And the Melissa Samuel's Gift Certificate goes to!!!!!:)

Hi Everyone!!!

I am so Stoked!!!

And Gobsmacked!! LOL!

First off!!!

Huge Thank You's

to

Melissa Samuels!!

There will be a Special ATC

that I'll be sending this Dear Girl!!!

Now I know you all are jumping up and down

wanting to know who's the 

Winner of the $25 Gift Certificate 

to Melissa's Shop...

But I'd just like to say:)

This has been one of the most successful,

interesting, and fun Blog Giveaways I've

done this past year!

With the use of Facebook, and so many

of you jumping on board with such interest

in Making and Swapping ATC's

and all the encouragement from many of

you to 

'Let's do this again'!!

I'm just gobsmacked!

I had started off with the ATC Swap Challenge

part to be 5 Winner's picked for Swapping ATC's

and 

I'd send them a few little goodies with the

ATC's, that's still happening:)

But as you all know now, 

I had decided a couple of weeks ago when your 

ATC's started arriving

that it would be so much more fun to Swap with

all of you!

Oh Man!!! Then 33 Entries Later!! LOL!!!

I'm still making ATC's!!! 

(Almost finished and Envelopes are ready to mail!)

Here's just a few examples of the ATC's I've made

(some of them you've already seen on Facebook),

that you all will be receiving in the mail soon!!

As many of you know about me 

Nature is always involved in any of

my projects:)

This just ended up being a little twisted! LOL!

And a little 'girlie':)

These have been a blast to make!!

And I even managed to teach myself with

some experimenting some new technique's

I'll be sharing in future posts:)

So here we are:)

Over 1000 Page Views 

since the First Post for

this Challenge!!!

45 New Followers!!!

and

33 Fabulous ATC Entries!!!!

Anyone interested in

doing this next month???

Leave me comments on this post if 

you're interested in being part of another

ATC Swap Challenge and Gift Certificate

Giveaway Later Next Month, and any interesting

ideas of what theme you all would like, 

and I'll get it put together, 

as Next Month is my

1 Year Anniversary:)

of

Birdnuts Mixed Media Blog:)

Woo Hoo!!! LOL!!!

So I suppose you want to know who the 

Winner is???? LOL!!!

(I'm such a tease!!)

Using the Random Generator Site

and listing each of your Entries

in order on the previous post.....

The Winner of the

$25 Gift Certificate to

MelissaSamuels.net 

is.....

#9

Diana D. Dardin!!!!

Woo Hoo!!!

( oh man, can you see the confetti flying!!! LOL!)

Congratulations Diana!!!

I just wish I could have awarded all of you

Gift Certificates as you all have 

Entered Fabulous ATC's!!!! 

And I hope the fun of Swapping at the

least is enough for encouraging you all

to do this again, as I've had a blast

and I'm so proud to be 

Swapping and Collecting 

all of your Fabulous Entries!!

I just hope you'll enjoy receiving my ATC's

in the Swap as much!!

So Big Congrats to Diana D. Dardin!

And you all will be receiving your Swap ATC's

soon in the mail! 

( Coming from Canada you never know 

how long it's going to take in the post, as 

you all are all over the place!!

Canada, U.S.A., England, Greece!!! LOL)

OMG!!! The postage!! LOL!!!

And I'm leaving the 5 Winners of 

the little extra's a surprise:)

Ok, Leave me those Comments and

Let's do this Again!!!

Enjoy!!!

( I certain have!!)

Oh Man!!!! What a Fabulous ATC Turnout!!!

You All Rock!!! LOL!!!

Wow!!!

I have to tell you all that this Fabulous

ATC Swap Challenge 

and 

Gift Certificate Giveaway

with

Melissa Samuels

Has been amazing with all the Attention

and Entries!!!

I'm Gobsmacked!!!

So here's the plan!!!!

Today is the Deadline for Entering your

ATC's in the theme 'Sweet'.

And 5 of you will be picked by

the Random Generator Site

to Swap ATC's and receive a few little

extra goodies:).....

But here's the news:)

All Entries are going to be

Swapping ATC's With Me!!!

That's right!

I've gone bonkers!!!

LOL!

Turns out I made enough ATC's to actually 

consider this, ( although last night I had more

Fabulous Entries, so I'm scrambling to make

some more! LOL)

All ATC Entries ( up to 3 per person!)

Are Entries for the 

$25 Gift Certificate to

Melissa Samuels Shop!!

Woo Hoo!!!

So in the meantime, as tomorrow I'll be 

Announcing the 

Winner

of the 

$25 Gift Certificate!!

I wanted to Share All the Fabulous ATC

Entries as they're all Amazing and Wonderful!!!

I'll also be sharing with you all the 

Links and Shout Outs 

for many of these Fabulous Artists Entries!!

So lets get to it!!!

(if I've made any error's, please Email me

and I will correct asap! There's a ton of

information here, and I don't want to 

mess it up!! LOL)

There is no order here, it's as they come!!!

First up!!!

ATC by 'Flutter BeforeYou'

'Fish Girl' Entry #1

ATC 'Soul Sisters'

by Flutter BeforeYou

Entry #2

ATC 'Love's Old Sweet Song'

by Flutter BeforeYou

Entry #3

Flutter BeforeYou 

has both a Great Blog and Etsy Shop!

Please check them out!!!

www.flutterbeforeyou.blogspot.com

and 

www.etsy.com/shop/flutterbeforeyou

Next Up!!!

Chocolate Bunny by Jennifer Ingle:)

( and I don't think Melissa Samuels 

will mind this:)

Jennifer is a Design Team Member for

Retro Cafe Art Gallery and many other

Wonderful Companies, and she's used

some of Retro Cafe Art Gallery's 

Fabulous products:)

Jennifer's Blog 

'Just Jingle'

www.justjingle.blogspot.com

And the Next Up!!

ATC 'Life is a Beach'

by Anitra Fritz:)

Entry #1

ATC 'Down by the Sea'

by Anitra Fritz:)

Entry #2

ATC 'She Loved to Swim with Fish'

by Anitra Fritz:)

Entry #3

Please take time to check out Anitra's Etsy Shop 

'Cute Art World' at

www.etsy.com/shop/anitrabear

Next we have:)

'Sweet' ATC by

Diana D. Darden :)

Entry #1

ATC 'Sweet Faults'

by Diana D. Darden

Entry #2

ATC 'Sweet Corn'

by Diana D. Darden

Entry #3

Diana has a website I'd love to have

you take time to check out at

www.dianaddarden.com

Next is:)

ATC 'Sweet Pea'

by Eugenia Strange:)

Entry #1

ATC 'Sweet as Pie'

by Eugenia Strange

Entry #2

( Using the Famous Retro Cafe Art Gallery Dollie!!)

Currently Eugenia doesn't have a blog or shop

but we'll be working on that with her!! LOL!

Thanks Eugenia:)

And more to come!!!

Next Up!!!

ATC 'Sweet Girl'

by Renee Stien:)

Entry #1

ATC 'Girl with Wings'

by Renee Stien

Entry #2

Renee has a Fabulous Blog called

The Tin Goat at

www.thetingoat.blogspot.com

Which I encourage you to please go visit:)

Thanks Renee:)

And Our Next Entry is....

ATC 'Tempus Fugit'

by Lois Romeo

Entry #1

ATC by Lois Romeo:)

Entry #2

ATC 'Circus'  

by Lois Romeo:)

Entry #3

And another Fabulous group of ATC's and

and Wonderful Artist that doesn't have a blog!!!

We'll have to work on you too Lois!!!

Thanks for Entering:)

And Wait!!! There's even more Entries!!!

Next Up!!!!

ATC 'Sweet as the Day is Long'

by the Fabulous Mary Jane Chadbourne:)

Entry #1

ATC 'A Corner of Heaven'

by Mary Jane Chadbourne

Entry #2

Mary Jane Chadbourne

'Desert Dreams Studio'

has a Fabulous Blog and Etsy Shop

www.desertdreamstudios.weebly.com

and

www.etsy.com/shop/desertdreamstudio

Also Mary Jane Chadbourne is one of the

Fabulous Artists who are teaching at

Artful Gatherings this Summer!!

And our Next Entry is from....

ATC 'Cutie Pie'

by Tracey Stockman:)

Entry #1

ATC 'Crave'

by Tracey Stockman:)

Entry #2

What's up with no Blog Tracey!!!

Gotta work on that!!! LOL!

Thanks for Entering!!!

Hang in there Everyone

There's Even More!!!!!!

Next Up!!!

ATC' 'Pink Sweet'

by Shelly Mendenhall:)

Entry #1

ATC 'Sweet Blue'

by Shelly Mendenhall:)

Entry #2

ATC 'Sweet Green'

by Shelly Mendenhall

Entry #3

One of the 'Book of Days' Journal Group

Sisters:) You rock Shelly!

Thanks for Entering!!!

And Next!!

ATC' 'Sweet Bear Factor' ( I named it! LOL)

by Joy Northrup:)

Entry #1

ATC 'Sweet Sensation' ( Ok so I named this one too!)

by Joy Northrup:)

Entry #2

ATC 'Sweet Dollie Devine' 

(LOL! I named her too!!!)

(Woo Hoo! Retro Cafe Art Dollie!!)

by Joy Northrup!

( I hope you don't mind my naming them Joy!!)

Thanks so much:)

Joy Northrup as 2 Wonderful Links to Share

www.flickr.com/autumnsensation

and

www.etsy.com/shop/paperpetite

Please check them both out!!

And Next is....

ATC 'Lovely'

by Emma Jones:)

Entry #1

ATC 'Sweet Hearts'

by Emma Jones:)

Entry #2

You did good Emma!!!

Thanks so much:)

And Last but Certainly Not Least:)

ATC 'Hey Babycakes'

by Jennifer Gerwig

Entry #1

ATC 'Angel Food Cake'

(How Sweet!!!)

by Jennifer Gerwig:)

Entry #2

Jennifer has a Wonderful Blog at

www.jensunchartedterritory.blogspot.com

And again, I encourage you all to drop by

Jennifer's blog and have a boo!!!

And Woo Hoo!!! Right at the Last Minute

Tonight just as the Deadline is about to Happen....

ATC 'Cute Baby Cakes'

by Gigi Butterfly!!

Entry #1

ATC 'Bending over Backwards'

by Gigi Butterfly!!

Entry #2

Gigi Butterfly has a Fabulous Website that

you just have to go check out as she's one

of British Columbia's Fine Artists!!!

http://www.gigibutterfly.com/

Well!

Isn't this Fabulous!!!

All these Entries and there's still time

as the Deadline is at Midnight tonight!

Friday March 23rd!!!

Any more Entries will be showcased

in tomorrow's Blog Post which will

be Announcing the 

Winner of the 

$25 Gift Certificate to

www.MelissaSamuels.net

Woo Hoo!!!

( Ok so I'm pooped now! LOL!)

Big Thanks to all of you who have Already Entered!!

And Big Hugs and Thanks to my Dear Melissa!! xoxo

And on a quick personal note, as I have been receiving 

emails from some of you:)

from the previous blog post....

Our Dear Oliver Howard, ended up

in Emergency Surgery, and has had

all the Bladder Stones removed and was

in hospital for nearly 3 days, but I'm

thrilled to say that he's home now resting

and seems with all of the stitches to have

had a zipper put in!

He's now my new p.j's bag:)

Prognosis is good, but has a ton

of tests ahead of him for the next 

few months, but the boy is 'Magical'

and coming along well:)

Thanks for all the Fabulous and Heartwarming

Emails and Messages on Facebook!

May have to get him his own page! LOL!!

xoxox

See You All Tomorrow!!!

Enjoy!!!

March Already!!!! What happened to February! LOL!

Happy March Everyone!

I want to Thank you all for being so patient,

as I said in the last Blog Post, we have

a ATC Challenge coming, but somehow

between that post and this post, things got 

a little crazy in my life!

On a personal note, those of you who know me,

know that I have a 'zoo' in my home, and outside

of my home! Well, we've had an emergency a

week ago, with our dear dog Oliver Howard:(

In a 24 hour period of time last week we ended up at the Vet's Clinic, ( a Fabulous Clinic here in Victoria, B.C. that we have been clients of for nearly 25 years, Juan de Fuca Veterinary Clinic, You guys Rock!!!), which ended up the next day with Emergency Dental Surgery for Dear Oli and a diagnosis of Bladder Stones!

If you look at this above picture of our Beautiful Boy...this is

what he looked like when we brought him home:(

Poor swollen face:(

They even took a top fang!!!

He's been resting on pain med's 

since last week and is coming along fine, 

a new prescription diet and we'll see 

what happens in the coming weeks about 

the Bladder Stones...ouch I hope they pass!

(Luckily they're really tiny on the x-ray, so

we're fingers crossed that we caught it all

really early, and the diet will turn this around:).

Anyway my apologies to you all for being so

late with this post....but with a little face like 

that, it's no wonder my life stood still for awhile:)

(and believe me, the other two 'elderly ones' sucked 

as much sympathy as dear Oliver was getting to boot! LOL!

But's that's another whole story!)

So here we are March 3rd already!!!

So are you all ready for another

ATC SWAP CHALLENGE

and

Gift Certificate Giveaway?

As a Guest Designer for

www.Melissa Samuels.net

It's my absolute pleasure to launch

another

Co-Hosted 

ATC Swap Challenge

and this time

Gift Certificate Giveaway!

Woo Hoo!!! LOL!

When Melissa and I Hosted the last 

ATC Challenge that Highlighted her 

Fabulous Assortment of Products

for making ATC's, it was so much fun to 

Swap the Winning ATC's with you all

that I decided to do this again! 

So here's the Skinny! (grin)

The 'Theme' for this 

ATC Challenge is

'SWEET'

Which could be anything!

With Easter coming it could mean desserts, candy, or

it could mean cute animals, or anything that you

think is SWEET:)

So get those thinking caps on, and lets begin and 

here's what will happen!

Before Friday March 23rd, 2012

Email pictures of your

ATC Challenge Entries

to me at

GIMPY@telus.net

You can submit up to 3 Entries,

 as I'll be using a 

Random Generator

to pick...

5 ATC Entries 

as the 

ATC Swap Winner's

who will be swapping

ATC's with me.

Then leave a Comment 

here on this post to be

Entered!

(You don't have to be a Google Follower,

but sure would appreciate if you'd sign

on as one!)

The 5 ATC Swap Challenge Winners

will have their 

ATC's Highlighted in a 

Future Blog Post here

on 

Birdnuts Mixed Media:)

 

along with swapping the 

ATC Winning Entries by mail,

I'll be sending along

an ATC that I've made with

some 'Extra' Goodies from

Melissa Samuels Shop

to encourage you to make 

more ATC's:)

( I'm really hoping you all will find this

fun, as I'd like to do this every once in

awhile as it's so much fun for me, and

I so Enjoy Co-Hosting with Melissa:)

But wait!

The 5 ATC 

Swap Challenge Winner's 

are the one's that

I will use a Random Generator

to pick 1 Winner of the

$25.00 Gift Certificate Giveaway

to 

Melissa Samuels Shop!!!

Woo Hoo!!!

So there ya go!

Email a picture of your Entry

(or up to 3 Entries!), and

Leave a Comment on this Post

that you're Entered by 

Friday March 23rd, 2012

and on 

Saturday, March 24th, 2012

the Swap Winners will be

Announced and the

Winner of the 

$25 Gift Certificate to 

www.MelissaSamuels.net

Will also be Announced!

(By emailing photo's of your ATC Swap

Entries, it will speed up the Giveaway

as the mail service to Canada takes so long,

also it gives me your return Email address 

so I can notify you when the Winner's are chosen,

I will include my mailing address to the 5 Swap

Winner's to mail their Winning ATC's to me

for the return Swap and Extra Goodies and

to give you a head's up on the Highlighted Blog

Post of all the Winner's ATC's once they've arrived!:)

So in the meantime...here's a quick mini tutorial 

I made (sorry it's a short one, with taking care

of the dog and all! LOL)

Using ATC Base Card Stock from

Melissa's Shop

and a little Gel Medium I took beautiful

paper napkins and peeled away the layers

to give me just the printed image on the

top layer. I glued them down carefully to

not tear the image, using the Gel Medium

to the card base:)

Then using Mr. Tim's :)

Tim Holtz 'Distress Stain' Picket Fence

I lightly covered the napkin graphic to

soften the graphic for a background.

Then using a variety of graphics that I

have from a Fabulous Assortment of

Companies that I occasionally Highlight

here on Birdnuts Mixed Media, here's a 

couple of examples of what I made using

this technique:)

I also like to use the ATC's in other ways

other than just swapping, as I do an assortment

of different sized journals, and one of my favourites

is a mini moleskin journal,

which I mounted the ATC on the journal page:)

Here's another one I mounted in my mini journal

using the same series of napkin based ATC's

With this one I didn't use the Picket Fence

Distress Stain, but instead used a Script Stamp

to embellish the napkin image, and then

mounted in my mini-journal:)

So there ya go Everyone!!!

Get to making those ATC Swap Challenge

ATC's and send me those pictures via Email and

leave the Comment on this Blog Post 

so we can get on with choosing the Winner's!!!

Thanks Everyone!!!

Enjoy!!!