A Scrap Guy...

Cute Layouts by Lajuana

2009-11-12T07:45:00.011-05:00

Here's a couple more very cute layouts using my "Valentine Be Mine" kit. These were was created by Lajuana aka "scrapladyandmore" .

The first one is titled "Minnie Mouse" and was formerly on display in the Gallery at Deco-Pages.com:

The second one is titled "I Love Minnie Mouse" and was also formerly on display in the Gallery at Deco-Pages.com:

Thank you Lajuana for choosing and using my design!!!

Unfortunately, the "Valentine Be Mine" kit is no longer available for sale at Deco-Pages.com since the site has closed.

Happy Veteran's Day!!!

2009-11-12T00:05:00.010-05:00

Here's a very patriotic layout using my "Patriot Colors" kit. This one was created by Cyndi Waldmann aka "Digi-Scrap". It is titled "US Veteran's Day" and shows the development of the United States Veteran's Day. It was formerly on display in the Gallery at Deco-Pages.com:

(Unfortunately, the image no longer avaiable)

Thank you Cyndi for choosing and using my design!!!

Unfortunately, the "Patriot Colors" kit is no longer available for sale at Deco-Pages.com since the site has closed.

Starving Artists Multi-Store Tagger Collab On Sale Starting Today...

2009-07-01T00:34:00.009-04:00

180 designers set out to make a unique tagger kit, with 1 common color scheme. The result was the LARGEST tagger collab in HISTORY!

All of your favorite designers, All of your favorite stores are hosting this One-of-a-kind multi-store collab!

A list of stores are provided as well as a list of designers on the Starving Artist Blog. Be sure to check them all out to get one heck of a colorful, unique tagger MASSIVE collab.

But Hurry!!! This collab ONLY runs through the month of July at a Low introductory rate per kit of $2.00 each!

Stay tuned for the biggest collab kit in digi-scrap history....

2009-07-01T00:08:00.002-04:00

The starving artist collab is the first of it's kind for taggers, designers, and the digital community! Never before has so many different designers and stores come together for a common purpose! To designs and have fun! The starving artist collab kits will not share a common theme, but a common color scheme. Each kit is unique within it's design, and they are HUGE!!! There is a minimum of 10-15 papers and 30-50 elements PER KIT!!! And each for $2.00! WOW!!! And they are only available for the month of July as a Mega Collab!!! Be a part of history! There will never be a multi-store collab like this! Follow the blog, check out the designers and the stores and mark your calendar's for July 1st.....That's when the amazing kits take off. And remember, each store will have a special section entitled Starving Artist Collab.

Retro Design's Newest Quick Page Freebies

2009-06-14T23:06:00.021-04:00

The following two layouts were created using Quick Page Freebies created by Helen Weber (Retro Designs). They were formerly available through Deco-Pages.com:

Quick Page Freebie #1

Quick Page Freebie #2

Meandering Salamander

Journaling:
This was a tough critter to get a photo of on our recent trip to Florida. He kept meandering everywhere! My daughter, Nicole, tried to get a photo of another one but no such luck. Patience and persistence finally paid off or I simply wore him out for this photo.

Notes:
This is another great QP by Helen Weber (Retro Designs). Many others who have used the QP have opted to do extractions. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do an extraction or not, but the photo of the salamander on the wall behind the bushes lent itself to an extraction of the bushes. Unfortunately the extraction covers up a third of the frame Helen created. If you know me by now, you know I can never leave well enough alone. The quick page comes with a Sun clock with it’s time set at ten minutes after 10:00. I took my photo at 4:00 in the afternoon, so I had to change the time on the Sun clock. With a little cutting, pasting, mirroring, blending and erasing the Sun clock now displays the corrected time.

Credits:
Photos: Tom Dillion II
Quick Page Freebie #1: Helen Weber (Retro Designs) - Time Began In A Garden Quick Page Freebie
Font: Papyrus
Software: PSCS2

Potting Shed Window - St. Thomas

Notes:
This is another great QP by Helen Weber (Retro Designs). The view through a Potting Shed Window is something I would love to see everyday. If I could see this view everyday, it would mean I was living on the beautiful island of St. Thomas in the Caribbean. This photo was taken on a photo tour of the island during our recent Caribbean cruise on January 29 – February 8, 2009. It was taken from the top of the mountain looking down at the Port of Havensight. There are two ships in view in the middle upper right window pane. The ship to the right is the Emerald Princess, which we were cruising on. I made some subtle changes to the QP. I changed the text on the plaque in the upper left to say St. Thomas. I added a plant in the bucket on the shelf. The plant is an extraction of a plant I took a photo of on the cruise. Finally, I added a ship key chain to the right side of the window.

Credits:
Photos: Tom Dillion II
Quick Page: Helen Weber (Retro Designs) - Time Began In A Garden Quick Page Freebie #2
Font: Ravie
Software: PSCS2

Thank you very much again Helen Weber (Retro Designs)!!!

Lori Staton's Flutterfly QP Freebie

2008-09-07T16:36:00.020-04:00

33rd Anniversaries

My newest layout was created using a cute Quick Page Freebie designed by Lori Staton for her "Flutterflies" kit. The kit was formerly available at Deco-Pages.com.

Journaling:
Roses for Cheryl from me and flowers from Linde and Sue to celebrate our… 33rd Anniversaries.

Notes:
I went to college with Linde. He and Sue were married one week before Cheryl and me. Almost every year we go out for dinner to celebrate our anniversaries together. This year started with brunch at our house. Then antiquing in Springfield, Ohio. Then dinner at Red Lobster.

Credits:
Photos: Tom Dillion II
Quick Page: Lori Statton - Flutterfly QP Freebie
Font: Brockscript
Software: PSCS2

Many thanks to Lori for sharing her Flutterfly Quick Page Freebie!!!

Retro Design's Quick Page Freebies

2008-08-24T21:43:00.006-04:00

The following two layouts were created using the very generous Quick Page Freebies by Helen Weber (Retro Designs), which can be found by first going to the Scraps Of Memories Freebies thread in the Deco-Pages Forum. After you're there you must post a message asking if you can join the fun or something to that tune. (You may have to register on the site if you haven't already done so.) Helen will send you a Private Message within Deco-Pages with the link to her first Quick Page Freebie. Once you have completed the Quick Page and posted it in the Gallery, go back to the thread, post a link to your layout and Helen will send another Private Message to you with the link to her second Quick Page Freebie...

Lucretia and Samuel Leiper

Notes:
I was going through my Mother’s collection of family belongings. Something I have done several times before. Only this time while looking through a green metal file box that belonged to my Grandfather (my Mother’s father), I noticed the lid was a little heavier than it should be and there was something rattling in it. Then I noticed a key hole, so I looked through the file box and found a cloth bag containing three keys. One was broke. It was most likely the original for the file box. Another key was too large for the hole. I’m curious what lock it fits? The third key was newer and very shiny. It did not completely match the broken key, but it fortunately fit the hole. It was most likely the replacement for the broken key. I was amazed when I opened this secret compartment in the lid. It contained several rolls of old coins, my Grandfather’s wallet and several envelopes. Each envelope contains photographs of my Mother’s family. Having not seen many photographs of my Mother’s family, this is an absolute gold mine for me. This layout contains some of the contents of one of the envelopes as well as the envelope itself. It was sent by a Mrs. Jenison to my Grandfather in June 1921. This date is based on the date on the letter contained in the envelope and the post mark. The two photographs I placed in the book are of my Grandparents, Lucretia and Samuel Leiper. The four photographs along the bottom are of my Grandmother. The photographs were taken at Mrs. Jenison’s home in Lansing, Michigan and the Conservatory on Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan. What appears to be cards with writing on them are actually the back side of some of the photographs. These were written by Mrs. Jenison. I felt these were journaling enough for this layout. The one I thought was humorous I placed on the book. It says: “Who’s the Jewess? or Hunk?” I thought it was humorous because I thought the term “hunk” was a modern day term… It just proves there’s new under the sun. The sayings on the other two photographs are: ”I always take the best picture when you can’t see what I look like” and “A chicken with a chic pose and a hen face at the Conservatory on Belle Isle, Detroit, Mich.”. The second saying was on the back side of the photograph of my Grandmother in the bottom right of the layout.

Additional Notes: When is a Quick Page not a Quick Page? It's when you want to add something to the layout and you want to place it under an element in the Quick Page. I wanted to place the photographs under the book. It required duplication of the background and then erasing everything around the book. Thus, making the book in the Quick Page it's own element. LOL!!! This was fun! Thanks Helen!!!

Credits:
Photos: Mrs. Jenison
Quick Page Freebie #1: Helen Weber (Retro Designs) - Scraps of Memories kit
Flower Elements: Deb Ammerman – 07 Scrapbook Day kit
Swirl Element: CAZ – Garden Party June 2006 PTP kit
Font: Edwardian Script
Software: PSCS2

Leiper Family

Journaling (left side of book):
LEIPER

Samuel Harper Leiper
b. March 23, 1897
m. December 21, 1921
Lucretia Isabell Bashaw
b. August 24, 1898
Hugh Miller Leiper
b. November 1, 1922
Moneta Frances Leiper
b. January 31, 1924
Glenna Joanne Leiper
b. December 28, 1928

Journaling (under photo):
Samuel Harper Leiper
b. March 23, 1897
d. May 13, 1935

Notes:
I decided to make this QP layout a mini-genealogy of my Leiper Family. The middle photo features my Grandmother Lucretia Isabell Bashaw Leiper holding my Mother Glenna Joanne Leiper on her lap with my Uncle Hugh Miller Leiper standing on her right and my Aunt Moneta Frances Leiper standing on her left. The photo in the book features my Grandfather Samuel Harper Leiper.

Credits:
Photos: Unknown Photographer
Quick Page Freebie #2: Helen Weber (Retro Designs) - Scraps of Memories kit
Font: Harrington
Software: PSCS2

Thank you very much Helen Weber (Retro Designs)!!!

More Layouts Using Patriot Colors

2008-08-24T17:16:00.006-04:00

Here's a couple very cute layouts, that have used my Patriot Colors kit and are on display in the Gallery at Deco-Pages:

The layout below is titled "Stars of the Stage" was created by Lajuana aka scrapladyandmore.

The layout below is titled "Kung Fu Poser" was created by Lajuana aka scrapladyandmore.

Thank you Lajuana aka scrapladyandmore for choosing and using my design!!!

Patriotic Layouts

2008-07-19T08:33:00.003-04:00

The following two Patriotic layouts were created using the Quick Pages from my new Patriot Colors kit, which can be found in the Deco-Pages store...

American Eagle

Journaling:
''O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!''

This is a photo of the American Eagle artwork painted on the wall at the VFW Post 4044 in Columbus, Ohio. It was painted by a local artist, John Buttaci. I had the fortunate chance to photograph it at my Uncle Hugh Leiper’s Going Away Party on June 12, 2005.

Credits:
Photo: Tom Dillion II
All Elements: Tom Dillion II – Patriot Colors kit
Font: Eight Fifteen
Software: PSCS2

Uncle Hugh

Journaling:
Hugh Leiper
VFW 4044 Post Commander
1988-1989

Note:
This is a photo of a photo of my Uncle Hugh. I was amazed when I found the photo hanging on the wall of the VFW Post 4044 in Columbus, Ohio at his Going Away Party on June 12, 2005. This is my Mother’s older brother. I couldn’t understand why he was having his Going Away Party at the VFW until I found the photo and realized he was a member and former Commander.

Credits:
Photo: Tom Dillion II
All Elements: Tom Dillion II – Patriot Colors kit
Font: Pythagoras
Software: PSCS2

Patriot Colors

2008-07-14T21:35:00.009-04:00

Preview 1....................................................Preview 2

Preview 3

Patriot Colors is now in the Deco-Pages store! I've been working off and on this kit for a year. I'm glad it took a year because of all the techiques I've learned and incorporated in the kit. They make the kit so much better.

Patriot Colors is just in time to scrap your 4th of July layouts. It celebrates patriotism with the deep colors of Red, White and Blue. I love these colors. To me they stand for freedom, honor and country. This kit can be used for any occasion. Let your imagination be your guide.

All Kit Elements were Created at 300 dpi.

The Kit Includes:

- 21 Background Papers
- 9 Bows
- 9 Clips
- 15 Brads
- 3 Flowers
- 6 Prongs
- 17 Ribbons (18” long)
- 2 Quick pages at 12”x12” size

- 82 Total Elements

Check it out in the Deco-Pages store.

More Layouts Using My Designs

2008-07-14T20:52:00.006-04:00

I love to see the layouts that people create. I especially enjoy the layouts that are created using my designs. Following are more layouts on display it the Gallery at Deco-Pages:

The layout below is titled "Only The Shadow Knows". It was created by macochran using my "Wild Thing" kit.

The layout below is titled "Shark Attack". It was created by macochran using my "Wild Thing" kit..

The layout below is titled "Banana Weed". It was created by DebAmmerman using my "Garden Party" kit.

The layout below is titled "Sakura". It was created by 1iceprincess using my "Garden Party" kit.

The layout below is titled "Carolyn's Garden". It was created by 1iceprincess using my "Garden Party" kit.

The layout below is titled "Rockin' with Even Start". It was created by Rhoda Jayne using my "An Art Nouveau Surprise" kit.

The layout below is titled "Summer vacation with Heather". It was created by Rhoda Jayne using my "An Art Nouveau Surprise" kit.

Thank you all so much for choosing and using my designs!!!

My Newest Cruise Layouts

2008-06-05T12:30:00.004-04:00

The following two layouts were created using my "soon to be released" kit fondly named Heather's Hope. Once the kit is complete, it will be available at Deco_Pages.

"Scuba Divers Monument"

Journaling:
Almost directly across Aven Rafael Melgar (the main street of Cozumel), was this very picturesque arched monument of scuba divers and fish. We had no idea what the monument was for, but I needed a picture of Cheryl standing in front of it with the cruise ship in the background. Getting the picture was difficult because of street traffic, tourists on the sidewalk and the Royal Caribbean ship in the background sailing away. We have since learned that this is a monument to scuba divers.

Credits:
Photo: Tom Dillion II
All Elements: Tom Dillion II
Font: Taco Salad and Highland Perk
Software: Photoshop CS2

"Hard at Work"

Journaling:
When we were at Labadee I spotted what appeared to be a cute wishing well in the distance. Upon closer inspection, I found a man sitting comfortably in a chair and realized he was “hard at work” as a life guard.

Credits:
Photo: Tom Dillion II
All Elements: Tom Dillion II
Software: Photoshop CS2

The following layout was created using my "soon to be released" kit named Mex & Margs. Once the kit is complete, it will be available at Deco_Pages.

"Pancho's Backyard"

Journaling:
On the sixth day of our cruise we arrived in Cozumel, Mexico shortly before lunch. As Cheryl and I walked along the main street, we decided we were hungry and needed to try some real Mexican cuisine. We had read many restaurant reviews before the cruise. Pancho’s Backyard was a favorite of most everyone. We decided to try it. We absolutely loved it. They had excellent food, atmosphere and entertainment. We can’t wait to go back.

Credits:
Photo: Tom Dillion II
All Elements: Tom Dillion II
Software: Photoshop CS2

Layouts Created Using My Design

2008-06-05T10:56:00.001-04:00

I love to see the layouts that people create and how they use the same elements differently. I especially enjoy the layouts that are created using my designs. Following are a couple layouts on display it the Gallery at Deco-Pages:

The layout below is titled "Animal Kingdom Parade 3" was created by bonitatime.

The layout below is titled "I Am Leo" was created by macochran.

Thank you both for choosing and using designs I have created!!!

Belize Zoo

2008-06-04T20:24:00.005-04:00

The following layout was created using my Wild Thing kit, which is available in the Deco-Pages store.

Belize Zoo

Journaling:
On the third day of our 2003 Holland America cruise I enjoyed the pleasure of going to the Belize Zoo with my classmate, Bobbie. The best part of the trip was talking to a wonderful person I never really knew in high school. Many thanks to Bobbie for a very fun trip and memorable experience… The Belize Zoo is a short 45 minutes from Belize City, Belize. Tuesday, March 4, 2003.

Credits:
Photo: Tom Dillion II
All Elements: Tom Dillion – Deco-Pages - Wild Thing
Font – Teacher’s Pet
Software: PSCS2

Deco-Pages Wild Thing!!!

2008-03-03T17:16:00.006-05:00

The March PTP (Pass The Pixel) Kit for Club Deco Members is WILD THING! This is a great kit for scrapping a zoo trip or animal safari. All of the contributing designers did such a wonderful job on this wild kit! Following is a collage of all the contributions to the kit:

Unfortunately, I finished mine a little late, so it's not included in the collage pictured above. Following is my contribution:

If you don't know, Deco-Pages is now offering three ways to join Club Deco...

1. 1 year for $36.00
2. 3 months for $15.00
3. 1 month trial for just $7.99

You should give the club a try for a month to see what a great deal it is! You get the equivalent of 12 to 14 kits from the designers! You also get the Color Challenge Starter Kit, and so much more from our Design Team! Please join us today. You can sign up for Club Deco in the Deco-Pages Forum at the following link...

http://board.deco-pages.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3355

Scrap2Basics - May 2007 Mega Kit

2008-03-03T17:04:00.009-05:00

Scrap2Basics - May 2007 Mega Kit

One of the neatest things that happened to me while I was still at the Scrap2Basics site was the invitation to contribute a mini-kit to the May 2007 Mega kit. I was thrilled. I had been on their Creative Team from almost day one and they tutored me and couple others to the point where this invitation was possible. The deadline was only a short period of 5 days, so I was under the gun. I was so excited that I whipped out my contribution in record time. The contribution, fondly named "Mother's Blessings", didn't have to be large, only 5 background papers and 5 elements. The contribution was the start of my designing. Below is a preview of my contribution...

I don't know if I ever had the chance to thank any of them because the site closed shortly after May 2007. So, many thanks go to that entire Scrap2Basics design staff, especially Pamela Gibson, Jennifer Riggins, Melissa Daniel and Heather Heinzer for their tutorship and the start of my digital scrapbook future...

Deco-Pages 2007-2008 Welcome Kit

2008-02-28T19:22:00.001-05:00

The Design Team at Deco-Pages created a new 2007-2008 Welcome Kit, to keep welcoming the Deco-Pages creative member family back to the website, and it gives our new visitors an opportunity to try Digital Scrapbooking Papers and Embellishments at no-cost.

Following is a collage of all the designers contribution to the Welcome Kit:

Following is my contribution to the Welcome Kit:

So far the kit has been getting rave reviews. Please encourage your friends and family to try Digital Scrapbooking, and to come join the fun at Deco-Pages!

Enter Deco-Pages

2008-02-28T19:19:00.005-05:00

When one door closes, another door opens. As a result of my relationship with Patti Bravard and her design position at Deco-Pages, she put out a couple hints to the owners that I might make a good designer. I didn't have much of a resume other than the Valentine Be Mine kit I put together for the Inspiration Challenges at Scrap2Basics and a mini kit addition to the May Mega Kit also at Scrap2Basics.

On May 20, 2007 Pat suggested I contact Deb Ammerman about the possibility of being a designer at Deco-Pages, which I did...

"Hello Deb,

My name is Tom Dillion. I have just been chatting with good friend Patti Bravard. She suggested I contact you about the possibility of being a designer at Deco-Pages. Designing kits is something I have been working toward. I have many ideas in my head. So far I have created one full kit in a Valentines theme and one mini kit in a Mother's Day theme, (which is part of the Scrap2Basics May Mega kit). There are many techniques I want to learn so I can include them in future creations. I would be very interested to know the requirements of being a designer and look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,
Tom Dillion..."

Deb replied the same day...

"Hi Tom,

I saw your Valentines kit on your blog a while ago, when you first visited our site. :) I thought of contacting you, but did not want to step on anyone's toes. I mentioned to Pat that I had seen your kit, and she thought you might be interested, so I asked her to talk to you. Deco-Pages is about creativity and friendship Tom... we are very easy going. We make suggestions, never demands. We love working together as a team, and we are very supportive of one another. We ask our designers to try to create at least two kits a month to add to the store, however we know that making memories with our family and friends comes first... so if may find you get one kit done in a month, and three finalize in another... no one will ever yell at you if you do not get two kits done per month.

Best Regards,
Deb Ammerman
Co-Owner
www.deco-pages.com
deb@deco-pages.com"

I replied 2 days later on May 22, 2007...

"Deb,

I must admit this is very tough decision. My loyalty has been to Scrap2Basics through and through. Pamela Gibson, Jennifer Riggins and Heather Heinzer have taught me a wealth of information and have given me the chance to succeed. I will forever appreciate what they have done for me. It's so depressing for me to see what Scrap2Basics is becoming. I have done everything I can do to promote the site and it's still not looking as good as I had hoped. I think the site is lacking just one little thing to make it a great scrap site and attract people. I have run out of ideas on how to find it, and it's time for me to move on...

I look at Deco-Pages and feel I have found a new scrap home. I love the friendship aspect of the site. That's one of the most important things to me. I love that I have become such great friends with Pat. I'm sure if she lived closer to me, she would already be kicking my behind for not jumping at this opportunity before now. She's such a wonderful person! There is one thing I told her though... scrapping my last cruise comes first before creating kits. I have about 30 layouts created so far and I want to complete my album, so my wife, family, friends and fellow cruisers can enjoy it. It's one of the things that definitely inspires my creativity. I have another cruise coming in January, so I really need to be finished scrapping the last one before then.

I would like to thank you for your wonderful invite and accept your wonderful offer to join Deco-Pages as a designer. This will be fun. You'll have to let me know what I must do and how to participate in the Club Deco program because it sounds very inspiring and fun. I look forward to your reply.

Again, thank you very much,

Tom Dillion..."

Deb replied the next day, May 23, 2007...

"Hi Tom,

I am very excited that you have accepted my invitation to join our design team! :) Please see my comments below....

I am not quite sure what to say... I do not know anything about Scrap2Basics or what is going on... I do know that I am sorry that you had an unpleasant experience, for me, this has to be about creativity, friendship and fun... I hope that you will always feel free to express any concerns you have about anything with me and the Design Team at Deco-Pages. We truly are a team, and we love working together... our friendships are very important to all of us... it is what makes Deco-Pages that site that it is, and we extend that friendship to anyone who finds our site... We love digital scrapbooking, and we value our friendships. We believe in the golden-rule... these things are the foundation on which Deco-Pages is built... it is a very strong foundation. :)

Pat is such a sweetheart... I just love her... she has been on our Creative Team for so long, and has just recently joined the Design Team with her husband. We are having so much fun together.... I can understand how you feel. :)

If I might make a suggestion... (I do this from time to time, and I tell the designers from the beginning, that you should always take what you like and leave the rest.) If you create elements and backgrounds to use for your cruise pages, put them together into a kit to sell, and kill two birds with one stone. One of the things that I tell the designers is to create for yourself... then package it up, and put it up for sale... if it sells, it is icing on the cake, and your kit will be wonderful, because it is something you love.

Tom, one of the things that a designer needs to understand about the digital scrapbooking market (this is something I tell all the new designers who come on board with us) is that no one is getting rich doing this... I don't want you to come into this thinking that you will put a kit up for sale and sell hundreds of them in a matter of days... hey, I would love it if someone proved me wrong, but it just has not been our experience. I want our designers to come into this with their eyes wide open, so that there is no disappointment. This is about creativity and fun... otherwise it would be a horribly bad paying job. That is why we create what we love for ourselves, and any sales we make are just pure fun! Now, don't get me wrong... if you leave a kit up long enough, over time (With a lot of patience), you will get enough sales to justify the time you spent on it... I am NOT saying you will never sell anything... I just want you to know we are honest, and we do not try to pull the wool over anyone's eyes.

I am going to attach a contract for you to look over and sign. Basically, we have to have something in writing because we are a business. I want you to know that you will always be treated with friendship and respect... if you have any questions or concerns about the contract, please let me know and I will do my best to address them. Once you sign the contract and send it back to me (which you can do via email) we will print, sign and send a copy back to you via snail mail, so please include your mailing address on the last page of the contract. After I get your contract back, I will change some settings in the forum and make you a Designer & Moderator, at that point you will be able to see a private section we have in the forum that only our Design Team can see. At that point I will also send you a link to a Welcome Packet for New Designers that explains about Club Deco, about setting up products in the store... and has other important information you will need to know.

Thank you, I am looking forward to getting to know you better, and to sharing this wonderful hobby, and lots of creative fun in our little family of designers. :)

Best Regards,
Deb"

I replied the same day with a signed contract!!! Deb replied May 24, 2007 with...

"Hi Tom,

Welcome Aboard!

I have created a little Welcome Area for Designers, it is a little web site in itself with answers to questions you might have, and links to the tutorial on how to set up your products in the store. I will have to set up user names and passwords for you for the shopping cart, and for FTP. I will send those to you soon.

Please do not hesitate to ask questions. I do have to let you know that I work a "day job" as a graphic designer for a monthly publication that is going to press early next week, so this is an extremely busy week for me. So please forgive me if I do not get back to you as quickly as I would like to. If you have a pressing question, you can post in the private section in the forum for the Design Team, and if I cannot answer you, one of the other designers will be more than happy to help if they can.

Again, I am very excited that you have decided to join us! Welcome aboard! I hope you have lots of fun! How are those cruise pages coming? Have you been creating any elements of your own to use on your pages? Can't wait to see some of them in the gallery!

Best Regards,
Deb"

Wow... a Designer!!! I need to get busy designing!!!

Everyone Still Out There?

2007-10-15T16:41:00.000-04:00

I bet you are. I haven't been though. After 8 months of 70-80 hour work weeks I can finally get back to my Scrap life. One of the things that really bothered me when I started working overtime in March 2007 was the decline and fall of the Scrap2Basics website. From what I understand, and please correct me if I'm wrong, there just wasn't enough traffic coming to the site to justify it staying in business. I learned a lot about digital scrapbooking by being a member of that website.

I gained many friends at that website. One friend in particular, Patti Bravard, helped me through those times. She kept in contact with me telling me of her scrap adventures and keeping my interest alive. She had seen the writing on the wall regarding the demise of the Scrap2Basics website and made her move to Deco-Pages.com. She and her husband, Michel, became a wonderful design team, Paris Designs. They have many beautiful products in the store at Deco-Pages.com. Check them out Here.

Busy, Busy, Busy

2007-04-28T09:46:00.000-04:00

I've been such a bad blogger recently. It's funny when you read other people's blogs. They say much the same thing when they haven't posted in a while. Recently, times and life are so busy that there's much time left for anything.

I had been working 70 hour work weeks starting after my last post, which left little time for scrapping and blogging. I work for a global multi-function engineering company. We had several projects with deadlines that had to be met for review purposes or final submittals. We met the deadlines, but the hours were long. I'm not working the long hours now for the second week, but we still have deadlines. Hopefully, it won't require me working so many hours.

Then add to this... On February 5th my wife and I embarked on our own home-based travel business... CTL2 Travel. This is a long range business venture, which we will do in our retirement years. Hopefully, retirement will come a little sooner than age 65 (or whatever the age is now). It will also afford us to travel at reduced prices. Following is a little information regarding the business:

Our website is: www.ctl2travel.com

We would appreciate you doing us a favor by checking it out. We offer the same great values as the highly advertised sites, and your confirmations come from the same travel vendors such as Holiday Inn and American Airlines, for example. There is zero risk in booking through our travel business. You’ll really love our site! It is one of the best travel and vacation websites on the Internet today. And, you’ll be doing us a huge favor. Anytime you book vacations or travel on our site, you’ll get the same or better deals, and we earn a commission. If you book through the highly advertised sites, you merely help them pay for their advertising. When you book through us, we get paid for my word-of-mouth advertising. We know we can count on you to use our site and to spread the word!

Here's the site again: www.ctl2travel.com

Please add it to your "favorites" so it will be handy next time you travel!

Have a great travel and scrap day!

Inspiration Challenge #2: Feb. 15th - Feb. 28th at Scrap2Basics

2007-02-17T08:12:00.001-05:00

Inspiration Challenge #2: Feb. 15th - Feb. 28th at Scrap2Basics hosted by me.

In keeping with the current season, MARDI GRAS, the inspiration for this second Inspiration Challenge is an art image titled "New Orleans Mardi Gras Man" that I found while surfing through Fotosearch.com. Use the art image as inspiration, select your own elements, some pictures and create an inspired layout.

Following is a view of the print:

New Orleans Mardi Gras Man

There will be a gift for all those who participate in the challenge.

I invite and look forward to your participation.

I'm Still in a Valentine Giving Mode...

2007-02-17T07:44:00.000-05:00

Papers........................................................Elements

Any person who posts a layout in the Inspiration Gallery at Scrap 2 Basics using the Inspiration from the 1st Inspiration Crop or 1st Inspiration Challenge by 11:59 PM EST, February 28th, 2007 and posts a comment on this blog will receive my "Valentine Be Mine" kit.

1st Crop Inspiration....................................1st Challenge Inspiration

My First Kit!!!

2007-02-17T06:39:00.000-05:00

Papers........................................................Elements

I finally completed my first kit... Valentine Be Mine. It features 12 papers, 6 ribbons, 2 prongs, 8 photo corners, 3 paper clips, 4 heart clips, 2 brads and 2 buttons. It was fun to create. It involved a little work and thought, which was the fun.

I created it to give as gifts for particpating in the 1st inspiration Crop and 1st Inspiration Challenge at Scrap 2 Basics. The 1st Inspiration Crop was held during the Grand Re-opening of Scrap 2 Basics on February 4th, 2007. Since it was Valentine season, the Inspiration for the crop had to be something valentines. I found an art print titled "Two Hearts" by Laura Lynen at Art Select that I thought was perfect inspiration. Following is a view of the print:

I say "I thought" because only three persons participated... and I was one of the three! The participation gift I gave them was the Papers half of my "Valentine Be Mine" kit. Following is my inspired layout using papers and elements from my own kit:

The participation gift for the 1st Inspiration Challenge (explained in the post below) was the elements half of the kit. Again, only three persons participated... and I was one of the three. The participation wasn't too bad for the 1st crop and challenge. I'm very glad four people participated. It's just like the saying "If you build it, they will come" from the movie "Field of Dreams".

So far the four persons really like the kit. I know it's past Valentines Day now, but I can't wait to see any layouts created with the kit.

Have a great scrapbooking day!

Inspiration Challenge #1: Feb. 6th - Feb. 14th at Scrap2Basics

2007-02-11T07:20:00.000-05:00

Inspiration Challenge #1: Feb. 6th - Feb. 14th is New at Scrap2Basics and hosted by me.

Inspiration, as you already know, comes from everywhere. It could come from a simple color swatch, a beautiful dress or a pair of socks in a catalog, the quilt your grandmother made, the holidays, birthdays, greeting cards, art, places you have visited (like the Caribbean or Hawaii), car shows, sports teams, layouts by other scrappers, templates, advertisement, websites, family, etc., etc., etc. It's endless.

The inspiration for this first Inspiration Challenge is a template provided by Jennifer Riggins. She and Pamela Gibson used it on their blogs back in October for their Happy Hauntings Contest. The contest was unfortunately not well attended, so I asked if we could re-use it for this first Inspiration Challenge because it definitely inspired me.

Following is a preview of the template:

Following is my layout it inspired:

There will be a gift for all those who participate in the challenge.

I invite and look forward to your participation.

One Great Thing...

2007-02-10T06:40:00.000-05:00

For me, one great thing in digital scrapping is being a member of the Creative Team for the Scrap2Basics Design Team. As such I get to work with a great Store of products from 7 fabulous designers:

..........Pamela Gibson Designs
..........Jennifer Riggins Designs
..........Curious Platypus Designs (Susanne Frey)
..........Fabella Designs
..........Terragina (Kerstin Schreck)
..........Melissa Daniel (Four Cubs Designs)
..........Sus Designs

Following are some of their wonderful products that are great to use for Valentines layouts:

Pamela Gibson Designs

Jennifer Riggns Designs

Susanne Frey (Curious Platypus Designs)

Fabella Designs

Terragina (Kerstin Schreck)

Melissa Daniel (Four Cubs Designs)

Sus Designs

Following is a beautiful mega kit titled Unconventional Love, which they all worked together making:

Scrap2Basics Design Team

Go check these products out and create some Valentine layouts!

Have a great Valentine scrapping day!

Finally... A Completed Double Layout

2007-01-27T11:13:00.002-05:00

There are many events from the cruise that are absolutely impossible to fit on one layout. It's also really tough to create another similar layout using the same elements and make it coordinate with the first layout. One of those events was the Meet & Mingle held on the second day of our cruise. The layouts and the journaling below explain the Meet & Mingle:

Meet & Mingle - Part 1...................................Meet & Mingle - Part 2

I created these layouts using the Soda Shoppe Sensations kit by Pamela Gibson (pictured below).

Part 1 Journaling:
A Meet & Mingle is a gathering of Cruise Critic members who have chatted with one another on the Cruise Critic message board prior to their cruise. The Meet & Mingle is hosted by Royal Caribbean on all sailings that are 7 nights or longer in duration. A lounge or other venue is provided, as are light refreshments and some prizes. The minimum requirement to earn a Meet & Mingle is 25 registered members. We were very fortunate on the CruiseCritic.com Message Board for our Western Caribbean Winter Getaway Cruise during the week of January 21-28, 2006 aboard the Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas. 66 Cruise Critic members registered and chatted with each other for 10 months prior to the cruise. The Meet & Mingle was held during our first day at sea, January, 2006 at 11:30 a.m. in the Cosmopolitan Lounge on Deck 14. It was hosted by a Royal Caribbean representative and was very fun because you could finally put faces with names. Pictured above are 31 of the 66 registered members.

Part 2 Journaling:
There is no real journaling on this layout other than the names of the Cruise Critic Members who Mingled with each other after the meeting. Many thanks go to Cruise Critic and Royal Caribbean for a great fun way to meet other cruisers.

Credits for both layouts:
Elements – Pamela Gibson – Soda Shoppe Sensations
Fish Elements - CruiseCritic.com
Logos – CruiseCritic.com and RoyalCaribbean.com
Font - Jester

Have a great scrap day!!!

Travel Scrapbook Site!!!

2007-01-11T00:37:00.000-05:00

Oh my goodness! I can't believe I have been digi-scrapping since June 2006 and just now found a website that caters to Travel and Travel scrapbooking in paper and digital. The name of the website is Scrap Your Trip. They have plenty of products for the paper scrapper. Unfortunately, I didn't find too much for the digital scrapper. They have a Forum where I found some topics regarding digital scrapping. They have plenty of topics regarding cruising, which is something I really love to do. Finding a site that caters to both of my loves is fantastic. Of course I registered there too. I'll see how it goes there...

Scrap2Basics - Grand Re-Opening

2007-01-09T17:13:00.001-05:00

The new owners of Scrap2Basics are planning to do a Grand Re-Opening in the beginning of February. They are hoping to do an all day crop-a-thon with lots of different crops, challenges and fun games with prizes, freebies, and fun. I will post a schedule of events here soon.

Two More Sites

2007-01-01T15:59:00.000-05:00

I registered at two more digi-scrap websites this weekend...

I registered at DigiShop Talk on Friday, December 29, 2006. I had heard about a couple of male scrappers who are members there, so I just had to investigate. Indeed there are two... AlexT and Lymond. Both are excellent scrappers. I did pick up 3 blinkies as a result of my investigation...

Created by Miki (Michaela) Ferkul of Microferk Designs

Created by Grace B. of Xquisite Designs

Created by Simply Sherri

I also registered at The Digi Chick today. I was doing some research and the only way to do it was to register. I didn't find any scrap guys at this site. On their home page they say... "At the end of the day, we're all just chicks! ", which may scare away most scrap guys.

Have a great scrap day!

Happy New Year!!!

2007-01-01T12:51:00.000-05:00

I trust you all had a very fan and safe evening watching the ball drop to 2007. Cheryl and I went out for a very scrumptious dinner at Stoney River Legendary Steaks in Dublin, Ohio with good friends Liz and Ken Chase, and KT and Bill Uttley. The food was absolutley wonderful and dining with great friends made it so much better. After dinner we all went to the American Legion Memorial Post #614 in Hilliard, Ohio where we are all members. The entertainment for the evening was a very good 6 member band named Stampede. They played covers of hit songs all evening. At 11:55 champaigne was given to the approximately 75 people in attendance, so they could celebrate the new year. Everyone kissed and hugged their significant others and then their friends. A good time was definitely had by all. We look forward to New Years Eve next year!!!

CT for Scrap2Basics

2006-12-28T23:49:00.000-05:00

As a result of the new ownership of Scrap2Basics by Pamela Gibson, Jennifer Riggins and Susanne Frey, and already being a member of Pamela's Creative Team and Jennifer's Creative Team, the new owners have decided I am now a member of the Creative Team for Scrap2Basics. Is that awesome or what? I not only get to work with the wonderful products of Pamela and Jennifer, but also Michelle Bowley, Claudia C. and Four Cubs Designs. I think I need to step up my layout creation pace just a little using all their wonderful products.

Have a great day!

New Ownership

2006-12-28T12:41:00.000-05:00

As of December 19th, there are new owners of the Scrap2Basics website. Due to personal isssues, Heather Heinzer decided to sell her share of the site. Pamela Gibson, Jennifer Riggins, and Susanne Frey have purchased the site. So far, other than some adminstrative items, the operation of the site really hasn't changed. The only noticeable change is the new color theme of the site.

Congratulations to these three wonderful ladies! They have gone through many changes this year with this being the best. I wish you all continued success in this endeavor!

Christmas 2001

2006-12-28T11:38:00.000-05:00

This layout was created for the “Sketch Challenge Crop” hosted at Scrap Girls on December 21st by Brandie Valenzuela. Following is her sketch:

I created this layout using the Christmas Dreams kit by Pamela Gibson at Scrap 2 Basics (pictured below).

Journaling:

It was a fun filled family Christmas at our house with my Father - Tom Sr., Step-Mother - Mary, youngest Brother - Glenn, Sister-in-law - Chris, Nephew and Niece - Travis and Brittnee

Credits:

Elements – Pamela Gibson – Christmas Dreams at Scrap 2 Basics
Sketch – Brandie Valenzuela at Scrap Girls
Font - Invitation

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day!

The "Milestones Crop" at Scrap 2 Basics

2006-12-26T08:34:00.000-05:00

If you weren't in the Chat room at Scrap 2 Basics on December 17th at 3:00 p.m. EST, you missed the very first crop hosted by me. The topic was "Scrap Milestones for the Guys in Your Life". Examples of this topic could be his first car, first date, graduation, marriage, first cruise, etc. There were approximately eight persons in attendance during the crop, which I'm actually glad for because I could have never kept up with all those fast fingers. The crop lasted approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. It was full of chat. There were periods where it went a little slow, but it flowed very well. Many thanks go to everyone who attended! Many thanks go to Jennifer Riggins for the very cool crop freebie! Many thanks go to Pamela Gibson and Jennifer Riggins for their guidance and support! It was a good first-time experience at my hosting a crop. I don't know if the name will stay the same, but look for me to host more crops in the near future.

Please have a great day!

Farewell to The Digi Scrap Yard...

2006-12-26T08:24:00.000-05:00

As far as I can tell The Digi Scrap Yard website closed its doors on or about December 3rd. It was a fun little scrap website. If it hadn't been for that website, I wouldn't have met good friends, Jennifer Riggins and Pamela Gibson. So, farewell for now. I hope to see some of the scrappers from that site at other scrap sites in the future.

Merry Christmas

2006-12-24T10:35:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas to one and all! I love this holiday. I love everything about it: the decorations, the hustle & bustle, the lights, the Christmas Tree, the sounds, the festivities, being with family and friends, having snow, the giving of presents, watching people at the mall, last minute shopping, celebrating Jesus birthday, Santa and Rudolph, watching Christmas TV shows, watching Christmas movies, Christmas dinner (yummy), etc., etc., etc. It's a wonderful time of the year. I only hope it's just as special for you.

I've been a blog slacker recently. I haven't posted many messages recently because I've been way too busy with way too many things all at the same time: my new job at work, promoting and participating in events at the American Legion Post, learning how to create elements for scrap kits at Scrap 2 Basics, trying to create layouts, getting ready for Christmas, etc., etc., etc. Hopefully, after the first of the year, I can get back in the swing of it.

Speaking of layouts, following are two of my most recent...

MERRY CHRIS MOOSE

The layout features two pictures of Moose Ornaments on my Christmas Tree in 2003. I created the layout using the following kits:

Have Yourself a Festive Christmas by Pamela Gibson at Scrap 2 Basics.

And Have Yourself a Joyous Christmas by Jennifer Riggins at Scrap 2 Basics.

Credits:
Elements - The Mix and Match "Have Yourself" Kit series
by Pamela Gibson and Jennifer Riggins at Scrap 2 Basics:
Font - Highland Park

LET IT SNOW

The layout features pictures our of house on Christmas Eve Eve in 2004. I created the layout using the following kit:

Sweet, Sweet Snow tiny kit by Jennifer Riggins

Journaling:
Let It Snow… Christmas Eve Eve Snow Storm… 2004.

Credits:
Elements - Sweet, Sweet Snow tiny kit by Jennifer Riggins
Font - Invitation

Please have a great safe Christmas weekend...

Scrap2Basics - Grand Opening

2006-11-24T00:14:00.000-05:00

There's a new digi-scrap site on the web. It's Scrap2Basics and it's Grand Opening is today! The site features the very creative designers Heather Heinzer, Pamela Gibson, Jennifer Riggins and Michelle Bowley. The site has a store, gallery, forum, challenges, crops, etc. I know there are many exciting things happening this Grand Opening day, so go check it out... Scrap2Basics

Today is Voting Day!

2006-11-07T12:53:00.000-05:00

Today is Voting Day! Get out there and Vote!!! Your vote counts!!! If you don't vote, then don't complain about who gets in office. As normal, it's raining here in Central Ohio on Voting Day. I don't know why, but it always seems to rain on Voting Day. The rain keep many people from getting out and voting... not me... I'll vote my two cents worth. I hope it's not raining in your "neck of the woods", so you can go vote. I will be glad when tomorrow gets here though... all the mud slinging stops. I like to vote for the person who slings the least amount of mud, but there has been so mud slinging this election, I don't want to vote for any of them. Mike Dewine, Sherrod Brown, Bob Shamansky, Pat Tiberi, Deborah Pryce and Mary Jo Kilroy don't deserve an office with all the mud slinging they have done. I just wish there was someone running against them that didn't sling mud and is capable of doing the job. Well, enough of this soapbox... Go Vote!!!

I may have to create a layout just for today: a patriotic theme saying go vote, I voted, Elephants and Donkeys, etc. Hmmm... Ideas are already flying around in my head. How about you???

Have a great day...

Birthday Boy

2006-11-07T05:48:00.000-05:00

I created this layout using the Hawaiian Paradise mini kit by Pamela Gibson (pictured below).

This layout is another from the series of events that happened on our Caribbean Cruise. I wanted to do something a little different with it. First, it had to be in "boy" colors and have "boy" elements. I wanted to the matte under the photo to be at 45 degrees. The striped background paper also had to be rotated 45 degrees, cut in quarters and mirrored. The layout had to be sort of color coordinated with the photo. In this photo I tried to coordinate with the table clothe and Doug's tie. Bottle caps with basic gray ribbons were used. Raceway font was used. It's very similar to the Belair script on '57 Chevys.

On the 5th day, during dinner we celebrated Doug’s birthday. It was another pre-arranged surprise by our tavel agent, Sally, and myself. The wait staff brought Doug a cake and sang Happy Birthday.

Journaling:
Happy Surprise Birthday Doug. 1/25/06

Credits:
All Elements – Hawaiian Paradise mini kit by Pamela Gibson at Gotta Pixel
Fonts – Raceway

Birthday Girl...

2006-11-03T05:42:00.000-05:00

This layout was created for the “Scraplift a Birthday Layout Crop” hosted on November 1st by Stacy Carlson at Gotta Pixel. The scraplifted layout was created by Stacy (see below). On the 2th day of our cruise during dinner we celebrated Cheryl’s birthday. It was a pre-arranged surprise. The wait staff brought her a cake and sang Happy Birthday.

I created the layout using the Anne kit by Pamela Gibson (pictured below).

Journaling:
Happy Birthday Dear Cheryl. Celebrated January 22, 2006

Credits:
All Elements – Anne kit by Pamela Gibson.
Fonts – Buffied and Brush Script

Guess What...

2006-11-01T08:59:00.000-05:00

I was pleasantly surprised yesterday morning to open an email from Pamela Gibson and find I have been accepted to her Creative Team. I'm so thrilled. She has some very beautiful kits and I have the chance now to work with them. This will be fun. Her requirements are: "1 layout per kit you download. This layout must be posted at her Digital Freebies Designer Gallery, Shabby Princess, and Gotta Pixel. Anywhere else is fine but those are the requirements." This seems a lot simpler than many of the other CT Calls I have read and I'm already a member at Digital Freebies and Gotta Pixel. This will be cool. Check out her Blog for new product announcements. Also check out her store at Digital Freebies or Gotta Pixel for her products. I say "or" because you will notice both websites use the same store. I'm not sure, but I think this is a new joint venture between the two websites. Anyway, this is another thrill in my digital scrapbooking journey. I look forward to it. Hmmm... I need to get busy!

Have a great day...

Another CT Call Try...

2006-10-31T00:22:00.000-05:00

I have again been considering trying to be a member of a designers Creative Team. While scanning through the Blog of Pamela Gibson about a month ago, I found the subject: "Wanna be a Ct Member? Want My Kits Free?"

Her call reads as follows:

"hey everyone. I have a newly vacated spot on my CT. I am looking for a creative, fun person who would be an asset to my team. The way to enter this contest is to submit to me a layout made with my Anne kit. This kit will only be given to serious entries to the contest. To recieve a link to this kit please email dm_gibson@yahoo.co.uk with the following information: Name, Where you're from, What you describe your scrapping style as, A mini biography (nothing big, just a couple lines) and what you think you'd contribute to my team. Please put the words "CT Contest" in the subject line. If chosen you will recieve my kits free of charge and access to my CT yahoo group and your requirement will be to make layouts with my kits and post them at DSY, Digital Freebies, and Shabby Princess, as well as anywhere else you normally submit layouts to. The preview of the kit you will be using is below. Good luck to everyone."

I happened to win Pamela's Anne kit as a result of entering the Spontaneous Crop she and Jennifer Riggins first hosted at The Digi Scrap Yard and then on their blogs. All I needed to do was create a layout using the kit, post it to my favorite gallery and then send a link to it in an application email to Pamela. Well, as you'll read in the "Incredilble Wait" post below, the layout just didn't happen the way I wanted. And, since it took so long to create the layout, I thought the chances to be on Pamela's Creative Team would be gone, so I did not send the application email.

Today, I just happened to go to Digi Shop Talk and found the subject in their Forum: "CT Call for Pamela Gibson Designs"

It read as follows:

"I am looking for a few talented people to work with my designs. Check out my designs here http://www.digitalfreebies.com/mmstore/manufacturer.php?id=59 and make sure you see winter sweater which will be your consolation prize if you do not make the team. Each member will have to create 1 layout per kit that you choose to download. I am a very relaxed person and i do not believe in forcing people to work with kits that they dont "feel" or to be forced to make a lot of layouts with a kit as i believe that that sort of pressure decreases the quality of the layouts. You may make more than 1 but 1 is all you are required. This call is never ending as i am constintly on the lookout for great talented people. Please send your name, age, where you live, a short bio, a link to your largest digital gallery, and what you think you would add to my team. Hope to hear from you guys soon.
Pamela Weiss-Gibson"

After reading through this CT Call, I decided to go ahead and send the email. We'll wait to see what happens. Keep your fingers crossed!

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day...

Captain of Birds

2006-10-27T07:58:00.000-04:00

This layout was created for the “Sketch Challenge Crop” hosted at Scrap Girls on October 25th by Brandie Valenzuela. Following is her sketch:

I really tried to stick to her sketch design, but I didn’t have any tall skinny photographs from the cruise. As a result, I eliminated one of the panels and had to blend 2 photos together. This layout is sort of part 2 to the Cayman Island Rum layout (below) I created previously. Some of the elements from that layout were re-used.

Journaling:

On the 5th day of our cruise we were in George Town, Grand Cayman. One of the first things we did was go to this little tourist mall to purchase a bottle of Big Black Dick Rum. After our spirited purchase, the ladies decided to do some jewelry shopping. I waited outside the store and sat on a bench to watch the people. I noticed this gentleman walking around dressed like a Swashbuckler Captain. He was smoking a cigar and carried a bottle of the very rum we had just purchased, so I assumed he was advertising the rum. I got tired of sitting, so I walked around the little mall and found these absolutely gorgeous birds. While I was photographing the birds, the Captain walked over to their open cage. The birds very happily climbed out of the open cage on to his arms and shoulders. He gave them the remainder of his cigar, which they absolutely loved. It was definitely an unexpected photographic treat. January 25, 2006

Credits:

Photos – Noillid2
Background – Noillid2
Ribbon – Shabby Princess Kristie - Shabby Fall Set
Tag - Durin Eberhart – Esprit Special Round (recolored)
Sketch – Brandie Valenzuela
Font – Fabulous 50’s

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day!

Happy Birthday Scrap Girls

2006-10-23T07:19:00.000-04:00

This past weekend on Friday, October 20th, Scrap Girls turned 2 years old. As a result, they had a birthday bash. They had a 22.2% off sale on almost all of their products. They had contests, challenges, games and crops galore. It was definitely a fun packed weekend. I wish I could have enjoyed the whole party, but there were just too many other things I had to do. I did manage to join in the very end of the last crop of birthday celebration. It was the "Super Duper Party Finale - Color Challenge" hosted Saturday, October, 21st at Midnight by Marnie aka sprinkles! The colors for the challenge were Purple & Yellow - in celebration of Scrap Girls Anniversary! Since I really didn't get to participate in the challenge crop, as with several others, layouts could still be posted in their Anniversary Gallery until 6:00 pm today. I had to whip something up yesterday as a representation of a great weekend. Following is the layout I created:

I wanted try something new in doing the layout. I decided to use one of my photos from our recent cruise as the background for the layout. The photo was taken on the island of Grand Cayman. It was de-colored to purple and white tones. Then the yellow flowers were added back on, which made them pop out of the layout. The ribbon came from Scrap Girls designer, Thao Cosgrove's Passion Collection. It was re-colored slightly to coordinate with the background. Then a yellow background was added behind the ribbon. The font I used was Park Avenue.

Incredible Wait

2006-10-19T06:12:00.000-04:00

I created the Incredible Wait layout using the Anne kit by Pamela Gibson (pictured below).

I posted the layout this past weekend in My Gallery at Scrap Girls. Some of the layouts I create seem to go together perfectly. Other layouts are little more difficult. To me this layout seems to be missing something, or maybe it has too much? I'm not sure. I tried adding ribbons, bows, prongs and brads to it and didn't like any of them. So, I invited constructive criticism from the members of Scrap Girls. Following is some of their critique:

-------

"I like your choices of paper for this layout... but I understand your comment on it needing 'something'... maybe it's all too 'lined up'...

I can suggest to you something I have done myself with a similar layout.... (and only because you asked!!! LOL)

I cropped 2 of my 4 photos down so they were squares and put one on the left and one on the right to 'mix' it up a bit. I also rotated my striped paper (I too had stripes in the curtains) 45 degrees so that the stripes didn't line up with any of the vertical or horizontal stripes in my photos.

Then I put another plain textured paper down as the background and stitched my striped paper to it.It looked much better (in my eyes anyway LOL!)

But a great layout even as it is!!! "

-------

"One of the things that has been hard for me to learn is that i don't have to use all of the pics that I take. I am prolific! It's a lesson in discipline for me to learn how to just use enough to tell the story. Sometimes that means discarding good pics or using them some other way.

When i look at your LO, the pics on the right are very much the same as the ones on the left. I would choose the best of each pair. Then I would change the size of one of the two remaining, perhaps the one that the story is about should get the bigger size and then build the LO from there.

Your color choices are great! I love the sophistication of them.

Hope that might help some.

Elaine"

-------

"I agree with Elaine - perhaps eliminate one of the two bottom photos since they are so similar. Also, what about making one of the photos larger to be the focal point - and perhaps add a title? Just some ideas to play with.

Nice job - the background colors look good with the photos."

-------

As a result of their critique, I used some of their ideas: I rotated the background 45 degrees, cropped all 4 photos, and added the title. I also placed the journaling on the photos. The layout still has most of the elements as before (4 less heart charms) and is much simpler looking. I think it looks a lot better.

Journaling:

One of the things that made our cruise soenjoyable was the incredible wait staff atdinner. We loved them for their impeccable service and their wonderful personalities. Unfortunately, we had to bid them farewell on the last night of the cruise. We really would have liked to stay on the ship or bring them home with us, but neither happened.

Michelle Baychoo
~ Waiter ~

Febiarso Aranatha
~ Assistant Waiter ~

Credits:

All Elements – Pamela Gibson
Fonts – Park Avenue

Caribbean Cruise Layout Index

2006-10-18T10:48:00.000-04:00

Following is a very tentative index of the layouts I want to create of the events that happened during our Caribbean Cruise. I will come back and edit this index from time to time to keep it current. That will help me keep my focus on the completion of the scrapbook.

The layouts listed in RED below have already been completed... I think I still have a long way to go.

Pre-Day ~ January 20, 2006 ~ Miami, Florida

1. Navigator of the Seas - Cover page
2. Itinerary Map

3. Miami
4. Hard Rock - Outside
5. Hard Rock – Food Server, Cheryl and Liz, the 4 of us
6. Hard Rock – Stained Glass windows
7. Hotel – Intercontinental Miami Hotel
8. South Beach – Neon Buildings

Day 1 – January 21, 2006 ~ Boarding

9. Pictures of Ship from Hotel (?)
10. PSUMAMBTPBWLIITGOBD
11. Mall of the Ship (?)
12. xxx

Day 2 ~ January 22, 2006 ~ At Sea

13. Slot Tournament – Ken and Bill
14. Meet & Mingle – part 1
15. Meet & Mingle – part 2
16. Wet & Wild – Belly Flop Contest
17. Football Onboard – Doug, John, Janice and the Steelers
18. Formal Attire – Steph, Tom, Cheryl and me
19. Birthday Girl
20. xxx

Day 3 ~ January 23, 2006 ~ Labadee, Hispaniola

21. Labadee
22. Labadee Barclay Rum
23. xxx

Day 4 ~ January 24, 2006 ~ Ocho Rios, Jamaica

24. Jamaica
25. Jamaican Hat – Cheryl and Steph
26. Jamiacan Birds
27. Margaritaville
28. Jamaican Rum
29. xxx
30. Chili Peppers – Group – part 1
31. Chili Peppers – Couples – part 2
32. xxx

Day 5 ~ January 25, 2006 – George Town, Grand Cayman

33. Grand Cayman
34. Cayman Island Rum – Big Black Dick Rum
35. Captain of Birds
36. Hard Rock
37. Hell
38. Turtle Farm
39. Birthday Boy - Doug
40. Two Poets
41. Scotts – Janice and the Scottish Gentleman

Day 6 ~ January 26, 2006 ~ Cozumel, Mexico

42. Cozumel
43. Cozumelian Tequila
44. xxx
45. xxx

Day 7 ~ January 27, 2006 ~ At Sea

46. xxx
47. Incredible Wait - Michelle Baychoo, Febiarso Aranatha and our table
48. xxx
49. xxx

Day 8 ~ January 28, 2006 ~ Departure

50. xxx
51. xxx

Formal Attire

2006-10-14T13:17:00.000-04:00

Formal Attire is the most recent in a long series of layouts I am creating of each event that ocurred on a Western Caribbean Cruise. My wife and I took the cruise on January 21-28, 2006 with 14 of our closest friends, so I have a lot of events to scrap. This layout was created for the “Sketch Challenge Crop” hosted on October 11th by Brandie Valenzuela at Scrap Girls. Following is Brandie's sketch:

Journaling:

The Captain’s Gala Dinner was being served in the main dining rooms on the evening of our second cruise day. Formal Attire wasn’t required, but it was suggested. Actually, it was a pre-planned photo opportunity for the ship. Stephanie is one of Cheryl’s best friends, so a picture together was a must. The tan people would be Stephanie, Tom and Cheryl. The not-so-tan boy would be me.

Credits: Large Picture Frame – Created from Ribbon from Colleen Shibley – Aqua Mini Kit
Small Picture Frames – Created from Ribbon from Pamela Gibson – Hawaiian Paradise Mini Kit
Heart Charms – Tabby Lewis – Innocent Love
Lace Ribbon – Lisa Carter – Old World Charm
Sketch – Brandie Valenzuela
Fonts – Rage, Palace Script and Park Avenue

CT Calls

2006-10-12T12:26:00.000-04:00

I took a step late Sunday night that I was a little leary of taking. While scanning through the Forum at the Digi Scrap Shak under the Crops & Team Annoucements I found the subject: "CT CALL for moi! ;)" by Toni Berman. I have been curious about Creative Teams (CT) for a while, so I read through the subject as follows:

After reading through her CT Call, I decided to give it a try. Why not? What could it hurt? No guts, no glory... nothing ventured, nothing gained. Well sadly, I didn't make the team. She wrote a very nice email explaining everything. I'm glad I took the chance. During this adventure I went to her blog, Toni Berman Designs, and found she gives away a freebie every day. I don't know that I really need anymore freebies because I'm running out of space on my computer, but I was intrigued with a paper she designed with great color and texture (see below). I didn't make the team, but I found another very nice scrap person. Give her blog a visit.

Sample from Toni Berman's "Hallows Eve" kit

This was actually my second try at joining a CT Team. Somehow, about a month ago, I landed on Cindy Simon's blog, Simon Says Scrap, where she was taking CT Applications. At that time I didn't even know what a CT was, so I wrote her an email and asked. Surprisingly to me, she wrote back and nicely explained what a CT was. As a result, I lamely applied for her CT Call. I didn't make the team, but it was a very worthwhile experience and I learned something.

Scotts

2006-10-08T22:47:00.000-04:00

This layout was created for the “Happy Hauntings Contest” on the blogs of Jennifer Riggins and Pamela Gibson. I used the contest as an opportunity to scrap another event from the Western Caribbean Cruise we took on January 21-28, 2006. For me, it’s all about inspiration and their template inspired me.

Following is their template:

Journaling:

One of the really neat things about taking a cruise is you get to meet wonderful people from all walks of life. On the evening of Day 5 we were having refreshments and listening to the music in our favorite lounge, Two Poets located in the mall on the ship. Janice, having Scottish heritage, happened to notice a gentleman walking through the mall wearing a Kilt. Some of us went out to meet the gentleman and in conversation found he was from Scotland. He mentioned his last name and where he lived in Scotland (neither of which I can remember). Janice desperately wants to take a trip to Scotland to visit her family, so meeting this gentleman was very special to her.

Credits:

All Elements – Noillid2
Template – Jennifer Riggins and Pamela Gibson
Fonts – Cooper Black and Freestyle Script

Here's kanga's layout using the same template.
Here's LemonaideLinda's layout using the same template.
Here's mizamigo's layout using the same template.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day...

Scrappin' Secrets

2006-10-05T13:15:00.000-04:00

I registered at Scappin' Secrets today. As with every scrap site they offer layout galleries, a blog, contests, challenges, freebies, forum and shop. They are having their very first crop this Sunday, October 6th. I will have to join the crop just to meet some of the people there. Inspiration and information comes from everywhere... You can never get enough!!!

My Spontaneous Crop Kit Layout

2006-10-04T12:38:00.000-04:00

I forgot to include the layout I created with the Spontaneous Crop kit created by Jennifer Riggins and Pamela Gibson in my previous post. I wish I had the example of the kit so I could display it here too, but I can't find it right now. When I do find it, I'll paste it into this posting. Following is the layout I created with the kit:

Journaling:
My grandparents, Pearl and Blanche, are still my inspiration. My grandfather (G-Pa) had two green thumbs. His yard and gardens were always the best in town. My grandmother (G-Ma) was born with thimbles on her fingers. She made quilts, afghans and crocheted pictures that always took first prize at the local fair. I’m very fortunate they lived long enough to share their skills with me. I’m often reminded of them when I’m working in the yard or creating a scrapbook layout.

Credits:
Paper & Tag: Jennifer Riggins
Charms & Ribbons: Pamela Gibson

By the way, I miss both of these ladies being at The Digi Scrap Yard. I miss participating in the crops that Jennifer hosted. Everyone always had a good time. I'll definitely try to catch up with them on other scrap sites.

Special Sunday

2006-10-02T18:19:00.000-04:00

Sunday was a very special day... twice!

The first thing that made Sunday special was receiving an email from Jennifer Riggins and Pamela Gibson. The email was a result of a Spontaneous Crop they hosted on Sunday, September 24th at The Digi Scrap Yard. The crop became a challenge because their server crashed during the crop. Before the server crashed, I was fortunate to download their co-designed crop kit just for participating in the crop. They added incentive to the crop challenge by offering a kit from each designer to a couple of lucky persons as long as they finished a layout using the crop kit and posting it by 11:59 pm Wednesday, September 27th. Then something happened because Jennifer and Pamela quit being designers at The Digi Scrap Yard. So, the challenge was then moved to Jennifer Riggins Blog and Jennifer Riggins Design websites. As a result, the deadline was extended to 11:59 pm Friday, September 29th to post a layout. Following is what they wrote in their email:

"Tom,
Pamela and I would both like to thank you for participating in the contest. We are both truly sorry for leaving DSY so abruptly, especially in the middle of a contest. Thank you for all your support, I truly appreciate it. As a thank you, we would like you to have both of these kits.
Anne: XXXXXXX
Grandma's Quilt: XXXXXXX
Keep checking our blogs for more challenges/contests!
~Jen and Pamela"

Following is the preview of Pamela Gibson's beautiful kit, Anne:

Following is the preview of Jennifer Riggins beautiful kit, Grandma's Quilt:

I am very honored to receive these kits. Thank you Jennifer and Pamela!
===================================================================

The second thing that made Sunday special was the result of reading through the forum at The Digi Scrap Yard on Saturday, September 30th. Under the Designer Announcements I found the subject "A Contest For You!" listed and decided to find out what it was all about. The subject was authored by Tenessa Allen. She stated:

"I've worked really hard on this kit! I'm so proud of it but I need a name! So go visit my blog http://tenessaspixels.blogspot.com/ and leave your suggestion in the comments section! This ends October 1 so be quick!"

Following was the preview of her beautiful kit:

I went to Tenessa's blog and after looking at her kit, I decided to give the contest a try. I really didn't think I would have a chance because there were so many wonderful suggestions by seven other persons already posted. Following is the message I left:

"Great looking kit! It reminds me of my Grandmother and my Father's ties. Both are very comforting. How about these suggestions:

Comfortable Memories
Comfortable Side of Paisley
Comfort Comes in Paisley
Paisley Memories
Paisley Past
Paisley 'N' Plaid
Earthen Blues"

On Sunday afternoon I received an email from Tenessa. Following is what she wrote:

"Congratulations, you won my name that kit contest! I will be sending you a link for it shortly, I have to get my files renamed and zipped up! I loved your suggestion of Comfortable Memories!

Thanks,
Tenessa Allen
Designer
Scrappinsecrets
Digiscrapyard
Gottapixel"

Following is the new preview of her beautiful Comfortable Memories kit:

Again, I am very honored. Thank you very much Tenessa!

Inspiration

2006-10-01T08:21:00.000-04:00

After I got home on Saturday night after watching Ohio State soundly defete Big 10 rival Iowa, I went searching for something scrappy because I felt the need to create a new layout. I was looking for inspriration. I went to Scrap Girls since that was the first digital scrap site I joined. I scanned through the gallery finding plenty of inspiration, but nothing that really clicked for me. Then I went to the Message Board under Crops and found a familiar user name, scrapdiva73, aka Brandie Valenzuela (a designer for Scrap Girls). I had previously joined several of her "All About Me" crops and thoroughly enjoyed them. I found she had hosted a "Sketch Challenge Crop" on Thursday night and I had missed it. The crop was based on the following sketch:

In an additional message, Brandie thanked everyone who joined the crop and said "Remember, if you still want to create a LO based upon the sketch, please do! Just upload your layout to the gallery in the main area of "Scrap Girls Crop and Classes" section, so we can all see it!" This was all the inspiration I needed. Now all I needed was a subject.

The main reason for me getting involved in scrapbooking was to create a scrapbook (paper or digital) of a recent Western Caribbean Cruise my wife and I took with 14 of our close friends. After I got involved in digital scrapbooking I decided to create a page of each event prior to the cruise and during the cruise. So far I have only created 7 pages. I think I need to get busy or I'll never complete the scrapbook. I looked through the 700 plus pictures I took on the cruise and found 3 pictures I could use. The pictures were of an unexpected event that happened on the ship in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico. The event was held on Sunday, January 22, 2006 in the Schooner Bar. It was held on the second day of our cruise, so this was really special. The event was the broadcast of the semi-final football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Denver Broncos. They were able to televise the game through a satelite link to Mexico City. It was neat because the broadcast of the game was in English, but all the commercials were Mexican. Two of our friends originally lived in Pennsylvania, so they were loyal and true to Pittsburgh. Myself, being a loyal Cleveland Browns fan had a little difficulty choosing which team to cheer for. Both, Pittsburgh and Denver, have ruined Cleveland's chances in the past of going to the Super Bowl, and Pittsburgh is an inner-conference rival. I decided to cheer for Pittsburgh because they had several incorrect penalties called against them in the playoff game the previous week. It was fun sitting in the bar on a ship in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico watching a football game. It was definitely not one of the usual cruise events. Following is the layout I created:

New Avenue

2006-09-30T12:01:00.000-04:00

This is another new avenue for me. I'm not sure how often I will post or what I will post, but I'll give it a try.