New Year, New Look And LOTS Of Blog Tart Goodness For You!…
About a month ago I warned, ahem TOLD, you that my new look was coming…and that it was coming with an abundance of blog tarts. Well, that day has arrived thanks to Sara and her Tweaks and Designs. I gotta say I love it and I can’t wait to hear what you think. BTW, the best way to view this site now is NOT in Internet Explorer. It’s not that there is anything technically different in IE, it just looks better on Mozilla, etc. {I’m no tech guru, so I don’t have any other explanation other than, “Sara said so.”}.
It’s totally different and fresh. I love that my logo is on the side and not a banner on the top. If you recently missed a post, there are six boxes below the current post showing the last 6 posts. Then, there is a link to older posts below that. All my blinkies, badges, stats and stuff are at the bottom since I thought that it was getting a little cluttered on the side. Since my posts are usually not as long as today’s post, they won’t be hidden. On the sidebar there aren’t long list anymore. Drop down menus are there to help keep it clean, but also right at your fingertips, should you want to navigate over that way. So tell me what you think! Love it, like me? Hate it? Suggestions?
A few months ago Cammie did a major blog candy give away that supported her Grandmother’s Nursing Home. I really like the idea of having something philanthropic to go along with the giveaway, so THANK YOU for that idea Cammie! My giveaway isn’t nearly as large, but still quite AWESOME.
So here’s the deal…
Fellow North Texan and Splitcoaster Julie Carlisle {afancycat on SCS} works in the International Student Services Department at Dallas Baptist University {DBU}. They have students from over 50 countries at the University that they give cards to. I have donated several cards to her in the past and she was one of the first people that came to mind when I decided I wanted to do this blog tart giveaway, as she is always so sweet and grateful. Send your card to her at the address:
Dallas Baptist University
Attn: Julie Carlisle
3000 Mountain Creek Pkwy
Dallas, TX 75211
Because of the size of this blog candy, there are strict rules. Please read {and follow!} these carefully {yes, I know that they sound much like Cammie’s; I checked with her and she is ok with that!}…
1. There is ONE winner and there ONE entry per person. You can send as many cards as you like, but you are entered ONCE. ***EDITED TO ADD: Birthday and All Occasion cards are best, but ANY kind will be appreciated. Also, please send BLANK cards.***
2. Did you see rule #1? Just making sure that this is CRYSTAL CLEAR.
3. Please show your support for the companies that donated to this fab giveaway! I have linked all of them below.
4. Because this is benefiting DBU and lots of goodies are up for grabs, I ask that you post a little blurb about this to promote people sending cards. I’d love Julie to tell me that her mailbox is flooded with cards for the international students!
5. To OFFICIALLY enter, you will post a comment on THIS <--that's a link to a DIFFERENT post-- post. If you don't enter there, you are not entered. There is ONE entry per person. ***Note: I have comment moderation turned on to keep gross spam from popping up. If you do not see your entry right away, do not fret, it’s just awaiting moderation. Duplicate entries will be DELETED.***
Your entry should look like this:
Name: {your name here!}
My card I sent to DBU: {place a link to your card on your blog or SCS here!}
Date I sent my card: {enter the date your card went postal here}
Name of a company that donated to this giveaway: {name a company that donated to this here!}
My blog: {link to your blog, if applicable}
6. All entries {remember, ONE per person} must be entered on THIS post by January 31st at 11:59pm CST. The winner of all the goodies {see them below} will be announced on February 1, 2009. It will be the winner’s responsibility to contact me within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen. ***ETA…winner will be announced on February 2nd***
Before I get to the blog tart prize list, I want to say a HUGE GIGANTIC MONDO THANK YOU to all those that donated and to those that support my blogging {that’s you}!
What’s up for grabs…
$15 Gift Certificate to ALL THAT SCRAPS
$25 Gift Certificate to STAMPING BELLA
$25 Gift Certificate to IMPRESS RUBBER STAMPS
$35 Gift Certificate to VERVE STAMPS
Prize Package worth $100 from GLUE ART & PAPER STUDIO
A Scor-Mat and Scor-Tape in one of each 1/8, 1/4 and 1/2″ from SCOR-PAL
One Stamp Set Of Your Choice From The Polka Dot Pie Collection At PEZ-A-DOODLE DESIGNS
One Stamp Set Of Your Choice From THERE SHE GOES
One Stamp Set Of Your Choice From FLOURISHES
One Stamp Set Of Your Choice {$19.95 or less} From GINA K. DESIGNS
Bling ‘Bet Set {not yet released} from MY FAVORITE THINGS
These Sets From THE CAT’S PAJAMAS:
This set from UNITY STAMP COMPANY:
This set from CORNISH HERITAGE FARMS:
These sets from STORAGE UNITS, INK & MORE:
These Sets And Goodies from ECLECTIC PAPERIE…
This set from JUST RITE STAMPERS:
**Please Be Sure That You Read The Rules For This Blog Tart Giveaway. Thank you and Good Luck!**
Wow, I wish I could see your new look, but all Iget is a plain white page with your post on it
Unfortunately I can’t use Mozilla due to some interaction issues with work files/programs on my computer (I work from home and have high security stuff on my computer and for some reason Mozilla has made my computer crash more than once!) 
I can barely see this box to type in - LOL.
Hi Jen, Love the new look!
I am in Mozilla but I still have to scroll across the page (sideways) to see the whole post…..maybe that is how it is supposed to be. And in the “post a comment” it doesn’t say name, email, and website - just the blanks are there to enter that info –KWIM? (I just know that is what it is supposed to say so I can comment!)
It is very promising though and love the clean look!! and LOVE what you are doing with your blog candy!
Oh Jen, I am so in love with your new look!! Its absolutely delightful and so sweet while being very hip! Man this is just like getting a new haircut or a makeover - you make everyone else wanna do the same thing!!
–Becca
Hi Jen,
This is my first post to your blog. I am using Mozilla and I am not having any problems! Yay!!!
The new blog design looks great! I like how clean and uncluttered it looks, and I love the idea of the drop down menus.
The blog candy offer is great! Just one question… Is any kind of card OK? I’m assuming that they give them to the students to use, am I right?
Thanks,
Carmen
Hi Jen,
I love your new look. It’s so clean and uncluttered. It looks fabulous in Safari on my Mac. Your giveaway is super generous and what a great cause to support. All those fabulous goodies, I’ll definitely be participating.
Are there any specifications on the type of card? Hello, welcome, etc? I would love to do this!!
Hi Jen! The blog looks great. What kind of cards would the International Student Services Department use?
Love the new look!! CAS~can never go wrong there! I too, was wondering what kind of cards the department could use
Hey Jen i love your new look, I’ve been redoing some things on my blog too. I like the clean look, TFS.
hi Jen! i love your new blog look too - love the colors (i’m a little partial to pink anyways) and really like the columns!
i use mozilla as well (WAY more secure than IE, imho); your blog page is wider than my screen however, and i don’t have any extra large sizing going on that might otherwise cause that.
i have a question for you regarding the cards for Julie - do they use blanks? or any specific occasion? thx - i can’t wait to get some cards in the mail to her.
I love the new look Jen! Very purdy in pink!
It may take a bit to get used to the new navigation, but I love the new look as well. And WOWZA! What an awesome blog tart package! Off to put together a card donation — if you have a moment, I’d love to hear a bit more about how the cards are used… And I assume they should be blank (to be given to the students for their use?) — we actually sent little written notes and Thank You’s during Cammie’s project, I believe…
Love the new look - very fresh and classic. That way your gorgeous cards can stand out. However, as another poster said, I have to scroll sideways - and I have a fairly large monitor.
Hi Jen and Happy New Year!
I love the new look!! Keep up the good work!!
Fabulous new look!!! I LOVE absolutely everything Sara does - she’s genius!! Your new logo is a great idea! Contest sounds great too, I’ll get working!
Holy cow, Jen! I heart, heart, HEART the fresh and clean re-design of your site. Just fabulous!
Jen, I love the new look. My only complaint is I have to scroll all the way to the right to read your post! I use FF and have a widescreen monitor. BUT I don’t browse at fullscreen so that I can multi task. I know many people still use narrower resolutions, too.
Just a suggestion, since scrolling can be a pain! Love the new logo- it’s so fresh and fun.
Jen: This new look is super-gorgeous. I can’t wait to see how it will look on Mozilla which I will be using on my home computer just as soon as I can afford to replace the one which is now demised. Sadly, I have no blog and because I currently am confined to using my work computer I cannot upload or download. Great BLOG candy…wish I could participate.
Holy moly, that’s some giveaway! I’ll work on a new card tonight, and I’m sure I’ve got some old ones I can send as well.
Congrats on the lovely new look, I love it!
Awesome new look Jen!!
Your new look is awesome. I use Chrome and it looks perfect by the way.
Your blog looks fantastic! I love the new look.
Hi Jen,
I like the new look of your blog, but will have to get used to it. I am using IE, but don’t have any problems. I will definitely participate in this blog candy and send some cards to Julie. Such amazing blog candy. Thanks to all the sponsors. I don’t have a blog to link to.
Awesome, Jen. Looks great.
Your blog looks fabulous!
I love this card drive that you’re doing and will be getting something off this week hopefully! I have been a teacher of international students for about 10 years and know how hard it is for them and how much they’d appreciate this. Will post on my blog too! Fabulous idea!
Nice new design. I can see your site fine in both Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox.
We need to send each card in a blank envelope as well, right?
Hi Jen,
I am a regular visitor to your site. Am trying to get used to the site. I used to visit maybe once a week and look at all your beautiful projects that I have missed and it was easy to page through them. Does your new look have an easy way to page (click) through the old post with the beautiful pictures of your cards without having them listed in “boxes” at the bottom of the page and having to click to it and the click back to go to the next one. Just wondering if I am missing something.
In terms of the blog candy — wow — am going to see if I can make a card and send it to DB to enter the contest.
Happy New Year to you.
Gorgeous! Love the clean design! It is so beautiful–well worth the wait!
I will be sure to add your amazing blog tart to my next blog post! Hugs and good luck–hope you get lotsa entries!!!
love love love it jen OMG i hope mine comes out as good as yours!! i hate how crowded my side bar has become!!!
Jen, your blog just lost a few pounds and it didn’t have to lift a finger…LUCKY!!!!
Now I’m back to tweaking. I just couldn’t wait to make it smaller. Oh and I’m doing a little test on the comments as well.
Jen’s Readers: THANKS A MILLION for all your input and nice words! I really love all the feedback! Oh and this page should be perfectly viewable in IE, just not as collapsible, that’s all.
Great new look. Loving all the stuff at the bottom no longer a distraction. Your blog is very eye-pleasing. Your signature heart is so well designed too. Sara did a great job for you.
Jen, I love the new look and how clean and easy it is to navigate . I will post on my blog about the card drive and will try to send one on the weekend.
Congratulations
Nicky
I love your new site. The logo is great, nice clean look. The only thing I don’t like and please take this as constructive-I-love-your-blog advice………the items that are sideways are a little annoying. It’s not pleasing to the eye like the rest of the site is. I would put them right side up in smaller fonts. Overall you should be proud! Pam
Wow, I LOVE the new look for your blog! So clean (and pink!) and looks great on my wide-screen FF browser
One quick question about your totally awesome blog tart though - can we make any kind of card for the contest, or should it be specific (V-day, thank you, just to say hi, etc?)
Love the new look!!! You are creative in every medium!! Sorry I missed your call today!!! Will call you this weekend…afraid it might be too late tonight!!!
Fabulous new look! It’s so refreshing!
LOVE your new look Jen! This is so awesome! Congrats!!!
WOWZA girl!!! The new site is AWESOME!!!! Absolutely LOVE it!!! And what an amazing blog tart giveaway you’re doing!!!
I love your new look. I have IE and it looks fab to me!! I don’t have to scroll, well except to finish reading the post. I love the hearts - and the kisses and hugs when you click on your drop down menus- how creative and what detail right down to those minute details!! I even love the fact that this is in italics as I write it. Very sweet layout!!
I really like your new blog love the uncluttered(?) look.
Love the new look, Jen! What a great way to start out the new year!
Holy moly, Jen!!!! I loooooove your new look! Congrats! I have IE and it looks fantastic!
Your giveaway is amazing!
I love the new look!! It looks so soft and sweet. The heart around yours and your daughter’s picture is adorable!
I love the new look!
What great timing for the blog tart. I was just looking at my box of cards and wondering what I would do with all of them. I am also going to send some to the Cards 4 kids that is posted on…
http://rubbermaid.blogspot.com/2007/09/blog-post.html
I stamp to give, so thanks for the opportunity!
Oh Oh Oh - I LOVE your new site…great job….especially putting things down the side and at the bottom - what a fantastic idea.
Your blog looks amazing! I love the forwarding looking/modern look. It cries out artist! I’m looking forward to entering your blog candya and thanks an advance for such amazing blog tart! Have a great weekend!
Wow! Seriously….OMGosh this is like giving candy to a kid and that kid is me. Wow!
I better get on it then. Will definetly for sure, no doubt will work on something nice this weekend for the entry.
This is so awesome Jen….it’s so exciting!
Hugs,
Yaneri :o)
Looking good! Pink is a hard colour to use well!
Love the new look, Jen! beautiful! So neat and clean!
This is my first posting as well as checking out your website. I love, love your new look. I have a MAC and I can see everything clearly in Safari which thrills me.
I like the idea about submitting cards. I didn’t see if there are any specific card sizes to make. Could you let us know about this?
The blog tart is so amazing. Wow!!
I am excited about this!
Is there an easy way with the new web site to see the artwork from older posts? Sometimes I go to look for something you did, but I don’t remember what the date or the post name was. I sort of expected when I clicked on “older posts” I would actually see the posts, then realized just the blurbs at the bottom changed.
Jen, I love your new design. Clean and clear!!! The drop down boxes are a great idea and addition! I need to get to work on some cards for the students! Thanks!
Love how your blog looks!!! It’s coming through perfectly on IE. Very hip and fabulous!
I will definitely enter this awesome blogtart - a great reason to make some cards!
Desiree
WOW! Your blog really has a nice feeling when you come to it. It is so warm and refreshing. I have no problem viewing your blog with Mozilla, yep pee! It would be wonderful to win some blog candy, but if it doesn’t happen, then it wasn’t meant to be. Still look forward to viewing more of your blog. Thanks for offering.
Great new Look, Jen. I have no problems veiw it in either IE or Mozilla… looks the same to me on both. Of course by now that may not be a problem!
I mailed my card today, and signed up at the right place…thanks sooooooo much for sharing!
well, you asked so I’ll share! I love the new look of your blog - very distinctive! I like the changes, except for one. I don’t like having to click to see old posts. I like being able to scroll, scroll, scroll until I’m caught up. But that’s just me!
Hi Jen! Love the new look. I am looking at it in IE and it looks just fine to me unless I am missing something…Your new webpage is fresh and easy on the eyes. I love the color combo and new logo…I especially love the picture of you and your son in the heart shape - adorable!
Hi there, I would love to participate in the blog candy give away but I do not currently have my own blog to promote the give away. Would I still be able to enter? Thanks!
Jen, you can bet I will be sending multiple cards for the cause AND entering your drawing. I will make tomorrow’s post all about this wonderful cause!
Hugs to you!
HOLLY
Oh My!! Just let me wipe the drool from my keyboard…that is some prize booty!! AWESOME! I love the look of your blog-I’m brand new here so can’t comment on the old look, but this is NICE! I am soo doing the card thing-overseas postage & all! I’m all excited now! Yay, thanks for a great blog & great blog tart giveaway-maybe I’m not eligible because I’m in Australia?? Oh well, I’ll still send cards x
I’m finally done my card (and will post it in the official blog) but I wanted to let you know that I’ve put a challenge on my blog to encourage my friends to participate. I hope they do!
Love your new blog look. It must have been a lot of time consuming work for your designer. Good job. I like the idea of the drop down boxes. Seems like it would save lots of space on the screen. I will be mailing a card soon to make sure I am entered in your delicious blog candy giveaway. Thanks, Linda
It’s always nice to have a new look for the new year! I like the “cleanliness” of it, but I think it’s a bit too white which makes it look kind of washed out.
I’ve never been to your blog before; I clicked over here from Card of the Week, and the second I it opened I loved it! This is such a pretty blog-I love it! Your blog candy is awesome, and AFTER I mail my packet tomorrow, I’ll come back and post in the right spot!!
Im making mine to night I just got done wish cards4 kids /Can you send more than one ?Ill make about 5 if thats okat? I love doing things like this I did the one for cammie too ,This is why I started making card to put smiles on peoples faces .Thank for the chance to win to /I would still do it if there was nothing .
Iwas surfing blogs tonight and I came across you for the first time today, so I can’t comment about your old look, but the new look is so soft and pretty!
Oh - and I actually do need clarification on Rule #1.
The part I’m unclear about is this:
1. … Birthday and All Occasion cards are best, but ANY kind will be appreciated. Also, please send BLANK cards.***
I have two questions:
1. When you ask for Blank cards, do you mean a card that has no sentiment of any kind on it so it can be used for whatever?
2. Do you want “blank cards” sent in addition to the cards with sentiments? I’m only confused because you say “also send blank cards”.
Sorry for not quite getting it, but I’m going to go to my craft room and make cards, and I don’t wanna flub up my entry
Thanks!
Anna Banana
Anna Banana Creations
Love your new blog, I’m not having any problems viewing, looks great. What a great give a way, I’ll get some cards ready to send tomorrow, do we have to let you know once we’ve mailed them?
I love the new look!! I am not having any problems viewing it. I will get my cards sent off this week.
Great look
Hi Jen, Great Idea ! I will get busy and get some cards made and sent off. Great yummies available….Thanks!
I just love the fluffy cotton candy look it is just yummy! I will get some cards together but am not computer savy so will try to attach. LOL Hugs Alesia
LOVE LOVE LOVE your new blog!!! Sara totally hooked you up - it doesn’t get any better than this!!! WOW!!!!
hugs, Jami
I love the new look of your blog. It is easy to navigate and so unique looking.
Mary
Love the new look.
Great new blog!!! Love the ismple lines…