Courtney Smith

The turkey is roasting, the rolls are rising, and the mouths are watering. It must mean one thing…It’s Thanksgiving! So from our kitchens to yours, we wish you a happy Thanksgiving!

And as a token of appreciation for you, our faithful readers, we have some eye candy for you to devour this morning. Don’t worry, it won’t ruin your appetite!

Sparkly Thanks by Becky Olsen, 365 Cards

Giving Thanks by Lisa Johnson, 365 Cards

Leafy Gratitude by Amy Wanford, 365 Cards

And when you’re debating whether to go for round two of that pumpkin pie, just recite this little jingle to yourself…

“May your stuffing be tasty, May your turkey be plump.

May your potatoes and gravy have nary a lump.

May your yams be delicious, and your pies take the prize,

And may your Thanksgiving dinner stay off your thighs!”

Amen, and happy Thanksgiving!

This color combo can be found on p. 60 of Color Inspiration of Card Makers. The Bazzill equivalents are Caribbean Breeze, Petty Cash shimmer, Mango and Candlelight:

This color combo was featured in Lisa Johnson's You Did It! Card from Color Inspiration for Card Makers.

This two-week challenge will run through midnight (MDT) on Tuesday, August 2. Three winners (who use this color combination in an unique and creative way) will be spotlighted here and receive a 1-year subscription to Paper Crafts or the special issue of their choice, plus some fun paper crafting goodies. Please try to match or stick as close to the color combination as possible.

Click HERE to upload your colorful projects!

~The Paper Crafts Team

Kerri Miller

I’m not what you’d call a huge pink fan. 

When my daughter was born, I specifically avoided buying her anything pink. I also don’t own any pink clothing.

And you’ll not find any pink around my house. In fact, I had to scrounge to find anything close to pink to wear today.

Apparently, National Pink Day is a big day here at the Paper Crafts office. 

No one wore Halloween costumes last year but everyone wore pink today!

It takes a real man to don a pink shirt and pose with eight women. We love you, Matt!

Even our moxie fab Cath is wearing pink today!

So I find it ironic that I really like these pink cards I found in Paper Crafts magazines. As I contemplate the color pink in depth, I realize just how versatile it can be. There are so many shades of pink and color combinations using pink, each evoking different emotions. 

 

It can be soft and soothing like Terri Davenport’s Birdie Sympathy Card found on p. 131 in Card Creations, Vol. 9. So lovely.

 

Or you can use pink as an unexpected color around the holidays like Jamie Greene did with her Imagine, Wonder, Believe Card found on p. 120 of Card Creations, Vol. 9.

Pink also makes for a great punch of color to an otherwise simple color scheme. Check out Lisa Johnson’s Happy Couple Card on p. 158 of Card Creations, Vol. 9.

Pink is a great combination color. Pair it with orange and black and you get a fun and bright card like Maile Belles did for her Birthday Girl Card on p. 23 of our July/August 2011 issue.

I guess pink does deserve to have a National Day after all. I might even be inspired to go out and buy a pink shirt for next year.  

Appreciating pink more!
Kerri

P.S. We often feature pink cards in Paper Crafts magazines. Which is your favorite and which issue was it featured? I want to know. Drop me a line and I’ll pick two commenters to win this assortment of pink paper crafting goodies. All comments must be received by midnight (MDT) on Friday, June 24.

Two lucky winners will take home this pinkalicious prize package!

P. Kelly Smith

Welcome to Magazine Monday! In case you missed last week’s Stamping Royalty announcements, we’re revealing five additional winners in our second post today. With so many amazing entries, we just had to pick a honorable mention in each category. The fun part…you, the reader, will get to vote for your favorite card! Come back here at noon (MDT) for the big reveal!

Today we’re spotlighting the three winners of our Color Inspiration Challenge #3. This color combo was featured in the Jewel Tones section (p. 76) of Color Inspiration of Card Makers.

The Bazzill equivalents are Hot Pink, Pansy, Lily White and Beetle Black:

Let’s meet our final winners!

Winner #1 – Isha:

Winner #2 – Glenda J. Wyatt:

Winner #3 – Diana Slaughter:

Congratulations, ladies! Each of you has won either a one-year subscription to Paper Crafts magazine or special issue of your choice, a fun collection of paper crafting supplies from Bazzill AND have been added to our new Designer Blog Roll (go check it out!). I’ll be contacting you shortly to discuss your prizes. If you’re interested in seeing all the projects from our Color Inspiration Challenge #3, please visit our online gallery HERE.  

We just launched our Color Inspiration Challenge #4 today! CIC4′s color combination can be found in the Metallics section (p. 112) of Color Inspiration of Card Makers. The Bazzill equivalents are Gold Leaf Metallic, Satin Wedding White shimmer and Pinkini:

This fun color combo was featured in Lisa Johnson's Baby Shower Card.

This two-week challenge will run through midnight (MDT) on Monday, May 2. Three winners (who use this color combination in an unique and creative way) will be spotlighted here and receive a 1-year subscription to Paper Crafts or the special issue of their choice, PLUS a fun collection of paper crafting supplies from American Crafts. Please try to match or stick as close to the color combination as possible. Click HERE to upload your colorful projects!

Happy Monday!
Kelly

P.S. It’s time to announce the two winners from my Stamping Royalty – From A to Z post!

1. Debbie C. (April 15, 12:36 p.m.)
2. Lindsay (April 15, 1:15 p.m.)

Congrats, winners! I’ll be contacting you shortly to discuss your prizes and get your mailing addresses. Thanks to all who left comments!

P. Kelly Smith

Welcome to Freebie Friday! Did you know that today is National Hugging Day? That’s right…a day dedicated to embracing others and being embraced in return. How fun is that!

Our former managing editor, Brandy J, shared this post on National Hugging Day last year. She was literally counting down the days until Baby Cooper Jesperson made his grand entrance into this world. Now a year later, she (and the rest of us!) love to smother this cute little man in hugs and kisses.

But hugs aren’t just for babies. Some of the best hugs I’ve received have been from friends I’ve made through this connective hobby.

There's nothing better than a group hug!

Here I am with a few of my favorite Paper Crafts peeps: Go-to Gal Teri Anderson, Trends Editor Cath Edvalson and Designer Lisa Johnson. This picture was taken last year at CHA. We’re gearing up for the Craft & Hobby Association’s 2011 Winter Trade Show in just eight days. Kerri will share our fun plans next week. You can bet there will be lots of hugging going on!

If you feel like “embracing” this fun holiday (and need some inspiration), here’s a few huggable projects from our love-infused January/February 2011 issue:

Hugs & Kisses Banner Card by Debbie Olson

Elegant Hugs & Kisses Card by Susan Deering West

Hugs & Kisses Candy Tin by Laura O'Donnell

How cute is this little tin? I’m already envisioning chocolate Kisses tucked inside…just waiting to be opened and enjoyed. If you’d like to recreate this project, you can get complete supplies and instructions right HERE.

But before I go…who wants a hug? Our friends at Hero Arts would like to send three lucky commenters their Hugs & Kisses stamp – the same stamp Laura O’Donnell used in her Hugs & Kisses Candy Tin. In addition, all three of the designers featured above would like to send their projects home to you. Leave a comment telling me who you will be hugging today and you could win one of these fabulous creations, PLUS a Hugs & Kisses stamp from Hero Arts. All comments must be received by midnight (MST) on Sunday, Jan. 23.

Three winners will take home this cute stamp from Hero Arts!

Happy Hugging!
Kelly

P.S. It’s time to announce the winner of Susan’s Feeling Pretty Stamp-tastic! post and the three winners from Jessica’s Playing Favorites with Stamp It! Techniques post!

Susan’s winner:

Toni Storie (Jan. 18, 2:43 p.m.)

Jessica’s winners:

1. Kim (Jan. 19, 9:24 p.m.)
2. Kelly Massman (Jan. 19, 4:42 p.m.)
3. Natalie Winterstein (Jan. 19, 7:14 a.m.)

Congrats, winners! I’ll be contacting you shortly to discuss your prizes and get your mailing addresses. Thanks to all who left comments!

P. Kelly Smith

Welcome to Freebie Friday and our final day of Color Inspiration for Card Makers Week! We hope you’ve enjoyed this sneak peek of our latest special issue, Color Inspiration for Card Makers and have been inspired to start playing with color in a whole new way.

Today we’re hosting another fun blog hop featuring the 10 most-published designers in Color Inspiration for Card Makers. The challenge I issued to each of them: create a never-before-seen card using the same color combination that designer Lea Lawson used on her cover card:

Lea's Thanks for Everything Card can be found on p. 20.

This gorgeous card practically chose itself for our cover. We were so inspired by this bright and bold color combination, we knew we just had to see 10 more interpretations of Bazzill’s Tink Pink, Great Lakes, Lemon Drop and Lemon Lime. Ready to begin our exciting Color Inspiration for Card Makers Blog Hop?

Here’s our top ten designers:

• Julia Stainton
• Chan Vuong
• Latisha Yoast
• Teri Anderson
• Betsy Veldman
• Lea Lawson (Happy birthday to our cover girl!)
• Kim Kesti
• Kalyn Kepner
• Kim Hughes
• Lisa Johnson

Leave a comment on each designer’s blog and you’ll increase your chances of winning a copy of Color Inspiration for Card Makers (each designer is giving away one!). Leave a comment here and you’ll be entered to win (drum roll, please)…a Cricut Expression, a Gypsy and seven cartridges from Provo Craft!

One lucky winner will take home this ENTIRE prize package!

Like what you see? Begin your hop and then come back here and leave a comment telling me something that inspired you from your travels. All comments (on all blogs) must be received by midnight (MST) on Sunday, Jan. 16. The grand prize winner will be revealed right here on Monday, Jan. 17.

Good luck and…

Happy hoppin’!
Kelly

P.S. Cath is announcing another fun color challenge over on Moxie Fab World!

P.P.S. It’s time to announce the winner of Betsy’s Color Me…Colorful post!

Lori Servies (Jan. 12, 8:45 a.m.)

Congrats, Lori! You’ve won Papertrey’s Bloom Builders dies, plus a copy of Color Inspiration for Card Makers! I’ll be contacting you shortly to get your mailing address. Thanks to all who left comments!

P. Kelly Smith

Welcome to Magazine Monday and day one of our exciting Card Creations: Favorite Occasions Week!

So glad you could join us as we celebrate our latest and greatest special issue, Card Creations: Favorite Occasions, Vol. 2! With over 150 ideas for the top five favorite card making occasions, we’ll spend the next five days learning why you love making Birthday, Thank You, Congratulations, Love and All Occasion cards more than any other kind. Sound like fun?

We’re also partnering with the Moxie Fab World blog for a whole week of promotion. Between the two sites, we’ll be spotlighting projects, hosting fun challenges and giving away some spectacular prizes.

Click on the cover image to buy your copy today!

Today we’re spotlighting the talented Maile Belles, who has 10 cards in Card Creations: Favorite Occasions, Vol. 2! With her signature style always present, her Celebrate With a Rose Card even made the cover. Wouldn’t you love to know how she keeps coming up with one amazing design after another?  

Well, here’s your chance…Without further ado, let’s get to know Miss Maile!

Maile Belles

1. What is your favorite occasion to paper craft and why?  

All Occasion because it allows you the most creative freedom.

2. What is your most difficult paper crafting challenge?  

Creating a shabby/vintage design. I love the look…how textured and detailed these amazing designs can be, but I could never pull it off myself.

3. What is your favorite paper crafting supply?  

My stamps! I am a true stamper at heart, and I love it.

Maile's You You You Card can be found on p. 34.

4. How would you describe your style?  

Clean and simple.

Maile's Many Thanks Card can be found on p. 77.

5. What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?

My first name is Hawaiian and pronounced “My-Lee”. My mother was born and raised in Hawaii, but I have never been there myself (not yet anyways).

6. How do you keep yourself organized when it comes to submission deadlines?

I mark the deadline on my calendar and print out the submission call, which I keep posted at my desk. This way, whenever I sit down to create, I can glance over the list and quickly squeeze in a card or two. Then into a safe place they go until the call has ended.

7. Name three Paper Crafts designers whose styles you like, and tell me why they appeal to you.   

It wasn’t easy to pick only three, but here you go:

• Jessica Witty – Love her fresh, clean and hip style. Her cards are always so fashion forward.
• Dawn McVey – She always manages to pull off a clean look with the perfect vintage touches.
• Lisa Johnson - I seem to relate to her designs the most, and I love her stamping style. 

8. Do you have any advice for someone who’s never been published or who wants to try submitting for the first time?

• Don’t be afraid to display your own unique personality through your designs. 
• Try new ideas that will help your creations stand out from the rest of the submissions. 
• The more projects you submit, the greater your chances are of having one or more picked up.

9. Out of your 10 cards in Card Creations: Favorite Occasions, which is your favorite and why?

My Butterfly Thoughts Card. It’s a super simple yet effective design that uses only a few basic supplies. 

Maile's Butterfly Thoughts Card can be found on p. 19.

10. Do you have a blog or online gallery? If so, please provide the URL. 

You can find me at Simply Stamped. Please stop by for a visit!

Thanks, Maile! Since Maile is on the Papertrey Ink Design Team, she scored some fun prizes for today’s giveaway. Leave a comment and I’ll pick one random winner to take home Papertrey’s All About You stamp set, their Fillable Frames #4 Die AND a copy of Card Creations: Favorite Occasions, Vol. 2. All comments must be received by midnight (MST) on Tuesday, Nov. 30.

One lucky winner will take home this All About You stamp set!

Happy Monday!
Kelly

P.S. You have until midnight (MST) TONIGHT to upload your entries for our November Gallery Challenge. We’re looking for your most festive holiday cards. Click HERE to upload your merry submissions!

P.P.S. It’s time to announce the three winners from my Countdown to Card Creations: Favorite Occasions Week post!

1. Anna D. (Nov. 26, 6:04 p.m.)
2. Julie (Nov. 27, 6:24 a.m.)
3. Sandra M. (Nov. 28, 8:51 p.m.)

Congrats, winners! I’ll be e-mailing you shortly to discuss your prizes and get your mailing addresses. Thanks to all who left comments!

P. Kelly Smith

Welcome to Freebie Friday! I’m told snow is heading our way next week…just in time for Turkey Day. And while I’ll be enjoying a fried variation in Texas, it will be fun to return to a winter wonderland. There’s nothing like a little snow to put me in the Christmas spirit!

Speaking of Christmas spirit, just last weekend, our card group met to swap holiday tags and make mini notebooks – perfect for recording those naughty and nice lists! We made larger versions last year after I was inspired by a holiday planner made by Miss Lisa Johnson. Click HERE for her step-by-step instructions for this fun project!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Tags designed by (from left to right): Brandy, Jennifer, Becky and Megan.

Tags designed by (from left to right): Andrew, Rox, Kelly and Brady.

After we swapped tags and gushed over Brandy’s little Coopster (who just got his first hair cut!), we sat down to work on our mini notebooks. They measure 3″ x 8″ and are the perfect size to drop in a purse as you head out shopping this season. Most of us went with the Christmas theme, but some saw the gift potential and made theirs more non-seasonal. The best part…they’re super easy and super quick! We had this project done in less than an hour (including breaks to gab, snack and gush over that cute baby).

Here's all of our fun mini notebooks!

Wanna make your own holiday tags and notebooks? I sent my card group peeps home with Crate Paper’s Snow Day collection. Sadly, only half of our members could join us, so I have extras to spare! Leave a comment telling me how you stay organized throughout the holidays. I’ll pick two winners to take home a Snow Day collection, a blank notebook and a set of 8 tags (shown above). All comments must be received by midnight (MDT) on Sunday, Nov. 21.

Two winners will take home this fun prize package (plus 8 tags)!

Happy Friday!
Kelly

P. Kelly Smith

Welcome to Magazine Monday! It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Even though we’re still a few days away from Thanksgiving, a massive snowstorm blew in this weekend reminding us that Santa Claus will be here very soon. Luckily, a few of us magazine editors are well-prepared because we just swapped Christmas tags at our monthly card group.

Our little group (which just celebrated its one-year anniversary!) met at Jennifer’s house on Saturday. Since there’s always so much going on in December, we deliberately don’t meet this month – which means we swap Christmas tags in November. We each made 12 tags of the same design, swapped them with our fellow card group members and took home 12 different designs. I know I’m a little bit bias, but I think our tags are gorgeous!

Here's all of our lovely Christmas tags...just waiting to be swapped!

After we swap cards/tags, I like to have some crafty activity prepared for us to do. In the past we’ve paper crafted calendars, wooden picture frames, recipe books, gift bags, magnet boards, treat containers, etc. Since we’ve been meeting for a while now, it’s getting harder and harder to come up with new activities that are not only fun, but can be completed in a couple of hours. Lucky for me, I stumbled across this inspiring blog post from designer Lisa Johnson. Her little holiday planners immediately put me in the Christmas spirit and made me think, “Let’s make these in card group!”

Lisa Johnson's holiday planner was all the inspiration I needed!

The icing on the cake is I just happen to stock up on composition books during all the back-to-school sales. I found them for 53 cents a piece! What’s great about this project is you can adapt it for so many occasions. In addition to holiday planners, these make great journals (pregnancy/weight loss/travel), sketch books, appointment books, etc.

Once again we gathered in Jennifer's cozy dining room to unleash our creativity.

I had everyone bring their favorite Christmas-themed paper and I provided the “Christmas Lists” title and the stamped envelopes that said “Coupons” and “Receipts”. (Just paste the envelopes in the front and back covers!) And it was so fun incorporating a pen into the design of the planner. Who doesn’t need a pen when they’re making their “naughty” and “nice” lists!

Here's Brenda and her festive holiday planner.

Sarah and Brandy show off their cute planners and Brandy's baby bump!

The Three Musketeers (Jennifer, Beth and Tracy) proudly display their planners.

Megan arrived a little late to the party, so she missed our fun activity. She kindly agreed to stand up with me to show you the "before" and "after" look.

So there you have it…November’s card group is in the bag! If you’re itching to do a fun project, I highly recommend these cute holiday planners. Why not make a whole bunch and give them away? Tis the season, after all!

Happy Monday!
Kelly

P. S. It’s time to announce the two winners from my Freebie Friday – I’m Thankful For… post!

1. Kellie B. (Nov. 22, 12:43 p.m.)
2. dahlhousedesigns (Nov. 21, 5:27 p.m.)

Congrats, winners! You each won Reminisce’s Autumn Forest collection! I’ll be contacting you shortly to get your mailing addresses. Thanks to all who left comments!

P.P.S. There’s still time to upload your holiday treat containers to our November Gallery Challenge! Three winners will receive a 1-year subscription to Paper Crafts (or a special issue of their choice) and be featured on this blog on Monday, Dec. 7. You better act fast…this challenge ends at midnight (MDT) tonight. Click here for the details!

P. Kelly Smith

Welcome to Magazine Monday! I hope everyone is in full Halloween countdown mode. Like I mentioned last Friday, here at Paper Crafts, we’re anxiously counting down the days until we can reveal our team costume. It’s going to be a real scream! (Hint: That may be a clue!)

Since little gremlins will soon be creeping up your walkway, I thought I would bring in an expert on all things Halloween. With two of her four daughters celebrating birthdays near this frightfully fun holiday, I just knew she would have some spooktacular ideas to share. Not to mention, I’m just batty for this designer, and have been wanting to spotlight her for many moons now…

So without further ado, let’s get to know the bewitching Lisa Johnson!

Lisa Johnson

1. Where did you grow up? 

I grew up in Alaska – the Chugiak/Eagle River area. I was born in California though, and spent a lot of time there also.

2. Do you work outside the home? If so, what do you do?

Nope, but I volunteer in schools and am very involved in my church.

3. If a movie were to be made of your life, who would you cast to play the part of you?

My girls wouldn’t hesitate to say Reese Witherspoon – with brown hair. (I don’t see any resemblance beyond us both being short.) I can’t imagine them making such a boring movie though. LOL!

4. What song would you choose as the theme song for your life?

I have to laugh…my girls screamed out the theme from Mission Impossible! LOL! (Should I be offended?) I think it’s more like Singin’ in the Rain. I do try to find the happy in life.

5. What is one thing most people would be surprised to hear about you?

Most people are surprised when they hear me sing…I have a very full alto voice. My talking voice is more on the Minnie Mouse end of the spectrum!

6. What/who inspired you to start paper crafting?

My good friend Joan invited me over for a stamping party…that was the beginning of it all!

7. What is your biggest paper crafting challenge?

Scrapbooking! I’ve just never found my groove. I recently took a great photography class so that might change!

8. If you were only allowed two items to create a card beside cardstock and adhesive, what would they be?

ONLY TWO? Sheesh…Okay, um…stamps (and ink since you have to have ink to stamp, right? So they really are one in the same!) and a synthetic sponge. I usually add depth by lightly sponging my cardstock edges. LOVE IT!

Lisa Johnson's Swirl Boo Card

9. What is your favorite occasion or holiday to paper craft and why?

This may sound strange but I love Just Because. There is something so inspiring about creating a project for someone with the sheer intention of brightening their day!

10. How would you describe your style? 

This is always a hard question for me to answer…I don’t think I have a specific style. I like clean and simple, vintage, detailed, glam…I pretty much love it all! I’ve heard recently from my friends that my style is clean and classy though.

Lisa Johnson's Boo Treat Box

11. When is your favorite time to craft?

After lunch and reaaaaaaly late at night!

12. What sort of music do you listen to while crafting?

None! I start dancing and singing and can’t create or design. I do listen to audio books and watch movies though.

13. How does your family participate in your paper crafting passion?

Well, the mere fact that I have four daughters sort of answers that! I have supplies set aside in a drawer just for them, and an area in my studio. We make everything from cards for their friends to birthday gifts. We are a bunch of busy bees!

14. When it comes to calls and deadlines, how do you keep yourself organized?

I print them and put them in order on a clipboard that I hang from my studio desk. I also add the dates to my computer calendar and send myself e-mail reminders the morning of the call so I don’t forget to actually submit my projects! I pretty much assume I will forget unless it’s e-mailed in a reminder to me…so I do it with every appointment and deadline!

15. Do you remember what Paper Crafts issue your first project appeared in? How has your style changed since then?

Oh my…this really ages me! My first project ever published was for the 2005 Stamping Royalty Card Contest. I think my style may have become just a little more detailed since then.

16. Have you contributed to any design teams in the past or present? If so, which ones?

Yes, I currently work on the following design teams: 

• Marvy Uchida
• Hampton Art
• Papertrey Ink (Senior DT and Illustrator)

I have been blessed to be able to work with We R Memory Keepers, Webster’s Pages and Prism. I’ve also done contract work for Tsukineko, 7gypsies and a few other manufacturers.

17. Name three designers whose styles you like and why they appeal to you.  

• Debbie Olson – Everything Debbie creates is so full of depth and exudes a solid sense of design. I’ve watched her for so many years in awe. Her work is full and decadent!
• Nichole Heady – When I first started being published, a friend pointed out to me how amazing this Paper Crafts designer was. I started taking notice and fell in love with her immaculate and innovative creations.  Always perfection in paper!
• Melissa Phillips - Have you ever seen someone’s style that was so different from your own and fell in love? Melissa’s warm, eclectic, vintage touches and candy sweet creations exude her equally sweet personality. Guiltless pleasure!

18. Do you have any advice/tips for someone who’s never been published or who wants to submit for the first time?

The best thing to realize is that just because it’s not picked up doesn’t mean it’s not good! Have faith in your work and keep trying. It just might not have met the editorial needs at that time.

19. Do you have a blog or online gallery? If so, please provide the URL.

I do have a blog (www.poppypaperie.typepad.com). Please hop on over!

Thanks, Lisa! Your Halloween projects are simply boo-tiful! If any of you are looking for something sweet to put in your treat containers, make sure you check out Lisa’s “Spooky Sweets” post. Leave a comment for Lisa here and I’ll pick three lucky winners to win a sweet surprise! All comments must be received by midnight (MDT) on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

Here’s to the sweet life!
Kelly

P.S. If you’ve been inspired by Lisa’s Halloween projects, why not make your own and upload them to our October Gallery Challenge? The deadline is midnight (MDT) tonight, so don’t delay!

P.P.S. It’s time to announce the three winners from Cath’s Meet Our New Graphic Designer post and the three winners from my Boo Crew post!

Cath’s winners:

1. Darlene L. (Oct. 22, 4:20 p.m.)
2. Connie Wright (Oct. 22, 3:50 p.m.)
3. Shari (Oct. 22, 3:23 p.m.)

My winners:

1. Kelly (Oct. 23, 7:40 p.m.)
2. Sharon (Oct. 23, 3:50 p.m.)
3. Denali (Oct. 23, 2:38 p.m.)

Congrats, winners! I’ll be e-mailing you shortly to get your mailing addresses and discuss your prizes. Thanks to all who left comments!