"Follow Me" launch party WINNERS!

I must say that this has been one of the most fun, exciting and rewarding weeks for me by far in a long time! The response to this little, shabby challenge blog of mine has been overwhelming ... in a GOOD WAY! In just one week and as I'm writing this post we have 157 followers of the site and over 3,000 visits here too - WOW!!!

I must give out some thanks to people, who without their support, this would not have turned out so successful and so much fun for all who participate!

• First, thanks to all my stampy friends for their love and support! Without all of you, this would never have come to be.
• Thanks to my good friend, Cathy Kernodle, who inspired me during the summer of 2009 to create this wonderful site. Little did she know when she let me borrow her treasured pile of Tea Time Magazines in preparation for a Tea party we jointly hosted for some very close and dear friends, that it would have been the spring board for the theme of this blog! I've always adored tea parties, vintage items, the shabby chic look, glitter and pink, so The Shabby Tea Room was just a natural design choice! I live in a pink Victoran inspired home and collect antiques, dolls and teddy bears ... I'll just never grow up!
• Thanks to the design team at The Cutest Blog On The Block for working so closely with me in the weeks leading up to the launch of this challenge blog. They worked ever so dilligently, took everything that I gave them as far as inspiration and design and incorporated it into the custom, one-of-a-kind banner, badges and blinkie you see here! I couldn't be more happy with the way all the web elements turned out.
• Thank you to all those that left such sweet comments and sent me the most wonderful e-mails during this past week. You all touched my heart in such a special way -- this blog has been my 'baby' since it first was just a thought nearly nine months ago. I appreciate all your support more than words can say ... YOU are why I am doing this!
• Thank you to my wonderful Design Team sisters ... they are a fabulous group of very talented women; supportive and kind. I couldn't have picked a better group of gals!
• A special thank you to Jill Hilliard, DT member, for her constant technical support to me in launching this blog. She saved me countless times offering her assistance, guidance, technical support, suggestions and ideas. I learned so much these past several weeks - never thought I could edit HTML codes and create feeds ... but I'm learning thanks to such a supportive network of friends around me.
• And thanks to all of you bloggers out there ... I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoy visiting your sites each and every day. Such talent - such inspiration! I kept a notebook for months and would write down bits and pieces I'd see here and there so I could remember to incorporate the special things I found along with way into the new challenge blog so that everyone could enjoy. Your creativity is such an inspiration ... for us ALL!

Okay, enough of the gushing ... grab a tissue and let's announce the WINNERS of the "Follow Me" Launch Party:

1. Brenda Brown

2. Diane Jaquay

3. Patty Ann O'Malley

Congratulations! Ladies, please contact me via e-mail (on sidebar) to claim your prize!

Thank you to ALL who are following and playing along with the challenges. Here's to much, much more fun to come!

Week #1 - "Follow Me" contest reminder!

WOW ... the response to this sweet little challenge blog of mine has been overwhelming. I'm so lucky to have such wonderful stampy friends from across the miles to share inspiration, creativity and FUN with!

Just a quick reminder that besides the week #1 challenge that goes until midnight EST on Sunday, March 21st, I am also hosting a "Follow Me" Launch Party :)

All you have to do to earn one chance to be picked as the winner is become a follower of The Shabby Tea Room right here. To earn a second chance for the prize, beccome a follower of my personal blog at Simple Treasures.

Originally, I had planned to give out one prize to one lucky follower, but we already have 142 followers, so I've decided to give out THREE PRIZES!!!

Who will win ... maybe YOU :)

Week #1 - "Elegant Shabby"

Using this photo for the color inspiration, create a card or project using pink, creme, red, green & brown. The photo is courtesy of: Better Homes & Gardens Creative Collection - Flea Market Style.

I am pleased to introduce the very first Guest Designer that will be playing along with us for our inaugural challenge ... none other than the super talented BETSY VELDMAN! I have been a fan of Betsy's work for oh so long and giggled with delight when she graciously agreed to take some time out of her busy schedule to join us for our challenge launch! Please hop on over to Betsy's blog when you have a minute and check out her beautiful creations ... simply gorgeous!

BETSY VELDMAN

And now for some more inspiration from our Design Team Members ...

Debbie Marcinkiewicz - Week #1 Host

Audrey Pettit



Jill Hilliard



Melissa Hubert

Nicole Segnere

Hop on over to our Design Team individual blogs to see lots more creative and beautiful inspiration (links on sidebar)!

We will award a "The Shabby Tea Room Terrific Top Three" badge to the three most creative projects!!! One lucky participant will earn 'The Shabby Tea Room Winner" badge and this prize package donated this week by Host and Design Team Member, Debbie:

Link your creations below by Sunday, March 21st to play along. Winner and Terrific Top Three will be announced Monday, March 22nd. We will have an all new challenge for you to play along with on the 22nd as well, so please come back and visit with us again for another chance to win!

How to play ...

Only about one day away from launching our new weekly challenge blog's first challenge - yippiee!

How to play:

• If you have a blog, create a project based on the current week's theme, post your project to your blog mentioning you created the project for The Shabby Tea Room, link back to us and then link your blog post at the bottom of the challenge using our linking system.
• If you do not have a blog, create a project based on the current week's theme, post your project to an on-line gallery album - such as those at Split Coast Stampers - mentioning you created the project for The Shabby Tea Room, link back to us and then link your blog post at the bottom of the challenge using our linking system.

Have fun and see you all Monday :)

Only TWO Days until our challenges BEGIN!

Here is a little sneak peek of what's to come for our very first challenge that will be posted here Monday morning! It will be a photo inspired color challenge and I CAN'T WAIT to see what you all come up with for your submissions!!!!

See you Monday :)

Launch Day is {finally} here!!!

Welcome to The Shabby Tea Room! I'm so happy that you've stopped by to visit. This fun challenge blog has been an idea in the back of my mind for many months now and I finally decided to move forward with it about two months ago. Many hours of prep and design work went into the creation of this fun little spot for you all to enjoy :) A big shout out to the wonderful web designers at The Cutest Blog On The Block for creating the wonderful custom banner, badges and blinkie you see here!

Please scroll down below and take a minute to meet each member of our fabulous and wonderfully talented DESIGN TEAM! I hand picked these gals and they are among the best of the best in the paper crafting world!

I hope that you will mark The Shabby Tea Room to your favorites and become a follower too! I'm offering a launch prize to one lucky follower ... all you have to do is become a follower of this blog to earn a chance to win! Become a follower of The Shabby Tea Room and my personal blog, Simple Treasures (see sidebar), and earn TWO chances to win! I'll hold this contest open until the end of our first week's challenge - 3/21/10. Be sure to leave me a comment here so that I know to enter your name for the prize! Thanks in advance for following and good luck to all!!

Please review the sidebar comments for complete details and some simple rules about this weekly challenge blog.

FIRST CHALLENGE WILL LAUNCH ON MONDAY, MARCH 15TH. Mark your calendars!!

I'm so excited to finally be started here and *cannot* wait to see all of your wonderful creations each and every week. Thanks again for joining us ... I hope you find creativity, inspiration and FUN along the way!

Meet the DESIGN TEAM!

Welcome! We are so happy that you're here visiting! Please take a minute to read below and let our wonderful design team members introduce themselves to you. Thanks for stopping by! Please come back and visit with us again soon ... weekly challenges to begin on March 15th! Become a follower -- you won't want to miss out on any of the FUN and PRIZES :)

Debbie Marcinkiewicz
Resume: Designer/Creator for The Shabby Tea Room
I live in Chapel Hill, NC with my hubby of 23 years and our two sons, ages 19 and 18, along with our adorable chocolate toy poodle, Hershey, and cute kitty cat, Sydney! I have been a crafter all my adult life, enjoy quilting, owned my own custom sewing business for a couple years and have been stamping for approximately 20 years. I attended a Stampin’ Up! workshop at a friend’s home approximately 4 years ago and immediately became ‘addicted’ to everything paper, glue, glitter and ink! I love to design, be inspired by other’s designs and incorporate crafty elements into my paper designs. I simply adore challenges which is what inspired me to begin this crafty, inky design-inspired challenge blog! I’m excited for what the future will bring and can’t wait to see all the wonderful creations that will be showcased on our fun challenge blog!

Audrey Pettit
Resume: Designer for The Shabby Tea Room, Webster’s Pages, Cardalicious, Sketch This and 52 Weeks x 52 Layouts
I live in Cary, NC and have two wonderful kiddos. I started scrap booking and card making about a decade ago after being invited to a friend’s house for a stamping party. That opened my eyes to a whole new world of paper crafting, and I have never looked back! I adore working with paper in any shape or form. Cards, scrap book pages and altered projects equally share a space in my heart. I love a good challenge and am willing to try something new at least once. I am always eager to learn and share, and I am so excited to be here. I look forward to many exciting adventures with you!

Jill Hilliard
Resume: Designer for The Shabby Tea Room and Stampin’ Up! demo
Collegeville, PA is the place I call home. I share a home with my husband, Brian, and my three kids!!! My weekdays are spent running my kids all over and running my Stampin’ Up! business. I don’t cook, but I love to bake. Most of all, I love to play with paper and ink! I was hooked on stamping after attending a 20 Birthday cards stamp camp about five years ago, and the rest is history! My blog is where I showcase my work. I had no idea how much I would love sharing my creations and glimpses of my life! Thanks to *TSTR* and Debbie for the opportunity to share what I love and to all of you for your encouragement. I hope to inspire you as we have fun creating together!

Melissa Hubert
My Resume: Designer for The Shabby Tea Room and Curtain Call Crew
Hi everyone! I live in Alberta, Canada – more specifically on a farm outside of Ponoka – with my husband of almost 15 years and our three boys!!! I learned how to knit, crochet and cross stitch as a little girl, so the progression to paper crafting was a natural one for me. My addiction with all things paper and bling-y didn’t really start until about four years ago when I joined a monthly stamping group organized by a very good friend (A.K.A. “My Enabler”)! They are a great group of ladies, and I really look forward to our get togethers every month. I have learned so much from all of them. I started my blog in November 2008, but went on a LONG blog hiatus in February 2009 – amazing what a bit of stress can do to the craftin’ mojo! All is better now and I am so glad to be back creating! I just started another DT position so I am VERY new to being part of Design Teams … but am also VERY excited to share this new adventure with you all!

Nicole Segnere
My Resume: Designer for The Shabby Tea Room and Stampin’ Up! demo
I live in Pittsboro, NC, am a full-time wife and mom; part time nurse; stamper; scrap booker; seamstress; quilter. My love of paper started nine years ago when I decided to make a scrapbook for a Christmas gift. Little did I know how fun cutting and gluing paper could be! Three and a half years ago I was casually introduced to stamping and a whole new world opened before my eyes! I loved the fact that I could start and finish a card in one sitting! How fun and rewarding! I now turn to stamping as an outlet for my creativity and stress relief. I consider my stamping style to be simple in design, easy to mass produce and FUN!