Yes, you read it correctly! I’m hosting a greeting card giveaway right here on Unbound Roots. Last winter, my friend Angela, from You Are Awesome, suggested that I give away a pack of watercolor greeting cards. Angela has many great ideas (you need to check them out on her blog link above), so I thought I better follow her suggestion. Aside from Angela’s awesome suggestion, the timing is right.
Let me explain:
Unbound Roots is getting a make-over in the next month. I am still going to be writing stories about topics that inspire me – hiking, animals, thoughts that grab my attention, gardening, the family farm, and painting (to name a few) – but my blog will be just one portion of the website. I will also be adding a gallery to showcase my watercolor paintings, and an online shop where people can purchase watercolor originals, limited prints of paintings, and packs of greeting cards. Shoppers will also have the option to request original paintings – personal paintings that can be treasured for centuries.
As many of you know, I have been doing a lot of painting throughout the past month. My kids and I came up with a list of animals that are common here in the Upper Midwest, and then I painted them into snow scenes. Five paintings have been completed, and will now be printed onto greeting cards.
Silent Night
Winter Treasure
First Snow
Christmas Spirit
Late for my Winter Slumber
I had so much fun painting these wild cuties! Okay, okay, I’m sure you’re waiting for the details, so…
Here are the greeting card giveaway details:
On Friday, December 21st, I will be randomly drawing the names of two recipients. Each recipient will receive one pack of five greeting cards – one card of each of the paintings above.
How Do I Enter the Free Giveaway?
It’s simple! All you have to do is enter a comment below. Any winter-related comment will do. You can tell me about your favorite winter activity, favorite tradition, favorite winter recipes, or you can suggest a painting you’d like to see me complete – it’s up to you! I will write down the names of all the people who comment, and randomly draw the names on December 21st. The winners will be announced right here on Unbound Roots, so be sure to check back! If a recipient fails to respond within 48 hours, a new recipient will be chosen.
I am excited to send off my very first greeting cards!
Good luck to everyone, and enjoy the holiday season!
Warmly,
Erin
They are all very beautiful, Erin. <3
Thanks so much, Martha! I appreciate you.
Sledding with my kids, then coming home to make hot chocolate and sit by the fire while watching one of our favorite winter/Christmas movies 🙂
Sounds like the perfect winter day! My kids have been dreaming of more snow so they can sled, snowboard, and cross-country ski.
Thanks so much for your comment!
being a good Scandinavian I enjoy a a nice cold crisp winter day with white snow and a blue sky
I do too, Linda! I love the smell of the air on these days. Thanks so much for your comment!
What fantastic news!
These will be beautiful as greetings cards, and I LOVE the idea of half your website being a gallery!
It still feels pretty autumnal here in Vancouver, but we already traveled up to Whistler a couple of times to ski. There is something about snow covered mountains that really make the world feel wintery. I didn’t grow up with them, but I love them!
Thanks so much for sharing, Josy! I’ve been on mountains before, but never on snow covered mountains. I imagine it’s magical – like in the movies where a couple hunkers down in a log cabin with huge windows and watches the snow falling slowly. 🙂
Thanks so much for your kind words and for your comment, my friend!
Well I saw a hare yesterday our of nowhere and it reminded me of your watercolours. Also, I would love to see more of your work on cows. They are so homely to me.
Orla, I’d love to paint a 🐄 for you someday. I have two cows ideas ready for painting: one is of a Jersey cow, the other a Holstein. ❤️ I love cows too.
Thanks so much for your comment, Orla!
I am so happy you found your niche painting! You are so talented! Winter. . . It’s beautiful but sometimes I wonder why we love here lol.
Thanks so much, Bridget! Yes, I was just telling my family that I wish we’d have the snow for the months of December – January and then we’d get back to warmer temps and green grass. ☀️
Your 5 new paintings are outstanding! Perhaps a river otter in winter would be amusing!
Thank you very much for your thoughtful comment. Funny enough, I was trying to decide between the bear and river otters for my final painting. I do want to paint those playful animals yet!
Keeping our new rescue pup warm and safe through the Winter will be my main winter activity. Dumped in a box in the snow in Romania her brother died next to her, though she is safer than she was; getting her here with us to have her second chance is her best hope. She needs to survive the freezing temperatures outside a few more weeks until we receive her Jan 3rd.
Oh my gosh, Ellen! A story of utter sadness, but true hope too. I love that you’re adopting a pup. Both of our dogs are rescue pups. Nothing better. ❤️ I hope your little lady stays strong. 💪
And so do we Erin.
Erin’s work is incredible! I’m the proud owner of one of her commissioned pieces!
Thanks so much, Dr. Brown. ❤️ My absolute favorite part of painting is seeing a recipient fall in love with their piece of art.
I do too, we have a Red Cardinal exquisite.
Thank you, Ellen! Xx
Well, THANK YOU! Not just for the lovely mention but for making your talent manifest in your writing and painting AND sharing it with all of us. SO SO proud to be your friend. How did I get so lucky? Oh yes, winter is coming. (That’s for all of your GOT fans! 🙂
This is the sweetest, Angela. And, I’m going to have to say that I am the lucky one. I wouldn’t be here today, with my writing and painting, if it wasn’t for you. So, thank YOU, dear friend.
I love your paintings! They have amazing detail! How about a painting of the Swedish salad/dessert Angla Mat with a Christmas 🎄 in the background!
First of all, thank you! Second, I love your idea for a painting. I’ve always wanted to paint a Christmas tree, but haven’t done it quite yet. This would be the perfect time. And, adding a little Swedish Angla Mat would be a touching addition. Thank you for the suggestion!
They’re beautiful, Erin, and I’m so happy you are sharing your talent with the world! Your website updates are very exciting. My fave holiday tradition is doing our Jesse Box with my kids–like a diorama with wooden manger figures I didn’t have to make myself! It’s a good way to follow the story of Mary and Joseph on their journey to Bethlehem and keeps us in mind of what’s important around the holidays: family, friends, and creatures–like the cuties on your cards!
Thanks so much for your thoughtful words, Rebecca! So, I’ve never heard of a Jesse Box, but I’m going to check it out right now. Sounds like it would be something our family would enjoy very much.
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
your took to painting like a duck to water, they are all beautiful1
I love your analogy! And, thank you very much for your kind compliment. ❤️
Playing in the snow with our children making snowman for each person in the family and going to the park sledding down the hill we all thought was so big 😂then having grandchildren and doing it all over again bring back such wonderful memorie But this time the hill was bigger and the snowman were bigger yet and the snow ball fight can for get those ☃️ Last but least our grandchildren ask us if we’re ready for hot chocolate with lots of marshmallow ☃️❤️That’s what what makes winter the best for us 😊grams and grandpa Burton
Wonderful winter a activities.❤️ Thanks so much for sharing your memories too.🎄
Your cards are gorgeous!! Our favourite winter activity here in Victoria is to go to the Butchart Gardens on Christmas Day evening to see the light display and the 12 Days of Christmas display they do.
Butchart Gardens are on my bucket list! I’ve seen so many photos of the gardens – they are phenomenal. I can only imagine what they look like at Christmas time.
Thanks so much for your kind compliment and comment, Pamela!
Flip seems to be broken in the uk but I will keep trting.
No worries, Ellen! Thanks for visiting. ❤️
wow lovely paintings and an online shop sounds a lovely idea. I just like staying warm in the cold winter, warmly wrapped up, duvet and mug of hot chocolate.
Thank you for your kind words! And, I like your ideas! I’m such a freeze baby, so I have to stay active outside if I’m out in the chilly weather.
Thanks so much for your comment!
My favorite winter activity will be sending these gorgeous cards. Well, hmmm. I just lied. I think I’ll be keeping them — and putting them in frames! Merry Christmas, dear talented Erin!!!
You’re the best, Alice! The cards will be printed on fine art paper using a giclee printer, so they should last centuries if someone is so inclined to frame them. 🙂
I think I have shared everywhere but instagram and that’s because I don’t know how. 😁😂🤣 Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Thank you kindly! I haven’t figured out the share thing in Instagram either, so don’t feel bad. 😉 Merry Christmas to you and yours, dear Ellen!
So pleased you are going to have a shop/gallery. Wish you all the best with it.x
It’s exciting, but a little scary too! Thank you so very much for the well-wishes, Ellen. x
You’re so talented, love them. I would love to see baby coyotes playing in the snow
I love coyotes! We have a few that visit our backyard frequently. I think they’re probably drooling over our chickens that roam the yard. But, they’re a little nervous about our partially fenced-in backyard. Baby coyotes playing in the snow would be adorable.
Thanks so much for your kind words, Esme!
Beautiful cards!
Thanks so much for your kind compliment! This past year has been full of painting, which has been a lot of fun. 🙂
They are just gorgeous Erin. You are very talented. Your paintings are so peaceful.
At the moment here we are in Summer, so we have never had the experience of a white Christmas. Hopefully next year (fingers crossed) my family and I will visit Europe for Christmas and enjoy a real traditional snowy Festive Season. I think it will be quite a difference compared to the regular 30 degree days with BBQ’s for Christmas lunch or dinner!! 😉
Lorelle, thank you so very much for your kind compliment! I do hope you get to experience a white Christmas if you travel to Europe next year. There is very little that seems more peaceful than a nice snow on Christmas. But, I have to say that a BBQ sounds wonderful right about now. We’ve had cold weather for over a month now. We have very few Christmases that aren’t white. Maybe we can trade places some year. 🎄☺️
It would be so different for us Erin. Yes, that’s a great idea, a total swap, just for one year! Lol…
Anyway, wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and happy holidays. Xx