studiosuzanne

Christmas Card Contest!!

Image from Oxford Impressions St. Nicholas Collection. 

Hello!  It's almost December and I'd like to have some gorgeous art to display. So, I propose a Christmas Card Contest!  Art must be in my mailbox by Christmas, December 25th! Winners will be announced January 1st.

Send me your best work made with Oxford Impressions rubber stamps. Not into cards? Not a problem. You can send any holiday creation you like, just be aware it will not be returned.  I'm going to keep it, love it and show it off! 

You may use ANY Oxford Impressions rubber stamp or multiple OI stamps, just figure out a way to "Christmas" it up!  I understand it may require some creativity to turn a spring collection into a holiday theme, but think of it as a challenge. Impress me! I'd prefer you NOT use other rubber stamp company's images as any focal point. You CAN use SMALL accents or Holiday sayings from other companies, but please include proper stamp credits. 

You need to include the following: Name, address, email - printed clearly! I'd also like you to send me a little note letting me know what Oxford Impressions stamp plates you have and what are your favorites. Also let me know if there are any themes you'd like OI to explore in the future.  Don't freak about writing me!! There will be no points subtracted for grammar or spelling! I want to hear from you guys! You may enter ONCE only.  Do not get Aunt Millie and Uncle George to send me your card with their name on it. International stampers are welcome!

Here's what I have to offer:  

1. I'll send 50 of the participants a free rubber stamp. I'm not saying the first 50.  I want you to take your time and do your best.  I also want to make sure that I'm not sending the same person all the free stamps. (The George and Millie thing?) So, I'll randomly choose 50 people from those who put forth genuine effort to do their best.

2. Speaking of 50 ... the artists of my favorite FIVE entries will receive a $50.00 gift certificate for Oxford Impressions rubber stamps.

3.  When choosing guest artists for 2010, I will look to the participants of this contest first.

4. Your art MAY appear on the Oxford Impressions website or Blog. (With your name on it, so do yourself proud!)

Send art to:

Suzanne Melvin 
Oxford Impressions
P.O. Box 382721
Germantown, TN 38183-2721
USA

I think that's it!  I'll be happy to answer questions posted to this blog as comments.

P.S. Please don't ask me to critique your work or explain my reasons for choosing the winners after the fact.  I will select the winners based solely on my personal taste. I know styles and opinions vary greatly and I don't want any one to take offense if their work isn't selected this time. This should be a fun thing for both of us!  Good luck! Oh, and tell your friends!

Suzanne

New Holiday Stamps - St. Nicholas!

Hello, my friends!  I am so excited to show you my new Holiday stamps! I know I've been teasing you about new stamps for a while, and now I have rubber!  The St. Nicholas collection is designed for Holiday Card making as well as collage work.  I understand the challenges of producing multiple cards.  Pair one of these large scale images with one of the Holiday sayings, and you've filled up a card front. With this one stamp collection, you can easily pull together a selection of 6 different cards for gift giving. Or create a variety card pack to sell. (Had to give a nod to my creative Etsy sellers!) As a thanks for being an Oxford Impressions customer and StudioSuzanne Reader, I'm offering my blog friends a Christmas discount.  Get 20% off all unmounted rubber stamp collections and collage sheets with the coupon code: nick20.  (This discount will make each stamp plate just $19.20 instead of $24.00) Enter this code during the check out process on the Oxford Impressions website.  I don't mind if you tell your friends, I'd like to have more visitors, so feel free to spread it around! The offer is only good until December 15th, so don't wait too long!

 

I hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday Season!

Suzanne

 

This week, the highs and lows

 

This has been a roller coaster week for me, a mix of unexpected highs and lows.  Over the weekend, I got together with some of my art buddies to play.  I used Martha Stewart glitters to create this tiny bird ornament.  It was so much fun!  Sometimes I prefer to "craft" instead of "art".  It was lovely to sit with my friends and just chatter while we spread glue and glitter.  We all started with little mushroom birds and twig nests.  Everyone's creation was unique, ranging from a gorgeous shabby chic turquoise to a brilliant Christmas red.  I went "Silver Bella" with my bird and coated it with transparent, twinkling snow glitters. I wove tiny tinsel into my nest and glued a tiny crown to the top of the bird's head. I think it will be an adorable addition to a Christmas tree! Playing with my artsy girlfriends was definitely the high point of the week.

I spent most of the rest of my days in Nashville TN, prowling around antique stores and flea markets - one of my very favorite things!  I didn't buy much, but I thoroughly enjoyed the hunt.  (My best find was a collection of old tin types that were very affordable. I've got to come up with a really good project for those.  They are too cool to keep in a drawer.) The low part of the week followed with a trip to the dentist and root canal. My jaw is still aching! Even worse, with a temporary crown, I can't eat anything hard or gooey.  Does that mean no pecan pie for Thanksgiving?! What if I only chew on the left side?! 

I am hosting the dinner this year so I'm torn between having the house spotless or repainting the dining room. There is no way I can pull off both, I've still got to figure out the cooking.  Last week I practiced roasting a turkey and this weekend I'm working on stuffing recipes.  By the time we actually sit down to the table, my family is going to be completely burned out.  Oh, well! I'm trying. Wish me luck and good luck to those of you who are also cooking the "big dinner" this week!

Suzanne

Letting go - part II

 

I will be the first to admit it, I have some cool stuff.  Fact is, I have so much "cool stuff" I can't appreciate it all.  If I think something is good enough to buy, I usually get two.  (With the exception of scrapbook paper - I never buy enough of one pattern and I never have the particular piece I want. Why is that?!)  I've decided it's time to quit hoarding and start using.  If I'm not going to use it, I need to liberate it - set it free!  I honestly don't need two of EVERYTHING! (Still trying to convince myself.) I'm going to try each day to choose one thing to let go of.  It might be trash or it might be treasure, as long as it leaves the room, it counts.  I've started listing some of my extra stuff at my Etsy shop and hopefully it will soon be going to some good homes. (See the right hand side bar of this blog for today's listing.) Wish me luck!

Suzanne