Aug 31, 2015

WALLS - Race Through a Changing Maze

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HELP KICK START A NEW GAME

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Pledge $1 or more to get thanks from the creators + updates and special access to future projects.
Pledge $29 or more to get a copy of Walls for way below retail cost of $42
Pledge $35 or more and get a copy of Walls at a special Kickstarter rate
Pledge $100 or more and get a signed copy of Walls 

To see more details and to make a pledge click HERE

It started with a scout master and a boy scout troop.  We decided we wanted to do the Game Design merit badge.  After an hour of brainstorming, we came up with the basic concept of the game.


 Walls is a maze board game where players try to reach the finish space first.  It can be difficult reaching the end when players move the walls to block your path.






 Realistically, the game takes between 10-15 minutes to play.  However, we know there are plenty of strategists who carefully plan their moves - which is why we said the game takes 15-30 minutes.
Also, my 5-year old daughter loves to play the game.  However, she doesn't quite understand all the strategy behind Walls.  This game could easily be for younger ages, but we've found, for maximum strategy in game play, that ages 8 and older is ideal.

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The color of the pawns and dice are subject to change.
The color of the pawns and dice are subject to change.




10X12 grid board with simplified instructions directly on the board.  The green dots represent holes in the board in which the walls will plug.
10X12 grid board with simplified instructions directly on the board. The green dots represent holes in the board in which the walls will plug.


This is what it will look like with the walls in the board
This is what it will look like with the walls in the board




This is a 3D rendering of the walls. These will be a durable plastic (injection molded).
This is a 3D rendering of the walls. These will be a durable plastic (injection molded).






Object is to reach the "Finish" space first.
Setup by plugging the walls into the game board. 


Set up the walls however you want, because the board will change throughout game play.


Determine who goes first by rolling both dice.  The player with the highest number goes first.  
Place all player pawns on the "Start" space.
Start play by rolling both dice.  
Green die = Indicates the number of spaces the player may move.
Red die = Corresponds to the instructions on the board (and below) determining how many walls the player may move.
Red die roll is based on number of players playing:
2 Players:
   1 = No Walls
   2-3 = 1 Wall
   4-6 = 2 Walls 
3-4 Players:
   1 = No Walls
   2-4 = 1 Wall
   5-6 = 2 Walls 
5-6 Players:
   1 = No Walls
   2-5 = 1 Wall
   6 = 2 Walls
The player must move the green spaces before he/she may move walls.  Once the player moves walls, the play is over.
  **Note:  A player cannot save/store spaces or walls to move for another turn.  Once the play is over, all remaining moves or walls are forfeited.
  A player need not use all spaces or walls.
Special Rolls:  
Doubles:
 A player has three options if a double is rolled.
       1. Switch locations with another player.
       2. Move through walls the number of spaces as was rolled on the green die.
       3. Play the roll as normal.
**Note: If you choose option 1 or 2, you forfeit your option to move walls.
      
Roll a "1" on the green die:
You only move one space, but you may go through a wall with your one move.
Once the player's turn is over, play continues clockwise.
First to the "Finish" space wins!
 Most games on the market can be described by mixing two or three games.  "It's like Monopoly and Settlers of Catan had a baby, while Jenga raised it as a single parent."  However, Walls is a new game, with a custom game piece required for the basic mechanics of the game to work.  The custom piece is the Wall.
The wall piece has a peg that plugs into the game board, allowing the piece to pivot around a single point.  This means that for each piece, there is the potential of changing the maze 4 times.  With 99 walls in the board, that makes...

There are a handful of games out there that may change with each play, but Walls is guaranteed to be different every single time you play.
My scouts working on the mechanics of Walls.  Or just playing it.
The scouts working on the mechanics of Walls. Or just playing it.

Where we are now

We are ready for the tooling of the walls.  Once this project funds, we will be able to proceed with the plastic injection molding of the custom walls.  After we get a sampling of the walls, we can make the boards with holes to fit the walls perfectly.  Once those two obstacles are out of the way, production can move quickly.

Timeline



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HELP THESE SCOUTS MAKE THEIR GAME COME TRUE BY MAKING A PLEDGE HERE

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Risks and challenges

This is the first board game we've endeavored to make. We've done our due diligence to figure out what sort of timeline this whole process should take. However, we are kind of picky people when it comes to quality. And with our manufacturer being overseas, there is good potential for delays in getting the product just right. Much of what we do by way of game development is to take it as far as we can here and then send it overseas. By doing this, we should be able to cut production times down.
To help overcome any obstacles, we have connections with some important game developers who can help with the process, should we need the help.

Aug 28, 2015

Christmas Kisses

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Christmas Kisses 
A collection from five bestselling and award-winning authors.


Set in the snowy town of Echo Ridge in upstate New York, these inspirational romances are sure to delight while you sip cocoa by the fire and listen to Christmas carols.

***Pre-order now for only $.99***


Add it to Goodreads

Win amazing books by each of the authors. 
Enter below to win - 
nine different books will be given to nine lucky winners. 

Christmas Makeover by Amazon bestselling author Cami Checketts 
Chelsea Jamison has been infatuated with Drew Stirling longer than she's loved playing basketball, high-top sneakers, and the Knicks. Unfortunately, all Drew sees is the kid who kicked his trash in the high school free throw contest and not the girl whose heart breaks into a fast dribble when he's near.
Drew makes an unexpected visit home to Echo Ridge and their friendship picks up where they left off as they scheme to make a teenaged boy's Christmas dreams come true. When Chelsea realizes she's fallen for her best friend, she wonders if there is any hope of a relationship with Drew or if she's stuck in buddy-status for life.
www.camichecketts.com * https://www.facebook.com/CamiCheckettsAuthor

The Candy Counter Heiress by Amazon bestselling & award-winning author Lucy McConnell 
Someday Reese Gates will own The Candy Counter at Kenworth's; but someday can't come fast enough when the manager threatens to bring in a national candy provider. Reese secretly takes matters into her own hands hoping to save her parents from additional worry and prove herself capable of running the company. Her deception deepens as she ropes computer guru Andy Edwards into helping her expand the business. Reese wanted to shake things up, but she wasn't planning on her heart getting caught in the mix by Andy's stolen kisses. If she can hold it together until after Christmas, then she can reveal her successful online company and her feelings for Andy. Unfortunately for Reese, even the best laid plans can melt like chocolate.
https://lucymcconnell.wordpress.com/ * https://www.facebook.com/ChristinaDymock/

Soda Fountain Christmas by Amazon bestselling author Connie E. Sokol 
Keira Kenworth has one focus this holiday season: save her father's old-time department store from bankruptcy. She is not focused on Tayton Wells, the tall, dark, and genius marketing guru from downtown New York, hired to make it happen. He is as doubtful that her nostalgic connect-the-town ideas will succeed as she is about his numbers-first plan. However, it's not just their different approaches that cause sparks to fly. Working together on a fast deadline to save the store before Christmas, the unspoken connection between them grows. But will the tough decisions they face drive them back to their separate worlds, or will they lead to the beginning of love?
www.conniesokol.com * https://www.facebook.com/8basics/

Christmas Makeover by Amazon bestselling author Heather Tullis 
Jonah Owens thought moving to Echo Ridge to open his art gallery would solve all of his problems. The need to sell his grandma's house adds an unexpected complication. It would be easier if his neighbor didn't have all those farm animals.
Kaya Feidler's family has owned their land for nearly a hundred years--long before the neighbors were there. There's no way she's giving up the animal therapy business she's been struggling to make profitable. She gets a temp job helping Jonah in the gallery. Spending time together is a recipe for romance, but can they overcome their own hangups to be more than friends?
http://heathertullis.com/ * https://www.facebook.com/HeatherTullisBooks

Hope for Christmas by Amazon bestselling & award-winning author Rachelle J. Christensen 
Anika Fletcher hates Christmas--its promises of good tidings and hope for the future are as tinseled as the ornaments on Kenworth's Hope Tree. Despite her feelings, Anika wants to maintain her daughter's faith in the magic of the season and gladly accepts a second job working with the handsome Carlos Rodriguez to restore Kenworth's old fashioned soda fountain. Carlos is no stranger to hard times and slowly shares his life of light and joy with Anika as they work together. Just as her fragile soul begins to feel hope again, an ill-timed act of charity changes everything. Anika isn't sure who she can trust or if hope is worth nurturing--especially at Christmas when it's easy to enjoy a kiss and believe love can last longer than the season.
www.facebook.com/rachellechristensenauthor * http://rachellechristensen.com/



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Aug 27, 2015

Youtube

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I am trying my hand at YouTube--Come see -
But be nice...I am new at this :)


Aug 26, 2015

Baptism and Boomerangs

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A review copy was provided

BAPTISM AND BOOMERANGS
by Sherrie L. M. Gavin
illustrated by Tatiana Lawton

Baptism brings us soaring back—just like a boomerang—into the arms of our loving Heavenly Father!

With colorful artwork, a fun story, and insightful analogies, this book helps parents and children discuss the importance of our first crucial covenant in God’s plan of happiness. 

Entertaining and uplifting, it makes a great gift for all your favorite eight-year-olds.

My Review
I absolutely adore this book!

I think it is a PERFECT way to teach about some of the concepts of baptism-- and life.

I loved that the extended family was included and chuckled as some of the fun things the little brother said.

I am impressed with the object lessons that came from throwing a boomerang such as:

* Just like a boomerang comes back to us "our Heavenly Parents have created a perfect plan so we [can] return to them."

* "You need to throw the [boomerang] the right way. Just like we need to live our lives the right way."

* When throwing a boomerang or living life it can sometimes seem hard and we might want to quit, but we need to "keep working at it...start fresh...learn from mistakes...then go again."

This book also explains all the help we receive and how we are never alone...Love that lesson :)

So many great books are coming out right now to help a young child better understand baptism and what that truly means.

I highly recommend this one!

About the Author
Sherrie Gavin was born and raised in upstate New York, USA. Always looking for romance, adventure, and with a love of writing, she traveled to Australia and fell in love with a true Aussie bloke named Bruce. ‘Sruth! They married and began adventuring together, joined by two beautiful daughters who are the loves of their lives. Sherrie has been lucky enough to have contributed to Linda Hoffman Kimball’s Relief Society anthologies and The Exponent II. She also thinks that everyone should try throwing a boomerang at least once.

About the illustrator
Tatiana Lawton was born in Brisbane, Australia, but was raised up north on the sunny beaches of the Sunshine Coast. She was born with a love for life, art, and storytelling, and her pusuit to study a degree of film and animation came as no surprise to family and friends. Moving back to Brisbane, Tatiana completed her four-year degree. Since finishing her degree, she has been freelancing as an artist, contributing to short films as a concept artist, character designer, and storyboard artist. Tatiana has drawn her inspiration for this book from her Australian heritage and her appreciation for eternal families.



Note of Interest
Within the book you will see some Australian Aboriginal Dot Painting. Australian Aboriginal dot painting has a rich cultural history. It originated as a way to express sacred stories and celebrate the speckled natural landscapes seen throughout Australia. Because of its abstract nature, it was believed that outsiders would be unable to discern the sacred nature and symbols in the story being depicted in the artwork. In this, Australian Aboriginal dot art served three purposes: to tell a story, to protect the sacred nature of the story, and to be visually appealing.

Aug 25, 2015

Sunrise over Scipio

3 comments
A review copy was provided

SUNRISE OVER SCIPIO
by H. Linn Murphy

When barrel-racing champion Tamsin Tucker is seriously injured in an accident, her whole world crashes down around her. She is abandoned in a tiny Utah town, where her leg is amputated to save her life. Tamsin’s horse is gone, she has no family, and she feels God has forsaken her. From where she stands, prospects are bleak.

Through what she comes to recognize as a blessing from heaven, Tamsin finds friendship with those who assist in her recovery. Her nurse, Sarah, has her own set of problems, but a faith Tamsin can’t deny. Handsome doctor Travis Mayfield questions his belief in God until he witnesses divine intervention on Tamsin’s behalf.

Getting on her feet won’t be easy. But with a new-found purpose, the help of friends and of a man who adores her, and the matchless love of her Heavenly Father, Tamsin will forge a new life.

Note from Author
We were on vacation in Utah, driving through a string of tiny towns. As we flashed through a minute, run-down town called Scipio, I thought, "Self, you have to write a  story for Scipio. Someone needs to know there is such a place."

Note from a Traveler
"It's always great when you find a town you really like, especially when you're not expecting one. I drove into Scipio, thinking it was nothing more than a junction with Interstate 15. Instead, I found a charming little farming town, and a hundred different places to take a picture. I needed to pass through quickly, in order to stay on my schedule, but I ended up spending, perhaps, an hour here." --Source
My Review
WOW! What an AMAZING book!
LOVED. LOVED. LOVED. IT!

Tamsin is my NEW HERO! She loses her leg, she loses her husband, she loses her horse, she loses her home. And after losing her way for a small amount of time--

She get back on the saddle as they say :)

She makes new friends. Makes a home for herself. And makes the most out of life.

She still has ups and downs as any normal person would, but she strives hard to accomplish her goals...even racing a marathon...with one leg...WOW!

I love all the changes that come over her...strong writing gives a feeling of being SO REAL!

Sarah and Travis are fun to read about too.

OH, SUCH A GREAT BOOK!
Would love to read more from this author!

About the Author
H. Linn Murphy writes romance but loves to swerve from genre to genre, writing sci-fi and YA under the name Indigo Chase. She went to three colleges and a university, graduating with high honors in advertisting art/illustration/general education. She lives in Arizona with a husband she loves and three of her six children. Besides writing, she loves to dance, read, sing, swim, read, hike, play the tin whistle and bodrhan drum, read, and draw. She does book reviews for two bookstores and several online sites and writes for four blogs.

Aug 24, 2015

Oh My A Fly!

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OH MY A FLY!
by Jan Pienkowski

Fun, silly, and colorful . . . just what the little guys love!

My Review
I LOVE pop-up books!

This is an adorable twist on There Was An Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly.

Bringing the book 3-D making it oh so much more fun to read!

SO WONDERFUL!
I LOVE THIS BOOK!

Excerpt pages






About the Author
Jan Pieńkowski is a household name to children of more than one generation. He left his native Poland together with his parents during the 2nd World War and lived in Bavaria and Italy before coming to England in 1946, when he was 10 years old.

Jan was educated first at Lucton School, Herefordshire, as a boarder, which gave him a chance to learn English (in self defence), and subsequently at the Cardinal Vaughan, London, which gave him a chance to learn Greek and Latin and was a gateway to Kings’ College, Cambridge. While there, he developed artistic skills by designing theatre posters and sets for university productions. He also attended a regular life drawing class and has gone on drawing from life ever since.

After taking his degree, he started his artistic career in advertising design, greeting cards, and drawing live on BBC television as part of a popular children’s programme. He was soon discovered by the London book world and snapped up by art directors, first for covers and subsequently for children’s book illustration. It was telling stories in pictures that became his life's work.

Aug 21, 2015

Meet The Book Artisan w/ Book Art Giveaway

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About The Book Artisan - I've been a book lover my whole life! The idea to start re-purposing older books as decorative displays began after I folded books for decorations for a family wedding. As a lifelong lover of books, I thought these folded book decorations were the cutest thing ever! Seeing other people’s delighted reactions to the books only encouraged me to share them more.

When I started getting unique requests for different designs to fold, I realized the sky’s the limit with the kind of books you can create. I love seeing the creativity from everyone! I’ve made everything from Don Quixote-themed designs, to phrases formed from multiple books. Who knows what’s next…maybe a marriage proposal using book art?

When I’m not handcrafting beautiful book décor, I’m probably reading a book, buying books, or loving life with my amazing husband and two adorable boys.

Enough about me, though. I'd love to hear from you! Drop me a quick note here and tell me your story. Wherever life has taken you, I'd love to craft a unique, folded book specifically for you! Or if you haven't already, check out our selection of books.

HANDCRAFTED BOOK ART

We take old books and turn them into beautiful pieces of art. Each page of the book is folded by hand to create unique designs. The result is beautiful book decor that can be displayed anywhere!

We have an assortment of all kinds of different book designs. We're constantly adding new book designs to this collection so be sure to check back often. If you have an idea for a book that you don't see here, just submit it through our custom order form and we'll make it for you! Click HERE for book pricing.

Scroll through these amazing pictures
and then enter to win "you & me" :)


The Book Artisan has graciously offered a FOLDED BOOK GIVEAWAY
for one of my followers :)
(USA addresses only please)

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