Anne of Alamo

2012-New Things!

2012-01-24T14:02:00.000-08:00

I have a whole lot of things in the works! Stay tuned for more! Updating blog, so don't worry about the funky colors and all for a bit, tweaking in the back!

Book is Done!

2011-12-30T08:38:00.000-08:00

I am ready to explode, because I can't show the cover! One of the designers I rearrange for, has the most awesome templates that will be out soon...and oh my gosh! They were perfect-O!! I am going crazy not posting the page (cover for my YB2011 part I).
I found a page with Abby, so I got to cross that off, and another of just her, so I only had to do one of our backyard archery range. I used one of Simply Yin's two page templates:

The book is done, and I wait for my paycheck to send it in! I have inundated MyPicTales with books, and I think I crashed the system! I hope to send this next week!
~never lose your joy

Yearbook 2011

2011-12-29T12:38:00.000-08:00

I committed myself to getting pages printed and the best way to do good to that commitment is to go backwards. I posted about getting my Countdown to Christmas all uploaded on the MyPicTales blog. The main point being to keep it simple scrapper! I am really honored to create for some flippin' fantastic designers. I have the options to make pages that are full of clusters, layers and just wow, as I am "working" for these designers. They give me their designs free! I know it isn't minimum wage, but the designers are not harping on me, they don't expect me to do more than ONE page, so I do that and more!
Anyways.....I am doing a catch up on the photos/events that need pages for our 2011. This may help you get some books prepped and ready for printing:
My camera is set up to make folders in the program by date. I went thru the dates and wrote a list of events, that still needed to be scrapped.
I had

~~Sacramento for Bows -shopping trip~~
~~chickens, coop building~~
~~mom to vegas~~
archery backyard
oroville-spillway
abby page (since she is the only one without her own page)

I got the first three done yesterday, and today, I hope to finish 3 more!
Shopping for Bows in Roseville (outside of Sac) done with the ViVa's Life Compositions, available thru the Daily Digi, but soon to be at TDC. I also used Simply Yins templates!

Next up: The chickens, the coops and all that goes with it! I used a Catscrap Collab called My Life, that I won from Catscrap!

and one I thought I had scrapped 8 months ago? My 12 hour trip to Vegas and back! I got to meet Tangie, and her family, some great digi friends, and kick myself for not taking more pictures....but I got the page!

I am loving how fast and fun they are going together, I only have half the year done, and have 30 pages! I am planing a smaller book on our adventure moving back to New Mexico,and then the other 1/2 of the year in another book! woot!!

End of the Year Pages!

2011-12-27T15:34:00.000-08:00

Closing up for the year! I have had such a blast this year, creating on teams that just blow me away! I want to show off a page that is so touching to my heart. You see my son, Gabe, is very smart, but the system was really failing him. He has been homeschooled now for 3 years and he has just excelled so much! I made this page so fast, but I love the whole feel and attitude. I also think Lynn-Marie has such a gift for putting a kit together, and her collabing with my friend Chengie with the kit IQ.

Now a bit of laughter!! During the holidays, everyone kinda goes on zone! I truly love making pages and become a bit addicted...okay, I admit it I am a goner for scrapping just for the pure fun of it. I sent a beg of work to the remarkable designers over at ScrapBook Graphics and Charlize Creations took me up on the offer with her New Years kit called Nouvell Groove collab with Kitty Designs. I got a giggle, perhaps the big picture is my new trademark, but this layout was done in minutes!!

I made the photo b&w with some of Pioneer Woman's actions, then laid one of the papers from Nouvelle Groove over the photo and used the blend mode til I found the one I wanted! I love this page and it is going in the 2011 photo books for sure! I felt so bad for making a layout that quick so I got a bit more intricate using an older photo of Abby:

The woman who can make me just laugh out loud with her fun antics and energy, Mirjam! I humbly ask for apologies, for this page was made a long time ago, and it went for free in November Digi Files at the Daily Digi. I totally spaced uploading til now. The kit is now on sale at her stores, but go to Zig Zag and buy Wanderlust.

I was rather proud of myself, for taking the hand and moving that thumb with the PUPPET warp feature!! OH OH OH, it is the bomb diddly!!
Last but not least, I sat during Monday night football, and had not one NEW kit to open. I simply love to scrap and listen to football! I love it! I broadcasted my status on facebook and Netta of Creative Victorian Designs saw my need and sent me her soon to be released kit: First Noel
You have to know something about Netta, she can NOT make a mini kit. It is impossible, she gets into her kit and it grows and grows and grows. So making one layout is a crime. Her kits are versatile, you can use them for the actual "theme" or take them out of the box also.
I wanted to just play and use shadows and lighting and loved having the Nativity scene available:

Netta's papers are nothing short of delicious, this next one is a family I love and pray for so much! I really enjoyed the colors in the photo, and how the coordinated with the clusters made from the kit!

I also finished a Christmas Countdown book! Thirty pages in 25 days! I uploaded and sent it off to be published and you can see the pages on my other blog, More of Us, Me and the Family.

2011-12-15T05:50:00.000-08:00

Hello, you must have come here from the talented and awesome Val's Blog!
If you have gotten lost on the blog hop, please pop over to Mirjam (of Pink Reptile Designs)
I so hope you enjoy this Christmas Card Blog Hop!

Thank you to Pink Reptile & ValC Designs for their beautiful collab Cozy Christmas Day available at Zig Zag Scraps

Here is a preview of my card for you:

You can download the zipped freebie HERE

Your next stop is julie !
Again, if you have gotten lost on the blog hop, please pop over to Mirjam (of Pink Reptile Designs) for the beginning!
Merry Christmas to you all!

2011-12-14T10:00:00.000-08:00

The wonderful designers I rearrange for are slowing down for the holidays, and I think I am at a complete stand still! I have a few pages to share with you that I did over the past few weeks.
First off, ScrapBook Graphics, where I am free to shop and go crazy! I am already crazy, and just lost my mojo, but was able to get one done with Studio Mix #13 ~ Natural Elegance :

and one for Berna, that made the new and improved SBG blog! I used Berna’s Eye Love You Old Photos Vol 2, Counters-Month Vol 1, Think of Me, Kitsch Garden Unlimited – Modern Embroidery and Lowlands Elements

Tangie, whom I CT for on an individual basis also has the coolest sets out, Favorite Things.

my favorite cat hiding under the tree
[url=http://shop.scrapbookgraphics.com/-A-Few-of-My-Favorite-Things-Santa.html]A few of My Favorite things -Santa by Tangie of course [/url]
and
playing with blends and enjoying A Few of My Favorite Things (Christ Child) by Tangie

I know I have a few others for the ViVas, but they were DigiDares and another for Scrapn'Art ezine, and I am totally confused in my head. bhahha
So, tomorrow, pop over and I have a FREEBie!! A Christmas Card for you!

Friday, Friday....all that has been done!

2011-12-02T13:02:00.000-08:00

Today is a day off for me. From school and all, because my beloved and sons are headed to Phoenix for a Men's Rally with the church. I proclaimed it a PARTY day for the girls!! So we are having all the "widows" ladies from the church over tonight! I am so looking forward to it! Crazy woman!
This also makes it a good time to post the layouts I have done over the last week.
I will begin with the wild, crazy and talented Mirjam, who goes by the moniker Pink Reptile Designs and is the owner of ZigZagScraps. She has an exclusive guest spot over at Pickle Berry Pop, so I have been rearranging like a mad creative team member for her:
First off her Simply Chic {PBP exclusive}, this is an all black and white kit and very elegant, my team mates astounded me with their pages and I gave it a whirl, with her yummy papers and some flair styles:

My little Anna, so many years ago, cute as can be, just as she is today!

Cozy Christmas Day {bundle} by Pink Reptile & Valc Designs and over at Zig Zag Scraps also.

My girls playing under the tree, on Christmas morning, many many years ago. This collab is full as ever kit that Pink Reptile Designs has in her store! She is energetic and creative! Keep a sharp eye on her, she is everywhere!!
Then the ViVas! This layout was birthed out of The ViVas Heart of the Ocean and playing with some freebie actions.

I took a pic of my kids running towards me in our empty moving van and love the whole feeling, I hope you do too!

Kaye Winieki! She is remarkable and this collab Santa's Little Helper is brought to you by The 3 K's: Karah Fredricks, Kate Hadfield & Kaye Winiecki:

The pure excitement of talking to Santa about your heart’s desires and the joy at the words Santa spoke to you. This was the best Santa ever.
The Playday at SBG was Studio Em-ka, and I had a blast. Thank you to Studio Em-ka for her fabulous fun kit Oh Boy that got me off my duff to scan and scrap this memory.

oh what a bad picture, lighting is off, scanned in...but you couldn't pay me enough to take it away. This is the first watching my boy play....see we had just brought him home to be our son FOREVER....goodness, I think I am tearing up typing this...
I wrote those words in the credits in the gallery, and they are so true. This is something to remember.....that a perfect picture is one that holds a memory, not the exact lighting!

This next layout was done just last night...I drank a full pot of coffee, and opened Lynn Marie's kit (not even released yet). The dandelion fluff was on my page before I could even think of what I was going to do. I enjoy working with every one of the ladies I create for, but there is something in Lynn-Marie's designs that touches me, and makes me think...yeah, deep, I know...blame the coffee, but I got to mixing papers and playing with text paths, and had no idea if I had a photo to go on the page. I needed something that would bring it together, but not take away from the blowing dandelion fluff! I loved the movement that was created...
then I found an old photo, taken of our shadows in a shallow lake. I simple used multiple blend mode and the photo settled itself into Lynn-Marie's designs.

to have a big family was my dream 4 children and waiting for more....laughter and love in our home....more than a wish, a dream come true.
touched by Lynn Marie and her new provocative designs Unwritten the elements and Unwritten the papers, not yet released, but will be soon! ♥
~never lose your joy

Layouts by MOI!

2011-11-23T08:40:00.000-08:00

I have been doing the Daily Thankful on my personal blog, so this blog was neglected...so so sorry! So you now get everything I have made since the 7th of November! Luckily, my mojo went on vacation! hahah
Gonna start with the newest designer to trust me to rearrange her fun things, Kaye Weiniki over at the-Lily Pad:

I have taught my children the finer art of kidnapping...albeit a flour sack doll, they did use multiple magazines for their ransom note.
Nuts? Nutter, oh yeah...we are...Nutter-the complete kit for Nuts and Apple Slice - the Alpha all by Kay (with an) E Winieki
Next up, the ladies at Catscrap, both Paula Kesselring and Lynn Marie! I was having Paula withdrawals, so I went and raided her store. I made a funny layout that caused quite a raucous. I had people emailing me links and everything and actually found the duck, ordered it and have it on my key chain! hahah

journaling:
I used to have a pig on my keyring. You squeeze it and it would squeal. But I have no need for the Pig, I need a duck. I continue to search for a duck, not just a regular duck, but one that you squeaze and it quacks and is on a key ring. The story you have read is true, and the search is still on for the quacking duck key ring. Thank you to Paula Kesselring for making such fun and fabulous works that I am able to express my deep emotions as I search for the elusive duck. I will find you!
Graffiti Collection - Brushes and Stencils by Paula Kesselring
and
Flair Box #2 by Paula Kesselring has the duck flair
I was rather excited too, I got BOB at Catscrap!
Then I activated my wonderful CT coupon for Lynn-Marie!! Thank you, thank you!!! I got another BOB from this page also!! Finding this kit was like a joy to my heart, I was way too young for Woodstock, but hanker for the revival that came out of the craziness of this generation!
Lynn-Marie's Woodstock

journaling:
I read about the Jesus people movement. I missed it. I was just a kid, and living outside
the United States.
I gave my life to Jesus in 1988, and pray for revival for this country again. I see the desire for a
revolution to happen in the youth today, and so hope it is one with Jesus Christ!
And for the VIVAs!! I always want to write ViVa LOcas! lol, cause they are two crazy women!!
I struggled making this page and actually sent it without any journaling to the ladies, with a cry for constructive criticism.This is one of the parts I really love about CTing for these ladies, the team ROCKS! People from different cultures, views on life, religion and more, but it is a tight knit group, that welcomes the new people! Amazing chemistry...any ways, I posted the page, and Vanessa(the Va in ViVA) kicked my mojo into gear!

The crazy game of infertility and the joy of adoption all rolled into one wild ride. Thank you to the ViVas for once again, making a kit that makes me dig into myself and push to do something different. DIY Board Game by The ViVa Artistry
I am very proud to announce I was selected for GSO-Finger Pointing for this page! Big smile insert here!
Then Tangie finally had a kit....talk about withdrawals!!

As soon as I read the name of Tangie's newest kit, the song, That's how the lost get found...began bouncing in my head...and then this photo of 3 of my fellow laborers for Christ who have the fire and care about the lost came to mind!!
Lost and Found Studio Tangie

The Scrapbook Graphics site team, has kept me busy too:
For Fhung's playday:

I am honored to call Fhung a friend in this digiworld. She is an artist and a mad rocker, and I love that combination. I wanted to use everything in her store and say…here it is, the link to her store….because it is fun to touch everything over and over. Her woods and stitches are beyond the wow zone! Thank you my friend for brightening my day!|
Ztampf!’s
Hipstagramix-Dreamy Photo Edges overlays Shadows, Haunting Pirates, Floralique Collection, Ruzty Alha Set, Syrin Seamstress, and ARTiStitches No 2
Balinesia Paper Pack
Then for BGs Playday:

Enjoying learning about trees, butterflies and just playing instead of day in the books!
Blogavesta Gosheva's beautiful kit November
and Studio Julia's playday:

I took some liberty with dear Studio Julia's fun kit and her word art...I had to scrap the pic of Anna, taken by her sister, Abby...pure fun!
Life is Beautiful by Studio Julia
fonts: 1942 report and
tangie's:{five, seven and two} -Art Journal Caravan Provision for Parcel 18
and last but not least, the most hilarious lady in digiscrap, Mirjam of Pink Reptile Designs!

my daughter looking all funky and fun with a new hair do, tee hee but an old picture...the joy of scrapbooking...
The magnificent collab of Pink Reptile and Camomile Designs - Home is Where the Heart is!

There we go, I have a few going live this weekend, but have to hold them close til then!
I hope you have a Wonderful Thanksgiving, and even if you don't celebrate, remember to be thankful for something!

~never lose your joy

Adventures in CTing!!! Layouts and funny story!

2011-11-07T07:29:00.000-08:00

I am a deadline junkie! I admit it, but I am learning a whole new way of scrapping. The CREW at ScrapBook Graphics works so differentlly, and I love it. I am learning how to shop (albeit I do have a coupon to get the items free), to make a layout for the designer and use my photos. They still have new releases with deadlines, the Studio Mixes, and occasionally one of the designers needs a page or two for a quick release.
I am on the template team at SBG also, and they have a new template designer!! Studio Jen D.

pic is in my parents RV at Bodega Bay, our goodbye to them before we left California. I used the thankfulness Page Kit by MIki, along with a fun template starter: Just strips by Studio Jen D,
I also got a fun time with Chengie, my buddy who pushes the deadline to the limit! She always gets my adrenaline pumping!! Tee hee, Studio 68 and Pink Reptile had the coolest collab as a grab bag called Bloopers.

my boys on halloween! gabe was going to tackle his big brother, but it looks almost like a hug! tee hee
Zig Zag Scraps and Digiscrapperbrasil and Pickle Berry Pop!
I did two with this hilarious kit:

My daughter and our dog sharing frozen custard. A poochie cone! lol
This hasn't been announced officially, but I am on this woman's team!!
Kaye Winieki!!! Can you believe it??? She is just amazing to me, she makes all her designs! I keep pinching myself. I sent an application to her and got a response and was reading waiting for the thanks, but no thanks part...and it never came!! hahaha See her way cool blinkie on my sidebar?
I was so happy to make this page, photo is by my friend Wilma, and Amy gave me permission to use pics of her adorable daughter; Basia!

Honored to play with chocoholic by kaye winiecki!
Now this isn't really a CT layout because, well I bought the kit! But it has a funny story! I think Chengie showed me Lynn-Marie's store...she is the one who usually knows exactly what I would like. Then another lady, HeatherB told me about her, so I went and looked. Oh I loved it. Enter this past weekend, and the inDSD. The scrappers crazed shopping day or weekend. Mellow by Lynn-Marie grabbed me, and the price was AWESOME!! I bought it right off! The colors and emotions that were in it made me think. Then over at DST, on the Happy Place, she was giving the kit away to the last commenter. I posted that I had already bought it! Laughingly, saying maybe something else would work? teeehee,
Lynn-Marie posted back, perhaps something special? I said, how about a spot on your CT?
So I am now guesting for November and December! woot! I hadn't even unzipped the kit yet. Then I did and wow oh wow!

sometimes I just need to look right out my front porch and find my vision renewed and restored.photo, well from my front porch, during a desert rain storm. I am delighted to explore with Mellow by Lynn-Marie
I got BoB over at Catscrap with this and that is a first! woot, pretty excited about it!

~never lose your joy

Proud to Create for some Awesome Designers!!!

2011-11-01T14:16:00.000-07:00

One of the best parts of scrapping is blogging the pages. I am not sure how many people actually look at them, but I know a few, my mom and my hubby! lol
So, today I am gonna start with Mirjam of the famous (and just announced as a DST designer of the month for 2012) Pink Reptile Designs. Mirjam is so supportive of her creative team, she makes me want to do even better for her! She has Creepy out and I found an old picture that went so perfect with her designs!

The ViVas! Yep! Another Designer of the Year for DST!! They (see it is two amazing ladies) came out with this kit called Winter Solstice. The kit was for sale at Scrap Matters, and I am hoping it will be at The DigiChick soon! But where ever it is at, it is fantastic!! I just started tossing elements, and seriously they just slipped to the bottom! I loved it:

Then on to ScrapBookGraphics, I am a lucky lady, I get to work with ALL the designers over there!! All of them!! woot, and every week, SBG showcases one of it's designers, in a Playday. This means the whole crew makes pages from their store, so you can see not just the "new" releases, but a diverse sampling of the designer. I love this! So, going in order:
Studio Baers was up last Monday, and I played with her Bike Season. This kit was perfect to put together a page about the rain and my kids organization to get their bikes in from the truck. After Dad rescued them from the deluge!

Then yesterday, cause Sherrie JD is in the house at SBG! I really love her style, and have been a fan everytime her and Tangie join up. To have her as an individual artist is a treat also! I was too excited to dabble in her store for her playday. She has this way cool class starting, and wanted us to play with her HUGE amount of Christmas things. I of course had to go the opposite of the flow, and did a protest page:

kits used: Santa Cutie, Christmas Countdown-2011, 2010 Christmas Countdown, Joy and Glee

Then news upon news, Sherrie teamed up with Sandra (of Studio 68, and another DST Designer for 2012 ), This is a first altered style kit for Studio 68 and I know she had a blast collabing with Sherrie, they are old friends and it is a wonderful kit called: Reflections available here at Zig Zag Scraps or Pickle Berry Pop for Studio 68 or at SBG in Sherrie's studio.
This page is personal, for two reasons, one the man in the page is a young man, (now a dad to 1 and one on the way and married to a lovely lady) who I have know for a long time. This is a photo from a while back, but he is still serving Jesus, the very one he is portraying in the photo. Jesus is my savior, and the MOST precious thing in my life.

Then today.....two new designers at SBG, and I am on the template team there also, so I got to see the new stuff before it went live today! woot!
Strip That Paper Templates by JenD and Hello Friend by Blogovesta Gosheva all @ ScrapBook Graphics:
This is Abby and my Dad....just being together! I love their relationship and had a blast putting this together!

This next one is a new release also, it is a Studio Mix #11 called November Rain. Charlize, Flergs, Redju and Bethany created a fun mixture of a wet and wonderful designs. I went in a weird way, and hope one day to finish the story:

There we go, everything done and all caught up! Now to go browse thru the galleries at the beautiful pages, and find a stand out for My Pic Tales!

~never lose your joy

Thank You Dear Fhung!

2011-10-24T07:17:00.001-07:00

Please read MY PERSONAL blog for the whole story!

What I've been scrappin lately!

2011-10-22T11:37:00.000-07:00

I am one lucky lady to be able to create for some awesome designers! Here is my nifty keen-0 blinkie, I wear to let others know who let me create with their designs! FOR FREE! woot

I am gonna start from the top of the blinkie with ScrapBook Graphics! This is a whole store, and there are Playdays each Monday to highlight the designer of the week. I get to play with anything in their store and create a page for them.
Miss ViVi was first for October.
I took this pic from the driver's seat of the van as my hubby was putting air in the tires. I love the skies of New Mexico...you are seeing the back alley...it is not pretty here in the desert on the ground, but just look up! wow!

I used Miss Vivi’s Urban Aroma

Next is pure fun!
yeah we get the looks, and the comments, oh you homeschool?
bhahha
so for halloween, each child had a can of whipped cream and would spray in their mouths at the door!! it was hilarious, and the neighbors love it...

but the most fun was playing with the Studio Mix #9 Twilight Brew Both side A and B are beyond delightful!
Then Rosey Posey was up! I have known Lor for a long time and am just delighted in seeing her at SBG! She is an artist and really makes the most beautiful designs.
How scared I was to have girls, and then identical ones freaked me even more, this is a page to my precious girls who God has blessed me.

Spritz and Spray
Letters to my Daughter
Fragments Fairly
All by Rosey Posey

This was just a page that I loved the quote and was remembering the cold rainy nights in California! Brrr.

done with Studio Mix for October - Potporri
also available as a Quick Page @ SBG

Next my friend and the lady who hooked me on altered art journaling! Tangie BAXTER!!!
I am laughing hysterical today, just good weather and pants that are comfy I guess, but I had a good time putting this page together. My Gman was doing a serious science experiment, and I am taking pics being a good mom.

Then Tangie has this SPARK of an idea with Flergs and Rosey Posey, and this kit is so fun, I had to use my Gman's pic for a page that is just cool. I used the actual text from his school book blended into Tangie's beautiful page. No magnifying glass was used in the experiment, it came with Tangie's kit and more!
Spark Project Arsenic and Old Lace by Tangie

Next up Pink Reptile:
Now if you have not met Mirjam of Pink Reptile in the DigiWorld, find her, she is the owner of ZigZag Scraps. The forum is fun and their are some awesome designers selling there also! I create also for Studio 68, Chengie who is at Zig Zag Scraps too!!

journaling:
Poor Tony. Every time we go to my parents house, he does something memorable. This time, he went into the bathroom, and got locked in. The innerds to the door lock just so old, that they stopped working. My dad (grandpa) had to take the knob off while we giggled down the hall hearing Tony lament inside the bathroom

Joy upon joy having the great Mirjam (Pink Reptile) and Andrea (Little Green Frog) together in the fabulous Nana& Gramps collection! available at Zig Zag Scraps

Zig Zag Scraps has this cool collection called ZIG ZAG LINEs, each designer does kits with same palette and they are all interchangeable! So it is fun to mix and match or they can stand alone.
Our Gman, always with a book in his hands. This is at the park!

My kidlets in the tent! They stayed in the backyard! Was so cute!

Happy Days Elements by Pink Reptile Designs
Happy Days Flairs by Pink Reptile Designs
Happy Days Papers by Pink Reptilie Designs
Happy Days Alpha by Pink Reptile Designs
all coordinate with the Zig Zag Lines
Miss Chengie of Studio 68 also
This is my dear friend in Prescotts newest baby (mom of many tee hee).

Lazy Afternoon Elements by Studio 68
Lazy Afternoon Papers by Studio 68
all coordinate with the Zig Zag Lines

Then the effervescent Paula Kesselring! I have been remiss with her designs this month and owe her a bucket load of pages! But this one was beyond great to put together:

Early in the morning, we waited to get on the train. Mr. G was there to make sure we got on and he even gave a tour of the engine car. The process was slow, but the learning was fun. Safety and history along with a tour of the Tularosa basin from the comfort of an air conditioned car. We had fun, laughed and learned.

Started out playing with Autumn Sonata and then went on a Paula binge
Flair Box #3 and a flair from her previous freebie blog and Vintage Hand and Old England Block Alpha mixed with Old Woody Alpha and then a ticket from Paula's traveler freebie too.
LIfe is fun to scrap with Paula Kesselring Designs
I blended the photos about the train we were on in the background and the menu is from the train also blended into Paula's lovely book.
Whew I had an out and out blast scrapping this!
Now the ViVas, the dynamic duo! They are guesting at Scrap Matters this month and have some killer kits out to celebrate over there:
a personal photo taken by accident...give a 7 year old a camera...
I am talking to a young girl about Jesus...a girl I used to teach in Sunday School years ago.

Done using Creepy Gears by the ViVas @ The Digi Chick (oops this is at TDC and not scrap matters)

Pure fun playing with Cat's Meow, by the ViVas (guesting at Scrap Matters for Oct)
So there is my catch up for October! I have a few more done, but the designs aren't in the store yet, so I have to wait!
~never lose your joy

Tangie-IZEd Everyone needs a little Tangie in their life!!

2011-10-01T15:14:00.000-07:00

http://shop.scrapbookgraphics.com/Oh-What-Rapture.htmlI have been holding these pages for tooooooooooooooooo long!! This is the month of Tangie!!!! She is kicking it up a notch and I am loving the FIRE and enthusiasm. First up is her RAPTURE kit, that expoded in my brain and thankfully Photoshop help me capture all the ideas.
The first page I did was inspired by the BIG PICTURES I keep seeing around the digi world, and I had a horrible photo of Anna on the bike right after taking her training wheels off and going down a ramp at the bike park. Her enthusiasm was so high, and the freedom she had was beyond awesome, and I love the skies of New Mexico in every picture! I didn't crop the pic, it is straight out of camera, just enlarged!

but my brain still had thoughts about this kit, and I couldn't stop:

I went on a blending binge, but it was just fun! You know that is really my favorite part of art journaling, the fun and no reason but fun and the joy of the process!

Next up!! Run, don't walk and download the Gold Member kit at DST.
We all had a blast playing with it and I bet you will be inspired also! I did a few different pages for this...three pages actually. That is a kit, if you can get 3 art journaling pages out of it!

They were fun and I hope you enjoy them too. But just like TV advertisements....wait there is more!!

Tangie is also the featured artist this month at MSA!! Get on the MSA newsletter so you can download this kit:
There is also a cool interview of Tangie in the MSA ezine, Home is Where the Art is.
You have to know that October is Tangie's favorite month, so she really has poured her heart into these kits and you will want to stay tuned for the releases she has all month...you are gonna love each and every one!
Here is the page I did with the MSA :

Ha ha....love Tony with the knife!!! Scaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaary!!!

Enough for the day!!! Enjoy your October and make sure to load up on some Tangie!!

mojo mamma here, to show off!

2011-09-30T08:47:00.000-07:00

First off, I am working for a new to me designer, as a guest blogger and kinda part-time fun assistant. Pebbles Jones. She is at Scrap Girls. This is a very new territory for me. Very new, very different, but I love to learn and am enjoying it. I did my first blog for her and a FREE quick page from this layout. This layout is from my pics to be scrapped from years back. It was a field trip with their old school in California to a Pumpkin Field. There was a petting zoo area with baby everything from the farm. The animals were very persistent, and I bought feed for the girls to give the goats. They serve the feed in ice cream cones. Abby got hers and withing seconds the goat knocked it out of her hands and had a feast! I love that I got Abby's face!

My friend Fhung is a designer at SBG, and this is her 6th year there. I just giggle with her in chat, and had to do something wicked fun for her challenge over at SBG. In your honor of 6 years I have the number 6 hidden 6 times along with 6 birds...so enjoy looking for them then play along!

journaling:
Of all the things I could collect it seems that dust is the one that finds me the most often
Oh I played and played, and had pure fun.
First off I got the FREE SIXTH ARTiculate Set from Studio Ztamph.
Than I added lots of fun from Haunted Pirates and the Collect Kit along with the Art Journal Caravan #32 Ztampf did with Tangie Baxter. I did grab a few of Tangie's things in my stash!

my poor girls excited about their new bows, only to find they were too small, and had to go back...NO way..yeah, they did!
Miki's Photo Pro Series - Tritones
and her Carefree Page Kit
final touch with Miki's Belinos Alpha

and Tangie's lighting effects

My girls enjoying the fair on the ride, the yoyo. Mom enjoys from the ground !!
This was my first of too be many times playing with Studio Thaty! Wow, fantasticly fun!
My Sweet Home
Oh I love being on the site CT (lovingly called the CREW) at SBG! The system is way cool, the lead Kate, my bestest buddy, and I love everyone of the designers!!

My dear friend Vanessa, singing for Jesus at a concert! I love this young lady and am honored to know her!
Using the new
Studio Mix #8 of Studio Boutique Cute Doll, Studio Rosey Posey, Studio Thaty.
and a bit of
Shabby Stitchin by Studio Christina Renee
Provision Parcel of the AJC from the Apprentice Box by Tangie Baxter

From the bumping and people filled state of California, we returned home to New Mexico...where you can see forever.

Of Earth and Sky by Studio Vivarant

My daughter looking rather raggedy! All "dressed" up for halloween!

Steampunk Spooktacular Spectacle Collab w/ Studio Tangie and REbecca

and another from Tangieville:

Some of the family and friends of one of our "football" team. Really sweet, as the first boy....and the boy on the team I have known since they were born...very precious kids.
Had a blast playing with Journal Anthology #7 by Tangie Baxter

I was in a contest over at the Studio, it was supposed to be only 4 weeks, but ran into 5, and I am committed to other things this week, and so I had made it to the last round, but can't go any further, this and the spider layout below are from the contest:

The ViVas are still kicking butt designing and making me love to put together pages with their creations. I love these ladies and hope you will give them a whirl and see their outrageous talent too:

my daughter's school work report for writing -I saved this because it made me smile. I wanted to put it on a page some how, some way, and this kit by The ViVa Artistry is called DIY tags, but there is way more in the kit. These two ladies put their hearts into each design. I found it beating and hopefully put that on this page.

my daughters found some baby birds, we think they are some kind of swallow or martin? but Anna (not pictured) is the photographer. Abby is the one pictured. When we lived in Cali, my mom (Granma) instilled the love of bird watching.
I started with the new release:
Illuminated Journal #3 by the ViVa Artistry
Then raided my The ViVa Artistry Stash, so you see things from:
ON my Desk
misfit
About Him
fabricology ?but I think it changed names??
muse
sweet song
Terra
and there may be more, I was opening all the beautiful kits from The ViVas!!

Last but not least, I have a page from my friend and co-CT all over digiland. She is a superstar new designer, and think you will love her work. I am so not a minimalist scrapper, but with her designs and her templates, I can pull it off.
My daughter being a goober, posing and all in her nifty keeno fishnet gloves...pink of course!
Hootie Cute by Studio 68
Kickstarters 10 by Studio 68
or at Zig Zag Scraps:
Hootie Cute by Studio 68
Kickstarters 10 by Studio 68

Pretty good? I am rather proud of the pages, and have 5 others done that have to wait for release!! woot! I hope you enjoy your scrapping and that Mr. Mojo covers you from head to toe!
~Never Lose Your Joy

squeal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Blowin' my own horn!

2011-09-10T06:15:00.000-07:00

I am so excited...this is real...LOOK LOOK at ME!

That just blows my mind, I look at it and smile. I make pages for

and look forward to writing also! Oh my gosh...be still my heart! I can't tell you anything of details yet, but oh what a fun and exciting adventure!
Then on top of it this week, an opportunity to be a site Creative Team member became available at ScrapBook Graphics. To be on the CREW (that is what it is called, the SBG team). I have to tell you this is a scrap book dream to me. I love every single designer in the store and many I am proud to call friend. This is a fabulous position and I am excited to show you my cute little picture:

I tell you, I grinned from ear to ear having that little frame around my face! lol Already, I have had the opportunity to work with some magnificent designers. Very first one Christina Renee'! Oh my gosh! I had a blast! Totally and completely.

I used Christina’s Shabby Stitchin’, Photo Montage-Champagne, Authentic Artistry and Collectors Plethora.
Then my old boss Dawn Inskip, whom I was honored to be on her CT for quite a while. I was so happy to open her kit; Are We There Yet? and Above and Beyond Template #23 both by Dawn Inskip
and added a bit My Sweet Home by Thaty

The week has been wonderful...I am in a contest for Best Layout Scrapper...and I moved on in the first round with the most votes! That was pretty cool. It is over at The Studio, a sweet group of ladies and hearty fun competition to get the mojo moving. The kit is Early Morning Light by Piggyscraps Designs that was a FREE with this fantastic contest. Here is my layout for the contest:

Then okay, I got blending with some move and a bit more groove, and tada:

all with the Fantabulous The ViVas collab with Laitha called The Renaissance and some new fangled add-ons!
There are some more exciting things coming but I can't say yet! ha ha...but I am rather buzzed about making pages and learning and laughing!

Playing with Paula Kesselring's Travels @ SBG

2011-09-02T12:29:00.000-07:00

Now, Scrapbook Graphics is an ICON in the digital scrapbooking world. Maya has kept some awesome designers there for a long time, and she is always amazing me by bringing in guests and fun new people...I squealed with delight when Paula Kesselring told us she was guesting at SBG!! I don't know who was more excited, Paula or me?? haha I so enjoy the folks at SBG, and it is like having best friends met each other. I also think Paula's red @ is so dynamically beautiful!

I love the Traveler series that Paula has been doing, and she has a special Italy one for SBG! I had to grab that and play!! This kit is huge!! I mean huge!! One hundred and nine wicked cool elements! There are also 21 papers and a brush set that is just fun to have just to fiddle. I knew immediately I was gonna show off my meatball sandwich recipe, but didn't want it to be just a recipe card. This kit has the most fantastic real items, that you can do recipes, pizza fun nights, trips to Italy or just an evening at Olive Garden...bhahahaha
I have to admit, I had a hankering for a meatball sandwich by the time I finished playing with the kit! I hope you love it enough to go and get this kit!

Now, if you have an inkling of Paula's generosity, you know she is going to have a sale. Check this out:

Just click on the ad and it will bring you right to Paula @ SBG!!

Join me over at TDC and Get It Scrapped!!

2011-08-26T06:45:00.000-07:00

This weekend we will be scrapping along with all the Boutique Collabs that have been released this year. Each challenge will feature a kit and will be based on a theme having to do with that kit. We hope you enjoy using these fantastic kits to make some beautiful pages for your albums--because that's what this weekend is all about: Getting it Scrapped!

Now, if you check out the Boutique Collabs section of the store, you'll notice that all the collabs from this year are currently 50% off! That's because we wanted to make things easy on you, if you didn't already own one of these kits--you can pick one up at a significant discount!

If you scrap along with all eight challenges this weekend and you use each particular collab for each particular challenge (and meet any other requirements for that challenge as well) and you upload your layout and post your links before midnight (EST) on Monday, August 29th, then you will be entered into our Grand Prize drawing for:

A $20.00 Gift Certificate to the shop;
Each of the Four Boutique Collabs for the remainder of this year (Sept., Oct., Nov. and Dec.) for free in advance of their release date (a $30.00 value);
And a Gift Certificate for $20.00 to Shutterfly!

All scrappers who have met all the requirements for this weekend's challenges will be entered to win in a random drawing. The winner will be selected and announced Tuesday evening (08/30/11).

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY: If you do not currently own all of the Boutique Collabs and you would like to scrap along with our eight challenges using other products from Digichick, you will still be eligible for the Shutterfly drawing.

You must meet all other requirements for the challenge and post your links before the deadline. Items used must be still available for sale in the shop (meaning you cannot use items from a designer who left our store three years ago, even if you purchased the item here--it must be currently available at the Digichick for you to be eligible for the drawing). You must use 100% TDC goodies on your layouts to be eligible to win.

And if you just love a good challenge and want to play along for the fun of it, you've come to the right place! Feel free to do that as well!

We hope you enjoy this weekend full of scrapping!

Creshens, Paula and Cat Scrap has birthday...lovely!!

2011-08-22T13:25:00.000-07:00

I am on Miss Paula Kesselrings team, and she came out with this mega huge explosion of color....(put your sunglasses on bright) kit called Party Time! It has 25 papers and 171 elements!!!!! and an alpha!! Whew! that is bright? I could not get over all the fun things inside this kit!

You would be happy with it. I told Paula and the ladies on the team, this is the ONLY kit you will ever need for a party.

I used it to make a page for a surprise party that was done for our children. It was going away party for them as we left California. I love the looks on the their faces!

I have been bopping around the Catscrap forums, to be an involved CT member for Paula, and playing games here and there, and I got RAKED by Creshens! I was so excited!! She gave me one of her kits and the Collab for the month called Milestone! I was able to play for one of their challenges and do another page on my list for Yuba City. This one is us crossing off things we wanted to do before leaving. The walk across both bridges.

Then I used some more of Creshen's Torn Bits. These are by far my favorite type frames for that change it up kinda page! I had read the DigiDare for the week and was determined to get 'er done! I took lots of pics Saturday morning, and then I used the Milestone kit again along with Lisa Sisneros font called Dear Mom, I like the font, cause it really looks like my handwriting! I got a way cool coupon from the interview of Lisa on The Digi Dare site too! So I was able to pick up this cool Art Junk brush alpha, I have been really loving the look of brushes as alphas lately too! I had fun, and did so many layers I had to stop! haha:

That's it for Catscrap fun, tomorrow some Pickle Berry Pop adventure!

The Digi Chick brings the mojo!

2011-08-21T15:58:00.001-07:00

I have been busy busy with all the fun new releases over at the Digi Chick! I mean these gals are going all out to keep me hopping!
Last week, Etc by Danyale had the coolest mini kit, called Handle Bar-bershop The kit is sweet and had these little mustaches, that I loved!
My hubby has had for the past 22 years a mustache, and a few months ago, he shaved it off. No noticed, nothing! We all loved it. It is so strange now to see photos with hair on his lip! ha ha,
So here is the page:

Next up, my addiction is coffee, I know it, it isn't a problem. REally, it isn't. Hey, now back off, did you hear me? I said IT ISN"T A PROBLEM!!! okay? bhahahhaa
My friend Julie (itis) of the Sherwood Studio Designs did this kit...Coffee Time. Yeah, she went there. So I had to get it, and play. But I needed coffee and I wanted carbs! We went up the mountain, and there we saw the most glorious place: Cinnabon {insert angels singing and harps}! Yeah, it is that good! So I took the Coffee Time
bundle cause you never know whose coffee might be your next cup and then some fun photos of my carb binge and laughed as I made a page for Julie to sell enough kits to keep her in supply of fresh ground stuff!

That's the Digi Chicks new releases for last week, I will do some pages tomorrow from Catscrap and mixed in with Tangie goodness!

Street Children of Nepal

2011-08-11T14:51:00.000-07:00

Viva Artistry created this kit; Katmandu Love Charity

to benefit the street children of Nepal/Tibet via SEWA, a foundation of volunteers who bring assistance to Nepal. The Vi part of The ViVas (Vivienne) former neighbor is an amazing man named Harry who helps those in need in whatever way he can. He takes handicapped people on unique tours of Nepal and Tibet, he helps an orpanage in Katmandu with support for daily supplies. He even helped to develop a hotel in the area which can handle handicapped people (http://www.kathmandu-sightseeing.com/). He told Vi once of a blind man he guided throughout the region and how he had to explain the views and sights. Harry gave Vi many of the images that we used in this kit. All proceeds will go to SEWA (http://sewaconnected.org/). Check their site to see what they are doing.

I made this page for the ViVa's after downloading the kit, and then going and researching the abuse of the street children in Nepal. I was blown away, it hurt my heart as a mom to adopted children out of foster care, I know abuse first hand, but their is not much hope for these children, and that is sad.

2011-08-08T10:25:00.000-07:00

Please join me ....

FIRST Journaling challenge at The Digi Chicks!
well my first one hosting...shhh, but it goes with my theme!

I am hoping to really stir you to pick up that pen and paper,

or stare at those letters on your keyboard and start clicking.

FIRST!
1st

What comes immediately to your mind??? I went and found some images from my dear friend Google! These are just to stir you, not set in stone. You can see the picture of the chicken and the egg? Which came first? I was thinking in scrap pages, sometimes we put the picture first, over the journaling. ! Sometimes words are the hardest on a page, so I am gonna ask you to try something this month a bit different.

Let’s do the journaling first.

Don’t worry about a photo, just get those words out. There is not a minimum or a maximum, they are YOUR words.

Make a text box and just start writing.

Here are a few opening lines you can choose from if you wish:

I remember the first time I …………………………………
The first day …..
My first paycheck…..
The first move was…
Our first house…..
First off, …….

It does NOT have to be about you, it can be about someone else also. But let’s try and get that word first into your journaling and try to do that first!

You can then play and add elements at will, if you have a picture or more to add, please do so!!
If you are a template addict, try and add that journaling box prior to gathering your fun things.

Here is my example to show you what came first in my head:

I played with Wendy Page's Summer Funk

Please if you have any questions, leave them on the forum thread and I will answer to the best of my ability!! I am really excited and so hope you play with me!

True Love Waits

2011-08-05T07:11:00.000-07:00

I opened this kit; Love in the Park by eNKay Designs and just pondered. Nathalie is a new to me designer and I love the crispness and bright feel to her designs.
There were a few elements I knew without a doubt I was going to use, the clouds and the remarkable word art in the ink splots. I love the backwards LOVE and the feel to it. I doodled and played and really planned on putting a photo in her gorgeous red frame, but I needed something...and the phrase true love waits popped in my head. This is a commitment of purity til marriage, that I believe will bless marriages and others. The media and others tell us to go for it. I know different. I have seen the ravaged emotional lives of those that didn't wait. I know this is just a page on a scrapbook blog, but it is a truth that I hope others will grab.

~never lose your joy!

Zero Rules in Art Journaling! and blantant beg to Holliewood Studios!

2011-08-04T16:50:00.000-07:00

First the announcement!!!

Paula Kesselring asked me to be on her team!! I have spent most of my allowance on her designs and now I get them for FREE! I said YES, oh YES, then made a page immediately! hahah
You know I was wanting it to be like a butt kicker of a page, the first impressions and all! oh I saw
Paula's wicked cool Summer Beach,
and it has all the fun things you would expect in a beach kit, but it has the best Beach Babe! I feel in love with her, as we have the same girlish figure, so here she is in all her glory:

Doesn't that make you just giggle?
Then the DigiDare Devilish Diva's threw down this gauntlet for the Dare this week! I saw some fun things in Paula's store over at Catscrap! Just go through the store and grab!!I also used some of my stash from the wickedly talented Holliewood Studios, whom I pay for kits, unless she finds it in her heart to have me as a CT one day! hint hint!! See, lookie, I even linked to you HOllie, you need me!!

So go laugh, create and get out of the box!

Back to School! Pencils, paper and LOCKS???

2011-08-01T07:52:00.000-07:00

Oh boy, school supplies! I finally have enough glue and crayons from deals over the past few years of hoarding, and now my kids are in Mid and High School, and don't need them! They need LOCKS? ha ha, I don't know why this makes me laugh, but it does, and since my shopping cart is filled with notebooks and folders I need to laugh. So when The Digi Chicks showed their new collab for August; A is for Apple,
I knew how I could get this memory down for our 2011 book:

I set to playing with all the goodies, and had a down right blast doing so! Here is the beginning of our back to school memories for 2011/12 School Year!

Awww...life has a way of leveling off..

2011-07-30T20:51:00.000-07:00

Insane changes and rearrangings in my real life and digi commitments, but they are all leveling out, and I wanted to do a bit of show off on some of the pages I have been making:
I loved this photo of Gman at the Bodega Bay part of UofC, when Tangie and her Momma Rebecca came out with Steampunk Maritime...oh my, I got my cluster skills out!

I got to playing with this kit and I have a saying, that my Pastor told me long ago, Never Lose Your Joy, this is a bit of switch on the saying, I was feeling a bit like shark bait, when I made this, and laughing is always a good cure for me!

We as a family are re-entering the adoption process, and the is a huge step. One of the things you do, is to make a life book for the children to look at before they meet us. I am on a creative team for the ViVa's and you have to realize, they are not just designers, this team is tight, and it is full of emotions and support! I saw the kit Sweet Song come out, and knew this is the kit I will be using for my book...now I have to get them to do more!

These next ones, are from the way back machine....the designs fit the photo, and I wanted to complete the memory and it worked! Now Tangie has this kit called As If By Magic and there is so much in the kit, I used just a few items, but it was perfect for this memory of our first Christmas tree ( a live one, we cut down in the forest):

Whew, almost up to date!! I am on the site team for The Digi Chicks, so the abundance of designers each week to choose from is beyond wow! I had really been so out of it, and Nicole and the ladies were so patient with me, while the settling in process from the move worked its way out. Then these three ladies with the biggest names in digital history did a collab called Sew Cute by Sugarplum Paperie, Danielle Engebretson Designs and Mari Koegelenberg Creations. (geez, I think I used all the alphabet). I have been sewing lately, but just curtains, so I started going through old pics, and oh, my little Anna, how tiny she is in these photos:

The font on this is by Domesticated Lady, and called Little Dude! Don't cha love it??? It's over at the DigiChick too!
There all caught up on blogger.....but, I did two layouts today! Pop over on Friday to see them!

Scrapping for the pure fun of it!

2011-06-16T20:15:00.000-07:00

I am on a site Creative Team for The Digi Chicks and Mscraps, and I enjoy different designers to choose from to make my pages.
First up, from The Digi Chick, Quirky Twerps newest addition to the "The Chick Fix" Adventurous kit help me put together a page of my oldest out exploring in California!

Then I move on to Mscraps, and I for some reason went nuts in their new releases, which I kick myself for come upload time, but I did get them all uploaded and linked! ha ha
The first one is just pure fun, I was playing with these wicked cool new templates called Free Way by Cintia Tavares and HeatherT's summer fun kit, Sandy Toes

There is a collab by the designer formally known as Polly and Rufus but is now SophieLovesDesign along with Joyce Paul called Tijuana Sunrise: I just played and played while looking at these photos of my goofy girls:

My friend and a woman whose pages and designs are just wowza, Heather T had a few really cool frame bits and I was able to use them and a kit I had one a few months back, that I have no idea what the name of the kit means...lol Petite Bergere.
I love this picture, because I am so safe with Tony, I know he loves me and covers me with his prayers, love and support, and he always laughs at my jokes!

Last is a page about Tony, I love this picture, you can see how strong he is and just how much I really love him! I used QoH's template called I am getting paper and the June collab from Mscraps.

That is all I have for now, I am pretty buzzed, my house is almost all unpacked! My hubby bought me a new desk today, and I feel rather smart and business like!

Back in the saddle!

2011-06-10T16:13:00.000-07:00

Almost 14 days without even opening CS. Moving took it all out of me. Hubby got my puter all set up, the internet man came and hooked me up. I didn't even want to open it. I had no desire. My camera sat looking at me mockingly. Then came the Tangie machine! That woman, seriously I wish I could bottle her up. She can motivate me like no one else.
The Art Journal Caravan had this coolest Adventure Quest this month, a scavenger hunt. It had me rolling and laughing, sorting through my stash and wanting to play. Now you can laugh if you want to, because I laughed making it, here is my first page back from the abyss of non creating:

I also want to tell you that Tangie (in her spare time) figured out WordPress and made the most beautiful new website. Please pop over and re-sign up for RSS feed or just go everyday and enjoy!

On a bit of a Sabatical!

2011-05-15T10:33:00.000-07:00

Hey all! My family and I are moving from California to New Mexico, so my scrap blog is gonna be a bit slow until we get in and back on grid the first week of June! I leave with a layout I did with Tangie Baxter's newest kit; A Door Just Opened. It is a remarkable kit:

I have to admit, I opened the kit, and looked through the elements and cried. There is a quote in there, by Helen Keller, that I used on my layout, that I had been given by a sweet young woman who is also a Pastor's wife, and the quote touched me so much in her letter, and then to see it in the kit a few days later was pure providence.
My family is going through this open door and having to close others, so here we are mere silhouettes on the page, but we are together in it and that is the most important part. I hope you enjoy this layout, I was honored to be selected on the GSO FingerPointing thread with it also:

Be back in June with lots of pictures to scrap and memories to hold on too!

Got some sales to tell you about!!!

2011-05-05T21:54:00.000-07:00

I am on a bit of a sabatical from digi-scrapping while we pack, house hunt, finish home school for the year and go and see every historical place or place of significance in California! But this is the weekend to save big huge stacks of money! I want to tell you about some of the deals of the ladies I am honored to work with:

First off, none other than The Tangie!

along with her mom, Studio Rebecca! Now hey that is a pretty good combo!

Then the dynamic duo of The Viva Artistry is also having a 30% sale:

Now you might be able to find more of a discount if you pop over to the Viva's blog! And if it is CU you are looking for, The ViVa's have some fine things to pick up:

There is all kinds of fun to be had this weekend, and my friend Chengie (Studio 68) over at Zig Zag Scraps is joining with the designers there for the BIGGEST sale in the history of Zig Zag Scrap!

All products will be 50% off on Saturday May 7 and 35% off on Sunday May 8th

This is a perfect time to try Studio 68's designs. Because they are funky and fun! The add-on to Chatter box is out and it is so cute!!

There is a ton of fun and savings to be had this weekend!

Use your paypal wisely and scrap safe!!!

FREE QP on the Blog HOP-with Studio 68 Now open @ ZiG ZaG Scraps!

2011-04-22T22:16:00.000-07:00

My very dear friend Chengie, who is just too cute for words and one of the most original artists in both photography and her scrapping skills I have ever met. She has become a friend that I can giggle with long into the night over IM, and we talked once on the phone. Beyond fun!
Chengie lives in South America! That alone is so cool to me, in a small country, that I had to go and read Wikipedia to know where it was at and learn about this country. Suriname.
Chengie has been giving away freebies, desk tops and more on her fantabulous blog, 68 ways to express yourself for quite awhile! She had a few freebie kits here and there, that I enjoyed too. I highly recommend going to her site and signing up to receive her newsletter for special things!
Last month, Studio 68 quietly opened a store at DigiScrap.nl , this was just the beginning!
Today Studio 68 opens at Zig Zag Scraps! To celebrate her team has made a whole bunch of QPs to give away. All made from this fabulous new kit Chatterbox:

Here is a preview of my QP for you:

>>>>>>>>>>>DOWNLOAD LINK<<<<<<<<<<

FOR A LIMITED TIME,
get the Kickstarters 5 for FREE
(Offer ends Monday April 25th)

I played with Chengie's templates along with Chatterbox, and here is my layout:

and one more

Next stop:

Renate aka joshgirl for a gorgeous quick page!
Enjoy and go browse Studio 68, pick up a few things and enjoy!

Enjoy your hop!

Happy Earf Day!

2011-04-22T07:21:00.000-07:00

I admit, I do love living on the ol' Terra fir-ma, especially in California! tee hee! Sometimes though, the terra isn't so firma here! But I am already off track. Back to showing you what you NEED to buy! It is a whole lot, so you might want to pad your paypal! First off, my love for The ViVa Artistry must be so blatant! They have a kit Terra, just perfect for those natural feel layouts.

I can't get over the textures these woman put on their papers, and their elements just jump on a page and behave. I extracted a lady from my stash of old pictures, (thank you Alexis) and was pretty happy with the results:

I also used Studio Tangie's fonts(SBG) and Paula Kesselring's(Catscrap) burn effect.

Next up, I knew the pics were not all that great, but Tony had got a giggle from something on the computer, he was laughing so hard, and my camera was right there, I started snapping shot after shot! Wishing Well Creations has this huge Starter Pack for Project 365, and I kept seeing everyday in my head, with the days, so I used her kit for a regular layout:

This next one is made from a collab between two ladies, that each week, I come to love more and more. I love being on the site CT for The Digi Chicks! The back room shenanigans are hilarious, and put Leah (Mommyish) anywhere and you are sure to have laughter. Amanda tormented the CT, telling of her kit before we could get it, and Leah dropped a picnic basket element on the post, I was hooked, I knew the story I needed to tell, before the kit was even shown! Amanda Heimann and Mommyish collab called Pretty Picnic:

I had already scrapped the walk across the Golden Gate, but our ghetto picnic in the parking lot had yet to be documented. This was perfect:

Finally, I guess a good closing for an Earf Day post, a new to me designer. Seven Days Designs has this adorable kit called Little Gardener. I have to say, I spent a long time, making sure everything was just right for this layout, it was so fun to rearrange. The colors play well, with so many outdoor photo ideas.

This photo wasn't a good one, so I played with it, changing the levels,and running a few different actions on it, til I got the colors and feel, then cropped it hard! I love the final results, and how they are part of the cluster and the ripped paper, oh I was feeling too inspired having the grass grow up through it!

That's all for today, so go over to The Digi Chick, all this stuff is on sale for just a little bit...get it now while it is less money, then you can buy more? Isn't that cool how that works? Go, on, click HERE~

I love it when it all comes together!!!

2011-04-20T09:51:00.000-07:00

I opened a new 12x12 and three pics
1. Raining like mad, headed out on vacation
2. that is the tow truck driver hooking up our broke down van
3. In rental car, same storm still unleashing gushers of rain!
This is something that needs to be scrapped and I wanted it to be grungy and crazy, so I opened up my
The ViVa Artistry file (which is in my The Digi Chicks folder) and found some cool things to toss on the page:
Otaku-I have it named Magma, bha ha ha, it is a Japanese cartoon kinda wild kit, that is so grungy it is perfect for most everything

Industry collab with Studio Gypsy-oh sad day that Miss Lisa retired, but oh I have this kit full of metal pipes and faucets and other wonderful things, and you can still get this at the Digi Chick! woot

Contemplations-this is a go to kit of the ViVa's and I think eep it may be retired...but I have it...hee hee
Okay I went and begged the ViVa's to make something that was in my head, but they laughed at me, and I was okay with that, cause I luvs them and know that the next thing that they make I will love it!
So now I am forced to search my stash of things, and things can always, always, always be found in the Thing Finder by the great Hollie of Holliewood Studios:

It is very, very hard for me to do a page without using my boss and buddy's designs, Tangie Baxter. Now I have almost everything this woman has ever put out, but I adore her Tempest tossed and the clouds are by far the most majestic. I did not use the lightning in this kit, but for the record, it is fantastic!

I think if I got rid of all the fonts on my machine, I could seriously live with just the ones from Tangie's Foundry! I used DoDo and Frogfoot from Tangie and then on the pipe, I used 1942 Report (a freebie everywhere):
So after a few hours of rearranging, blending and laughing at the day, I was happy with the layout, are you ready??

journaling:
The rain was crazy,
and we were in a flood watch warning, on our way to San Jose. The van chunged and made the noise we have come to recognise as
BAD!
Tow truck called, back to town, rental car, van at mechanics and back on the road, laughing and rolling with the punches.

I hope you enjoyed my little blurb about the page and go have fun, make a page that is fun for you, pull out things in your stash and laugh while scrapping!

Making pages! Now you have to go buy the kits...see how this works??

2011-04-17T16:23:00.000-07:00

My The Digi Chicks is still just as fun. Who know that a site CT gig could be so much fun? Well, obviously a whole bunch of you do and did cause you are on them, but I didn't and know I do, and it is so cool to pick a new designer and create a fun and completely different layout. I had 3 days of mojo soaking, and it was perfectly lovely.
Open a canvas and bam, pages are made, smiles and happy.
Started with this one of Mr. E and myself many years ago, this is a page, that will be printed in a miscellaneous book, and I can hear him laughing at Mr. Roboto.

credits

This one started out as a template and I flipped it. Fiddle dee dee (cheryl of the gonewiththewind) Designs, she is one remarkable scrapper, and it was fun to use her templates, they are really good.
Here is the chick in it's new prison, I mean home.

full credits
This one is my hubby, who when we are on road trips, takes pictures of himself with the most hilarious faces! I used the same kit as the above layout and that is always a good sign for a kit, when you can do lots of pages! I also used a template by Studio 68! That is my friend Chengie, and she is very good at what she does!! Go to her store and buy everything now.

credits

This is another template by Studio 68 and a kit by Mye De Leon who is very sweet! Mye is at The Digi Chick and it is cool, cause long ago she asked me to be on her team. I politely declined, but I loved working with her kit. She is good! So now I get to work with them and her so it all worked out nice.
These are a couple girls at church that I love and they are a pair!

credits

Being on The Digi Chick CT team is pure fun and from it I scored a fabulous team with ViVa ARtistry, I seriously think they are one of the best designers on the up and coming. You watch them, their work is tight and beautiful. I love to work with the textures they make. I can not wait to get the pages I have made printed. This was done as a kind of shocker, and I admit, I had to giggle when I got a comment at DST, that I looked real good. tee hee...

credits

This next one is not a CT layout, it is one I have been working on for a few months, my boys playing risk, I used so many different kits, and even gasp bought a few! lol

credits

Tangie guesting at the Orchard!

2011-04-11T18:44:00.000-07:00

I am totally into art journaling, and Tangie Baxter has a new Anthology available at the Orchard right now:

I wanted to play with the Altered ARTspiration challenge at SBG, and figured, do the quote and pop this in over at Scrap Orchard, and see how the peeps there react to art journaling? tee hee

2011-04-11T18:37:00.001-07:00

I admit, I scrap for the pure sake of scrapping, I love to make pretty pages, I love to make pages for designers, and am really touched to make pages for some remarkable ladies!
Last week, I started my first week, being a CT for ViVa Artistry, this is two ladies, Vivienne and Vanessa, that combined, ewwwwwwwwww girl, the talent and wonder that is made. I admit I had been stalking the ViVa ladies, and didn't see them have calls, so was quite happy being accepted to be a permanent CT with the awesome Digi Chicks. Then there was a call for ViVa, I couldn't even apply, I was not wanting a reject letter! Yeah, I get them and man, they are just a rip to the pride (probably a good thing for me). They asked me!!! Oh I was toooooooooooo happy. So, I had downloaded the fun kit: Spring Love when it was free over at 5stars, but I need that CT deadline to actually scrap, it is just how I scrap!

I wanted to do something completely different, and I feel that I have that freedom with ViVa, so I did some blending and clipped to elements in the add-on:

I took a picture of the first robin, and this is just the beginning of beautiful days of Spring in California:

For some reason, blogger is fighting me. I will be back with more later!

Land Sakes, but I have been MOJO overdose!

2011-03-31T06:05:00.000-07:00

If for the past week you have been staring at a blank screen and can't find the mojo to make a layout, let me tell you, I stole it all! I went on a binge! I mean binge of a ton of layouts! Please realize, I scrap like a video game! I do it for the pure joy! I love the feeling of accomplishment, and to make a page I go, oh yeah, that was fun! I don't print every page, I do most of them, but some are purely for the designer who graciously allow me to have the kits free in return for a layout they can use to promote their designs. It is a win-win situation, because I find I do not make ANY pages without that release deadline! Crazy I know, but uhm it works for me!

First off, my last week of the fun and hilarious guest spot from The Digi Chicks:

a huge welcome to Danyale to The Digi Chick!

I loved playing with her kit, and this pic of my Abby just flew together!

The kit is called
Childhood Magic by Etc by Danyale and it is delightful!

This is just a taste, there is so much more to the kit!

Next I did two months worth of pictures. This I hope, fingers crossed and all, I do every month, and will print in one book! Kinda cool!
Another new designer Wishing Well Creations-P365: Monthly Templates

I was able to do January and February! I like it, cause well, I am a spaz, and to leave some of the dates open, cause well, DUH, I didn't take any pictures those days. The guilt of the Pic a Day for a Year was over the top! These helped! ha ha

The wickedly wild embroidery is from the ViVa Artistry, an element pack called Bloomin'
and it is Bloomin' fantastic!

February 2011:

I am starting to see a pattern in my ViVa addiction, I dug through my ViVa Artistry stash and used Silk Road and a retired kit I snagged up a few months back Contemplations! oh my, am beyond excited to be a part of their CT! This is gonna save me a whole lot of money!
Back to Wishing Well Creations, she has these adorable kits for Boys and Girls. I'm telling you, get the bundle!! You will love it!

I did a boy and girl layout!

Then I sat down with all the craziness of Vegas coming to do a few layouts for my friend and boss Tangie Baxter! I love working for Tangie, as I make layouts just because it is fun, and she lets me!
I am also on her sister Molly's team, and they have the most remarkable collab out today:

Silhouette {Collab W/ DeCrow Designs}

I am a collector of silhouettes, I love them made of wood and painted black! This kit has things that are so outrageously wonderful, and my team mates did some wonderful layouts, I had to go for humor:

Tangie will be guesting over at the Scrap Orchard for April, and has these delightful little mini kit: Stacy Jane

I used one of Gone with the Wind (aka Cheryl) templates, she sells as Fiddle Dee Dee Designs at The Digi Chick also, and I got the template free from I think the artisan? Pencil Sketch, oh dear forgive me Cheryl.

Whew I really was moving and grooving. But I had one more to complete, I really wanted to use the new font that Tangie released: Jabberwock:

.........and play with the fun tutorial she has made. I had missed her last release due to being out of town:

Layla in La La Land{Collab with Rebecca McMeen}

So, I played with the font (along with a few more of Tangie's and some of her older releases) and had a blast making this quirky little gem:

I think that is it!!

NO, wait I did an April Desk Top!

You can download it for free at The Creative Team Loft blog!

ps sorry for all the caps? can not figure it out?

I took the DARE! What about YOU??

2011-03-20T14:21:00.000-07:00

The Digi Dares are a group of scrappers with some fun and challenging scrap pages. I mean they have some obscure and wild ideas for making pages, and some pretty good prizes too! I have met some wonderful ladies over at the Digi Chicks, and one is HeatherB. I stalk her. I think I stalk a lot of people. I think I have major attachment issues. Like I latch onto you and you can't shake me.
Oh, oh, oh, back to the Dare! I had to find a picture that is not good, and only use that picture! Then add a speech bubble and use the colors of the rainbow!
I admit, my rainbow is rather muted (the colors) but I have a good excuse, you see it has been raining here for over a week. That is my reason, and I wanted to use ViVa Artistry's mini kit; Silk Road:

from over at The Digi Chick, to go with the photo, since it was taken at Panda Express. You can see Anna's thoroughly disgusted face at her brother as he is inhaling his chow mien!

Chengie is LIVE and designing for realS!

2011-03-17T20:10:00.000-07:00

In a dark chat room a year ago, I met a group of hilarious ladies. Kate, the ring leader and so many other people that over the past year have really been instrumental in molding my life in the digital realm. One of the ladies, is Chengie. I have grown to love this lady so much. She is like many other digital scrappers, part vampire, so she doesn't sleep, so many hours on IM, giggling while we scrap and surf the net about digital. Chengie is a sensational scrapper, she has won major competitions for best layouts, and has an eye for color, balance and the obscure. She has been giving away little kits and templates for a while. An opportunity for a store opened, and
Chengie is now officially selling at DigiScrap as Studio 68.

I was able to play with one of her templates In Circles 2. This is free on her blog.

and the newest release from DeCrow Designs; a collab with Laura Banasiak called Garden Whimsy.

I added some pictures of my beautiful girls with a bit of actions from the Pioneer Woman,

and this was the final results:

Busy in the DigiWorld

2011-03-17T07:21:00.000-07:00

I did my first real tutorial! I giggle and am kept humble because I am teaching how to make your own bowl of rocks. Let me set the scene:

Glasses clinking, mummer of voices low, and an occasional guffaw. Our camera pans on AnneofAlamo and some well established business woman and man.

"So, Anne, what do you.....well, do? Do? As a career, outside of educate your children at home?"

ME: Well, in my spare time, I tell people how to put rocks in a bowl!

har de har har!

But I did, and I do! I loved it and Tangie Baxter even made me some 100% original rocks for you to use in your own bowl. Just pop over to the AJC Blog for the FREE tutorial and the FREE rocks!

Now I am really laughing, as this week at the Digi Chick, I was only able to do one layout for the precious designers over there. It was for my dear friend Julie. It is. of Sherwood Studios.

Julie has a gorgeous collab out this week, with Kimeric Kreations called Wish Big.

I was bummed not to have more time, because one of the NEW designers for The Digi Chicks had lots of her things available to scrap with also. Amanda Heimann! I love her work, and she is just beyond sweet!

Fun over at the DigiChick!

2011-03-10T08:00:00.000-08:00

I have been laughing so hard in the forums of the Digi Chick! There are some hilariously funny people there, not to mention some very talented designers. Somehow, I snuck in for a guest appearance as a Creative Team Member for their site. I am sure the powers that be are confused and bamboozled how I showed up in their backroom.

Now there new releases this week, are wowza woo woo wonderful. I was able to work with 3 different designers and make 4 layouts in a few short days! Yes, I thrive on deadlines, and love the smell of a freshly opened kit. Strange, I know, but hey, it's true, and now the designs are in the shop of The Digi Chick and you can go play!! Wait, don't go yet, I haven't shown you what I did with the designs.

First off, oh my, Karen Lewis has a Forever Family Pack. I almost cried! As you know we are a family through foster and I can not get enough of this genre of designs.

A dear lady named Liza in my home church took this picture of my kids, it is the first picture of them laughing all together. I was excited to scrap this photo:

Then, okay, no secret, I love the duo of ViVa Artistry. I do, I get a smile at each of their kits, and have bought a few of them. I secretly want to go and download every one of their kits and run away into the sunset, but I have so far contained myself.

Fabricology. This is the kit:

I saw it and I am not joking, a layout popped in my head! I pulled out the elements, and started cutting, clipping, blending and rearranging and out came this altered wonder:

Now, I was hesitant to post in the CT thread, thinking I would be run out of the back room and slapped around silly. NO, NO, NO Anne, that is altered, go back to your hole.

But, they were so sweet and kind, and loved altered! I was relieved, because sometimes an altered piece has to be made before you are allowed to go on and create anything else. I think it is a law of creativity, but refused to look it up in case I am wrong. I wanted to make a layout of regular scrapability for this kit, so I did this one:

I am feeling rather sentimental, as Hubby and I just passed 21 years married and love to look at my young un aged nor wrinkled hands from my wedding pics! h aha ha
Remember I said 3 designers? That was just 2, the next one is new to me, and her kit was so full of things to choose from, I think I put the whole kit on my page and made it all fit! Elise's Pieces Designs, and the kit; A Stitch in Time.

I played with some photo's using Pioneer Womans FREE actions! I love them, because at the bottom is a start over button! ha ha...I got the effect I was after, to go with Elise's beautiful kit, and giggled at my children, trying to capture a mole with a string, the red string:

The Digi Chick is a great store and the forum is active and they all laugh at my jokes! Stop by and say hi, or better yet, go to the store and buy things!

Creative Team Addict

2011-03-03T07:34:00.000-08:00

I love making scrapbook pages, just to stay busy, and it is to me, like rearranging furniture(which I love to do), but waaaaaay easier! I gave up most of my creative teams, and have been buying (gasp) all my kits. This is a good thing, as I am forced to make pages I want to print when I buy them.
But I am very active in scrapping, I need to have fun scrap time, where I just rearrange and make a page that is fun and challenging still. I neeeeeeeeeeeeed that deadline!
I applied for the March Guest for a store CT for the Digichick. I got it! Woot! I have never done a store CT before. I love it! I love their "system" and the kindness each person shows. It really is one of the most relaxed, yet professional places I have CT'd. I had a blast during the wild and crazy create time this week. I made three layouts.

First is for my dear friend JulieitIS, now known as Sherwood Studios, and her newest At the Pub:

I was all full jof mojo, so I then picked up the DigiChicks Collab called All About Me and Three Sweet Chicks Template collection Chicklet Journaling Vol 1.

Now I got crazy and laughing about fun things, and photos from a fun evening:

I love the colors and flowers in the is Boutique Collab! I used another one of 3 Sweet Chicks templates that comes with the collab and the collab again, for a Me in 3 layout. I enjoyed playing around with the photo of me, and cropping it and putting some Pioneer Woman action on it!

I'm still busy doing things behind the scenes for Tangie Baxter and she has a beautiful collab coming out tomorrow (or for those late nite owls, you might see it then)

Playing with Art Journaling and Laughing!

2011-02-26T17:19:00.000-08:00

Tangie Baxter is having a class a LIVE class in Las Vegas next month (Click here for more info), and it is sponsored by Scrap Orchard. Now, the befuddled looks Scrap Orchard and Tangie Baxter's Altered Art Journal?? How in the world did this happen? I have no idea, but Tangie challenged her team along with some coupons from some very generous designers over at Scrap Orchard to make Art Journal pages.
I love a challenge and this was beyond fun!
I had been staring at Spun Monkeys pages in the Art Journal, with journaling lines and I wanted to give it a whirl;

I laughed and laughed making the Pizza Art Journal, but had even more fun with my orange cat:

and I still wasn't done, I had seen a faucet from one of the kits, and was bound and determined to get it on a page:

Testing and Learning more and more...and FREE alpha LINK!

2011-02-18T18:46:00.000-08:00

My brain is growing! I love to learn! I mean I seriously love to learn. This past week, my brain has been pushed to the maximum. I had a free evening, and thought I would try something new! I am very, very honored to be an action/script tester for Studio Wendy. Now, I am not a designer, nor do I want to be, so my testing is more scrapping regular things. I can do the things a regular scrapper would want for their stash of "Let's make this easier"
I have gotten to make stickers, add pics to quick pages, made flairs and buttons, and even done a few sharpen images for Face book uploads. It is always fun to work with Wendy. She is very patient and wants the product to be perfect before it hits the store.
Now that I have the big dog, CS5, I get to go through her store and see what items don't have the CS5 approval on them and give them a whirl.
I have a dear friend and very talented scrapper, who is going to be one awesome designer. She gives away templates, and alphas on her blog, 68 ways to express yourself. Chengie is in a country that the internet is not the fastest on the planet, so her darling alphas are on a sheet. This is the one she has free right now:

I love it. I thought, hey I will try the Alpha Cutter/Saver that Studio Wendy has in her store:

I admit, I had to read the tutorial twice, and was reading it real slow and outloud! My family look at me and shake their heads. "Mom? You okay? "
"Yes, I am learning, and I have to read it and hear it and say it to really get it! " I answer.
Well, I got it. I learned how to install scripts, record actions and cut up my fun and beautiful alpha made by Chengie! It is all saved now and looking lovely in her folder.
I really think everyone should have this, just for the fun and wonder of what designers go through to make just an alpha for you! It isn't all fluff and stuff! They put a whole lot of time in to designing each item.
So go get Chengie's wonderful alpha and don't forget to say thank you. Watch this lady, she is gonna be a star!!!

Life is full of Blessings!

2011-02-15T08:37:00.000-08:00

I get to play with Wendy of Studio Wendy over at ScrapBookGraphics! Wendy is famous for her actions, and awesome sweetness. I am not a designer, nor do I play one at any store, but I love to learn things. So when Wendy had a call, I sent her a letter, telling her I was a goober, not a designer, but I could try things for her. She already knew I was a goober and she let me on her team anyway!!?? This team is completely different from any other team I have EVER been on. Everyone is testing in their particular program and trying it out how it would work for them, and providing feedback, good, bad and ugly, but in a nice way of course.
I received an email notification of a free 20 page 8x8 hard back Shutterfly photo book-HARDCOVER was available in the private forum for Wendy to the first responder. I had lightning under my fingertips, to get there!
Wendy graciously sent me the coupon, and I furiously begin uploading and arranging the pictures in Shutterfly's program. I have used MyPicTales for just pages, not a book, so it is alot different, but has some of the same aspects.

I had a lot of 2010 pics, so I put them chronological, and had some gaps to fill in, so I scrapped a ton that day to get 'er done and uploaded! I was sapped! I luckily had a few that I in my "work in progress" and that helped. I wound up uploading an extra 7 pages to the book. It came in the mail within a week!
I was home by myself, and the postman brought it to the door! I wanted to take a picture of him handing it too me. He is the bomb diddly of a mailman, brought it to the door and is all happy that I am happy. But, alas, I chickened out!!
I took a few pics to show you the finished book. I didn't use a flash, cause I didn't want to get that irritating shine!

This is the cover, I was not real original and although I love this picture, I would rather do something a bit different next time.

I used a whole lot of ScrapBookGraphic designers, here is Dawn Inskips and a double pager! I really liked the look with the coordinating pages.

Bit blurry, sorry, but this page and the kit are special, in Tuesday chat, Maya and her dear hubby Mick (owners of SBG) were in chat, and I won this kit Cosmopolitan from them! I loved that they are hands on owners when they can and just enjoyed the chat. I made this page, smiling about my family playing Yatzee and thinking about Maya and Mick, kinda neat.

When I was on Dawn Inskip's team I requested a farm kit! Some kind of metamorphis was happening to my family, we put in a garden, built and got chickens and I wanted to document it all!! Dawn had a ton of other kits that I used also, but she made an awesome kit, (of course after I had resigned from her team, ha ha, so I had to PAY for it) Farmyard Fun!

These are both from Studio Tangie, my friend and boss! I loved the difference in these pages, and the faces people have when they see my spoon page! ha ha Tangie and her funky fun kits give me altered fun and still able to document Eric and his science experiments!

Just a few mix match pages! I learned more on how to arrange and how to set them up! I only had one page that lost a bit of journaling with the bleed, so I was happy about that. I was rushing to get them all in, and just didn't check as close.

This time last year, my hands would sweat about printing. I am so thankful for ScrapBookGraphics Forum -Completing a Photobook. The knowledge and experience from Karen and Wendy really helped me bring it all together, along with others that were doing their books!

byoc! not byob! explained

2011-02-12T20:10:00.000-08:00

I got a big giggle from the posts from some of the Lily Pad layouts I did. BYOC over at the Lily Pad, confuses some, and I admit I had to ponder it for a bit, and spent money the wrong way when I first popped there.
BYOC is Build Your Own Collab
Each designer is given the color palette and the theme of the collab.
They make mini kits, extra elements, stitching, templates etc that all have the same theme. I fell in love with this month's collab. I bought most of it! I really feel this causes the designers to really step up their quality, as the items I bought were wonderful!!
Then there are challenges, that using the BYOB, you have a chance to win the whole next months BYOB. I loved going thru the different designers styles and mixing and matching.
This is a new thing for me, I had been CTing for designers for so long, I had gotten into the one kit layout. That is really limiting! I am enjoying the designers products and using the kits over and over. I have done 4 or 5 layouts in a week, that I love and plan on printing. That is good. I would love to see other stores try this, as some collabs from stores I feel like I am getting their sloppy seconds, and not their best!

Challenging myself in the DigiWorld!

2011-02-12T17:12:00.000-08:00

The scrap world is it's own little world. There is drama behind things, but I try not to lift those rocks! I enjoy the giggles and fun of making new friends. I spent a few years on creative teams, lots and lots of them. There is something so addictive to getting a kit before anyone else, and opening it and freshly playing with it. I maybe a strange and weird person, okay, I will take the maybe out, I am strange and weird.
I gave up doing the crazy time-frame crunch of being a CT, last June, when I began assisting Tangie Baxter. I have been sooooooooooo busy with her, loving EVERY minute of it, that I kinda stopped doing creative scrapping.

Let me back up. I do few types of digital scrapping, I Art Journal, which is very me orientated, and a bit more searching and frolicking around elements and words. Hee hee, I love that way of describing it, frolic! For instance, I found this quote that goes with Tangie's new kit Happenstance, and spent a few hours frolicking and came up with this:

I like the Art Journaling, because I try new things, like free hand brush strokes around the alpha to give more of hand drawn feel. I cut up papers haphazardly, and stack things in obscure ways. It is fun, pure and simple.
Then I do pages for the family. I don't usually even upload most of these to galleries. They are pure photo's and journaling and a bit of a element flash. I do them for books.

These are chronological, and I try to do at least 2 pages per month for our yearbooks. Sometimes in full months, there are more! I am up to date with our photobooks, and so this year I am going to do quarterly books, and do way more journaling, I pumped my goal to 5 pages a month, to get 20 page books done every 4 months!
Then I do this strange thing, usually when I get a free kit, or answer a one kit call, I go back in the way back machine and scrap a picture from years ago.

I have already scrapped this picture, and will probably never print this one, but I had a blast putting it together. I didn't even save it as a full resolution jpg. I have it as save for web, and in the file that does a slide show on my puter. It is just fluff but fun scrapping.
Then my new favorite, I take a challenge from a forum, right now I am doing most of them at the Lily-Pad, because I like the style of the designers, and am finding myself enjoying templates heavy with journaling.

This is a page that will go in our book, a page I love and adore! I mean I bought the kits, and invested in getting the exact right things to go on this page. I will look at this one and love it years to come! My family will think it is okay, but a page with just pictures will be fine for them!
Do what kind of scrapping do you do?

Been hanging over at the Lily Pad for a bit! Review for ya!

2011-02-06T21:47:00.000-08:00

I was bored and wanted to scrap for just pure fun. I began scouring some of the forums I had not been to and fell into The Lily Pad! What a delight! I mean delightful!! I went to the store and they have this Build Your own Collab BYOC. I loved the colors and began filling my cart.

I didn't do it right, as I went 3 or 4 times, so missed out on their bulk discount, but I will do it next month and it will be great! I had a super great time. I did a template challenge, a scraplift, and one for the big prize for the following months BYOC.

I loved this template and had a stroke of genius to use the photo on the paper strip! I was pretty happy with the end result.

This was a scraplift, and so hard for me not to keep adding things to the page! I loved doing it so minimal! My Anna a few years ago. I have a video I took along with the pics and the words on the page are from the video.

This one is for the big prize, and I can't wait to have it printed! it is so Gman and his tea! oh he does love his tea!
I am not on any of these creative teams, and don't really know anyone there, but it was a great time, they left really nice comments on my pages and were so kind. I even got an email from Sahlin Studios saying thank you for my purchase. I know, I am easy, but I liked that! Fun place!

I have a cold! I am grumpy!

2011-02-03T07:20:00.001-08:00

credits

Art Journal Caravan - A Journey in Discovery: Itinerary UP! Please move forward in a orderly fas...

2011-01-14T08:42:00.000-08:00

Art Journal Caravan - A Journey in Discovery: Itinerary UP! Please move forward in a orderly fas...: "Are you ready for to keep moving on this journey?? I wonder???? I hope your bags are packed and you are ready to go?? The I..."

The One That Stood Out - vision

2011-01-02T22:29:00.000-08:00

The journey of the Art Caravan has begun, and I am just in a complete state of amazement. I can not tell you how much fun it is to just relax and play. This is not memory scrapping, I don't have pics of my kids doing hilarious things, it is pages that make me think, ponder and hold on to those thoughts and preponderates so I can ruminate in them later. Yeah, big words, but this journey makes me think in bigger words, deeper thought. I very much enjoy it.
My opening page to the 2011:

credits in SBG gallery

End of the YeaR-Fun Things!

2010-12-31T11:53:00.000-08:00

As some of youknow this year I fell into a position of being a personal assistant to Tangie Baxter. This is a wild and outrageously fun job to have. If you have ever had an experience of Tangie Baxter you will know the enthusiasm she has for creating and the energy she exudes is beyond belief! I seriously spend most of my time, collecting her thoughts and ideas and organizing so she can draw from them. Tangie is also a big believer in giving things. She has this amazing series of kits called Field Notes, and has done the original and then II and III a fall and winter version.

These are remarkable kits and truly can be used for nature or art journaling (digi style). As a home school mom in the day and digi scrapper at night, having both worlds collide is beyond fun.

I have done layouts of science experiments, layouts of school of my children making their own nature journals and I was able this month to make a desk top! I love it so much, and Tangie has allowed me to make it available FREE to you! Just go to her Team Blog and click the DOWNLOAD LINK! It is made from her newest addition to the Field Notes, number III {Winter}.

The download does not have my schedule on it, but a blank calendar for you to fill in and personalize! I hope you enjoy and I hope this year is filled with joy and new experiences!

sorry for the mess!

2010-12-28T22:49:00.001-08:00

pounding out a new year and new blog design!
header should be up tomorrow!

Altered ARTspirations?

2010-12-05T22:13:00.000-08:00

I seriously have felt like a one-legged man in a butt kicking contest this past few weeks! I am so busy, and loving EVERY minute of it!! I am so enjoying the creative processes of Tangie Baxter! This woman is a machine! I have been watching from the other side as she pours her heart and very being into making the 2010 Art Journal Caravan the best it can be, while.....................
She hammers out how to make it better and more fabulous for the Expedition 2011!
Okay, so that is going on, and it is the beginning of the month, and that means she hosts Altered ARTspiration at Scrap Book Graphics (SBG). She blows the top off in wow for the month!! Gothic Arches {Christmas Style}!!
I love it!! Plus she has these way cool templates that are free here!

As soon as I saw them, I had this thought in my head. I struggle sometimes getting the thought from my noggin to the computer and warped up into match enough that my brain lets go and says okay! I did it today! I spent most of the afternoon listening to football (bad day for it, my team and hubby's got whooped bad), but I had a streak of creativity flowing!! I made this card:

journaling:
As Christmas approaches, I look at the blessings of my life in the creative realm. I am in a place that I couldnever have dreamed to happen. I am helping a woman whom I love her spirit, her creativity and ability to bring out the desire to make dreams of art come true. The whispers of creating become loud.

I used Tangie Baxter's
Alice's Winter Wonderland

Perenial Paperie

Winter Wonderland

She Journals

all available in her studio @ SBG

It Fall and Field Notes are the RAGE

2010-11-12T14:17:00.000-08:00

Tangie did it again!! Field Notes II Fall This is a warm and chocked full of intriguing fall items for notes, pics and just fun!! I loved her original Field Notes, so when she mentioned making this, I could not wait. Finally, it is available to you!! I had to giggle, as we had just started plants in school, in our Biology. I took lots of pictures and was able to complete a page for our homeschool yearbook!

Latest from Tangie!!

2010-10-19T20:01:00.000-07:00

I was playing with Tangie's DiA Los Muertos {dos} two kit about the Day of the Dead had me searching the internet about this celebration. That lead to Dance of Death and the words here are some of the dialogue attached to the victims that Death uses as he summons him to dance.
Just got me creating!! Kinda morbid, not my usual style, but enjoyed playing with shadows!

This is only @ Studio Tangie

Steam Punk really does it for me!

2010-10-02T17:03:00.000-07:00

I am not a collector of little things, I am a minimalist by choice in my life. I don't like to move things to dust, and I like a cleared counter. I especially don't want anything with gears, little extra pieces~unless, it is digital, and then I am like a magnet drawn to the little pieces of metal, gears, screws and other fun things in the steam punk world!
Tangie Baxter and her delightful mom Rebecca McMeen have joined together AGAIN for Steampunk. This time it is called SteamPunk Laboratory!

I opened up and gasped. You see, Eric is my scientist, he loves his experiments, and I love to take pictures of him doing them! I got playing with this huge collection and some Pioneer Woman actions for pictures, and plopped them into some Creshen's photo bits! I was in love with this layout!!

Now, I had closed Photo Shop, went to bed. Midnight, I woke up, my head sweating, arms on fire, and my feet freezing. Oh the joys of changing life!! I knew laying there with a complete hay-wired thermostat was useless. I have slippers under my desk, and a fan that blows on my head. So, I got some ice water, and fired up the computer!
The bottles in this kit along with a conversation that I had in the chat over at SBG Thursday evening were bouncing in my head. I despise taking pills or medication of any kind. I do it when necessary, but it is not done often. Anywhoooo....Rebecca McMeen had this woman in the kit and the coolest circles to put around her eyes, and I was off and running......I drank a ton of water, cooled my head, while keeping my footsie's warm and came up with a altered layout. I uploaded them, and then giggled when I woke up to see I had made GSO at DST!! Thank you dear Mumure!

Mojo Overdrive!!

2010-10-01T09:47:00.000-07:00

I still look at those CT calls, I admit it, I look. There was one last week, for Studio Manu @ SBG. Last week, she was featured on the ScrapBook Graphics blog for Playdays, and as Designer of the Week. Manuella gave a lovely freebie kit, and although I downloaded and looked at it, I didn't scrap with it. Then I saw her need for a layout by Friday! Oh I love that deadline feeling, so I quickly sent an email! Yeah, she said yes!! I downloaded the most beautiful kit, called Harmony.

I opened it and was so happy, as I knew exactly what picture needed to be preserved with this kit! The girls joy at opening their presents this past August.

I sent it off to Manuella, and was all happy. I had scrapped and enjoyed the moment. I sat down and kept thinking about the other things in the kit. I got back up and made yet another layout. This was picture that wasn't good in composition, needed a lot of cropping, but the brightness of it, would play well against Harmony's papers!

Planting Seeds!

2010-09-26T15:15:00.000-07:00

I have really fallen off scrapping wagon. I have piles, well files of pictures unscrapped. I just don't have the mojo to sit and figure out what kit to use? I seriously think I am gonna open a template and add the pics and pour colors on the layers to match! and hit print! ha haha
That being said, my hubby just finished a bible study on studying your bible and we as a group took apart the parable of the soils. I felt the need to make a page for my art journal to keep the points in my heart while they were fresh. I used the Art Journal Provisions #39, from Tangie Baxter and Amanda Sexton

There are some exciting things coming with Tangie Baxter and SherrieJD tomorrow:

I hope to see my fellow caravaners this Thursday for the Campfire Chat:

Somewheeeeeeere over the rainbow...........way up hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh!!

2010-09-17T20:56:00.000-07:00

Your welcome, now that song will be in your head! That and others from the Wizard of Oz! I love the movie, and like most of you remember family night around the television to watch The Wizard of Oz! Tangie Baxter has taken those memories and dropped them right smack in the middle of Halloween! Delightful!! Hallowe'en in OZ

I was completely blown away at this kit, and had the best picture of my oldest son, in a scarecrow costume last year. It was one of those moments, that you look at the pic and realize, uhm maybe I pushed to hard for him to participate?

For the record, the boy has a reprieve and will be handing out candy this year!

GSO for Patience

2010-09-13T18:34:00.000-07:00

That's it, I am done with clusters and multiple layers!! I am going with clean and fast layouts!! I made GSO Standouts today for my Patience Grasshopper layout, done with Studio Tangie's kit of the same name!

Thank you dear Sandra for picking my layout! It is a real rush to have someone look at your layout andlike it enough to copy and paste and leave sweet comments! Thank you again!

Flying Pigs and Patient Grasshoppers? Tangie what??

2010-09-10T19:31:00.000-07:00

Tangie Baxter is ONE amazing woman! I am on almost a daily basis awed by her creativity and ability to (it seems to me) wave a magic wand and magic happens. A kit full of wonder. This weeks was no exception.
First up, is Patience Grasshopper. Oh yeah, I see David Caradin, with the pebble in his hand, talking with his disciple. But this kit, takes the phrase, Patience Grasshopper and brings it to our lives.

My son, Eric is now 14, and he really is a responsible boy. He has these moments of just contemplating. I caught one in a picture last month, and have wanted to scrap it for a while:

(just a note, the frame is from Creashen and I bought it!!! Now, don't faint)
So............this next kit...you already scrolled to see it...it is just fun, fun, fun! I fell in love with the fluffy piggies! It is called This Little Piggy!

Now these are both mini-kits, but so full of frivolity, you can really play! I did two layouts. We finally got CS5 and I had been watching tutorials all night. I finally have text paths. I had a blast playing, and I know I will go overboard on the bells and whistles, but they are fun!

and then this one also: notice the overdose of text paths...

Blowing Ink without Hypervenilating!!

2010-09-04T23:06:00.000-07:00

I think I was in 5th or 6th grade, and we did art with ink. The teacher poured a glob of ink and gave us straws and we blew lines around the paper! I remember I did what looked like a wooden fence and some trees. I loved the way it looked. We then had to add to the ink the next time for Art, and I had owls and leaves and different Autumn things. It was a good memory. It all came flashing back with Tangie's newest kit:

INK-CORPORATED {An Ultimate Art Doll Collection}

As soon as I saw it, my brain went on, oh I have to do this mode! I opened a quick canvas and this is what popped out:

I love her! She is just saucy, sassy and all the other condiments!

Having fun!

2010-08-31T08:20:00.000-07:00

I did two! Count them two layouts!
The first one is so not an altered layout, but Tangie's kit, She Found Her Bliss was just perfect for it:

I only used one paper and one element for this layout!

Tuesday evenings, I play over at Scrap Book Graphics, in the Ladies of the Evening Chat! It is an hour (sometimes more) of giggles and just a real brain drain for me. My wonderful hubby takes the kids for ice cream. They are learning the right places to get the best deal for their buck. The latest is Rite-Aid. It has ice cream that is yummy in pints, for a very good price! They each get a pint, and nibble 1/2 of it when they first get home, then all go play, then eat more when they come in. So, what you see are the spoons from the ice cream grazing! It makes me smile when I go to bed to see all the spoons in the sink!
Saturday, all day, yeah all day, was chat at SBG. There was so much winning going on, it was beyond crazy! I was there off and on, and I saw Gift Certificates handed out like mad! I won Maya's newest and anniversary kit, Cosmopolitan.

I was totally caught unaware to win this kit, but I tell you I downloaded this beauty as soon as possible! In May, we had some wild Night Life right here on Joseph Street! YATZEE! We had the camera out and everyone was taking pictures, so that made it hilarious to view the pictures later. I wanted to bring in the excitement of the night, and this kit was PERFECT:

I know my scrapping and blogging has kinda been sporadic, but I love these layouts so much, I giggled while making them. I so hope you enjoy them!!

An evening of Scrap!

2010-08-21T22:32:00.000-07:00

Just playing! That is what I have been doing with my scrapping. I am going thru and deleting a lot of old and useless kits. I am trying to file along with the purging. I ran across one of the Gold Kits from DST, by Jennifer Barrette, called Walk with Me. I loved it. I don't know if it is for sale, or where she sells, but it has some very nice things in it. What it didn't have was stitches. I got a bit addicted to stitching while creating for Dawn Inskip! So, I started going thru my files, and found a way, way, way old freebie stitches of flowers from Creshan! Beautiful!
So my layout, of my daughters with friends from a near by church. They had gotten their hair all done up, so they look so grown up to me. I love this pic and did a bit of Pioneer Woman actions on it...they all really didn't have peach lipstick on! bha ha ha

I played a bit with the fun and goofy ladies of Plain Digital Wrapper tonight in their Saturday chats. These woman are just the most down to earth ladies!
I decided to start a mutiny over at ScrapBook Graphics, and since no one really reads this thread, I would share my dastardly deed. They are having one of those forum games, A is for, B is for...etc. They are on girls names now, so I am coming up with some doozies! Come and join the fun!!
Life is fun! Never lose your joy, and if you have an over abundance of joy, spread it around!!
If you would like to see me in complete cuteness, well as cute as one can get in a size 18, pop over to my OTHER blog.

new things over at SBG, with Tangie!!

2010-08-20T19:19:00.000-07:00

Okay, I have a whole different life in scrap now, and it affords me the time to scrap for pure fun! I just laugh and open kits and love the whole process!
The ART Journal Caravan by Tangie that is over at ScrapBook Graphics is on week #34.
Just a quick reminder, as of the 31st of August, the chance to be on this years journey are over!!

I am in a place of watching my children flap their independent wings a bit more, and I am learning that I do trust them to be places without me hovering over them.I did this layout with Provision #34 and it is called Trust from Afar

Okay, ya'll are gonna have to have a sense of humor for this next layout! If it kinks you, please know I love Eve, she really gets a bad rap, as I know we are all sinners...but sometimes, I just want to talk to her...ya know...so when Tangie had this kit, even the title of it made me laugh...Unconventional Wisdom

Okay, now you have to smile, or know I mean no ill will, just thinking of Eve's response to the apple.

BUSY-BUSY-BUSY and LOVIN' IT!

2010-08-15T15:01:00.000-07:00

Tangie Baxter is a powerhouse of energy, ideas and creative thoughts that keep a girl moving! I love it, figuring out ways to organize this and that, along with stream lining my life to jell with the new life of personal secretary, aka woman at arms. I think I am just a few extra arms for the amazement of Tangie Baxter. One of the perks working for her, is playing in her store. Oh my, oh my!
This was her latest kit: Tempest Tossed

This kit is so full of emotions that will go from one end of the spectrum to the next. I played just for the sake of playing and came up with this little card:
The beach scene looks so much like Bodega Head, I was in awe!! I love blending Tangie's papers, and just learning what happens when I click a button!
I am also re-entering the Art Journey Caravan, and this weeks provisions made me do something, well, almost made me...tell my girls the facts of life, I am getting closer!

Journalling:
Today is the day, as mom I get to tell you the mysteries of life. I have put this off all year, knowing it is like a big step to tell you. I missed the opportunity so many times. Okay, so maybe I can just wait until tomorrow. This is not an easy thing for me to explain. We watched a documentary on birds and it was so cool, and then the bird fluttered real quick on the female bird. I should have said something then...argh.....I will tell you both, eventually
I promise

31 of August is your last chance!!!

2010-08-10T07:46:00.000-07:00

*Last Chance To Join* Art Journal Caravan

Hurry, there is still chance to join the Art Journal Caravan.
Registration closes August 31st 2010!

Joining the journey means lifetime access to the AJC forums,

50% off of the weekly Parcels,

a weekly Itenerary and so much more!

So grab this while you can, see the product page for all the info.

A quick layout from the Vacation

2010-08-08T16:13:00.000-07:00

I went on my last rollercoaster! It is called the ROAR, my neck, back and joints ache! I am so not flexible for the bumps and flips. Here is a layout to memorialize my last rollercoaster ride:

On a bit of a mini vacation!!! Enjoy LIfe!

2010-08-05T09:10:00.000-07:00

Lennox {A Rebecca McMeen Collection} By Tangie

2010-08-05T09:09:00.000-07:00

Lennox is the newest collection by Rebecca McMeen
She come in 3 poses and the collection includes her accents, banners, borders, words & journal spots as shown in the previews.
=====================
A Collection by artist Rebecca McMeen. Her designs have been featured in Country Home Living & numerous other publications;
Her product designs have been chosen by companies such as Disney, Ballard's, Cracker Barrel & Hallmark!
Her newest digital designs are available exclusively @ Studio Tangie.
{The best part? She just so happens to be Tangie's mom too!}

My friend, Chengie is Cover Girl @ SBG

2010-08-02T08:42:00.000-07:00

One of the ladies that was instrumental in my epiphany in scrapping, Chengie has been chosen Cover Girl for Scrap Book Graphics! I jokingly had I KNOW CHENGIE in my signature at a few places around digitown, after she kicked butt in the DST contest, winning best overall layout!

Chengie is an amazingly talented woman and I am so honored to call her my friend, and just so excited for her new accomplishment, the August Cover Girl @ Scrap Book Graphics!

This is her winning layout:

I am excited to see her in action over @ SBG with all that talent at her fingertips!!

It's ReCREWtment time @ SBG!!

2010-08-01T22:30:00.000-07:00

The PERFECT CANDIDATE for a brand new Studio Crew position at Scrapbookgraphics!
WE Want YOU!

Media Team Member at Scrapbookgraphics

This person will assist in promoting our Designers, Site activites, and Special Announcements by posting in forums, on our Blog, Facebook and Twitter.

This is your time to shine. Show us your style, your finesse, your creativity.

Auditions must include a fake write up for a Facebook, Twitter, and a Blog posting for any item from our store or event from our Forum.

Include them in your email along with links to your Blog, Facebook and Twitter pages.

Provide links to any other places that show us your style of postings.

Tell us why you think you have what it takes to be on our Media Team. Don’t be afraid to be creative!

We are looking for a Fun, Upbeat, Socialite type that is comfortable with Twitter, Facebook, Hoot suite/TweetDeck and possibly even WordPress.

* Ability to create Ads, Banners, and Blinkies a plus

To be considered for a spot on the Studio Crew

You must send your auditions to kate@scrapbookgraphics.com

Subject line: Media Team Audition

Deadline for submission is: Midnight EST Aug 4, 2010

Announcement will be made on or before Aug 11, 2010

A (digi) Place to Call Home

2010-07-31T08:24:00.000-07:00

Some of ya'll have watched my journey thru the digital world. I stumbled into a speed scrap with my friend Alamama (in real life Christine) over at Scrap Matters a few years ago. I had just been uprooted from friends for over 20 years and the internet kept a fun connection with Christine. Christine was a Creative Team Member at Scrap Matters, a sweet and friendly forum. I played there and then played another place, and then another. I then got a few Creative Teams myself...over the past few years, I have collected a few designers that allowed me to play with their designs

In alphabetical order:

Alexis Designs
Amy Stoffal
Amy Sumrall
Bubbles Bits
Cari Creates
Carolyn Rose Kite (for almost 2 years)
Charlie's DigiSraps (my very first)
Creative Victorian Designs (for almost 2 years)

Dani's Delusions
Dawn Inskip
Digi Designs by Denise
Digi Scrap Cafe
Doris Castle
Gabs Art
Julie. It is.
LouCee's Creation
Lyndsay Ritchie
Pressed Petals (my friend Christine)
Rosey Posey
Ruby (who gave me my first taste of altered)
Sarah Barber
Scraps of Candy (templates)
Southern Creek Designs
there were a few one kit calls (OKCs) here and there...but all in all, my EHD is full with some beautiful designs.

Last week, I resigned from the 8 I was on at the time. I knew it was coming, but I didn't want to walk away from the digital scrapbooking world. I have some great friends and superb mentors. I go to a fun chat on Tuesday evenings over at Scrap Book Graphics, and sometimes after the scheduled 1 hour is over, the ladies just stay and babble about life in general. One brought up wanting an assistant, another brought up saying she would pay 5 times the amount to have someone assistant her and help her stay organized. My heart jumped...oh would I love to help her!!
Then Miss Behaving, my friend and pushy broad, said, Anne does it for me, ask her!! I timidly, (now you know me, timid is not my personality, unless I am on unstable ground), said, "Tangie, I would love to help you in any way possible." That was it...then an hour later, Tangie and I chatted...
I am now her Woman at Arms. I help assist her in ways to make life easier for her...and organize calendars, spreadsheets and a running activity list! I love it!! This is like a re-invention of scrapping for me, now I scrap for the pure fun, and get to play with Tangie Baxter...pretty great all around!

CU for YOU! Conversion of Creative Victorian Designs (CVD)

2010-07-24T13:58:00.000-07:00

I have been a QP artist, CT member and become a friend to Netta of Creative Victorian Designs. This woman is a work horse!! Work horse...she pours her heart into her kits, extracting to the perfect pixel. She has decided to go straight CU-Commercial Use. This change over will happen quick, but she is giving some last minute chances to purchase her fabulous designs.

In the meantime, we are retiring HUNDREDS of Personal Use products and items that we will no longer be able to carry in the store. Take advantage of 70% off savings while you have the chance. The sale ends Sept 3rd!

If you are in the store and looking for certain things like the Elite Series, take note that some items have been pulled in order to be altered and converted for use as Designer Resources. Please look for these items again at the beginning of September.
http://creativevictorian.com/boutique/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=25
Here is a schedule of the changes to follow:

Now - Sept 3rd: Massive Retirement of Over 500 products at 70% Off!
Sept 4th: Gallery will be closed. All parts of Forum, except for CVD Health Club will be closed.
Sept 4th-5th: Store will be closed for reconstruction.
Sept 6th: Grand Re-Opening Event with new look and new products!

First fruit

2010-07-22T08:32:00.000-07:00

We did a garden!

We did!

We ate a cucumber!

First we picked it!

Gabriel took these pics of Anna picking the first fruit!

I feel in love with this kit!

It is by Dawn Inskip and called Enchanted Meadows.

It is only at Pickle Berry POP!

Creative Team for a long, long time.

2010-07-21T08:30:00.000-07:00

A few years back, I stumbled into the digital world. Grabbing freebies to put on my pages made with Power Point. I thought for sure I would wake up one morning and all those who made the freebies would stop. Frantically, I stayed up late at night, downloading and downloading.
I then noticed that CTMs were working with kits and getting the kits for free! Hey now, I was on that like white on rice.
Carolyn Rose Kite was one of the first teams I was on. For the past few years, my "boss" and friend has done a kit as a tradition to release a kit on the anniversary of her friend and companion; Arron death each year. Designing these kits, and scrapping a layout about Arron each year, helps Carolyn get through a day that would otherwise have been very difficult to handle.
This year, Carolyn's team has a few new members, and Julie (mother bear) is one of them. This is a very close knit team. Our Julie lost her husband; Robert last year, and Carolyn has dedicated this kit to him.
REMEMBER

Opening a kit that has been poured from another's heart, out of pain and loss is a sacred thing to me. I seriously started so many layouts and trashed them out of frustration. I have not suffered the loss these precious ladies have gone through. I believe I had every element in this kit on my canvas at one time!
Finally, the cross was all alone, and the cross is a symbol, but there is more behind this symbol. The words began to flow and as my children ate breakfast, I wrote this poem for a layout for REMEMBER.

It is more than something to hang on a
chain,
My Savior who died and took all my
blame
I hear the foul words and gangsta
slang
and see the large crucifix all covered with
bling
and even the sweet innocent girls whose ears it adorn
wearing this cross for which my savior was born
too sensitive is what I am told
it only jewelry be it silver or gold.
Yet my life was on a course of hate and
destruction,
until another told of the words and God’s instructions.
It wasn’t their light or the jewelry they
wore
But a man who was mocked and the Gospel he bore.
He asked of my life, my views and my
dreams
I blustered at first and was actually quite steamed
That a stranger would get involved with a sinner like me
Then I saw, the sin in my life, the pain and wanted to flee
The word of God is alive and it echoed in my head
I called out on this Jesus that night in my bed.
Since then I have served Him with all of my heart
not by a cross on a chain , but by taking the part
That Christ died for all sins, but repentance is key
Receive Him right now, and be set free.

Miss Behaving Workshops - Pen Tool @ SBG!!!

2010-07-20T16:35:00.000-07:00

I have been sucking the knowledge out of Miss Behaving's brain for a while now. She was my mentor in wierd and obscure layouts during the "ladies of the night chat" contest. I learned more in those wee hours of the morning, then I knew the whole time I have been scrapping. She really is a master at getting it just right!

As a Mother's Day present, my kids gave me her Photo Shop 101 class, and then after inundating Miss Behaving with questions, I finally begged to be her CT, I would be a one woman show! Yelling to the rooftops of Miss Behavings skills, in exchange for a life time friendship. lol, actually the friendship came first, but I derive some satisfaction from the enable part of being a team member. I don't know why, but I love it. To do this for a close friend, one who knows what is written on my tattoo, that is friendship. One day, perhaps we will meet in person and not even like each other.

But for today, Miss Behaving is my duty to enable and get the word out, that she is teaching a brand new class-using that pen tool....the funny looking one in your tools that you go, uh, I don't think so.

Yeah, that one! Now, now worries, take this class with me, you get laughter (I try and supply that) and all the knowledge from Miss Behaving. It is at Scrap Book Graphics, and starts August 23rd! It is a good time!

Cari is having a HUGE sale!

2010-07-17T21:43:00.000-07:00

She is a fabulous lady, and awesome designer....pop over to Sunshine Scraps!

She has some really nice stuff!

Oh yeah I did!

2010-07-15T22:02:00.000-07:00

I am making a mini book of our mini vacation (without kids) to Arizona for the conference. I am enjoying the process...and my youngest daughter Anna(with 2 broken arms) took some pics of me prepping. Dying my hair and uhm, well scrapping the dead cracked skin from my hooves, I mean feet!
I scrapped it! bha ha

I used my buddy, Julie. It is. newest kit, Nostalgia:

It really is a beautiful kit, and is 25% off right now, if you buy it quick. Go to Plain Digital Wrapper and put it in your cart...and enjoy a lovely time scrapping. You can also get a nifty add-on over at Julie. Itis. blog.

Now for the layout you have all been waiting for:

Get the full view!

2010-07-15T07:48:00.000-07:00

It is a beautiful kit and the colors are just superb! I had a blast playing.

You can actually pick the kit up now at Pickle Berry Pop at a 20 % discount if you hurry!

Here is the final layout, of the sky in Arizona:

Sneaky Peaky from Dawn!!!

2010-07-13T07:48:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love the colors? I did something totally different with this kit! I used this picture:

This is the view from our hotel in Prescott, Arizona! I love the desert skies! So......find out Thursday, how I used this awesome kit, and you can see the whole kit then too!

♥Freebie Time

2010-06-30T23:53:00.000-07:00

I had a blast with anew kit from Julie. It is. The kit is called Summer Sweet and I got to play!

As soon as I saw the kit, I knew I had to practice my shadows from Miss Behaving's Class over at Deviant Scraps.

This class is a video tutorial and more. Miss Behaving grades your homework, yeah there is homework and helps you to achieve the right shadow.
This is my final for the first week using the Summersweet kit from Julie. It is.

Miss Behaving is having another class start on the 15th of July, so you can sign up now. It is a limited amount of people, so sign up quick!
Okay, so after the shadow fun, I got to playing with the rest of the kit...and it is just so soft and wonderful...full of all kinds of fruit, but the nicest flowers too!
My girls and I were out one Saturday, and this dragonfly came flitting down and just landed on Abby's arm. I was so excited, cause I had my camera with me! I snapped a few pics! I love this curl of hair in Abby's face, it is always there...and it makes me smile:

I would also with Julie. It is.'s blessing like to give you a QP made from this very same layout, without Abby and the writing of course! ha ha ha

Freebie Link
it should work now...so sorry

WWwwwwwwwwwwwwooo Hoooo - New Blinkie and kit and layout!

2010-06-30T16:21:00.000-07:00

My new outlook on scrapping is fun and so, so, so enjoyable! I love Dawn Inskip and Gabs is her CT Lead, and has been designing for a bit over at Scrappity Doo Dah! I have been watching her close, cause she is funkified and I like that! I won a kit and loved it. Played with it, and then applied for her CT, and kinda hounded her (during the blessed soccer too) Go Germany! I think she is gonna give us all gifts if Germany wins!
So her precious daughter is turning 7, and she made this kit for her:
Sweets for My Sweets:

I loved it and her CT-wow! They are some talented ladies, I was a bit nervous, as they had already done their layouts!! But I persevered and made a layout from my heart:

I am enjoying CTing all over and making fun layouts just for me also. Scrap is good!

Getting READY to GO!

2010-06-30T13:21:00.000-07:00

I have the afternoon nothing to do...kids are out playing and I NEEDED to scrap! I am all caught up with my CT obligations, awaiting new releases tomorrow. So I thought I would do some shopping.
I found this mini kit of Cari Creates over at Sunshine Scraps:

Perfect for a little project. My hubby of 20 years and I are leaving for 6 days. Leaving my kids with a precious friend. We are driving 10 hours on Sunday, and then 3 1/2 Monday morning to Prescott, Arizona! It is for a conference for our church fellowship! I am so excited to hear the preaching and see friends from all over! I thought I could do a mini photo book, and this is the first page:

An epiphany of sorts!

2010-06-28T22:03:00.000-07:00

There are these 3 ladies, that I chat with in scrapland. They were like teachers, scrappers who are just beyond good, they are fabulous.

Kate from Scrap Book Graphics, the fearless chat leader of the Tuesday evening Ladies of the Night Chat. She organizes with lists and games that make the chat hilarious and faced paced! She also is a fanTAB ulous scrapper...she ALways has the wow factor, ALWAYS!
During the contest over 10 or more weeks, Kate taught me a lot about scrapping, blending and laughter at yourself.
The woman is HE larry US!
Then another named MissBehaving, I seriously thought she was an old woman living in a senior home in Florida when I first met her. I had never heard of her, or her tutorials. Yeah, I live under a rock! Miss Behaving won the Layout of the millennium some where important. She is that good. She also teaches shadows and Photo Shop and people pay her...good duckets!
Then Chengie, who lives in Suriname, a country in South America, by Brazil! I actually met her because of a prank she pulled in chat, that I was privy too...it blossomed into a friendship!
These 3 ladies are my friends. They babble to me, and help me to enjoy the scrap process. I am on alot of CTs, I like to stay busy, and I like the designers that let me rearrange their kits. I was getting rejection after rejection and I think it was miss be, says, what is your style, what do you love? I had no answer...I just did layouts.
Well, that night, or early morning I lay in bed, thinking what and why do I scrap? I like learning things, I love opening a new kit, and I love writing about the kits and the layout. I really like the writing part! I think actually that is why I apply, I like to send funny letters to the designers, and figure if they think I am funny, my mediocre scrapping will be okay!
So I got up this morning and made two fun - just for me layouts. I laughed all the way thru them!
I have no credits, because this is just for me...and that is how I play when I am furiously creating an oasis of words in a sea of elements.
Rule #1 (this is my rule, not enforceable to anyone but me)

then Rule #2-

I have a few more...but have to pull them out of my head and heart!

Got a few more rejections, do I let that get me down?????????? no way

2010-06-27T14:43:00.000-07:00

I got two emails, thanks but no thanks, and then my heart sunk when Clementine's list came out and I was not included. I read the list and was like oh wow, oh wow, there is some talent! I mean they are really really good, and do the manipulative things with photos. I make clusters and cute layouts. I just think Clementine is a neat person, and I will stalk her in normal ways now! ha ha
So, I have 3 or 4 more applications out there....but I wanted to scrap today! Luckily, Dawn Inskip, has a store full of kits I have not even downloaded (yet, but I plan on having EVERYTHING in that store eventually).
I already had Pets Rejuvinated:

so I downloaded this one, Cabbage Patch

and pulled some fun things from Vivre (my friend Julie) of Julie. Itis. over at Plain Digital Wrapper

Now I had the stuff, I got playing and laughing. This is my favorite way to scrap...pics recently taken. Giggling at what happened as I took the pictures. It helps me enjoy scrapping all over! Now I am also in the middle of Miss Behaving's shadow class, so I am getting a bit carried away with shadows at present time... I beg your forgiveness!

Nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon, now it is time for a little nap before church tonight!

Just in Time for Independance Day

2010-06-25T22:29:00.000-07:00

I am so enjoying rearranging all the pretty goodies, that Cari has in her kits. This newest one is no exception: Spirit of ‘76 {the kit} – On sale for 30% off all weekend!

I went in the way back pictures to do this one...a float our church did years ago in Alamogordo. It seriously was one of the best floats ever. People were standing as it went by and cheering!
Makes you proud to be an American and even prouder to be a Christian!

Carolyn Rose Kite-makes me smile.

2010-06-24T18:38:00.000-07:00

I am on Carolyn's Team, for way over a year, think I am actually coming up on my 2nd year. I have never downloaded a kit and not had her a kit within 48 hours! I really love playing with her kits and love being a rabid creative team member. I want her to be able to use my work for advertising.

Enter click, click, clicking of my EHD on Monday. My smart hubby says, it's dieing hon, transfer all your stuff to your hard drive. I listened! I also downloaded a few kits, and unzipped and filed...oops I filed on dying EHD. It died. Carolyn's new awesome and HUGE kit was on it! So now I can't get to it! She goes live with the kit, and the links are different. I am freaking, and she resets my links and tells me to relax. I can't, I have to get this done...aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah...I sleep.
Wake up to rebuy the in the store kit, I am telling you GO TO PICKLEBERRY POP and buy this kit! Right now it is 35% off! Good deal!
Fruitopia! It is huge:

I played and got some funny pictures of my girls eating watermelon...Anna so cute in her watermelon colored casts, and Abby loving the yumminess of watermelon!

Salon FUN

2010-06-24T14:02:00.000-07:00

Pickle Berry POP's Dawn Inskip has a fun new kit; The Salon

I had a blast playing with this kit. The girls had given their hair for Locks of Love a few years ago, when we were still in Alamogordo, New Mexico. I have had a layout done, but not the right elements, as soon as I saw this kit...I pulled my "work in progress" file out!

I also just wanted to play with the other fun elements, so I found this old pic when the girls were just 4 years old! oh so so little:

Just a fun time, love to play with Dawn Inskip's hand drawn ORIGINAL kits!

A chance to win a kit!!!

2010-06-22T08:52:00.000-07:00

This could be yours, easy peasy!

Detail LINK

Just in time for the big 4th of July! Get ready now for fireworks and celebrating freedom!

I won a KIT!

2010-06-21T16:21:00.000-07:00

I was boppin' around digiland, and hadn't been to Scrappity Doo Dah...so I got myself all registered and looked around. A few familiar faces, and some new ones. Very welcoming place. Those who know me, know that I am not a buyer of kits, but a connoisseur of creative teams. I was also scanning the landscape for a designer named Gabs, whom is on Dawn's CT also. She has a call going on, and I wanted to see her work in her house.
Well, she had a free pick a kit from my store and you might win! I picked this nifty keen-O kit;

It is called Awaiting, and the colors of my dear Anna's casts. Yes, she has two! One green, one pink and the whole thing screamed make a layout of Anna!
I won it!!!

I love Gabs-Art! I then as a glutton for punishment, sent a begging letter to her for a spot on her CT. Since I got 2 rejection letters today...and am a tough ol' bird...I figured...hey give it a whirl...worse she can do is say no!
On a whole different note! I am taking classes from the great Miss Behaving over at Deviant Scraps. A shadow class and an into to photoshop 101. Both are superb, and my brain is oozing out of my ear with the knowledge!
Here is a little taste of my newly aquired shadows:

It is hard, she is tough, and has a full class. I have been faithful to throw papers and drop books thru most of the class today.

Flights of Fancy takes off!

2010-06-18T23:05:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I know bad title, but let me tell ya, it is a beautiful kit; Flights of Fancy at Sunshine Studio Scraps, by the awesome designer Cari Cruse. She is a hidden gem, I tell you...her blends and papers are wow, wow, wow...and she has an eye for putting a kit together.

I had a picture I had to scrap...my kids being HE larry US....leaving notes on the door for our neighbors and me to read! WE is Busy...little punks! As homeschoolers, we already get the weird looks, so the grammatically challenge sign...egads:

I hope you pop over and give Cari's designs a chance...she is really a superb designer!

Julie. It is.! and Remembrance

2010-06-17T21:40:00.000-07:00

Have I told ya'll lately how much Julie. It is. is just awesome? She lets me babble to her late into the night, makes me laugh, let me be on her CT and has beautiful kits. She scraps her kits, which means when she is making a kit, she has a layout in mind for pictures, and it is rather cool to me.

Her newest kit; Remembrance is full of rich colors and distressed textures, Remembrance is perfect for scrapping everything from patriotic photos to masculine layouts. (some good description there huh? it is all Julie. It is. Really.) I stole it from her kit description in her store over at Plain Digital Wrapper. You see I do this to see if she reads my blog, I know she does, but it makes me feel good when she is laughing.

I had a really good time playing with this kit. I know it is for memorial kinda layouts...but remembrance to me, is things my kids do. So I remembered my girls and their smiles with matching holes in mouth from missing teeth.

I had a blast with the title...probably should have been bigger, now that I am in critique mode....but it was fun scratching the words on the wood! Scratchy nail font and lowered bevels are fun!

Templates that are What...Quickpages???

2010-06-16T22:22:00.000-07:00

Quick pages are usually a flatten page..you pop a picture in and done. Dawn Inskip has done Above and Beyond templates! They are indeed Above and Beyond! These templates have the opening for a pictures, but layers that you can rearrange, change the papers if you want, and elements that all match lovely. You can add to them if you desire! The even come with lovely shadows! I love this newspaper one, look at the glasses! The glass seems to magnify and everything!
I did a layout of dear Anna and her broken armS, yes, both of them!

I played a lot with this one, changing the colors and brought in some of Dawn Inskip's other designs. To highlight the Sutter Buttes mountain range here in our town!

This one comes in blue or pink, and I played with the blue one, to do a layout of Eric. He is making breakfast for the whole family on Christmas morning. I love that he is wearing his new San Diego Charger football jersey and my apron to keep it covered.

All of these templates are available NOW at Pickle Berry Pop with a 20% savings as new releases...hurry!

I found an AMAZING designer!

2010-06-15T11:39:00.000-07:00

I love to read CT Calls, I like to look at the new designers, or at least new to me. I stumbled across Cari Cruse. You all probably already knew about her...but wow oh wow! I loved her CT call ad, and then went to her store over at Sunshine Studio Scraps.
Look at her newest:
That kit alone made me smile and want to apply, then I went to her blog. She is a homeschooler who survived!! I loved her whole attitude. I sent my begging letter, and she chose me!! I am very honored!
Her blinkie made me out and out giggle:Mad skills! oh this is gonna be fun!

Last time I take off!

2010-06-15T08:56:00.000-07:00

It is safer, I tell you to stay on line! My daughter broke both her arms Saturday! I have some fun news to tell later...but just wanted to let you know, you can see my "real" life blog HERE

Taking a Long Weekend

2010-06-10T14:37:00.000-07:00

I am having brain overdrive, so am gonna read books, laugh and giggle with my family for a bit...be back in a few days! Enjoy!

Scrappin' Life

2010-06-10T07:51:00.000-07:00

I am having so much fun in real life, teaching my children in our little homeschool environment! We had planned on a garden. It is a lot of work! The grass had to be removed before we brought in the rototiller. My boys were phenomenal. I love to take pics of them working together!
As soon as I opened Dawn Inskip's new kit: Essentials I knew which set of pics would be scrapped. First a glimpse of Dawn's Essentials:

I did a bit of recolor on her word art to bring in the greens I wanted to pop, but it is all her designs:

Thanks for poppin' in! I love sharing with ya'll!

I have my very own blinkie!!

2010-06-08T22:31:00.000-07:00

I won it from a sweetie named Michelle aka Turtlegirl203 and she is also the maker of blinkies under the name; Times2Designs!
She is marvelous!! I love this so much! Please feel free to hotlink it to your blog, siggy or where ever! ha haha

Chat at CVD - Thursday! 6pm PST

2010-06-07T07:53:00.000-07:00

I almost forgot to post this! EGADS! Dear Frani is going to teach a how to class! It is free and the tips you will learn are wonderful! Come and babble if you are new to scrapping or have been scrappin' forever...it is fun to laugh with others and learning NEW things is fun with friends:

This is all happening at Creative Victorian Designs - Thursday - 6pm PST....