Holy Upcycled Crafty Giveaway!

No joke all of this could be yours! 

We are having one of the biggest giveaways I have ever seen. OK so it isn't a trip to Hawaii, but we are talking about handcrafted items here. This giveaway is a serious score!

Here is what we have from top to bottom, left to right. Like you are reading a book unless you are in Japan. Eco Friendly Soy Crayons $12, Upcycle Clutch $50, Handcrafted Earrings $31, Adjustable Ring $N/A, Hand Knit Pot Holder $N/A , Upcycled Hair Clip $N/A, Paper Bead Earrings $18, Handcrafted Polymer Clay Rose Ring $21, Upcycled Pin $N/A, Upcycled Necklace $12, Handmade Toddler Size 3 Lemon Skirt $15, Upcycled Faux Leather Wrist Cuff $15.

This giveaway is part of the Upcycled by Ash auction to benefit the National Wildlife Federation. Check out the auction here- http://on.fb.me/fQuOi7 The auction and the giveaway are running until midnight on Saturday April 23rd.

How to enter the giveaway: 

You only have to do one of the following but you are welcome to do everything to increase your chances of winning.

• Place a Bid, each bid placed will also count as 1 ENTRY EACH into the giveaway 
• Write a Blog Post, write a post about this auction on your blog. 5 ENTRIES. You must include links to upcycledbyash.blogspot.com, the auction, and your favorite item/artist's online shop, blog or facebook page if provided. Leave a comment on the giveaway photo in the auction with the link to your post - leave comment here, https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=203439823021809&set=a.203155696383555.51473.143109902388135&type=1&theater 
• Write a Facebook Note, follow the directions for a writing a blog post, but post it as a note from your personal facebook page. You must tag 30 people in the note to receive the 5 ENTRIES. Don't forget to tag Upcycled by Ash in the note so we know that you wrote it and shared it with your friends.
• Share, share the link to the auction album and/or your favorite items on facebook. 1 ENTRY EACH. Be sure to tag @Upcycled by Ash in your post so we know you shared.
• Tweet, tweet about the auction and/or your favorite items on twitter. 1 ENTRY EACH. Be sure to mention @upcycledbyash in your tweet so we know you tweeted.

Auction to Benefit the National Wildlife Federation and HUGE GIVEAWAY!

Alyssa Milano

Upcycled By Ash is proud to announce our online auction for the National Wildlife Federation. We've gathered a group of talented and compassionate crafters to contribute to our effort to raise funds for NWF, and to  recognize the environmental destruction that took place in the Gulf of Mexico one year ago.

This week marks the anniversary of the devastating oil rig explosion and spill that swept the gulf, poisoning the environment and the wildlife inhabiting it. A heart breaking number of animals lost their lives and countless were severely injured and displaced. Sadly, animals residing in the gulf are still appearing covered in oil today. These innocent creatures are paying the price for human error and destruction. 

Actress Alyssa Milano, a genuine supporter of the NWF and its efforts, donated her jeans to Upcycled by Ash to be recycled and used for our cause. Ash upcycled two pairs of Alyssa's pants into eco-friendly bags which are available for bidding in the auction, alongside the many other beautifully handcrafted items donated by passionate crafters. 

The Upcycled by Ash auction to benefit the National Wildlife Federation will run from Sunday April 17 through Saturday April 23 on the Upcycled by Ash facebook page.

Click here to go the auction site now

How to participate:

1. "Like" the Upcycled by Ash page on facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Upcycled-by-Ash/143109902388135
2. Go to the photo album "National Wildlife Federation Auction". This is where the auction and bidding are taking place. - https://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.203155696383555.51473.143109902388135
3. To bid, leave a comment with your bid under each item that you wish to bid on. Note - You must "like" the Upcycled by Ash facebook page in order to leave comments/bids.

Don't miss out on the giveaway 

component of our auction!

Our giveaway features 12 items donated by the various crafters who donated to the auction. One lucky winner will win all 12 items! You only have to do one of the following to enter but are welcome to do as many as you like to increase your odds of winning.

How to enter the giveaway:

• Place a Bid, each bid placed will also count as 1 ENTRY EACH into the giveaway 
• Write a Blog Post, write a post about this auction on your blog. 5 ENTRIES. You must include links to upcycledbyash.blogspot.com, the auction, and your favorite item/artist's online shop, blog or facebook page if provided. Leave a comment on the giveaway photo in the auction with the link to your post - leave comment here, https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=203439823021809&set=a.203155696383555.51473.143109902388135&type=1&theater 
• Write a Facebook Note, follow the directions for a writing a blog post, but post it as a note from your personal facebook page. You must tag 30 people in the note to receive the 5 ENTRIES. Don't forget to tag Upcycled by Ash in the note so we know that you wrote it and shared it with your friends.
• Share, share the link to the auction album and/or your favorite items on facebook. 1 ENTRY EACH. Be sure to tag @Upcycled by Ash in your post so we know you shared.
• Tweet, tweet about the auction and/or your favorite items on twitter. 1 ENTRY EACH. Be sure to mention @upcycledbyash in your tweet so we know you tweeted.

Thank you for your support and participation. Please help us spread the word about this auction to benefit the National Wildlife Federation by sharing the links with your friends and family. Together we can make a difference!

Click here to go the auction site now

Here are a few of the awesome auction items

Upcycled Turtle bag made from Alyssa Milano's pants.

Upcycled Bubble bag made from Alyssa Milano's pants.  

12 Eco-Friendly Sea Turtle Soy Crayons 

Fair Trade Bangle Bracelet

Upcycled Messenger Tote made from Actor Keith Powell's pants

 Upcycled Kimono Fabric Necklace

Vintage Butterfly & Recycled Paper Bead Necklace 

Upcycled Piping Plover

Recycled Water Bottle Bracelets

Vintage Button Earrings Giveaway

Ali of Button Willow Jewelry makes these fantastic earrings out of vintage buttons and recycled guitar strings. They are super cute with timeless style. I'm thrilled to host this giveaway for Ali and two of her gorgeous earrings.

Soft Purple Satin Earrings

Silver Tear Drop Earrings

At Button Willow Jewerly Ali pairs vintage and retro buttons with guitar string to create distinctive designs with a unique twist. Ali uses her Grandmother's and Great Grandmother's vintage buttons in many of the pieces, adding a touch of history and love to each design. 

Enter by doing one or more of the following-

• Leave a comment on this blog post telling me which of the two giveaway earrings you like best, the silver or the purple.
• Leave a comment on this blog post with the link to your favorite pair of earrings from the Button Willow Jewelry Etsy shop - http://www.etsy.com/shop/ButtonWillowJewelry
• Share the link to Ali's store or your favorite item from her store on Facebook http://www.etsy.com/shop/ButtonWillowJewelry.
• "Like" Button Willow Jewelry on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Button-Willow-Jewelry
• Share this giveaway on twitter, make sure to include @upcycledbyash and @TheButtonGirl in the tweet so I can see that you shared.
• Subscribe to the Upcycled by Ash Blog (see the widget/links in the side bar).

Each action you complete is worth one entry. Be sure to leave a separate comment here on this post for each action to be sure we count all your entries. Please leave your email address on your comments. If I have no way to contact you, you can't win.

This giveaway will run for one week, April 4th - April 11th. On April 11th the winner will be announced in a post here on Upcycled by Ash. The winner will also be notified by email.

Good Luck!!!

Interested in entering another great giveaway? Check out this one going on now through April 8 at String Bean Studios - http://string-bean-studios.blogspot.com/2011/04/exclusive-giveaway-build-your-own.html

"Choose Your Own" Earrings Winners!

Thank you to everyone who participated, commented and shared about my "Choose Your Own' Earrings Giveaway! Just because you didn't win doesn't mean that you can't own a pair of my handmade earrings. For today, March 3rd 2011, only you can get 15% off anything in the Upcycled by Ash Etsy store by using the coupon code - MARCH3

The lucky winners of the "Choose Your Own" Earrings Giveaway are... Kim Trick, Susie Wiener and Kat Emerick. Winners have been notified by email.

Shop Upcycled by Ash on Etsy  

http://www.etsy.com/shop/upcycledbyash

"Choose Your Own" Earrings Giveaway!

I've decided to do an earring giveaway this week. Do you like gold, silver or brass? Would you like purple, green, red, blue??? I've got my favorites but now it is your turn to tell me about yours.

Three lucky winners will be able to pick any pair of earring from my Etsy store to call their very own (one each). Be sure to check back throughout the week, I have a bunch of new earrings to post. I'm sure that you'll find something that you will just love.

Guys don't get left out. Girlfriends, wives, moms and grandma's all love just because gifts!

To enter, please do two of the following:

• Leave a comment on this blog post with the link to your favorite pair of earrings from my Etsy shop - http://www.etsy.com/shop/upcycledbyash
• Share the link to my store or your favorite item on Facebook. Make sure to leave a message here letting me know you shared.
• "Like" Upcycled by Ash on Facebook - http://on.fb.me/ey53fA
• Share this giveaway on twitter, make sure to include @upcycledbyash in the tweet so I can see that you shared.
• Subscribe to the Upcycled by Ash Blog (see the widget/links in the side bar).

This giveaway will run from Feburary 23rd 2011 through midnight on March 2nd 2011. The winners will be informed via facebook, twitter or email and announced on the blog on March 3rd 2011. Be sure to comment with a way to contact you should you win.

 

Lymtastic Winner!!!

The winner of my handmade Lymetastic clutch is...

Laura Usher

I have to admit I was going to be very surprised if you didn't win. It was really obvious through all your promoting of the giveaway and commenting on my posts that you wanted this prize. I'm glad that you won.

I'll get your address and send it out to you this week. Be sure to snap a pic of it when you take it out and send it to me!!!

Laura, the clutch and I at the TTC Gala

Lymetastic Giveaway

YAY a giveaway. I feel like it has been forever since I did a giveaway. This month's giveaway item is the fantastic clutch I made for the Turn the Corner Gala. It was a big hit, everyone loved it. Now it can be yours!!!

About the clutch... The outer fabric is a silky, shiny black. The fabric flowers are handmade. The sequined ribbon adds a lot of fun to the design. The inner lining is a green paisley print. The clutch closes with a magnetic snap. Large enough for your phone and the essentials!

Dates
Entries will be recorded from Monday January 17th through Sunday January 23rd. The winner will be announced on Monday January 24th.

How to Enter 

1. On the blog- Every comment left on this blog between now and the 24th will count as one entry. You may enter as many times as you like.
2. On the blog- Follow the blog for an extra entry (see sidebar).
3. Twitter- Tweet about this giveaway to your followers, be sure to include @upcycledbyash in the tweet so I know you tweeted. 
4. Facebook- "like" the Upcycled by Ash FB Page and leave a comment on the wall.
5. Facebook- Post about the giveaway on Facebook. Be sure to include @Upcycled by Ash in the post so I know you did it.

You may enter every day and as many time as you like. The more you comment and post, the more likely you are to win! All entries will be recorded and assigned a number, I will use an online random number generator to determine the winner.

There are buttons at the bottom of this post right above the comments to automatically post on your twitter and facebook profiles. USE THEM!

Grrr, shiny material is so hard to photograph!

Check out these Lymetastic chicks!

Giveaway on String Bean Studios!

 My friend Keri at String Bean Studios is hosting a giveaway for me! 

I know I've been MIA big time lately. I'm going to blame Lyme. It's been rough and my sewing machine is literally starting to collect dust in the corner. I have lots of projects cooking around in my brain though. Soon I will get my stitch back!

The giveaway is on String Bean Studios so head on over for the details and get yourself entered to win! Follow this link to enter- http://bit.ly/gYPaIy

This fancy little clutch is 8 inches long and 4.5 inches tall. The white lacy material on the outside is part of an upcycled dress. The clutch is lined with a batik fabric.

 

You've got to be in it to win it! String Bean Studios

And the Winner is... Me!

I seriously hope to hear those words one day very soon. I have decided that I am going to win a giveaway and I really hope that it is the giveaway that Kristen from Our Ordinary Life is doing right now! I totally want a Flip UltraHD and she is giving one away! There aren't many things on my Christmas wish list but that is one of them.

I want to start Vloging without needing the help of my husband. I want to record special messages for my friends to cheer them up and make them smile when our chronic illness really has them down. I want to capture living moments with my family to laugh and have warm fuzzies over later.

Before I can do any of that though, I need a camera!

So Universe, God, Self, Who or Whatever; I'm putting it out there and I am expecting you to bring it to me. Ah, Amen?

Enter to win on the Our Ordinary Life website- http://bit.ly/hh5bLz 

GIVEAWAY!!! Whimsical Ocean Necklace

 Whimsical Ocean Necklace

Sweet! My first jewelry giveaway. OK, yes I did a giveaway of a pair of earrings for my friend Keri, BUT this time it is a piece that I made and I love it! 

I rarely find any jewelry that I really like. Since I started making it myself I have discovered why... I like super unique styles. I don't want any cookie cuter pieces that everyone has or anyone could make in about 5 minutes. I like art. I like my jewelry whether it is simple or intricate to look like a piece of wearable art. 

I have a few other awesome necklaces finished and I promised to post pics soon! In the meantime, ENTER TO WIN THIS ONE!!!

How to enter-

This giveaway is a tiny bit complex, not hard though. I am the featured artist on the Lymenaide Holiday Bazaar from today, Monday November 22nd - Friday November 26. This necklace is the giveaway item I have chosen to go along with that post. That means you have to leave a comment on my Lymenaide Holiday Bazaar booth to be entered to win. 

Additionally... I have an add on for all my besties out there! If the winner there (on my Bazaar booth) also happens to have left a comment and participated here on my Upcycled by Ash blog, that person will also win the earrings I made to match the necklace! 

Step by Step here is how to enter- 

1. leave a comment on this post, you can leave more than one to increase your chances of winning. 
2. leave a comment on my Lymenaide Holiday Bazaar Booth- http://bit.ly/alPXEe but... there is a bit of twist here, you need to read the Feature Artist post to know what you are supposed to share in your comment there- http://bit.ly/a8ULTd
3. Share links to this post and my booth on the Lymenaide Holiday Bazaar to further improve your chances of winning on facebook and twitter. Make sure to include @upcycledbyash and @Lymenaide when you share the links, this will automatically send messages to let me and the bazaar know that you shared. (you need to "like" the Facebook pages for this to work)
4. I almost forgot! Purchase something from one of the booths on the Lymenaide Holiday Bazaar and leave a comment telling me what you bought!

Remember you have to leave comments on both this post and my holiday bazaar booth to be entered to win both the necklace and the earrings. Only entering on the booth will only get you the necklace. Only entering here on this post will get you nothing. Booth and this post = earrings and necklace!

Make sure you are following Upcycled by Ash and Lymenaide on Facebook and @upcycledbyash and @lymenaide on Twitter! 

Participation is key to this giveaway! It also makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside to know that you care about me enough to enter the giveaways and to share them with your friends and family.

There are two giveaways each week on the Lymenaide Holiday Bazaar so be sure to check back every Monday and Thursday to get entered to win all sorts of great stuff from amazing artists in the Lyme disease community. It is also a great place to do some holiday gift shopping!

The winner of this giveaway will be announced at 5:00pm PST on Friday November 26th.

Earring Giveaway from String Bean Studios!

String Bean Studios - Keri Aragon

I am in Santa Cruz right now, which means I get to spend some time with my friend Keri from String Bean Studios. I love hanging out with Keri, we both have Lyme so it's easy to understand each other. This Wednesday Keri and I are going to be sharing a booth at the Santa Cruz Farmers Market. I am very excited, this will be the first time I take my creations out to sell to the general public. Lucky me I have Keri to hold my hand!

And lucky you, this week I am doing a giveaway on Upcycled by Ash of a pair of Keri's awesome earrings! Aren't they great!!!

Ways to enter...

1. Go to Keri's Etsy shop and browse around. Come back here and leave a message telling me what your favorite String Bean Studio piece is. - http://www.etsy.com/shop/stringbeanstudios
2. "Like" String Bean Studios and Upcycled by Ash on Facebook (those colored words are links)
3. Tweet about this giveaway on twitter. Make sure to include @upcycledbyash and @sbsjewelry in the tweet so I can see you did it.
4. Share this giveaway with your friends on facebook (see the icons at the bottom)

If you have trouble leaving comments on this blog, check your cookies. The problem is usually your settings. You will get credit for each entry provided it is properly linked so that I can actually see you did it.

The winner will be announced next Monday November.... something or other... 15th, thank you iPhone! Enter every day and share the link with your friends.

String Bean Studios
www.stringbeanstudios.etsy.com
www.facebook.com/stringbeanstudios​
http://string-bean-studios.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/#!/sbsjewelry

YAY for Mini Wallets!!! - Giveaway

 Mini Wallets

$28 each includes shipping

While I was gallivanting around Northern California and Southern Oregon with my family I stopped in every artsy store I could find. (Ashland, OR is an excellent place for the Artsy) At one of the fabric stores I saw some cute little wallets. They had the most amazing fabrics at the shop, the wallets were adorable. They weren't exactly the way I would want them. Way to flimsy, but I loved the shape. When I got home I experimented and came up with my own design. I love them! I even took one out for a spin last night.

On Saturday I mentioned that I would make one of these wallets as a gift for one of you! All you have to do is leave me a comment telling me what colors you would like your mini wallet to be. One person will win, and I will do my best to make a wallet in the colors of your choice. Make sure I can find you if you win. If your blogger account isn't public I don't know who you are. I also am having the damnedest time trying to figure out who anonymous is... Leave your email address or twitter account if you are unsure.

Please leave your comments here on the blog. If you have trouble leaving a comment, check your cookies. Sometimes the settings there are hindering your being able to leave comments. If you can't figure it out let me know, and you can leave a comment on the Upcycled by Ash Facebook Page.

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter @upcycledbyash and here on blogger (see the sidebar). Leave a comment telling me you did and you will get another entry.

Tweet or share this on facebook for a third- Awesome mini wallet GIVEAWAY on @upcycledbyash - http://bit.ly/9111Jr

RECAP-
1. leave a comment here on the blog
2. follow me on blogger and twitter
3. tweet/mention this Giveaway on Facebook and/or twitter

To make a purchase contact me at:
ashvantol@gmail.com or send me a tweet @upcycledbyash

Payments are via PayPal, Credit Card or Personal Check

GOOD LUCK!
winner to be announced Monday October 11 
Winner = Jodie Pralong

Making the pattern pieces. I had to make sure that all the lines/cuts matched up folded in half so that the each side of the wallet matched and then again when the flap folded down. Then I had to cut a second piece that was "exactly" the same only smaller for the interfacing. The smaller pattern piece is the most important since it is the interfacing that gives the wallet it's form.

About the word exactly...  I'm not a perfectionist. I'm far from it in fact. As my friend Nani once quoted "perfectionism is the greatest killer of creativity". I do a lot of my designing freehand, luckily I have a good eye!

Winner of the Choose Your Own Bag Giveaway!!!

And the winner of the first ever Choose your own bag giveaway on Upcycled by Ash is...

Abigail Ameri!!!

Congrats Abbie! I know you really wanted to win.

I used a different random generator to find the winner this time- http://www.psychicscience.org/random.aspx just to mix things up.

Abbie is a friend and a fellow Lyme Warrior and crafter. I love the crochet armbands she's been working on this week. Abbie has a great blog if you don't know it already be sure to check it out- http://web.me.com/thesmartchick/Live_With_Lyme/Blog/Blog.html

Snappy Dragon is all yours!!!

Snappy Dragon

Choose Your Own Bag Giveaway!

Snappy Dragon

For the Birds

Ginger Yoga Tote

Pin-Up Girls

Asian Clutch

Paisley Clutch

Do you remember the Choose Your Own Adventure books? I loved them, so this month I decided to do a choose your own adventure style giveaway. I chose a variety of my bags to put into the giveaway. There will only be one winner, but that person will be able to pick from the bags pictured in this post which they want to win.

Dates
Entries will be recorded from Wednesday, August 25th through Tuesday, August 31st. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, September 1st.

How to Enter 

1. On the blog- Every comment left on this blog between now and the 31st will count as one entry. You may enter as many times as you like. 
2. Twitter- Tweet about this giveaway to your followers, be sure to include @upcycledbyash in the tweet so I know you tweeted. 
3. Facebook- "like" the Upcycled by Ash FB Page and leave a comment on the wall.
4. Facebook- Post about the giveaway on Facebook. Be sure to include @Upcycled by Ash in the post so I know you did it.

You may enter every day and as many time as you like. The more you comment and post, the more likely you are to win! All entries will be recorded and assigned a number, I will use an online random number generator to determine the winner.

There are buttons at the bottom of this post right above the comments to automatically post on your twitter and facebook profiles. USE THEM!

Learn more about the bags

Snappy Dragon

Ginger Yoga Tote

For the Birds

Pin-Up Girls

Paisley Clutch

Asian Clutch

Good Luck!!!

And the Winner Is...

Congratulations Leticia Castillo 

Leticia is the 1st ever Upcycled by Ash giveaway winner
and the proud new owner of the Sassy Chica Wallet!!!

I used www.random.org to determine the winner of the Sassy Chica Wallet. I have to say I wasn't too suprised when Leticia turned out to be the winner. She must really love this wallet. She entered the giveaway everyday. She left comments on the blog and she tweeted it out like crazy (@lcastillo8246)! I know the Sassy Chica is going to a good home. Thanks Leticia for all your support!

Later this month I will be doing another giveaway. This time the prize will be one of my upcycled messenger totes. 

Also stay tuned this month for my first attempt at making a unisex wallet. That's right boys, I'm going to upcycle for you too!  

Thank you to everyone who entered the Sassy Chica Wallet Giveaway. I loved reading all your comments and checking out your blogs!  

View the original post and see more pictures of the wallet- http://upcycledbyash.blogspot.com/2010/07/sassy-chica-wallet-giveaway.html 

Sassy Chica Wallet Giveaway!!!

All Folded up and Abstract

Yes, it is true, I am going to give this wallet away to a lucky one of you! You will have to work for it just a little bit though. Nothing hard or time consuming I promise. 

About the Wallet-

The wallet turned out great. I love the way it is so abstract when it is folded up, but when you open it BAM, she's beautiful.

The wallet has eight credit card slips and two deep bill/check pockets. The outer image is embroidered on with matching threads. A single snap holds the wallet shut and keeps your valuables in place.

The materials used were all hand-me-downs, left over scraps of fabric from other projects that had yet to find a use. They were donated to me by my mom and grandma. Who knew their junk would turn out to be such a treasure!

How to Enter the Giveaway-

•  #1 Leave Comments! Tell me what you think of the wallet. Comment on my other posts. Every comment you leave will equal an entry. BUT, comments have to be left here on the Upcycled by Ash blog. Comments left on facebook don't count.
• #2 Tweet about the Sassy Chica Wallet Giveaway. Make sure to include @upcycledbyash in your tweet so I know you shared it. Every tweet with the link is and entry.
• #3 Go to the Lymenaide YouTube Channel and watch the PSAs and interviews. Leave comments and share the videos on twitter and facebook. Be sure to include @upcycledbyash on twitter and @Ashley van Tol on facebook so I see the posts. Again every comment and re-post/link will get your name in the draw another time. 
• #4 Participation Points. If you are really giving it your all, leaving valid comments and sharing the link to the giveaway and links to Lymenaide YouTube, you will get extra points.

Don't forget to follow Upcycled by Ash and subscribe to the Lymenaide YouTube Channel while you are at it! AND have fun, ask me questions, tell me about yourself, how else will we ever get to know one another?!?!? Be social, make friends and send me the link to your blog.

Entries are being recorded from Monday July 26th through Sunday August 1st.
Winner will be announced Monday August 2nd. 

Sorry, my credit cards and cash don't come with the wallet!