Monday, August 10, 2009

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS: KCEtsy Team's Great Giveaway! WEEK 1: WIN A FREE BAR OF SOAP from AJ's Country Cottage!


KCETSY TEAM is proud and excited to feature COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS - 18 weeks of wonderful blog giveaways from now until December! Don't miss your chance to win some fabulous free items from this very talented team! For our first week's giveaway, I, AJ from AJ's Country Cottage will be giving away a free bar of handmade soap of the winner's choice! Choose from any in-stock soap in my Etsy shop!

I just adore the creativity involved in making my own soap from scratch, because I know exactly what's going into my recipe and exactly what's NOT. Several years ago, I became challenged to try this wonderful union of art and science. When I finally took the plunge and made my very first batch, I knew there was no going back to commercially-produced soap for me and my family! What a rush it was to cut into that first batch, then lather up with my very own deliciously-scented creation!

I am inspired by nature; the scent of a lovely flower or the colors of a gorgeous sunset will stimulate me to try and recreate those memories. My family's skincare needs inspire me as well; one has oily skin, another dry skin, and a third sensitive. So I was challenged to create special soaps for them. It's so rewarding to be able to help with people's special needs.

My favorite recipe ingredients are olive oil, shea butter, milks, and essential oils. I love variety, so my favorite soap varies by season. In winter when my skin tends to be drier, I love my Creamy Shea Butter soap. In the fall I adore vanillas and spicy scents. Summertime means I'll go for some fruity or minty soaps, which make me feel so refreshed! Right now I've got a bar of Ginger Lime in my shower.

TO ENTER THIS CONTEST AND WIN A FREE BAR OF SOAP, simply visit my Etsy shop, ajscountrycottage.etsy.com and choose your favorite item in the shop (doesn't have to be soap!), then post a comment about your favorite item here. BE SURE TO INCLUDE contact information (your e-mail) in your post, so we can notify you if you win. Contest closes at 11:59 p.m. Central Time on Sunday, Aug. 16. Monday Aug. 17, a winner will be randomly drawn from eligible entrants and notified by e-mail, and the winner's name will also be posted here. Winner has one week to contact me to claim his/her prize, and it will be sent free of charge - shipping's on me too! Contest open to U.S. residents. Keep checking here for our weekly drawings!


Update 8/17/09: THE WINNER OF THIS DRAWING for a FREE BAR OF SOAP IS JERSEYGIRL137! Congratulations!

35 comments:

Chauncey said...

so many great things to choose from but I'll go with the vanilla mango soap http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24920183

It looks and sounds yummy. Great blog contest KC. If I win (hope hope) please send a convo.

chauncey.etsy.com

considerthelillies said...

Hi! I picked Pink Sugar soap as my favorite item in your shop! I looooove that scent!!

Zuda Gay Pease said...

Ooo, am I first? :) I so wish someone would invent smell-a-monitor! I'm picking Exotic Jasmine Soap http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23884665 for my favorite. Thank you for a chance to win a bar of AJ's lovely soap!!!

Kary said...

Oooo .... tea tree & lavender soap, Aj!! Thanks for hosting this contest ... I hope I win!

Nonna Illustration & Design said...

EUCALYPTUS LEAVES SOY CANDLE!!! OH, I bet this smells sooooo good. This is my fav!

shawnacarpenter@mac.com

JLR Designs said...

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17991633

Cool - lilac. I've never seen it used in a soap
jw@jlr-designs.com

Anonymous said...

SWEET HONEYSUCKLE SOY CANDLE sounds like it would be just delightful in my house!

Laura.powell05@yahoo.com

Robin Hartman said...

You have an overwhelming supply of candles and soap. I love all the pumpkin scents: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28871370

Your variety pack is great too: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28609352

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27640617

I love how some of your candles are actually stripped like the Autumn Leaves candle.

BuggaLove said...

The eucalyptus spearmint soap looks DIVINE....definitely my fav. Though it was hard to choose!

buggalove@gmail.com

katie hanson said...

Wildberry Zinger definitely! The color is amazing and I bet the smell is too!

muffintopdesigns said...

if you're shipping to canada, i'd like to throw my hat in the ring!!! i so love the fresh mown grass candle... sigh! dreamy!!!

xo muffin

muffintopdesigns@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

i bet this smells lovely!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25853556

aobrien@bethanywv.edu

Sue said...

Picking a favorite was tough. My first reaction was the French vanilla candle since that is usually my favorite scent. Then I saw the almond pastry candle - hmmmm. Now if there was a vanilla /almond, it would be perfection.

The Stewart Stuff said...

The birthday cake soy candle sounds too good to be true! YUM!
-10oneworld on Etsy

Kate Ladd Art said...

I picked the lilac soap, I love the smell of lilac and the color is super. I even ordered a bar, yay!

LittleElf said...

Oooh that's a hard one. The Warm Apple Pie candle sounds amazing, but so does the Pumpkin Creme Brluee. Too hard to choose between the two!

Kelley
http://LittleElfsToyshop.etsy.com

42PurpleElephants said...

I think I like the Hawaiian Plumeria candle. Plumeria is one of my favorite scents. :)

You can reach me at angelak at gmail dot com.

Thanks!

Altered Beauty said...

My favorite item:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28854851
I LOVE the scent of pears! Thanks for the great giveaway! My email is alteredbeauty@live.com and I am following.

The3Maries said...

NEW PUMPKIN CREME BRULEE SOY CANDLE..sounds like Fall!

http://the3maries.etsy.com

Beth Howard said...

For me, it's gotta be the Sweet Treats Soy Candles. Yuuuuuuum!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19623777

Great stuff!
Beth
star_momma at yahoo dot com

SillyLittleLady said...

I like the vegan Patchouli Red soap, patchouli is one of my favorite scents :)

If I am lucky enough to win, please contact me at sillylittlelady(at)gmail(dot)com

LoveCharlesVintage said...

What a lovely giveaway! I'll be sure to follow your blog so I can keep up with the christmas countdown.

My favorite item I'm going to say is the lip butters, I love chapstick.
The passionfruit rose flavor sounds absolutely lovely!

lilygreig(at)gmail(dot)com

Bonzai Beadwear said...

This!! I LOVE pumpkin!!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28871370

http://bonzaibeadwear.etsy.com

Mônica said...

I have to say your Luxury Artisan Soap -- Shea Butter. I love anything with Shea butter! :-)

msc_art(at)mac(dot)com

Ni-Chern Designs said...

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17587536

this sounds absolutely awesome!

ni.chern.designs@gmail.com

Newelryjewelry said...

Hello AJ,
I love your sampler item:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17290688
This is will be a great gift for all season and reasonable price. I bet you sold a lot of this items

Anchalee

Unknown said...

Wow, so many wonderful scents to choose from for the give-away. I'm going to select the sunny citrus soap. Thanks for this opportunity to try your product.

My email is cindywiklund@yahoo.com

lilmahi said...

My favorite item is the Apple Jack candle... that just sounds terrific! I always thought apple jacks smelled good!
My email is kort34@yahoo.com !! :0)

Kearsie said...

I'd have to say I'd love the Coconut Lime Verbena soap.

soundsliketomatoes(at)gmail(dot)com

Ally in WA said...

I love soy candles and you really have some lovely ones. I'd love the HOLIDAY BAZAAR SOY CANDLE - CINNAMON SPICE because i love cinnamon scent. Love jar candles to as they work great with a houseful of wild cats/kittens.

espressogurl at hotmail dot com

Kate said...

I'm having such a hard time choosing a favorite - ALL your stuff smells amazing! I couldn't choose between Sweet Honeysuckle and Vanilla Butter Cookies, so I'm listing them both.

Best wishes to all!

k8gordonross at sunflower dot com

Khristi Nunnally said...

I'd be willing to be the PUMPKIN CREME BRULEE candle smells AMAZING!!!

I'd love to win the soap. I would give it to my mother in law!! She LOVES handmade soaps!!

jerseygirl137 said...

I just love handmade soap and the COCONUT LIME VERBENA ARTISAN OLIVE OIL SOAP would be my choice.
I also like that you have a four pack of soaps.

jerseygirl137 at yahoo dot com

Erica P. said...

I'm torn between the coconut lime soap and the pumpkin spice candle. Both scents sound lovely. Lots of pretty stuff to choose from.

1stopmom said...

I would love to the fresh lilac. It looks so pretty!

admin(at)1stopmom.com