Wednesday Sponsor Giveaway: Freehand Scraps, Big Picture Scrapbooking, + Paper & Co. Show

First, I want to pass along a thought for today that I came across on my friend Alex's blog about courage & leaps:

What I realized is that there is not just one big moment of courage in
our lives. There are many. These moments come to us in different ways.
At times we are forced into a leap (unexpected pregnancy, when parents
or partners pass away, when we loose our job). At times we are called
into a leap (when someone invites us for a trip of a lifetime, when our
partner wants to move to a new city, when we are offered a chance, when
we take the "money maker" role to support our family). Then there are
also the daily tiny leaps we take for the sake of adventure (when we
try new types of food, music, when we go out on a date, when we talk to
a stranger, when we transition from blogger friends to real life
friends). No matter how small, silly or hard, tiny, dramatic or
forgotten... All leaps are important because little by little, we live
through change, we figure out how to cope, we move forward, we learn
who we are, and we build our confidence for the bigger leaps, the ones
we seek for ourselves.

Maybe someone else out there needed to hear this today too...

Dottedline

And now, three cool midweek sponsor giveaways are on tap for today:

2

• One person will receive a February Kit from Freehand Scraps.

Lom5
Stacyj

• Two people will receive passes to Stacy Julian's fantastic online Library of Memories class at Big Picture Scrapbooking. Focused on getting your scrapbook albums in working order and organizing your photos (in a very "you-centered" way), I highly recommend the class and/or Stacy's book Photo Freedom. Class begins February 12th and runs for 16 weeks. This class is only offered once a year.

BANNER PACS

• One person will receive 4 classes for the Paper & Co. event in Italy on March 27, 28, and 29 (giveaway does not include travel, accommodations, or food for the event). You can check out a list of the classes here. Italy sure sounds good to me right about now :).

To be included in the drawing today please leave a comment below and share your most recent "leap" or act of courage. Comments will be closed at 8pm Pacific tonight with the winners posted shortly after.

Dottedline

I would also like to take a minute to welcome and thank my newest blog sponsors:

Digital Birdhouse : digital scrapbook products
Scarlet Lime : monthly kit club
The Paper Pixie : paper embellishments
The Digital Scrapbook Teacher : photoshop tutorials and classes for hybrid + digital scrapbooking
Lettergirls : delightful hand-created address stamps

For more information on sponsor opportunities send me an email: ali at aliedwardsdesign dot com

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1452 thoughts

  1. Joanne says…
    02/04/2009

    I'm a simple girl....the February kit is what I'm after!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Kristi says…
    02/04/2009

    Thank you for this excellent topic.
    My most recent BIG leap was in August - quitting my job and going to law school. And wow, has it been a huge leap!!
    My most recent littler leap was Monday - wearing a cute dress with tights and Uggs. I don't normally dress so trendy, and at first I felt a little odd. I wasn't sure if I looked cute or ridiculous. But I got a lot of compliments, and realized that I can be just as creative in decorating myself as I can my scrapbook pages!

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Jeanette says…
    02/04/2009

    My most recent leap was to forgive someone and learn to them trust again.

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Kelly H says…
    02/04/2009

    My recent leap would be moving the family from our comfortable home in Australia to the land of Montevideo, South America to due my husband's work. I have learnt to appreciate everything and that we were very spolit in Australia. But this leap has also brought us closer together as a family and I even get to do more scrapbooking...

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Dianne G says…
    02/04/2009

    RE-NEW my word for the 2009 This year is about me. I started a weight and exercise program last April and the goal by this February was to lose 40 pounds. Down 44 pounds and crossed that off my list.
    I leaped into a 1 year post graduate'Second Career' program at college and I will graduate in October 2009 on my 60th birthday. I will be 're-trained' and ready to 're-enter' the workforce.

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Jennifer says…
    02/04/2009

    My most recent "leap" of faith was decided to take a break from dating. I've always felt like I needed to have someone in my life to be complete. I'm slowly learning that what I am right now is enough, and I'm a complete, whole person regardless of whether or not a man takes interest in me.

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Lisa @celebrate CREATIVITY says…
    02/04/2009

    Wow, lots of fun goodies.

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Kristine Sherman says…
    02/04/2009

    My most recent leap was accepting a position of management at work. New role new challenges new way of thinking.

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Suzzi says…
    02/04/2009

    I have never been a first comment! That is a leap for me. I just wanted to say that yes I did indeed need to hear that quote from Alex. I haven't taken a leap yet and that topic has been waying heaving on my mind and I'm going to put that quote on my fridge and set out for a leap a day! As Alex said, no leap is too small. Thanks and prayers for a healthy birth.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Carol E says…
    02/04/2009

    My most recent leap of courage has been giving up trying to over-control my life. I am choosing daily to let more things "go" and be more flexible. This takes a LOT of courage for me the control-addict. :) This "leap" also includes my approach to scrapbooking. Instead of trying to scrapbook EVERY event I am letting some go and focusing my creativity on what means most to me and my family. And I am learning to enjoy the new freedom I have in my life without all the self-made rules and stress.

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Michelle Smith says…
    02/04/2009

    My most recent leap of faith was deciding to go into teaching. What an awesome responsibility to mold the future generations!

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Ruth says…
    02/04/2009

    Well I am about to take a leap and try to sell some of my handmade cards. It's been a dream of mine for a long time and I think now is the time for me to give it a shot.

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Jennifer C says…
    02/04/2009

    Thank Ali ~ WOW--just what I need today. Today we have an appt for my 5 yr old who was diagnosed at her check up appt with a problem w/her heart. We are meeting with a surgeon today. We are learning to cope, working thru our worries day to day, and moving forward ~ugggghhh! Thanks again for making your blog an inspirational place to visit and share. Jennifer

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Susan Bowers says…
    02/04/2009

    My most recent leap, or act of courage, was stepping up to co-lead a mentoring ministry for women at my church. We have needed this ministry forever and this was a God-size leap that only with Him would I have been able to take.

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Meghan E says…
    02/04/2009

    My recent leap is deciding to start my own company! My brain is running rampant with new ideas and I'm scared out of my mind... but its going to be great :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Judy Lucas says…
    02/04/2009

    My biggest leap is adapting to our new baby. My patience is getting a leap (as is our budget!)
    Hope all is well with your pregnancy!
    Judy

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Nicky from Canada says…
    02/04/2009

    Great giveaways as always Ali. recent leap is just day to day life at this point. Having some difficulties with Brodys behavior as of late and just trying to handle that without a breakdown. Slowly getting it under control - but loved hearing that quote today - something I needed.
    Have a great day.

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Lourdes Quintero says…
    02/04/2009

    My most current leap of courage happened this week when at 35 I signed up for a ballroom weightloss dancing competition. It is 12 weeks long and has 3 public performances, one of them at a convention center. My knees feel week just thinking about it but I love the feeling now. It means I did take a leap!

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Tracy V says…
    02/04/2009

    Taking our bright daughter out of school this year to homeschool her has been one of my greatest leaps of Faith and courage.
    Tracy

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Nancy says…
    02/04/2009

    What a fun giveaway for a Wednesday morning!
    A small leap for me has been bringing more of "my" artwork into my office to display it. It's mostly things others have made, but they are pieces that reflect ME. I am the square peg in a round hole in my work environment & have, in the past, been too hesitant to be "me" ... I'm working hard to discover me more & to not hide anymore.

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Christine says…
    02/04/2009

    My biggest leap of courage was to leave my career in advertising cold turkey at age 28. I gave up my apartment and moved back in with my parents (which could have made my already crappy love life become abysmal, but it worked out just fine), and enter graduate school full-time to be a teacher.
    I got my Masters degree and I am now in my 4th year of Career #2.
    I took on a big ol' heap of debt in this process (which is my biggest worry right now), BUT I am doing something I love to do and I am so proud of myself for following my heart.

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Sue Bone says…
    02/04/2009

    I'm not a leaper, but I did recently audition to go on the Weakest Link and face Anne Robinson. Though some say I'm scarier than she is. I was successful and will be on a future show.

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. RachelG says…
    02/04/2009

    I am a runner. Well, I was until my doctor advised me against it for a while. He also recommended that I do any exercising with caution. Not exercising, especially running, has really effected my quality of life. I am a better wife, mother, human being when I run/exercise. I keep telling myself that I'll go for a short slow run, but when it comes down to it, I'm scared. This weekend I took a leap of faith and I went for a brisk walk six times around a track. All was well with my body, so I've gone twice more since then and plan on going again today.
    It is a small bit of exercise, but it feels so good to be doing it!

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. jpritchard says…
    02/04/2009

    i love giveaways!!...and i've got my eye on the Feb. kit :)
    {the trip to italy, although totally awesome, isn't exactly possible in the near future...i'm still in school}

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Jennifer McNeely says…
    02/04/2009

    A few years ago, we moved to a new town where I knew few people. Big leap for me. Now I may be the sole breadwinner in our household for a little while - darn recession:( And in April, I may have a chance at a new job.

    Reply 0 Replies

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