Sunday, April 19, 2009

Free stuff for you, part the second.

OH. And speaking of free stuff, there are still two spots left from the other post. I'm doing this not so much as a what-the-heck-let's-DO-this-meme thing but as a give-myself-something-constructive-to-do-with-my-free-time-over-the-summer-so-I'm-not-left-to-my-own-devices-because-we-all-know-that-can-only-end-in-tears thing.

So please, please, can't at least two more of you find it in the goodness of your hearts to comment on that other post and get the free stuff?

You don't actually have to sign up to do it on your own blog (although you can if you want, or even in lower numbers, like just doing it for one or two people). I'll never check on you. You can feel good about yourself by helping save me from myself AND.... you get something awesome from me. And we all know how cool I am.

Right, guys? Right?

I really can't believe how hard I'm having to push this. Doesn't anyone like getting free stuff anymore?


(If for some strange and miraculous reason more than five people end up commenting I'll see what I can do for some of the rest of you but I can't make any guarantees. I have a lot of extra unscheduled mischief to be getting into, after all. )

Home improvement.

Or at least blog improvement, although I plan to do some home improvement this summer as well (which will probably be in another post). This is one of (several) things on my mind, especially since I have a long-ish paper to write that I don't particularly feel like working on at the moment. I'm not a techno-geek type of person, so while I am adequately adept at making my blog look presentable given nice, pre-swinged* widget generators to work with, I can't really do much of anything on my own as far as blog design goes. Which is frustrating when there are no nice, pre-swinged widget generators that do what I want them to.

Example: I want a nice, classy, unique background for my blog that says, "I am awesome. But not necessarily normal. But not too not-normal, either." And I don't want it to be too scrapbook-y.** Because while scrapbook-y stuff can be cute and fun, I personally don't do scrapbooking and I worry that it makes my blog look too crafty and may mislead potential readers into thinking the wrong things about my blog and pegging it as something that it's not. And the only real pre-swinged type blog backgrounds I've been able to find in the whole (extremely limited) time I've been looking have either been 1) not really pre-swinged with WAY too much assembly required on my part, 2) scrapbook, scrapbook, and more scrapbook, or 3) Blogger's generic backgrounds.

So what's a girl to do?

Turn to her loyal (seven+)*** readers!

If any of you people are gifted in this area (or know someone who is) and want to make (or volunteer them to make) my blog pretty for free, let me know. Because, really, you'll be doing all of us a favor by letting us look at something besides the lighthouse or the black-and-white stationery with ribbons.

Or, if you really, really, really love the lighthouse or the ribbons, tell me that, too.


UPDATE: Wow. The power of procrastination can work wonders. With the input of Shallow Man and some tutorials, I've managed to make it look a lot more like what I want it to look like. This is only temporary, unless it works (or unless no semi-professionals out there want to fix it). Let me know what you think.


*pronounced "swindge-d." This is a favorite family word which I discovered, once I moved out for college and used in on my roommates only to get blank stares as a result, that the rest of the world is sadly deprived for not knowing. Pre-swinged means what (I think) it sounds like it should mean: Already made, no assembly required, maybe-just-add-water but pretty much good to go with minimal effort or assemblage or work on your part. Pre-swinged. Use it in a sentence today and spread the good news. Note that while no studies have yet been made to determine if a thing can be just plain swinged, I am coming up on summer break and will have extra time with which to delve into this and other mysteries of the universe.

**Disclaimer: I do not think any less of anyone who may happen to use some of these scrapbook-y blog backgrounds on their blogs. I think they can actually be really nice looking. They just aren't what I'm looking for with my blog.

***Yes, I know there are actually more of you than that. But "seven" still just has a nice ring to it.

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Free stuff for you!

So I saw this a while back on Barb's blog and thought it was a fun idea. Therefore, in the interest of taking a break from studying for finals, I give you:

The Free Stuff Challeeeeenge!!! (thank you, Stinkoman.)

Here's how it works:

The first five people to comment on this post will get something handmade by me. I reserve the right to choose what it is when I see who comments.

The winners must be willing to post this on their blog and do the same for five of their readers. Winners are also allowed, if they wish, to post a picture of their prize, although this is not required.

Prizes will be mailed or hand-delivered (depending on where you live) by the end of 2009. So you'd be getting a surprise as part of the package! Really, how can you lose? (Except by not being one of the first five people to comment... Maybe number six will get a booby prize.)

UPDATE: I'm trying not to feel offended here, folks. Four days and only three comments so far? Do you really not trust my handmade stuff? This could be delicious treats, it could be something cool for your wall, it could be something awesome to wear, it could be a teddy bear, for goodness' sake. It could be anything! Or is it that you don't want to make something for other people? You could use the alternate version of this and just do it for three people. Or do you just prefer to lurk? But really, I promise, your handmade gift will be amazing. Just comment!.