Refer a Friend - Raffle Giveaway

I recently came across Rafflecopter, a contest/giveaway app that looked rather exciting. So I played with the demo and decided to ‘experiment’ (the science geek in me comes out)
The good news is that YOU get to benefit from my experimentation
That’s right; you can win up to $50 to my Artfire shop

Prizes are as follows:

First Place: $20 to my Artfire Shop (1 winner)
Second Place: $10 to my Artfire Shop (2 winners)

How do you Enter?

1 – Use the form below enter for up to TEN points (each point is another chance to win)
2 – Share this page with your friends (using the share-it feature top right of this blog) asking them to enter for a chance to match their prize
If your referral wins a prize, YOU WIN THE SAME PRIZE (a prize-match)
Be sure your friends include your Name/Email in the referral box so you get the credit)
3 – Sit back, relax, and start browsing my AF Shop to plan your spending spree

How can you win $50?

1 – You can to win (first or second place)
2 – Your referrals can win the other 2 spots
That’s up to $20 direct winning, and up to $30 referral prize-match winnings
Second Place: $10 to my Artfire Shop

So go ahead, use the form below to enter up to TEN points (every point is another chance to win)
Winner will be chosen on Thursday, 19 Jan 2011 and announced in the following newsletter issue

Why subscribe to my Newsletter?

Don’t worry, I won’t be ‘spamming’ your inbox with daily issues. I use my newsletter as a chance to ‘show off’ my latest sculptures by including photos and links (for more photos and details)
I also like to throw in little ‘extras’ in my newsletter, like contests, discounts, and giveaways

News, Newsletter, and a GIVEAWAY

As my readers will know, I am brand new to blogging here on my MagicByLeah Blog, and this is really exciting. I already have a long list of topics that I want to blog about, from the birth of my fairies, thought process behind my many sculpting lines, failures of the burnt princess, and even a handful of clay tutorials for other PC artists out there.
In addition to my blog, I am planning a MagicByLeah Newsletter, for those interested in receiving highlights to their inbox ever few weeks. This will be reserved for the best of the best, showing off my latest work, my polymer clay and related news, and whatever else happens to tickle my fancy at the time

GIVEAWAY

To help spice up (and build anticipation) for the first newsletter issue, I am hosting a $8 across-the-board GIVEAWAY
But this is not the type of giveaway where you ‘do this and maybe you get a chance to win’
NO
EVERY subscriber is a winner, no gimmicks, no requirements, (well, other than joining my newsletter)

Here’s how it works:

- Sign up for my Newsletter by December 1
- Receive your $8 gift certificate to my Artfire Shop (on Dec 1)
- Go shopping in My Artfire shop
- Receive your gifts before the holidays
- Wrap your presents and give them to yourself, family friends

The first issue of my Newsletter is scheduled to Debut on December 1; this issue will include a MagicByLeah on Artfire Gift Certificate code which can be redeemed in my Artfire shop
Gift Certificate can be used towards ANY items in my shop INCLUDING custom orders and shipping fees.
And don’t forget to share this joy with your friends, so go on share using Tweet, Facebook, Stumble, and more

Click the Certificate Below to Sign Up

My Artfire Shop

My Very First Blog Post

Good Morning and welcome to my very first blog post on my very first blog

Since this is my first post, I will use this opportunity to introduce myself. And I ask YOU, my fellow readers, to introduce yourself in turn using the comment section below

My name is Leah, pronounced ‘lay-ah’ as in princess Leia, and no I have never seen Star Wars (I know, I know..) I cannot tell you how many times my name gets mispronounced. I often get ‘Lee-ah’ and once even got ‘Lee’
But enough about my name

In the ‘real world’ I work as a private educator. I help high school and college students dissect the mystery that is science, prepare them for their standardized exams, and help them get into the medical field by helping them prepare for their MCATs, DATs, OATs and the application process.

I believe that if you work hard you will achieve your goals, it may not be easy, but it’s certainly not impossible. I learned this valuable lesson in the 'middle of nowhere' on the North Arabian Gulf (ABOT)

After graduating high school I was torn between adventure and education, so I settled for both by joining the Navy Reserves and attending college full time. I studied the sciences during the week, and served my country on weekends.

In 2010 my unit was called up for deployment to the Middle East for OIF/OEF, where we served a dual mission between security at Port Ashuaiba – Kuwait, and the training of Iraqi military in security on the Al Basra Oil Terminal (ABOT) Iraq. Here’s an excellent clip from CNN showing my unit working with the US Coast Guard and Coalition forces on this exciting yet tasking mission

CNN clip featuring my unit on ABOT

After returning from deployment I settled in for the 'nice and quiet life' by starting my own tutoring business: Leah4sci (Tutoring/Educating mentioned above)
When the students are gone and the academics are cleared away, THAT is when the real adventures begin. Papers are replaced by clay, and writing instruments are replaced by sculpting tools. Polymer Clay, my hobby/addiction, allows me to bring the magical creatures from my fantasy world to reality. Sculpting helps me deal with the stressed (read: adventures) of the day, relieves tension, and gives me something fun to do

I love to imagine which creatures will emerge next from my blob of uncured 'plastic' (polymer clay). Inspiration for my sculptures come from the things around me. I will get ideas from the things I see in my daily routine, on TV, and all around me. I will sometimes wake up in the middle of the night to jot down a great idea from my dreams, or rush out of the shower to record yet another brilliant (read: hair-brained) scheme

So join me, on this magical journey, and together we can explore even deeper fantasies, and unlock the mysteries hidden in the world of polymer clay

You can find a gallery of many past works on my website: MagicByLeah

Some of my artwork is available for sale in the following of my shops:

My Artfire Shop
My Etsy Shop - Sculptures
My Etsy Shop - Trinkets and Jewelry

Follow Me on Facebook:

MagicByleah
TrinketsByLeah