Archive for the ‘Giveaway’ Category

Thanks to everyone who dropped by to share their crafty New Year's resolutions with us. You've got some great ideas for stash reduction, finishing projects and crafty Christmases-to-come, and I'm excited to hear about how your plans evolve!

The winner of our prize, Firefly's Step-by-Step Encyclopedia of Needlecraft, is commenter #34, Chelsea, who, like many of us, is ready to embark on a stash-reduction mission in 2012.

Hopefully this new book will give you some ideas for great projects, Chelsea. I'll be in touch with details shortly.

Thanks again to everyone who commented, I love hearing what you're all up to. Have a wonderful day!

UPDATE: This contest is now closed.

It's been a resolution-filled week over here at the Craft Blog. Tina's requesting a do-over, Lisa's making a date, and as for me, I'll be dusting off the sewing machine this weekend.

Did you make any crafty resolutions for 2012? We'd love to hear about them. Share your plans and to-do lists (or even your not-to-do lists!) on this post for a chance to win this lovely book:

For your chance to win, leave one comment on this post by 11:59 p.m., Monday, January 9, 2012, telling us your crafty resolution for 2012.  I'll randomly select and announce the winner on Tuesday, January 10. Good luck!

Hello!

Just popping in to announce the winner of that super fun Christmas tree – Lisa has a great post coming up later this afternoon, too.

There were tons of great suggestions for crafty ornaments in the comments (if you need a way to occupy the kids this week, check them out!), so I let the Random Integer Generator do the hard work.

And our winner is:

Congrats, Connie – I'll be in touch!

Thanks to everyone who entered. Have a happy holiday!

Hi friends,

Just popping in today with a surprise giveaway. I recently received something fun in the mail, and I'm excited to have the chance to share it with one of you.

It's a decorate-it-yourself Christmas tree, the likes of which I'm betting you've never seen before. Check it out:

Yep. It's a recycled cardboard Christmas tree from Cascades that you and your kids can put together and decorate however you choose. For example, crazy crayoned swirls could be the order of the day.

Of course, if it were up to me, there'd be a LOT more glitter involved! The tree is just over 3 feet tall and about 2 feet wide – perfectly kid-sized. Imagine how much fun they could have colouring, painting, collaging and decorating this tree (maybe giving you a bit of free time to enjoy a sip of eggnog?)/

For your chance to win this tree, leave a comment on this post by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, December 20, 2011, telling me the most creative tree decoration you ever made. One comment per person, please; this contest is open to Canadians only. I'll randomly select and announce the winner on Wednesday, December 21.

Good luck!

Hi friends,

Thanks for the great ideas for holiday tutorials! I can't wait to show you what we come up with.

In the meantime, here are the winners of the copies of Fiona Goble's Knitivity. As usual, the random integer generator did the hard work:

And our lucky winners are:

and

Congratulations! I'll be in touch with details. And tomorrow I'll be back with a quick and easy craft that's the perfect way to turn old Christmas cards or scraps of scrapbooking paper into cute tree decorations. Have a great night!

There's a certain beautiful synergy between knitting and nerd culture. I think it's because knitters tend to be a little...well...obsessive – just like people who adore Star Trek, Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, obscure Japanese manga, etc. And believe me, I know what of I speak.

How exciting that there's finally going to be a book that celebrates both cultures – and gives you something to wear to your next Harry Potter convention, Dr. Who viewing party or Firefly panel at Comic-Con.

Knits for Nerds by Joan of Dark (a.k.a. Toni Carr)

Knits for Nerds (Andrews McMeel, Feb. 12, 2012, $20) by Joan of Dark (a.k.a. Toni Carr) contains 33 projects taken from three different categories of geekdom – fantasy, science fiction, comics and manga – and mixes in a few other projects for good measure.

Carr has included a number of her own projects and rounded up a bunch of others from fellow knitters, including her mother, a science fiction writer who knits her own roller derby costumes. (Actually, Carr has followed in her mother's skate tracks and also written Knockdown Knits, a book of patterns for chic derbywear that's already on the market.)

The book is also peppered with bits of deliciously nerdy trivia. (Did you know that Trekkies actually prefer to be called Trekkers?) And the intro to each project tells you a little about where the inspiration came from – and might set you on the road toward a new obsession.

My 5 Favourite Projects from the Book

• Baby Elf Beanie – an adorable horned chapeau for your favourite tiny fantasy fan
• Horrible Gloves – buttoned-up long fingerless gloves that honour Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
• Space Princess Hats – for when you just need a set of Princess Leia buns to complement your outfit
• Aim to Misbehave Brown Jacket – a rebellious extra-long cardigan that's perfect for Firefly fans (like me)
• Big Bang Guy's Sweater Vest – if you love Raj's sartorial splendour on The Big Bang Theory, you'll need to knit one of these

Do you have a nerdy passion you want to share with the world? Leave a comment on this post, telling me about your nerdy passion, by 11:59 p.m., Tuesday, December 6, 2011. If your entry is drawn randomly, I'll send you a copy of Knits for Nerds, which isn't in bookstores until February 12, 2012!

Drop back in next Thursday, December 8, 2011, to find out who won. Good luck!

Christmas is coming!

What would you love to learn to make or do this holiday season? Share your wish list with us and we'll see what we can do to produce a few tutorials and how-tos to help you get into the festive spirit.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Are you looking for gift-wrapping ideas?
• Do you wish you could tie the perfect bow?
• Need a list of last-minute knits?
• Wish someone would tell you what to give the crafter on your list?
• Looking for quick-and-easy holiday decor inspiration?

Leave your holiday how-to wish list in the comments. I've got two copies of Fiona Goble's "Knitivity" to give away – I'll choose randomly from the comments left before midnight on Sunday, December 4. Thanks!

Hi friends,

Thanks again for all of your entries to the November sewing machine giveaway. The giveaway is now closed, and I'm happy to announce this month's winner.

As usual, the random integer generator did the hard work:

And congratulations go to MaryAlice, who wrote a poem! We just have room for the first few lines...

MaryAlice, you're one lucky duck! I'll be in touch shortly with more details.

Thank you to everyone who entered. I wish I could give each of you a sewing machine, but there's still time to enter to win the grand prize, a Brother NV-6000D. Good luck!

PLEASE NOTE: This contest is now closed. Thank you for entering!

Hello!

Just popping in to remind you that if you haven't already, now is the time to enter to win that sewing machine. Leave a comment (just ONE, please, so everyone gets a fair shake) on the original post.

The contest closes at midnight tonight, and I'll pop in to announce the winner tomorrow. Good luck!