And the Winner is ....

ElegantSnobbery aka Marisa!!!!!!
Congratulations!

And thank you to everyone who entered. And thank you to my husband who lent a hand by picking the winners name out of the bowl. He did a great job of mixing them up, again, before picking.

Marisa has won an 8x10 Fine Art Limited Edition Photograph of her choice from my body of work. When she gives me her choice I will let everyone know.

I'm really excited to tell her and this first giveaway was fun. Keep checking back because I may be doing more in the future.

Looking for something fun for Father's Day?

I know, we haven't even gotten past Mother's day yet. And if you haven't gotten you mother a gift yet you could consider one of my flower photos, or a great magnet. Just check out my etsy shop. There is still plenty of time to ship.

But now I've gone off in the wrong direction. This post is about Father's Day. And what father isn't a classic car lover. Check out this tee-shirt with one of my best selling Route 66 Red Corvette prints on it. I offer the tee -shirt in my Cafepress shop in many styles. There are also a few other images to choose from.The image is also available in a limited edition fine art photograph. You can order this from my etsy shop or my website at www.ljdesignphoto.com .

Something to hold those cards in! Fabulous!

When I ordered new business cards last week I need something to hold and protect them in my purse. There are so many options out there, but I knew I wanted something homemade, easy to use, and fun.


I found the perfect card holder in Andrea Baker's etsy shop. Her business card cozies are great and you can custom order them so that you get something that matches your personality. They also hold around 40 standard cards and fit nicely even in a small purse. She hand makes each one and the quality of her work is fabulous. I couldn't be happier.

A Day for the Earth - plus a giveaway!!

Earth Day 2008 is a global celebration about awareness of what is healthy for the earth, and ultimately what is healthy for us who live on the earth. The start of Earth day dates back to President Kennedy's time, and if you ask me, unfortunately, it hasn't really had a large impact on how people treat the earth. Celebrations for Earth Day take place in some major cities, but mostly in schools around the country and world. But is this one day enough?

I don't know which scientist are correct and I'm not really fond of the recent "green" marketing that is so hot right now, but I do think that we need to respect our home, the earth, and take care of it.

Today there are many ways to do this that are not hardships, just a different way of thinking. Changing a shower head to save water, using low voltage florescent or LED light bulbs, and buying from fresh produce from the local farmer's market, are just a small sampling of the simple things you can do to make the world a healthier place to live.

Why should we bother? Because of your children and their children; because God gave us beauty and we should behold it; and because we should all learn to be less self absorbed and take the time to stop and smell the wild flowers. Honestly, I believe that the earth will take care of itself in the end, but that we many not be able to handle the environment on the earth that we create because of our excesses. I do think that small positive works by many will make an great impact on the world that we and our children and our children's children enjoy.

To celebrate Earth Day and the bit of awareness that it brings, I am giving away a 8x10 print to one lucky winner. All you have to do to win is leave a comment with what you do in your daily life to help the earth maintain a healthy environment for life.
Make sure I can contact you in case you win (you can convo your email address via my esty store, but make sure you post here too.) Entries will be taken though Monday, April 28th at midnight PST. The winner will be drawn the next day and posted on my blog.
I will ship internationally and you get to pick your image from any of my photographs.

T10T With FAM

I said Take 10 Tuesday!

That's right, the FAM Etsy Street Team is having another fabulous promotion and this time it's take 10% (or whatever!) off in any of our participating shops!

Beginning at 5:oo pm EST (through midnight Pacific time) on April 22, 2008 the FAM Street Team of Etsy will hold it's first team-wide sale. Each store will have it's own twist on the sale, so please be sure you understand the store's policy when shopping.

In addition to the sale, some of our shop owners have hidden a little T10T secret in some of our listings! Come join us on the Etsy "Etc." forum for clues on where to find our hidden secrets! The item that has T10T hidden in either the text or image will be Super Reduced! Please check with the store owner on their Secret special specifics.

As of the time of publication, the following FAM Team stores are participating:

http://chamberrycherry.etsy.com

10% off anything in my shop, includes custom orders

*

http://Valeriesgallery.etsy.com
10% all items between 5 pm and 11 pm. Note FAM T10T in note to seller and adjusted invoice will be sent.

*

http://BlueRidgeTreasures.etsy.com

FAM T10T
10% off any purchase of $10 or more. Please put FAM T10T in notes to seller and wait for an adjusted invoice.

*

http://elegancewithflair.etsy.com

Earrings ship FREE to the United States in my Jewelry Shop! Get 'em while they're hot!

Because... you'll want 'em when they're not!

*

http://anniehowes.etsy.com

Take 10% off everything in my shop!
Please put T10T in Comments to Seller to be eligible for discount. I will send a revised invoice. And come look for my T10T secret hidden in one of my items! Thank you!

*

http://pandys.etsy.com and http://griffingear.etsy.com

I will offer 10% off the purchase of one item, 20% off the purchase of 2 items and free shipping on purchases of $50 or more. This offer is good for both pandys and GriffinGear and items from both shops can be combined for the free shipping.

Put T10T in notes to seller and I'll send a revised invoice.

*

http://carissablack.etsy.com

I am in! 10% off everything in my shop. Please put T10T in notes to seller and wait for a revised

*

http://motherspreciousgems.etsy.com

Write FAM T10T in your notes to seller and wait for revised invoice before completing transaction with payment.

*

http://macaroniandglue.etsy.com

FAM T10T
10% off any purchase. Please put FAM T10T in notes to seller and wait for an adjusted invoice.

*

http://cuteandsweet.etsy.com

10% off everything in my shop!

Please put "T10T" in Comments to Seller to be eligible for discount. I will then send a revised invoice. Thank you!

*

http://merkabajewelry.etsy.com

From 5PM to 11PM Eastern, take 10% off entire purchase and enjoy free US shipping. Just put FAM T10T in notes to seller at checkout and I'll send a revised invoice through PayPal. Thanks :)

*

http://sweetpicklespottery.etsy.com

Take 10% off everything in my shop. Put FAM T10T in notes to seller and I will send a revised invoice through Paypal.

*

http://www.wysiwigs.etsy.com

10% off any item purchase of $5.00 or more
-OR-
BOGO - Purchase a pencil sketch print and choose one (1) complimentary Critter Notecard
**Please be sure to put FAMT10T in your notes to the seller - Thank you!

*

http://bamdesigns.etsy.com

Get 10% off your purchase- even custom orders- when you add FAM T10T in notes to seller. Please wait for revised before paying!

*

www.doubledippedsweets.etsy.com

Buy one get one 1/2 off! Please put "FAMT10T" in notes to seller and wait for a revised invoice! Have fun shopping!

*

http://reneesfashions.etsy.com

10% Off $20 or more purchase and a FREE gift with purchase. Be sure to put FAM T10T in buyer notes.

*

http://prettybowtique.com

Take 10% off everything in my shop!
Please put T10T in Comments to Seller to be eligible for discount. I will send a revised invoice. Thank you!

*

http://littlesomethingextra.etsy.com

Take 10% off everything. The first person to buy over $30.00 of merchandise gets a free custome order of washcloths.

Enjoy your shopping:)
* be sure to mention T10T in your comments to seller and wait for the adusted invoice to be elegible for the discount.

*

http://antoinettes.etsy.com

Take 10% off everything in my shop!
Please put T10T in Comments to Seller to be eligible for discount. I will send a revised invoice. Thank you!

*

http://nikkisnacs.etsy.com

Take 10% off everything in my shop including custom orders!
Please put T10T in Comments to Seller to be eligible for discount. I will send a revised invoice. Thank you!

*

http:// ljdesignphoto.etsy.com

Take 10% off everything in my shop and any custom orders!
Spend $30 or more and receive a free 5x7 of your choice.
Please put T10T in Comments to Seller to be eligible for discount. I will send a revised invoice. Thank you!

Also, there is a secret in my shop!

*

http://studiodusoleil.etsy.com

10% off purchases under $50 and 15% off purchases over $50.
Please reference T10T in your comments to receive a revised invoice.

*

http://www.michon.etsy.com

10% off & free shipping if you buy more than one item. FAM T10T in notes to seller.

*

http://www.cindyjoy.etsy.com - Take 10% off everything in my shop, includes custom orders and sale items!
Please put FAM T10T in Comments to Seller to be eligible for discount, and wait for me to send a revised invoice through PayPal. Thank you!

*

http://judyk.etsy.com

Take 10% off everything in my shop!

Please put T10T in Comments to Seller to be eligible for discount. I will send a revised invoice. Thank you!

There will be a secret in my Shop!

*

http://newenglandquilter.etsy.com

Take 10% off all purchases in my shop. Mention "FAM T10T" in notes to seller and I will send you a revised invoice! There's a secret in my shop!

Finally done with that. One thing off my list!

Yea! I just finished designing new business cards. I've had ideas turning around in my head for a while, but I just haven't had the time to sit down and get it done. It's really bad when someone asked you for one and you don't have anything to give them.
I had some wonderful online help today from my fellow artisans of FAM (Fabulous Artistic Moms) on etsy. What a wonderful group. And all so talented.
The card I designed is two sided and in color.

Here is the front:


and back:

In the past I printed Bookmarks instead of business cards thinking people would keep it around longer, but the are a bit more expensive to print. I have a few left with my hubby's business on the back, but really like this card design.

Flowers for my Mother, new item

The other day my mother said she needed some new magnets to hold up the drawings that my daughter, her granddaughter, has be giving to her every few days. She said she wanted them to be bright and colorful and she would love to pick them out. I also had an inquiry in my etsy shop about magnets, so I decided it would be a good time to make some more. Here are more of the flower images chosen:




All of this magnet are available in my etsy store, just follow a link to my store by clicking on the image of the magnet you like.

I also ordered a couple of Route 66 magnets that I will be listing in my store soon. Those are great father's day gifts.

A new ACEO - Pure

I completed and listed a new ACEO this weekend. I think this one would be great as a mother's day gift. I'm really excited to be offering them in my store and I'm having a lot of fun making them. Lots of ideas for new ones, now I just need to find the time.



This one has a brad in it so that the photo moves. The front says "Pure" and the back says "Joy."




I also purchased some envelopes and I'm decorating them to match the card.



I'm very excited about this new direction. In celebration I'm am offering free shipping to anywhere in the US this month. Just put "Blog -FreeShip" in the notes to seller and I will send you a revised invoice. For international customers I'll reduce the shipping, taking the price of us shipping off, just use the same code.

New Products Coming Soon

I've been trying to branch out a bit and stared to make ACEOs (Artist Cards, Editions and Original) to put in my etsy store.
I wanted to use my images, but branch out and use some of my other artistic skills also. I decided to make colleges.
I will be listing them in a couple of days, as soon as I have envelopes ready for them.
This is the first one that I made:



And the second:


Now for the third and fourth.

I like them all, but the last two best.

I was thinking about Mother's Day when I made them and I think they would be great little gifts for any mom.
I should have the listing up on Friday with some lovely envelopes to give or keep them in.

Okay, Now for the clincher.

(to completely understand this you need to read "should have known better" first)

So, today the Postal Outlet calls. I think "yea! they found it."
But no.
They called to let me know that I'd won the Monthly drawing for March.

What do you say to that?

I won a basket with a 2008 date book, a bunny beanie baby, some golf balls, a salt candle holder, chocolate (my favorite part), note cards, and some other small gift items. The basket is a very nice sturdy one, but I want my film.

I hope I don't sound ungrateful. It is fun to win something. But I'd rather have my film.

I'm donating everything except the chocolate and bunny (my daughter claimed that) to a charity garage sale, along with some of my own things.

I never win anything. This was really strange. My thoughts are that they were feeling guilty, but the people that run the place actually didn't seem to care that my package is lost. Who knows. I just thought it was strange.

Oh, and by the way, you left the refrigerator door open. You'd better get up an close it before everything spoils.

(Just kidding! Happy April Fools!!, BUT I was only kidding about your refrigerator.)