EDIT: The winner of the Creative Girl Art Quilt Kit is Jessica with comment 136!
I love Sew Mama Sew’s Giveaway Days. It’s a great opportunity to discover new blogs and maybe win free stuff. It’s also motivating me to spend more time blogging.
My day job has been way too stressful lately and blogging is one of several things that I’ve let slide. I’ve finally figured out how to blog from my phone which makes it much easier to do quick posts about what I’m creating now. I’m also diligently attempting to reduce my stress level with more exercise, saying no when I don’t have time to get it all done and stepping away when I want to pull my hair out.
So what can you win? I am giving away a Creative Girl Art Quilt Kit!
Use the faces printed on fabric and dress patterns to make your own creative girl art quilts. You’ll find plenty of fabric and embellishments to inspire multiple quilts and hours of creative fun.
The kit includes:
– 8 small and 4 large faces printed on fabric and pre-fused to fusible webbing
– dress pattern in 2 sizes
– basic creative girl art quilt instructions
– batting for 2 art quilt (1 small 5â€x8†and 1 large 8â€x12â€)
– fusible webbing
– fabric in a variety of patterns/colors for dress making and backgrounds
– fabric to match the faces for creating arms or legs
– bag of fabric scraps
– embellishments (buttons, ribbon, lace, vintage trim)
– strip of ruffled fabric
Here are examples of what you can do with the kit.
How can you win? Leave a comment before 5pm PST time on May 25th telling me how you reduce or avoid stress.
I’ll randomly select a winner from all the comments. I will ship the kit internationally.
Normally I try to respond to all comments, but given the volume that I receive on Giveaway Day, I won’t have time. Thank you in advance for your comments and I look forward to learning new ways to have a less stressful life.
Be sure to visit Sew Mama Sew for more on Giveaway Day.
Reduce stress, that’s easy…quilt more! Thanks for the chance at such a neat giveaway!
what a neat kit! I don’t usually make “art quilts”, but this one would be so wonderful to make for my sister. I love the possibilities with it. Thanks for the chance to win!
I try to relax by going on walks a breathing deeply. Also by deciding not to do things that really aren’t worth the stress (like some cleaning or by saying no to more responsibility or making other promises that are just too hard to keep) Thanks so much for the giveaway, have a great day!
OOHHH! LOVELY kit!
I Make cards to relieve my stress.,and sad to say A little PIN time on pinterest is good too!
Simply release the negative emotion. Confront the problem look at it and if you cannot change it, let it go.
Chocolate!
Well, sitting on the front porch swing always relaxes me, too.
Ummmm…drink more coffee? That doesn’t so much reduce it as make it easier for me to deal with 😀 Thanks for the chance!
I’m going to say breathing in absolutely silence with your eyes closed. It helps!
I like to spend time outside to reduce stress (and I would absolutely LOVE to win this prize)
Write about it
Great grab bag! Exersice helps me–being outdoors–and during an anxiety attack, I have an herbal tincture that helps me calm down from a certified herbalist friend.
I eat frozen yogurt or just try and get out of the house
Desi
weeshareblog@gmail.com
i sit down and read the assigned words for the day in the book of common prayer
ooooh applique and free motion stitching my two fave things in the world.
thanks for the chance
Cleo
I avoid stresses by keeping drama peoples off my facebook, staying in a few days of the week/not have plans.
Reduce stress: unplug, and tea with cookies.
I clean to reduce stress. So much cleaning… 😀
This is a really cool giveaway! I usually can’t avoid stress, but exercise and spending time outdoors helps me cope with it.
Fun! I’ve never made anything like that. I’m really bad at getting rid of stress. I try to talk myself out of it…doesn’t always work. 🙂
I avoid stress or stressful people, lol.
To keep myself centered, I get outside and go for walks or paddling in my kayak. Nothing like outdoor exercise to calm the mind and usually I tire myself out, so too tired to stress;)
I love these kits, they are so fun and I know my daughter would love one for her new place.
Debbie
Chocolate!
I used to run, and I still say that’s the number one way to reduce stress but I find learning to do something new (or relearn something you’ve forgotten) produces a little of that happy, tired feeling as well. So sewing can do it for me in a pinch.
what a lovely blog! Im a new follower 🙂
i guess you cant avoid stress, but meditating, chanting and doing lots of yoga helps a lot for me 🙂 also just spending some pay time with my kids!!!
thank you
What a fantastic kit!! I love hand sewing/piecing to reduce stress, when I get a chance!
I reduce stress by watching my chickens, going for walks, reading, and doing yard/garden work.
I go into deep organization mode to de stress!
Ok. This is so cool. I clicked on your site and looked at the header and thought ‘wow – those are cool’ then immediately subscribed by email on the right and THEN scrolled to your giveaway and wah-lah – a fab kit on how to make those amazing lovelies at the top!!! Fingers crossed x Oh ya, I reduce stress by having a list. A big list – I dump everything from my brain on that list so my head is clear and then I can focus on doing one or two things from the list. Too stressed? Then I put the list away ?
i avoid stress by going to bed early and making sure i spend some time reading before i go to sleep to help me relax.
p.s. i’ve never seen these girls before but that’s a great, creative idea.
getting enough sleep=every day, no exceptions! thanks
Those look fun. I was just thinking about my stress reduction techniques today, weird. I watch TV for a bit. I think this works as my “work/stress” part of my brain gets a break and my “silly/zone out/entertainment” part gets activated. The other thing I regularly do is bike rides. At least 3 times a week.
My stress ruducers are quilting, sewing, thrifting, singing and church. Thank you for this awesome giveaway. I love your Art girls!
Oh, I would really LOVE this prize! To de-stress, I go into my workroom, turn on the sparkle lights just below the ceiling, turn on the CD player, turn on my sewing machine, and sing and sew, sew and sing!
At home – quilting and a glass of wine 🙂 At work I listen to praise and worship music.
i walk to reduce stress…and bonus** some execise!
WHOA! i love your kit! a friend of mine on flickr just made a mini quilt with your kit!! beautiful!! thanks for a chance.
I grab a great book or I craft!
Breathing slowly and counting… as long as it takes to calm down.:) Thanks for a chance to win all of those goodies!!!
I avoid sugar and alcohol and that seems to help. However, someone once told me that the only way to avoid stress is to be a childless orphan. There are days when that rings true.
sewing helps me reduce stress and so does baking!
Pinterest, sewing, movies, or a hot bath.
I try to reduce or avoid stress by making sure I am as organised as possible and by praying about things that worry me.
A spot of crafting or a special edible treat are pretty helpful too! 🙂
Reduce stress? My dog reduces my stress just by hanging out with me. He reminds me that it’s all just fine.
horsebackriding. Can’t think of anything else while I do that. it is amazing. Plus I love sewing, knitting, baking and yoga. cuddles with the kids help too!
Hot mocha-chocolate and a good book!
My goodness what an adorable idea! I think that sewing is the only thing that keeps me from shaping heads off! I like a good bike ride too:)
I just left my job, for starters. But if you are looking for something less drastic, you can never go wrong with a good massage.
I reduce stress by exercising and playing with my pets.
lindsay(dot)forgette (at)gmail(dot)com
ipod shuffle with fav tunes, gardening–sometimes hacking away at weeds just relieves all sorts of tension 😉
The way I reduce stress is by laying on the couch and putting on some cheesy movies on TV..the cheesier the better 🙂 Totally lets me forget about what I was stressing about.
i avoid stress with denial 🙂
What a lovely kit. I’m reducing stress my working on being more mindful – taking a breath, responding rather than reacting, it’s a work in progress!
Whenever I start to get stressed about something, I walk away from it for sometime, either physically or mentally until I can get more perspective on the situation.
Wow! Lovely 🙂 My best way of reducing stress is to take deep breaths. Simple but it works! x
i love these and this is truly the most creative gift..thankyou…i relieve stress by hugging my kids and laughing with them…we play boardgames…love it…xxx
I am not good at avoiding stress – I try to hide from it through procrastination, but that only makes it worse in the end. I guess my best advice is to take action on what you can do and just pray or hope about the rest. Thanks for the chance to win such a great kit and all the goodies!!
I love your Creative Girls. That is what lead me to your site. I love seeing your creations. For stress management, I just do my best to let it roll off. Never hang on to anything. No special tricks other than recognizing it and letting it go.
a hot bath and a good book are my stress relievers
I reduce stress, by trying to eliminate as much “waste” as possible. I try not to waste my time/energy/emotions on things that aren’t that important.
I LOVE the kit I got for you and I would love to win another to give as a gift to a friend who saw the Art Girl that I made and wants to make her own! To reduce stress I try not to over think decisions I have made. What is done is done. Love your blog!
I will drink green tea and sometimes I will swim.
I find walking and/or meeting friends for coffee is best!!
I would SO love to win this!!! I would have a lot of fun creating one of these. I reduce stress by crafting! It’s my life saver! jinglesells at gmail dot com
my stress buster – ZUMBA! and sewing, chain piecing is a great stress buster!
This is such a fun giveaway! My daughter would love to make one of these with me, I think! When I’m stressed, I go down into my sewing room, put a quiet movie in, and sew!
What a cute giveaway! I like to read or watch a movie to reduce stress. It takes my mind off of what ever is stressing me out 🙂
I make lots and lots of lists!
I always leave the kids with the hubby and take a nice looooong shower when I need a small break.
I would love to get more massages, but a hot bath usually helps me.
I walk it helps alot, plus it keeps me in shape
If I’m really upset, all I want to do is go to sleep. Otherwise, I eat. >_< I recently resolved to knit a couple of rows of my very first cardigan instead of stress eating, though!
Thanks for the chance to win!
These little quilts are too cute! I haven’t found a good way to reduce stress. And I really need to. I suppose keeping busy helps me out some. Especially if it is something I enjoy doing.
To reduce stress, I pray– A LOT– and I also talk to my husband about what’s on my mind. He always makes me feel better and refocused.
I’m still trying to figure that out. I try to find something that is really bothering me that I can fix (usually a problem corner that needs cleaning) and I fix it. It has to be something that won’t overwhelm me or it doesn’t work. Then I feel like I can handle the other more difficult things I have to deal with.
Thanks for the awesome giveaway! I reduce stress by walking my dogs and sewing.
Sewing is my de-stresser, but five minutes alone also helps.
Nice warm bath or walk. Thanks for the giveaway.
I reduce stress by cuddling with my cat. I’m a grad student, and therefore no stranger to stress, unfortunately.
Actually, sewing and having a little “me” time helps me to reduce stress.
The only thing that really relieves my stress is exercise.
I don’t know that it’s the right solution for everyone, but I just quit my job. I did it so I didn’t have to stress as much about scheduling and who was taking care of my daughter when. Now that I’m about to start working for myself, hopefully I’m better able to find balance.
Oh, and I highly recommend playing in a garden for stress reduction too!
i think its in the mind .. dont let it get you be positive
I’ve recently started to swim for exercise and stress relief – I love the water. Found you last year on Giveaway Day! Thanks for the fabulous giveaway!
Bubble baths!
Punching a pillow used to work, but now it just makes my pillow flat and lumpy. So I’ve resorted to blasting my iPod really loud and going for a stress reducing walk.
I sew or listen to my ipod, something to take my mind of what is stressing me .
I try to remind myself that I cannot control what happens around me, but I can control how I react. Deep breaths and removing myself from the situation when possible as well. When those don’t work, I try a Rescue Remedy losenge. It doesn’t take away the stress, it just seems to make it not as important as it was.
To relieve stress I walk my dog when I get home from work. It works for both me and the dog. If it is raining as it is today, I turn on some music that I can sing along to so that I don’t think about what is causing the stress.
Your girls are gorgeous. I love the concept. I try to quilt more to reduce stress. Usually my best remedy is a quick walk or playing with the dogs.
I go to the gym. I find that when I stop going the stress rises and when I go again I say why did I ever stop it feels so good. Such a cycle!
Stress reduction: wine, Bones and a little sewing. Works every time!
Your quilts are intriguing. I have never tried something like that, but it looks like a lot of fun!
I reduce stress by sewing, crocheting and reading.
I like to find some time to sew if I’m feeling stressed, it makes me happy & calm. Thanks for the lovely giveaway.
When someone pisses me off I wish them only love and light… it takes up too much energy to be angry and it doesn’t suit me …lol
xo Steph
If I am stressed I try and find some time out – sewing is the best release for me 🙂
I love to destress at the end of the day with a little time to myself on the computer looking at blogs, Pinterest, etc.
I know I am stressed when I can’t find enjoyment in sewing so I make sure that I have something small that I can just sew and it won’t matter how it turns out so that I can get back into the groove and destress at the same time.
Try to not to focus on people that you have no control over – they shouldn’t have any control over you – so stop stressing about them!
I find playing around on the computer or exercising to be good for stress.
I reduce stress by taking a walk.
I’d love to tell you how I reduce my stress levels, but I haven’nt figured it out yet.
I try to avoid the people who I know bring me stress- doesn’t always work, but its worth a try.
Wow what an amazing giveaway. I love the kit and the samples of finished work. teachloveread at hotmail dot com
Your kit is so great. Thanks for the chance to win. To reduce stress, I read a book from one of my authors that I love. Looking at the blogs is also a great stress reliever as there are always stories to make me laugh and beautiful things that people are creating.
To reduce stress, I usually take a warm bath and try to remember to breathe deeply.
To reduce stress I make my 8 month old smile and laugh, it always helps!
What a really cool kit! I haven’t seen anything like this before.
The way I reduce stress is to go in my sewing room, turn on my radio, and work on something fun-not something that I have to do.
Great prize! I reduce stress by walking or jogging, art journaling, and sewing. What I turn to depends on the day 🙂
What fun! I want to play! To reduce stress, I do karate. I am currently working toward my 2nd degree black belt.
Usually i get away from people, sew and watch tv.
wow–what a cool giveaway! i’m fascinated by your kit. mostly, i find appliquing very calming–not always if it’s quite complicated, but just keeping on with the stitching is quiet and helpful. thanks for the opportunity and have a great day
I do crafts to keep stress at bay. It doesn’t really matter which crafts as long as I do something creative.
If I’m getting stressed I go dancing – I love it.
I sew, read and bake. And visit the zoo with a hugely overdone picnic and my OH. There’s usually enough food for 6 in our cool bag!
I listen to some meditation music – some time when i do free motion quilting too. It makes me lover my shoulders 🙂
A great give away.
Take a shower while my husband watches the baby, haha! Ice cream and a good book don’t hurt, though. 😉
I usually stick on some music and read a book or do a bit of crafting. Or a nice hot bath if I can keep the kids out the bathroom long enough to have one
When I get stressed I go fabric shopping. I’m a firm believer in fabric pheramones for stress relief.
Sorting my fabric stash sewing something. I love the giveaway i would give it to my 9 yr old she would create up a storm junior fashionista
I always get a second coffee…
I relieve stress by doing hand embroidery or working crossword puzzles and turning the TV off.
A nice long walk through the woods is my favorite way to de-stress.
Walking helps relieve my stress.
My method of reducing stress depends on where the stress came from. Sometimes a run or jog will fix it. Other times baking or sewing. I also enjoy ice cream as a cure.
This is my fav giveaway so far! I usually take a nap to reduce stress.
I drink tea. There’s nothing quite like the first sip of hot tea to make me take a deep breath and calm my nerves.
chibidani at gmail dot com
Thank you for the giveaway. I go for brisk walk, take a shower then I sew. Hope you find some way to reduce stress.
God Bless
Sandra
Love this-this would be a great mother/daughter project!
The biggest stress in my life is money but I avoid it the best I can by watching my spending. I haven’t bough new clothing in over a year and coupon when food shopping. It works alright, except when it comes to sewing patterns and fabric!
I do a reading break every day, usually the half hour before I sleep, no matter if there are some dishes left that better be washed or there is still some clothing for ironing or folding … I take those 30 minutes and just read – and the others better don’t try and disturb me during that time, it’s mine and mine alone …
Take a moment at least once every day to be thankful for the blessings in your life. Even if your not a religious or faith person you can just be greatful. The important thing is to focus for a moment on the good things rather than rushing through days and weeks and years without really appreciating the wonderful things in your life.
I am working on figuring out how to reduce stress as well. I find doing deep breathing with guided imagery works well. I find that for me crafting, especially art journaling helps a lot. I also bought a program that I have to install on my computer that works to help you relax and “rewards” you with nature scenes as you bring your rate and breathing down. It is neat and I hope it will help.
good luck managing stress, it is something we all need to deal with but it isn’t easy in today’s world!
My contact info is: scrapgirl1467 (at) yahoo (dot) com
Thanks very much for participating in this giveaway and for the lovely prize you are offering. Because you have been so generous, we all have been able to enter to win some lovely prizes, but also to find new blogs to follow and inspiration along the way! i appreciate it!
Thanks and have a great day,
Maureen
Hi Carrie! I like to hike or put on music that relaxes me- Sometimes that’s a real rocker like the Rolling Stones. Work up your heart rate jumping around! another idea is this Yoga website that has great free routines: http://www.myyogaonline.com/?utm_source=May+22+newsletter&utm_campaign=full+list+may+22+2012&utm_medium=email
Also watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=gXDMoiEkyuQ&vq=medium
there are other valuable videos in the TED series
Sewing always helps me. But listening to my baby sleep (he makes cute breathing/snoring noises) is the best.
This is interesting,never seen this kit.for stress I crochet.
Another great website for de-stressing is Livestrong. It has so many resources! http://www.livestrong.com/woman/
Oooh – what a fab crafty kit, I would love to make my own ‘creative girl’. My go to craft for de-stressing is crochet – I have a lovely cup of tea and sit down to an hour of my favourite craft 🙂
Take a book and nap with a cup of tea. Even I re-think the things that made me stressed and ask myself if it wirth it to be angry, anxious , how can I solve the problem calmly 🙂
Sewing is my therapy
Anything food or fabric related usually is a stress reliever for me. 🙂
OMGosh! This is way too sweet. I’d definitely make a little wall hanging about sister, because I have 4. With that many sisters I feel loads of stress, but luckily I have found quilting.
Great giveaway! I reduce stress by walking. Unfortunately I just had knee surgery and am not getting to walk much for right now.
Woww Thanks so much! Some things I like to do is sew or sit on the bench in my backyard with my puppy in my lap. But I guess I can’t complain about stress because I’m still a student, not in the real world yet! ya know? Teehee Thanks so much for the post!
This is a really cool giveaway. To relieve stress I love to swim, the more laps the better. Reading and cooking help with the stress relief too!
I try and take baths and read a book, or turn off all the lights and watch a movie. Thanks for the chance!
Wow! These ate awesome!
I like to read, take walks, sew, and watch movies to relieve stress, it sometimes helps to take a bath and apply a lavender oil to my temples then go in a dark room.
Thank you for the opportunity;
What a great project!
Let’s see, drawing, painting, cross stitch, sewing and learning to quilt.
I take hot baths. It helps.
I love baths to help me relax and destress 🙂
Thanks for the giveaway!
melissajpalmer at yahoo dot com
Sewing helps me to reduce stress, also other crafty activities.
I like to run. Today I’m getting a mountain bike, so that will be another stress relieving outlet. Thanks so much for doing this giveaway! 🙂
gee…i thought i entered this as this is just so amazing..i loved your work to bits too,,,thankyou for such a generous giveaway…ok…i say no…easy…and i don’t work in a paid job but i do home school…stress city…so some days you just have to let go…of the housework, the cooking, you get the idea…xxx
I knit or read or watch a show
I cuddle with my dog.
I try to avoid stress by reminding myself that I should worry about things I have no control over. Thanks for the giveaway.
I do deep breathing. I have anxiety/panic disorder and don’t take medication for it. I breathe in through my nose to the count of 5, 1..2..3.., then hold for 5 then slowly breathe out my mouth like when you whistle for the count of 5. It works for any number if 5 is too much for you. It MAKES the brain/nervous system to relax. (im a nurse also. ) Enough sleep, eating good foods on time (not late), closing your eyes and deep breathing works. Talking about your problems and not keeping them in. These are all good coping mechanisms for stress. Oh! And drink enough water. It all sounds simple, but once you make a point to do all these things, they work. So does a nice warm bath, and doing something for YOU once a day.
I go sit in the barn and let the lambs snuggle me. Plus my mantra is “this too shall pass”.
Hm. That’s a toughie since what works on one person doesn’t always work on another. I personally like to pull weeds or prune my trees. Sometimes some sewing will do it or crafting. Thanks for the giveaway! 🙂
lorepuckett at verizon dot net
How fun! I reduce stress by knitting or crocheting while relaxing with my family.
I sew or crochet to reduce stress
I step away from whatever is stressing me for a moment and do something different or have a nice cup of tea.