thanks for the chance to win,you are a great inspiration and I love your colour challenges, enjoy your break.xxxx
Have a well deserved bloggy break. I bet you'll miss us as much as we will miss you.
I am motivated to create, quite simply by folks like you who are soooo generous with their clever, imaginative, insightful, innovative and downright breathtakingly beautiful papercraft. I am not only blown away by the calibre of crafters or as a I lovingly prefer to call you all...artisans that it spurs me on in the most magnificent way. It's as simple as that. Thank YOU.
Congrats on 1000 followers! Wow... but I know why everyone comes here! I suppose what motivates me most is when someone compliments my work, that lets me know that they really appreciate the time and love that goes into everything...
Robin
Hi Mona!
Wauw, over 1,000 followers! That's amazing! Congratulations!! I'm not surprised, though, your creations are always so gorgeous and I truly love coming here myself, to see what you created next! Love your blog and your style of cards making! I started this hobby for the same reason as you, something different than the daytime job, and something without the computer (well, the creating part then, ha ha). I love to just be thinking on the card and nothing else, it really really relaxes me! And the side effect is that in the past 1.5 years I've made some people really happy with the cards I sent to them! Love that! That's what I totally love about this hobby! But... nope, it's not a cheap one, but I don't care too much, I just love all my stamps so much!! Enjoy your week and thanks for the chance to win these lovely goodies!!
Hugs, Wendy
Congratulations for your 1000 followers!
My motivation to create...? When I make a card, I forget all my troubles. And when I offer a card, I love see the smile on the face of my family or my friends.
Hugs,Laure
Hope that you have a nice break. Looking forward to your return. Congratulations, too! I'm not sure I know what motivates me to create,...sometimes it can be a clean desk, going through some stash of paper, stamps or embellishments, seeing a great project or a terrific challenge. But, sometimes, I can try all these things and not have much mojo. New product can sometimes cure that horrible situation! Blessings!
HELLO ....... WE ALL LOVE MONA because YOU ROCK!!! Of course you have over 1000 followers and it is only going to grow. HUMMMM what motivates me ....... EVERYTHING. I love it beautiful. I want table cloth in the dining room and Waterford on the table. I want homemade Sorbet and Pottery Barn interiors. And when I give someone a Happy Birthday or Feel Better Soon card I want it to be for them. How many hours did I waste standing on the card aisle and nothing was just right....... now I never have that problem. But I will also say that crafting helps me to relax and really helps me with food, emotional eater ....... yep that is me!!! Oh and you motivate me to each and everyday on your blog!! And you make me reach outside my comfort zone which I love!!! And while I am here ........ what is your real job?? I thought it was Goddess to all crafters :)
Very cool! Thank you for the chance to win! Perusing online galleries and blogs always inspire me to create. I usually head over to 2Peas and look at the members I have bookmarked for great card & layout ideas :)
Congratulations Mona on your 1000 followers, but no surprise there really as your wonderful creations inspire so many of us! I love stopping by your blog and seeing what you have created, always a treat to visit you! I started crafting about 2 years ago, and many techniques and products are very new to me, so I find it enjoyable learning new things and re creating them on my own projects, and I find it therapeutic sometimes to just sit and colour an image or two. Thanks for the chance to win some lovely goodies! Xx
LOL Most of the time I don't need a motivation to create. I just HAVE too! :-) or maybe that is my motivation. Just being able to sit down and make something makes me happy. If my husband would agree I'd probably do it all day. (Don't think that's going to happen though) Sometimes something another crafter made just catches my attention and I want to try it out. I guess I just don't need a reason, just some supplies and a little time. Congratulations on reaching 1000 followers! Your cards are always lovely and designed so beautifully. Enjoy your blog vacation! :-)
WooHoo! Congrats on that many followers and those candies look Delicious ;).
What motivates me to craft is seeing the reaction I get when a recipient opens one of my cards/gifts. They know it is one of a kind and that I created it with them in mind. How much more gratifying can you get? Someone took the time to create something JUST for YOU.
Hope you are having a wonderful blog break and enjoying yourself. Congratulations on your followers, that is fantastic! I'm always inspired by others creations. Just one thing within that creation will jump out at me and inspire my creation.
hm...lots motivates me - when I see your lovely creations, I wish I could create like that but most often it's an occasion or a stamp set that calls to me! What lovely prizes...thank you so much for the chance to win!
I am inspired by so many things, but what drives me to create is the feeling I get when I am in my craft room. I don't worry about other things. I am totally focused on expressing myself and having fun!!!
Congrats on your milestone Mona, enjoy your time off.
Awesome goodies! Thanks for the opportunity to win. I feel the same way you do, sharing your creations on your blog opens your world to so many other crafters that you can't help but, be inspired! :)
I hope you are enjoying you blog break my friend.. I take a break every now and then also.. Any whoooo... I had been papercrafting way before I started a blog.. It's almost like a therapy for me.. I just love to sit and listen to music or watch an old movie while playing away in my craft room.. I can't imagine not creating.. Those are some pretty yummy thing you are giving away.. That is so sweet of you!!
Hugs, Linda
Creating is my sanity break and at the same time my addiction! Congrats on 1000, although that doesn't surprize me at all. Love your work, everything you create leaves me in awe. Thanks for the sweet offerings, would love to win. :)
So very sweet of you Mona! Enjoy your break! I am motivated to create by the smiles I see on the faces of the people I give my cards and projects to...it makes me so happy to know how much they appreciate it.
Mona, you are so, so sweet to have such a great give away!! Congratulations on your milestone! Your blog is one of my favorites to stop by every day! Enjoy your vaycay!
You were the first blog I found when I started this whole card making/blog journey. I loved your style and colour choices. Thanks for inspiring and encouraging me and the other 999 enthusiastic followers!
Mona, congrats on achieving such a huge milestone! No surprise, your work is amazing and you're one of the sweetest people ever! Enjoy your blogging vacation! Oh, and a room filled with thousands and thousands of dollars worth of supplies motivates me to create! hee! hee!
Congratulations on your milestone, Mona! I'm not surprised at all that you have so many devoted followers because your creativity is inspiring. What motivates me to create? Well, usually I have a specific reason for needing a card - we send out a lot of birthday cards. It's one of our ways of letting the people we care about know that we are thinking of them. And I also have come to really enjoy challenges. I find challenges really motivate me to think creatively.
Thanks for the opportunity to win such a generous prize!
Laurie
Enjoy your break Mona and Congrats on your milestone! So many things around me movitivate me to create. Things like family memories, colors, nature, textures, and things that bring me joy. :)
Mona I'm always Motivated by talented designers like yourself! Thanks for this opportunity to win such a generous prize!
Mona, a big CONGRATULATIONS on reaching such a milestone!! 1000 followers? You rock!! Wishing you continued success. :)
What motivates me to create? Seeing the smile on someone's face when they open a handmade gift or card, or just knowing that receiving something handmade will make the recipient's day. And making something with my own hands for someone else *always* makes me feel good, so it's a win-win!!
I am motivated by colors, new beautiful papers, or something on one of the blogs I follow. You suddenly just get "the itch" to make something, and I'm off and running. Thanks for the opportunity to win something!
Congrats, Mona! This is so deserved! It is no wonder that so many people follow you. You have such a sweet & kind disposition (I will never forget when we met briefly at CHA last year!) and it is not your nature to "force people to follow" you. you have a amazing, creative work that you share with others and you take the time to leave a sweet lil blog comment or write a quick email to others. It's been truly a joy to watch what you have up your sleeves! My motivation comes from learning from other designers and getting a sweet comment here or there (proof that someone is reading and seeing my lil ol' creations ;) and the cheering on is a big plus when it comes to motivation!
Congratulations on getting 1000 followers - that's fabulous, but not a surprise. All your cards and projects are just lovely, and it's a pleasure to read your posts. Have a well earned rest and see you back here soon.
As for what motivates me to craft. I enjoy it, it makes me feel good, I love to get feedback on my cards, I like to make personal cards for my family and friends, I like to play along with challenges and I like to learn from other card designers. Oh yes, it shows my old art teacher - who told me that I didn't have an artistic bone in my body - that I can do it!! That might not be a nice reason, but it did give me a lot of motivation when I first started :)
Big hug and congrats Mona!!! My motivation is simple...God. The sights, sounds, smells and emotion that this earth brings forth is breathtaking. I absorb it everyday.
You have been such an inpsiration to me and many others. Congratulations on your many success and encouraging us all. One of the main motivations in my life are my two girls. I love getting in the craft room with them and listening to us all encourage one another with our creations. it's a great way to spend an afternoon or evening with my family.
Congrats, Mona!!! Well at times I give up on crafting because I'm either running short on time and/or money (to buy new supplies). But then I go through my google reader and come through blogs, like yours, with creative people!! And that makes me want to do at least one card :)
OH Mona--you are super amazing and I cannot believe that you started blogging 2 years ago! WOW! You have been involved with some major companies and challenge blogs! I just love following you:) You inspire me with your beautiful creations--love your stitching and your choice of papers! Just stunning! I have been MIA lately--running behind, but I love visiting here! Always amazing creations shared:) Hope you have fun on your vaca!
Enjoy your break, Mona!
Thanks for the chance at the giveaway...I craft as a form of self-expression and because I really enjoy to make something from start to finish!
Congratulations on your mile stone of 1000 followers! Definitely something to shout out about. I'd have to say I craft because I love to work with paper and make things for others. It's so nice to see the smile on the face of a recipient when receiving a handmade card. It truly makes them feel special. Enjoy your time away.
Your work is worth following!! Thanks for sharing with all of us!
Always love your work and amazing blog you have! Enjoy your vacation! :)
Congrats with your milestone of 1.000 followers. I knew I'm not the only who loves to look around here...Although I took me a few chairs because I fell of them on a regular base :)
What motivates ( and inspires) me is this...your blog (and to be honest a few others; I guess you know them :)..)You put a lot love, effort, work and time in your creations and it always shows off. Your blog is a wonderful way to find of how to use my stamps in a wonderful way. I guess it's not only motivating but also inspiring... Thank you so much!
Congrats on your blog birthday ... your creations are always so very inspiring and beautiful ... I think the nice person you are shows in these ... have a wonderful vacation ... will miss you
Mona, Congratulations on the big 1000!!! Amazing!!! I am one of your newer friends - I found you only 7 months ago and have been drawn to your blog ever since. You have been the inspiration for me to start my own blog. I was stunned to read that you started only two short years ago! Your page and designs are PERFECTION! Most of all Mona, I LOVE your blog because of the person you are - kind, thoughtful, and caring - the love shines through in all you do. On a more personal note I have been thankful that you have been kind enough to answer all my enquiries and go out of your way to encourage me. It's meant alot to me and you've been a blessing in my life.
My reason for crafting is to make other people happy and to let them know I care about them. My intention is to let them know they are special to me and so worth the time and effort.
Definitely your beautiful blog motivates me Moba! Thanks for all the inspiration!
Hey Mona! hope you are getting some good R&R! Mostly something inside of me motivates me to create - when I see a fun craft I want to make it - blogging also motivates me when I see a lovely creation!
Thanks so much for a chance to win such a nice prize! I'm always excited and inspired by your work!!!
Hi Mona,
Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to win the fabulous PTI Doily Stamps & Die, I love everything this company does. I would like to tell you that I find your work awesome and love seeing every piece that you make! To answer your question there are a lot of things that inspire me, but mostly I find inspiration in your blog and other artists that not only tech me new things, but entice my
imagination to give a new or better twist to something that I had already made , along with the magnificent ideas that you all bring each day. Keep up inspiring us!
Cariños,
MarÃa Alba Negrón
San Juan, Puerto Rico
perfectasimperfecciones@gmail.com
Amazing prize, Mona!!! You are so generous! Talented papercrafters like yourself are my inspiration!!!
Hope you have a wonderful vacation, Mona! Thanks for the opportunity to win! I'm always motivated by the grand feeling I get when I finish a project and it looks good! Thanks!
Congratulations on so many followers on your wonderful blog! Thanks for this great give-away! You are so sweet!
Congratulations on the milestone Mona, its your wonderful inspiring talent! Awesome give away...thanks for the opportunity :) Hope you have a great time on your break! hugs
Hi Mona,
Your creations are inspiring to me. What inspires me is the oohs and
You made that? (incredulous voice)...I get an idea from something I've seen in a magazine or on line and want to make it unique to me...I love the process.
Congratulations on the 1000 followers...quite a milestone!
What a wonderful and generous prize Mona! Thanks for the chance to win!
I am always motivated by my finished product! I feel a great sense of accomplishment when I create something beautiful! I seem to get alot of my inspiration from your site, Mona! Thanks so much!
My motivation? Just the wonderful peace and "me time" I get when crafting! I find it so relaxing and that's more than enough inspiration! Thanks for this wonderful chance to win!
Fabulous prizes!! I am motivated to create by a desire to create something beautiful and unique! I like cards specifically because there is only a small time and money commitment compared to painting, Scrapbooking and sewing.
I am motivated to create a keepsake of scrapbook pages for my family. I love that I am documenting the boys' childhood in a creative way. I am also motivated by giving other people pleasure with the creations I come up with. I have learned how much people enjoy receiving beautiful handcrafted keepsakes as gifts, putting them to work in their daily lives and using them to preserve treasured memories. Store-bought items never convey the same kind of warmth or personal touch. Making keepsakes is a true passion for me.
Congratulations on the 1000 followers....and counting, Mona! I am not surprised at all...your creations are truly beautiful! Love to make cards and I get inspired whenever I see a new image and gorgeous papers. Those are the most important elements that will make me go to my little crafty corner and create something new. Enjoy your vacation!
I check your blog daily to be inspired! So you and your beautiful cards motivate me!!
My motivation to create scrapbooking is to make somebody else or me happy! It sometimes are some kind of therapy as well. It makes me happy :)
Hi Mona
I love patterned papers for my card making and usually they are the starting point for my inspirations.
Thanks for the chance to win. Congrats on your milestone in blogging. I am not surprised that so many people visit your blog. Enjoy your vacation.
Mona, I have to say what motivates me is seeing all the beautiful creations other fellow crafters come up with. If it wasn't for them and my sister I may have never started scrapping or card making in the first place. Imagine the money I would have saved, but the lovely scrapbooks we wouldn't have. And you are right it truly is therapy even if it not cheaper. Congrats on the major milestone!
I'm always motivated seeing what all my favorite designers create; you included! I love trying new things and the thrill of it turning out beautiful! Thanks for the chance to win this generous prize, Mona!
oh, my, 1009 followers today! amazing, mona! big congrats:) i just sigh every time i come to see your charming cards! thanks so much for the chance! my motivation for creating is simply wanting to brighten my own life or someone elses:) enjoy your vaca!
What an amazing amount of followers that you have...everyone just loves your upbeat pretty creations and your sweet personality...yippee!
What motivates me.....I love putting things together, with an idea in my head, and then seeing how they come out. Creating things just makes me happy...
I know I am late for the blog candy, but wanted to tell you how much I lvoe visiting your blog. You are such an inspiration and I love your color challenge! I agree with you... meating people is so rewarding!
Wow Mona, congrats on breaking 1000! It's no surprise that you have such a large and loyal following though! You are so talented and a great inpiration for us all!!! It's seeing beautiful creations like yours that motivates me! Thanks!
YAY!!!! I'm not surprised for your huge fan base! You are AMAZING sweet lady!!! Congrats to you! Here's to many more wonderful years of blogging with many new blog friends!!!!
Thank you so much for leaving a sweet comment!