Hi! Thanks so much for stopping by.
I have to start by saying THANK YOU to Nichole and everyone at PTI for their incredible gift to me. You see, I was the 2015 Year of Free Stamps Winner!
How did I find out about winning? Well, my friend, Darnell, sent me an email.
She said,”Oh, Melissa! Congratulations on your HUGE win from Papertrey Ink, you lucky, lucky girl! I’m so happy for you! Hugs!Darnell”
After I read her email I thought, “No way! What’s she talking about? I checked the winners list!” Then I went and checked it again and then remembered the year of free stamps. By this time my hands were shaking and I kept thinking, “CALM DOWN!” 🙂 I went to Nicole’s Day 4 post and saw that the announcement was going to be at the web site. I had forgotten about that! I clicked over there and OH WOW! My name was on the front page!!!! I did clamp my hand over my mouth, grabbed the phone and ran downstairs to tell my daughter, or more like yell at my daughter, “I won the YEAR OF FREE STAMPS FROM PTI!” And then, with a loud sob I said, “Thank you, Lord!” (I was thinking about how God blesses me in so many big, little and surprising ways, and how all are very undeserved!) Then I proceeded to BALL like a baby! I then called my husband at work to tell him and yelled up the stairs to tell my son and other 2 daughters. Everyone is very excited here. 🙂 What a super nice surprise for a gray February day. 🙂 I’m so thankful for PTI’s generosity.
I have to say that this was a Providential gift as this was by far the most difficult year of my life.
Various illnesses, the death of a sweet bunny, a surgery, a scary and stressful hospital stay and still not diagnosed health issues have been a large part of my family’s year. It seemed that 2015 was a year of trials for the Lane family, but God has used the monthly deliveries of BEAUTIFUL Papertrey Ink stamps to remind me of His love and care and to encourage my heart. It might seem silly, but as I used or even looked at each stamp set I seemed to hear the Lord whisper, “I love you, Melissa. See? I have good and beautiful things for you.”
The monthly releases were fun and encouraging too. Seeing the beautiful products put to use by a group of talented women brought beauty to my days.
Every release contained stamp sets that I felt were designed just for me. Some of them literally brought me to tears. The thoughtfulness of the designs and sentiments have made me smile and grabbed my discouraged heart on so many occasions.
Because of life’s circumstances, many of the stamps are still awaiting ink! I look forward to more creative times, inspired by all the beautiful stamps, which are sitting patiently beside my crafting table.
Thank you, Papertrey Ink. God has used you to encourage me beyond measure. Happy Anniversary and may God bless your next year!
With much affection and thankfulness,
Melissa Lane
I have 2 cards to share with you in this post. The first is for the DT Favorites Inspiration cards challenge.
Here’s a quick slideshow of the process I used:
I’d like to play this card at Word Art Wednesday’s Challenge #19: Anything Goes and at Simon Says Stamp Monday Blog’s: Ray Of Sunshine.
My card was inspired by Betsy’s colors:
And Lizzie’s design (and colors):
Now I have a second card for Make It Monday #238: Valentine Ombre Stamping with the lovely Melissa Phillips.
Melissa Phillips’ card
My card:
I would like to play this second card at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Blog’s: Simon Says: Have a Heart and at CAS(E) This Sketch. I would also like to play this at Double D Challenges: Pretty Pink Hearts. My design was inspired by Sam’s sketch for CTS #158.
Thanks again for stopping by!
Grace & Peace,
Melissa
P.S. I am not affiliated with PTI in any way and do not receive anything for sharing this information with you. I was the winner for 2015 and would like to pass this information on so that someone else will have the opportunity of entering, winning and being blessed by this incredibly generous prize!
I am happy to share with you Papertrey Ink’s “Year of Free Stamps” Contest. As their tradition is, one lucky winner will receive monthly shipments after every release containing all of the newly released stamp sets in 2016! This can easily amount to over 175+ stamp sets total throughout the year! Imagine never having to worry about choosing what stamps to cut out of your cart because of budget constraints. You will get every stamp set, every release February 2016 through January 2017.
To enter this contest, you will just need to enter your information within the appropriate data base, which can be accessed HERE.
A winner will be formally announced on the front page of the Papertrey Ink storefront website on release night (February 15th), after 10pm EST. Only one entry per person is permitted. Entries must be received before 7am EST, February 15th, 2016 in order to qualify.
Also, check out this: “One lucky winner will receive their Papertrey wish list for FREE (up to a $300 value)! Be sure to create a special wish list within your account on our website labeled “2016 PTI Wishlist”. If you are randomly selected as a winner, you will be sent the first $300 worth of items on that list!!! We encourage customers to include more than $300 worth of items on their anniversary wish list because if a particular item is out of stock on the morning of February 15th when the winner is selected, we will replace it with the next item on the list. Best of luck with the contest!” This is from here: http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/capture_the_moment/page/2/ You need to follow the instructions above.
EDITED SAT FEB 13: I am happy to share that my “He restores My Soul” heart card was chosen as a CAS(E) This Sketch favorite! Thanks CTS!
Places I’m Playing:
Card #1:
Card #2:
Honey Bee Lane 