Magazine copy cat challenge {Reviews and wraps}!

As they say in Hollywood, "It's a wrap"! 

The Holiday edition of the copy cat challenge was simply AWESOME!

{via white weathered hutch}

According to Mr. Linky, there was almost 9,000 clicks,
which basically means, a lot of people were active and looking.

 I never dreamed it would be as large as it was.  However, I was seeing the invite pinned all over pinterest and I started to think, this may be larger than the norm.

{via simple details blog}

Magazines of all kinds were copied, Pottery barn, country living, Better homes and gardens, Ballards

just to name a few.

{via Back porch musings}

Some magazines I never even heard of, but was happy I did!

{via The charm of home}

Some were so spot on, you could not even tell who was who..Some I actually thought were the magazine and it turned out to be there own replica.

Some seriously talented people out here!

{via Fun to funky}

http://debbie-debbiedoos.com/2011/12/magazine-copy-cat-challenge-reviews-and-wraps-2.html

{via Sharing with Sherri}

{via the Consigner Designer}

Some of the gals went over and above, and spent days creating and preparing for this challenge.

{via my heart fills with pleasure}

{via I'm Sharon with you}

Funny Sharon found the same inspiration as I! Really neat to see her take, which was gorgeous as you can see.

{via pumpkin pie painter}

I just LOVE this party!

Remember, I host the magazine copy cat challenge monthly, and would love to have you again!

Dates are never set in stone, however it is usually the first week or two of the month.

I thank each and everyone one of you for taking the time to participate.  I know it was not easy with the Holidays and all, but you made it happen.

If I featured you feel free to grab my blab button.
Have a wonderful day!

Today I am working the book fair at school.  I LOVE the book fair. So much fun to see all the kids come in  anxious to buy books, and of course pencils and toys too.
Funny part is if they have 50 cents left, you can bet they will find  a way to spend it.

Newbie party highlights and an {announcement}

Good morning all come ye all faithful!

The Newbie party was fantastic this week.  It really is growing and I am seeing more and more graduates these days.

Here are a few of the most viewed links.

If your blog has already been featured I went to the next highest views.

First,

Cottage Art shop

 linked up her very cute Halloween porch, very fun and colorful indeed.

Next,

My friend Wendi, whom I have known since my

Rate My space days.

Wendi featured some gorgeous designs with a  dash of color.

Last,

Was 

Kathy from Petticoat junktion!

I adored this drop leaf table and the color was fantastic too....

If you do not know these fabulous ladies, please do go say Hi, and give them a warm welcome.

NOW onto my announcement!

The Newbie party brought over 129 participants.

Fantastic!

I always have my link up Sunday evening until Wednesday evening.

I will now be shortening the duration of the party.

Tuesday evenings linkie will be closed.

Reason being, I want the newbie party to be more intimate and engaging with as many participants you can visit, meet and greet.

The larger the party the more difficult. 

This is a NEWBIE party to make new friends.

Plenty of linkies out there to get more traffic, so do join those as well.

I hope you all understand my feeling on this.

Thanks for your support!

Feel free to grab my blab button if I blabbed about you!

Highlights from the newbie party!

Newbie party was hopping again this week. 

 Lots of new faces, and old faces moving on and graduating from newbie status to pro's!

First I want to share with you, one of the kindest notes I received today.

Debbie,
I just wanted to drop you a line and tell you how much I loved being a part of 
the Newbie party...I participated a pretty long time ago, but as I look back on 
where my blog's momentum really took off, it was thru the Newbie Party.  There 
were some really lovely ladies I have come to know and love in the blogosphere 
b/c of that linky!  

And this my friends is why I love the newbie party!

Thank you Amanda.

Now let's look at some features.  According to Mr. Linky these were the top three most viewed.

(If you have already been featured in the past, I went on to the next most viewed)

keepin in fair for the other gals to shine.

Toni, shared with us her kitchen...

So very pretty and warm!

Next...with a dash of color,

This was a delightful post and such pretty pictures.

Last, today is Mama's little lady bugs...

She shared her Halloween Mantel..

Just worked on mine yesterday, thanks for the inspiration!

Have a great day all!

Off to a double header soccer game, and Alex has another band competition.

No rest of the wicked.

If I blabbed about you, feel free to grab a blab button.

See you tomorrow for the Newbie party.

Recap on the Newbie party!

Another fantastic week, some new faces and great new blogs to discover.  Hope you all enjoyed the party and found yourself mingling with the crowd.  

After all, that is how you are going to make some new friendships and gain readership.  Comment and comment often is the key. Get your face and name out there!~

Mr. Linky shows me the most viewed posts....so in no particular order, here they go~

FABIANA is a faithful participant...

she shares lots of inspirational photos and this week was all about Fall~

Next, Shenita, shared her Fallish home decor and it is Lovely!~

Last, Kelly!~ Kelly is new to blogging and doing a fantastic job!

She shared her master bathroom with us,and I just am in awww..and need to go change things up now.

Thanks Kelly!

One thing I want to make note of, because I am an honest John.  Some links were viewed more, however, they have been featured already.  So I like to give others a chance to shine...

which in fact you all DO in my book~

Have a great day and see you next time.

If I blabbed about you, feel free to grab my blab button on the right hand side.

Most viewed Newbie's this week.

Another great week gals~! 

So many wonderful links this week.  

This week in no particular order, these were the Most viewed according to our friend Mr. Linky.

Suzy,

created a beautiful  wall gallery of art.  The wall was what one would consider dead space..she hated walking in and seeing this dull wall...

Dull no more!

Must have been a day for viewing bedrooms... next up 

Amber also had a bedroom makeover...

Love the wall color too!~

Last on the list...is Evie~

What a lovely blog Evie has. Filled with wonderful projects, and gorgeous pictures.

Of course I would love this one...Fall and Wood! Good job Evie

Congrats to all of you..you had a lot of activity and I can see a lot of fun this week at the party.

If I blabbed about you, feel free to grab my blab button.

DON'T forget there will be NO NEWBIE party come Monday.  I am doing the Magazine copy cat challenge in lieu of the party and will have that link up Tuesday sometime.

Home tour, roosters and thrifting...top three features from the NEWBIE party!

Happy Friday! 

I bet a lot of you are looking forward to the long weekend.

Crazy week in our house! My older boys schedule this year is insane.

Poor kid does not get home until after 9:00 pm, three nights a week.
(He is in the Marching band and practice is pretty intense)
  Alex is totally loving life and loving High School.  Such a joy to hear him talk about it with so much enthusiasm.  

Life is good!

Speaking of good...the Newbie party this past week was AWESOME.

I just looked at the stats and clicks and, boy some of your girls must have been in heaven with the activity and friends you made.

FIRST up...Benita, sharing her thrifty finds.

Don't you just love these?

Benita had a good week of thrifting.

Next, my friend Farica...

Look at this ROO! 

That sure is a wow vignette there.

Seems anytime we see Home tour, we just have to go enter...

that is what many of you did over at Carol's

Some fine curb appeal here.

Thank you all for participating and supporting the newbie party.
YOUR participation is  what makes it a great success!
You are part of something that is working for you! You learn, and you grow...
make it all that you  want it to be.

Have a wonderful and safe Holiday.  

XO

Newbie party top three links this week!

Thank you, thank you all once again for making the newbie party a success.

This week I had almost 100 links and a lot of you were newcombers.

This party is never that large because of the fact I have strict guidelines,

that really define a NEWBIE,
 and for two,

there are always gals who graduate to no longer newbie status.

That is what I love!

Now onto the links that were most viewed.

No particular order...

Eleven-o-one

Check out her lovely French sign...

This is not the first one she has made either...very creative gal!

Next up...

Farica!  She is getting ready for Fall, and I of course was giddy with delight to see her post...

Farica has a lovely home, and is a very sweet lady!

Last but never least,

is Andrea!

This trunk had a complete makeover, and look how BEAUTIFUL it is!

WOW it looks so awesome in her family room.

Thanks again for your continued support.

I have seen many of your actually connect, and become good friends because of my party.

This is not a blog hop...it is a real friendship builder.

you are here to make those connections, and gain friends and readership.

XO

Top 3 at the Newbie partay this week! Kitchen makeover, beach themes and more!

Thank you all for your continued support and participation in my weekly newbie party!

What I love most about my party, is one that I get to meet new bloggers every week, and two I get to see you all make new friends along the way.

Here is this weeks top three most viewed links in no particular order..

First up is Kathryn...

She did a fabulous, and very fun kitchen makeover.
I really admired her sense of color and her bold move with the stripes in her kitchen makeover.



This is one patient girl to do all these stripes!
Fabulous job Kathryn!

Next up, and ironically another kitchen makeover, only this on on
cabinets.  Melissa gives a wonderful tutorial as well..



What I love is she kept the integrity of the original style, she just changed it up to make it more modern to her taste. Love it!

Last but never least is Cheryl

she showed us some lovely beachy themes and art work she creatively thought of a useful way to display.



Thanks again ladies for joining me...and nice to have you along this blogging journey.
If I blabbed about you, feel free to grab my blab button on my side bar.

Have a great day!

Top 3 Newbie looks this week!

Happy Thursday to you all!

 Pretty soon school will be resuming and our crazy fun summer will be over.  

A little sad, but glad on the flip side.  I look forward to my quiet time too. 

Call me selfish, but I think we all need a little me time, it makes us happy!

What makes me happy is seeing all the fun you are having at the newbie party.

Every week, I see new faces, meet new bloggers and get to check out what is cookin out here in the blogosphere.

First up for most viewed was KARA....

She is a junker and a thrifter and she had quite the mother load.

Next up, my friend Donatella...she is one craft chick for sure.  Very talented...

Last feature was FABBY!

 
Fabby, has a wonderful eclectic home, with lots of beautiful colors and treasures to share....

Thank you all for participating, having fun, making new friends, and being a wonderful support system to each other.

If I blabbed about you feel free to grab my blab button.

On another note, our backyard project is moving along.  We are so excited!

Top three features this week!

It's Wednesday already!  My week has been crazy busy with my older boy starting band camp.

He is having a ball, and making so many new friends. His long days of 12 hours are coming to an end. Today he is there from 9 to 10, and then tomorrow 9-5 and then they perform.  I can' wait to see it.

On to the newbie party features.

Mr. Linky shows me the number of clicks your posts receives.

So here in no particular order:

My dear friend Daniella.  Hard to believe she has been with me for six months now and is moving on up.

I like to say graduated, and no longer a NEWB!

Daniella is very crafty, kind, and considerate.

 Go on and say hello and you too make a new friend in case you do not know her.

Next, Beachcomber.

She has a lovely blog, great photos and lots of inspiration to share.

Last feature for the day.....

My friend Deneen.

She never disappoints. Always has a fun, creative think outside the box idea going on.

A lot of the girls have now graduated from being newbies.  I thank you for all your lovely emails and thanks.
Spread the word every chance you can.
 If you see a newbie, I would love if you told them about the party.
I must get back to my thousand projects I have going on now.

Top three links at the newbie party, and a RANT!

Good morning everyone!

 hope this day finds you all well, and COOL! Well, COOL I am not. Crazy hot here in the South this summer.

Wanted to share my top three most clicked on links at the newbie party this week.

I have a few concerns first I would LIKE to mention, and this is mostly for the newbies. 

FIRST off do realize I do this party, for you. I started it because, I know how it is to be a new blogger, and I know how you feel to be a fish out of water.

My gratification is that, I get to see your blogs grow, and I too make new friends along the way. 

  I pay to have Mr. Linky, and I take my time to visit every link, and comment on the most that I can.
   

SEEMS, my guidelines are not being met by many who link up.

I should NOT have to remind anyone at this point to add my link or button, yet week after week, I DO.

I have decided I am just going to delete the entry, I am sorry to say.

WORD VERIFICATION....

Many hosts have asked time and time again to please turn it off.

I have also decided, I am just not going to COMMENT on those posts anymore...

way too time consuming, and really an unnecessary feature on the comment section.

OK, enough of my soap box, let's get these features underway.....Hope you understand my rant, but I felt validation  to address it.

 I Have tutorials and blogging tips HERE, if you are new to blogging,  they certainly will benefit you to read them.

My Friend Dee, is on a real creative flow these days...

check out these cute pillows she is making...

She has some great tutorial as well..so go check it out.

 Next up....

JAN.

  Jan took us on a little tour in to Bon, Secour, Alabama. Lots of history there, not to mention these awesome homes.

 

Last on the list today, but never least...

TRICIA, 

who shared her little cottage tour with us...

 Tricia has a charming home, and she is a great decorator...

so hop on over girls, and welcome these newbies if you have not already.

Thank you...have a great day!

PLEASE NOTE I have postponed the MAGAZINE COPY CAT CHALLENGE...

I have a lot going on this month with the boys, and we are getting ready for back to school.
 It has been a wonderful summer, however, I look so very forward to FALL..my favorite time of year.

If I blabbed about you, please feel free to grab my button.

One more blab for the day...

You only have a few days left to get in the MOUNTAIN of GIVEAWAY, so go throw your name in the hat

Home sweet home, and some features from the newbie party!

So very happy to be home after two long, wonderful weeks!

I thank you all for sharing our vacation with us.  I wanted to share as many pics as I could on my blog with you all. I have so many more and so many other fun and exciting things we did.  

For now, it is back to home and garden blogging.

Here are some of  the most viewed posts from my Newbie party.

First up was Suzy....Suzy featured her friends Kitchen.
 Isn't so lovely?

Next up was Lisa!~

She has a very pretty kitchen too. I have those very same valances, which I love from Walmart!

Last but never least, my friend Laurie...for her Sunday sketches...

Oh my this cute little face is just so adorable!

Thanks again for all your lovely comments while I was gone.  It will take me forever to catch up here in the land of Blogs!

If I blabbed about you, feel free to grab a blab button.

ONE more blab for the day...

Don't forget about the Mountain of Giveaways.

10 CANS of chalk paint and more up for grabs.

Newbie party top three features!

Hey Y'all!~ I am still on vaca, but right now the only one up...

thought I would share the top three most viewed newbie links at the partay!

I am sorry I was a bad host, but I only visited a few links on the run.

Mr. Linky showed me who was viewed the most though.

Looked like a hoppin party too.

TRACY, showed her budget friendly manicure...it looked awesome too.

 Pretty good, hop on over and say Hi to Tracy! She has a cute blog too.

Then my friend Pam, who has been with the newbie party since the start,
shared the cutest little DIY flower box.

Last most viewed, and keep in mind these are in no particular order,

Melissa, shared her latest and greatest Estate sale finds.

I am hoping to do a little thrifting here in Buffalo next week.
Although, there is no room in the car, I will have to perhaps put it on my lap if I find something good enough to haul home.

I sure do miss all my blogging friends.
I can't wait to catch up soon.

In the meantime, if you have NOT heard of the MOuntain of Giveaways,
You really have to go check it out. The best in all of the LAND!~
Chalk paint and so much more.
If I blabbed about you, feel free to grab my blab button on my side bar.

 
Hop on over and check it out!