Don't Miss This Freebie!

If you haven't heard....Get It Scrapped!'s Jane Howden is offering a FREE class this year called, "The Street Where You Live:

In this12-month class, you will use sketch bundles, digital templates, prompts, inspiration pieces, and challenges to take a fresh look at your community and get your "neighborhood" scrapbooked. Whether you live in suburbia, a rural community, a large city, the southern or northern hemisphere, Jane wants to take you on a year-long journey of discovery and documentation of your daily life both inside and outside of your home. So If you're ready to:

•Understand the bigger picture of how you fit into the place where you live.
•Think about how you interact with the people sharing that common ground on a daily basis.
•Discover new ways to see familiar sights.
•Consider the history of "hometown" life.
•Make a 24-page album to treasure.

Then this class is definitely for you!!!
 
Each new class posts on the 22nd of every month and its not too late to start.  Both January's and February's lessons are just waiting for you to take part in!  Click here for more information on how to get started scrapping "The Street Where you Live"!

A New Journey: Crazy Daisy Kits Design Team!

I was so excited to learn that I have been invited to join the Crazy Daisy Kit Club's 2010 Design Team!  This looks like a super fun bunch of gals I'll be working with...and with a mini album in every kit, it can't get any better!  Thanks so much to Kimberly and Jennifer for this amazing opportunity!  I simply can't wait to get this pary started!  Here's a peek at their March Kit...now can you see why I'm so excited!

Click on the photo above to visit their blog!

Message in a Bottle

Every year for Valentine's Day my husband struggles when it comes to gifts:  I don't particularly love chocolate...I'm allergic to perfume...I don't wear jewelry...and we DO NOT do fresh flowers! (NOTE: Fresh Flowers, Cats and Laptops don't compliment each other...if you did not know this, please take note! lol)  POOR JAKE!

Luckily I don't have the same problem when it comes to his gift!  This year, nothing says "I Love You" like a few meaningful words and M&Ms!  Better yet...his gift only cost me fifty cents and took me less than half of my lunch hour to make! 

Still looking for a quick last minute idea for that special someone?  No problem...stop by the convenient store, pick up a bag of their favorite little candies, scratch a special note for them on a piece of paper, roll it up, stick it in a bottle and then fill the bottle with the candy! Happy Valentine's Day!

Lights, Camera...ACTION!

My quest to become a better photographer, began over ten years ago.  Now after 6 classes, 9 cameras, 2 versions of Photoshop and 15,000+ photos, I have realized that while (with the miracles of photoshop) there really is no such thing as a bad picture...there is rarely such thing as a perfect picture...right out of the camera that is!  No matter how much I love a photo when I am reviewing it on my camera, or when I'm opening it in Photoshop for the first time...I can still rarely resist tweaking the contast or boosting the color, or maybe trying it out in black and white or sepia, to make it "my version" of PERFECT.

While I personally enjoy, the sometimes long process of "tweaking" my photos.  I can also appreciate the value of simple, time saving tools, like Photoshop Actions--which can make this fun and creative part of the editing process a cinch, while taking your photos to the next level!

This is the "Raspberry Tea" Action (included in the Coffee Shop: Coffee Bar, Vivid & Barista Action Set Download from The Coffee Shop, which has a plethora of fabulous and FREE actions, tutorials, presets, ect.  I absolutely love the soft, dreamy effect that it has added to this photo, with one simple click of a mouse!

Long story, short: I've learned that its ok to save yourself a little time here and there, and why not get great photo effects while you're at it! Check out my favortie sites for great actions for both Photoshop and Photoshop Elements:

The Coffee Shop (photoshop and Photoshop Elements)
Pioneer Woman  (Photoshop Only-some tutorials for Elements Users)
Totally Rad Actions (Photoshop Only)
EZ Actions (Photoshop and Photoshop Elements)
Surreal Colors and Tritones (Photoshop Only)

Another Freebie Favorite!

So its been a while since my last Favorite Friday Freebie...but I figured it was time to bring it back out again and dust it off!  And this freebie is just right for such an occasion!  Available at Songbird Ave, this Mosaic Heart Template is perfect for all of your Valentine's Day los and projects or for your everyday Caleb Collage!

"Songbird Avenue, Inc. is a digital scrapbooking-based online boutique whose proceeds are donated to various charities each month in an effort to give compassionately to those in need"(Songbird Ave. Mission Statement).  Since May of 2007, they have raised and donated over $25,000.00 to various charieties, including the Make A Wish Foundation, American Diabetes Association and Autism Speaks  --just to name a few.  For more information about this site and the charities they support, visit  http://www.songbirdavenue.com/faq.  For the month of February over 56 designers have come together to create a HUGE (1.2 GB to be exact) collaboration kit Port au Prince, from which all proceeds are donated to Doctors Without Borders, to aid them with their relief efforts in Haiti.  When you stop by to download this terrific template...don't forget to take a look at their kit for the month, at only $8.00, its a steal!... Not to mention it's sales support a very good cause!

Yo-yo Madness

I had seen them everywhere: on scrapbook layouts and headbands, on necklaces and handbags.  They were quite simply the most adorable thing ever!  I bet I could make those, I said to myself...not even knowing a name by which to call them...

It wasn't long after that I took Tania Willis'  Beautifully Handmade Embellishments class at Get It Scrapped, when I would find out:  that the name for these little puffs of cuteness were Yo-yos and once I knew how...they were simple as could be to make!  Soon I was covering everything with them, scarves, tutus, bookbags you name it...my niece soon wanted every stitch of clothing she owned adorned with them! And I was happy to oblige!

Have you been wondering how to add these adorable little embellies to all of your projects?  Well then heres your chance:  Tania Willis' is not only re-offering her class "Beautifully Handmade Embellishments" this month, but she's giving away a pass for free!  Hop on over and find out how you can WIN!!!  And the fun doesn't stop with the Yo-yos...NO!  Learn to make all sorts of fabulous embelishments for your scrapbook layouts and more!

All About the LOVE!!!

Wow I guess its been a while...hasn't it! January was a very scrappy month for me!  With Project tutorials and published los, guest design spots and Creative Team los,  a huge online crop and so many great challenges--you could say my January was all bout the SCRAPPY!

This month will be no exception as far as crazy goes, only instead of being all about the scrappy...February is of course all about the LOVE!  With Caleb turning 2 this week, and Valentine's Day coming up, as well as Jake and I's Anniversary, later on in the month--we are reminded of the greatest of all blessings that we have in our lives!  We are truly lucky to have so much love!  So I'm taking a step back this month to appreciate all of it, but not to worry...all that love, is sure to give me something to scrap about!