Virtual Photographer. LOVE IT!

Anyone else have VF? I love it. It takes the guess work out of a lot of things. I love to play around with settings, making my pics look their best and VF helps so much. Here is a photo I took of Sasha this past weekend. Pretty decent photo. The grass was tickling her nose. Heehee...

And here is that same photo after I played with it in VF. LOVE them all.

Hallowen QP

Hello all! I hope this week finds you dry and warm. It's been raining here in PA for a couple days and it's getting colder. The leaves are SO beautiful though. We're really in peak season right now. We were outside this weekend with the kids and I took some good photos of them playing in the leaves. I'll try and post them later.


For now, I have a QP for you. It's from Ellie over at Sugar Snap Scraps. I used her Halloween kit to make this. Isn't it great? I especially love the ghost! I hope you can use it for a Halloween pic this year! My son is going to be the EVIL Spiderman and my daughter is going to be that white kitty cat (Marie) from Disney. Trick or Treat is tomorrow here in our town. Mike is going to miss it because he's flying back from Grand Rapids. So, for the first hour I'll be taking Lucas around the neighborhood with Sasha in the stroller and then after that, we'll pass candy out at our house. I'll try and post pics as soon as I can.



You can download HERE

New QP...

Hello all. Just a quick note tonight as I am exhausted and Mike is waiting to watch a movie with me. I have a new quick page for you. I used a kit from Ellie over at http://www.sugarsnapscraps.blogspot.com/. I used her Autumn kit for this freebie! Aren't the colors just gorgeous? So rich. Makes me want to get a beautiful sweater on and go sit on the back porch with a good cup of hot chocolate! Mmmm.... She's got some exciting new news to tell you about but you'll have to go visit her blog to find out! ;)

Our realtor comes tomorrow and the house is all set. Now we just need to get the sign in the yard and SELL THIS THING! :) Sooner we sell, the sooner we move closer to home. YEA! Have a good night everyone!

You can download it HERE

Big sale on Caz kits at Deco-Pages!

BIG NEWS! Carol (Caz38) is having a HUGE sale at DecoPages! ALL of her kits are on sale for $2 or LESS until October 31st! That's a steal in my book! Even her brand new kit will be on sale. Please jump right over and snag some of her beautiful work!

New logo....

So, I was playing around tonight and came up with this cute logo. What do you guys think? If you saw this on my kits would you recognize it? I want something that'll catch people eye's and go...oh yeah...she's the lady who does the QP's and blah blah blah.... :)

Taking a break from designing....

kits, that is. :) Right now we have too much going on in our lives for me to even think of designing more kits. I have about a billion ideas of what I want to do but with this move, most of my time and energy is being zapped for that. I'm sure you can understand. I will, however, still post daily QP freebies! YEA! My first love anyway. ;) I'll be back to the kit designing after the move (a month or two?).

Things are coming along smoothly with the packing. Mike flies out to GR (Grand Rapids) on Wednesday (EARLY) then will fly home LATE Thursday night (about midnight). He'll miss Trick or Treat with the kids (bummer) and is tore up about it. Then we leave the next morning for Ohio because we have a family wedding to attend on Saturday. Ugh. This driving is going to kill us. Well, after 5 years of living 7 hours away from family, we're kind of used to it but we're also VERY sick of it. It wasn't so bad when it was just the two of us but now that there are 4 of us, it's gotten a bit complicated. That's why we're SO excited to only be 2.5 hours away from family after the move. What a piece of cake drive! :) We can actually drive the ENTIRE way home without stopping if we had to! That's so much easier when you have 2 kids in tow. I'm sure most of you know.

Well, enough babbling about me. Here is the freebie for tonight. I used Carol's (Caz38) kit at Deco-Pages. It's her "My Boy" kit and it's to die for. I LOVE the elements that she has with it and the colors are so, so, so....boy-ish!

I hope you enjoy. Please visit her site above and let her know you found her through me! :)

Here is the preview:

Download HERE.

Sorry about MIA....

Sorry I've been MIA for a bit. We found out on Monday that we're moving! YEA!!! I'm happy to be moving. We've been in PA long enough. We found out we're moving back to Michigan so I'm VERY happy. We're going to be so close to both of our families again.

Needless to say this week has been a whirlwind. As soon as we found out we've been taking all our spare time to prepare the house for the market and to look at homes in the Greater Grand Rapids area. If anyone lives there, please let me know of some good places to look for homes. My brother lives there so I already have a clue but it's nice to get another person's perspective.

Anyway, here is a QP I've had stored away. It's from http://www.nanas-attic.blogspot.com/ and it's from her Old Glory kit. Here is the preview:

I hope you enjoy it.

You can download HERE.

I'll try to get on when I can to keep things flowing. It'll probably be spotty for a week or two but I'll do my best! Stick with me!

Chrissy Hanson...

Thank you so much for your offer to do some QP's with your kits! I went over and took a look at your products and I must say, "you've got talent, girl!" :) Your Boo Boo kit is probably one of the cutest kits I've seen in a long time! Here is a preview for those interested:

It's simply adorable! Great for scrapping those pics of your kids (or friends and family) that have had surgery or have gotten "boo-boo's". Great way to remember just how they got that scar! She has some pretty great kits out there and some commercial use stuff as well. PLease check out her stuff at The Scrapping Garden HERE.

New QP to start off your weekend right!

Hello all! I have an adorable QP for you today (well, I think so). It's from Ellie over at SugarSnapScraps. I used her newest FREEBIE kit, "Annabelle". Isn't it adorable? I swear, this girl comes up with some awesome stuff. She just added her alpha to this kit but I made the QP before she released that. I couldn't wait to use it! So, if you want to add some alpha to this QP, go snag it now! The entire kit is gorgeous. As always, leave her a little love and let her know I sent you over there. As a designer myself (LOL) I like to know where people heard about my freebies. (Oh and a quick Thank you to Ellie herself for so graciously granting me permission to create QP's with her kits. I'm so excited about this I can't say it enough!). xoxo


You can download it HERE

Okay, .rar vs. .zip....the scoop

Okay, so I think i'm going to stick with .rar files for now. Okay, stop the groaning....but it seems only a couple of you can't get .rar files right now. Well, all that is about to change. There are a couple of sites you can go to do download the files needed to unzip .rar files (for free!). Here are a couple websites (as told to me by some nice readers)....

Danielle said...
An interesting question... and I don't have an answer. However, I DO know that there's a free program that will unzip .rar files. It's called unzipthemall and can be found here: http://www.herve-thouzard.com/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=6

Ames said...
Not sure about a program to zip for free, but for those who wish to download and use the rar files you've created can download the free 7-zip program. It will download rar files by using a right click. Hope this helps!

Sindiego said...
You can download Stuffit trial version. After 30 days, you will be asked to purchase it or lose some of the extras. You can continue to use this program as long as you wish without cost. You don't need any of the features that you would have to pay for to zip and unzip files. I have used it for over a year, now, without problem.

Ellie said...
Shawn, I recommend 7-Zip. You can zip/unzip files with that and it's free. (And like someone commented above, it also unzips rar files.)Here's the link: http://www.7-zip.org/

MaggieMae said...
You can still use rar files and let people know that "Extract Now" is a free program that extracts rar and zip files. It's so easy.

Thank you to all of you who took the time to help me out with this. It seems all they have to do is go to one of these sites and download the free program to unzip .rar files. Then they'll be able to unzip other designers stuff that use .rar files. I know there are a few out there.

I'm currently working on 2 new QP's. I'll have those for you this weekend. Until then, here is a new QP from Nana again using her "Sweet n Sassy" kit. Enjoy!

You can download it HERE.

LOL

OMG...I signed on here to post something and then when I got to the posting page I couldn't think of what I was supposed to be blogging about. I guess I need to go to bed. It's 1:15am and I've been on the computer for 4.5 hours now. And I didn't really accomplish much except to catch up on emails, and clean out all my kits that I downloaded in my newbie frenzie! LOL! You know the kits that aren't really you're style but you downloaded them anyway just to HAVE them? I have so many of those that I needed to clear them out.

Oh, NOW I remember why I got on here. A couple of you had asked what I looked like or wanted to see a pic of me. Well, it's not a great one but it'll do. Here I am (with my daughter Sasha)...in all my messy mommy hair glory.

Lookie! Lookie! Lookie to the left!

YEA!!! My day has been made! This actually happened last week but I was heading out of town so I didn't get a chance to blog about it! Ellie over at SugarSnapScraps has nominated me for a Creative Blogger Award! YEA! What a sweatheart she is. Her blog is amazing too. She gives out so many freebies of such high quality. Please go visit her blog and tell her I sent you! Thanks again Ellie. You're the best! MUAH!

zip vs. rar files

Okay, I never claimed to be a genius and this just goes to show it's a good thing I didn't. Okay, I know most people zip their files but for me, when I went to zip it...I had the rar to use. Some of you have written that you can't open the rar files. Okay, I'll zip them. But, I don't have a zip program and when I go to winzip to download a program to zip them, I have to pay for it? Is there something I am missing? Is there a zip program I can use that's free? ARGH!!! Please, if anyone knows where I can get a zip program, let me know. I'll zip them instead. TXS!

Complete Stick People Love Kit!

Okay, so I decided to put the entire kit up at one time instead of making you guys come back for the elements tomorrow. ;) I really like this kit. There is just something about stick people that makes me smile. There were a ton of elements that I wanted to do but only did about 75% of them. I found that when I started I kind of went off half-a$$ed about the whole thing and my mind was racing. I couldn't focus because I had so many ideas. It drove me nuts. So, I am now getting organized with my thoughts. I have a new notebook for kit ideas (colors, themes etc) and a folder for all the things I come across that inspires me. Also, if I see something in someone elses kit it always sparks my creativity so I have a special section for element ideas. And I'm trying hard not to put all my ideas into each kit because that would take the wind out of my sails very quickly. I have to feel like I have something new to contribute to each kit. Of course the standards will always be there (pic frames, swirls etc) but I want to do something new (to me) each kit. This time around was the stick pins. My first go at them and I think they came out cute.

Anyway, I hope you like it. Please leave some lovin' if you snag my freebie! Thanks! (Oh, the files are big so in the future I'll try to break them up into smaller ones if they're this big. Sorry!)

Here are the Elements (not all shown):

You can download the elements Here.

Here are the papers (not all shown):

You can download the Papers Here

I'm back! (With a freebie too!)

Hello all! I'm back from our weekend trip to Toledo. It was very nice and exhausting. I'll tell more about it after I get a good nights rest. I've been on the computer all night trying to finish up my next kit. I think you're going to like it. I think I have the paper making down pretty good, now I've been working on the quality of my elements. I've tried some new things. I hope you enjoy. I'll have it for you PROBABLY tomorrow. I won't promise but I'll try my hardest to get it done. For now, I will leave you with a QP freebie.

This QP I made from Nana's "Monkey Business" kit. I hope you all enjoy it. As always, leave some lovin...it really helps keep me going and makes my day. xoxo

You can download the QP Here.

Great Deal at Deco-Pages

Carol (caz38) has a brand new kit for you called "Shabby Elegance"! It's GORGEOUS! Here is a little preview:

She is selling this gorgeous kit at Deco-Pages for only $2!!! That's a steal! That price is only good for 2 days until Friday. Then it goes up to full price. You can check her designer page HERE to buy the kit. She also has a new freebie on her blog, please check it out HERE.

I also have a freebie for you tonight. This is part of Pillowgirls "Baby's First Steps" kit. Please visit her blog HERE to see all the wonderful freebies she has for us. She's amazing. I used this QP to capture my sons first steps. Here is my QP with it:

Here is the preview (I fixed a typo on my original QP):

You can download it Here.

Baby Bundle Elements are here!

Here you are. The elements I promised you last night. I hope you enjoy them. I'm working on a couple new kit ideas today. I won't get started really until this weekend is over. But look for a new kit next week. I will also have a couple new QP's for you this week, so please keep checking back.

Toodles!

You can download HERE

Baby Bundle Papers

Well, here are the Baby Bundle papers. I hope you like them. I had a blast making them. I used overlays and brushes. I'm just getting used to using brushes (even made the ones you see on the papers!). There are so many things they are good for! The elements I have created for this kit will be coming up tomorrow. I must say, I love them. Some cute, unique things in there I think. I don't know. What I think is cute and unique may be ho-hum to some of you. I guess I'm still giddy that I am actually creating my own kits now. I tell ya, from where I was 6 months ago to where I am now...it's amazing. I wish I had more time to devote to this. Maybe someday when I'm quicker, I will. But for now, it's may spare time hobby. I love to share all I've done with you guys so you'll get my best work and my worst work. So, just throw out what you don't want to use. And if you like my stuff, keep coming back! Oh, and tell others!

On that note....here are the papers!

You can download them HERE

Creating is such a good outlet.

I love to create. Always have. I've never had such a great platform to do it on though. My introduction to digital scrapbooking has been the best thing for me these last 18 months or so.(husband and children excluded of course). Thanks D! (MUAH)

Today I started working on my newest kit and what do ya know...it's DONE! It's called Baby Bundle and I just LOVE it! There are some really great elements in this one. New things that I've just learned how to do. I think you're really going to like it. At least I hope you do. Here are the colors I've chosen.

I have 10 papers and 23 elements. I might even add more this week if I get a chance. We're heading back to Ohio (like I said earlier) so I've got to make sure the house is in order and the laundry is caught up. So, I might not be around as much. I'll be posting the kit sometime tonight or tomorrow so please check back. I still have to zip and check all the files first. ;)

I do have another QP for you though. This one is using Nana's "Hot Summer Days" kit. Please check her blog out at http://www.nanas-attic.blogspot.com/. Here is the preview:

Please download HERE.

Ohh...

You guys are in for a treat with my next kit. I just spent 3 hours playing with my new "helps" in making kits! YEA!!!! Can't wait to show it off!

13,000 hits in September!

WOW! That's pretty impressive for my first month up and running. Thank you all for your words of encouragement and advice. I appreciate all of it. Thanks so much! Can't wait to see what October holds! MUAH!!!!

Summer Fades to Fall Elements

Hello all! I finally got the elements done. My ribbons are MUCH better now! I've been learning so many things these last few weeks. I hope you can tell this kit is better than the last. I'm hoping each kit gets better and better. Oh, and I included an alpha in this one! YEA!!!!

Let's see...nothing much going on here. We're heading back to Ohio (Toledo) on Friday for the weekend. Mike has a annual family golf tournament to play in on Saturday. So, we're heading home from Friday until Monday. Should be a good time. I love my IL's dearly so it's always so nice to see them. Lucas really loves them as well.

Well, I know I had a lot of things to talk about today but at the moment they are slipping my mind. Oh, I had a impromptu (sp?) yard sale this weekend. I got rid of all of the BIG baby things....swing, bouncer, high chair etc. As well as some clothing. Mike said I could use whatever I made on the yardsale for digiscrap stuff. I'm so excited. I'm going to go now and see what my little heart wants to purchase. I've only got $80 to spend but that's not too bad for 2 hours worth of a yard sale! :) Plus my basement and kitchen are a lot less cluttered.

Here are the elements. I hope you enjoy them.

You can download them HERE. Don't forget to leave some lovin'! I LOVE reading the comments. Keeps me going on to the next kit! (Which I already have an idea in mind.)