April Dawn Creations

Change is inevitable in Life!

2011-03-19T12:40:00.002-07:00

Many of you are probably asking...since it has been over a year since my last post and even then things were very infrequent...where I went, where have I been, and why don't I just close this blog. I have to admit I have debated the value of keeping it, but I haven't stopped creating and I really would love to share those creations in this format. However, change is inevitable in life...so where have I been? I have been advocating for my children, my boys do indeed have Asperger's Syndrome which brings a constant sense of adventure and challenge to our family life. I have been working with a team of parents to advocate for stronger and more helpful bullying prevention policies in our district, which has been a learning experience. I have had a fifth child...boy was that a surprise!...but she is a constant joy and delight in our home. She is now learning how to climb on the furniture which makes it so I spend my day teaching her how to sit down, get down safely, catching her whenever I am quick enough, and cuddling her when I am not.

KjoiStudios has gone a major change too since I have been out of it online...the store is no more multiple designers. This was a wise choice by the owner as she was having some life adventures of her own...but I will and have missed it. This also means that due to my busy-ness I am no longer selling in any shops, and in all reality I haven't designed anything for a year now. But not to worry I have no doubt that the right time for that will come again as I had too much fun doing it. But for now I am taking time to create more than just digi-designs, my goal is to create a happy, safe, healthy, and loving childhood and homelife for my children. This will come with a lot of crafting itself as that is what will keep me happy through the ups and downs of life, and we all know "If Momma ain't happy, ain't no one happy." So, this is now an expanding blog from digiscrapping and designing, to all crafting and creating fun I have! Stay tuned for upcoming pictures of the hairclip barrettes I have been crafting for my 3 girls!

January's KjoiStudios Collab...on sale for 8 more days!!

2010-01-23T10:57:00.007-07:00

Hi all,
I know I have been a bit scarce the past several months...but hang in there, I am hoping that will change still! In the meantime if you want to see my latest designs, they are in the most recent KjoiStudios Collaborations. January's is called Natural Reflections...and it is a peaceful and calm yet amazingly beautiful kit! Here is the preview and it is linked to the shop:

I hope you are all having a fabulous New Year!!

2010 Brag Book Calendar Blog Train

2009-12-04T15:31:00.005-07:00

I am back with more fun! And speaking of fun...have you been by the KjoiStudios forum to check out the Advent Calendar Hunt? Every day another part of this kit is hidden in the shop for you to snag for free...but if you want to know where it is hiding you have to check the member area of the forum.

Now for some more freebie fun!! Some of the KjoiStudios designers have gotten together to help make your family calendars for 2010 a breeze! There are 10 designers that took on the 12 months...each designer with one of their items, which is now on sale for 50% off during the blog train for the calendar pages. So...here is my BB-sized Quick Page Calendar Freebie, for May 2010:

(Click on the image above to download directly.)

And here is the blog train list so that you can grab the rest of 2010 from their blogs:

Jan * Panda Bear Designs
Feb * ScrapznBitz
Mar * SandEz
Apr * Lizard Dau Designs
You are here!---->May * April Dawn Creations<----You are here! Jun * ScrapznBitz
Jul * KatLen Kreations
Aug * ice princess
Sep * Lori Imel
Oct * CACTUSmango Designs
Nov * Designs by Angel
Dec * KatLen Kreations

Breast Cancer Awareness-Charity Kit and Freebie!

2009-10-26T09:35:00.009-07:00

Hi all, just popping in to let you know what I have been up to lately. Did you know that this month is Breast Cancer Awareness month? If not, now you do! It is amazing how many fabulous things I have seen going on this month to push forward this cause. I know this disease is one that hits families hard, and catching it early is key. So...the designers at KjoiStudios wanted to do their part in helping contribute to the awareness of this disease so more lives might be saved. And what do the designers do...but design! So 13 of us have put together this INCREDIBLE and gorgeous charity kit:

(Click on the image to visit it in the KjoiStudios Shop.)

All proceeds of this kit go to the Susan G. Komen Fund...the shop paypal fees are included too, so every cent goes to them! Here is the description in the shop for you to see what we put together for you:

This kit was put together by 13 designers who want to get out the word on Breast Cancer Awareness. ALL proceeds from the sale of this kit will go to the Susan G. Komen Fund to aid in this cause! For more information, or to donate to this cause directly visit: http://ww5.komen.org/. This kit is for all the mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, cousins, friends, grandmothers, and many other loved ones who have ever suffered from this illness and their families.

It is so important to catch this early...and that is the message we want to get out! Check yourselves, be checked by your doctor, and be aware for those that care so deeply about you! To those that haven't survived this...we will remember you forever!! And to those that have survived this...we are amazed by the strength and courage you inspire in those that are around you...THANK YOU!

This kit includes 71 papers, 113 elements, and 2 alphas. All items are 300ppi resolution, and are jpg/png files. The papers are all 12x12 in size.

There is also a generous coupon added by Kara of KjoiStudios for her shop!

The elements include: 12 frames and frame clusters, 13 flowers (1 of which comes in 3 colors), 15 Word Art, 9 individual Breast Cancer Awareness ribbons, 5 bows, 8 ribbons, 5 tags and journaling tags, 4 butterflies, 4 buttons, 2 bottlecaps, 3 doodles, 3 glittered chipboard pieces, 3 borders, 2 crowns, 2 flourishes, 2 mats, 1 marquisite pin, 1 sparkly tree, 1 butterfly trail, 1 scatter of silver hearts, 1 frilly heart, 1 silver swirlie, 1 Breast Cancer Awareness t-shirt, 1 glitter leaf, 1 photo turn, 1 Hope rock, 1 chipboard piece, 1 rose stick pin, 1 eyelet ribbon, 1 Hope charm necklace, 1 lace clip, 1 ribbon pile, and more...

The alphas are: A distressed chipboard alpha (Uppercase only), and A glittered polka dot alpha (Uppercase, Lowercase, Numbers, and Punctuation).

Now this isn't all we have for you, if you like BB pages and freebies you are in luck! Lori Imel has taken this fabulous kit and put together an FABULOUS BB page album for us to post parts of on our blogs to help get the word out! You can get the part she donated for me to use by clicking on the preview image below:

(Click on the preview to download the BB pages Freebie!)

You are probably wondering where you can get the rest of this STUNNING album?! Well, no worries! All the information about what blogs to visit will be/or is posted on the KjoiStudios Blog! Just visit the blog for the list! And please help us in getting the word out, both about Breast Cancer Awareness, and our charity kit! THANK YOU!!

Life's Brick Walls and Scrapping past them.

2009-10-02T09:20:00.005-07:00

Okay, I know it has been a little while since my last post. I happened to hit one of life's brick walls, and had to take a few months figuring out how to work around/over it. Of course the funnest answer to this is to just scrap and design my way past it...unfortunately I hit the scrappers form of "writer's block" at the same time. But I am glad to say that the brick wall seems to have shrunk to a climbable height, and I am making my way over this one now!

I have a lot of good friends and family to thank for their help with this, and as always the LORD for his mighty hand having the place it does in my life!

Anyway, while I haven't been posting...life at Kjoistudios has gone on! You should see the past few collab kits that the fabulous designers there have put together, they always do such a fantastic job putting them together! And our CT has been hard at work putting out some truly FABULOUS layouts...you should see them in the gallery! Oh, and we have added a weekly hybrid project to our newsletter...with our COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS themes each month from now until then! Check out these ones I added to my shop this past month when we focused on ornaments:

Oh, and I added a 2010 Calendar Grungy Brush set to my shop, for those of you working on the family calendars already:

Can you believe we only have 11 Fridays after today until Christmas!!?? It is hard to believe it comes so fast! And speaking of holidays...what does your family do for Halloween that doesn't involve SUGAR?! One of my sons has an issue with sugar and after last years fiasco with trick or treating...we have decided to do a homemade Halloween party, and see if we can find a fun way to dress up sugar free items. We already have decided we can have "dirt"...you know where you take sugar-free chocolate pudding, find some sugar-free oreo type cookies and crush them up over the top of the pudding, then add a gummy worm coming out of them...but I want some more fun things to make and do with them, as it will be a long night of them wondering why they can't go trick or treating! Any ideas you want to share?? I would be most grateful!!

Updates, and Birthdays!!

2009-06-06T09:18:00.006-07:00

Wow, it is amazing how time flies! My poor neglected blog...oops!...anyway it isn't neglected now!! I have been busy playing with the construction again. Check out the TOU tab and the About Me tab...they are updated! I still need to add the general information on the About Me page...but it is started and ready for me to finish. I am hoping to finish up some of the other tabs this next week as time allows...we will see as the kids are on summer break.

And speaking of time flying, this hit me hard the other day as I realized how close my son's birthday was. They grow so quickly. The changes are subtle from day to day, but when you look over a period of years they are incredibly and drastic!

Here is a LO that I made around his birthday last year!

Do you find the same happens with your scrapbooking? Are you one that tends to redo old layouts because they just don't fit your style or scrapbooking knowledge anymore? If so, my opinion is that you should let it be. I am like you on this...it truly does bother me, but a good friend pointed out the other day that this is a journal of your knowledge and how you have learned and grown.

If you change this, you lose that record of you, and as scrappers we are the person most often left out of our scrapbooks. Let's see what we can do to leave a record for our children, grandchildren, and other family that might really treasure it. It is amazing how much they see in us that we just don't see in ourselves!

Now, back to my son's birthday...with his birthday, I am having a "My baby is turning 9!" sale!! There are 9 items in my shop at KjoiStudios.net, that are only $1...these items are at least 50% off or MUCH more!! Oh, and the Fighting Fire kit that I made for his birthday is FREE...but all of this is ONLY for today!! So, come grab these items if you are interested!!

April Fool's Day...LOL!

2009-03-31T18:52:00.005-07:00

In the past this has been one of my least favorite days, but not this year!! There is SO MUCH going on this time to have FUN with, there is no way I am going to feel anything more than excitement at what I KNOW you all are going to LOVE!!

But first let me get a tiny bit of business out of the way...lol...that sounds so drab! This is FUN business!! Kjoi has a new collab and it is our biggest yet, Garden Paths Mega Collab is perfect for scrapbooking those photos of doing yard work, landscaping, gardening (flower or vegetable), or even just simply enjoying the beauty nature brings us this time of year! This kit has 98 papers...all 300ppi and 12x12 jpg files. It also has 167 elements...all 300ppi png files. Here is the preview of this fabulous kit:

(Click on the Preview to visit it in the Shop.)

The elements for this kit include: 35 various flowers, 18 frames and frame clusters, 17 bows, 10 ribbons, 7 tags, 6 borders, 6 word arts, 4 butterflies, 4 branches, 3 seed packets, 3 overlays, 3 flower cards, 3 fence elements, 3 wavy beads, 3 leaves, 2 bowflowers, 2 kitty garden clusters, 2 pairs of brackets, 2 shovels, 1 folded paper, 1 bunch of grapes, 1 set stitched shapes, 1 tap w/drip, 1 frog, 1 fly, 1 bush, 1 aphid bug, 1 spiders web w/spider, 1 fox statue on a rock, 1 pot of tulips, 1 journaling mat, 1 clip, 1 trowel, 1 cart/wheelbarrow, 1 clay pot, 1 pot cluster, 1 rock, 1 snail, 1 bee, 1 archway, 1 tomato, 1 pea pods, 1 turnips, 1 carrot, 1 sun, 1 tools cluster, 1 flower stem, 1 button, 1 polka dot tool belt w/ tools, and 1 paper vine.

Now what else have I got for you...LOL...just you wait and see!! KjoiStudios is holding it's first ever GREAT KJoi Egg Hunt April 1st-April 30th!! One product from one designer will be on MEGA special for $1 every day during the month of April...we are talking greater than 50% off, some as much as 80% off!! But which designer, and which product, on which day??

Well, for that you must register in the Kjoi forum and visit it to find out! We will post one Egg with a clue each day. Find the Matching Egg in the Shop, and you will have your special for the day! There will be a crossword to fill out for those looking for more fun and a fabulous freebie to those who fill it out. For more details visit us in the KjoiStudios Forum to find out!! Here is the ad we put together...

(Click on the ad to visit our forum!)

I have a freebie, it was posted on the DigiScrapStation blog several months ago but not many were visiting there then, so I have chosen to dust off this fabulous Add-On to my Rosebud Garden Kit as it holds some of my favorite parts! Here is the preview:

(Click on it to download from the shop.)

I hope to see you around more often...oh, and no worries, this blog is still under construction...so if you click on my links above and find a blank page that is why!

Crazy Days

2009-03-02T15:50:00.003-07:00

Where did I go?? Well, things have been crazy...lol, and it is long past due for an update! I was hired on as Media Manager and Site Admin at KjoiStudios. Learning my new role there has kept me hopping! But I have enjoyed every minute of it!

On top of this, there is a chance that my boys both have an autism spectrum disorder...at this point we think Aspergers. So, I have been busy trying to work with Dr.'s and the school and my boys to see what accurate diagnosis we might find. This of course is a job and a half, but I am finding a ton of support from friends...online and offline...who know what I am facing and are showing they care.

I have now officially left DigiScrapStation...although I hope to go back again at some point. With the above mentioned things going on I haven't had time to do anything more there, and didn't feel that right for Nancy who is so kind and easy-going. Anyway, I will miss them greatly but will still stop by from time to time as life allows because the ladies there ROCK!! They are so nice and welcoming!

Then, at KjoiStudios...we are preparing to celebrate International Scrapbooking Industry Day on March 4th. There is SO MUCH going on there! We have at least 6 different challenges, 3 chats, 2 games, and 2 drawings...all of these come with a prize for the winner, or for the participants!! We were able to line up some incredible sponsors for the prizes too!! Plus we will be hosting a hunt...don't worry there isn't a piece to this hunt kit that is hosted on 4shared or any other file sharing site...so no need to worry that freebie hunting is going to destroy your computer! So, I hope to see you all there! And I look forward to hearing what you all have been up to...lol!!

Progress...What do you think?

2009-01-19T12:47:00.003-07:00

So, I am sure that you see the changes I have been making...what do you think about the new look?? It is done using a collab kit--Forever Bliss by Lizard Dau Designs and April Dawn Creations (Me)! You can grab it in my store at Kjoi...and soon in my store at DSS. I must warn you...the tabs don't work as of yet. Like I said I have a LOT of ideas and it will take a bit to implement them, but hang on as the ride has only just begun!

Under Construction!! YAY!

2009-01-18T18:30:00.003-07:00

I have decided it is LONG past time for me to truly customize this blog! So, hang on as it will be a really interesting ride to the end of this truly FUN endeavor! I look forward to seeing what the changes will bring! I have a TON of great ideas and can't wait to put them into action! There are many surprises coming, so hang in there while I get them up and going. In the meantime I will post as I can about the amazing things I am adding to my stores at DigiScrapStation and KjoiStudios! Oh and did I mention that I am saving up for attending the CK Digital Scrapbooking Experience in Provo this year??!! So many exciting things...so little time. I guess the true adventure is seeing how far I can get and how fast I can get there...LOL!

Been away...but I am back! All Aboard!!

2008-12-15T22:22:00.002-07:00

Hi all,
Due to computer issues last month and then more fun with some Trojan virus' this month you are probably wondering where I have been...LOL! I am still here, just was away for a bit on a FORCED vacation from the computer! The 10 Weeks Before Christmas Challenge is still going on over at KjoiStudios...and this week is Holiday Parties and Dinner Parties. Go check it out...but first keep reading for more FUN!

Also, DigiScrapStation has been doing an Ornamental Express...where there is a freebie ornament each day of the month! And the even better news is that they will stay up until mid-January, so if you have missed the previous days...not to worry, you can still go snag them! And when you see todays you really will want to...at least if you want the whole set of my hybrid train ornaments! I had a BLAST creating these from scratch...but with my train loving kids it really wasn't too difficult...LOL! Anyway, enough blabbering from me...the info for each days ornament can be found on the DSS blog. And here is what we have done for you so far:

But for a better look at today's here is what I have in store for you:

And because I know by now that you are just going crazy for the link...simply click on the preview above for the download. If for any reason that isn't working...then try this one HERE. It comes with a tutorial on how to put it together! I would love to see how yours turns out...so feel free to post a picture in the gallery at DSS!! Enjoy!!

SUB for Santa Tradition...and Internet "FUN"!

2008-11-12T08:10:00.002-07:00

Shortened Sub for Santa Story:

When I was about 7 yrs old, my family was blessed when another family did the 12 days before Christmas for my family. We enjoyed this so much that we decided to use our talents to raise the money to do this for other families. My mom made homemade ornaments and we sold them door to door to raise enough money.

Then my little sister died in early Dec. one year, and we were unable to do it. However,others who knew of our own need did a Sub for Santa for us. We were each given a gift for under our tree, a blanket, and the food for our Christmas meal. This touched my family so much that we went out the next year and sold enough to do both a 12 days and a Sub for Santa project. This tradition continued until we all left home.

I am now hoping to restart this tradition with my own children. My oldest suggested I use my talents the way my mom used hers. In my case this means digi. I am hosting a Ten Weeks of Christmas Challenge at KjoiStudios. After the freebies for the week have been available for 2 weeks to those participating in the challenge, they will be available for sell at $1-$2 depending on the size of that week's freebie. There are already 2 weeks worth to sell in the store…Calendars and Gift Lists.

I am donating every single penny of my proceeds from these items to the Sub for Santa project. It will go to a family connected with New Beginnings for Women and Children. An organization that helps women get the jobs, education, and housing they need to get back on their feet again so they are able to care for their children like they want to. If I get enough I will do multiple families…there are 80 in need just with this charity organization alone. Thanks for any help you send me with helping these families and keeping my family tradition alive!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have been having internet trouble, and have been unable to post on my blogs...the 10 Weeks before Christmas challenge is still going...I would LOVE to have you join me!! I am unable to post previews as it takes more time than my internet connection allows right now.

Okay...Week #2 is here!!

2008-10-27T12:01:00.003-07:00

Hi all,
I am having so much fun with this new challenge! Not to mention making the digital freebies to go with it! Here is a preview of Week #2's freebie. You will find it in the 10 Weeks Before Christmas Challenge at KjoiStudios!

This weeks challenge is about making those dreaded gift lists...and making it FUN to check them twice!! Here's an idea...how about scrapbooking them!! More on this in the Challenge forum!! Come share fun family gifting traditions with us!!

Week #1 - Kjoi Chat!! Come join me!

2008-10-23T14:42:00.003-07:00

What to know that the whole deal is REALLY with this fabulous challenge?? Well, come see what you can find out tonight at the KjoiStudios Chatroom...where I will be hanging out from 11 EST to 12 EST and will have more details to share!!

I am VERY excited...so come join me!! You must be registered in the forum to get into the chatroom...so be sure to get that done beforehand! I look forward to seeing you there!! Oh...and I might just have a heads up for you on the supplies needed for weeks 4-6 of the challenge!

Here is the FORUM!!

And have I mentioned that things are starting to brew for DSD at DigiScrapStation...hmmmm...well they are, be ready to hear what on Nov. 1st!!

Week #1 Challenge

2008-10-20T15:12:00.005-07:00

Hi all...the first challenge is up in the KjoiStudios forum!! Go check it out! Here is the freebie template you get there to help you along:

That is if you need to have help...we don't all need it, but I know sometimes I want it!! You can get it and more in the Challenge thread!!

And here is my first months calendar(made using mostly my week 4 entry from the contest):

AND...IF you are silly and forgot that today is when registration starts for Jessica Sprague's new class...GO SIGN UP!! LOL!

10 Weeks Before Christmas Challenge!!

2008-10-19T08:22:00.006-07:00

I am already busy at work at Kjoi!! LOL! I am having a blast!!

Those that know me in RL...know how MUCH...I LOVE CHRISTMAS! I generally prepare MONTHS in advance, starting in June...but this year I am WAY behind. So, I got to thinking...how do I catch up with my Christmas to do's and still digi-design and have FUN!! Well, at KjoiStudios I am putting my answer(here is my ad):

I had a LOT of FUN coming up with the poem...and only used a little piece of it for this ad!! The whole version is up in the Kjoi forum. I will probably be doing a weekly chat, but haven't nailed down the exact time yet!! And here is a run down of what we will be doing:

Week #1: Calendars...for family or the scrapbook...works either way!

Week #2: Gift Lists...this will be a TON more FUN than it sounds...LOL! Come prepared to post family gifting traditions you either do or would like to do!!

Week #3: Christmas Cards...with a LOVELY surprise to help them along!!

Weeks #4, #5, and #6: We will be doing fun Photo Craft or Scrapping related Gifts for those on our Gift Lists...or ourselves...LOL!

Weeks #7 and #8: Ornaments for our trees...every year I make one for my family with a story. I will have a fun Christmas story to go with these two as well!

Week #9: Time to Wrap some gifts! We will have some ideas for FUN gift tags, or dressing up gift bags and wrapped presents!

Week #10: This is when we reward our hard...but FUN work!! I am REALLY excited for this week!! Stay around and you will find out why!!

Now...just in case any of you may have forgotten...Jessica Sprague starts her newest class Registration TOMORROW at 9 EST! DON'T MISS THIS!! There is NO ONE that explains PS as well as she, and this is a class you don't even have to be a scrapper to attend!! It is called Stories In the Hand...and is like it says...ALL about getting our stories in our hands rather than just in our minds...which, LOL, we all know can be faulty with stress or time!!

Now on to Challenge #2...hmmm, no not yet, LOL! You will just have to check out DigiScrapStation in a few weeks for this one. I want to make sure it is FABULOUS first!!

Kjoi's New Designers are Announced!!

2008-10-17T19:29:00.002-07:00

I MADE IT!!! YAY!! All of the hard work over the past 2 1/2 months has paid off and I am now one of the KjoiStudios Designers!! My things are already up in the store there!!

I am still going to be selling at DigiScrapStation as well...I have made a LOT of great friends there and the environment is GREAT!

Joi De Vivre-Kjoi Blog Hop!!

2008-10-16T22:01:00.012-07:00

Okay, so you made it to my blog!! YAY! Here is a little about me...

I am a 29 yr. old, SAHM of 4 young children, and I am married to my best friend and biggest supporter. I have been traditional scrapbooking for nearly 12 years...some years more so than others. I have been playing with digital scrapbooking for about 2 1/2 years, but have REALLY found it beginning of this year...thanks to Jessica Sprague and my great friend Janei (who introduced me both to digi and to Jessica). I have wanted to get into the designing aspect ever since I started playing with digi!! I LOVE creating things...music, a smile on someone's face, almost any craft, more projects for myself...LOL! Creating things is what makes my heart sing with joy...that is ME!!

Now...enough about me, here is what I created for the contest:

And here are the various Avatars that I used:

...can you tell I LOVE Unicorns??:

And finally, last...but most definitely NOT least!!...what you all have been waiting for...My Blog Hop Freebie:

Click on the preview to download

You can find the rest of the Joi De Vivre Blog Hop here:

21206D-Lizard Dau Designs

21845B-Labline

21879D-Digidesigns By Amberbaz

22170C-Panda Bear Designs

22181A-April Dawn Creations<----------You are here!!

22342B-Camillas Kitchen

22596D-mITSYBELLE

22611D-luvfromindia

22896B-Lori Imel

22978-Schappys Scrapdesign

23075D-Stacey Crossley Designs

23494D-Cancer Moon Creations

24301D-KatLen Kreations

24588B-Belanna At Odds

24789C-SandEz Creationz

24864A-Biebels Scraps

24974b-By God's Designs

And don't forget to stop back by KjoiStudios for the rest of the Birthday Bash!! Oh, and the ANNOUNCEMENT!! YAY!!

Announcements...and more coming tomorrow!!

2008-10-16T07:56:00.003-07:00

Hi all, I just wanted to say really quick...I know I haven't posted many LO's lately and some are missing my lovely young family...but there is a reason for that!! I have been doing the Kjoi contest for the past few months and in order to keep my identity secret, most of my recent LO's needed to remain hidden from public viewing. But here comes the first Announcement!!

Kjoi is having their BIG BIRTHDAY BASH tomorrow and the rest of this weekend, this means that the identities will be REVEALED and the new Designers ANNOUNCED!!! I am so excited, and nervous, and well...a whole gammit of emotions from one minute to the next!

I can hardly wait...BUT OH...THERE IS SO MUCH MORE!! Some of us designer contestants have gotten together to do a Blog Hop with the reveal...so MORE FREEBIES!!! YAY!! And there are even more that will be found at Kjoi tomorrow!!

Not to mention the HUGE SALE or the Challenges with Prizes!! It is seriously NOT a party to be missed!

And I do promise more LO's next week after the Party RUSH calms down a bit!! Oh...I have more for you too...

I have designed some more Corner Brushes...these ones are MUCH more Elegant, so I am naming them...LOL...Elegant Corner Brushes! I know...I know...SUCH very creative naming! Anyway, here is what they look like:

I will be putting them in my store today, so hang in there one day more and then you can be sure to:

-pick them up from the store,
-swing by Kjoi for the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT and Birthday Bash
-Find out both here or at Kjoi where the Blog Hop is starting and "HOP" along with all of the FUN!!

Oh, and to all those that may have missed my lovely addition to my sidebar...JESSICA SPRAGUE IS DOING A NEW CLASS!! It is FREE and SHE IS FANTASTIC!!! AND...registration starts on MONDAY!! DON'T MISS IT!! She gives you access to the videos and class info from the class FOREVER! So, if you are wondering if you have time to do this...YOU DO!!

Now, I just KNOW I am missing something...so I will probably come back and post more in a bit, but this gives you enough to chew on for now!!

Calendar Tutorials as promised...with freebie.

2008-10-13T08:50:00.010-07:00

There are two routes that you can use to make a calendar grid in PS. You can make one using Microsoft Excel, save it as a pdf file with a PDF Writer like Ghostscript, and then open it with PS and use it as you need. Or you can simply use your line tool in PS to make a grid and use that as you need for your calendar. For example purposes I am leaving off a spot in the grid for the month...I figure that can be added creatively later!! Here is the tutorial for making it in Microsoft Excel first(scroll down for version 2):

I was able to use PDF Writer (Ghostscript) to convert my Excel file into a pdf. PSE and CS are both able to open and manipulate pdf files. I find this software through my print screen when I go to print. I will have to check with my DH to see how we got this software on our computer, but I am pretty sure that it was a free download. Anyway, when you go to File>Print then a screen comes up that gives you an option of choosing where to print to. I select PDF Writer (Ghostscript) in place of my printer and it prints it to a pdf file on my desktop...you are able to save it somewhere else when you save it. This is probably the EASIEST way to convert it to workable in PSE or CS. It does print it a brown shade, but that is easy to fix in PS.

For the example grid above, I highlighted 7 cells across by 6 cells down. Then I right clicked and selected format cells. Next put a border around the cells. I left a blank borderless row of cells on the top so there would be room for the name of the Month. Depending on what you want to do with the days of the week you may not need 6 bordered cells down, just 5 will do, but be sure to leave room for you to add them if you want to.

Here is how I set up my example: The first row of cells(blank for the month) I put at a row height of 40. The next row (first bordered-for the days of the week) I put at the typical row height of 12.75...you may want to play with that depending on fonts. The last 5 rows (for the calendar body itself) I put at a row height of 66. Then all 7 of the columns are at a column width of 12.

I did add a little more decorative border around the days of the week row and the whole outside...but you can play with the borders as you like in your own. Also, If you like mine enough...you can go ahead and use it. Just right click and select Open with Adobe Photoshop....etc. Hope this helps you. Let me know if you have any other questions.

And now for version 2...how to make a grid in PS (whichever version you have):

My example this time is a 12x12 one, open a new 12x12 file, white background, and 300ppi. Next click on your line tool to make sure that is the tool you are using. Next, if you don't have the grid showing, go to View and click on Grid so that a checkmark shows up next to it. While you are in there make sure that Rulers also has a checkmark next to it.

Now for the example above this is what I did...

In the top option bar for the line tool click on the weight box and type in a weight of 10 px. (This sets how wide your line will be.) Now click on the calendar screen to set it and it will give you a plus sign in place of an arrow. Place the plus sign at 1" on the top ruler and 2" on the side ruler using the grid to line it up. Click and Drag while pressing Shift until the "plus" sign lines up with the 11" mark on the top ruler and then let go. This will give you your top line. Now do the exact same thing only move down to the 11" mark on the side ruler, again click-shift and drag it from the 1" mark to the 11" mark on the top ruler. This gives you your bottom line.

Most calendars have at the most a need for 5 rows down for the body of the calendar...with just a few exceptions (that is when they add a slash through the the bottom rows first one or two "boxes"), but you can decide if you prefer another row or to slash them. For my example I am just sticking with the 5 rows and no slashes as this will be fine for majority of the time.

So, the next step is to right click on either the top line layer or the bottom line layer and duplicate layer...do this over again until you have duplicated it 4 times. This will give you a total of 6 lines. Click on the move tool, and uncheck Auto Select Layer. (Make sure to recheck this when you are done.) Now move the 4 duplicate line layers so that they are space out...IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PERFECTLY SPACED!!...just make sure that they are between the top and bottom lines. Now click on the top of the line layers in the stack to highlight it in the layer palette, then hold down shift and click on the bottom of the line layers in the stack. This will highlight all of your line layers. While still on the move tool, go Distribute on the top tool option bar. Click on Vertical Centers. This is really COOL!! It will perfectly space your lines for you!!

Now, while they are all still highlighted, is the time that if your lines got a little out of line...LOL!...then you can line them up. Go to Align, and Horizontal Centers. You should find that you now have all of the horizontal lines you need for your calendar, and they are spaced just right. The next steps are easy, you basically are doing the same thing only dragging from top to bottom instead of from left to right. And you will need more duplicate line layers as there are 7 days in a week, meaning you need 7 columns. So, here goes...Go back to the line tool and place the "plus" sign back on 2" on the side ruler and 1" on the top ruler. Click-Shift, and Drag it down to 11" on the side ruler and then let go. Again, using your grid helps. Now you have your left grid line and your grid is starting to look more like a box or grid then just a bunch of lines. Place your your plus sign at 11" on the top ruler, and 2" on the side ruler. Do the same thing: Click-Shift, and Drag your line down to the 11" mark on the side ruler. This gives you your right grid line. You are ready for Duplication. This time you want 6 Duplicate line layers. Space them apart, again NOT PERFECTLY. Click the move tool, Distribute, and this time you want Horizontal Centers. Again, while highlighted still, if needed you can go to Align and this time pick Vertical Centers.

You should now see a very nicely spaced grid. However, if you are picky like me, you might be looking at the corners of your grid and saying...WHY AREN"T THEY MATCHED UP??? Well, not to fear...mine didn't either. So, now for the final touches.

You should still be on the move tool...if not, click on it. Now I want you to simplify/rasterize all of the vertical line layers (if you are like me...LOL!...that means the ones from top to bottom!). Highlight all of the simplified/rasterized layers in your layer palette and watch for the transform box. Then I made the lines much longer by using the "mini" boxes on the top and bottom in the center. (Let me know if I lost you there!) This doesn't change the width of your lines so it still looks fine.

The final step is to take your Rectangular Marque tool and select a rectangular area around the extra pieces of vertical line on the top of the grid, click on each of the vertical line layers in turn and hit the delete button on your keyboard. Now do the same thing only select a rectangular area around the extra on the bottom of the grid.

This should make it so that when you are done your grid now looks like a box with smaller boxes inside...or a GRID! Now pat yourself on the back...you have a calendar grid perfect for making your family calendars!!

I didn't leave much room for Decorating, just for adding Month and Days, in my example. But you can easily resize your grid to a smaller size for you to have embellishing room. One other option for making it a bit more decorative is to do the same thing as described above, only with the brush tool. If you like the dashed or dotted line look this might work better for you. Just be sure to hold shift so your lines are straight, skip the simplify/rasterize steps, and create a new layer everytime you draw a new line. That will make it easier to play later with matched up corners and edges. Hope this helps you! If you have any questions or I just simply lost you let me know and I will do my best to answer the questions and reword the step I lost you on.

Now for the FREEBIE!!!! I went and made some calendar grid brushes...both landscape and portrait directions for an 8.5x11, and then my 12x12. You can get them by clicking here. Enjoy!!

New Class with Jessica Sprague!!

2008-10-10T08:35:00.004-07:00

I am so very excited about Jessica's announcement today, that she will be doing one more class this year. It is called Stories in Hand and is all about capturing your stories...whether you have pictures for the story or not!! This is a FREE class good for the scrapper and the non-scrapper alike, great for beginners and very advanced learners in scrapping as well!! Check out the flyer she made up for this!!

Click on the image to be taken to her FABULOUS site!! She is all about helping others learn how to capture their stories...whether in the scrapbook page, on the page of a journal, or now it sounds like even on our blogs!! YAY!! THANKS JESS!!

If you have never taken one of Jessica's classes this is a great time to find out exactly why she has made so many friends in the scrapping world with her classes and her site!! This is a great way to find out if the way she teaches her classes will work for you!! And Heather P., email me if you want to do this...I am taking it too!!

Freebie Template and Tutorial...

2008-10-02T07:37:00.017-07:00

...but it isn't the calendar one yet! Yesterday I got to playing with a template design after I saw a video on making a Journaling Card Page from traditional supplies at ScrapSupplies.com. They have a few different videos, so feel free to check them out. Now I thought to myself, I wonder if I can create something similar in digi...and so I had a LOT of FUN doing it!! Here is what I came up with...

This peaked my interest as I just finished the Type+Write Class at JessicaSprague.com that focuses on fun ways to add truly meaningful journaling to you LO's. IT WAS FANTASTIC!!! And Jess had put together some INCREDIBLE templates for us to use, that also had me wondering...can I figure out how to do THAT too??!! So, there are some added fun layers to this template that you won't need to touch...unless you don't like what I did with it. It still isn't quite up to Jessica's caliber...but it is getting closer!

Now in the cool tutorial video they took tags and made them into flaps that they could put photos under. I have included a template without a shadow behind the cards for this purpose, this is what you will use. Anyway, here is a little tutorial for you on how to do something similar:

Go ahead and clip on your papers like you would with any other template...if by chance you don't yet know how to do this with PSE or CS, not to worry, check out a FABULOUS video tutorial by Jess done for CKM at The Spraground Free Tutorial Area . You might need to be logged in to see it. It comes with a Freebie too!

Take your page once everything is added and it has been printed, and grab a cutting tool...I will be using an exacto knife.

( I hope I don't lose anyone by adding this here, but if you want the BACK of your tags to have a color or patterned paper on them when they are open you will need to adhere the paper of your choice to the back of your printed layout BEFORE you cut!}

Next cut along the edges of the "cards"...BUT BE SURE TO LEAVE ONE SIDE ATTACHED. You have flexibility here, you don't have to choose to leave the top attached on all of them, but you can go that route if it is your preference.

Use something to score along that remaining side, this makes it easier to fold. If you don't have any traditional scrapping supplies to do this you can use a pair of scissors. Open them and VERY GENTLY run the blade along where you want to fold. (If this isn't done carefully then you will cut through it...so again BE GENTLE if you go this route.)

After you have done this to any of the 11you want photos under, than you want to have a way to put the photos underneath your card "flaps", but not to fear there are a few ways to do this:

1. I have created a template...simple though it be...for that too, just adhere it under your journaling card layout.

2. Just glue/adhere them under after you have made the flaps.

3. Take a piece of 12X12 cardstock and adhere them to that then attach the two.

You should then have a completed page with both Journaling and Photos. The project that I took the inspiration for this from used this as a month page...so there is one thought for you. I look forward to seeing what you come up with. If you remember too...I know I forget things often...please post back here with a link to your finished layout! I only created the templates yesterday, so I have not yet had time to do an example for you...but I will be posting it here when I have it finished.

You can download the zip of the templates by clicking on the preview here:

(This will only be a freebie on my blog for one week...then it will be able to be found in my store at Digiscrapstation.com .)

Sale Time!! Just because I LOVE you!!

2008-09-30T12:55:00.007-07:00

Okay I put all of my previously displayed items at DSS on sale 50% off yesterday for 2 weeks! I figure it has been quite a while since I had a sale, and I am feeling in a generous mood...so sale time it is!

Also, I have a new item offered in my store! LO services are now offered through the store. I am REALLY looking forward to offering this! You can find it in my store by clicking on the preview image.

I have a LOT of fun doing LO's and this gives me an opportunity to mix my designing with my scrapping! If there is a desire to increase this aspect to card services...especially with Christmas around the corner...then email me at aprildawn@digiscrapstation.com and I can see about adding a card service as well!

And for more good news...Kjoistudios.com has their store back up on a newer LARGER server, so the Design contest is back in full swing. There are 4 weeks worth of freebies up, and voting can be done on their forum for week 3 and week 4 through October 5th! Don't forget to comment on your favorites in their gallery either as those count toward their scores!

And for those of you from the Spraground waiting for the calendar tutorial...stay close by as that is on my plate for the next day or two. (Depending on what my children will allow me to do while on their school break! LOL!)

Good news and Bad news!

2008-09-04T13:10:00.006-07:00

I always start with the bad news when I have both. I find that way you leave on a happy note, and the other person knows after getting the bad news that things can only get better! Anyway, the Bad news is that Kjoistudios grew so fast that the bandwidth usage was more than their servers could hold. So, the contest is on temporary hold, and their site is TEMPORARILY down...although last I looked the blog was still working. All of my things for the rest of the contest are turned in, so I am simply on hold waiting for it to get back up to find out how I did.

The Good news is I have a little time on my hands I didn't think I would yet! Which is fabulous when it happens to be your anniversary!! YAY!! It has been nine fantastic years with my wonderful honey! I can honestly say that I happier with that decision than I am with any other I have made in my life! He truly makes me happy. We met and married in 6 months time...but it is obvious to those who know us that it was right for us! LOL!

Now the other good news is that I have finally after a 2 month break got something new in my store!! The irony is that it is a mini kit with a baby theme...LOL!

This IS NOT an announcement...but since our first child was somewhat of a honeymoon baby, it fits! LOL! Also, my dear sister is due anyday now with her first...so you could say that is the reason that it was on my mind! So, here is a glimpse of it.

Here is the mini kit.

And here is a matching alpha!

You can purchase them in my store at DigiScrapStation! I would LOVE to see your LO's when you finish them...feel free to leave me a link to them in the comments!

Wow...thought you were done?? Here is week 3!!

2008-08-29T09:49:00.004-07:00

Simply amazing!! Now I could post more info here...but I REALLY need to go work on my week 4 entry!! So, go download(at www.kjoistudios.net/blog)-comment, and vote (the gallery and forum at www.kjoistudios.com !! Then make LO's...just because it is FUN!!

Kjoi Studios Week 2 Designer entries are up!!

2008-08-28T13:23:00.003-07:00

This is the color scheme and theme that all of us designers created from! And I do have to say that there are some FANTASTIC FREEBIES over at Kjoi. Now due to us overpowering her site...she has them posted and the downloads linked all on the new Kjoi Blog!! Check it out at: www.kjoistudios.net/blog and then be sure to swing by the forum to vote for your top 4 favorite entries!! Good luck narrowing it down to 4 out of the 34 contestants...because these entries truly are "knock your socks off" STUNNING!! Don't forget to comment in the gallery on your favorites either as comments, anc downloads count towards our overall weekly scores!

Here is the blinkie showing all of them:

And NO...I won't tell you which one is mine...weeeellll...not yet anyway! LOL!!

Kjoi Studios Designer Contest Week 1 Freebies!!

2008-08-13T13:33:00.004-07:00

They are up...go check them all out! This is going to be one TOUGH competition as they have all turned out FABULOUS!! There are around 40 Freebies for the capture...but PLEASE stick around and Vote on your top four favorites!! Downloads and Comments are also counted for the contestants (like me!!) so be sure to comment on your favorite ones!! I would post examples...but then that might give mine away, or narrow it down for the guessers! So...just know this-the theme for this weeks entries was Vintage, Heritage, and Grunge! And the color scheme was this:

Someone put together a blinkie of all the entries in the contest...so we were given approval to put it on our blogs!! So, here they ALL are...

Go snag them at KjoiStudios.com ...then be sure and comment and vote for your FAVORITES (up to 4 of them!!).

My First Creative Team Call!!

2008-08-09T17:33:00.005-07:00

Okay, it is LONG past time for me to do a CT call! I am in need of 2 DigiScrapStation Store CT members. They would be represent me at DigiScrapStation, which means that they would use one of my kits each month and then be free to choose from any at the store for the other layouts they do. The store has many talented designers, so that gives you a wide range of digi-kits, templates, overlays, and more to choose from. I am also looking for CT members just for me!!

If any of my dear friends that visit me here are wanting to help me with this...just email me at aprildawn_creations@yahoo.com. And if anyone is new to my blog, but still interested, email me...I LOVE making new friends! Here is the call that includes several designers from DigiScrapStation:

Chooo Choooo...the train is BOARDING!! Are you on it?

We need new CT members for our growing team at DigiScrapStation!

We have several CT positions open for different designers. Apply today! Don't wait!!

Work for one designer and for the whole store...at the same time!!

We currently have 30 designers and more joining us weekly!

We are a fun-loving team and are willing to work with YOU!

You will be assigned to begin each month with one designer's kits. After completing one kit, you can choose your second kit from ANY designer in our store to work with. Complete that kit and go back to choosing a kit from your designer...and so on. There are NO limits on the number of kits you can work with, but you must complete the requirements for one kit before you can go onto the next one.

ONE kit
TWO layouts
THREE postings to galleries (one of course being DigiScrapStation)

And other assignments as needed...possibly make Quick Pages or Brag Book Pages from various kits, or the sites collab kits...all which you get for FREE!

Send us a link to your gallery and a little about yourself:

Name:

Email address:

Experience (not required):

Style (if any):

Designer I would like to work with (see list below):

List of designers seeking Creative Team members:

(please contact them personally if an email address is next to their name)

April Dawn Creations

Denise, Designs by Crazy Diamond

Jen, Jen's Designz

Julie, Share Your Moments

Kelly, Late Night Scraps

Mari, Lovely Scraps marilovelyscraps@ gmail.com

Sandi, Lioness3Legacies

Shannon, Simply-Digiscrap shannon@simply- digiscrap. com

Sherry Williams, Sherry's Scraps

Stacey Crossley Designs

Tiffany Berman, Inspired by Dominic

To find the designer's items, go to DigiScrapStation. com's store and scroll down, looking on the left side of your screen. Under Manufacturers, click on the designer's name and you can view her whole store.

For all others, or for more information, contact our CT Coordinator, Kathy, at ctadmin@digiscrapst ation.com.

Thank you and hope to be working with you soon!

Vacation, Layouts, and Contest Buzz with Freebies!!

2008-08-07T08:50:00.004-07:00

Okay, a few have wondered where I have been and why I have been so quiet. So, here is an update for you! My younger brother got married the end of last month to a very lovely young lady. I am thrilled to have a new sister and my kids already love their new aunt!! But that took a good amount of my time. We drove at least 4 hours for 5 days in a row, and some of them we drove around 12 hours. So, I have had a REAL FUN time getting back into the creative swing of things since then. Although, while on the trip, I came up with some fabulous things that you can look forward to seeing in the store this next month!!

I did get time to scrap a 2 pager before I left though, so here is my latest pages:

Credits: I did both of these using mostly things from the kit Totally Yummy from DesignsBySassy. I did add the white background paper for the journaling and the pink mat paper for the photos by creating my own. Oh, and I created the alpha for my LO using paper from Totally Yummy as well.

Now, after a lot of debating with myself as to whether or not I had the
time or energy to put into this. I decided that with them telling us how they were scoring upfront, and keeping all the contestants anonymous by using contestant numbers and threatening disqualification if it is revealed who you are by you, that I just couldn't pass up an opportunity to get a true idea of how good or "bad" my designs are!

So, I can tell you that I am participating in this contest. I can tell you that I would love for you to head over to the site www.kjoistudios.com to vote...starting August 13th. And I can tell you that there will be tons of freebies from the designers participating in this contest. I can't tell you which one is mine, or what my number is...nor do I want to!

But PLEASE, if you like me and/or freebies at all, GO VOTE and Download and Comment on your favorites. These all count toward the designer points at the end. No one is eliminated until the end...so it will be a true fun ride for 4 weeks!!

Fan Blinkies...Grab it here!!

2008-07-16T17:02:00.008-07:00

I am so very thrilled to have found a tutorial that tells you how to animate things in PSE! I had previously thought this only possible in CS or greater versions of photoshop...but a fellow designer informed me that it was do-able, so I went looking and found some good directions here. So for those that might be interested in that tutorial, ENJOY, I sure did!

Now for the fan blinkie, that you can grab by clicking on the blinkie, if I did this correctly. It looks like this:

It was fun to create, and I can now add one more thing to my education in the digi-scrapping world. Stay tuned for a new look to the blog next month as I am working on that as well.

Freedom on the 4th!!

2008-07-04T10:52:00.008-07:00

It has been a little bit, and there is nothing new in my store. This is due to Real Life jumping in on us big time. We discovered a beehive in our attic, one that had apparently been there for several weeks. There turned out to be about 13 gallons of bees, honey, and honeycomb up there. So, we are just so very grateful that none of our children, or ourselves, were stung or attacked in the time they were here. We are so glad to "bee" free of them!!

I also wanted to do something to celebrate the fourth in the digi-scrapping world...so, I have a coupon for my blog visitors! This will give you $4.00 off anything in my store...it is a one time use, and you must get $4.00 worth of my items in order to use it. The coupon code is: adc4freedom. So, enjoy the fourth, and the HUGE blessing that freedom brings, and visit www.digiscrapstation.com to find my store and use the coupon. This coupon is good through the 10th...just to be sure all can have the freedom to enjoy it!!

Sale Time!! I LOVE YOU, GRANDMA!!

2008-06-24T20:30:00.003-07:00

Just thought I would pop in to let you all know that for this whole week everything in my store is 33% of in honor of my dear grandmother's 91st birthday this week!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA!! This is a woman who was widowed when she was pregnant with her fourth child, due to grandpa's heart condition. This is a woman who took her situation, and got the best of it.

She raised all 4 children to be wonderful members of their community. She taught school to put food on the table and because she enjoyed it. She had a garden every year, and journaled nearly every night. She weeded, and planted, and harvested, and canned. She sewed, and cooked, and cleaned, and taught. She continues to teach all of us about the importance of family and good friends, and being a good neighbor and friend yourself.

In all reality...she is the Rosebud in the Garden to me...only she has most definitely bloomed into the most wonderous and beautiful Rose one could ever behold! And that design of mine was inspired by her, her love to garden, and my love for her. She is in every sense of the word...GRANDMA!

I would just like to leave you with this quote from her, when asked how she has made it and what advice she would give the young ones, she said: "It doesn't matter what life throws your way, you just keep going. If you have to climb over it...you just keep going. If you have to move it...you just keep going. If you have to plow through it, you just keep going."

The words might be slightly off...it is quoted from memory, but that is my Grandma and the strength she exudes and has through all 91 of her years and will continue to do as long as she..."just keeps going"! I LOVE YOU, GRANDMA!!

Been a little bit...but I am back with more goodies!

2008-06-20T08:03:00.005-07:00

Hi all, I have so much going on lately so I have been a little too silent here...but it is time for an update! There is so much that I don't know quite where to start. I guess with the new guest designer position!

That's right I am a guest designer for the month of July at Benevolent Boutique. This is a non-profit store, devoted to serving others. June's Charity has been the Make A Wish Foundation. So, all proceeds from the June items sold go there, and there is even a place to simply donate if you would like to. I am truly thrilled about this as it is a store that fits me, just wish I could do this always...I might have to work on that. There are so many that need help out there, I am always wishing I could do more. But it feels absolutely fabulous to be able to share my time and talents to help.

Now for the latest on my store in DigiScrapStation...I have a new kit up, and I think it is my best yet! Rosebud Garden...it comes as a kit, or can be bought as a paper pack, an element pack, or an alpha.

DigiScrapStation just started up a store blog this week, and it is looking fabulous! You can check it out here. And be sure that you do...because I felt that it had been far to long without a freebie for my friends! So, Friday's Freebie is from me, and goes fabulously with my new Rosebud Garden Kit!! Check this out:

I am so thrilled! I truly hope that you enjoy this! You can find it on the store blog, just click on the awesome train download button at the bottom of my post there and this beauty is yours!!

Happy Happy Birthday!! All Around!

2008-06-04T16:08:00.006-07:00

As I have posted previously this weekend is my DS, L.J.'s 8th birthday. And in celebration of this fact, I am including in my store a mini kit, inspired by one of his most favorite things/people
...firefighters.

It has 8 papers and 8 elements, and just for fun we threw in 4 buttons. This is also my eighth item in the store, following my new alpha...also inspired by my DS!

And which is included free, WITH the purchase of the kit for a limited time-offer expires June 30th. Just buy the kit the link for the alpha is already included. Click on the previews and it will take you to where they are in the store. And starting tomorrow both of these will be on sale, along with the gift card holder set, for 20% off. This will last through midnight on Monday the 9th.

Now with birthday's in mind...my favorite online place to be, The SPRAGROUND, is having it's one year birthday today!! And in honor of its fabulous birthday, party going on right now, and the FABULOUS teacher that Jessica has been for me and so many others and continues to be daily, I am offering the sample I made of my Teacher Appreciation Gift Card Holder FREE!! You can see an example of it below...labeled sample in the preview, only the freebie doesn't have the message for the Teacher...that is yours to add! Thank you Jessica for sharing your knowledge so generously with anyone wanting to know how to use Photoshop to scrap their most treasured memories! You can snag it here!

More Designing and CT fun!!

2008-05-31T18:20:00.007-07:00

Okay, it has been a little bit, so I thought you due an update!! I am excited to announce the newest item in my store...Life Events Gift Card Holders! The idea credit must go to my friend Heather (from Spraground).

This is a pack of 7 Card Holders, with 300ppi layered templates for the outsides and for the insides. So that makes a total of 14 templates! This set covers baby, birthday, graduation, wedding, housewarming, teacher appreciation/school, and condolances. Here is what one looks like when completed:
This is a hybrid project so you will have to find your own ribbon, but everything else (except adhesive) can be printed out. I am planning another set to include holidays, and seasons...which should be in the store within the next 2 weeks as well! And I have a special surprise kit and alpha that I will be releasing this next week...but that is another post altogether!!

And great news, our store has been given ad space in digishoptalk.com 's newsletter...and it comes complete with a coupon for digiscrapstation (us)!! So, if you like a bargain...go check it out! Now for LO's, as I was a scrapper (and still am) before I was a designer. Here are my latest LO's for my CT's:

Credits: Autumn Days Kit from DesignsBySassy.

I am still on the CT for her...and loving it! She is so fun to work with, and just had a new little baby boy...CONGRATS! You can check out here designs at www.designsbysassy.com. This LO was of a trip we made to a tried and true pumpkin patch to pick pumpkins a few years ago. The baby in the picture is now 3!! Hard to believe! Here is another LO, a really long overdue one:

Credits: The 2 of Us Kit from NatalieBirdDesigns.

This is of my wedding night...I was crazy enough to sing to my best friend and husband at our wedding reception. And while I can carry a tune, nerves and emotions got the better of me and my vocal cords that night! Our poor guests...but all in all it was a beautiful day and night, and I am shamed to admit I would probably do it (sing at my wedding reception) all again in a minute if I were to go back in time and do our day over again. Now for another almost equally overdue LO:

Credits: Spring Magic Kit from NatalieBirdDesigns.

This is of my son that is turning 8 this next week. He was thrilled to see so many bright colored eggs, but so VERY disappointed when he couldn't eat them! And he wasn't too excited to see the Easter Bunny either. He still has the bunny that was as big as him he got that day! Can my baby really be turning 8?? Okay, well, I have to go hug him some more...before grows up to much to want me to do that anymore!!

First in-Store Kit-The Vineyard

2008-05-15T09:19:00.005-07:00

I hope you all like this! I am planning a word art add-on, but wanted to get this in the store! So it is up and able to be bought!

Click on picture to visit where it is in the store.

I hope you all like this! I am planning a word art add-on, but wanted to get this in the store! So it is up and able to be bought! It is on sale until Sunday at 40% off, which makes it $2.10 right now! I also have about 5 other kits in the works, but I don't know if they will get done this weekend. Real life is calling often! LOL!

Secret Revealed!! YAY!!

2008-05-14T09:59:00.006-07:00

Okay, time for the secret reveal! I was asked by Nancy Wilkins of DigiScrapStation.com to join their design team!! YAY! I have been very busy getting myself familiar with the new information on how to set up my store. I don't have much in it, but plan on spending a LOT of time on designing in the next few weeks to get more in there...so please stop in to see from time to time all the new things I will be adding.

I want to stop here and thank all of my friends both on the Spraground and here that have been so supportive in my designing and playing...I couldn't be at this point without all of you and a VERY supportive family. And THANK YOU JESSICA!! I didn't move on in the SYTYCD challenge at Scrap Orchard, but this is SO much better!

Now for the real FUN! DigiScrapStation is having it's grand opening starting Tomorrow until Sunday!! May 15th is National Chocolate Chip Day, and we have been busy making the most of this! We have put together a kit, but in order to get all the pieces you must visit places on our site...so stop by the forum and see the Welcome Gifts area for more info on this! But here is a sneak preview of what my part is:

We are going to be making you hungry with this kit...so you might want to either buy or make some cookies and have a glass of milk on hand to help with this! Have a LOT of fun...there are some great sales going on as well, so shop if you like! There might be other freebies during the next week too!

Like I said, I don't have much up in my area yet, but in the next few days I am hoping to add a few things...so be patient with me and enjoy the other designers in the meantime! I am so EXCITED!!

I have a little secret!!

2008-05-08T12:24:00.002-07:00

HAHA! LOL! But it is my turn to torture...I am not going to tell yet! It is still being set up, but is already looking great! I am SO excited, but I am still not going to tell...maybe next week it will be ready! All I will say, is I am finding a really great friend in Nancy! Maybe I gave away too much...hmmmm! Time will tell, but I won't! LOL!

UPDATED my Submission Kit...needed some little tweaks!

2008-05-07T11:37:00.004-07:00

OK...after some very useful tips, and a lot of wishing I could afford CS, and a lot of brainstorming with those on the forums at Scrap Orchard...I have updated my buttons in my kit! And a very AMAZING lady (NancyWilkins @digiscrapstation) informed me of a VERY sneaky little devil of a pixel that had gone astray in my daisy die cut! So, those that already have the kit I have an add on with the updated buttons and die cut for you and to those that haven't yet downloaded it...I have a whole new link for you and will be disabling the old one so there is no confusion! Here is a look at the difference.

The bevel shadow is no longer black on my buttons, but more the actual color the shadow would be. This is something easy to correct in Photoshop CS...and with some figuring slightly less easy to correct in Photoshop Elements. (Which is what I own!) Please let me know if you have any trouble with these links!

TEMPLATE!! YAY! I did IT!!

2008-05-05T19:23:00.004-07:00

I got the template for the SYTYCD challenge done! I got so frustrated, until Jessica Sprague's words of wisdom in the steps she takes came back to mind from DID class!! THANKS AGAIN JESSICA!! Gotta remember all the wonderful things you teach me! Anyway, here is the preview:It can be found in the gallery at Scrap Orchard, and also here. The challenge was a two page Layout using whitespace. I included a dividing line in the preview so that you can see where one Template ends and the other begins! This is of course a layered template.

Scrap Orchards SYTYCD Kit Challenge 1

2008-05-05T11:11:00.009-07:00

Ok...to those anxiously waiting, or simply waiting...I have finished my mini kit submission for the designing challenge. Here is the preview, I have named it "Eye of a Daisy":
You can find this lovely freebie, along with the others that the "contestants" are submitting, link in the forums at www.ScrapOrchard.com be sure to leave some love, and have LOTS of fun playing! I did go ahead and put the link in the gallery with my preview, that way it is easier for all to find that are looking! I will check and see if I can place it here also...but at this point don't know if that is okay or not!
The shadows are for the preview only, and I did use 2 CU textures from Shauna with Pineapple Plantation that can be found with the Grunge Overlays 2 set at Scrap Orchard. I used these on the Die Cut Daisy, the Tag, and the 2 solid papers. Everything else is my own creations come to life!

Edit: We got the go ahead to put them in our blogs as well!! Here is the link: Disabled...Read post above!! Please, if you do a LO with my kit could you post it in their gallery. I would love to see what you have done with it! And PLEASE leave me a comment if you download...it is just good manners to say thank you!

I am trying to do the template challenge also...but white space isn't my strong suite and that is the first challenge! AHHH! So, it will be interesting to see if I can come up with something that I like between now and then. Send me your prayers for inspiration...since I whole-heartedly believe that is where all of mine comes from!
Oh, and to those doing a photo a day in May...I have taken photos, just haven't had time to post them yet!! Maybe once the template submission is done! Or maybe for a creative break...we will see.

Photo a Day for May, and SYTYCD Challenge...curious??

2008-05-02T07:38:00.003-07:00

Well, the "cat is out of the bag" so to speak. Thanks for the reminder that I haven't yet updated my blog with my latest ventures, Heather. I probably should have done it sooner!! LOL! Anyway, Jessica Sprague has placed a "Photo a day for May" challenge on her site. I decided that I would do this with them, sounds like some real fun! So, here is my photo for May 1st:

SUCCESS!

This is of my oldest child, L.J.! He has really struggled to learn how to read, but yesterday for some reason felt the need to do so...without any prompting from me...for at least 6 hours!! He is the reason that I have homeschooled my little ones this year, to get him past last years struggles. At the beginning of this school year he wouldn't sit down and read by himself without the threat of loosing privileges...and now after months of fighting tooth and nail to get him to do it...HE HAS MADE IT!! This makes all the struggles, battles, and the overwhelming frustration from homeschooling my children, which has never been my plan and doesn't come natural to me, TOTALLY worth it! I will post today's later...I need to take it first! LOL!

Now for the next BIG venture! www.scraporchard.com is hosting a "So You Think You Can Design" Challenge. A play off of the reality TV show, So You Think You Can Dance. Starting late Sunday night they will be posting a challenge for those who want to participate, and we have until Wednesday to submit either a mini kit or a template based on the challenge. I haven't yet decided whether I am doing the template, the mini kit, or if I am ambitious enough to try to do both! I LOVE making templates, and it isn't a difficult thing for me to do (other than come up with the idea), but I really want to test my kit making skills.

They are willing to offer Constructive Criticizism (sp?) or CC before we submitt our final submission, so even if I don't make it to the end, it should be really helpful and informative! Whoever makes it through the last cut is going to be offered a 2 month guest designer spot on their site to sell their kits/templates. So, ready or not...I guess I will find out! LOL! I already have a LOT of friends from the Spraground routing for me, but now I have to wait until they post their first challenge.

Now, for the icing on the cake...so to speak!! All of the submissions will be offered as freebies on their site!! And they are holding a layout contest each week for a $10 store gift certificate, they have some cool things! I am using one of their kits to make a Mother's day gift for both of our Mothers! (I will tell which one after Mother's Day...shhhh!) And at the end of the month they will pick one of the "layout submitters" to join their Creative Team! This means that you can make layouts of their things, post them to galleries online, and the best part is you get the kits you use for free!! I have had a lot of fun on both of the CT's I am on. And speaking of which...I will have to post some of the more recent ones! I think I am behind on that too! Well, I have to go be a Mom now...but I will have to do that later!

DID class and Templates!!

2008-04-18T13:26:00.006-07:00

This was the LO that started the ride. I copied Jessica completely, except for the title, journaling, and of course, my own pictures. These were taken a few years back when I was playing with taking more professional looking photos from home.

Credits: This was done using course materials from Jessica Spragues DID class, some were donated by designers at DesignerDigital. The Fonts are One Fell Swoop and Texas Hero, both can be found at dafont.com.

Our second assignment for the first week was to take what we had learned and put it to use in a second LO. About this time my kids decided that the computer was taking up too much of Mommy and that they were going to get my attention (or that is how I took it)!! And to remember the lesson, I turned it into a LO!

Credits: I made the spice paper from a photo I took of the mess, and the brown "vellum" journaling block. I used an overlay from Trish Jones for the grungy edges, and the other 2 papers-background and strip, are from a Grateful4U Kit that was given as CT Appreciation Week.

This was Week 2's LO!! WOW!! We learned how to make our own patterned papers, our own brushes, customize stitching, and a whole slue of other completely amazing things!! Have I said how VERY HIGHLY I recommend HER classes?? If not...HINT HINT HINT!! LOL! I came across these photos, searching for Then and Now photos, and have decided I need to make this a traditional LO for all of my kids when they are turning 8!!

Credits: Materials from Jessica Sprague's DID class, some made during class, and some from designers at DesignerDigitals.

OK, now has it been fabulous so far or what!! Now, on top of that we were challenged during one of the midweek activities to design some templates using some smaller ones she had designed as a jump off point! I have 3 that I have made so far jumping off from hers, and one that is completely me (except for one shape I lifted off of an item in Natalie Bird's Kit I used for my LO that I made the template from). I am SO excited to share these with you, so here they are:

This last one has a LO it was designed from I was so excited with how it turned out that I had to share!! This is of my oldest when he was only 8 days old!!

Credits: I did this using the Little Boy Blue Kit from Natalie Bird Designs! The title font is Night Sky, which I found through google. I had so much fun with this!!

If you like the templates you have seen...then you will love knowing that I am going to share them with all of you!! You can download them here.

WOW...Have I been busy!!

2008-04-18T12:20:00.007-07:00

Sorry to not have posted for almost a month, but I have some goodies for you! But that is getting ahead of myself. I have looked over the latest posts on here, and realized that you are missing out on a LOT of what I have done, both the last part of Jessica Sprague's U&R class, and the one that has kept me hopping this month "Digi: In Deep". I will be calling it DID for short. I also haven't put the CT Layouts for April or the challenges I have been hosting. So...Here goes:

This is the LO that put my posting on hold. It turned out to be a much more deeply emotional thing then I expected. It is too personal to fully share here, but the short version is: My oldest brother went missing for 7 years, he was of course found at that point, and this LO is about seeing him again! I am now working on an album for him based on the years he missed out on.

Credits: This was put together using the Kind Outdoors Kit from Designs By Sassy, and a Template we got for our U&R class designed by Jen Caputo.

This is the final lesson LO we did with our U&R class. Jessica Sprague is the best teacher of Digi Scrapping I know of! I HIGHLY recommend her classes, her Photoshop Friday Tutorials on her blog, and visiting the general forum at her site. This LO was taken at my Grandma's 90th this past summer, while we were all cleaning...

Credits: Most of the supplies were class materials, but I did use 4 papers, the ribbon and the buttons all from the Kind Outdoors Kit from Designs By Sassy.

Speaking of my Grandma's 90th, here is a LO I did on a part of the activities. It was so FUN to see so many cousins, aunts, and uncles there. And to see how the family was continuing to grow! It was fun to watch all of the Great-grandchildren sing to her.

Credits: This was put together using a Collaboration Kit that included Designs By Sassy, called "Sassy Summer, Dude" and can be found at her site.

Here is another LO I just did for the Designs By Sassy CT. This one was taken back in 2006, "Grandma" is a librarian and has been one at schools for years. It is always so wonderful to see the kids sit and listen to her read, especially knowing how much she loves to read to them!!

Credits: Autumn Days Kit from Designs By Sassy, as well as a Template from her first Template Set of 3 she has on her site. The Title I did myself.

One of the Challenges at the General Forum on www.jessicasprague.com was a blending challenge. We were also challenged at one point to take a picture of something we REALLY wanted to remember and scrap about it. This is the LO I did for both. They are both in my front yard and tell stories of their own. Here are the stories:

Credits: I did this using the Open Arms Kit from Natalie Bird Designs. I did add the stamp background and vellum of my own creations. I am really enjoying Natalie Bird's Kits...check them out!

OK...sigh of relief...this gets you caught up to the start of DID class!! Now hang on to your hats, and take a seat, because that class has been a HUGE ride!! I will do them in a second post!!

I am on Natalie Bird's CT!!

2008-03-26T13:33:00.003-07:00

I found out that I made it on another CT!! This time it is for Natalie Bird Designs. She has some really fun kits! She used to own Designs In Digital, but resently sold that site and is starting up her own boutique. It is www.nataliebirddesigns.com/boutique . Here is the first LO that I have done for her:

Credits: Natalie Bird Designs Open Arms Kit, and LO Design Idea comes from Jessica Sprague's U&R class.

I came across these pictures looking for a photo to use with the LO design for class, and just HAD to use them! I loved how this one turned out so much I had to share it!! This was the day my youngest learned how to crawl! She was 6 months and so ultra petite that she was still wearing 3 month clothes. But her size didn't stop her then and it doesn't stop her now! This was the day I learned how determined she is to get what she wants! Sheer determination runs in my little girl's veins!

Freebie, and Tag Update!

2008-03-24T11:00:00.015-07:00

The lucky friends who have now been tagged are Veevs, Stacey(99), Heather(P.), and Jaime. (Two from the Spraground and two from everyday life that are very dear to me.) Ladies...scroll to the next post for the rules. To make it up to you Ladies, for those graduating from the newest class of U&R this week, and just for fun here is a template freebie that I put together(anyone can enjoy):

I do have to credit my mentor-Jessica Sprague for the idea behind this template with her Photoshop Friday (PSF) on Designing a Layout with Rings which can be found on her blog.

I hope all that wanted it got it...now it has been moved. This was quite fun to put together, and I will be using it for a template challenge starting next Tuesday at the DesignsBySassy challenge forum. Feel free to go over and check out the other challenges going on there as well...I have a Theme challenge going on right now based on the phrase-"You are a part of Me". I haven't yet done my LO for this challenge, but I do have a picture in my head and it will involve my 90 (almost 91) year old grandmother. You can find the challenge thread (this was disabled sorry!).
I am working on a LO with my template as I type (multi-tasking) and will post it here when I finish.

Credits: Bkgrnd Paper and RibbonPapers-From Grateful4U Kit for CT members:Designers Tangie and Melissa Daniels Consecutively. PolkaDot Paper and Pink Mats-are from KPertiet ScrapPink Kit. Purple Star Paper-is from TaDaDesigns LDD Apprentice Submission and can be found on their blog. Jeweled Circle-is also from the Grateful4U Kit for CT members: Designer Beckie Kress. Flourish around accent photos-JessicaSprague U&R Week 4 Course Materials(You must take her class to get this flourish as far as I know. And the Vellum Circle I made. The fonts are: MASexy and the date is Century Gothic.

I thought it only fitting to do this LO about my little Analise. I came up with the idea for this while unintentionally napping on her bed! She was supposed to be the one napping...but wore me out instead! LOL! It felt good to get a nap in after...well...way to long without one! Thank goodness that Daddy was home to watch the other 3!

Uh Oh, I've Been Tagged!!

2008-03-23T22:01:00.004-07:00

Thanks Heather (from Spraground)!

These are the rules: You must post the rules before you give your answers.You must list one fact about yourself for each letter of your middle name. Each fact must begin with that letter. If you don’t have a middle name, just use your maiden name. After you’ve been tagged, you need to up-date your blog with your middle name and answers. At the end of your post, you need to tag one person for each letter of your middle name. Be sure to leave them a comment telling them they’ve been tagged and need to read your blog for details.

My middle name is Dawn...I have just grown to really like it so I go by both! Here is mine:

D=Deeply Loyal and Loving...when I give my friendship it isn't halfway, I give it my heart and soul. And anyone that truly knows me, knows you don't want to mess with my family or friends...or you won't know what hit you!!
A=Always thinking up some new project to create, usually overwhelming myself with projects in the process! LOL!
W=Woman!!! Need I say more?!! There is a wealth of meaning in that one little word...but it covers things very nicely!
N=Never far away when someone is in need! I have been SO VERY BLESSED in my life, I only wish to return at least a portion of what the Lord has given me to my brothers and sisters here on earth! What better way is there to say THANK YOU then to be a helping tool in His Hands!

Thank you Heather for this experience, I was wondering what I could do to make this blog a bit more personal, while still protecting my family (see D!!).

I will post the lucky new tags tomorrow...

YAY!! Quick Pages!!

2008-03-18T10:52:00.005-07:00

The Designer I am on the CT for asked us a few weeks ago if we wanted to make some Quick Pages with her kits for her to sell in her store...and I nervously said yes! She just put them up today!! I have done 2 of her kits so far and am working on a third...let me know what you think! You can find them HERE!! Sorry, they aren't freebies...but I had to share my excitement! This is what they look like:

and

She also has asked us to make up an All About Me page for her to post on her site...it isn't up yet, but here is the sneak peak:

Up & Running LO's

2008-03-14T19:14:00.005-07:00

Here are the LO's I have made with Jessica Sprague's Up and Running class:

Credits: Week One Kit from JS's Class

I did recolor things, but basically (as this is a beginners class) we added the photo, Title and journaling, and the star on the top ribbon. Everything else was already there. I decided to take the beginner's class after taking her intermediate class, simply because I wanted to be sure that I hadn't missed something in the self teaching I had done before taking her intermediate class. I have learned a couple of new things, so it has indeed been worthwhile to me! Here is what we did for the Midweek LO Assignment:

Credits: Jessica Sprague's Quick Page from her Beautiful You Mini Kit, and JSprague_Stapled Hearts.

Again, I recolored to make it fit my photo better. And we were supposed to make the photo B&W, but I just couldn't make myself do that when this LO made the blue of their eye's pop so nicely! I also added the hearts in the corner for balance. Here was the LO we did for week 2:

Credits: Jessica Sprague's Week 2 Course Materials

Again, we were given all papers as one. We focused on adding Alpha letters to make a title, using shapes for bullets, learning how to use a brush, and cropping photos to a specific size. I, again, recolored to fit my photos better as the red was an orange, which made the train set stand out more than my son. Here is the MidWeek LO for week 2:

Credits: Amy Teets White Paper, and Katie Pertiet's Stamp Set we got today. I also used the ribbon, and the circular tags from Jessica's Home Away From Home Kit. I used Mia's Scribblings for the title, and journaling.

We had complete license on this one, just as long as we used the white paper and the stamp set. I came across these pictures from years ago, and couldn't resist doing a LO using them! My kids have the best there is in their family on both sides!! Wonderful sources of unconditional love, entertainment, and encouragement!

Edit: Heather, the LO isn't a freebie somewhere. I asked Jessica and she said it is only available to those that take her U&R class.

Neta, the Beautiful You Mini Kit was downloaded at one time on the Creating Keepsakes site...it was a limited time download and is no longer available from them. Email Jessica and see what options you have if any. I got it by taking her U&R class.

Birthday Fun.

2008-03-14T18:47:00.005-07:00

Here is the LO I just did about my recent birthday:

Credits: LivEDesigns_ElementalLove Add-On Kit

She is a really dear friend of mine from the Spraground (Jessica Sprague's Forum). She recently went for an Apprenticeship with LittleDreamerDesigns.com, but much to my disbelief isn't moving on to the next round...had she moved on this is the kit she would have submitted. Amazing...huh?! This is Liv to us at the Spraground, she gives her designs from the heart on her blog, she gives help, advice, and friendship just as openly! And you should go check out her freebie kits at her blog: http://livestories.wordpress.com/. She is a real inspiration and support to me, a true friend.

Anyway, this LO was the fun I had this past birthday...burro rides, camel rides, train rides, panning for gold, and getting thrown in jail! I have already decided to make it a 4 pg spread instead of 2 since it really does look really busy and I would like to have room to add more...yes, MORE...pictures, and some great embellishments. But for the blog this LO works. Click on the picture to see it in more detail. I hope all of your birthdays are as fun, and enjoyable as mine was this year!

First Ever Kit...Watermelon Patch!

2008-03-06T17:39:00.013-07:00

Well, here goes! This being my first attempt, I thought it best to be a freebie shared with all of my friends and family that like to visit here! This is what the kit looks like:I am still figuring out uploading to share it so, now that I have teased you...please be patient as I get it uploaded and ready for you! Oh, wait...I got it figured out you can download this freebie here...please leave me a link in the comments if you use my kit on one of your LO's, I would love to see them!

Here is my layout with my kit for week 3 of my U&R class with Jessica:

Credits: KPertiet (altered background paper to use her flourish with my plaid paper, and altered her ribbon to use my bright pink sparkle paper), All of the rest is from the Watermelon Patch kit.

EDIT: CLICK ON THE WORD "HERE" next to the word freebie above to go to the download site! When you get there you need to wait for it to come up on their site. When it gets done loading there will be a spot under the box that says Download. I hope this helps those new to this that have had trouble...if not let me know!

What gives you your inner strength?

2008-02-27T09:48:00.007-07:00

Recently my youngest brother sent me a wall plaque that said:

"Promise Me You'll Always Remember You're
Braver Than You Believe,
Stronger Than You Seem,
Smarter Than You Think!"

This made me think...after I cried...because he is going through some awfully rough things right now, and yet reached beyond to his own struggles to uplift me! So, since I am hosting a Themed Challenge here starting March 1st I thought I would do it around a part of this plaque.

What gives you your inner strength? What helps you face the challenges that life throws your way? What makes you strong? Here is the LO I did based on this, I also am doing this LO as a template challenge on JessicaSprague.com:

Credits: Template: LivEdesigns_3x3GridTemplate at http://livestories.wordpress.com,
Background Papers: Aging Hipster Kit by Designs By Sassy,
Journaling Paper:Crushbubbles_paper9 by Trish Jones,
Elements: Aging Hipster Kit by Designs By Sassy,
Fonts: Zebra (dafonts), and Tahoma.

Trash to Treasure Hunt at DST!

2008-02-25T15:54:00.004-07:00

Wow...that took a lot of time and energy, but boy, it was FUN! Well, I thought I would post my LO made from the things we got here...I think I could scrap for the next year on the things we got and never have any of them turn out the same! This is a picture I took a few years ago...(can you tell I am behind in my scrapbooking)...not for long now that I can do digital! I hope you enjoy it!

Credits: Sky Papers: sassy_coldchocolatepaper7.jpg, MadScrapRGB_ContempoRetro_Paper8.jpg

Journaling Notebook Paper: JK_Kindness_notepaper2.png

Grass Papers: SDS_BerryIce_Paper1.jpg, SDS_BerryIce_Paper3.jpg, BTuma_Ready4Spring_Solid1.jpg

Flower Papers: SDS_BerryIce_Paper2.jpg, BTuma_Ready4Spring_Solid4.jpg, SDS_BerryIce_Paper4.jpg, JICCreations_Dreaming_Paper19.jpg, twisiA_toile5.jpg, twisiA_toile7.jpg

Flower Button: Made from-jhope-pink-swirl.jpg-paper

Leaves for Flowers: SDS_BerryIce_doodle2.png

Word Art: HManning-ItsABloom-wordart.png

Alpha: kjoi_denimalpha_C.png

Fonts: Mia's Scribblings for Jounraling, MK British Writing for Title

WHY IS EASTER SO EARLY THIS YEAR????

2008-02-22T13:10:00.006-07:00

I have been trying to get used to the idea of Easter coming so early this year...but I just don't understand why they haven't made Easter a set date holiday like all of the other ones! I would love it if they would just make it the first or second Sunday in April, but it needs to never be in March! Just my opinion! Well, in order to resign myself the the fact that I can't just tell people to change it and it will happen this year...I decided to scrap last years Easter events. I am hoping this will put me in a better mood to enjoy it...only time will tell! This is my first LO of a few to come: Credits: Fonts: Title-MA Sexy(dafont), Text-Mia's Scribblings(dafont).
Papers: Background Paper-I made, Photo Mat-Circular Flores Kit(Designs By Sassy)
Fibers, and Tags: Circular Flores Kit(Designs By Sassy)
Floral Design on the Side: Circular Flores Kit(Designs By Sassy)-altered with Exclusion Layer Style.

Sweet as Chocolate

2008-02-20T17:00:00.004-07:00

I promised to update you later on the other designer I am "playing" with. She is Joanne Hope , she is on the design team for MooToo and Kjoi Studios. This is a LO I did for her.Credits: Everything is from Joanne Hope Designs Choco Holiday Kit.

She only needed someone to create for this one kit. So, I probably won't be designing for her long...but she has some really neat kits otherwise and she does have some freebies on her blog: www.umajoanne.wordpress.com

I am on a CT!!

2008-02-19T23:35:00.004-07:00

I am so thrilled to have been invited to join Sarah Laming aka Sassy's Creative Team. She designs for 3Scrapteers, Designs By Sassy, and Digital Candy. I was so excited I made this LO to celebrate! I have also been invited to help another designer on her CT for one kit...I will keep you posted.Credits:
Papers: Circle Mats, Background Paper and Circle Pattern Paper-All are from the Cold Chocolate Kit at DesignsbySassy.com
Journaling Block-Shabby Mommy Freebie Kit at ShabbyPrincess.com
Elements: Button Stitching-Back2School Free Pea Kit by SFreeman at 2peasinabucket.com
Buttons-Cold Chocolate Kit at DesignsbySassy.com
Fonts: TektonPro, and One Fell Swoop at dafonts.com and ComicSans (Microsoft)
Brushes: Corner Rounder by Jessica Sprague

Creations Inspired By Jessica Sprague NWR Class

2008-02-18T15:14:00.006-07:00

I just finished my first true digital scrapbooking class...Jessica Sprague's NWR. I have been self-teaching myself for the nearly two years, since I took an Epson Digital Design Class at a CK convention. I didn't feel like I retained much in that class...but I know I am retaining Jessica's much better! Here are some of my LO's that were inspired by her NWR Lessons:

Credits: Everything I used was from:
-Papers: a class I took at CK Convention from Epson-They gave us a disk full of kits they had created.
-Tag: It is the birdhouse embellishment from Scrap Girls Eternal Love Kit
-Brush: It is the reach brush from twopeasinabucket.com 's Pink October Kit

Credits: All of this is from an exclusive kit www.sweetshoppedesigns.com donated to the class called Carnival.

Credits: The papers on the hearts are from a kit I got for an Epson digi design class I took at a CK convention, the Alpha letters and green striped background paper are from Shabby Princess, the blue paper are from the SweetShoppeDesign Carnival Kit, the tag is made from trishjones_crushbubbles_paper9, and the paper curls are from KPertiet_PaperRevealNo2_2 both can be found on Designer Digitals website. Oh, also the sparkle brush was one in default brushes and the brush across the bottom is... from Jason Gaylor's Valentine Brush Set.

Credits: I used the KPertiet_PaperRevealNo2_2 download from our lesson to make the frame-and the rest is from the fantastic SweetShoppeDesign Carnival Kit we got, except for the swirls. They are from ShabbyPrincess.com's Holiday Magic free download. I changed their color...but otherwise they are the same.

Credits: This is my layout for Lesson 2. I changed the Hue and Saturation of the background color, because the darker red drowned out the photos I really wanted to use. But I used one of the stripes in the striped paper as a guide for the new background color. Here is what was used from the lesson: JSprague_grungeFrame1, KPertiet_CottonEaster-red, KPertiet_GraphicSunPrintsOV-4a, KPertiet_GraphNotepaper, KPertiet_KingMePaper-6, KPertiet_StickPinzRndTag, JSprague_4-squareTemplate, and Asman Font from dafont.com.

Credits: Everything for this LO came in Lesson 4, here is what we used: 07, MCO_BeautifulJourney02, MCO_ScallopedPaperMask, MCO_BohoFlourishes03, MCO_Topper, CAD_Grungy_Photoshop_7_0_Brush_by_in_vogue, KPertiet_SandedOverlay, JSprague_DauphinAlpha, Leora_ApronStrings2_pldlabel, JHE_TwilledPhrases_blank.

In the beginning...

2008-02-18T12:58:00.003-07:00

This is the beginning of a grand experience for me. Let me start by saying that the Header Font is Wilderness and can be found at dafont.com and the brush is JSpragueFlourishFrame. I received this from the materials for one of her lessons in her wonderful Now We're Rocking Digital Scrapbooking class. This blog is a place for me to post LO's I create...either from my own designs or others(who will be credited for their designs). I also see this as a fun outlet for my other crafts from time to time. I hope that you will enjoy viewing my creations. I would love to hear your feedback or suggestions.