Countdown to Christmas | Paramore Art Works (Giveaway)

Welcome to the Countdown to Christmas {Etsy} Party! 

Today, I'm pleased to feature Beth from Paramore Art Works. 

I stumbled upon Beth's shop and fell in love with the adorable banners that she sells! It seems banners like this are popping up everywhere. I'd like to think I could just whip one right up, but let's be honest ... between work and family and this blog and the rest of my life, when would I ever find time to do it? The banners should hold up through multiple years of use since they're made of chipboard rather than cardstock, and the prices are super reasonable at just $10-25 per banner!

Here are a couple of my favorites from her shop ...

While this party is highlighting a lot of great Christmas decor, Beth offers plenty of banners for other occasions as well. I could see these being used as part of your daily home decor or for special events like a wedding, birth of a baby, a party or shower, or even a photo shoot. Don't see what you're looking for? Just message Beth to work out a custom order.

(Wouldn't this be so cute for a baby announcement photo or even a pregnancy announcement?!)

Here is a close-up of a "Give Thanks" banner, so you can see the letters a little better.

Giveaway

Enter to win your choice of any pre-made banner in the Paramore Art Works Etsy shop (custom orders excluded). (NOTE: Shipping is included for US addresses. International participants may enter if they are willing to cover the shipping costs.) Giveaway ends November 26. Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*** All participants must be 18 years or older. The winner will be contacted via email. Once contacted the winner has 72 hours to respond with the required information. If the winner does not respond within the timeframe specified, another winner will be chosen. I am not responsible for shipping mishaps. Void where prohibited. *** 

Countdown to Christmas | Kourtney's Kreations (Giveaway)

Welcome to the Countdown to Christmas {Etsy} Party! 

Today, I'm pleased to feature Kourtney from Kourtney's Kreations. 

I really love nativity sets and have collected several over the years. I have one that was always displayed in our home when I was a child (that my grandmother made!), one that my in-laws have added to each year since Hubs and I have been married, and a few others that have been gifts through the years. 

 

This Simple Wood Nativity from Kourtney's Kreations is just darling! It's so basic and almost rustic looking. I am reminded of the birth of Christ ... born to teenage parents in a barn. It was a simple, humble beginning. And this nativity brings that to the forefront for me.

While I was poking around in Kourtney's shop, a few other things jumped out at me as well. And her Facebook page has even more cute stuff on it!

Y'all. I have had the HARDEST time finding a tree topper. This one is simple and sparkly. Love it!

The wrapping could be a gift in and of itself!

I love all this vinyl stuff. :) And what a cute idea to frame it in a shadow box type frame. You could put fabric or scrapbook paper in the back. Very cute (and easy!).

Giveaway

Kourtney has offered to give away one of her nativities! Enter to win one Simple Wood Nativity from Kourtney's Kreations. Giveaway is open to US residents and ends November 26. Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*** All participants must be 18 years or older. The winner will be contacted via email. Once contacted the winner has 72 hours to respond with the required information. If the winner does not respond within the timeframe specified, another winner will be chosen. I am not responsible for shipping mishaps. Void where prohibited. *** 

Countdown to Christmas | Things by JuJu (Giveaway)

Welcome to the Countdown to Christmas {Etsy} Party! 

Today, I'm pleased to feature Julie from Things by JuJu. 

I had this crazy idea last year that I was going to make my own wrapping paper and gift tags. I had a crafty itch and for some reason decided that Christmas was the best time to get it out of my system. As you might imagine, I was still wrapping gifts at 3:00am the night before our first gift exchange! This year, I'm going back to store-bought wrapping paper ... but I'm still going to use cute gift tags. (I just won't be making them myself this year!)

As I started looking for some online, the gift tags on Things by JuJu popped out at me. Julie has a huge variety of gift tags (and Christmas cards!). So whatever your style is, she probably has something for you.

My Thoughts
Julie sent me a set of six Snowman Gift Tags to review, and they are just as cute in person as they are online! The "face" is made of a shimmery paper that has snowflakes embossed on it. And the black dots that make up the eyes and the smile look like they have a bit of glitter or shine. I also love that the thin white ribbon gives me the option to tie it to the handle of a gift bag or attach it to a bow on a box. I like options!

Julie also included a little package of die cuts in the box she sent me. You could use these in your own crafting or scrapbooking or it may give you an idea of something else you'd like to order from her! What a fun touch!

Here are a couple of other cute items from Things by JuJu that will help add a little personal flair to your Christmas celebration ...

I'm a huge fan of this simple look. Kraft paper/cardboard with a simple pattern. So classic.

These embossed cards are cute with a little fancy flair.

These Santa cards are so cute!

These are BRAND NEW in the shop. Aren't they just adorable?!?!

Giveaway

Julie has graciously offered to host a giveaway for one of you! Enter to win one a $15 Credit to Things by JuJu (custom orders excluded). Giveaway is open to US residents and ends November 26. Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*** All participants must be 18 years or older. The winner will be contacted via email. Once contacted the winner has 72 hours to respond with the required information. If the winner does not respond within the timeframe specified, another winner will be chosen. I am not responsible for shipping mishaps. Void where prohibited. *** 

Countdown to Christmas | Cooper Studios

Welcome to the Countdown to Christmas {Etsy} Party! 

Today, I'm pleased to feature Kat from Cooper Studios. 

Cooper Studios has a huge variety of items available for sale. However, of everything in Kat's shop, the adorable magnets made from soda cans jumped out at me. As you can probably tell by now, I really do like to decorate for Christmas. These cute little magnets will provide just a touch of cheer on our fridge throughout the holiday season and provide the perfect way to display some of the photo cards we will get in the mail this year.

My Thoughts

I received a set of three adorable magnets for review—a Pepsi ornament, a Coca-Cola twinkling light bulb, and a Mountain Dew Christmas tree. I promptly stuck them to the fridge, and they look so festive! When Hubs got home that day, he even commented on how fun they were! One thing I have realized about my refrigerator over the past few years is that most magnets are not strong enough to stay put. (Most of our cards/notes require two or magnets or constantly slide down the fridge every time we walk by.) These magnets, however, fall into a different category ... of very strong magnets! They're cute and actually hold stuff up!

Here are a couple of other favorites from Kat's shop ...

This is such a pretty little tree!

Here's a close-up of the "ornament" magnet. Love the white-water rafting Coke can!

Hubs' favorite beverage ... ever! He's a fan of these! :)

Giveaway

Kat is giving away a set of magnets! Enter to win a set of 3 Christmas magnets (ornament, twinkling light blub, and Christmas tree in the Coca-Cola pattern). Giveaway is open to US residents and ends November 26. Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*** All participants must be 18 years or older. The winner will be contacted via email. Once contacted the winner has 72 hours to respond with the required information. If the winner does not respond within the timeframe specified, another winner will be chosen. I am not responsible for shipping mishaps. Void where prohibited. *** 

Countdown to Christmas | Still Water Candles (Giveaway)

Welcome to the Countdown to Christmas {Etsy} Party! 

Today, I'm pleased to feature Janelle from Still Water Candles. 

Living in the South, it doesn't always feel like Christmas. (Seriously, with temps in the 70s, I wore short-sleeves yesterday!) So I often have to resort to other methods to get that wintery Christmas feel. You know, like turning up the air conditioner and snuggling under a blanket on the couch. :)

One of the things that never fails to help it feel a bit more like Christmas are the smells of Christmas. Apple cider cooking on the stove, cookies baking in the oven, the scent of pine in friends' homes (we're all fake tree around here!), and Christmas candles burning around the house.

Still Water Candles has a huge variety of scented candles available. The winter line includes fragrances like Sugar Cookie, Eggnog, Bayberry, Peppermint, and Gingerbread. Yum! Personally, I'm itching to smell the Spruce Christmas Tree Candle (fake tree, remember?). And I'm a huge fan of the Mason Jar Candles.

Here are a couple of other items that Still Water Candles sells  ...

How cute are these air fresheners? Great idea for stocking stuffers!

Y'all! Winter Wonderland!

I love the cinnamon sticks around this candle. Gives it a bit of a "fancy" look. :)

Giveaway

Still Water Candles is offering a giveaway for one of my readers. Enter to win one Spruce Christmas Tree Candle. Giveaway is open to US residents and ends November 26. Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

*** All participants must be 18 years or older. The winner will be contacted via email. Once contacted the winner has 72 hours to respond with the required information. If the winner does not respond within the timeframe specified, another winner will be chosen. I am not responsible for shipping mishaps. Void where prohibited. *** 

Countdown to Christmas | Making Room for Moore (Giveaway)

Welcome to the Countdown to Christmas {Etsy} Party! 

Today, I'm pleased to feature Stephanie from Making Room for Moore. 

When I was looking for Christmas items to feature in this week's party, I was so excited to stumble upon these glass ornaments that Stephanie at Making Room for Moore makes (Africa and Africa LOVE). I have a heart for Africa and believe wholeheartedly in adoption. When I read that she started making these ornaments as a way to raise funds for her family's adoptions from Uganda, I knew I had to share these ornaments with you!

Now that Stephanie and her family have brought their two boys home from Uganda, she continues to make the ornaments as a way to raise funds for an organziation called A Child's Voice. I asked Stephanie to share a little more about this organization and her family's involvement with it, and this is what she had to say:

"After our second adoption from Uganda and after spending many months in Uganda, I had seen many of the devastating family situations that lead children to orphanages and eventually adoption. I wanted to get involved with helping to support vulnerable families. This led us to A Child's Voice, which I now serve on the board.

"A Child’s Voice (ACV) is a grassroots organization advocating for vulnerable children and families in Uganda. We use social policy, education, and family empowerment to promote solutions that strengthen vulnerable families and care for orphans without orphanages."

Hubs and I have tons of friends who have adopted children and several who have adopted children from Uganda. The need to advocate for these children is so great, and I'm pleased to share what this organization is doing.

Additionally, these ornaments would be a great gift for anyone who has a heart for adoption or Africa or just has a desire to give/receive gifts that have impact beyond ourselves!

Giveaway

Stephanie has graciously offered a giveaway to one of you! Enter to win your choice of one Africa or Africa LOVE Glass Christmas Ornament. Giveaway is open to US residents and ends November 26. Enter using the Giveaway Tools widget below.

Entry-Form

*** All participants must be 18 years or older. The winner will be contacted via email. Once contacted the winner has 72 hours to respond with the required information. If the winner does not respond within the timeframe specified, another winner will be chosen. I am not responsible for shipping mishaps. Void where prohibited. *** 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

"It's Monday! What Are You Reading?" is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey where we share what we're reading and our goals for the week.

The Countdown to Christmas {Etsy} Party is this week. 10 Christmasy giveaways with up to 14 winners this week! Also, several other giveaways going on ... check them out in the list on the left.

What I Read Last Week ...

This has been the strangest reading week. Good books but wasn't in the mood to read. I didn't even want to listen to my audio books in the car. (So unlike me!) Glad I pushed through to finish these great books! Peril is super intense, and To Know You is a pure delight.

What I'm Reading Now ...

Like I said, I was traveling, so I started several books and didn't get as far as I'd hoped in them. Hopefully, I'll finish them up early this week.



Audio

What I Hope to Read This Week ...

That's what I'm hoping to read this week. What are you reading?