The winner is:

This is just a quick post to announce the winner of my Valentines Day giveaway.   I have been without my computer for two days due to a virus. 
True Random Number
Result: 47  WIZARDEWA

She chose the Swag with the Sea Shells and Dried Flowers.
This person found my giveaway at http://etsygiveaways.blogspot.com/
Thank you to everyone who entered and supported my giveaway.

Making a Keepsake Wreath

I have a bunch of great stuff I have collected at the beach or walking in woods.  I try to use some of these things in my wreaths to make them special one of a kind creations.   If you have a  similar collection of items, you can simply display them as a table centerpiece in a clear glass container or use them to make a keepsake wreath. 

You can use any kind of grapevine wreath.  Here is a heart wreath that I used to make a wreath with sea shells that I painted sea foam blue.

Grapevine twig heart with spanish moss base

Using hot glue - glue a base of spanish moss around your grapevine base or where you want to add your flowers.  Here I have added it all around the heart twig form.  Adding moss first really makes it much easier to attach and secure your flowers or other items.

Sea Shells painted sea foam blue

You need a filler, backround material (like silver king or german status), accent flowers (roses, celosia, globe amaranth), and something long like larkspur, eucalyptus or even lavender.  You can use either silk or dried flowers.  You can add anything you may have collected like seashells, pine cones, interesting stones, twigs, bark, or what have you.

Finished heart with sea foam blue seashells

There are more photos of the heart wreath above in my Artfire Shop.

keepsake wreath with driftwood, seashells, seaglass and dried flowers

The wreath about is one that I made as a gift for my mother.  I used sea shells we collected together on the beach, along with driftwood and sea glass.

After you have glued the spanish moss on the wreath base, take your filler material - break the branches into two or three inch long pieces and begin to glue each piece into the moss until the whole base is covered.  Rather than a glue gun, I use a glue pan. With a glue pan, you can just dip each stem into the glue and then place carefully onto the wreath base.  If you are using something sturdy for the long stem material like eucalyptus you can add that next in the same manner.  Break it into short pieces somewhat longer than the filler so it will stand out and hot glue it to the spanish moss base.  You might need to tear off the bottom petal of the eucaluptus so you can push it into the moss base.   If your stem material is more fragile, like lavender or larkspur add it last so it doesn't get damaged while you work.  Once you have the filler and stem material evenly distributed around the wreath you can begin to add your accent flowers.  Apply hot glue to each flower and carefully attach to wreath.  At this point take your keepsakes and also glue those harmoniously about the wreath.

Grapevine Wreath

The above grapevine wreath is available in my Artfire Shop. Spanish moss was added to the above wreath just at the top where the flowers were glued.  Silver king was used for the filler.  The accent flowers were off white globe amaranth and velvety pink celosia.  The eucaluptis and larkspur and twigs are the long stem pieces. 

 

Grapevine with soft white dried flowers and sea shells 

This wreath is in my etsy shop  -  The filler used for this wreath is a soft green emerald king.  The accent materials are globe amaranth and seashells.  The long stem materials used are wheat sprigs, and soft white larkspur.

I hope you can follow these instructions and will create a keepsake for yourself to remind you of a special place that you have visited.  Here is a special place we visited where I collected sea shells that I'm reminded of when I work on my wreaths.

Rockport, MA

New ideas for dinner!

I was in need of some new ideas for dinners -- I was really tired of the regular rotations in our dinner menus.
So I found this program called   E-MEALZ Easy Meals for Busy and Frugal Families.  For $5.00 per month, you receive a weekly menu plan along with the coordinating shopping list.  I have unique challenges as I have finicky eaters in the family.  For example, one doesn't eat chicken another doesn't eat ground beef.   That alone eliminates a bunch of recipes.  I knew that with the limited range of recipes that my family would eat, that I probably wouldn't be able to follow their plan every day, but I have been using it for about three weeks and have found each week two to three recipes to try.  The weekly plan offers a wide variety of menus and the recipes are easy to follow and easy to make.  They offer many menu plan options to choose from.  I choose the any store plan but there are also shopping plans for certain stores like Walmart, Publix, Krogers and others.  These plans coordinate the menus with what is on sale that week at that store to maximize savings.  There are also diet options, like low carb, low fat or point system plans.  They allow you to switch plans one time if desired and I plan to sometime switch to the vegetarian plan as one of my daughters would like to be vegetarian.   I am not really someone who naturally can plan ahead nor do I have the time, therefore having someone do this weekly meal plan for me is very helpful.  Check out the e-mealz plan for yourself.   If you or your family like a wide range of foods, this would be even more helpful to you.

Pernillas Something Swedish Gourmet Chocolates and More

I'd like to introduce you to Pernilla's Something Swedish! I was introduced to this shop through the Promotional Frenzy Thread on Etsy.  Here is the link to her Etsy Shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/PernillasSS.

Pernilla and her husband left Sweden in 2005 to live in the U.S. She has a passion for designing & create Jewelry, Gourmet Candy & much more! 

Pernilla says:


"My jewelry pieces are unique, since they are true one-of-a-kind creations. This is wonderful for those of you who want to be the only one owning a unique piece of jewelry! I guarantee that every creation that comes out of my hands is made with lots of love & devotion. I would not have it any other way."

If you are looking for a special Valentines gift take a look at these:

Here's an example of her beautiful jewelry

Porcelain Beads and Crystals and colors like Pink, white, green and silver. Pretty Oh So Pretty!

 Her gourmet candy is made with only the finest ingredients selected by Pernilla from Sweden, Belgium, Germany, France & the USA.

How about a special heart for your special someone?

Happy Valentine's Day Gourmet Chocolate Heart

What she says about her candy creations: 

"I say YES to Organic! Using some of my family's old recipes & adding my own touch to them makes it tasty out of this world!..."  

Here is a organic and all natural cookie selection that looks yummy!

Organic and All Natural Swedish Farmer Cookies

 If you are looking for the ultimate chocolate assortment how about this?  Who wouldn't love to receive this special assortment of chocolate in the mail.

The Ultimate Gourmet Chocolate Package

Take a look at http://www.etsy.com/shop/PernillasSS as these are only a few of her delicious, creative choices.

MY FIRST GIVEAWAY!

Wreaths and wall hangings using dried flowers and distinctive materials to create unique and unusual floral home decor

Help me make my first giveaway a success!  I'd like to reach over 1000 fans on my facebook page and get some views on my newly launched Angelsneverlastings Webpage. (I won the web page setup in a giveaway from Mary of SEO Web Design) I'd also love to bless someone with one of my beautiful unique floral wall hangings.  I was having a problem deciding what to giveaway.  I mean how do I know what would go in your home or what you would like.   My items are such that depending on your home decor - you might prefer one color scheme over another,  therefore, rather than my choosing a item to give --I'LL LET THE WINNER CHOOSE the item of their choice from either my Etsy Shop or my Artfire shop.  Entries are limited to those within the US as dried flowers are problematic to deliver internationally.

Winner will be chosen on 2/14.  Entries must be posted by midnight on  2/11/11.

HOW DO YOU ENTER?  You can have up to five entries - one entry for each of the following.  Please leave a separate comment for each one and include a e-mail address so I can notify you if you win.  I will be carefully keeping track and numbering each comment and using random.org to choose the winner.

1.  Visit my web page at www.angelsneverlastings.com and click on my Etsy shop or my Artfire shop and choose a favorite item or one that you would like to win.  Come back, comment and post a link to that item.  Upon winning, if that item is still available, you can either choose that item or another.

2.  Follow this blog and leave a separate comment stating that you are a follower. (if you are already a follower post a comment stating that you are already a follower)

3.  Tweet about the giveaway and comment here with link to your tweet.

4.  Like my Angelsneverlastings Facebook Page & comment here. (already a fan - that counts -  post comment)

5.  Blog about my giveaway and comment with link. 

Blessings and happy Valentines day.

OTHER GIVEAWAYS THAT MIGHT INTEREST YOU:

http://galla15.blogspot.com/2011/01/treasure-hunt-contest-win-swarovski.html
http://hoganshandiwork.wordpress.com/2011/01/15/giveaway-11511-2911/#comment-86
http://petitehermine.blogspot.com/2011/01/giveaway-1.html
http://myeuropeantouch.blogspot.com/2011/01/my-first-ever-give-away-help-me.html#links
http://www.debbyaremdesigns.com/

Planning a giveaway

Wall Topiary in shades of pink and silver

I am planning to have my first giveaway. I have been thinking about this to celebrate and promote my web page  http://www.angelsneverlastings.com which was launched recently.   My first problem though is that I can't decide what to offer in my giveaway.  I want to offer something that is from my best work.  Here are pictures of a few of my items which I could offer for my giveaway.  I do believe when you give something you should give your best not just something you can't seem to sell and have had too long.  I could offer one of these pieces or even offer a choice.  If you have a moment kindly visit my Etsy shop at Angels n Everlastings and tell me what you would like to receive if you were to win my giveaway.  If you have hosted a successful giveaway -- I would love to hear about your experience.  I would appreciate any comments or advice.

Promotional Frenzy

Tanzanite Crystal Drop Earrings by galla15 on Etsy

Reflecting on the past year, it was a year of joining.  I Joined Facebook along with creating a Angels n Everlastings Fan Page for my business.  I spent oodles of time working the "link love" Facebook system for gaining "likers" for my fan page.  I got plenty of likers and liked plenty of pages but I can't say it has helped with sales.   I joined all sorts of Facebook groups that would help promote my business.  Most of those I've lost contact with except for an occasional e-mail from them.  Some I should reconnect with.  I joined Twitter and followed a bunch of people who followed me back. I joined the Etsy CAST team http://www.etsy.com/teams/6326/christian-artists-street-team-cast?ref=pr_teams which now has over 1000 members. I also joined the CAPS team which concentrates on member promoting.   I started my Angels n Everlastings Artfire Shop in October which needs some love and attention.  I started this blog and recently launched my web page http://www.angelsneverlastings.com.  Then recently for promotion, Stumbleupon, Kaboodle and who knows what else.  All this joining was productive but I can't say that I really have used all these connections effectively.  Recently I came across the Promotional Frenzy Etsy Thread http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6732302 and got involved with their networking.  This is a group which encourages promotion with activities on certain days - for instance,  Monday they host a BNR treasury, Tuesday everyone chooses one item to be promoted, Wednesday is the day everyone is encouraged to blog, Thursday everyone tries to list a new item, Friday is the day to create a Promo Frenzy member treasury and on Saturdays they choose one member for a "solo Frenzy.  Sunday is a day of rest!  I can't do it all but I find this schedule very helpful to encourage me to actively use my blog or to create a weekly treasury.  The leaders on this group really seem to know how to promote and I've learned a lot in the short time I have been involved with them.  For more information on the Promotional Frenzy Thread visit http://galla15.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-promotional-frenzy-thread-huge.html  So this year, I hope to reflect on the connections I have made and try to either use it or lose it.  I can't maintain all the connections I have made but I need to decide which ones to keep and which ones aren't helpful to creating sales or getting noticed.  I think the Promotional Frenzy group will be one of the keepers along with the Etsy CAST team and CAPS team and I encourage you to check them out.  Here are a few creations from the Promotional Frenzy group:

Pomegranate Jewels Necklace - Red Agate and Gold Ribbon by petite hermine on Etsy

Viking knit Bracelet by Prittyfy

NewCreatioNZ - Set of 5 bookmarks