Inspiration Reward Blog Morsel Opportunity #9

I really, really, REALLY hate tax time. I have been buried all week in bloody forms and schedules and booklets and am just now coming up for air. All my posts this week?  They were written last week in anticipation of Tax Camp.

It's over now.

I would like to have a vacation on the beach, but that ain't happenin' because Uncle Sam insists on being paid an unholy sum of money (if you ask me). Now that we're actually going to have universal health care, I actually don't mind so much - it's good to see the world's most prosperous nation finally manning up and acknowledging that health care should be a right and not a privilege. Of course, it will probably be a mess for awhile, and a lot of people will fuss and cuss and stomp their feet like Rumpelstiltsken pitching a fit.

But they did that when slavery was abolished, and when women were given the right to vote, and when the whole Civil Rights thing went down. The world was coming to an end on each of those occasions, and yet, it was all for the best.

I'm optimistic about humankind's better nature!

But I'm not supposed to discuss politics here, am I?

So back to my original thought of desiring quality baking time on the beach! In the spirit of Spring Break, Mai Tai's, and that sexy Banana Man ("Daaaaaaaaay-OH! Day-ay-ay-OH!"), I've created this card kit.

I should note that this particular kit is a silent testament to just how sick my paper addiction is. I'm supposed to be taking things from my own horded stash and sending it on to a better life with others. I'm sad to say that the patterned paper and a few of the embellishments were actually purchased with y'all in mind.

I couldn't help it! The sale was so terrific!  The paper was double-sided and coordinated! It had penguins doing the hula and eating popsicles, for Pete's sake! How can any person be expected to walk away from penguins doing the hula and eating popsicles?!

Who do you people think I am - Iron Man?!!!!

ahem...

I was simply doing my humanitarian duty by rescuing that paper (and a few doo-dads) from the dark bins of obscurity where they would surely have perished.

I hope that two of you can provide loving homes for these orphans....

Please share the love and nominate someone here whose work has inspired you between...

April 1 and April 14, 2010.

If you're new to this exercise, I created two identical card kits as prizes (see inventory below) - one for the nominator and one for the nominee who inspired the nominator. The pair will be selected via a random number generator.

I’m trying to do this every other Friday, and THEN, at the end of 10 weeks, I’ll have a random drawing from ALL the nominees and nominators for ONE piece of actual Blog Candy - something a little more substantial than a Morsel...  like rubbah!

WHAT TO DO

1. Nominate someone whose work has inspired you in the time frame indicated by linking to the art that inspired you (use Mr. Linky below). You will put YOUR name into the name field, but link to HER art.
2. If your nominee is randomly chosen, you, the nominator, will need to leave me a comment on the announcement post telling me how to contact you so I can get your snail mail address. If you don't, I'll have no way of getting your prize to you because Mr. Linky will only have a link to your nominee, not you.

RULES

• As a nominator, you can nominate as many as three different people each time we have a draw.
• As a nominee, you can be nominated an unlimited number of times.
• The nomination period for this draw is April 1 – April 14, 2010.
• The nomination deadline is 11:59 p.m., EST, on Monday, April 19, 2010.

THE PRIZE

The prize is a card kit I created out of coordinating materials from my stash. Although I'm only including one card base, there are enough materials to make more than one card.

This card kit includes:

• 1 card base and envelope (not shown)
• 12 pieces of Imaginesce 6" x 6" double-sided patterned paper (2 of each pattern)
• 3 Nestibility (#8, I believe) paper shapes
• 4 stamped images suitable for Copic coloring, if you so wish (not shown - it's a surprise!)
• 2 yards of Martha Stewart ribbon
• 3 glittery flowers with brads (Heidi Grace)
• 3 buttons (Autumn Leaves)
• 3 large rub-on phrases (Making Memories)
• 4 woven photo corners (Making Memories) 
• 3 gems (Kaiser)
• 5 labels (Martha Stewart)
• 1 sheet of embossed foil labels (K & Co Urban Rhapsody collection)

Remember, all nominees and nominators from the five Inspiration Rewards are eligible to enter for a Blog Candy (in the form of stamps) drawing in June, 2010.

Comments

[Lin]

Oh, these are looking fun! I am beginning to keep this in mind each month, and am doing better keeping a list of my favorites. Thanks, Deborah! This is my favorite time of year, too, but just because of the season, as my DH deals with that nasty tax stuff :)

[Hannah Nicole F]

to darn cute Deborah! thanks again for the chance.

[Hannah Nicole F]

Hi again Deborah.
my first nomination is wrong sorry, I didn't read correctly and nominated from today. I hate to have it deleted because it's truly inspiring but it's the wrong date 8~(

[Dawn T]

What a great treat Deborah. How hard though to chose only three.... there is so much inspiration out there!!!!
Glad you're got your taxes sorted.... even though I work for the NZ Inland Revenue - this July 7 will be the first time I have to file a return... suddenly earning interest on some investments!!!

[Jill]

LOVE this feature on your great blog! Thanks for hosting this fun way to celebrate eachother's creativity!

[stampersuzz]

Thanks for hosting this Deborah! I enjoy seeing what people choose and I like to surf the pool and re-look at everything. There is so much goodness to look at!

[Barb :)]

I love this feature, Deborah! Thanks for doing it again! Glad you have time to breathe now! :)

[Anne B.]

This is so fun Deborah!!

[NancyK]

I love this...it gives me a chance to really look at the offerings in the HA Flickr pool and on the inter-web...holey cow I realize I'm such a hack ;)
btw- I paid more in taxes this year with both hubs and I under-employed than in the past...how does that work?!
blessings to you,
nancy

[Janet Ribet]

I love seeing what other people choose! And going back to see the amazing creations from the HA flickr group.
And that's a tempting prize you've put together!

[jaemom]

My first time with this... I think I did it right? What a fun thing to do, thanks for hosting! I actually was going to nominate your bird/cage "accident" card (love it!), but then realized that you probably don't plan to give yourself one of the prizes. heh. ;) But know that you inspire!

[Norma J]

Sorry Deb, but you are an inspiration to me, so I had to list you :)

[Lee Anne]

Oh, this was fun! Thank you!

[Deborah Nolan]

Dawn, Im so impressed that youve got investments!... I have a jar of change squirreled away in my underwear drawer.

Deborah

[Deborah Nolan]

Nancy,
I don know about you, but I have to pay self-employment tax, and that is just KILLING me! I owed TWICE the amount of the SET than I did on just the regular tax!

Deborah

[Stephanie]

"a lot of people will fuss and cuss and stomp their feet ... but they did that when slavery was abolished" - thanks for the laugh! So true, but absolutely hilarious when you put it that way. Thanks again for sharing your wonderful sense of humor!