by Laura K. Curtis | Nov 20, 2013 | Crafts, Freebies & Giveaways |
Back in the day when I used to make beads, I went to a lot of trade shows. And at many of them, I would big bead my beads for other people’s beads, or just outright buy beads. I was completely addicted to Swarovski crystals, especially the vintage ones. A friend of mine and I would go in on box lots and vintage cases (these often came 12 beads to a case) and we’d sit in the hotel room laying them out on the bed and watching all the pretty colors sparkle.
Anyway, I still have a goodly number of Swarovski crystals, and even some of the vintage ones. The smaller blue-black cubes on these earrings are modern, but the all the rest are pre-1980. The fittings are all sterling silver. Perfect for those formal occasions!
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a Rafflecopter giveaway
by Laura K. Curtis | Nov 19, 2013 | Crafts, Freebies & Giveaways, Stuff!, Writing |
I know, I know, you’re fed up with me jumping up and down and shouting about Twisted. I don’t blame you. But today it’s out! *tosses confetti*
You can read an excerpt or see the hilarious Lego trailer on the Twisted page. But enough about that…back to the giving!
Today, I am giving away something really cool. Many of you know that I like to write with fountain pens. I think more people should try it, so I am giving away a set of Pilot Varsity disposable fountain pens in black, blue, pink, purple, turquoise, red and green. There’s also a nifty leather carrying case! Under normal circumstances, this set is exclusive to Levenger, as far as I know. So cool, right?
Pilot Fountain Pen giveaway
by Laura K. Curtis | Nov 18, 2013 | Books, Crafts, Freebies & Giveaways |
Today we have a guest post (and guest giveaway!) from Deb Lacy of the fabulous Mystery Playground blog. Deb has great posts (I’m particularly fond of her speakeasy-themed ones). If you’re looking for vintage mystery covers, speakeasies around the nation, reviews, or just an all-around good time, I highly recommend checking it out.
I love books of all kinds so a few crafty friends and set out to make little book earrings. They are pretty easy to make and all of the directions are below. They make a great activity for a book club (if your book club is crafty) or fun and different holiday gifts. But if you don’t want to make them yourself, I’m giving away the pair at left to one lucky winner!
What you need:
1) Miniature books (I got mine from Hobby Lobby online)
2) Glue
3) Gold marker
4) Print outs of pulp covers (you can use the Mystery Playground Pinterest board for mystery covers, just shrink them to 25% when you print them in color.
5) Earring hooks. You need two hooks for each book earring for a total of four per pair. (You need one to glue inside the book to attach it and one for the actual earring.)
6) Wire cutters
7) Scissors to cut out the book covers from the Pinterest page
Step One:
Print your color covers from Pinterest and then cut them out. I used my pulp fiction cover Pinterest board and printed them out at 25% of normal size. Some of the covers weren’t the right size, so we just used the ones that were.
Step Two:
Glue the book covers onto the little books.
Step Three:
Take the gold marker and cover the page ends of the books so it looks like an old book with gold leaf.
Step Four:
Snip an earring hook with wire cutters and glue it into the book.
Step Five:
Assemble the earrings: this just involves connecting the earring hook in the book. I like to add a few beads using a wire wrapping technique.
And your book earrings are all done.
But, as I said, just in case you’re too busy to do these yourself, Deb’s kindly agreed to give a pair to one lucky winner! The perfect thing to wear to your next book night or conference!
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by Laura K. Curtis | Nov 17, 2013 | Crafts, Freebies & Giveaways |
Today’s giveaway is perfect for all the parties you simply must attend. Bright red dichroic glass with hints of purple, green, and even gold, this ring and earring set has sterling silver bases so as not to irritate your skin. The ring is adjustable (it’s “medium”, but as you can see from the side shot, you can just clamp it more or less closed to fit) and the earrings are posts.
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by Laura K. Curtis | Nov 16, 2013 | Books, Freebies & Giveaways |
2013 is almost over and I have to say that one of my favorite books of the whole year was one I read in January! Actually, I think I read it BEFORE January, but it was released in January. The cover copy of Crazy Thing Called Love reads:
Dallas TV morning show host Madelyn Cornish is poised, perfect, and unflappable, from her glossy smile to her sleek professionalism. No one knows that her iron will guards a shattered heart and memories of a man she’s determined to lock out. Until that man shows up at a morning meeting like a bad dream: Billy Wilkins, sexy hockey superstar in a tailspin—still skating, still fighting, and still her ex-husband.
Now the producers want this poster child for bad behavior to undergo an on-air makeover, and Billy, who has nothing to lose, agrees to the project. It’s his only chance to get near Maddy again, and to fight for the right things this time around. He believes in the fire in Maddy’s whiskey eyes and the passion that ignites the air between them. This bad-boy heartbreaker wants a last shot to be redeemed by the only thing that matters: Maddy’s love.
I loved, loved, loved this book despite the fact that I am not much for reunion romances in general. (I’ve often said that about O’Keefe, actually — I’ll read whatever she writes because even when she uses dusty old tropes she makes them sparkle like new.)
And today, I am doing a two-fer. The winner of today’s giveaway will also get the Going All In hockey romance anthology by Cassandra Carr, Isabo Kelly, and Stacey Agdern. I own this one, but haven’t read it yet. (Yes, I am behind on my reading as usual.)
Cover copy for this anthology sounds perfect, though…
HEDGING HIS BET: Cassandra Carr
Marcus Mitchell never thought he’d find the love of his life with champagne dripping from her shirt, but you can’t always plan these things. Annalise Alonso isn’t going to make it easy for him, though—he’s going to have to work for her love. Now, Marcus is taking a shot and hedging his bet on love.
CASTING THE DIE: Isabo Kelly
After she sees his murder in a vision, Nathalie Mendez knows she has to warn star hockey goalie Alexander Semenov of the danger. To keep him alive, she risks exposing her many secrets. But once the die is cast, her biggest gamble could be her heart.
PLAYING HER GAME: Stacey Agdern
Melanie Gould writes about passionate relationships, but keeps people at a distance…except when she’s promoting her books. Of course, she’s never gone head to head with a guy like Chris Emerson. Unfortunately, Chris is trying to behave, and someone like Melanie would destroy his plans to stay under the radar. So what happens when the woman the media has dubbed the ‘Girl in the Lace Corset’ and the NHL’s most infamous bad boy go one on one? Will they play her game? Will they play his? Or will they both end up in the penalty box?
‘Tis the season to stay warm with hot hockey players!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Back in the day when I used to make beads, I went to a lot of trade shows. And at many of them, I would big bead my beads for other people’s beads, or just outright buy beads. I was completely addicted to Swarovski crystals, especially the vintage ones. A friend of mine and I would go in on box lots and vintage cases (these often came 12 beads to a case) and we’d sit in the hotel room laying them out on the bed and watching all the pretty colors sparkle.
