Vacation, Layouts, and Contest Buzz with Freebies!!

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!!

More Designing and CT fun!!

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!!

DID class and Templates!!

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!!

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!!

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!

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!

YAY!! Quick Pages!!

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

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.

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!

Trash to Treasure Hunt at DST!

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????

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

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!!

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

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.