Date Night Ideas! (and how to win some?)

I am always trying to find new ways to show the Bubs that I have a crush on him (this crush has lasted 5 years ;) we've must be doing something right!) when you're with someone for so long it can be really easy to get in a rut. We try to go out and do something every weekend, even if its just a quickie trip to home depot to look at a bunch of ceiling fans that neither one of us will agree on to buy.

I discovered Datevitation a few weeks ago, and I am in love. It's a website where you can personalized date coupon books for your significant other. They have over 350 date ideas for you to choose from! 

I made a book for the Bubs and he absolutely loved it. The dates ranged from him picking what movie we would see at the theater to him having "remote custody" for the day (out of the 20 dates in the coupon book THAT one was his favorite) (also? it originally said "you get to control the remote for a week" but honestly I was not about to watch dirty jobs, Dr.Who, how it's made and star trek for an entire week, girl needs her real house wives of "whatever" to unwind to after a long day of work) 

 
With father's day coming up Datevitation has recently added date ideas for parents and kids, so they feel included too! It's a great way to do activities as a family that you might not have thought about doing before.

Datevitation has teamed up with me and you can get $10 off your first Datevitation order in May or June 2013 using code "YELLOW10". You can get your loved one a one-of-a-kind gift for Father’s day starting at just $10! Or you can do what I did and make a birthday or anniversary book for your boyfriend/husband now and save it for when the time comes! The order cut-off date for guaranteed delivery by Father’s Day is June 6 so make sure to get your order in before then :)

Also, Datevitation is giving one Yellow Heart Art reader a free date book! Follow the prompts below to be entered to win! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

also be sure to check out our newest yellow heart art product! but hurry, they're going fast and there is a limited quantity available :)

Win $50 worth of awesome art from CAPow!

I absolutely adore Crystal's art from CAPow (her shop name reminds me of something a super hero would scream out when he's round house kicking some bad dude in the face, so she won me over with that alone)

She's a fellow graphic designer who has a great sense of typography skills. I was really drawn to her state typography print because she actually took the time to fit in all the towns and counties in that state! Can you say patience?

find me over here!

Take it away Crystal :)

--------

The CAPow! Shop started off selling handmade wallets. Finding the sewing more time consuming and less fun, I decided to list some prints in the shop based off of art school projects from my Graphic Design days. These prints were well received and I continued to list art and photography in the shop, but things really started to take off after one fateful trip to Walmart. I had decided to pick up some candy hearts to photograph for the shop and while standing in line to checkout an atlas caught my eye. This gave me the idea for the Hometown Hearts series and the rest is history!

 

Crystal has spent time in Boston MA, Brooklyn NY, and currently lives in a 120 year old house in Troy NY with her husband Mike, two cats, and a bulldog pug mix named Emmett. She has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Visual and Media Art from Emerson College as well as a degree in Graphic Design from Sage College.

buy here

buy here

buy here

buy here

Thank you Crystal!

Oh hey, wanna love her even more? Crystal is giving one lucky Yellow Heart Art reader a $50 shop credit to CAPow!  

and it's open to EVERYONE! not just U.S. residents :)

Follow the prompts below to enter, buy play fair we do make sure each entry is valid before choosing a winner. Crystal is being super gracious giving away $50 worth of loot to her shop so let's all place nice in the sandbox guys :) 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

New Shop Launch Giveaway! 3 Winners!

holy to the cow.

I am so incredibly overwhelmed with the amount of love everyone has showed me in regards to the launch of our shop on Society6.

In case you missed it yesterday, Yellow Heart Art now sells iPhone cases, iPad skins and LapTop skins (who knew blogging on your laptop just got more fun?) (extra bonus: there is worldwide free shipping till this sunday!)

As a ha-uge thank you for all the facebook shares, the tweets, the re-tweets and just simply getting the word out about the new shop launch I wanted to giveaway some stuff from my handmade shop on etsy, Yellow Heart Art!

There will be 3 separate winners for these 3 prizes!

One person will get to win a camera plush in peach and light blue!

 (find me here)

One person will get their choice between a seamstress wooden charm or a camera wooden charm

 (find me here)

(find me here)

and finally one person will get to nab their choice of one of these 3 prints!

(find us here)

can ya dig it?

(sorry US residents only please!)

who wants in? Just follow the fancy prompts below from rafflecopter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway! Cute Note Card Set!

You all are going to LOVE this giveaway!

Kristen from Craft Goblin had emailed a few days ago asking if I could do a giveaway of her new shop on etsy to my readers.

After seeing her shop I knew I had to share her stuff with you guys!

*ahem* and now I shall be doing my best attempt at being Oprah interviewing someone awesome like Tom Cruise, I just hope Kristen doesn't go and jump on my couch, this shiz is from IKEA and she'll likely fall through the couch cushion.

 (you know someone rocks when they send a pic of themselves at an alice in wonderland themed wedding. Kristen and I are officially besties)

What made you want to start a handmade shop?

Q1: I have always loved art & creating things. I think it's part of my DNA! I used to sell hemp necklaces I made to local shops way back in the day & loved the thought of someone loving & using something I made. I was doing anything I could to get my craft on. Then the Etsy light bulb went off & here I am. It's all new to me & I am loving every minute of it!

 love card.

How did you come up with the name craft goblin?
Q2: I'd love to say Craft Goblin has some profound underlying meaning, but that would make me a big fat liar! Honestly, I tried what seemed like a million bazillion names that were already taken. I have a small obsession with monsters and originally planned on Paper Monster - but Etsy said "NO WAY JOSE, someone's got that shit!" so Craft Goblin was a variation of Paper Monster.

hello my name is smitten

If you could have a free style rap competition with ANY celeb out there who would you throw down beats with?
Q3: Hmmm... probably this guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRvfR0MIcm0 Mostly because it sounds like he is saying "I make it rain like a whore" which is hilarious!

 love card

Do you remember POGS? and if so what in the world do you do with them?
Q4: POGS! I don't know what everyone else did with theirs, but I held onto mine like a mini episode of hoarders! I think my magic 8 ball with the hologram-looking edge was my favorite. Oh! I just remembered that little tube container holder thingy! That reminds me, I really miss my skip-it...

Ok, back to business, where do you get your inspiration from when designing your awesome products?
Q5: Oh boy - anywhere & everywhere! Sometimes something pops in my head & I seek out a stamp or get my paint brushes out. Other times I'll go to the craft store (AKA Disney Land) & see something I absolutely can't go another day in my life without owning & then it sits on my table staring at me until I give it a purpose in life. :D

Mason Jar Tags

How much wood could a wood chuck chuck if a wood chuck could chuck wood?
Q6: Well, since I'm doing my first craft show this year (woohoo!) & need a kick ass display, I'm going to imagine this little wood chuck is gonna build it for me! Sooo, I'm thinking a couple 2x4's & maybe some pegboard & plywood and he'll be all set. Sweet, I can scratch that off my craft show to-do list! Thanks mr. wood chuck man!

What is one thing you have learned so far while owning a handmade shop?
Q7: It's way more work than I expected! BUT - I freaking love every second of it! It is ridiculously rewarding to think someone is buying a card to give to someone they care about. My little card, traveling to a far away land into a giver & then a recipients hands. Knowing something I created might make someone happy gives me endless  drive & fills my cup all the way up to the tippy top. That shit is overflowing!

Where can we find you to stalk yo ass?
Q8: Stalk away! I have big plans to expand, but for now you can find me on Facebook & Etsy - and can also contact me via email:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CraftGoblin
Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CraftGoblin
Email: craftgoblin@gmail.com

OH HEY READY TO WIN SOME AWESOME ISH?

Kristen is giving away a set of 5 of her signature type writer cards! You get to personalize them with whatever you want the paper inside the typewriter to say!

Fill out the rafflecopter form below to enter! Kristen is sweet enough to giveaway her hard earned work to one of you awesome gangstas, so we do make sure all entries are valid :) Ends in 7.26 ! GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Something That Has Been Bothering Me Lately

 creativity doesn't sleep by Yellow Heart Art

Ok I was really debating posting this post, but I've seen other fellow handmade shop owners tweeting about the same problem I am running into, so I figured what the heck I'll go for it.

We all are familiar with giveaways on everyone's blogs. We tweet about them and post them on our facebook walls. Usually more often then not when you participate in a giveaway you hope it drives more traffic to your shop or blog and you hope to reach a new crowd of people that you normally would not have reached on your own.

I love it when I see my product up for grabs on someone's blog. Its just so awesome getting to read everyone's comments hoping they get to win a little piece of my art for their home.

What I don't like is bloggers who I have never really communicated with or bloggers who have never made an attempt to get to know who I am sending me a "copy and paste" email asking if I can do a giveaway on their blog.

cringe.

This happens a lot. I see it more from bloggers who don't have a handmade shop and who just strictly have a blog. This is why it leaves a bad taste in my mouth (side note: the below information does NOT have to do with blogs I decide to sponsor and do giveaways with. This is strictly just about people who contact me who have never spoken to me before):

• Every time you ask a shop owner to donate a product for giveaway on your blog you need to realize that you are not the only person asking them. I get an email at least once a week from bloggers who I don't even know asking me this request.

• Asking me to give away my hard earned work is a big deal. You want me to cover cost of my materials, my time to make it, and any shipping fees that I need to cover to send my item to your winner. If I agreed to do a giveaway with every single person who contacted me I would probably be out hundreds of dollars in materials costs and shipping fees.

• When so many people ask me to do a giveaway I feel as though that they are just looking out for themselves. More often than not the first "mandatory" entry for a giveaway is "be a follower of my blog" ("my blog" as in the  blogger who is hosting the giveaway, not MY personal blog) don't get me wrong, when I CHOOSE to sponsor somebody else and they make "following their blog" mandatory that is totally fine because I decided that I wanted to work with them. I value the blogger I am working with and respect the fact that they want that to be a mandatory entry. But when a blogger comes up to ME and asks ME to give something of MINE away for FREE and THEN has that be a mandatory entry then I feel as though you are just using my work to get yourself more followers.

• Don't get me wrong, I know when you send out emails to shop owners you are pretty much saying the same thing so I am not TOTALLY against the ol "copy and paste" method, but I am against it when the first 2 words of your email to me is "Hey There!" or "Hi Friend!". If you are going to send me a copy and paste email at LEAST put in there the name of my shop and MY own name. I've had had bloggers email the SAME email once a month for 3 months, finally I had to call them out on it.

• I once had someone beg me to do a giveaway on their blog. I finally agreed to it just because I couldn't take the harassment anymore. When they hosted my giveaway they did not link to a single piece of any of my social media sites. The only way to enter the giveaway was to follow all of HER personal links. If you are asking someone to do a giveaway please include ALL their links to make it worth wild for you and the shop owner giving away something.

• In other people's defense I have had 2 people so far pay for my items to giveaway, and for those people I thank you for appreciating my hard earned work :)

• The only thing worse than asking me to give something away on your blog is asking me to give you one of my products so you can "review" it. Again, I have no problem with people reviewing my items, but I'd rather decide who I want to give my items to. Would you walk into Macy's and say to the sales clerk "hey, want to give me that sweater over there for free? I'll tell everyone on my blog how awesome it is".

All I'm saying is, the next time someone turns you down for giving away something on your blog just see it from THEIR side. I normally only do giveaways with blogs I sponsor or people in the community that I have cross paths with. I also sometimes donate products for a giveaway that is for a good cause. But please realize that the shop owner has to take care of all their materials and shipping fees.

Sorry guys, just HAD to get that off my chest.

UPDATED: Just to clarify, I am not upset with any handmade buds who I have grown friendships with over the years :) you guys can ask me till you're blue in the face haha! This post was more so directed at people who don't follow my blog, twitter, or facebook, do not know ANYTHING about me and have never attempted to make contact with me prior to asking me to give something away on their blog. When those people are constantly sending me a "copy and paste" email I just feel as though all they want to do is gain more blog followers for themselves. I know when my handmade friends ask me to give something away on their blog (whether it be just because, for a birthday, a blogiversary or maybe they think I'm awesome) then I know you guys are truly looking out for me and wanting to share me with your readers which I totally love! :)

Group Giveaway Day #2, Over $55 in Prizes!

Day #2 of our week long giveaways from our Swag Swap Week Participants!

In case you missed what swag swap week is click here to be directed to our previous post full of over 25 shops giving you all coupon codes to their swag! Savings include free shipping and up to 30% off items!

[enter to win]

A black and white "Bushel and a Peck" textured Print from Mandypidy!

bushel and a peck print

$15 Shop Credit to Rouge and Whimsy!

$15 Shop Credit to After Nine to Five!

Want In?
MANDATORY FOR ENTERING:

Leave a comment letting me know that you Follow Mandy from Mandypidy's Blog, Erika from Rouge and Whimsy's Blog *and* Ashley from After nine to five Blog.

Want more chances?

For each additional entry please leave a separate comment for each things that you do. Since these ladies were so gracious to give you all some suh-weet swag we do make sure all entries are valid, thanks for understanding!

1. Be a follower of Yellow Heart Art's blog via google friend connect and leave me a comment telling me that you are!

2. "Like" Mandypidy on Facebook and tell her Yellow Heart Art sent ya!

3. "Like" Rouge and Whimsy on Facebook and tell her Yellow Heart Art sent ya!

4. "Like" After nine to five on Facebook and tell her Yellow Heart Art sent ya!

5. Visit Mandypidy, Rouge and Whimsy or After nine to five handmade shops and let me know which items make your heart go all a flutter.

6. Tweet, Facebook or Blog about this giveaway--make sure to include the URL to this blog post. In the comments below let us know you did so and leave the URL from your tweet, facebook or blog.

Want an idea for a fab-o-la tweet? How bout "Group Giveaway Day#2 at @YellowHeartArt ! Swag from @afterninetofive @rougeandwhimsy @Mandipidy http://bit.ly/w532SW"

Good Luck! Giveaway ends in one week. Winner announced on the blog and chosen by Random.org. US Residents only please :)

HEY! There is ANOTHER group giveaway going on as well! Check out Yesterday's Group Giveaway Here! (With over $60 in prizes!)


**twitter, blogspot and facebook are not affiliated with this giveaway**

Shabby Apple Dress Giveaway! ((CLOSED))

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED

I love it when there is a shop out there that is just so good they make my "Hey, if when I win the lotto I would have no problem at all blowing it all here" list.

One of those few lovelies is Shabby Apple (warning, if you click that link you will have a serious case of "the swoons"). If you have not visited their website then you need to minimize my blog right now and go to their lovely page STAT. You will be greeted with thee best looking vintage inspired dresses & women's jewerly that I have ever seen before. (But please come back b/c I really dig having you guys here)

WARNING: The below will make you wanna empty your bank account and go all "WEEEEE *CLICK* ADD TO CART" postal. We are not responsible for this action.

proceed at your own risk.

Are you guys ready to *really* lose your minds? Pretty sure you're going to squeal louder than a 16 year old chick who just ran into Just Bieber at the mall.

Yes, celebrities shop at the mall too. I know, my mind is blown also.

*ahem* 


Shabby Apple is giving away to one lucky Yellow Heart Art reader a GOR to the GEOUS Bali-Hai dress!  (daymn gurl I can hear ya squeal all the way from over here)

 I'm not going to even ask ya if you want in, cause it's a total "duh" for me. By the way, totally upset that I'm not eligible for this lovely. This bad boy retails for $78 buck-a-roos.

Mandatory for Entering:
Go "Like" shabby apple on Facebook! Also, tell 'em Yellow Heart Art sent ya! (Extra Bonus: They are ALWAYS having deals and coupon codes on there, so its a win win!)

Extra Credit!
Please leave a SEPARATE comment for each additional entry in order for them to count! Shabby Apple was super kind to give away a lovely dress to one of you all, so we do check to make sure all entries are valid :) any invalid entries will go away into the abyss of cyber space (aka deleted) (let's not do that guys) (cause I really want you to win!) Also only US entries only please! :)

1. Be a follower of my blog (Yellow Heart Art) via google friend connect and leave me a comment letting me know that you are :)

2. "Like" Yellow Heart Art on facebook and come say "waddup!"

3. Follow both Yellow Heart Art and Shabby Apple on twitter! You must also tweet about this giveaway. In your tweet please include "@yellowheartart" "@shabbyapple" and the link to this giveaway. Too much work? Then copy and paste our pre-made tweet! :)

"Guess who is playing Santa this holiday season? @YellowHeartArt is giving away @Shabbyapple dress! http://bit.ly/u27KuL"

4. Blog or Facebook about this giveaway! Include our giveaway post URL in your blog post or facebook comment. Come back to my blog and leave me a comment with the link to your URL letting us know you did so!

5. Visit Shabby Apple's official website and lemme know which outfit you want under your tree!

6. Subscribe to Yellow Heart Art's Newsletter! ( I do get an email notification letting me know you signed up! so please leave me the beginning part of your email in the comments below--weeee)

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!! Giveaway will remain open till Next Wednesday, the 21st. Winner Announced Thursday December 22nd! (Merry Christmas to YOU!)

Sweet Caroline (bum bum bum!) Sponsor HIghlight & Giveaway!

Yes, I know, that blog title brings you back to, like, every single wedding you have ever been to--arm in arm in a giant circle full of your closest family and friends, and then everyone sings in unison...SWEEEEEET CAROLINEEEE.....BUM BUM BUMMMMMMMMM!!!

ha. ok. moving.

Have you all met the lovely Caroline? If not, be ready to fall in love.

Caroline is like my lil southern texan twin. We pretty much have thee same exact sense of humor, which is one of the reasons why I must meet miss Caroline in person and squeeze the bajezus outta her.

In case you all weren't aware, I am obssesed with the following:

• headbands

• scarves

• Joshua Jackson (waddup 1998)

• scarves

• scarves

(see a pattern?)

(Yeah, I know, Joshua Jackson totally threw you off, I had an 8th grade moment right there,  just go with it)

Check out this little lovely that I own from Caroline, you will swoon over it--outta 10 your swoon-o-meter will be at a staggering 53 (I like odd numbers)

See how incredibly stoked I am to be wearing a ballin' infinity scarf? Doncha wanna feel as epic as I did in that very moment in time?

Well, you can, if you keep reading ;) Kick it Caroline!

------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

1. Tell us about your shop! We wanna know what made you want to start your online store, how you came up with your shop name and what kind of suh-weet awesome amazing products your 2 hands make!

In the Spring of 2010 friend of mine was hosting a charity event that sold art pieces. She knew I sewed/crafted/etc. so she asked me if I would donate some items to her event. I donated 10 headbands, some earrings, and a couple of pillow cases. The FLEW off the shelves. All in the name of charity... but still- they were gone with in 15 minutes of the event opening. So with the encouragement of my friends and family, I decided to open up shop. Since then, its been a wild ride.

2. What is your most favorite hand made item that you own?

from someone else's shop? hands down my gussy sews bag. It is roomy & the straps are SOOOO comfortable. TOTALLY worth the moolah! From my shop? every. single. one. of my infinity scarves. I could wear them all!!

3. What 3 items from your shop make you go "awww yeah I TOTALLY made that, and what?"

this.

this.

and this. boom.

4. If you could hit someone in the face with a pie what flavor would the pie be? (you thought I was gonna ask who you would hit, didn't you?) (nope, I just really dig pie) (ok, I have a pie problem, judge me) (ok you can answer the question now)

uhhh what the what?? ha~ i love banana creme and that would be super fluffy and messy so probably that. And even though you didn't ask, I'd probably hit you in the face. Only to see your reaction... no hard feelings, I swear ;)

5. QUICK: would you rather be given the ability to fly OR be invisible.

FLY. Fa sho. I've always wanted to be a bird in a different life.

6. Hidden Talent? (Come on, I KNOW you totally have one)

I can sing... :)

7. What advice can you give to other indie shop owners out there?

be patient, stay creative, & have a trustworthy sounding board.

I also wrote a guest post here on this same topic if you want to have a peek ;)

8. Where can we stalk your faboosh little self?

blog. shop. twitter. facebook. pinterest. instagram: cotton_lane

yeahhhh I'm pretty much everywhere ;)

you homegirl, watcha givin away??

Pretty readers of YHA get the chance to win..........

the light pink & lattice infinity scarf!
in the words of Napoleon Dynamite...
LUUUCKKKKYYYYY!

Hope you win :)

Mandatory for entering: Visit Caroline's Shop and Leave a Comment Below Letting Me Know What Product Makes You Go All Swoony Swoon.


((want more chances to win? If so leave a SEPARATE comment for each thing you do! remember, play nice! we do check to see if your entries are valid :) .))

1. Be a Follower of Yellow Heart Art's blog via Google Friend Connect (1 entry)

2. Be a Follow of Caroline's Blog via Google Friend Connect (1 entry)

3. Thumbs Up Cotton Lane on Facebook and tell her I sent ya! (1 entry)

4. Be besties with me on Facebook and say hi! (1 entry)

5. Be a follower of both Yellow Heart Art and Cotton Lane on Twitter AND Tweet about this giveaway! (1 entry) please feel free to use the tweet below! Make sure it includes our twitter names AND the URL to this giveaway so we can track your tweet!

"woot @cotton_lane is giving away one of her ballin' scarves on @YellowHeartArt 's blog! Perfect for winter! http://bit.ly/sCXHs6"

6. Share this Giveaway on your Facebook or Blog! Please leave your URL below! (1 entry)

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE! GIVEAWAY ENDS NEXT THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10th!!! (sorry US only!)