Project 365 February Calendar & Product Release

Happy Monday!
I don't know about you, but we are getting ready to get smacked by a serious cold blast!  I am NOT looking forward to it!  I am SO ready for spring!

If you are doing Project 365, how is it coming along?  What stumbling blocks are tripping you up?  Remember, there is no right way to do this project, and you can start ANYTIME!  To help make your project more manageable, I have created a February calendar.  I use this calendar to jot down notes about each day.  When I have a free moment, I grab my daily photos & calendar and create my weekly page.  Go HERE to download the free 8.5x11 February calendar.  Here is what it looks like:

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I have new products released in the Owl Tree Studio store today!  They are all 20% right now too! A girlfriend and I teamed up to create this adorable doodle pack:

Found HERE

I have this template pack in the store too, but read further to see how you can get it for free:

Found HERE

I am hosting my first chat at Owl Tree Studios!  Stop by HERE tonight (Monday, January 31 at 9pm Eastern/8PM Central/6PM Pacific) to chat with me! (08:00:00 p.m. Monday January 31, 2011 in CST converts to  02:00:00 a.m. Tuesday February 1, 2011 in GMT) Everybody who stops by the chat will get the Hip to be Square template pack for free!  I hope to see you there!

Have a great Monday!  We'll see you tomorrow for Template Tuesday!

Chat & Digital Scrapbooking Template Freebie

I am hosting my first chat at Owl Tree Studios!  Stop by HERE tomorrow night (Monday, January 31 at 8 PM CST) to chat with me! (08:00:00 p.m. Monday January 31, 2011 in CST converts to  02:00:00 a.m. Tuesday February 1, 2011 in GMT) Everybody who stops by the chat will get this freebie:

I hope to "see" you there!
Have a great week!

$1 Weekend at Owl Tree Studios!

Happy Friday!!!!
Every weekend Owl Tree Studios puts a few items up for sale for $1!  Here are the items that are $1 this weekend (link to item is under the photo):

Found HERE

Found HERE

There are also a handful of awesome items that are 20-30% off!  Go HERE to see them.

I am hosting my first chat at Owl Tree Studios!  This Monday (Jan. 31) at 8 PM CST.  I would love for you to stop by!  I will have an awesome freebie for you!!

Have a great weekend!

Template Tuesday - Free Digital Scrapbooking Template & Design Tips!

Happy Tuesday!
First up is a little blurb about the new products I put out at Owl Tree Studio!  They are all 20% right now and can found HERE!

Can be found HERE

Can be found HERE

Can be found HERE

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Here is a look at today's free template which can be downloaded for free HERE (link expires Feb 8, 2010)

Here is how I used this template:

Pure Love Kit used

Now, why does this layout work?
1.  Common Margins:   The entire layout is surrounded by a common margin which unifies the layout.
2.  Proximity:   The photos 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.
3.  Visual Triangle: (pink color) 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 and 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!

Creating Keepsakes

This time last year I was dedicating my scrapbooking time to learning as much as I possible could about Photoshop and design.  My mind was like a sponge, and I wanted to learn as much as I could.  I REALLY enjoyed taking Cathy Zielske's Design Your Life class.  Cathy's witty personality and love for basic design principles made learning easy and painless!  Her class is worth every penny!

I truly believe that Cathy's class gave me the additional tools that I needed to get noticed at Creating Keepsakes.  I still pinch myself that I am on Creating Keepsakes 2011 Dream Team!  This position is a huge blessing, and honestly, I never dared to dream this big! 

Here are a few layouts that I created for the February 2011 Creating Keepsakes magazine.  More articles and eye candy can be viewed HERE.

Click HERE for credits.  As seen in the Feb. 2011 issue of Creating Keepsakes
magazine. Copyright Creative Crafts Group. Posted with prior permission from the publisher.

Click HERE for credits.  As seen in the Feb. 2011 issue of Creating Keepsakes
magazine. Copyright Creative Crafts Group. Posted with prior permission from the publisher.

Creating Keepsakes does occasional calls for layout submissions.  You can see the full list of calls HERE.

HERE is a tips list to increase your chances of getting your layout accepted for publication.

See you tomorrow for template Tuesday!

Vegas & Project 365 POTD

Last weekend I had the pleasure of going to Vegas with my loving husband and some of our fabulous Lubbock friends.  We had been planning this trip for months!  We went for the fun of it and to celebrate Brent's 40th birthday.  Brent had one request....that I leave my camera at home.  WHAT?!  Are you kidding me?  That's like me asking him to leave his right arm at home!  Being the understanding person that I am (I am such a liar), I left my trusted sidekick at home with Morgan, my 9 year old.  She was in charge of Project 365 POTD while I was gone.  She did a great job! (layouts coming later).  My girlfriends had a few point-and-shoot cameras to document our time together:

How is your Project 365 POTD or Project 52 going? 

You really need to check out THIS GAL'S Project 365.  I LOVE reading her thoughts!  She is an AMAZNG writer!  Her pages usually consist of a daily photo and journaling about a past memory that coincides with her photo.  I would buy her POTD book - she's that good!  Perhaps this week you could snap a photo and write about a past memory.

Have a great week and thanks for stopping by!

Creating Keepsakes winner!

I have randomly selected the winner for the free copy of  The Organized & Inspired Scrapper !

Congratulations, Cathy B. from IL!

You can shop for this fabulous book HERE and use this discount code for free shipping on orders of $25 or more: DS25DT (expires 2.11.11)

Get Organized & A Winner!

Folks, I am sorry that I don't have anything ready for Template Tuesday!  We have been out of town for my husband's 40th birthday!  Look for Template Tuesday to be back next week!  Thanks for understanding!
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We have a winner for Project 52!  Congratulations to Rhadonda!  Please send me an email, Rhadonda, and I will get a code to you for your free Project 52!

This is what she won:

Available HERE

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This week Creating Keepsakes is focusing on organizing your scrap space.  Check out THIS CK BLOG POST to get ideas on how to organize your space.

I also have an awesome copy of The Organized & Inspired Scrapper (click on title to view in store) to give away!  What a fabulous book!  Here's a sneak peek:

Want to win a copy of this fabulous book?  Go HERE and leave your name and state or country in the comments section  for your chance to win!  I will randomly select a winner on Friday, January 21, 2011 at 10AM!  Good luck!

You can shop for this fabulous book HERE and use this discount code for free shipping on orders of $25 or more: DS25DT (expires 2.11.11)

Another Creating Keepsakes Giveaway!

I have a copy of The Organized & Inspired Scrapper (click on title to view in store) to give away!  What an awesome book!  Here's a sneak peek:

Open publication - Free publishing - More scrapbooking

Simply leave your name and state (or country) in the comments section of this blog post for your chance to win!  I will randomly select a winner on Friday, January 21, 2011 at 10AM!  Good luck!

You can shop for this fabulous book HERE and use this discount code for free shipping on orders of $25 or more: DS25DT (expires 2.11.11)
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I will announce the winner of the Project 52 book tomorrow!

We have a winner & Project 365 (POTD) & Another giveaway!

**I have another giveaway at the end of this post!**

We have a winner!  I used random.org to pick the winner of Creating Keepsakes The Best of Digital Scrapbooking 

Congratulations, Laurie!

If you weren't the winner, this magazine is available to purchase HERE.  Here is a discount code to use too: DS25DT  (free shipping on orders of $25 or more)
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How is your Project 365 (POTD) coming along now that week 2 is coming to a close?  What do you find to be the most challenging aspect of the project? 
I thought you might appreciate a little list of photo ideas to help you out!

Why not take a shot of:
1.Your shoes (seriously, wouldn't it be cool to see a shot of your great grandmother's shoes?)
2.Your means of transportation.
3.The contents of your purse.
4. Something that you are reading.
5. A screen shot of your favorite blog.
6. Your child's artwork.
7. Your computer
8. What you see outside of your window.
9. Your child's hands or feet.
10. Your favorite piece of jewelry.
11. Don't forget to get a photo of YOU in your book too!
12. Try a week that is themed. Ex: Color themed, texture themed, etc.

If you haven't gotten started on Project 365 (POTD), why not start today?  You do NOT have to start on Jan 1st!  Start on your birthday or your anniversary or your child's birthday....or today!  :) 

I have teamed up with Wild Blueberry Ink & completed the Project 52 (weekly photo) book for folks that don't want to commit to Project 365 (daily photo)!  The Project 52 album will be available at Owl Tree Studios on Monday.  The Project 52 kit includes:

• A cover (front, back, spine)
• Title page
• 52 weekly (12x12) templates complete with paper & adjustable photo areas
• A Dec. 31 template
• 11 HiLite pages for days/weeks/events when you have a lot of photos to showcase
• Project 52 stickers 
• A list of photo ideas & journaling prompts

The photo area is completely changeable to fit your photo(s) for the week.  Simply add your photo and journaling (if you want) and your done!  You can add some embellishments or change out the paper to really make the book your own.  Here is a sneak peek:

HiLite page

The cover

I am giving away a free copy of Project 52!  Simply leave your name in the comments section of this blog post, and I will randomly select one winner on Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011 at 5:00PM CST!
Good luck!

Creating Keepsakes Giveaway!

I have a free copy of Creating Keepsake's The Best of Digital Scrapbooking to give away to one lucky winner!  This magazine is AWESOME!  There are articles on photo correction/enhancement, organizing your digi stash, and tons of inspiration like these layouts:

Here is a look into the magazine:

Open publication - Free publishing - More scrapbooking

Simply leave your name in the comments section HERE, and I will randomly select one winner this Thursday (Jan 13) at 10:00AM CST!  Good luck!

Template Tuesday - Free Digital Scrapbooking Template & Design Tips & a Giveaway

Happy Tuesday!
Let's start the day with a giveaway!  I have a free copy of Creating Keepsake's The Best of Digital Scrapbooking to give away to one lucky winner!  This magazine is AWESOME!  There are articles on photo correction/enhancement, organizing your digi stash, and tons of inspiration like these layouts:

Here is a little look into the magazine:

Open publication - Free publishing - More scrapbooking

Simply leave your name in the comments section of this blog post, and I will randomly select one winner this Thursday (Jan 13) at 10:00AM CST!

This magazine, and other goodies, is available to purchase HERE. Here is a discount code too: DS25DT (free shipping on orders of $25 or more).  
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Here is today's Template Tuesday Freebie.  It's a simple layout (Download HERE until Jan 25, 2011):

Here is how I used it:

I used Wild Blueberry Ink's Deja Vu Kit Found HERE

Now, why does this layout work?
1.  Common Margins:   The entire layout is surrounded by a common margin which unifies the layout.
2.  Proximity:   The photos 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.
3.  Visual Triangle: (the yellow/orange color) 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 and 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!
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Project 52 folks!  We have had several requests for a Project 52 album!  I am in the process of converting the Project 365 album into a Project 52 album!  The new album will be available in several days at Owl Tree Studios!  I will keep you posted on the release date!

Project 365 POTD - first week done!

So how did your first week of Project 365 (POTD) go?  Do you have your first page put together yet?  Were you able to snap a photo each day?  How can I help make your journey more successful?

My digital scrapbooking friend, Katrina, is a wonderful photographer.  She has a fabulous blog that you should check out HERE.  She teaches photography, has great insight on Project 365 (POTD), and is a great resource to have when doing this year long project.

Here is my 2011 Week One:

Project 365 Template Album found HERE

Link me up to your Week One page or upload it to the Project 365 Gallery at Owl Tree Studios.  I would love to see your page!

It's not too late to start Project 365!  Here are a few items to help you with your journey:

Found HERE

Found HERE

Project 365 POTD - first page done!

I have my first page done for 2011 Project 365 (POTD)!

I created new photo boxes to fit my photos using the rounded rectangle tool set on 50px radius

I would love to see your pages as you complete them!  Please link me up to your gallery!  If you are looking for a place to show off you pages, head on over to Owl Tree Studio's Gallery & create your own gallery!

It's not too late to start Project 365!  Here are a few items to help you with your journey:

Found HERE

Found HERE

Template Tuesday - Free Digital Scrapbooking Template & Design Tips!

Happy Tuesday!
Today's free template coordinates with my blog post over at The Daily Digi which goes into detail about asymmetrical design.  Go check it out!  Here is today's template (download HERE expires Jan 31) and it's a double pager- perfect for those Christmas photos that you are still scrapping!

Pay attention to the photos that cross the gutter!

Here is a layout I made using this template and some shots I took of my precious nephew (I am not planning on printing this so I don't care about his cute little face being in the gutter):

All items by ERININK

Now, why does this layout work?
1.  Common Margins:   The entire layout is surrounded by a common margin which unifies the layout.
2.  Proximity:   The photos 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.
3.  Balance: This layout is asymmetrically balanced - not equal from side to side, but an implied balance instead. Go check out my post at The Daily Digi for more info on asymmetrical design.

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!
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It's not too late to start Project 365!  Here are a few items to help you with your journey:

Found HERE

Found HERE

Project 365 January Calendar & Product Release

So here we are, the third day into the New Year!  How is your Project 365 going?  Perhaps the first 2 days were a bit easy because it was the weekend!  Now that we are back into the work week, life can get a little overwhelming!   I thought you could use a few secrets to keep on the right track.

I am not able to work on my Project 365 every day in Photoshop.  OK, it's time for me to be totally honest.  On New Year's Eve I was home working on the last 6 pages of my book!  That is how far behind I got due to the craziness of the holidays!  Had I not jotted down little notes about each day, I would have been overwhelmed and stuck!

To help keep you from getting overwhelmed, I created a little January calendar that you can use to jot down notes about each day (download 8.5x11 jpeg calendar HERE expires Jan 31, 2011):

Some Project 365 people are able to take a photo each day and get the photo and journaling placed into the template each day.  I am not one of those people!  I try to take a photo each day, and when I have a moment, I work on placing them into the weekly template - that might be a weekly or bi-weekly occurrence.  Jotting down a little journaling each day reminds me of the memory that goes along with the photo I took for the day.  Perhaps the journaling was something silly the kids said or a conversation.  Little notes are great memory triggers, and they are handy to use on days when I didn't get a photo taken.  Yep, there are days that I have slipped and forgotten to take a photo too!  I simply look at my notes and try to capture a photo that goes along with the notes.

Please don't expect to be perfect on this 365 Project!  If you expect to be perfect, you will fail.  Trust me, after 2 years of doing this project, I realize that I am far from perfect...don't tell my husband I said that!

Perhaps some of you are doing Project 365 to improve your photography skills.  Earlier this year I joined Clickin Moms (click on image to go to their site):

I really enjoy the tutorials that they offer, the advice they give, and the support they have for each other. They have several affordable membership packages available.

I have added my 2009 Project 365 template to the Owl Tree Studio store:

I love this template because it can be rotated and flipped for a fresh weekly look.  The photo boxes can be re-sized to better fit your photos.   It's 20% off right now too!  Here are a few pages from my 2009 book:

This was my black and white stage...don't judge!  :)

You can see the whole book here:

   Click here to view this photo book.

Make sure and stop by tomorrow for Free Template Tuesday.  The template will coordinate with my Daily Digi blog post on asymmetrical design!