2011 Bloghop

So here I am, scheduling our 2nd Anniversary blog hop.  I'm always very nervous about these things, hopefully there are no hiccups.  This is a first time for some of us, so please bear with us.

There's a lot to get through this week so please bear with me and such a long post.  Our theme this week is the number '2' since we're two years old.  You can interpret this however you like, be it by making two cards, a 2 year-old's birthday card, a twinset (card & gift), it's up to you.  In keeping with the theme we have two prizes:

Prize 1

A set of 12 Promarkers from Letraset

ProMarkers are made by Letraset and are a twin tipped, dye based alcohol marker offering a high quality product at a great price. Avilable in 148 colours, they give incredible tonal range and can be applied to a diverse range of materials, not just paper and card. ProMarkers produce vivid, bright colours right through to the subtlest pastel shades - the translucent inks can also be overlaid and blended, even further extending the range of shades and hues on offer. ProMarker's quality nibs and inks provide flawless colour lay down with consistent coverage and no unsightly streaking.

Prize 2

5 Digi Images from Stamping Boutique

I'm Tracey Malnofski, the artist and owner of The Stamping Boutique. My team and I are very happy to sponsor Cards for Men. My store has been open since September 2009.I am currently a stamp artist for UnityStampCo. and I've worked for InStyleStamps, Squigglefly, and TheDigiShack in the past. I'm a professional artist and an active member of the Artist' Guild in my community. I have quite a busy household with a husband, 3 teenagers, 5 mini-dachshunds and an Appaloosa mare. It's noisy, but I love them all. I'm truly blessed.

"The Stamping Boutique" is dedicated to quality products and original artwork. We not only provide wonderful digital images in our store, but also several lines of red rubber images. Our designers are chosen for their character and personality,as well as, their beautiful designs. We work hard to give you our very best.

Two wonderful prizes there, I'm sure you'll agree.  Our Design Team have been busy working to give you some inspiration and here's what they've come up with:

Jen

Shirley

Sandra

Tracy

Patricia

Michelle

ALAN

Mandy

Donna

Aren't they fab?  The usual rules apply:

1. Your card(s) must be suitable for a man/boy

2. It must be new for the challenge

3. It must follow the theme set.

Both challenges will close at midnight (GMT) on 18 December 2010 and winners will be chosen at Random on the 19th.  Leave your name and a direct link to your entry (not just to your blog) below.  If the link tools are not there for some reason, then please leave details in the comments and I'll add you in before I do the draw.

Now for our second event, the anniversary blog hop.  The hop has 9 stops and at each stop you'll get a word.  When you have finished you should have 9 words which can be re-arranged to make a festive phrase.  You'll need to come back to this post and leave your phrase in the comments.  I've turned the review function back on for this challenge so your comments wont be visible until the end of the hop.  I'd like it if you can post about us on your own blog but it's not a requirement for entry, just a request.

The full list of stops are here, so if at any point you get lost or you find a broken link, come back here and check it out.

Stop 1 - Jen - http://thetinybluebutterfly.blogspot.com
Stop 2 - Patricia - http://rubberstampingismygame.blogspot.com
Stop 3 - Shirley -  http://nannieflash.blogspot.com
Stop 4 - Donna (me) - http://donnasdenofcrafts.blogspot.com
Stop 5 - Sandra - http://sandra-mummy-of-one.blogspot.com
Stop 6 - Tracy - http://ahintofmagnolia.blogspot.com
Stop 7 - Alan - http://wwwaswcrafting.blogspot.com
Stop 8 - Mandy - http://craftyfoxcards.blogspot.com
Stop 9 - Michelle - http://1krazeemama.blogspot.com

Along the way, you'll find each stop has a candy to give away which has been provided by a selection of our wonderful sponsors.  Leave a comment at each stop to be in with a chance of winning their prize.  At the end of the hop we'll choose a random winner who will get a $20 gift voucher to spend at Peach Keen Stamps.

Peachy Keen Stamps is a family owned and operated leading clear stamp manufacturer based out of Northeast Wisconsin. Our stamps are made with the highest quality polymer on the market today, giving them their unique peach tint. The whimsical images designed by Kathy Jakopovich coupled with their durability make them a favorite amongst scrapbookers, card makers, and artists alike. These stamps are sold exclusively online at www.peachykeenstamps.com and at independent stamp and scrapbook stores worldwide. Please visit our website for a complete list of retail locations.

I think I've covered everything.  Good luck and we hope you enjoy our blog hop.  Finally, a big thankyou to all our sponsors throughout the year.  We wouldn't be here without you.