Fala la LAla la LA la laaaaaa

Here are just a few Christmas Designs to help welcome the season:

(we're getting out decorations this Sunday...there's excitement in the air)

I have big plans for the 'peace' 'noel' & 'joy'. Tomorrow I am heading into the Thrift Store to find 3 lovely frames to place the vinyl on. Then these Christmas beauties will be hanging with big red bows on my front door!

Pumpkin Patch (vinyl style)

We have a few more weeks of fall to enjoy before winter weather softly blows in! These adorable pumpkin designs can help us hold onto fall a little longer! The crafts to be done with these lovely pumpkins are endless. Here are just a few ideas:

This is a tile I made for the ladies that I visit teach. I plan to put them on some picture frames as well! I cannot cut the pumpkins smaller than 5x5. The above pumpkin is Pumpkin A.My mother is in LOVE with fall. It is her signature season! I sent her a bunch of pumpkins in red, brown, and beige- all different sizes. She came up with this beautiful design & placed it directly on her wall. It turned out fabulous- thanks for sharing my love for vinyl, MOM! Side pumpkins are Pumpkin B and middle pumpkin is Pumpkin C!

Place orders soon! Christmas Crafts & Gifts are right around the corner!

count your many blessings with the Gratitude Jar.

Even though my mind has been racing with Christmas crafts- I just can't get too ahead of myself. So let's begin with Thanksgiving! My mom-in-law has a Christmas tradition where we each write down some of our many blessing and put them in the jar/basket/bowl. We love the reminder of how richly blessed we have been & love the tradition; however, I figured it is just as well suited for Thanksgiving. So the 'Gratitude Jar' is dedicated to my mom-in-law!

I attached the paper with a metal ring- so there would be NO excuses for not writing your blessings (ahem....boys of the family).

The 'GIVING THANKS' design is available for sizes 6x6 ($4) and larger. I have a few plans to stick this adorable design on some tiles and small plates! Place your order for the "GIVING THANKS' design by OCTOBER 31st and receive $1 OFF (making a 6x6 only $3). Prices are for vinyl only. A finished 'Gratitude Jar' costs $10 (plus shipping) . If ordered by OCTOBER 31st the cost is $8 (plus shipping)! Email me at cottagequotes@yahoo.com for orders!

My mother also had a fun way of helping us remember our blessings during this fall season. My next craft will be dedicated to her! Also, I have some adorable NEW pumpkins to share- so STAY TUNED!

Introducing my new 'Christmas List'.....oh, and of course- the giveaway winner!

The long over-due winner of my giveaway is:

Tiffany Hanson

Hooray Hooray Hooray

(email me at cottagequotes@yahoo.com to claim your prize)

And now to take care of some 'BUSINESS'! I am closing my giveaways for the rest of 2009; but don't cry yet. I am OPENING my new line called 'Christmas List'. The holidays are in the air- I can almost smell them & with this being my most favorite time of year, I need some more time to dedicate my crafts to them. My hands have been itching to get some holiday decorating done.

We'll kick off our 'Christmas List' (which will also include Thanksgiving....what? being grateful can be on my Christmas list, right?) by spotlighting some vinyl holiday decor ideas! Soon we'll follow with Christmas GIFT ideas....I'm getting jollier just typing it! I have lots in store for this upcoming season so make sure to check the blog often.

Make sure to get your holiday orders in SOON (they tend to pile up fast) and come December 1st my elf work shop will be closed :).

We're BACK!

After taking a few month off, we're back and ready to dive into my mile-high pile of crafts! However, first we must get back into with a GIVEAWAY!

My little one started kindergarten this year! After doing some backpack shopping we walked away disappointed. We didn't love anything that we saw....sooooo....we decided to do our own thing! We bought a cute (but plain) purple backpack and rushed home to stick some vinyl on it! Here is how it turned out:

I love that it was her design, I love that she has a one-of-a-kind backpack, I love that she doesn't come home with someone's twin backpack, and I love a new reason to use vinyl!

So here's our School Style Giveaway: (your choice of one and your design)

1 10x10 backpack creation

or

1 10x10 School Creation for a classroom of your choice!

Leave a comment or email me at cottagequotes@yahoo.com This giveaway will be open until October 1st! That gives you time to sign up, spread the word, and think of a design!

Good LUCK!

Mucket Winner....

is.....

Jill Wray

Congrats! Email me at cottagequotes@yahoo.com so we can decide delivery options :). For those who did not win, but would still like to make their own Mucket....email me as well for an order. Thanks to our readers for keeping up with our blog! Stay tuned...

June Giveaway!

I may be a few days late- but the June Giveaway is here! This month is all about DADS. OH how we love them. They work so hard, protect us, make us laugh, play with us, bbq the best, and keep the peace in our families. We heart you DADS! ...but...sometimes they can be a tiny bit messy...

It's only because the jean industry makes such big pockets in man pants, which make men have the need to fill those large pockets- no worries dads, for the month of June we will blame it on the Jean World. So to help our men find a special spot (besides the kitchen table) to dump their phones, chap sticks, spare change, receipts, keys, ect. we have created the MUCKET (man + bucket):

Hang this baby on the back of your door & WaAAA LaAaA you no longer have that tiny mess on your tables. Plus, all of dad's stuff is easily accessible!

Now for those who don't win- feel free to place an order by emailing me at cottagequotes@yahoo.com to make your own mucket. Here is a pic of my man's mucket

Also, don't forget you can personalize signs (we have blank boards), order a graphic for his car, or create something more personal with your children's quotes about HIM on a picture frame! We're here to help...but hurry- Father's Day is right around the corner!

Good luck to all! Giveaway ends Monday!

Remember leave a comment or email to enter

basic vinyl Tutorial

If you are not familiar with the application of vinyl, it can seem kind of tricky. I have put together a quick & simple tutorial of the basic vinyl sign we offer (with an overlay)!

Behind the Scenes

Once I have designed your order on my software, I then hook the machine up to the computer and let the cutting begin.

After which I detach your vinyl phrase and begin the WEEDING process (the fancier the font, the more complicated this step becomes). This is where I remove all excess vinyl from your cut out phrase.


I then place the saying onto APPLICATION TAPE (which is a fancy way of saying over sized masking tape), cut excess tape, and rub!

Passed off to You

This is most likely the way your vinyl looks when you receive your order. From here you would need to re-rub over all the letters (especially the dots of 'i's and any small punctuation). Then, starting from a corner and pulling in a diagonal, you would slowly remove the application tape. You WANT the vinyl letters to come up with the tape.


Next, you need to gently place your vinyl onto it's hard surface (if placing on a wall make sure to have points marked out before). *HINT* Only place down the corners of tape only (no letters behind it) while you figure out your centering. Once centered and straight, rub over the letters again (once again giving all dots an extra rub)!


Finally, pulling in a diagonal, slowly remove the application tape and you are FINISHED! YEAH!

~To do an 'over-lay': Repeat the above process; only this time centering it in accordance with first phrase placed.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

Dear Bidders,

Thank you so very much for your support! This was lots of fun for Cottage Quotes & we are happy to announce our winner:

Niki Wells

She came in with a winning bid of $42! Wonderful! Again, we appreciate all of your support. For those of you who are still interested in luminarias to honor those who have fought the fight of cancer- please email me. cottagequotes@yahoo.com They are $10 per luminaria. We can send them to you to decorate, or we would be happy to do the decorating for you. Thanks again everyone!

ps. Niki- please email me at cottagequotes@yahoo.com to claim your PRIZES!!!!! thanks!

Save the Mama's in May

May's giveaway is going to be different.

better. inspiring. charitable.

This month Cottage Quotes needs your help. We're asking you to help us Save the Mama's (in honor of Mother's Day).
Did you know that 1 in 3 women in the United States will develop cancer in her lifetime? (the leading sites are breast, lung, colon, and rectum). Check HERE and HERE for more info & stats
I have joined a Relay for Life team. Read more about my involvement HERE. I believe in the cause & now I need your help! This month we are turning our 'giveaway' into an AUCTION! Cottage Quotes is helping you with your Mother's Day needs, while you help mamas fight cancer. We are auctioning off 2 (no larger than 18 x 18) vinyl orders! And to help get those creative juices flowing, I have designed a few ideas on the computer.
Any of the below could be placed on a large tile, glass plate, picture frame, old glass window, cooking sheet, or even directly on the wall:

Name Game

Describe your mother with attributes you love about her. By displaying them in vinyl, she will be reminded everyday just how special she is!

Family Food Favorites

Every mom has at least one famous dish! Give your mama the credit by displaying her recipe proudly with vinyl...also making it easier for it to be used more often...everybody wins ;)!

Mama Monograms

(not to be confused with mammograms)

Let your mom's initials say it all with an elegant font. Pick a touching quote to lay over top!

The ideas, colors, fonts are endless! Vinyl is a perfect way to personalize your Mother's Day gift. And let's not forget about Grandmas, Sisters, Aunts, Cousins, Girlfriends....we're all mamas! So please help us Save the Mamas! Here's how it works:

We'll start the bidding at $5! Leave a comment with your bidding amount. For those without google accounts- email me and I will leave the comment and post it! Remember 100% of proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society. The winning amount will also get Luminarias in donations of ten dollars (for example, $20 bid gets 2 18x18 vinyl orders & 2 luminarias). What's a Luminaria? Read about it HERE! Please please Please spread the word! We will end the auction on Tuesday night! Highest bid WINS!

Let the bidding BEGIN!

do I hear $5?

April Winner!

And the winner of the mini-board is....

Michelle S.

from Smitty n' Chelle

Congrats! Email me your address so I can send your prize on it's way!

Thanks for the entries- continue to check out the site.

April Showers brings GIVEAWAYS!

Happy April GIVEAWAY! I am cuddled up with my little one, under a warm cozy blanket on the second day of April. Does Mother Nature have a sense of humor or what? However, the plus side of this bitterly cold weather is that I've stayed indoors and finished some projects! Which brings me to this month's giveaway:

I have loved having this very classy version of a white board to keep me organized. I am loving it so much that I made a 'mini' version for the giveaway! If you are like me, than you often lay in bed thinking of all of your 'to-do's' that you need to add to your list. I hate this nightly ritual. By the time my brain remembers all of the things I need to do the next day, I am so warm and comfy in my big bed that I refuse to crawl out into the cold to write them down! This mini glass board is the answer to our problems. Just keep it (and a dry-erase marker) by your bed & you will be more productive than ever! However, I must admit I was also tempted to cut 'love notes' in vinyl with the plan of leaving it on my husband's side of the bed. That way I could write him sweet nothings every night.....it's the thought that counts, right?
Rule: For a chance to win the mini board leave me a comment or email me at cottagequotes@yahoo.com and consider yourself entered! Even if you have won in the past, feel free to enter again :)!



P.S. Cottage Quotes needs your help! If you have any pictures of finished vinyl projects where we have supplied the vinyl would you please email them to me. We would LOVE to post the talents of our customers!

Directions for Glass dry-erase Board

*I found my picture frame (11x15) at Wal*Mart, of course! I also scored the fabric there as well. I bought 1/2 yard, which was plenty! Try to choose a fabric that has a soft,light pattern so your list won't be hard to read.
*There are two ways to apply the fabric:

-I chose to hot glue the fabric to the matt that came with the frame. I then placed blank white sheets of computer paper between the matt and fabric so the outline of the matt wouldn't be visible. Replace matt and put backing on...wa-la!

-For the smaller board I hot glued fabric directly on the backing. I then placed it on my sewing matt and used an exact-o knife to cut excess off! wa-la!

-treat as a dry-erase board; using dry cloth to wipe!

PPS. GIVEAWAY ENDS TUESDAY!

the LUCKY winner is...

Lindsey S.

We're excited to see just what you come up with!

When it comes to my children, I tend to be a pushover. So when Bostyn said, "Let's draw another name to win!" I had to comply! Surprise, winner #2 is:

Rosanne H.

Email me at cottagequotes@yahoo.com with your order (and any questions). We can't wait to post pics of your lovely doors.

And for those who didn't win this time, hang in there. You never know what Bostyn will talk me into.

Also, thank you to Cottage Quotes kind friends who really helped spread the word! We heart you!

Keep coming back for more giveaways, bloggy business spotlights, tutorials, and endless fun!

happy march to all.

try your LUCK in our March Giveaway

leave a comment and you maybe the LUCKY winner of a

DOOR PRIZE

We love the welcoming look of vinyl on front DOORS (or any door)! So we want to spread the warmth! Here is the LUCKY part: you get to decide your phrase, your vinyl color, & your font! the only catch: the area size of your order must be within 24 inches wide x 7.5 inches tall. 'WELCOME' is one of our most common requests. However, don't hold back. Be Creative. Be Wordy. Be Yourself. for those of you who claim to be 'craft-challenged' (although I do not believe that person exists), I thought of a few quote suggestions:

Our home is a sanctuary where...

God's Spirit can dwell, the storm stops at the door, Love reigns and Peace dwells

(Thanks to my mom who found this quote by President Monson. We have paraphrased the exact quote. I LOVE THIS. I immediately cut it and placed it above our window with some fancy swirls next to it. I think it would be perfect for a front door; ours is just too ugly)

Welcome

happy is the home that shelters a friend

Peace, Love, and Joy

TO ALL WHO ENTER HERE

BIENVENIDOS

This Home Established in 1996

Welcome

SIT, STAY A WHILE

don't keep it to your front door, think of the other doors within your home:

(kitchen)

Gather Round

The Gathering Place

Delighted

you're here

Country Kitchen

Pantry

(laundry room/bathrooms)

Self-Serve Laundry

open 24 hours

drop your drawers here

The Laundry Room

loads of fun

You're never fully dressed until you

WEAR A SMILE

Beauty

is a light in the heart

little girl's room

Powder Room

(bedrooms)

Dream

Together

is our favorite place to be

do not disturb

the PRINCESS sleeps here

Girl's ROOM

(I would love to do this and glue two huge gerber daisies for the 'o's)

Let him sleep...for when he wakes he will

MOVE MOUNTAINS

B is for BABY

I hope this long list helps! We are so exciting to see just what you come up with. All we ask is that the winner emails us a picture of their new door creation! Feel free to give this away as a gift to someone else, as well; just don't forget the picture.

We so appreciate every one's support. remember to spread the word. Also, Cottage Quotes would love to be added to your sidebar. 2009 will be full of updates that you will not want to miss! good LUCK to all.

.the contest ends thursday.

a little bit of Bloggy Business

*introducing our new posts titled Bloggy Business. We will be taking time to highlight some our amazing friend's business blogs. Feel free to read about them, check them out for yourselves, and spread the word if you'd like! We're always looking for new bloggy business friends, so please email me if you would be interested!*

My amazingly talented sister-in-law has started

My Favorite Things Jewelry

I love LOVE love this blog! Her jewelry is absolutely beautiful. Heidi's style ranges from fun to fancy; giving you some accessories for every mood that may come your way. She has lovely giveaways (which inspired me to do them). So make sure to check her out here. Did I mention her prices are impossible to beat? love her, love the jewelry! Let's all give a warm welcome to Heidi for making it to my sidebar...so sorry it has taken so long!

ps. i stole this:

pps. check back tomorrow for March's giveaway!

Valentine Parfait

I used a small glass pop bottle. Filled with decorated paper, conversation hearts, valentine m&m's. We then put on our VINYL heart with their name cut out of the center. so easy, so cute, so fun!

lil' ol' me

My first blog interview. I felt a little famous! Read here:

http://grapevine.ldswa.com/

And the winner is....

.... Maughan-sters....

(please email me at cottagequotes@yahoo.com with your mailing address)

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your entries and compliments! We so appreciate you helping us spread the word! And for those who did not win; oh please don't be sad. We'll have another giveaway next month (hooray, February is a short month)! Plus, with new tutorials, projects, secret giveaways, spotlights, & more- you will not want to miss out!
ps. a special thanks goes to the male support we have seen. we promise not to disappoint you. we'll be having a secret 'male-only' giveaway in the future!

And to make sure everyone walks away with something; here are the recipes that go with the 'Creative Cookie Sheet':

Crock Pot Chicken
4 chicken breasts
1 cube butter
1 pkg dry Italian Mix
--Cook in crock pot for 3 hours on low, turn on high for an additional hour. 1/2 hour before serving add:
1 pkg cream cheese
1 can cream of chicken
--Serve over rice.
Mock-Chocolate Eclairs
1 lg pkg instant vanilla pudding
3 c. milk
1 container of cool whip
1 box Graham crackers
--mix pudding & cool whip. Let set. spray 9x13 pan. Layer crackers, pudding, crackers, pudding, crackers.
1 cube butter
1/4 c. milk
1 c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/3 c. cocoa
1 tsp. salt
--Boil milk, cocoa, sugar, salt for 1 minutes. Remove from heat. Add butter & vanilla. Let cool & coat on cake.

loving our MONTHLY give-aways

Happy February

We're celebrating this month of LOVE by kicking-off our MONTHLY giveaways! This is how it works: you either leave me a comment or an email (cottagequotes@yahoo.com) and you're name will be automatically placed into the drawing! The end!

All we ask is that you help spread the word to all your friends & we know you have lots! Whether you post it on your blog or shoot an email, please help us spread the cottage quotes goodness! but even if you don't have any friends, we hope you still enter the drawing

The drawing will be open until Thursday, February 5th. If your name is drawn then it is yours FREE & cottage quotes will ship it to your door! However, if your name is not drawn and you would still LOVE to have this craft the prices are listed below!

Here is our giveaway craft:

'Creative Cookie Sheet'

Measures: 9.75 x 13 (small)

Price for vinyl only: $5 (includes 'today's Menu, BON APPETITE)

*prices are subject to change according to sizes

(craft includes everything- even the recipes)

Here are some other ideas for baking sheets:

FHE magnetic Board

Measurements: 10.5 x 15.5 (Medium)

Price for vinyl only: $8 (includes 'family home evening' 'prayer, song, scripture, lesson, activity, treats)

*price is subject to change according to size

Kid Brag Board

this is for my nephew b-day. he inspired me to make this when he lost his spelling words & decided to make up his own list to study with! he loves marine animals & the black & white color scheme.

Measurements: 12 x 17.5 (large)

Price for vinyl only: $10 (includes child's name, two subjects, and 3 fun borders/dividers)

*prices are subject to change according to sizes

Good Luck to each of you. Let the games begin!