$100 Sephora, Etsy & T-Shirt Giveaway!

We are excited to announce that we're partnering with Pretty Thrifty and doing a huge giveaway during November!  Pretty Thrifty is THE best resource for legitimate, 100% free makeup and beauty samples. Together we are giving away a prize worth over $100!

The winner will receive:

One $50 Gift Card to Sephora.com
One $30 Gift Card to Etsy.com
One men's or women's Alphabet Tracing Shirt from our Etsy shop

Sephora carries just about every kind of makeup or beauty product you could want, and Etsy is THE go-to place for one of a kind fashions and gifts.  And with the holidays around the corner, the Alphabet Tracing Shirt will make a perfect gift for any mom, dad or grandparent.  Or keep it for yourself!

There are a TON of different ways you can enter.  You don't need to do every entry type, but the more you do, the more times you'll be entered and the more chances you'll have to win!

Our giveaway starts now and runs through Monday, November 25th, 2013 at 10 pm EST.  It is open to U.S. residents only, 18 years of age and up.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Essential Swimwear giveaway!

Today I'm excited to bring you a giveaway from Essential Swimwear!  If you haven't found that perfect new suit for Spring break, here's your chance.

Essential Swimwear is generously giving away a $50 gift certificate to put towards a suit of your choice!

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post (one entry per person, please).
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

You can visit Essential Swimwear online or follow them on Facebook for the latest deals and promotions.

My talented sister Brittney started this company in 2008.  After being frustrated with expensive prices, wrong fits and the hassle of searching online for hours, she decided to experiment with making her own swimsuits.  After a lot of trial and error, she was finally able to sew swimsuits that were comfortable, stylish and flattering and began making them for friends and family.  Word spread quickly, and she began selling hand-made women's swimsuits to more and more people.  After two years of personally fitting hundreds of women, she took the knowledge she gained and began designing swimsuits that could be manufactured to keep up with the demand and increase quality.

Here's a little bit more about Essential Swimwear, in their own words:

At Essential Swimwear, our goal is to create beautiful, elegant and affordable swimwear for women of all shapes and sizes.  We believe it's more classy and appealing to be modestly covered than unnecessarily provocative.  Women should feel empowered and confident in their swimwear, whether they're laying out by the pool, chasing kids around the splash park, surfing at the ocean or swimming at the local rec center.

Our vintage-inspired shapes paired with modern prints and solids create one-of-a-kind looks that work for every body type.  With an emphasis on excellent quality of materials and construction, we are confident your Essential Swimwear suit will be one you'll have in your wardrobe for years.

This giveaway ends Sunday at midnight.  Winner will be announced Monday morning.  Good luck!

The winner of this giveaway is Jill Lau!  She said, "Your sister does an amazing job!"
Enjoy your new suit!

Essential Swimwear giveaway!

This giveaway is now closed.  See the end of this post for the winner.

Today I'm excited to bring you a giveaway from Essential Swimwear!  And just in time for summer.  My sister Brittney started this company in 2008.  She designs and sells modest, stylish swimming suits, all at a reasonable price.  She is amazing!!



In her own words:

After becoming thoroughly discouraged every season as I searched for the perfect swimsuit, I decided that it didn't exist.  I was frustrated with expensive prices, wrong fits and the hassle of searching online for hours.  Having some sewing experience, the thought came to mind, "Why don't I make my own swimsuit?"

After a lot of trial and error, I was finally able to sew swimsuits that were comfortable, stylish and flattering.  I began making swimsuits for friends and family and soon the word started spreading.

I sold hand-made women's swimsuits for two years and received an overwhelmingly positive response. I gained priceless knowledge as I personally fit hundreds of women.  I was able to discover their needs, wants and insecurities.  With this knowledge I started designing swimsuits and now have them manufactured to keep up with demand and increase quality.  

I hope you enjoy wearing these swimsuits as much as I have enjoyed designing them!

You can visit Essential Swimwear online, via blog and on Facebook.

Essential Swimwear offers tankinis, swim skirts and board shorts.  And this year they are also selling one pieces by Albion.  I love how simple and flattering all of the suits are!

This is one of my personal favorites (below): the Cappuccino Ruched Halter Top.  In fact, if you must know, it has already joined my own collection of swimsuits!  I love how the gathered sides and simple design cover up my post pregnancy imperfections... well, some of them :)  And I've already got my eyes set on the Ocean Ruffled Halter Top.  Why do I feel like I never have enough suits??



Today Essential Swimwear is generously giving away a $50 credit towards a suit of your choice!  That would buy you an entire tankini set (top and bottom) from this seasons line.  Or you could use it towards a swim skirt, board shorts, a one piece, or suits from previous seasons... oh, the possibilities!

The Blue Basket readers can also take 10% off their entire purchase at Essential Swimwear from now until Monday, May 7.  Just enter thebluebasket10 at checkout.

Here's how to enter:

Simply "like" Essential Swimwear on Facebook then leave a comment on this post (one entry per person, please).

The giveaway ends Monday at midnight.  Winner will be announced Tuesday morning.  Good luck!

And the winner is...

Alicia!  She said, "What cute suits! I would love to win one of these! Classic and stylish."

Congratulations!

HBfabrics giveaway!

This giveaway is now closed.

Today I'm excited to bring you a giveaway from HBfabrics! Hilary and Chris sell designer fabric out of their home. Hilary also has her own line of products (Hilary Brooke Collection)... totes, wallets, iPhone and iPad cases, pack-packs, hooded towels, kids belts and ties... all made with beautiful fabric. In her own words:

Hilary Brooke Collection started out after I got together with a good friend and she taught me how to make a diaper bag. I was hooked! I quickly learned that many other women had the same desire as I did to have a bag that no one else had! That is when Hilary Brooke Collection began. I started buying fabric in bulk and filling up our formal dining room with wall to wall fabric. The small bag business quickly turned into our fabric store (HBfabrics) and Hilary Brooke Collection. I joined forces with my husband Chris and now we both love to find great fabrics and patterns and we continue to fill up our home with lovely fabrics and my own creations for HBC. We enjoy shipping great fabrics and unique handmade products out to our wonderful customers.

HBfabrics can be found online, on Etsy and on Facebook.



Today they are generously giving away a Charm Pack—42 squares from the "Ruby" line by Bonnie and Camille for Moda Fabrics, PLUS 2 yards from this line of your choice (valued at $27 + shipping!). It can be any combination in 1/4 increments... for example, 1 yard of one fabric and 1 yard of another, or 2 yards of 1 fabric, or 1/4 yard of 8 fabrics and so on. Oh, the possibilities!





Could there be a cuter line?! Can I enter the giveaway? :) I'm in love with these colors.



Here's how to enter:

Simply "like" HBfabrics on Facebook then leave a comment on this post (one entry per person, please).

The giveaway ends Sunday at midnight. Winner will be announced Monday morning. Good luck!

And the winner is...



Ellen! Congratulations!

Valentine's Box

Earlier this month I turned a clementine box into our family's Valentine's box (doesn't it always feel good to reuse stuff?) We have slowly been collecting letters from family and friends, and the kids have written letters to each other. Tonight when Pete gets home we will be having a little party to celebrate this fun day, playing Valentine's Bingo, eating tomato soup and heart-shaped biscuits, and opening all these love notes. Pete and I always go out on the 10th of February in celebration of our first-date anniversary, then spend Valentine's Day with the kids. Hope you all get to do something fun today!



And you might be wondering about the winner of the Valentine's Giveaway...



The random number generator has chosen the one and only Jess! (who just happens to also be my cute sister-in-law!) Congratulations!

Valentine's Giveaway: A Hand-Drawn Portrait!

**This giveaway is now CLOSED**

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I thought it would be fun to give away one of my hand-drawn portraits. I've been doing portraits for about 12 years, mostly for family and friends. I work exclusively in pencil from photographs and can combine more than one photograph into a single drawing. These portraits are perfect for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, Christmas... or Valentine's! The winner of this giveaway will receive one free portrait (up to 2 subjects—a $175 value!) It could be of you, your parents, your kids, a friend... whoever you choose.



Here's how to enter:
(Please leave a separate comment on THIS POST per entry)

Required:
* Follow this blog

Additional entries:
* "Like" The Blue Basket on Facebook
* Follow my portraiture blog (jessicajacksonportraiture.blogspot.com)
* "Like" Jessica Jackson Portraiture on Facebook
* Write a post about this giveaway on your blog (and leave me a link)

This giveaway will run through Monday, February 13th. The winner will be announced on Valentine's Day. Good luck!

Car Shirt GIVEAWAY!

** This giveaway is closed ** But you make your own! I have posted the tutorial here.

This is probably the best gift you could ever give your husband (ok, maybe not the best, but pretty close!) And it could be yours! I made one of these for Pete a couple years ago and he has gotten hours and hours of use out of it. All it is is a map painted onto the back of a shirt for the kids to drive their cars on. If daddy comes home exhausted but still wants to play with the kids, he can throw this shirt on and get a nice 20 minute massage from the kids hot wheels. I even whipped this shirt out one afternoon when the 2 older kids were wanting to do something with me and snuck in a 10 minute power nap :)



The winner of this drawing will receive the car shirt shown (x-large) PLUS 2 new Hot Wheels cars! And since there are probably 3 or 4 people who read this blog, you have a very high chance of winning! :)

To enter the giveaway you must:
* Be a follower of this blog and leave a comment on the blog (required)
* For an extra entry you can like this page on Facebook (leave another comment on the blog)
Entries must be in by Sunday night! Winner will be announced Monday.



These make great birthday, Christmas and Father's Day gifts.
Good luck!!!

Grocery list pad printout

I recently started keeping this grocery list pad on my fridge and have loved it. These are super easy to make! I took the file into Kinko's, had them do it all: print, cut and glue the top. All for just a few dollars. Then I stuck a magnet to the back. If you're interested, here's the file:



Happy shopping!

And the winner of the grocery list pad is...



Eliza! Congrats :) You'll be receiving your very own grocery list pad in the mail early next week.

Grocery list pad GIVEAWAY!

This giveaway is now closed. To see who the winner was or to get the file to make your own grocery list pad, go here.

A grocery list pad that you can stick on to your fridge... a must-have for staying organized and not forgetting anything you need at the store! As I was making one of these for me I thought I might as well make an extra to share. Each pad has 50 sheets so will last about a year (if you use one each week). I love having this on my fridge where I see it all the time. I most often realize I need something while I'm cooking, so with this pad I can quickly write it down so I don't forget.



To enter the giveaway you must:
Be a follower of this blog and leave a comment on the blog (required)
For an extra entry you can like this page on Facebook (leave another comment on the blog)
Entries must be in by Thursday night! Winner will be chosen Friday.



Good luck!