Silhouette Fabric Interfacing Tutorial and Giveaway

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Roeshel

As a Silhouette America affiliate, I have the opportunity to try new products and earn a small commission on sales while passing along special promotions. Here’s the current deal with awesome savings. Just use code “SHOWOFF” at checkout.

Did you know that Silhouette America has fun products like sewable fabric interfacing (thinner for sewing into place and washable) and clean cut fabric interfacing (thicker for no sew/no wash projects) for creating fabric appliqués?

Here’s a tutorial on how it works: I chose the sewable fabric interfacing.

1. Pre-wash/shrink fabric and t-shirt.

2. Open the Silhouette Studio software and create a shape, monogram, even lettering for words. I easily purchased a ‘greyhound shape’ from the Silhouette online shop for 99 cents for labeling the pet food jars a while back that I can use over and over again. The little girl in me decided to create a pink chevron appliqué for a plain white t-shirt. For me. To match my dog. I’m a dork like that.

3. It’s easy to size in the software. I place my shape in the top left hand corner of the “cutting mat” in the open studio software.

4. Cut the appropriate sized piece of fabric and interfacing.

5. Next, iron together a piece the sewable fabric interfacing (rough side) to a piece of scrap fabric (cut to size) on the back/wrong side using the appropriate settings for the fabric.

{Wow! I guess I did get some sun in Mexico in Feb! I tan super easy/quick even with sunblock.}

6. Peel away the paper…you’ll see the ‘interfacing/glue’ has transferred to the fabric.

7. Then place the fabric onto the cutting mat (into the same location as shown in the Silhouette Studio software) and insert into the machine.

8. Hit “send to Silhouette”, change the blade and cut settings.

9. Click “cut”.

10. Once it’s finished cutting, remove the fabric from the cutting mat, toss the scraps and you’re left with an iron-on fabric appliqué.

11. Next I positioned the appliqué onto my t-shirt and ironed it on (using the heat setting for cotton). This holds it into place.

12. Then added stitching as close to the border as I could get with the sewing machine to make it more secure and durable for washing. Tip to help maneuver curves in a design: with the needle down (piercing the fabric appliqué), lift the foot then slide around the t-shirt, put the foot back down and resume sewing. Also, make sure NOT to sew the front of a shirt to the back while sewing!

All done! Here is what it looks like inside out and all complete…

Cute! I love it.

Me & CocoRosie…

Yes, this little Italian Greyhound has stolen my heart in the 1 month since we rescued her…

Note: I purchased the matching pink chevron dog leash (shown) and chevron dog collar (not shown) at Etsy shop, Learned Stitchworks. I loooove it (Thanks for the purple set too, Karen!) Gorgeous color choices, beautiful handmade quality, BEST pricing ever! Very satisfied customer. I need a set in every color, don’t you?

I purchased the (Riley Blake) pink chevron fabric from Fabric.com (leftover from the DIY dog bed cushion I made).

Back the fabric interfacing…It’s great for making personalized tea towels, baby blankets, tote bags, t-shirts, monogrammed pillow covers.

So not only does my Silhouette cut paper, vinyl and chipboard, it cuts fabric too! One more reason you can’t live without one!

Use code “SHOWOFF” at Silhouette America (this affiliate link) from now through May 31st to take advantage of the special pricing.

And how about a chance to win a Silhouette Portrait machine?!

Giveaway starts today, 5/23 and ends Monday, May 27th at midnight EST. Winner will be chosen randomly and announced shortly after. Prize: Silhouette Portrait machine (supplies not included). This giveaway is sponsored by Silhouette America and open to US residents 18+ only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more chances to win, visit these blog friends:

Silhouette Chipboard & a Giveaway

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Roeshel

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*This giveaway is now closed. Winner is Alexandra “I would love to use it to cut fabric and vinyl! I would love to make some art for my living room!” Congratulations, Alexandra. I will be contacting you through email with instructions to claim your prize!

Did you notice the “Hello Sunshine” banner on the patio swing makeover yesterday?

Silhouette now has chipboard! Adding another FUNction to my Silhouette machine. Love it! {This is a sponsored post with affiliate links when using code “showoff”.}

Chipboard Banner Tutorial

I created my banner letters using the Silhouette Studio software and sent to “cut”. Add chipboard to cutting mat and insert into the machine. Remember to change the settings for each page to “chipboard” and to change the blade depth before cutting.

Two ways to paint chipboard letters (I used acrylic craft paint):

1. Remove lettering and paint. You will have painted fingers when trying to hold letters.

2. Don’t punch out chipboard. Paint lettering intact then punch out when dry. Letters will need touched up when removed from chipboard.

I painted both sides. Letters may need to be placed under weights (books) to flatten when dry.

When dry, using a hole punch, I placed two small holes at the top of each letter.

And laced with two long pieces of ribbon (long enough for my words “Hello Sunshine”, including room for spacing and tying the ends. I laced starting in the back of the letter and pulling the ribbon through to the front, then into the second hole, coming out the back.

Tie off the ends.

Ready to hang! I think I’m going to add a little color to my banner. And I’m going to love making customized party banners.

May’s Promotional Bundles

Visit Silhouette America and use the promotional code “SHOWOFF“ http://www.silhouetteamerica.com/chipboard to take advantage of these amazing deals:

(1) 1 Silhouette CAMEO®, 1 pack of chipboard, 1 natural dust cover, 1 $25 download card: $269.99

(2) 1 Silhouette Portrait™, 1 pack of chipboard, 1 grey dust cover, 1 $25 download card: $129.99

(3) 1 pack of chipboard, 1 $25 download card: $19.99

ENTER TO WIN A SILHOUETTE PORTRAIT:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway is open to US residents and runs Wednesday, May 8, 2013 until Monday, May 12, 2013. Winner will be chosen randomly and announced shortly after. Good luck!

Here’s a video with some awesome information on the new chipboard: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DL2qbJyUCu4&list=UUdt8jBsW4kvA__vAcAGMvBw Enjoy!

Silhouette Portrait Giveaway

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Roeshel

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The promotion with GREAT savings ($7.50 for vinyl and transfer paper) using code “SHOWOFF” at checkout runs through 4/26.

This giveaway is now closed. Winner is Ruth: ”I have been wanting to add a compass rose to an end table in my living room, so I think that would be my first project.” Congratulations, Ruth! I hope to see the table! I will contact Ruth by email.

One of the things I love about owning my Silhouette is the ability to create cute customized vinyl labels…

labeled storage dresser in hallway

And since welcoming CocoRosie to our family recently….

{awe! those eyes!!}, anyway…I wanted to transfer pet food to an airtight container rather than dishing out from a pet food bag. Nothing pretty about those, ya know? I love glass jars but the cat food and dog food look very similar, so cute labels are a great solution.

It’s super easy to design my labels using the Silhouette Studio and purchasing/ downloading ‘silhouette’ shapes (and extra fonts) from the Silhouette store. Most run around .99 and stay in my ‘library’ for repeated use.

Cutting the vinyl is a cinch too…just load the vinyl, set the blade and click “send to Silhouette” to cut.

Peel away the un-used/negative part of the vinyl design (also called weeding).

You’ll have a vinyl “sticker” but peeling away the letters and placing by hand for me means creating a slanted label that isn’t ‘level’ and guessing on spacing. This is where transfer paper comes in handy. It “transfers” the vinyl design while keeping the design exactly spaced/level as it shows on the paper.

How Transfer Paper Works: Simply cut a piece of transfer paper to size.

Peel away the waxy backside (the transfer paper is the sticky/tacky paper).
Place the transfer paper over the vinyl design you just weeded.
Rub (I use a gift card/credit card).
Then peel the backing away (waxy thicker paper). The design is now stuck (backward) to the transfer paper.
Place the design/transfer paper onto the glass. Rub with a credit card.
Peel away transfer paper. Vinyl design stays adhered to the glass.

Here’s what I whipped up in less than 30 minutes {containers are from Garden Ridge and scoops from a local commercial restaurant supply store}:

Labeled Pet Food Containers

See MORE of my Silhouette projects here.

If you’ve been waiting for the monthly promotion to get a Silhouette, now is the time!

Silhouette April Special (just use promo code “SHOWOFF” to get the discount)

Silhouette affiliate link

Promotional Pricing Details: sale runs from 4/18-26th at Silhouette America.

1 Silhouette Portrait™ + 1 roll of black vinyl, 1 roll of white vinyl, and 1 roll of transfer paper: $139.99
1 Silhouette CAMEO® + 1 roll of black vinyl, 1 roll of white vinyl, and 1 roll of transfer paper: $269.99
All premium vinyl bought outside of a machine bundle is 25 percent off with promotion code: SHOWOFF.

Note that the vinyl discounted in the promotion is all 9” x 10’. Also, and this is very important, vinyl is actually discounted BIG TIME. It used to cost $14.99 and is now reduced to $9.99 with an additional 25% promotional discount. I’m going to be stocking up!

How to Enter to win a Silhouette Portrait:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway runs from April 18^th to the 20^th. Open to US residents. Silhouette provided me with the vinyl for my project, the Silhouette Portrait for 1 lucky DIY Show Off reader and a small percentage of sales generated with the “showoff” promotional code. Thanks and GOOD LUCK!

Visit the blog friends below for MORE chances to win:

Pot of Gold Giveaway

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Roeshel

With Saint Patrick’s day coming up, who here hasn’t wished for that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? What would you do if you had that pot of gold?

Buy a new sofa, bed, camera?!

Shopping spree?

Weekend getaway?

iPad (to give yourself a little more time on your favorite blogs!! hint! hint!)

DIY? Finish that project that you’ve been dreaming of finishing?

No matter what your pot of gold day dream is, a group of bloggers teamed up to help make it happen for one lucky reader! How about a $600 visa card, to spend on whatever you wish? Sounds good, right?

So, what do you need to do to enter? It’s simple! Heard of Instagram? A fun app for sharing that lovely real time snippet of what is going on in our lives. All we ask is that you follow each blogger below on Instagram.

Remodelaholic

What’s Cooking With Ruthie

Optional Additional Entry Follow All of Us via Pinterest:

Remodelaholic	What’s Cooking With Ruthie	4 Men 1 Lady	Decor Chick
Home Stories A to Z	DIY Showoff	Queen B and Me	My Blessed Life
Positively Splendid	The Idea Room	The Inspired Room	Just A Girl

Enter to Win a $600 Visa Gift Card.

You only need to enter once, all entries will all be collected in a central location.

Rules: You must be following all of the bloggers via Instagram. If you are not on Instagram, you can still enter once for following each blogger on Pinterest. The Winner must be 18 years or older to participate and a resident of the continental US. Visa, and or Instagram do not endorse, nor are they liable for this giveaway in anyway. The giveaway is open from February 25t through March 3rd. The winner will be selected and contacted via email no later than March 5th . The winner will have 24 hours to respond via email. If the winner does not respond within the allotted time a new winner will be selected. Your email will not be sold or shared in anyway, however participating blogs retain the right to save and use it in their email lists.

Pantry Makeover Prep and #ReadyDoneClean Giveaway

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Roeshel

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This giveaway is now closed. And the winner is… winner1

Congratulations, Jessica! I’ll send you an email to get your mailing information!

We’ve been using an enclosed porch as a temporary pantry ever since we removed a closet from our kitchen but with warmer weather approaching, it’s going to need to be moved inside for better temperature control. So, it’s time to start considering a pantry makeover.

Inspiration: I have had this open pantry image from Emerson Made saved in my inspiration files forever.

via Apartment Therapy

The ideal spot is the ‘room’ behind this back wall in the kitchen…

It’s wider than a hallway and sits between our kitchen and living room and has FIVE doorways. Time to make the most of what has always been a waste of space. The freezer will be relocated to the basement.

The first step in prepping for painting is to examine the walls and fill any holes, cracks or imperfections with spackling, letting it dry and sanding smooth. My Swiffer Sweeper is handy for cleaning up the spackling dust.

Then time for a little clean up. This area is so dark and un-used, meaning it often gets overlooked even though we walk through here nearly every day. Cleaning up before painting is important. Ever get cobwebs on your wet paint brush? No fun. A Swiffer Sweeper with a dry sweeping cloth works really well by attracting dirt and dust from virtually any surface, including walls, ceiling and baseboards with it’s 360 degree swivel head. With the long Swiffer Sweeper handle, I don’t even need a ladder to dust the 9 foot ceilings and corners.

I DO clean so I’m embarrassed by the dirt that accumulated in this dark, unused space. Yikes! This is just from the ceiling, walls and trim above 5 door frames. It’s not something you’ll want to paint over.

I can’t believe it took cleaning this room for me to actually see the dirt. Gross! Next prepare for painting by taping off trim. Then paint!

After painting, I use my Magic Eraser. It’s is so powerful that it removes more grime per swipe than the leading all-purpose bleach spray cleaner, and it has no harsh chemicals. I seriously have a basket full of Magic Erasers. With a husband who loves to cook, I use them all.the.time. for cleaning up spills and drips on white kitchen cabinets too.

It’s going to feel so good to use this space, for it to be lighter and organized! I can’t wait!

You can find all of your painting supplies, including the Swiffer Sweeper and Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, at the Home Depot near you. Be sure to visit Paint Like a Pro at HomeDepot.com for a paint calculator and more great DIY painting and tips.

Ready to paint?

Get ready. Get done. Get clean. Giveaway

DIY Painting #ReadyDoneClean Prize Pack:

Swiffer Sweeper
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Original
$50 The Home Depot gift card

(1) entry per person: Simply leave a comment below describing your next paint project to enter to win. Giveaway starts today and ends March 1, 2013. Open to US and Canadian residents. Winner will be chosen randomly and announced shortly after.

*This review and giveaway is sponsored by The Home Depot and Proctor & Gamble, however opinion is my own and these are products I do purchase and use even when not sponsored. Read more about the DIY Show Off disclosure here.

Must Have Tool {and a giveaway!}

Posted on November 26, 2012 by Roeshel

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. WINNER is Judy D. who says: “Planning on starting a dyi kitchen project and have only a couple tools on hand. Great giveaway.” Congratulations, Judy!

As you know, we renovated an apartment over the summer. We had the opportunity to review a screwdriver. The timing was perfect and the Master Mechanic Swift Driver seriously rocks! If I didn’t think so, I wouldn’t be writing this. Seriously, it’s the one tool that was always within reach and made a lot of our DIY projects easier.

Here’s the official description:

A new twist on an old tool. Master Mechanic dual-drive screwdriver employs a patented gear drive ratchet design that doubles your screwdriving efficiency. Drives the screw when you turn the handle clockwise AND counter-clockwise. 29-pc. set includes flexible shaft extension and multiple bit sizes for a variety of applications. Includes 7 phillips, 3 slotted, 4 hex, 3 square, 4 star, 6 SAE nut driver bits, and bit case. Ergonomic handle has a non-slip rubber grip and can store bits.

What I love. . .

No electric, no batteries required.
The dual ratcheting action was a lot easier on my hand and wrist! Every time I turned my wrist, it was working to get the job done, both left and right. It’s lightweight too.
I loved that I didn’t have to go searching for a specific type of screw driver since it has multiple interchangeable bit sizes (which can be stored in the handle) and since the bits are universal…I could grab one for the cordless drill when needed.
We ran into several tricky tight spots and the flexible shaft extension came in super handy (and even attached to the cordless drill).

Take a look at how I used it A LOT during the apartment renovation {still use it!}. From removing and re-attaching cabinet hardware to changing out doorknobs to installing shelving brackets to tightening vanity screws to hanging a mailbox to assembling furniture, this tool was super helpful.

Example: When I’m re-attaching cabinet hardware and place the screw into the pre-drilled hole, I turn the screwdriver clockwise. Then, when I turn counter-clockwise, it’s turning the screw, pushing it further into place too. I love that! I don’t have to change my grip! Just keep winding right, left, right, left. Then with a push of a button, the same works in reverse to remove the screw. So cool!

So, if you are looking for a great gift idea for a DIY’er a non-DIY’er too or stocking stuffer OR you’re tired of sore palms or digging for the right screwdriver, I know this would be a HUGE hit. The recipient is not going to be disappointed, won’t ask for the gift receipt and WILL use it!

The Master Mechanic Swift Driver is available {and on sale!} at True Value Hardware.

$100 True Value gift card Giveaway

Need a little help with Christmas shopping for a Master Mechanic Swift Driver? Want to grab one for yourself too? One lucky DIY Show Off reader will receive a $100 True Value gift card. Open to US residents 18+ only. Giveaway starts with the publishing of this post (TODAY! Monday, 11/26) and ends Friday, 11/30 at midnight EST. Winner will be chosen randomly and announced shortly after.

What is on your True Value Hardware wish list? Answer in the comment and check +1 on the rafflecopter widget. Follow True Value on Facebook and share the giveaway for additional entries (be sure to +1 on the widget!). Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We were chosen by True Value to be one of the members of the 2012 DIY Squad. I have been compensated for the materials needed for my DIY projects. However, the thoughts and opinions expressed are completely honest and my own. I have not been paid to publish positive comments and no one has twisted my arm to participate.

Silhouette Portrait Giveaway

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Roeshel

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THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

The winner is: Rebecca!

One of you will get an early Christmas!

Big things comes in small packages! There’s a lot of power and creative assistance packed into this little machine! I’m hosting a Silhouette Portrait giveaway this week! So fun!!! One lucky DIY Show Off winner will receive:

What is a Silhouette Portrait?

It’s an electronic cutting tool for personal use, similar to the Cameo but on a smaller scale. It’s like a home printer and it plugs into your computer with a simple USB cable. However, instead of printing it uses a small blade to cut paper, cardstock, vinyl, fabric and more up to 8 inches wide and 10 feet long. The machine also has the ability to register and cut printed materials.

See more details at Silhouette America. I seriously love my Silhouette. I use it all of the time, my favorite being vinyl stencils for DIY signs but for lots of other projects too {my Silhouette projects}.

I’ll be sharing a project and and if you don’t win {winner to be announced first thing Friday} – there will be a special promotional using the code ‘SHOWOFF’ on Black Friday!

Want to know how to enter, already? Cut to the chase, you say? Here you go:

Leave a comment on this post about why you’d want a Silhouette Portrait. What types of DIY projects do you have in mind?

Additional entries: {Leave a comment for each entry}

Thank Silhouette America by following them on Pinterest {awesome project inspiration!}
Like/follow DIY Show Off and share this giveaway. Leave a comment with a link to each of your shares or tag @DIYShowOff. Thanks, friend!

*This giveaway is sponsored by Silhouette America. The views and opinions expressed here are based on my own personal experiences.Giveaway starts today 11/19 and ends Thursday, 11/23 at midnight EST. Winner will be chosen randomly and announced Friday, 11/24/12 and must respond to being notified within one week or another winner will be chosen. Product will ship from Silhouette America and is open to USA residents only. GOOD LUCK! **FOR EVEN MORE CHANCES TO WIN, visit these blog friends hosting giveaways too!

Now: Home Stories A to Z, Decorchick, All Things Thrifty, Southern Hospitality, Vintage Revivals, Sawdust and Paper Scraps, Beneath My Heart, Makely School For Girls, Not Just a Housewife, Infarrantly Creative, I Heart Naptime, The Idea Room, Today’s Creative Blog, Positively Splendid, Whipperberry, Pizzazzerie, Little Miss Momma, Make and Takes, Tip Junkie, Craft Gossip, Ali Edwards, My Repurposed Life, Craftaholics Anonymous, Our Best Bites, Simply Kierste, Petite Party Studio, Kevin and Amanda, Homemade by Jill, Crap I’ve Made, Pretty Handy Girl

Tuesday: TaterTots & Jello

*I was not compensated for hosting this giveaway, although I am a Silhouette affiliate. Opinion and experience are my own. See full disclosure here.

Miss Mustard Seed – “Inspired You”, inspired me {review and giveaway}

Posted on November 12, 2012 by Roeshel

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. Winners will be contacted via email.

Congratulations to Jessica and Gena!

If you’re a blog reader, love pretty decorative accents or painting furniture, it’s likely that you “know” Marian from Miss Mustard Seed. I’ve “known” Marian for years and her amazing story and inspiring talent are a reflection of the kind heart behind the Miss Mustard Seed blog.

From the moment I returned from the Haven 2012 conference, my entire summer was spent renovating a small apartment and oh, joy! It was a blast. Nearly everyday warm (my favorite time of the year) and spent doing something I love to do…DIY and decorating. And as the renovation came near to completion (there are still a few things left to do including taking “after” photos), we enjoyed a much needed vacation. No DIY, no work. All relaxation and spending time with family. And you’d think one would return all well rested and ready to jump back into routine. But when I returned to a home that had been neglected all summer with the fast approaching holidays, shorter days, colder temps, gray skies and an empty nest, I suddenly felt overwhelmed and stressed and had no idea where to even start in my cluttered unfinished surroundings.

This past week, my copy of “Inspired You” {Inspired You: Letting God Breathe New Life Into Your Heart and Home} arrived and because I’ve been moving from one little thing to the next {although with little motivation and accomplishing next to nothing}, it sat on the dust covered coffee table for a few days. Then giving into my lazy mood one day {well, honestly, most days}, I took a moment for myself and brewed a cup of tea, propped up my feet and opened my book. I.could.not.put.it.down.

So truth be told, a moment turned into a couple of hours (it’s 200+ pages) but it’s not all tutorial style. It’s Marian’s stories, her ideas and thoughts sprinkled with a few tutorials to refer back to and beautiful photos of her adorable home and inspiring vintage, thrifted, hand-made decorating style. I found myself looking up and around my home, pondering what works best for our family, what we do like, what we don’t, what’s not working, sometimes clarity, a spark of motivation. Marian’s thoughts are similar to my own but seeing them through her eyes, the gentle reminder of what is important, well, it gave me a fresh new perspective and several times, I set the book aside and walked around my home from room to room. I was inspired to grab my notebook, write down a few comments or a to-do list for a certain area, goals. And I was inspired to look at one task rather than the entire huge overwhelming picture which helps me realize that if our house is comfortable enough to mess up, we’re happy.

Basically, when I agreed to review our friend’s new book (because not only am I a Miss Mustard Seed fan, I love promoting my blog friends and share their excitement in fun opportunities and success of hard work)…I had no idea that her book would do just what the cover says. It helped me let God breathe new life into my heart and into my home. My house is not perfect. It never is perfect. It never will be and at this moment when my house is far far away from perfect, I finally found peace and motivation to start somewhere, anywhere to work towards my goal.

So, if you’re looking for a ‘decor’ book for your holiday wish list, collect home decor books like me or need a talented friend to hold your hand and encourage you to make what you already have something you love…this book is for you. It’s not one you’re going to pick up, only flip through pretty pictures or refer to for a furniture painting tutorial. It’s one that you won’t be able to put down and it will inspire you to start an enjoyable satisfying journey to making your house a haven for your family.

And the happy ending to this story: I walked away truly inspired. And motivated. And thankful. With a fresh perspective, I got my butt up off the couch and dove headfirst into “letting God breath new life into my heart and my home”.

“Inspired You” GIVEAWAY

And I have the opportunity to share “Inspired You” with two {2} lucky DIY Show Off readers in a lovely giveaway this week! How to enter:

Leave 1 comment about what you would most like to change about your home.
Share this giveaway via Facebook, Twitter, G+, Pinterest, etc. and leave a comment about each share. {Thank you!}

Giveaway starts today and ends Saturday November 17th at midnight EST. Winners will be chosen randomly and announced shortly after. Open to US and Canadian residents only.

Marian, Miss Mustard Seed with me at Haven 2012…at the end of a LONG crazy day. Seeing blog friends’ dreams come true is so exciting! You can visit Marian at her inspiring blog, Miss Mustard Seed.

Ana White ~The Handbuilt Home {giveaway}

Posted on November 2, 2012 by Roeshel

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Note: This giveaway is now closed. Winner is Bre! Congratulations! Bre has been contacted by email. Winner was selected randomly using the PickGiveawayWinner WP plug in.

DIY Blog Crush: As a long time DIY blogger, I’m no stranger to Ana White’s awesome DIY building talent. This girl has some crazy awesome DIY skills!

Ana White with daughter, Grace

Her beautiful DIY furniture plans have been sitting on my ‘to-do’ list for years as I work up the courage to actually try building something. I’ve conquered my fear of power tools, but the idea of actually building something from scratch has been a little daunting. When Ana’s new book was recently released, I knew I had to have it and pre-ordered it right away! Guess what. It’s here!

Designer Furniture for a Fraction of the
Retail Cost? Yes, You Can Build That.

The Handbuilt Home shares 34 simple, budget-friendly woodworking projects! As if her blog isn’t inspiration enough, having a physical resource in my hand is motivation to just get over my fears already and just do it already!

{flip top storage bench plans}

What I love most about the book? Not only does she share the details on how to build some gorgeous furniture, she also features some of our super talented DIY friends and shares their projects using her plans. How awesome is that?! So not only is the book filled with step by step ‘how to’ instructions, there’s some beautiful after shots created by DIY’ers we know. You can see a sneak peek of The Handbuilt Home here. I’m really enjoying going through and bookmarking things I love, adding ideas to my DIY notebook…

Press Release: Forget IKEA hacks and glue guns. Ana White, a young homemaker, is revolutionizing the furniture building industry, designing DIY furniture plans that rival the styles of Pottery Barn and Crate & Barrel and cost 1/10 of the purchase price to make. Using basic tools and hardware store supplies, Ana’s THE HANDBUILT HOME teaches readers how to build everything from bookcases to beds to kid-friendly items and storage solutions, even if they don’t have any woodworking experience. And the best part? Building your own furniture means you can customize it for your home and save thousands of dollars off the cost of buying it. Packed with 34 of Ana’s favorite projects, THE HANDBUILT HOME includes easy-to-follow instructions, costs, time estimates, and plenty of helpful tips guide even the most amateur of carpenters through every project. As Ana likes to say, “If I can build it, so can you!”

Starstruck: I was lucky enough to meet Ana this year at the Haven conference and not only is she a DIY super star, she’s gorgeous and humble and real.

So, want to create unique, modern, one of a kind furniture for your home? You can get The Handbuilt Home here {affiliate link}:

I love having a library of DIY home improvement and decorating books at home…and so happy to add Ana’s to my collection.

and enter to win one too!

THE HANDBUILT HOME GIVEAWAY

Prize: 1 copy of Ana White’s new book, The Handbuilt Home

How to enter:

Leave a lovely comment for Ana. Have you ever built a piece of furniture? Was it an Ana White DIY furniture plan? Is there something you’d love to build yourself?
Share this giveaway and leave a comment about where you’ve shared the love.

Giveaway starts today 11/2 and ends Monday, 11/5 midnight EST. Winner will be drawn randomly and announced shortly after. Open to US and Canada residents 18+ only. Good luck!

Announcing the Lamps Plus Best Home Blog Sweepstakes!

Posted on October 26, 2012 by Roeshel

Okay. Just learned something awesome to share! Did you know that Lamps Plus is now a fabulous source of MORE than just lamps and lighting? YES! HOME DECOR! As part of the celebration for the new Home Collection, Lamps Plus is having a $5,000 sweepstakes for the best HOME, DIY, or family blog. The sweepstakes started Monday, October 15^th and runs through November 15^th. When YOU nominate your favorite, YOU are entered for a chance to WIN BIG too! Woo hoo! Check out all the prizes here.

You nominate/vote and are entered to win! and the blog with the most votes wins too! A chance for both of us to win? Wouldn’t it be fun to team up and decorate together? After renovating an apartment, it’s time to move on to the family room makeover I started a while ago and I sure could use a little help! My wallet is empty! With over 40,000 products with great prices, even budget friendly items, I’ll definitely keep Lamps Plus on my go-to list. Take a look complete Home Collection catalog here. What are you waiting for? Nominate your favorite home decorating, DIY, or family blog {why yes, I’d LOVE your nomination!!! Please. Thank you!} in the 2012 Best Home Blog Sweepstakes for a chance to win $5,000 in total prizes!

Lamps Plus wants to award the Best Home Blogs that are making everyday homes a little bit better. A company that shares our same goals. Awesome!

Shut the Front Door {to keep it all in} giveaway!

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Roeshel

Happy Wednesday, friends! What better way to start the last half of the week than with an awesome HUGE giveaway! 16 blog friends have been working together to bring you, our readers, followers and friends a chance to win some fabulous prizes as a “thank you” for all of your support and encouragement. (It’s still not too late to enter the others if you haven’t already: “Everything AND the Kitchen Sink” giveaway or “The PIN-acle of DIY Goodness” giveaway – we don’t want you missing out on any chance to WIN!) Today’s giveaway brings more FABULOUS prizes.

Brooke from All Things Thrifty, Traci from Beneath my Heart, Emily fromDecor Chick, Roeshel from DIY Show Off, Beth from Home Stories A to Z, Beckie from Infarrantly Creative, Melissa from The Inspired Room, Lindsay from Makely, Stacy from Not Just a Housewife, Brittany fromPretty Handy Girl, Cassity from Remodelaholic, Sandra from Sawdust and Paper Scraps, Rhoda from Southern Hospitality, Gina from Shabby Creek Cottage, Jen from Tatertots and Jello, and Mandi from Vintage Revivals.

(It’s still not too late to enter the others if you haven’t already: “Everything AND the Kitchen Sink” giveaway or “The PIN-acle of DIY Goodness” giveaway – we don’t want you missing out on any chance to WIN!)

Today’s giveaway brings more FABULOUS prizes.

Grand Prize A: Value $1,600.00

A $100.00 gift card to Utah Truffles.
MSRP: $100.00

$150 gift card to D.Lawless
Hardware for kitchen cabinet knobs and pulls. MSRP: $150.00

$500 Gift Card to Kirkland’s. MSRP $500.00

$500 Gift Card to Payless Décor MSRP $500.00

$350 Gift Certificate to Red Letter Words. MSRP $350.00

Grand Prize B: Value $1469.98

$200 Gift Certificate to Leen The Graphics Queen MSRP $200.00

Two Black and Decker Platinum
20V Max* Lithium Ion Flex Vacuums {one for you and one for a friend}. MSRP:
$149.99 each

$500 gift certifcate to Worth Home Products. MSRP $500

$220 gift certificate to LoveFeast Shop MSRP $220

$250.00 Paint Prize Package from Glidden. MSRP: $250.00

Grand Prize C: Value $1472.54

One Cordless Dremel tool from
Dremel. MSRP: $139.99

One Countertop Transformation Kit from Rustoleum MSRP $250

A Mirror Mate kit MSRP: $250.00

One Moen Lindley Kitchen Faucet MSRP:
$482.55

A $100 shopping spree to Royal
Design Studio for stencils and supplies. MSRP: $100

Do we know how to go out with a bang or what?!

All you need to do to enter this giveaway is like the incredible sponsors’ Facebook pages:

And for an additional entry add us to your Google+ circles by visiting one of these blog friends and clicking the “G+” icons:

…and then validate your entry by answering the question below {click “do it”}. In order to see the question, you need to click “do it.”. I’ve had a few readers also say that you need to also click “log in to Facebook.”
PLUS you can get two optional entries by completing the two other tasks. Don’t forget to validate your entry in the Rafflecopter Widget.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Also, Rafflecopter has had a few issues keeping up with the high demand of this giveaway So, if you don’t see the widget above, come back later. Thank you for being patient!{Alternate entry available by sending your entry e-mail to allthingsthriftyassistant@gmail.com}*This giveaway is in no way affiliated, administered or endorsed by Facebook or Pinterest. Winner will be notified by email on 10/23/12 and will need to respond within 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen. Winner must be 18 years of age or older and a US citizen in order to win. Winners are responsible for paying any necessary taxes on winnings. Alternate entry email: allthingsthriftyassistant@gmail.com with entry information. All prizes will be mailed by the sponsor and all participating blog owners are not held responsible if the prize is not fulfilled. A list of winners may be requested after the giveaway has ended. Questions and additional information can be requested by emailing: allthingsthriftyassistant@gmail.com
Facebook

The PINacle of DIY Goodness Giveaway

Posted on October 16, 2012 by Roeshel

Hi friends! Did you have fun with yesterday’s Everything and the Kitchen Sink Giveaway? We sure did! In fact, we had so much fun that we decided that we just couldn’t stop there.

So today, this group of 16 DIY and home decor bloggers are back with a second amazing giveaway. This time, you’ll have a chance to win some jaw dropping DIY prize packages. You know you are just itching to get started on some new projects or {ahem} actually finish the ones that are already in progress. Are we right?

You already know the group of gals that are bringing you the chance to win the DIY goodies. But just in case you need a reminder, here they are:

Brooke from All Things Thrifty, Traci from Beneath my Heart, Emily from Decor Chick, Roeshel from DIY Show Off, Beth from Home Stories A to Z, Beckie from Infarrantly Creative, Melissa from The Inspired Room, Lindsay from Makely, Stacy from Not Just a Housewife, Brittany from Pretty Handy Girl, Cassity from Remodelaholic, Sandra from Sawdust and Paper Scraps, Rhoda from Southern Hospitality, Gina from Shabby Creek Cottage, Jen from Tatertots and Jello, and Mandi from Vintage Revivals.

Ready to see the prize packages? Let’s get started!

Grand Prize A:

A $500 gift card to national off-price Home Fashions retailer HomeGoods! Click here to find your inspiration! MSRP: $500.00
Two Black and Decker Platinum 20V Max* Lithium Ion Flex Vacuums {one for you and one for a friend}. MSRP: $149.99 each
A Mirror Mate kit MSRP: $250.00A $500 Visa Gift Card
Frog Tape Gift Basket filled with FrogTape goodies for your next DIY project from FrogTape. MSRP $550.00

Grand Prize B:

One 8×10 HGTV HOME Flooring by Shaw area rug, Grandeur collection (this includes: Exotic Journey, Luna de Luna, Nirvana, Nomadic Elegance, Good Karma, A Stitch in Time and Zybra). MSRP: $1299.00
A $150 gift card to D.Lawless Hardware for kitchen cabinet knobs and pulls. MSRP: $150.00
One Cordless Dremel tool from Dremel. MSRP: $139.99
A $100.00 gift card to Utah Truffles. MSRP: $100.00

Grand Prize C:

1 custom stamp, 3 Peel & Stick packs, 2-color ink, 1 color ink and 3 boxes of note cards from PSA Essentials. MSRP is $250.00
$1000.00 gift certificate to AZ Faux Beams. Good toward Old Timber or Sandblasted beams (can include shipping).
A $100 shopping spree to Royal Design Studio for stencils and supplies. MSRP: $100.00
One Silhouette CAMEO™ electronic cutting tool. MSRP: $269.99

How to enter, you ask?

Mandatory entry: Follow all 16 bloggers on Pinterest…{Yes, this means clicking over to Pinterest 16 times, after all the prizes are worth it!!}

PLUS you can get two optional entries by completing the two other tasks. Don’t forget to validate your entry in the Rafflecopter Widget.

Also, Rafflecopter has had a few issues keeping up with the high demand of this giveaway So, if you don’t see the widget below, come back later. Thank you for being patient! {Not a Pinterest User? Alternate entry available by sending your entry e-mail to allthingsthriftyassistant@gmail.com}

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*This giveaway is in no way affiliated, administered or endorsed by Facebook or Pinterest. Winner will be notified by email on 10/23/12 and will need to respond within 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen. Winner must be 18 years of age or older and a US citizen in order to win. Winners are responsible for paying any necessary taxes on winnings. Alternate entry email: allthingsthriftyassistant@gmail.com with entry information. All prizes will be mailed by the sponsor and all participating blog owners are not held responsible if the prize is not fulfilled. A list of winners may be requested after the giveaway has ended. Questions and additional information can be requested by emailing: allthingsthriftyassistant@gmail.com
Facebook

Everything AND the Kitchen Sink Giveaway {nearly $5000 in prizes!}

Posted on October 15, 2012 by Roeshel

Good Morning, DIY friends!!! Get excited! Today is a great start to an awesome week! 16 blog owners are teaming up to bring you the most exciting giveaway that we’ve ever seen! We have worked hard to put together INCREDIBLE prize packages and the best part is that the fun has just begun! Today our first giveaway will begin, and tomorrow there will be a new one! THEN, if that’s not enough we will have ANOTHER one on Wednesday. Yep, three days of different giveaways with fun prizes just for YOU.

If you don’t recognize the bloggers above {I’m sure you already know most of them}, here is a list starting from the top left:

Brooke from All Things Thrifty, Traci from Beneath my Heart, Emily from Decor Chick, Roeshel from DIY Show off, Beth from Home Stories A to Z, Beckie from Infarrantly Creative, Melissa from The Inspired Room, Lindsay from Makely, Stacy from Not Just a Housewife, Brittany from Pretty Handy Girl, Cassity from Remodelaholic, Sandra from Sawdust and Paper Scraps, Rhoda from Southern Hospitality, Gina from Shabby Creek Cottage, Jen from Tatertots and Jello, and Mandi from Vintage Revivals

Let’s get to it! Want to see the prizes? Of course you do!

Grand Prize A:

One Moen Lindley Kitchen Faucet MSRP: $482.55
$150 gift card to D.Lawless Hardware for kitchen cabinet knobs and pulls. MSRP: $150.00
A Mirror Mate kit MSRP: $250.00
One under-mount sink with install from Karran MSRP: $750.00

Grand Prize A Total MSRP: $1632.55

Grand Prize B:

A $500.00 gift card to IKEA. MSRP: $500.00
A $100 shopping spree to Royal Design Studio for stencils and supplies. MSRP: $100
A $250.00 Paint Prize Package from Glidden. MSRP: $250.00
Two Black and Decker Platinum 20V Max* Lithium Ion Flex Vacuums {one for you and one for a friend}. MSRP: 149.99 each
One Silhouette CAMEO™ electronic cutting tool. MSRP: $269.99

Grand Prize B Total MSRP: $1419.97

Grand Prize C:

One Cordless Dremel tool from Dremel. MSRP: $139.99
One Dream Chair Swivel Chaise Lounge from RST Outdoor. MSRP: $499.00
One Flow Wall Garage and Hardware Storage System. MSRP: $499.00
A $100.00 gift card to Utah Truffles. MSRP: $100.00
A $500.00 Visa gift card from Homes.com. MSRP: $500.00

Grand Prize C Total MSRP: $1737.99

How to enter you ask? Well, all you have to do is Like all 16 Facebook pages below: {you’ll need to visit DIY Show Off if you’re viewing in a reader or email to be able to enter}

And then answer the question below to enter officially: {your entry automatically enters you into all three prizes} {If you don’t see the question box below, Rafflecopter is experiencing technical difficulty…but please check back if that’s the case! Thanks for your patience!}

a Rafflecopter giveaway
*This giveaway is in no way affiliated, administered or endorsed by Facebook. Winner will be notified by email on 10/22/12 and will need to respond within 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen. Winner must be 18 years of age or older and a US citizen in order to win. Winners are responsible for paying any necessary taxes on winnings.
Alternate entry email: allthingsthriftyassistant@gmail.com with entry information. All prizes will be mailed by the sponsor and all participating blog owners are not held responsible if the prize is not fulfilled. A list of winners may be requested after the giveaway has ended. Questions and additional information can be requested by emailing: allthingsthriftyassistant@gmail.com
Facebook

Ginormous Giveaway Alert!

Posted on October 13, 2012 by Roeshel

Extra, extra! Read all about it!

I have an awesome announcement to share, DIY readers! A teaser. Something to look forward to. A great way to start the week! What do you get when a group of DIY blog friends plan a fun “thank you for your encouragement and support” event?

3 days.

3 giveaways each day.

Total value of combined prizes? Over $14,000.

You.don’t.want.to.miss.this!

Monday 10/15

Tuesday 10/16 – The PINacle of DIY Goodness Giveaway

Wednesday 10/17 – Shut the Front Door {to keep it all in} Giveaway

Wait until you see all of the fabulous prizes ! It’s an awesome giveaway highlighting some of our favorite home improvement and home decorating brands, companies we all LOVE! It’s HUGE likeohmygoshiwanttowinthissobad! And since I can’t, I sure hope you do! Hope to see you here Monday for the start of the ultimate DIY giveaway!

Enjoy a wonderful weekend!

Get organized with Homezada

Posted on October 9, 2012 by Roeshel

I recently learned about Homezada.com, a source for us (homeowners) to keep all of the data about our home organized and safe online. I’ve found that the site offers some really helpful tools. Here are a few reasons I think you’ll find it helpful too:

1. With DIY being one of our priorities, my favorite tool at Homezada is the project manager where I can track my budget and spending. It also allows me to save, compare and track online (and offline) purchases. Love the little button I can drag to my tool bar to make saving products I’m researching right to my list. It’s great for updating home inventory too…something I really need to do.

2. I can document all of my possessions by uploading photos (even via mobile!) and scanning receipts. I’m so bad with that but the option to use my iphone to upload and tag photos to my account makes it much more convenient. I can also save warranties, document values for insurance purposes and scan and save important documents…and having all of this information backed up on an online storage cloud means no hunting through piles of papers, file cabinets or losing passwords. It can also be accessed from anywhere, not just my home office.

3. Another task we’re really bad with is remembering to change furnace filters or check smoke detector batteries. Homezada has an option for help with maintaining our home by personalizing a property calendar. And in case you’re like me and draw a blank on what I should be checking, we can browse over 150 recommendations and synchronize with my online calendar with automated reminders so I don’t forget. Now when Mr. DIY says, “remind me to…fill in the blank”, I’ll sound like I have it together when I actually do remind him to clean the chimney!

4. Sound overwhelming? Don’t worry – everything is organized and upon logging into your account, the “latest news” section will help keep you stay on track. Easy and helpful. I just take one look at my overstuffed file cabinet, a pile of receipts and forms in a “to file” pile and THAT is definitely overwhelming!

Homezada’s mission is to provide homeowners with a site where they can get more organized managing their home, save some money maintaining and improving their home, and be better prepared in case a disaster, home fire, or burglary where to occur. I’m a new member and being able to start to store all of my home maintenance, home inventory and home project needs all in one place online makes me feel organized and safe.

Sign up for free! Homezada offers a package for basic essentials (free) and a 30 day trial of a premium account with all tools! If you’re interested in keeping the premium features, they’re offered at $9.95/mo. Small price to pay for maintaining your home.

GIVEAWAY!

Homezada is offering one lucky DIY Show Off reader a chance to win the Premium Package services for one free year {$99 value}! Wahoo! HomeZada offers a free membership option too! Sign up now and start using the system while the giveaway is still open.

How to win?

To enter, leave a comment about what part of HomeZada is the most valuable to you, choosing from the Home Inventory, Home Maintenance, Home Improvement Projects or all three combined and a quick reason why. Giveaway starts today and ends, Saturday, October 12th at midnight EST. Winner will be announced shortly after. Good luck!

I was compensated by Homezada to share their awesome site and online tools but the experience and opinion is my own.

Cue the confetti and balloons! DIY news and a giveaway!-

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Roeshel

226

Do you remember me telling you guys that I won the Purdy grand prize at the Haven Conference earlier this summer? Well, my prize arrived! Inside the box was this..

$1000 worth of Purdy products!

OH MY GOODNESS! I’m the luckiest DIY girl in the world today. I won’t have to buy paint supplies for quite awhile. Awesome!

Want to see what $1000 worth of Purdy looks like?

It looks Purdy awesome. Imagine the projects I can complete with this stash of goodies!

~*~*~*~

And if that wasn’t exciting enough? I have more fun news. Some of you have noticed and have sent me tweets, FB notes and comments. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Seriously…I’m on cloud 9! And your thoughtfulness has made me feel so special the last couple of days. Thanks for noticing, thanks for taking the time to tell me you’ve seen it!

It’s no secret that I use FrogTape a lot. A LOT a lot. (with the apartment renovation: almost every day!) Well, I recently had a dream come true opportunity to promote FrogTape, a product I do believe in and use in real life – in an advertisement! Woo hoo! You can see an ad in…

Country Living, September 2012

House Beautiful, September 2012

~*~*~*~

Thanks so much to FrogTape and Purdy for making my DIY and painting projects so much easier. Amen, right?

~*~*~*~

DIY SHOW OFF favorite product giveaway…

Prize: So, what’s the giveaway? NOT $1000 worth of Purdy but, well, two of my most favorite DIY tools in the whole wide world, of course. I’ll share a bit of my duplicate Purdy products and stash of FrogTape with one DIY Show Off friend. It’ll be just like it’s your birthday too!

How to win? Winner is open to US residents only. Giveaway runs today through midnight EST Sunday, August 12th, 2012. Good luck! Simply leave a comment for each of the following:

Just leave me a note in the comments below. Maybe about when/how we met or what your working on or what DIY has inspired you lately or what makes you happiest or just “hi”.
Share this news/giveaway link on Facebook.
Share this link to this post on G+.
Share this link on Twitter.
Pin this post.
“Like” Purdy on Facebook.
“Like” FrogTape on Facebook.

Thanks for sharing my excitement, thanks for letting me share my excitement! Thanks for tolerating me while I ‘show off’ on my online journal.

Disclosure: I did not get paid to write this post. I’m sharing two products that I truly do love and personally use.

Granite Gold Giveaway & Review

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Roeshel

Mr. DIY is the cook in our family. He finds cooking relaxing and therapeutic after a long day at work. He enjoys it. {Who am I to argue?}

We were super excited when we swapped out blue laminate countertops for granite last year. On a photo shoot day, it looks like this:

marble subway tile backsplash

When Mr. DIY has finished creating a delicious meal, it looks like this on a good day:

And usually when I clean up, it’s streaky-looking in certain lighting. I was more than happy to try Granite Gold‘s products for a little help with cleaning that mess on a regular basis, to have an easy solution to my almost daily chore.The food is always amazing but the kitchen usually winds up looking like the Muppets Swedish Chef stopped by for a visit…

{courtesy of rubysuncle}

After clearing all of the clutter and crumbs, I used the Granite Gold cleaner to get through spills, water marks and grease…

I love the citrus scent and streak-free formula {not the result I was getting with brand name cleaning wipes}.

Our granite has a honed finish, but the Granite Gold polish brings out the granite’s natural beauty and when used weekly, provides ongoing protection against water marks.

Gorgeous shine! Great for cleaning our Virginia Mist granite and marble subway tile backsplash too!

One lucky DIY Show Off winner will receive:

The Granite Gold cleaning kit includes 5 must-have products:

Daily Cleaner: Our #1 best seller is a streak-free formula that safely deep-cleans natural stone surfaces, leaving a fresh citrus scent
Polish: Quickly add shine and luster to granite and other natural stone surfaces.
Shower Cleaner: Instead of using other household cleaners which can damage natural stone, our shower cleaner is the safe alternative to prevent mold, mildew, soap scum and hard water deposits
Outdoor Stone Cleaner: Easily attachable to your garden hose, it is safe to use on patios, decks and driveways because the biodegradable, ph-balanced formula won’t harm plants, animals, siding or plastics
Sealer: To provide long-lasting resistance to staining and soil build-up you only need to use our natural stone sealer once a year! So add it to your spring-cleaning to-do’s.

Specially formulated to clean and maintain all-natural surfaces, Granite Gold’s complete stone care line gives consumers the tools to keep their natural stone protected and looking first-class. The non-toxic and non-abrasive formula won’t scratch surfaces, is environmentally friendly and safe to use on any food-preparation surfaces.

+ a $50 Bed, Bath and Beyond gift card!

HOW TO ENTER TO WIN:

Sign up to receive the latest stone care advice from the experts at Granite Gold.
Visit Granite Gold on Facebook for latest stone care advice, helpful hints and updates. Leave a comment that you “like” Granite Gold.
Follow Granite Gold’s on Twitter for the answers to your stone care questions and leave a comment about it.
Comment on how you’ve helped spread the word about the Granite Gold giveaway (Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, G+, blogging). {THANK YOU for your help!}
Leave a comment telling Granite Gold which natural stone in your home could use a little special TLC.

Giveaway starts today and ends June 30th, 2012 at midnight EST. One winner will be chosen randomly and announced shortly after.Open to US residents 18+ only. Good luck!

DIY Show Off received compensation and product for this honest review based on personal experience and giveaway was donated by Granite Gold.

Die Cut Business Cards Giveaway

Posted on April 21, 2012 by Roeshel

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. Winner of the UPrinting die-cut business card giveaway is:

I am trying to market my products with some local vendors, so I would hand them out at those initial meetings. Thanks for offering this great giveaway!

Doreen

CONGRATULATIONS, Doreen! I’ll contact you via email.

If you’re a blogger, it’s a good idea to have business cards on hand. Are you attending any blog conferences this year? I’m going to this one:

Do you try to explain to family and friends and acquaintances or people you meet that you have a blog? I find that having a supply of business cards in my purse is really helpful with introductions and explanations.

In the past, I’ve ordered my business cards from UPrinting.com. I simply upload my logo and create/design online. I loved the quality of my last order…

with a new blog design and attending the Haven conference on my schedule, I’m ready for another order.

UPrinting is my go-to place and now they’re offering one lucky DIY Show Off reader the chance to win business cards!

Prize Details :

250 Die Cut Business Card Printing for one(1) winner
Sizes to choose from : 2 x 3.5″ Rounded Corners, 2×2″ Rounded Corners, 1.75×3.5″ Rounded Corners, 2×3.5″ Leaf, 2×3.5
Rounded one corner, 2×3.5″ Half Circle Side, 2×3.5″ Oval, 2.5″ Circle
Paper to choose from : 14pt Cardstock Gloss / Matte / High Gloss (UV), or 13pt Cardstock Uncoated
6 Business Days Turnaround
*Free shipping for US residents only

How to enter:

Leave a comment telling us where you’ll hand out your business cards. Which UPrinting business card design do you like?

Optional Giveaway Entry Requirements: (leave a comment for each entry)

Like UPrinting on Facebook
Follow UPrinting on Twitter
Add UPrinting to your Google+ Circles
Leave a comment on how you’ve shared this giveaway (Facebook, Twitter, blogging, G+ or Pinterest).

Giveaway starts today and ends Wed., 4/25/12 at midnight EST.

Open to US residents only.

Winner will be chosen randomly on 4/25 and announced shortly after.

Good luck!

*This DIY Show Off giveaway is sponsored by UPrinting.com.

DIY Project Parade and Wallpaper for Windows Giveaway

Posted on April 1, 2012 by Roeshel

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. Winner has been contacted via email. Congratulations, Elizabeth G.!!!
It’s that time of the week! Time to share your latest do-it-yourself projects. I’m always so inspired by your creativity and hard work.

I’m still slowly making progress in the family room. Our living room and family room are joined by a set of interior French doors. Both rooms serve similar purposes. The living room is where Mr. DIY and I hang out and watch tv. The family room is where the kids hang out. So a little privacy between the two rooms is preferred.

Wallpaperforwindows.com has a huge selection of decorative etched, stained glass and privacy window films. I chose a light frost privacy film for the windows (just measure size and quantity in the order and they cut to size). It’s a translucent film that obscures visibility through the glass. Perfect for allowing the light to shine through but gives a little privacy between the rooms. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to install too!

First, I cleaned my windows. I spritz the glass with Windex, wipe with a dryer sheet and clean with a paper towel. I think I saw this trick on Pinterest and it works so well.

Once the window was dry, I gathered my supplies and washed my hands:

Optional: helper

Spray bottle with water and a few drops of dish soap (do not shake)
Window film
Squeegee (credit card type tool provided with my window film order)
Paper towels

Mist the glass with the soap/water solution.

Peel away the window film from backing. (I recommend pulling away from the long side first, not the shorter end to prevent crease/fold line.)

Place onto misted glass. I love that it’s vinyl and not “sticky” (It’s adhesive-free! No residue when removing in the future). Film can be easily moved around for perfect placement.

Once in place, mist the film with soap/water solution. Working from the middle, squeegee the film (this pushes the water and air bubbles out).

Simply dry with a paper towel.

It’s that easy.

See the difference?

Privacy!

Before BEFORE (before we moved in)

Before

After

(I can’t wait to show you looking into the living room from the family room…working on it!)

Wallpaperforwindows.com is giving away a $75 store credit to one lucky DIY Show Off winner! Giveaway starts today and ends Friday, Apr. 6. Open to US and Canadian residents only. I chose the light frost privacy film but there are more options:

Colored window tint (not just frost but a rainbow of color selections)
Frost
Leaded glass-look
Stained glass-look
Etched glass-look

Great option for decorating mirrors or privacy/decorative accent for doors, windows sidelights, etc.!

Let’s see what you’ve been up to!

<div align="center"><a href="http://diyshowoff.com/category/other/diy-project-parade/" title="DIY Show Off"><img src="http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac195/Roeshel/DIYprojectparadebutton-1.png" alt="DIY Show Off" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

1. You must use the button above or text and link to this post to share the linky love. Here is the link: http://diyshowoff.com/category/other/diy-project-parade/.2. Your post must be recent, shared at one DIY Project Parade only (not continuously) and be DIY related.

3. Include your name or blog name and project title. Add your permalink (not your blog url, but your DIY project post url). Feel free to link a Past Post, just invite your readers in a current post with a quick note.

4. Or email your link to thediyshowoff@gmail.com and I will add it for you.

5. This blog linky party is for DIY projects only. Links not related to DIY will be deleted. Please share your link one week only.

6. NOW you can “like” the links! What a fun idea! Most liked links may be included in a post of DIY Project Parade highlights later in the week, featured on DIY Show Off Facebook or Pinterest.

7. Visit a few other links to make some friends and to collect some creative inspiration!

$75 CREDIT ~ WALLPAPER FOR WINDOWS GIVEAWAY

How to enter:

Leave a comment on this post sharing where you would use this product. Interior or exterior doors? Window? Mirror?
Leave a comment regarding your thoughts today.
Leave a comment about each way you’ve shared a link to this giveaway to help spread the word. (Twitter, FB, G+, Pinterest, blog)
Visit Wallpaperforwindows.com and comment which product you’d choose.

Disclosure: I received compensation/free product for my review and tutorial. All opinions are my own and uninfluenced by the sponsor.

Valspar Spray Paint Giveaways!

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Roeshel

THESE GIVEAWAYS ARE NOW CLOSED. Thanks for entering. Winner at the DIY Show Off is Sue B.

I had the opportunity to try Valspar ‘The Perfect Finish’ spray paint recently along with Amy, Holly and Cheri. I shared my project on Sunday…

DIY SHOW OFF - Valspar Spray Paint Giveaway

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE!

Pop over to enter to win 2 cans of Valspar Spray paint for your DIY-stash of materials!

See what the other’s have transformed and enter to win more on each site!

504 MAIN

IT’S SO VERY CHERI

WHISPERWOOD COTTAGE

Good luck!

DIY PROJECT PARADE and Valspar Giveaway

Posted on March 4, 2012 by Roeshel

133

This giveaway is now closed. Winner is Sue b. Congratulations, Sue!

Pin It

It’s time for the DIY Project Parade and I can’t wait to see what’s been keeping you busy. Have a touch of spring fever? Easter is right around the corner and it’s not too soon to decorate. This week, when reviewing Valspar‘s new line of spray paint, I created a faux-chocolate centerpiece to welcome spring.

Continue reading →

DIY Show Off ™ – DIY Decorating and Home Improvement Blog

Budget Friendly Do-It-Yourself Home Improvement and Decorating blog

Tag Archives: giveaway

Silhouette Fabric Interfacing Tutorial and Giveaway

Silhouette Chipboard & a Giveaway

Silhouette Portrait Giveaway

Pot of Gold Giveaway

Pantry Makeover Prep and #ReadyDoneClean Giveaway

Must Have Tool {and a giveaway!}

Silhouette Portrait Giveaway

Miss Mustard Seed – “Inspired You”, inspired me {review and giveaway}

Ana White ~The Handbuilt Home {giveaway}

Announcing the Lamps Plus Best Home Blog Sweepstakes!

Shut the Front Door {to keep it all in} giveaway!

The PINacle of DIY Goodness Giveaway

Everything AND the Kitchen Sink Giveaway {nearly $5000 in prizes!}

Ginormous Giveaway Alert!

Get organized with Homezada

Cue the confetti and balloons! DIY news and a giveaway!-

Granite Gold Giveaway & Review

Die Cut Business Cards Giveaway

DIY Project Parade and Wallpaper for Windows Giveaway

Valspar Spray Paint Giveaways!

DIY PROJECT PARADE and Valspar Giveaway