Template Tuesday - Free Digital Scrapbooking Template & Design Tips!

Good morning and Happy Tuesday! 
This is the free template that I have for you today:

Go HERE to download (link expires in one week)
This is the layout I made using the template:

I used Felicity by Wild Blueberry Ink found HERE

Now, why does this layout work?
1.  White Space:   White space is the area(s) of a layout that is has no text or graphics.  It gives the viewer's eye a chance to rest.  Folks, it doesn't have to be white in color to be considered white space! :)
2.  Proximity:   The photo and papers are spatially connected to each other because of their proximity.  The core of the layout looks like one grouping because of the close spacing of blocks, photo and title.  This placements gives a unified look to the layout, and unity creates a feeling of wholeness.
3.  Repetition: I repeated the multiple colors in a variety of textures, but be careful not to overuse repetition as it can get boring quickly!
4.  Visual Triangle: (the color blue) Placing items on my scrapbook page in a triangle allows the viewer's eyes to see the page as a whole rather than being distracted by one or two pieces on the page.  A visual triangle helps the viewer's eye to travel around the page.  A visual triangle can be created on a scrapbook layout using photos, embellishments, or event text such as your title, date, and journaling.

Want to read more about design?  Go HERE or HERE

If you are new to digi scrapping, you are going to need some software to get started.  Go to www.adobe.com and download the FREE 30-day trail version of Photoshop Elements.  (For a direct link, click HERE)  There are instructions all over the web as to how to get started in digital scrapbooking. Go HERE for some great instructions and links!

Reminders!

I wanted to give you the heads up for the current Creating Keepsakes Layout Call.  You can see the full list of calls  HERE.  The due date is Dec 8, 2010.  They are looking for layouts about teens, summer events and patriotic themes.  (We are working on summer issues already!)  They are also looking for your pages following this design:

Use some of the design tips that I have shared with you in every Template Tuesday blog post!  Read them HERE.

HERE is a tips list to increase your chances of getting your layout accepted for publication.  Don't be afraid to try!  You have nothing to lose!!  Good luck!
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Are you looking for some fabulous goodies to use on your digi Christmas pages?  THE DAILY DIGI is like your personal shopper!  They searched out digi land for some fabulous Christmas items and featured them all in one blog post!  Check THIS out!
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Just a quick reminder to grab November's Digi Files and Playbook before they are gone! On December 1st (just over 24 hours) they will be removed from The Daily Digi forever!!  Over $42 worth of products (including the Playbook) for just $7.50:

 Buy the above items HERE or get a subscription here:

Black Friday Sale!

Greetings!  I hope you made it through Thanksgiving without gaining too much weight or arguing a lot with family!
Mscraps is having a sale!  Check this out:

Shop HERE

They have some super cute items out including these Christmas cards by Dunia Designs:

Shop HERE

Here are few cards I made using these super easy and fast to make quick pages!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

12 Days of Christmas giveaway!

My friend Shirley (Wild Blueberry Ink) is having a 12 Days of Christmas giveaway on HER BLOG!  The contest will be open to enter from November 22 until November 29th at 10PM EST.  YOU CAN WIN MORE THAN ONE ITEM!!.   Check these items out!

Go to WILD BLUEBERRY INK'S BLOG for a chance to win!!  These items ROCK!!!  Good luck!

Template Tuesday - Free Digital Scrapbooking Paper

Happy Tuesday!
With all the chaos associated with having Thanksgiving at my house, I did not have time to get a template and design tips ready for today's Template Tuesday.  I am so sorry!  Please feel free to download this free paper pack that I made for you instead.  Have a great day, and we'll see you next Tuesday!
Download HERE (link expires in one week)

Precious Babies!

The family and I went to visit my folks and siblings for the weekend.  We had a short but sweet visit!  I still have a ton of photos to go through too!  Here are a few of my faves of my nephew, Baby J, and Piper my new doggie niece!

Submit your layouts to Creating Keepsakes

Good morning!
I wanted to give you the heads up for the current Creating Keepsakes Layout Call.  You can see the full list of calls  HERE.  The due dates are Nov 23, 2010 and Dec 8, 2010.  They are looking for layouts about flowers, summer events and patriotic themes.  (We are working on summer issues already!)  They are also looking for your pages following this design:

Use some of the design tips that I have shared with you in every Template Tuesday blog post!  Read them HERE.

HERE is a tips list to increase your chances of getting your layout accepted for publication.  Don't be afraid to try!  You have nothing to lose!!  Good luck!

Template Tuesday - Free Digital Scrapbooking Template & Design Tips!

Good morning and welcome to another edition of Template Tuesday!  We are going to take a look at this layout I did:

I used Persistent by Designs by Anita found HERE

You can get the free template HERE.

Here are a few reasons why this design works:
1.  Proximity:   The photos and papers are spatially connected to each other because of their proximity.  The core of the layout is "fenced in" with the circle.  This placements gives a unified look to the layout, and unity creates a feeling of wholeness.
2.  Repetition: I repeated multiple colors in this layout using a variety of paper and textures.  Be careful not to overuse repetition as it can get boring quickly!
3.  Emphasis:  Of the three photos, the middle photo most important one so I placed it in the middle and framed it.  Emphasizing a photo encourages the reader's eye to "look here first!"

Want to read more about design?  Go HERE or HERE

If you are new to digi scrapping, you are going to need some software to get started.  Go to www.adobe.com and download the FREE 30-day trail version of Photoshop Elements.  (For a direct link, click HERE )  There are instructions all over the web as to how to get started in digital scrapbooking. Go HERE for some great instructions and links!

This and That

Have you ever wondered if you should get your computer monitor calibrated?   Or what if you are new to digital scrapbooking, and you need a place to start?  Curious about drop shadows or how to organize your digi stash?  Wouldn't it be fabulous if there was ONE place you could go to that would help you answer all your scrapping questions?  THERE IS!  The Daily Digi is FULL of information!  It even has photography information!  I have been digi scrapping for almost 4 years, and I am finding information HERE that I never knew!  Go check it out!
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My friend Shirley (Wild Blueberry Ink) has new kit being released on Monday.  Here is a sneak peek:

Head over to HER BLOG for a chance to get the kit for free!  I have seen it, and it is beautiful!
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I homeschool my kiddos.  I LOVE spending the whole day with them and watching them learn and grow.  It's hard to balance my hobby life and my "real" life, but somehow we manage!  Here are few pics I snapped of the kids learning today:

Tucker and I share a cup of coffee every now and again.  He is crabby today, can you tell?

Morgan loves to start school in her PJs!  She is going to kill me for this photo someday! :)

Brie even gets in on the homeschool action!  She has been mastering her addition timed tests (25 problems in 1 minute):

Right now our homeschool room is getting a makeover so we have set up camp in my scrap room and kitchen.  My scrap room is getting a makeover too!  See the paint swatches on the wall?  I hope to paint this weekend! Only one color made the final cut.  I finally picked my colors based on this fabulous fabric I got from Michael Miller Fabrics:

Have a fabulous Friday!

Another Announcement!

I have another announcement that I am excited to share with you all!

I have been asked to be a monthly writer at The Daily Digi!



The Daily Digi is a fabulous site that is "dedicated to bringing you the best in digital scrapbooking on a daily basis.  The best quality products, the best resources, information, tutorials, and more so you don’t have to spend your time surfing the internet looking for it.  We are giving you back your time so you can spend it CREATING MEMORIES with the ones you love OR scrapping them!!" - Steph, Owner of The Daily Digi site.

I am honored to be a part of this fabulous site!  I will be writing a monthly post on layout design!  I will be searching many fabulous galleries in digi-land looking for awesome layouts that support the particular design principal that I am highlighting for the month.

If you get a chance, stop by The Daily Digi and have a look around.  They have SO much information that will help take your scrapping to the next level, help you learn your software, and answer your scrapbooking questions!

Back it up, Baby!

This is just a friendly reminder to take some time (TODAY) to back up your photos and scrapbooking items.  I back up my photos and scrap goods to 2 external hard drives AND I use Carbonite which backs my junk up automatically when I am not on my computer.  Why so much, you ask?  Because I would be devastated to lose my memories, my hobbies, my life.  I gladly fork over $50 per year for unlimited back up with Carbonite.  Are they foolproof?  I doubt it.  But having peace of mind knowing that I have my stuff backed up at another location is worth $50 to me!  Do yourself a favor and back up your computer. TODAY. :)
BTW, here is a blog article from a site I trust that has a little info on externals.  Here is part 2 of that article.
Happy backing up!

Template Tuesday - Free Digital Scrapbooking Template & Design Tips!

OK folks, it's time I am honest with you.
Pattern paper scares me.  Yup, I am a Plain Jane at heart.  I took a peek in my closet to see what I had in the way of patterned clothing.  I. have.THREE. shirts with a pattern.  THREE!  I looked in my winter clothes, summer clothes, fat clothes, skinny clothes, why-did-I-buy-this-clothes, borrowed-from-my-sisters-clothes, EVERYTHING!  I must truly fear patterns!  Give me my Gap or Talbots yoga pants and any (pink or brown) t-shirt or fleece pullover, and I am a happy camper. (Yes, I am in my fat clothes part of the closet right now.  Don't judge.)  :)
So how does this relate to scrapbooking you ask?  Well, I LOVE buying scrapbooking kits that are FULL of beautiful patterned paper.  When buying these kits, I think that I will do great things with these patterned papers, but in keeping with my honest theme here, I usually only use the plain paper and a few of the elements.  *Sigh.*  So in branching out into the patterned world, I created this layout:

Corina Nielsen's 9 to 5 Chic Kit found HERE

Do you see all of that patterned paper?!  AND it's crazy bright and beautiful.  Using small blocks of the patterned paper lets me use the fancy papers without overdoing it!  Baby steps here, folks.
Now, why does this layout work?
1.  White Space:   White space is the area(s) of a layout that is has no text or graphics.  It gives the viewer's eye a chance to rest.  And with all that crazy paper, my eyes need a rest!
2.  Proximity:   The photo and papers are spatially connected to each other because of their proximity.  The core of the layout is "fenced in" with the dotted line.  This placements gives a unified look to the layout, and unity creates a feeling of wholeness.
3.  Repetition: I repeated the multiple colors in this layout, but I purposely repeated black using patterned paper and elements with various textures.   Be careful not to overuse repetition as it can get boring quickly!
4.  Contrast:  Contrast occurs when two things are different.  The greaert the difference, the greater the contrast.   There is great contrast between the black and white photo and the color swatches that the photo is laying on, and contrast between the white paper and black paper.

Why not grab your kit of favorite patterned paper and give this layout design a try?  HERE is a free template to get you started (link good through Nov 18 & is now a ZIP file)!

Happy scrapping and thanks for stopping by!

PS To read more about design principles go HERE.

If you are new to digi scrapping, you are going to need some software to get started.  Go to www.adobe.com and download the FREE 30-day trail version of Photoshop Elements.  (For a direct link, click HERE )  There are instructions all over the web as to how to get started in digital scrapbooking.  You can click HERE for instructions too.  Click HERE to for instructions on how to use a template.

Winner of ErinInk and Shutterfly gift certificate!

Congratulations to Monique1971 for winning ErinInk's Book and a $10 Shutterfly gift certificate!  Please send me an email, Monique, and I will get you the certificates! (babyroo7@yahoo.com)  Thank you all for stopping by and playing along!  Erin's book is still on sale for $13.99, which is a steal for a 20 page template!

Free Digital Scrapbooking Mini Kit

If you are looking for the Mscraps blog train, please scroll down to Friday's post!  :)
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I am giving away a Shutterfly gift certificate and a free template book by ErinInk.  Go HERE to enter!
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Erin is giving away a $25 gift certificate to her store!  Go HERE to enter!
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In keeping with the Pay-it-Forward theme of the week (click HERE to see what I am talking about), I have for you a free digital scrapbooking kit that I made:

Click HERE for download link (Link expires on Nov 23, 2010)
Stop buy tomorrow for more fabulous giveaways!!
Thanks for stopping by!

You+ErinInk+Shutterfly=Your Memories Preserved Quickly & Painlessly!

Happy Saturday and thanks for stopping by!
Congratulations to Sarah from Illinois!  I sent you an email, Sarah! You won the $10 Gift Certificate from 2 peas!!  Thanks for playing everybody!

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Mscraps Blogtrain folks please scroll down to Friday's post for the freebie!

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Before I forget, go HERE to win a $25 gift certificate to ErinInk's awesome store!!
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OK, in keeping with the Pay-It-Forward theme for this week (go HERE to see what I am talking about), I am giving away to ONE LUCKY WINNER a $10 Shutterfly gift certificate AND ErinInk's 20 page Shutterfly ready Tell Me A Story Template book:

Click HERE to see

 

Just add a little paper, your photos and journaling and you have yourself a book of memories ready to print!
Need an example of how to use this book?  Here is a book I did using this template book and Erin's Chocolate Swirl Paper Pack:

Click HERE to see

Click here to view this photo book.

To enter, please leave your first name and state in the comments section of this blog post.  I will randomly select a winner at 12:00PM on Monday, November 8, 2010.  Good luck and thanks for stopping by!

P.S. If you are new to digi scrapping, you are going to need some software to get started.  Go to www.adobe.com and download the FREE 30-day trail version of Photoshop Elements.  (For a direct link, click HERE )  There are instructions all over the web as to how to get started in digital scrapbooking.  You can click HERE for instructions too.  Click HERE to for instructions on how to use a template.

Mscraps IDSD blog train - Free Digital Scrapbooking Quickpage

Welcome to my stop on the MScraps Blogtrain! Happy International Digital Scrapbooking Day (iDSD)!  I hope you enjoy all of the fabulous gifts that the MScraps Creative Team & Designers have prepared just for you.  This is the quickpage I created for Mscraps celebration of International Digital Scrapbooking Day (IDSD):

HERE is the link to grab the QP freebie! (Link expires Nov 26, 2010.) 

Next stop on the train is JOYCE!

If you get lost on the train go HERE for a full list of participants.

In keeping with the Pay-It-Forward theme that started yesterday (Click HERE to see what I am talking about!) Come back tomorrow for a chance to win this Shutterful ready book by ERININK and a Shutterfly gift certificate!

HERE

Thanks for stopping by!

A GIVEAWAY & an announcement

*read this whole post as there is a giveaway at the end!*

I have a little announcement to make.  Actually, in my scrapbooking life, this is a significant announcement!  A few months back, while I was in the middle of a depressing move away from my church and close friends,  I was approached by a fabulous woman from the Creating Keepsakes Editorial Team.  She asked me if I wanted to be on the 2011 Creating Keepsakes Dream Team.

"WHAT?!  Shut the front door!  Are you kidding me?!  YES!"

So today is the day of the big announcement! (Check it out HERE)  I am a 2011 Dream Team member for Creating Keepsakes!  This experience brings me such great joy and sense of accomplishment!  I am overwhelmed by the honor, and I feel so blessed to be a part of this fabulous team!  Check out the other fabulous Dream Team ladies on the list to the right------------------------------------------------------->


Being on the CK Dream Team has been such a blessing in my life.  I am overwhelmed by the generosity and support of many companies associated with the scrapbooking industry.  While I can never repay the excitement that Creating Keepsakes has brought to my scrapping life, nor can I repay the generous companies who sent me gifts, I can pay forward the gift of giving to others.  In an effort to "Pay-it-Forward,"  I will be giving something away on blog for the next 6 days.  Gift certificates, digital quickpages, Christmas card templates, and a digital scrapbooking kit are a few of the ways I have chosen to to pay forward the blessings I have felt in my scrapbooking life.

So let's start off the week of giveaways with a gift certificate that would appeal to paper and digi scrappers!  I bought a $10 gift certificate to Two Peas in a Bucket to give away to one lucky winner!  Simply leave your first name and state (or country) in the comments section of this blog.  I will use a random selecting site to draw a winner!  Please only enter once.  The comments section will close at 11:00AM (central time) on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010.  I will announce the winner here on my blog at noon (central time) on Saturday, November 6, 2010.  Make sure to come back to see if you won!

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous Thursday!

Mscraps 30% off sale!

International Digital Scrapbooking Day is November 6!  In celebration, Mscraps is having a 30% off sale, many challenges, and some blogtrains(where you hop from blog to blog to pick up freebies).

Click on the above photo to read the details!

There are also some new items out.  I created this:

Using this kit:

Click HERE for link to kit.

And this layout:

Using this kit:

Click HERE for link to kit

And this layout:

Using this kit:

Click HERE for link to kit

Please stop by again tomorrow as I have a little surprise along with a give away that will appeal to both digi and paper scrappers!  :)

Template Tuesday - Free Digital Scrapbooking Template & Design Tips!

Happy Tuesday!

Thanks for stopping by!

Please come back this week as I have some more freebies (for paper scrappers and digi scrappers and "regular" people too!)  I want to share with you!  I have been very blessed lately and I want to pass that blessing on to you!

Today's free template is in honor of my girlfriends who are getting ready to go on a 60-mile walk for breast cancer.  They are walking in the Dallas Susan G. Komen 3-day walk Nov 5-7.  I should be walking with them, but circumstances wouldn't allow it for this year.  Back in 2008, I went on the 3-day walk in Chicago with some of the best friends a girl could ever ask for.  Most of my fellow crew members had a loved one with some form of cancer.  Here is a layout I did using one of my favorite photos I took on the walk:

Most items used were from DesignerDigitals Hope for Breast Cancer Kit, but
I am not seeing it in their store now. 

So let's talk for a minute as to why this design works.
1. Visual Triangle: (the small black flowers) Placing items on my scrapbook page in a triangle allows the viewer's eyes to see the page as a whole rather than being distracted by one or two pieces on the page.  A visual triangle helps the viewer's eye to travel around the page.  A  visual triangle can be created on a scrapbook layout using photos, embellishments, or event text such as your title, date, and journaling.
2.  White Space:   White space is the areas of a layout that is has no text or graphics.  It gives the viewer's eye a chance to rest.
3.  Proximity:   The photo and papers are spatially connected to each other because of their proximity.  This placements gives a unified look to the layout, and unity creates a feeling of wholeness. 
 4.  Emphasis:  The sun glare on the photo, the large size of the photo, and the large title under the photo cause the viewer's eye to naturally be drawn to the focal point (the photo) of this layout.

To read more about design principles go HERE.

Here is the free template for today (download HERE - expires in one week):

If you are new to digi scrapping, you are going to need some software to get started.  Go to www.adobe.com and download the FREE 30-day trail version of Photoshop Elements.  (For a direct link, click HERE )  There are instructions all over the web as to how to get started in digital scrapbooking.  You can click HERE for instructions too.  Click HERE to for instructions on how to use a template.

Here is a video I made using the photos I took while on the 2008 walk:

Here is a Shutterfly book I made:

Click here to view this photo book.

A Healthy Treat

OK, who all had a sugar overload last night besides me?!  I "borrowed" a few too many Snickers from the kids last night!  And I wonder why I can't shed the pounds!

To help make up for my sugar intake, I made some awesome banana muffins that are on the healthy side.  Here is the recipe:

2 C Flour (I use 1.5 C whole wheat flour and 1/2 C flax seed meal)
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
2 eggs
1/2 C natural applesauce (This is in place of oil.  You can use 1/2C of oil instead)
3/4 C of Honey OR Agave Nectar OR 100% Maple Syrup
1tsp vanilla
1/3 C milk
1Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
5 large bananas (I mix in other fruit like berries so long as the amount of total fruit is around the amount of 5 large bananas)
Chopped walnuts

I mix the dry goods together and then add in the wet ingredients in the order listed.  I make them in bite-sized muffin tins because this is the way my kids like them!

Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes but be careful not to over-bake!

Enjoy!

Make sure and stop by again tomorrow for Free Template Tuesday.  I also have some awesome freebies that I am giving away starting Thursday of this week!  You won't want to miss them!