Reader Woman...Come Out, Come Out Where Ever You Are!

Reader Woman, you won!

Yes, you won the My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbook Software.

Please send me an email address so i can get the information to you on how to receive your prize!

Congratulations!

If I don't hear from you by Friday, I'll have to draw a new winner:(

Kids Chairs

Recently, I shared with you a little antique chair that I painted for my cousin to have when her granddaughter comes to visit.

Here's another look...

I thought today I would share a few other chairs I have painted for children over the years...

My Memories Suite Winner

Congratulations to Reader Woman!

You are the winner of the 

My Memories Suite Digital Software.

I will contact you by email to let you know how to receive your prize.

Thrifty Finds

Yesterday, a friend and I went to some local thrift stores. I found lots of treasures!

Here are just a few...

I bought the foot stool for $3.88 and the wooden box for $1.48.

I bought the painting for $3.03!

It is about 24" x 24".

I haven't decided if I want to keep it or sell it in the shop. If I keep it, I will probably hang it on my screened porch.

The foot stool is cute but is in need of some new fabric. I'll put that on my "to do" list.

I've already done a quick makeover on the box.

I gave it a light wash of light gray paint and added a French graphic to it.

I got the graphic from The Graphics Fairy website.

I like how the box turned out and it only took a few minutes!

So, I have 3 great items for under $10.

$8.39 to be exact!

My Memories Suite Digital Software Giveaway

If you have tried to enter the My Memories giveaway and have had trouble, I apologize.
I'm not sure what is going on with the Blogger comments box! Anybody else had trouble with this?
A friend told me that she tried to enter and it would not let her select a profile to be able to enter.
Anyway, I'm writing this post to see if it will work with this one.
You can see a project that I did using My Memories HERE and see how to enter.
Come back to this post to enter.
If you are one of the few who got it to work, you will still be entered!!!

If any of my fellow bloggers know why this is happening, please let me know.

My First Chalk Paint Furniture Projects

I recently wrote about all the great things I found at the yard sales during The Cotton Pickin' Fair.

(You can see all the stuff I got here).
I found a few pieces of furniture at great prices!
I got a ladder back chair for $10. Sorry, but I don't have a close up of the "before." The chair was in great shape but it was a little dark. I brightened it up with ASCP in Old Ocre. I left the seat untouched. I distressed it and on each of the slats across the back, I added crowns.

I added the crowns by printing out the design, then placing the printed side down on the painted wood, and then rubbing the back of the paper with a pencil. It transfers beautifully and has an aged look.


I found this table for $5.

I know it's not the most attractive table, but a fresh coat of paint can work wonders...
I painted the table with the Old Ocre and did a stencil design on the top in a light blue.

 I finished it off with a coat of wax that I added a little brown paint to.

Ahh, much better...

Overall, I am pleased with the chalk paint. The best part is not having to sand or prime. 
I'm impatient and lazy and want to get right down to the fun part!

The Hunk

Last week my husband had a business trip to Utah. This particular time he brought me home a present. This is rare! He travels a lot so if he brought me a present from every trip, I would need to rent a storage unit! Plus, he's not the best gift buyer. I love him dearly but he usually has to ask the kids what to buy for me for Christmas, birthdays, or Mother's Day.

In just a couple of weeks, we will celebrate 23 years of marriage. So, he has kind of learned that I like unusual stuff.

He went in a gift shop by Zion National Park and saw this...

It's a huge hunk of glass.

He said they had a large bin full of it in all colors.

He thought it was something I would like (he was right) and bought me a piece.

I love the colors!

When my husband was paying for the glass he asked the lady at the store if the glass was from somewhere local. She replied, "No, we get it from somewhere in Georgia."

So, my husband traveled from Georgia to Utah and brought back a hunk of glass that had traveled from Georgia to Utah.

So, now it is back home in Georgia resting on my mantel!

My Memories Suite Giveaway

Isn't is funny how sometimes things come to you at the perfect time?

My daughter, Carrie, is a Senior in high school (wiping tears away as I write). I had good intentions of putting together a scrapbook for her, but so far, nothing!

You would think that being the artsy, crafty girl that I am, I would have wonderful albums chronicling my children's lives. But, I still have baby pictures in boxes stashed away in the "I'll get around to it" closet! My son is 20, so this neglect has been going on for 2 decades...WOW, it sounds even worse when I put it like that!!!

Then, as a ray of hope in the night (well, not quite so dramatic) I got an email from the folks at My Memories Suite asking me to try out their digital scrapbooking software.

My Memories Suite will help you build beautiful pages from scratch or to make a page using one of the many professionally-designed scrapbook templates provided within the scrapbook software. A large collection of papers and embellishments are available at your fingertips to help you make each page uniquely your own. Drop in your in pictures in seconds-then crop, edit, retouch and rotate them right on the page. You can print the pages yourself, or have your pages made into a hardcover book, cards, calendars and so many more projects.
Check out this project that I did using My Memories software...

Here's what I did...


I picked a layout that I liked and then  I added two pictures of my daughter with her friends. I chose a background that looks like burlap...there are many different backgrounds to choose from. There are also lots of embellishments to choose from. I chose flowers and brads to add to my design. 
I added text that reads, " We were framed" and "Class of 2012" and added a shadow to it.

Look at how realistic the burlap looks!


Once my design was the way I liked it, I printed it out on printer fabric. I had never used printer fabric before, but it worked great!

Next, I trimmed away the unprinted fabric.

There is a paper backing on the fabric that has to be peeled away. Once I did that, I used a thin coat of fabric glue to adhere my picture to a canvas tote.

Then I added some ribbon to the edges of my design using the fabric glue...

I added buttons to each corner using E6000.

I think it turned out so cute! I think I'll make one for each of the girls.


Now for the best part...The Giveaway!


The folks at My Memories are giving a free copy of their software to one of YOU!


To enter the giveaway,
You must be a Follower of my blog. Leave me a comment letting me know that you follow ArtsyVaVa. This is good for one entry.


Additional entries...
Visit My Memories and check out what they have to offer. Come back and leave me a comment and tell me what paper pack you like the best. (One entry)
Share this giveaway on your blog, Facebook, or Twitter. Leave me a comment to let me know  you did so. (One entry)


I will post the winner on Friday, October 28!
Good luck!!!


If you are not the lucky winner, you can still take advantage of a great offer from My Memories.

Use my Share the Memories code, STMMMS10649, that provides you with a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store.