Christmas Tree Storage with Tree Classics

*Disclosure: Tree Classics Sponsored the item on this post.  All views and opinions expressed are my honest 100% opinion.

I usually keep our Christmas tree up during the twelve days of Christmas.
It is at this time after the 12 days that I begin to put the decorations away. 
This year I was fortunate enough to have a tree storage bag from Tree Classics. 

In the past years, I stored my tree in its original box, but the box weakened and our tree broke. This year I have a better solution and that is to use a storage tree bag that will keep our tree in tip-top shape for years to come.

I received the storage bag after the tree was assembled.  I had to remove the base and place it in the bag.  I secured the legs of the base into the straps provided. I put the tree back on the base.  

The Tree Storage bag attaches to your tree stand and acts like a simple tree skirt during the 

Christmas season. 

When the holidays are over, open the tree skirt, grab the built-in handles, and pull it upward. 

The bag compresses your hinged tree and gets it ready for storage in minutes. After you've compressed your tree, it's easy to pick it up and move it to a closet, basement or garage.  

When it's that time of year again, grab your tree from storage, unfasten the top zippers 

and straps, pull it down and your tree is ready to decorate.

The Deluxe Upright Tree Storage Bag is specially designed to provide our cherished Christmas tree with the care and protection it needs. The polyester fabric keeps out dust and dirt. The straps provide maximum support. This bag easily accommodates fully assembled trees measuring up to 7.5 feet tall and features an extra pocket for stowing away extra ornaments and accessories, this was my favorite section. Durable side handles make moving your tree easy, and a clear tag holder allows you to identify the bag's contents quickly and conveniently.   They have storage bags for other tree sizes and for all your Christmas decorations.

When you receive your storage bag, just read the instructions carefully first and follow the directions, it is that simple.  If you skip reading the instructions, you will not know how to store your tree in this bag.  There are straps that keep the base in place.  You will also need another person to help you if you have a large tree.

I enjoyed using my new storage bag this year and look forward to using it for years to come. 

Do you want a storage tree bag too?  If you do, Tree Classics is having a sale and you can
get one now before January 17th for the sale price on their site. 

Hurry on over, sale ends January 17th!

Christmas: A History

The word Christmas was derived from the Old English Cristes Maesse or 

"Mass of Christmas."  Over the centuries it has become a comprehensive word 

including both the religious traditions and the secular traditions.

In North America, the early immigrants brought their different Christmas traditions. 

The Germans brought the Christmas tree, the Irish contributed the lights in windows 

of homes, Catholic immigrants brought Midnight Mass and everyone had their own 

Christmas carols.

Many happy traditions revolve around the Yuletide season, but have you ever 

wondered when we started celebrating Christmas and how it came about? For a 

closer look at the origin of this beloved holiday visit the Tree Classics blog.

A Merry Christmas to you from our family to yours!

How do You Capture Memories

**I was compensated for this post. This post also contains affiliate links and I will 

be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. 

How do you capture family moments during the holiday season?

We have decorated at home for Christmas and have put up our tree

with its glistening ornaments, sparkling bright lights, and golden ribbon.

We have hung our homemade stockings by the fireplace, have put up our 

Jesse Tree and baked cookies that fill the air with goodness and we continue to
make family memories each day.  It all sounds so wonderful, but we want to
remember those lovely moments, and so this is where Blurb comes in.  I have made
photo books in the past and why not create one for the Holidays too.  

I enjoy looking back at our photos from previous family moments while curling 

up by the fireplace as I turn each page.  I love that Blurb makes their photo books 

look like storybooks, except that it is our story.  Not every moment is wonderful,

but I love to look at the changes of each year.

It is amazing how children change each year, how decorating styles change 

from season to season, and it is all captured by images in a book.  

The great thing is that we get to share it with our 

parents, they get to view the moments they have missed due to distance. 

I would not like you to miss an opportunity to make your own memories this year

and share it with loved ones, or even create your own cookbook with Blurb because

even that would make an awesome Christmas gift.  So I am sharing with you 

right now that today until December 12^th everything is 35% off. So

you have all day today to get your memories into a book.  Use this code: AWE35

Hurry on over before the sale is over, remember it is only until 12/12/16.

Thank you for stopping by today!

DaySpring Christmas Favorites

(Disclaimer)* This post may contain affiliate links and I may be compensated if a purchase is made by clicking my links. 

I don't know about you, but everything is moving around so fast these days.
I mean, it was Halloween just the other day and now we're having Thanksgiving
dinner on Thursday and then Christmas will be here before you know it.

With Christmas right around the corner, I am taking this time to share some of my
favorite things from some of my favorite places.  Today it will be from DaySpring.
It is the perfect opportunity to get those little gifts for loved ones and also for yourself.
Black Friday is three days away, are you ready?

This is a beautiful and simple bangle set great for gift giving and below a lovely necklace
with shimmer and stars. The earrings are lovely for a dear friend or sister this season.




Get your decor on with these lovely pieces.






The clock above is made of distressed wood & contains distinct copper numerals.  I love the
weathered and rustic feel.  I absolutely love this clock, it is simple and clean, perfect
for placing on the mantel.

I hope that you enjoyed looking at these simple pieces fro DaySpring.  Do you have any
favorites to share?

Breast Cancer Awareness Month with Tree Classics

*Disclosure:Tree Classics Sponsored the items on this post for the Breast Cancer 

Awareness Campaign.  All views and opinions expressed 

are my honest 100% opinion.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.  Inspirations by D has partnered with
Tree Classics to increase the awareness of Breast Cancer and to inspire hope

to the many women affected by the disease through early detection.  

This month we share with others the importance of an examination.

One of the ways that I am encouraging and inspiring others is by 

putting up a Breast Cancer Awareness Tree.  You read correctly, a Breast Cancer 
Awareness Tree!  I find that it is a good way of bringing the attention of anyone entering 
my home, passing by my window or who reads my blog to become aware that it 
is important to get examined, including myself and also for those affected by this 
disease.  

I thought about the women that I know who have been affected by Breast Cancer;
I thought about mothers, daughters, grandmothers, sisters, neighbors, friends, and their 
families. This is something that needs to be taken care of immediately.  It is a serious disease
and we must act now and get checked. Early detection is a sure way to fight the disease.

This is a campaign to raise awareness and it is certainly for a good cause to decorate a tree in pink.
  It's also in remembrance of those who have fought hard, those who have beaten 
cancer and for those who have left us.

Every time I look at the tree, I am reminded that I must take the steps necessary 
to share the awareness with others. 

There are many other ways that we may show our support; we may wear pink!  

Wearing pink is a straightforward, and powerful action everyone can do, even if it's just 
wearing a small pink ribbon.  You may also participate in a fund-raiser in your area by helping 
an organization, or you may even create an awareness event, such as a benefit 
concert, bake sales, and sell raffles just to name a few.  If you have no time for any of 
the ones mentioned, you may also consider donating to support breast cancer research.  
Two very good organizations to give are The Breast Cancer Prevention Institute and 

National Breast Cancer Foundation. Most importantly, get yourself 
checked, I cannot stress this enough.

About My Tree

The tree I received to run the Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign is from "Tree Classics," the finest artificial Christmas tree company
around.  I want to take this moment to thank them for partnering with me on this cause.

My tree is a Classic Noble Fir with lush foliage with two 

shades of green that exudes the crisp ambiance of a wintry evergreen forest. 
It was easy to assemble because it comes in three parts, the base, the middle and the top.
Then all I had to do was fluff it around, simple as that.

 I chose an unlit tree (it's my preference) but they do have trees with different 
light types available.  Another thing I love about this tree that I cannot get from a 
live tree (don't get me wrong, I love real trees) is that the branches are bendable 
making it perfect for garlands!  The flexibility of the branches helps when 
trimming the tree with ribbons.

To decorate my Breast Cancer Awareness tree, I used a mix of
handmade and purchased decorations.  I began with the pom-pom garland that
I made a couple of years ago. As I mentioned before, I added a thicker string to
the garland for a more appealing look.  I then incorporated pink flowers that
I purchased from a craft store because it gives it a feminine touch and serves as a reminder
of each woman I know who has battled cancer.

I added pink floral branches and fun, curly embellishments on the top and around the tree.
Next, I added the pink glittered ball ornaments and a few white ones for contrast.
You can just take old ornaments, cover them with a thin coat of glue and dip them in glitter,
voila new ornaments!  Finally,  I added the Pink Breast Cancer Ribbons that I made
and randomly hung them on the tree.

Pink ribbon!

Thank you for visiting and I hope that you will join the campaign to bring
Breast Cancer Awareness to your area as well.  Don't forget to get examined and
spread the word about Breast Cancer Awareness.
Have you or anyone you know been affected by Breast Cancer?

Celebrate Easter with Peeps

Happy St. Patrick's day y'all!  For today's post, I will be sharing some of our ideas for the coming Easter.  This Easter season we will be celebrating our festivities with Easter baskets filled with Peeps & Company goodies along with some reading books.

PEEPS & COMPANY® was sweet enough to send me several items and treats to share with you and others, such as PEEPS® earbuds, luggage tag, Orange Delight Flavored Marshmallow Dipped in Orange Fudge,  Marshmallow Bunnies, Decorated Eggs, Party Cake Flavored Marshmallow Chicks, Sour Watermelon Flavored Marshmallow Chicks, Chocolate Mousse Flavored Marshmallow Bunnies,  Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Chicks, Rainbow Pop, • MIKE AND IKE® Easter Treats,• MIKE AND IKE® Jellybeans & HOT TAMALES® Jellybeans.  Peeps & Company also has many other items that are not candy, they have beach balls, socks, luggage tags, pillows and so much more.

This year I used a light wooden basket along with the traditional Easter baskets to add a little theme.  I chose a farm/ shabby theme, so I painted the wooden basket with white craft paint and decorated my basket with Easter stickers and a tiny banner.

I chose a few of my child's favorite items from Peeps & Company, placed them in a large plastic Easter egg, then I used jars to fill them with the Peeps jelly beans and covered them with a decorative lid featuring bunnies.

There are numerous ways to celebrate using Peeps & Company, one of my favorite ideas are decorative Peeps marshmallows used to decorate cakes for Spring festivities.

For your Peeps & Company Easter, be sure to check them out and order your peeps favorites for your Easter baskets.  Peeps & Company will give all Inspirations by D readers 20% off on your purchase when you use code: EASTERTREATS at checkout.

I hope that you have a wonderful and blessed Easter and let me know which Peep & Company items you choose to fill your baskets with.

(Disclaimer)* I received Peeps & Company products for review. All opinions are solely mine and I have not received any monies for my opinion.

Mobile Photography

(Disclaimer) *This post may contain affiliate links and I may be compensated if a purchase is made by clicking my links.

Mobile Photography: Perfect Photos in Your Pocket

During this time of year, we tend to snap many photos of people we that we love, places we visit, seasonal decorations or just beautiful scenes for blogging and social media.  Sometimes I don't carry my DSL with me and so I am left to shoot pictures with my phone.  The problem?  Sometimes the photos are not as crisp as I'd like them to be.  Do you ever have that problem?  

On my phone, the photos look great, but when I load them to my computer, they're terrible.  So here is a solution, Craftsy!  They are currently offering a course on how to make the most of your smartphone camera, whether Android™ or iPhone® and to go beyond basic settings, take impressive photographs and add incredible post-production effects.  Most photo opportunities don't wait for you to grab your camera — so reach in your pocket and get great results regardless!   Doesn't that sound great?  

Perhaps you know of someone that would enjoy taking a class with Craftsy and if you do, how about offering the class as a gift!  You will enjoy taking any course since it is set to go at your own pace.  

Drop by the Craftsy site by clicking the links on this post and learn more about their classes and prepare for awesome pictures on your phone. 

Enjoy!

Why Use Professional House Painters

(Disclaimer)*This is a sponsored post written on behalf of Professional House Painters. Links may be included on this post.

Our previous house is made of stucco, and when we first moved in, we wanted to give the 

exterior a fresh coat of paint.  The original color was a pale yellow, almost white.  To refresh 

the look we decided to go with a darker color, but remaining in the yellow family.
Stucco tends to absorb a lot of paint, which means more work and more paint.
For a big project like that, the best thing to do is to hire a professional house painter.
In the following, I will explain the reasons for professional house painters and why it is a better choice.

Benefits of Professional House Painters

Deciding to repaint your house is an important decision as it can bring about the aesthetic changes you’ve been looking for. We noticed the quality of paint had slowly deteriorated over the years. According to survey results, of those who contracted painters for their home, 27% sought an exterior paint project, 58% sought an interior paint project, and 15% needed both.  And of those needing interior rooms painted, 85% looked for two or more rooms to be redone. This statistic is significant because it shows that although the homeowner can do the painting, most are seeking professional workers.

There are several advantages to hiring a professional painter to get the job done. Many people simply do not have the time to devote to painting. With a hectic work and family schedule, finding time to do the job well simply isn’t in the cards for everyone. Another factor preventing people from taking on the project themselves is the fact that it is a daunting one. Not only do you need to find the right supplies and tools, but you also need to take the proper precautions to avoid compromising furniture and other household items with paint. Chances are if you are not a trained professional, it could take several days or even weeks to get the results that you are looking for.

Inspecting

House painters can offer professionalism and efficiency. Contracting a house painter means you simply do not have to worry about the project being done right or completed, because it will be. The difference is in the process. First, you can meet with an inspector who will perform an inspection of your house in order to generate an accurate proposal for their exterior painting. This inspection is thorough and may include a sketch of your home structure as well as video footage.

This inspection video will capture the areas of your home that need repainting as well as potential problem areas that could need treatment prior to the paint job. You may be wondering why housework is necessary for a painter, but the better shape the exterior structure is in, the longer the paint will last. A team of workers can then review this footage to allow them to prepare for the project and outline specific goals and tactics. Before any paint has touched your home, you could receive a detailed project outline, which is a 7-year warranty, and proper documentation of proof of insurance.

Reviewing Options

In a twenty-minute in-person review, you will receive a proposal packet with all of the aforementioned information as well as a detailed contract. This is an important step in the process to ensure that you understand the reason behind any extra work that may need to be done. No money will be paid until the job has been entirely completed. This preparation and consultation is free-of charge, and you can be given a clear timeline of the project.

Another important part of the process is meeting with a professional paint advisor. This individual can provide guidance and suggestions based on many years of experience. Picking out the wrong color for your home yourself is all too easy, as colors may appear differently on the exterior than they do in samples. Luckily, after you have selected your color pallets, your paint advisor could create digital renderings using actual photos of your home. This will allow you to see the most accurate portrayal of how the paint will look. This process alone has been known to save homeowners an average of 8-12 hours of work.

Paint Prep

The next step is preparing your house for painting. This prep work is integral for the house painters to perform their job well. This work should be taken quite seriously, and involves several steps. The first is pulling all rocks and landscaping away from the walls, which ensures that the landscape is protected from paint. Next, pressure washing can be done to the entire home to remove any dirt, debris, loose paint, and primary chalking. This process ensures that the entire home structure is clean and ideal for painting.

Stucco and drywall repair is another important process that will make sure that any structural damages are adequately fixed. Any remaining old paint will be scraped off and a waterproofing solution can be added to make sure no moisture is absorbed through surrounding soil that could compromise the paint. Any fixtures to your home, such as lights, will be removed so that they are not painted on. All removals will also be documented and accounted for. Any of the following areas could be masked for further protection:

·         Windows

·         Pools and pool decks

·         BBQs

·         Cement driveways and walkways

·         Security doors

·         Stain-grade doors

Painting Time

Last, but certainly not least the painting is executed. This involves priming the raw structuring of your house, which could include wood, stucco, or drywall to make sure the paint sticks to something strong. You can expect professional house painter to use paint of incredible quality that will not fade for years. Following high standards means the paint will be free from defects or variations in coloring. After the painting is meticulously applied, the structures will be repositioned according to footage that was taken before the job.

Quality Results

Your word can be the final one as you assess the job that has been completed. This is your chance to ask any questions about quality or function of your newly painted exterior. It is important that you are pleased with the final result, and thus you should have the final say in the matter. It is not until you are entirely happy that you will be expected to pay the quote that was previously agreed upon.

Contracting house painters can help you achieve the exact look and feel you want for your home. They understand the importance of quality, professionalism, and working on a timeline. This team of individuals will allow you to have piece of mind about the important process of repainting your home.

I was glad to have had someone else do the painting and it turned out beautifully.  With the unevenness of our stucco walls, I would have probably made quite a mess.  Happy Painting!

Cursive Handwriting Workbook Review

*Disclosure: I received this product for review. All views and opinions expressed are my honest 100% opinion.

     I received this Cursive Handwriting Workbook to review and to share my honest opinion 

about it.  This beautiful and simple 8" 1/2 x 11" workbook is intended for the young cursive 

learner in grades 2-3. The book has a table of contents and it also shows ways for a student 

to hold a pencil properly for writing comfortably.  It is pretty easy to follow and provides 

students with handwriting exercises that begin with the letters of the alphabet in cursive.
The workbook also provides cursive sentences for the student to practice, which is certainly
helpful as they learn to connect letters and form sentences. This provides a great opportunity
for learning how to read in cursive.

     Each letter is introduced with arrows guiding the student as to where to begin and end the

curved letter. The students practice by tracing over the letters and then they write it on their own.

     After the students learn to form the letters correctly, they write numbers and the names of

numbers.  As the young learner progresses to smaller sized letters, they then write the days

of the week and the months of the year. Students will find this cursive handwriting workbook

fun as it has 26 coloring pages with cursive handwriting practice, one for each

letter of the alphabet; a great reward after they are done with their cursive sentences.

     They are also given pages to draw with practice cursive letters. Toward the end of the book,

there are extra lines for either extra practice, or for providing the opportunity for them to write

their own sentences or little stories.

     I am currently helping my son learn and perfect his cursive handwriting skills. He has

improved his cursive writing a great deal. I can honestly say that with practice, he has

achieved beautiful cursive handwriting and he can read cursive as well, which I find to
be important.

     This is a great workbook for children to practice without overworking them. I would

recommend this book to any student looking to learn to write cursive.  It is simple, easy

and encouraging for those who wish to learn or improve their cursive handwriting skills.

To get your very own, click the image below to visit amazon.

Product Photography at Home

*This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. This is not a paid post.

 

     When I started my crafting hobby five years ago, I decided to sell the items I made by hand on
Etsy, but  I knew absolutely nothing about photography, branding and everything else that came along with the business.

     I look back at my first photographed items and wonder what in the world was I doing?  They are
dark, with shadows and uninteresting.  It took me a while to learn how to photograph products
on my own, taking a long time to actually get it, but what I have discovered is that I can learn quite a lot from the photography classes offered at Craftsy.  I have taken a class and have learned a great deal already.  One of the many classes offered there is the Product Photography at Home class.  For someone who knew nothing about aperture and shutter speed, I have come a long way.

     There is so much to learn and gain from the classes offered there. I am very happy with the classes and the best part is that I can go at my own pace.  A busy momma can only do so much right?

     I am in love with everything Craftsy offers because they have classes for all kinds of craft such as cooking, baking, sewing, painting, woodwork, watercolors, crocheting and so much more; the list goes on.  They have just added several new classes to their site with many to choose from depending on your interest.

     As to the photography portion, it helps with my Etsy shop, my blog and my personal photos. You will learn that light becomes your best friend when shooting.  I do most of my photography outside when it's nice and bright, avoiding direct light to my pieces.

     If you like, drop by Craftsy and check out the classes that are being offered.  I hope that you find one suitable for you.  Thank you for stopping by.

Craft Ideas to Make with Cricut

(3D Hot Air Balloons Mobile)

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. 

Okay guys, now that you’re more familiar with Cricut Explore One™, Cricut Explore Air™ and Cricut Design Space™, it’s time to chat about some of the really neat things you can create when you put it all together. 

As you’re getting familiar with your Cricut machine, it’s a great idea to take advantage of the free Make it Now™  projects and images that you get with Cricut Design Space™. 

For example, check out this adorable 3D Hot Air Balloons Mobile as seen above. It’s a fun, easy starter project and makes for the perfect baby shower or toddler’s birthday gift (and can you believe it's made with felt?). And what’s a gift without a card? Cricut has an incredible selection of card examples made with Cricut Explore machines. There’s even a whole selection dedicated to everything baby, which is where I came across this cute baby shower card. 

Birthday
What better way to tell someone how special they are than with a hand/Cricut-made card and gift? This super fun shaker card is perfect for a 21+ birthday. And even if you purchase a gift, you can always use your Cricut Explore machine to personalize it. For example, if you bought a friend a purse or a wallet, you could use your machine to monogram it with their initials. Or if you bought them a plain shirt or sweater, you could customize it with a fun image or statement. 

I love this sparkly pineapple t-shirt. All you need is a blank shirt, a roll of Cricut Iron-on, and images from the Cricut® Summer Love image set. 

Engagement/Wedding
Make your own beautiful table decorations, banners, party favor boxes, cards, and more for the happy couple in just a few minutes! You’ll find some really impressive ideas in Cricut’s Design Space, such as this lovely Mr. & Mrs. card. 

There are an unbelievable number of project examples in the Design Space, which are categorized by type (e.g. baby, holidays, home décor, school, food, etc.) and by level (easy, moderate, and advanced). You can also find a ton of great ideas for projects on Cricut's Blog and Pinterest page. 

The summer season is a perfect time to get your very own Cricut machine and familiarize yourself with Design Space and all the incredible projects you can create. Try out a few projects each month and you’ll be amazed at how easy it is. By the time the holiday season rolls around, you’ll be a Cricut pro and will wow your friends and family with your stunning crafting skills!  I hope that you have enjoyed these tips and ideas and get your craft on!

Happy crafting! 

Cricut Design Space

*This post contains affiliate links and may be compensated if a purchase is made after clicking it, thank you for your support.

When I first began crafting, I tried my best to create projects that were easy for all to do.  I used free hand to cut my designs, while many other crafters used machines for cutting and designing their projects.

I was bummed out knowing that their projects turned out so perfect and mine had imperfections. I wondered, how did they achieve perfect cutting and design?  After much research, I discovered Cricut.  I have mentioned Cricut in a few posts here on the blog, only because I want those of you who have a hard time achieving certain crafts to be creative without the hard work of design and cutting.  Cricut offers two awesome machines that do the work for you.

Not only that, but what bridges the gap between the creative ideas in your head and the Cricut machine is the Cricut Design Space™. 

Cricut’s Design Space™ is software for PC, Mac®, iPhone® and iPad® that you get for free with your Cricut machine of choice. 

Instead of trying to figure out how to make your project, Design Space gives you the ability to focus on what you want to make. Your Cricut machine takes it from there and brings it to life. 

With Design Space, you can start designing from scratch on your computer, iPhone® or iPad®, or you can use a pre-designed, Make It Now™ project. These ready-to-make projects are created by professional artists and include everything from home décor to fashion to paper crafting, and even a variety of FREE projects. 

If you want to use one of Cricut’s 50K+ images, you can try them out in the Design Space to see which will look best in your project before you commit to purchasing it. 

Uploading Images 

When you’re ready to start designing, you can either use one of Cricut’s 50K+ images or easily upload your own using the “Upload Images” tool in Design Space. You can upload and cut .svg, .jpg, .png, .bmp, .gif, and .dxf files absolutely FREE. You can even use fonts already installed on your computer. 

Cut What You Want® tool 

The Design Space’s Cut What You Want® tool makes it easy to convert your design into a cuttable image in just a few clicks! 

The Cricut Design Space™ app for iPad® and iPhone® 

Cricut’s easy-to-use app for the iPad® and iPhone® makes it possible for you can design anytime and anywhere inspiration strikes you.

It also allows you to access all the project’s that you’ve personally designed, whether on your iOs device or your PC or Mac, and gives you access to all the Make-it-Now projects. 

With this app, you can start a project while at the beach, enhance it at the ice-cream shop, add some embellishments while cozying up on your couch, and then cut it on the Cricut Explore in your craft room. Plus, it’s cloud-based, so your projects are always synced across all your devices. 

P.S. Cricut is working on an Android™ app right now, so don’t feel left out if you don’t have an iPad or iPhone. 

In a nutshell, Cricut Design Space™ gives you the creative freedom to design just about anything! Make party invitations, decorations, and favors. Create seasonal home décor or personalize wedding gifts. Add embellishments to your favorite photo memories. 

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! That’s why sometime next week, we will focus on some really fun and interesting projects that people have created using their Cricut machine and the Cricut Design Space. 

So Stay tuned! 

Opportunity to Earn Money with "Cricut"

I have some great news for you!  For those of you looking for affiliates, Cricut is now accepting bloggers to their affiliate program between the dates of 5/20/15 and 5/26/15.  It is easy to join and will cost you nothing.  Join the Cricut affiliate program by clicking this link!  

They provide all the tools you need to promote Cricut, such as banners, deals/coupons, text links, data feed products and so much more!  

If you know others that may be interested, please let them know.  This is a great opportunity for them, especially for craft bloggers, DIY bloggers  and so on.  Tweet it, Facebook it, Instagram it or Pin it, so that your blogger friends can have this opportunity as well.  

It doesn't hurt to make a little money off your blog from time to time so join today!

*This post contains affiliate links and may be compensated if a purchase is made after clicking it, thank you for your support.

Sharing Creative Inspirations

*This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links.

Over the past few weeks I've been sharing how and why Blurb is such an incredible source for
telling your story—whether it includes photos, words, or both. I realize that not everyone has the
desire to write a novel or sell a book of their photos. Some people just want to commemorate a 
trip, an event, your own blog, or a special occasion. Others may want to visually capture a 
business concept or life experience. Whatever the inclination, Blurb makes it easy and affordable 
to realize it. 

Chances are you already have an idea for the kind of book you want to create. But in case you 
need a little inspiration, here are a few ways people have used Blurb to create their own creative 
and useful books: 

Gifts
A beautiful, custom-made book is one of the most thoughtful, meaningful gifts you can give. 
With Father’s Day, graduation, and wedding season just around the corner, this type of book 
can make the perfect gift that keeps on giving. And with Blurb’s cutting-edge book-making 
tools, you can add photos, words, stories, drawings—anything you want—and make 
something that’s truly one-of-a-kind. Ideas include: a favorite recipes book, a baby’s first 
year book, a book of poems, a senior year book, etc. 

Memoirs
You have a story to tell. Okay, so you may not have hiked across the Sahara or been on 
Broadway, but that doesn't mean that you haven’t impacted lives or had interesting life 
experiences. And it certainly doesn't mean that you don’t have valuable insights to 
impart. Even if you have no interest in sharing your memoir with anyone, the process of 
reflecting on your life and writing down some of your thoughts and experiences can be 
incredibly eye-opening and cathartic.  In my experience creating my own book with Blurb, 
I've captured simple everyday memories that I can look back to.

Pet Books
What better way to showcase your best friend than with their very own book. It could be 
something as simple as pictures and quips of trips to the park, naps on the couch, playing 
with a favorite toy, or basking in the sun, to a more in-depth life story book about your pet. 
These can be shared as gifts, sold to fellow pet-lovers, or just kept for your own personal 
enjoyment. 

Non-Profit Fundraising Books
With Blurb, non-profits can share their story with compelling words and images and 
then sell them via Blurb’s Sell & Distribute option to fundraise for their organization. 
For example, Gerrit Greve’s Hearts for Healing book showcases how kids interpret a 
giving heart through art. It also chronicles how Greve’s students gained new confidence 
in themselves and their abilities knowing that their art could make a difference in someone’s 
life and health. This beautiful book is an example of how Blurb’s platforms can be used to 
support a cause that’s important to you. 

These are just a few ways that you can use Blurb to share your story or promote a purpose, 
but know that there are many, many others. Get creative! Honestly, the most important part 
is just clicking on the “Get Started” link on Blurb.com. As you start the process of creating 
your own book, you’ll be surprised at how quickly the creativity floodgates open!  

And when it does and you've created your own book, be sure to tell me about it—if you’re 
okay with me doing so, I’d love to promote it to other readers. Who knows? You may inspire
someone else to create a book of their own! 

Just In!
Exciting news! Starting today, you have to check out the Blurb Flash Sale! You can get 35% off now through Monday, May 18th, when you use code MAYFLASH35. That is right - 35% off any Blurb book you make! I'm talking photo books, cookbooks, trade books, magazines ... whatever type of book your inspiration calls for! Here are the details: 

Offer: 35% off at Blurb, five days only!
Valid: 5/14 - 5/18
Code: MAYFLASH35

So hurry on over to Blurb and start creating! This offer ends soon!