Basic CT enabling & a few freebie previews

Hi all!

I'm in a weird mood this morning, so I don't know how this post is gonna go. I can't really place my finger on it. Ever have one of those mornings? I'm sure I'll get over and quickly. Lots and lots of things going on in my little corner of the digiscrappin world. Actually since I've undertaken this blog, that world is expanding and quickly. I was asked to be a part of the creative team over at Scrapper's Daily Dose, which is really cool. Instead of 1 designer, they have monthly sponsors. I create a few layouts for the monthly sponsor. Seems like a good gig. I don't have a layout to show you yet, but I hope to by the weekend.

This is what I worked on last night. Kelli from Tallula Moon Designs is holding a "My Favorite Things" chat this Saturday night at 3 Scrapateers at 7 pm EST. This weeks subject is My Favorite Heritage Photo". Here's mine. This photo is from the late 40's and it's my dad with his brothers and sisters. My dad is the littlest boy.

Kelli has a wonderful chat participation freebie. She sent me an advanced copy of it to play around with. And I didn't even get the whole kit (yet). I made up a little preview for her to post. I love what she's done. If you like the little bit I've shown you here, take a few minutes to stop by 3 Scrapateers and say hello.

This preview here is Tallula Moon Designs Tuscan Touch kit and it's wonderful for fall layouts. I have used it many times and love it. The preview really doesn't do it justice. It's available at 3 Scrapateers. Click the preview to go to the store to get a better look.

My friend Fantacy of Scrappin Hillbilly Sweetpea Designs has a new freebie on her blog. It's an add on to her 'Fraidy Cat & Hallow-tween kits. Some cute stickers and another great paper. Fantacy's family just suffered a tragic loss and she could use our prayers and some lovin now.

Stop by her blog by clicking on the preview on the right and pick up that adorable freebie.

I mentioned on Tuesday about the wonderful challenges over at DSO. Heather Manning runs one over there called the "Book Of Me" because all too often we scrap the ones we love most and rarely ever do we see ourselves in our layouts. This months BOM as we call it is about what we are going to be or do for Halloween. I keep forgetting to bring my camera to work to take a picture of me sitting at my desk. Cuz that's what I'll be doing for Halloween- working. How's this for an excuse - the girl at our other office has to have 1/2 day off because they close down her town for the Halloween celebration. I think she just wants to be able to take her son Trick or Treating. Now that I can understand, just say it. Anyway, the preview on the right is Heather's layout for her challenge. (click on lo for credits). The next preview is Heather's fantastic kit,

Dirt Don't Hurt. It's available at DSO and it is wonderful for those nature layouts. She's working on a new one - I could give you a hint, but she might fire me. lol. But it will be dirty, yet girly. (oppps did I say that out loud?)

Here's the second part to KimB's glitter freebie from yesterday.



Just for the Scrap of It is having a design contest. They choose Heritage papers for their first round. Now there are at least 11 designs (and counting) in the gallery now and I think that voting starts on 10/7 but there are just a bunch of freebies just waiting there to be taken.

I don't know if there was a color scheme that went with the "theme", but I would have to say yes, since all the previews have greens and purples in them. Here is my favorite. I love the plates in the elements, I think it's very original. And I'm not saying that because the designer is a regular here at my blog. I REALLY liked this one best. No matter what I think, go over and check out what is being offered. There will be at least 3 that you like.

I know I've forgotten something really important, but work is starting to pile up so I better go ahead and get this done. I hope that you all have a great day.

Until next time, scrap happy!

**-Diane

Shopping Spree & a freebie list

Hi all,
I had such a blast yesterday. I mentioned that I had won the Queen of Chatterbox contest over at ScrapBook-Bytes for September. What I didn't know until later in the day was the scope of the prize I won. There were 9 designers that gave me gift certificates to their stores. Talk about a kid in the candy store. I was in the shop all day long, drooling over this and drooling over that. It was really hard to choose because there was just sooooo many cool things to choose from. I'm sure you'll be seeing lot of the new stuff in the layouts in the future. I still have 3 designers to go. I was uploading all night long last night. I still managed to get a few layouts done though, so I'll show you those after the freebies.


Wednesday is Humpday and to help us get over the hump, the designers at DSO do a blog freebie. Here are some previews from the Humpday Hunnies. Click on preview to go to blog.




These are the one's that are up on the blogs this morning. I'll edit this from work to add the others. lol

Have you seen Susan's (Raspberry Road Designs) Take Care kit. It's an awesome kit she's done from fan requests. It's a great kit for scrapping the Nurses in your life. Check it out.

Check out the Halloween kits from my designers- Kelli at Tallula Moon & Fantacy Scrappin Hillbilly Sweetpea Designs.

Don't forget about the RAK promotion for Tallula Moon Designs, you could get Kelli's kit.
Grab her fan blinkie, add it to you sig line and let me know where you're sporting it at. Since the one here is acting funny, if you want one, email me at carjaziscraps "at" gmail "dot" com.

Here are 2 layouts I did last night with Scrappin Hillbilly's Fraidy Cat & Hallowtween papers.




The card above was made with Jessica David's template from the OAKS template challenge.
Check out Fantacy's blog for a great desktop freebie made with her kit.

One last preview and I want your opinion on it. I made a word art overlay and thinking about adding it to the freebie list. Here it is.


Ok, it's later than I thought and I gotta jump in the shower. I'll edit at work and add in more freebie previews.



Ok pet peeve of the day: How come I can train my man to drop the seat but he can't seem to replace the roll of toliet paper????? Seriously now. And of course, he's always gone when he does this. grrrrr

Until next time, scrap happy!

**-Diane

October already????

Wow I can't believe how quickly time is passing. I know, I shouldn't be surprised. After all, the leaves are starting to turn and the air is getting cool at night. But it just seems like yesterday it was July in all it's glorious heat. Christmas will be here before I know it. UGH. Christmas shopping. Let's not get started on that.


Today, since it's the beginning of Oct. I thought I'd start out with some of the monthly challenges at different sites. Kinda an overview of what's going on in my little part of the digiscrapping world of challenges and posting bonuses. Cuz that's why we all do them, to get the fabulous posting bonuses. First, I'm gonna toot my own horn. Last month, over at ScrapBook Bytes I was the "Queen of Chatterbox" for the month. It was the first time that I participated. I had 706 posts. I am greatly anticipating seeing what kind of goodies I get for that. OMG!!! I just got the fabulous list of goodies for this contest. I will now be in shopping heaven. I have no idea how I will ever be able to pick out this much stuff. It's basically a shopping spree. Thank you so much to all the great designers over at SBB! You all ROCK!!

So here's my list.


OAKS - There are currently 4 challenges posted and they run monthly.

1. Template - pretty standard- go to the message board to check out the template for this month.
2. Number Frenzy- The number is 13 in honor of Halloween. You must use 3 photos, 1 alpha and 13 total elements - no more, no less.
3. Embellishment Explosion - See how many Different frames you can use in a layout. No frame clusters.
4. Inspiration - Make a layout with the 4 seasons as your inspiration. It can be a 1 or 2 page layout.


Digital Scrapbooking Org - They have probably the most challenges that run for a monthly challenge. My inbox was full the last 2 days. Lots of goodies!! And if you complete all of the challenges, you get the collab. mega kit. Last months was terrific!
1. Book of Me run by my very own fave. designer Heather Manning- "What are you going to be or do for Halloween."
2. Color Challenge - Kim B has a great swatch to work from. Go to the message boards and check it out.
3. Element Challenge - use pumpkins in your layout
4. Font challenge - this months font is "a charming font"
5. Ad challenge - an ad is posted for inspiration.
6. Numbers challenge - 5 is the number - 5 photos, 5 papers & 5 elements
7. Lyric challenge - This months song is "In the Misty Moonlight"
8. Recipe challenge - Let them eat cake - your favorite cake recipe
9. Shape challenge - Use both a heart & circle in your design
10 & 11 - Sketch & template - see the message board to get the info on these.



Digital Scrap Garden- this is a new site and they have some great challenges with wonderful posting bonuses. If you're looking for a new place to showcase your layouts. Check them out!
1. Quote challenge - "What a grand thing, to be loved! What a grander thing still, to love! - Victor Hugo - "
2. Give me a letter - feature the letter A.
3. Font/Frames/Foto - The font is bar code - use 1 photo- 1 frame & 1 font Great font and terrific posting bonus.
4. Wild color challenge - check out the message board for the color swatch.
5. Element - Tags in your layout.
6. Photo - I love this one, because any reason to scrap my pets is not a challenge for me. But I loved the posting bonus and I'm hoping that they'll send it to me early. (hint, hint)

Since they just opened their doors, the challenges do say Sept. but I checked with them and they are running through the end of Oct.


ScrapdigiStyle has a lot of challenges too, but I'm focusing on just the Tri-color challenge. My very own Tallula Moon - Kelli is the hostess of this one and she has put together a wonderful color combo that is terrific for your fall layouts. Plus the posting bonus is wonderful.


Scrapbook Graphics is offering what they call a Quirk Workshop designed to get us to break out of the mold we've put ourselves in. Now I'm not too familiar with the site, but I think it's a terrific concept, so I wanted to mention it. Donna's stopped by my blog a few times and it was mentioned on hers yesterday. The first challenge is to break out of the box - no ribbons, silk flowers, buttons, brad or ready made frames. All original word art. Try to use things and techniques you don't use everyday. Check it out, they explain it soooo much better than I do. I believe that this is a weekly challenge.



And last but not least, Scrapbook-bytes - my home base. The reason I have them last is they run their challenges weekly, except for the Page a Day. That's self explanatory. I usually try to make all the chats I can, especially during the day while I'm at work.

1. Color challenge crop - run by Jodi, there's a chat on Mondays at 2 pm EST
2. Sketch challenge crop - Raechel runs that on Wed. with a chat at 3 pm EST. She always has a terrific sketch for inspiration and wonderful freebie.
3. Scraplift - self explanatory. They give a members gallery and off you go.
4. Scavenger Scrapheap - There's a list of 5 things that must be in your layout.
5. Rock the Template with Amy Bleser. She has the best templates and the chat is on Thurs. nights at 11 pm EST.
6. This is a new one- Journalling challenge with Lawanna.
There are also some subscriber only challenges at SBB. It's always a great time there, so come join us.





Here's a little contest we're running over at Tallula Moon Designs. Snag the blinkie, let me know where you're displaying it at (which sites) and you may just be RAK'd with Tallula Moon's terrific Halloween kit. This ad does not do it justice. Click on the layout to go directly to the link for this kit at Kelli's store in 3 Scrapateers.



Back to the freebie list tomorrow. Until next time, Scrap Happy!!!
**-Diane

I want to yell this from the rooftops!

Hi ya'all! I have just the most amazing news. Fantacy from Scrappin Hillbilly - SweetPea designs has asked ME to be on her CT. I am so thrilled! Fantacy was one of the first people i got to know when I started scrapping. Her encouragement has been constant. Not only is she a sweetie, but she's a fantastic designer. I love her designs, they are not your ordinary stuff. Take a look at some of the stuff she has over at OAKS.

And there are 2 Oct. calendars on her blog - you can pick them up for free!!! Click the preview to go there. Anyway, I am SO excited to get my hands on her new stuff. She just released it over the weekend at OAKS. Check it out and watch for some new layouts to be posted here.

Look what I got Friday from my other favorite designer Heather.

Isn't she just the sweetest! Thank you SO much Heather! Now to spread the love. Now when I first saw this, I had to laugh because Heather sent one already to KimB Designs. I adore her blog. She never fails to make me laugh with her antics. So while I'll mention her here, I have 3 others that I really want to spread the love to. I love, love, love Susan's Raspberry Road Designs and her fabulous creations. I'm sure that everyone does, so she gets a mention too.

Cate has been a great supporter of my new blog. She just did her first freebie design. I love looking at her newest layouts and she always is so positive in her blog. So she's one of my 3.

Boyerville Scraps - Andrea also has been wonderful and stops by all the time. She also has some awesome freebies on her blog. Good luck in the design contest! Your fall kit is fab.

Also the ladies over at Digital Scrap Garden - Purplefrog & Ladybug Graphix. They just started up a new site and it's wonderful! Both have stopped by to lend their support. So I want to show mine for them. Go and check out their new community Digital Scrap Garden. They have some great challenges and posting rewards. I loved the photo challenge for Sept./ Oct. Do a layout of your pet and get this. I love the paw prints. I scrap so many photos of my dogs, that I love anything related to or designed especially for dogs. Join the community, post your layout and get this great gift. Sounds like a great deal to me.

Ok, just one more thing to show you today. It's the most recent layout I did. Click it for credits.

Well I'm off to play. Until next time - scrap happy!

**Diane

Good morning!

First I'd like to show you a couple of the fabulous freebies I found from yesterday and this morning. There were so many yesterday, I'm bummed out I missed a lot of them. If you click on the link, it will take you to the blog where you can find the freebie.

Boyerville Scraps - Andrea's part of the mega kit for fall. Check out her blog for the other parts.

Lil Romance from KimB Designs. Such a soft kit. Great for those lovey dovey layouts and of course wedding photos. Heather has a terrific tutorial on how to recolor on Scrap Your Art Out. She's also included her beautiful blooms and they are available for commercial use!

Kristine has been so sick for the last few days, but she still managed to get an add on for her Spiced Toffee kit for everyone. That's dedication. I'm sure that most of you have already grabbed Susan's Tatum's Day collection, but I wanted to make a special mention of it. Raspberry Road Designs is an awesome place and Susan has the biggest heart. She did this collection as a request and it's truly one of the most special collections I've seen. If you haven't seen it or read the story behind it, please click on one of the 2 previews below and go check it out. I guarantee you won't be sorry.

Lindsay Jane has a fab old burnt frame on her blog. Check to make sure you haven't missed out on any of her other freebies. DerekMDesign is a new one for me. I don't know of too many men in the digiscrapping community, let alone a designer - I'm lovin on his Halloween kit.


Also the preview below is just that a preview. Cate made up this kit for a design challenge and is thinking of releasing it. If you like it, stop by her blog and let her know. Keep an eye out for it. I think she will.

For those of you who read and responded to my blog from yesterday. Thank you. I didn't advertise it because it wasn't really scrapping related and I didn't think that anyone would want to read about my trials and tribulations. We didn't stay at the house last night, went down to the camper instead, but it looks like it was a quite night in the neighborhood. I prefer to believe it was just a group of coincidences and a random act of violence and nothing to be concerned about. My old man has other ideas. Enough said.

I Rak'd Andrea earlier in the week with Heather Manning's Dirt Don't Hurt kit and she did this magnificent layout that I wanted to share with you.Credits from her blog "I used Heather Manning’s Dirt Don’t Hurt papers (my RAK from yesterday!) and her alphabet is there, too.The Altered Faerie, girl’s wings and the Fresh Foliage elements are by Alabama Stone Thrower. Bugs, gravel and faerie dust are stock PSP tubes." I just love the little fairie wings.

I've got some challenges I had hoped to get done last night. Have a few hours today to work on them before a party tonight. Also have to do a last minute post frenzy over at SBB for their "Queen of the Chatterbox" contest for Sept. I can't believe the month is over already. Amazing.

Hope you all have a fab. weekend! Until next time - scrap happy!!

**-Diane

What is this world coming to???????

Great night for tv. I have 5 hours of tv shows packed into 3 hours. Thank God for tivo. Get through Survivor, kinda boring if you ask me. Get through Grey's, until the Christina tells Alex that she misses Burke and bam. I hear a noise. Shannon is out of bed and flying out the door. Our neighbors across the street tell us that someone just hit our cars and took off, her husband and a friend who's a cop hot on their tails in pursuit. Turns out they didn't hit just 1 but 2 and took off both driver's side mirrors. Shannon, well he jumps in his truck and goes looking for anyone. Then a different person flies by us at about 45 miles and hour. Now, Shannon, he's pissed off, so he jumps in his truck and goes down to the apt. complex and yells at her to slow down. The cops come and we all stand outside for about 45 minutes trying to piece together what happened. So I come back in and it's 10 minutes til the template crop at SBB. Finished that off, great template by the way. And all of a sudden I hear 3 gunshots and a car peeling away. After crawling off the floor and calling 911, we spent another hour outside with the cops. Luckily nothing was hit. We think it may just have been a retaliation for his yelling. Now I know that his yelling was not the right thing to do, but why WHY would anyone try to solve anything with firing a gun? I just don't get it. Now I don't live in a bad neighborhood. As a matter of fact, the office that came out said it's been over 9 months since he's been called out to our subdivision. I just don't get it.

In light of these events, I don't know if I'll get any freebies or layouts posted. It's already 1 am and I know that 7 will come real soon. If I get any sleep at all. Check back on Sat. The drama's bound to die down.

Until then, scrap happy.
Diane

Got it started at home.

Ok, I've been working on getting this blog entry set up for over 2 hours. lol I started at home, knowing the troubles I've had at work. Good think it's been over an hour since I logged on here at work. Let's see how long it takes. grrrr

Ok, had a great time last night scrapping. Got inspired by my visit to my cousin and her son. And I had 2 challenges I needed/wanted to get done. Jett is my youngest cousin and her dad is and has been my favorite uncle. I spent most of my time with their family when we would come down to visit family growing up. When I moved to Central Ohio, it was my uncle who opened his home to me. That was 9 years ago. Jett's all grown up now and has an adorable little boy of her own now. Here are 2 of the layouts I did last night. Click on lo for credits.



Yesterday I got to do my first RAK. Granted it was someone else's products but I got to deliver the news. It was so much fun and just a great feeling. Almost as good as getting a RAK myself. That's the great thing about working with the designers I do, they are so generous. You never know when some lovin will come your way. Thanks so much to Andrea & Cate for giving a chance to make their day.

Here are some of the fab freebies I downloaded this morning while working on the blog. Check out the other links on the left for more great freebies too! Susan over at Raspberry Road is bound to have yet another beautiful kit up. She is just so gracious and works so hard.

Great overlay from Janosch's blog.

Great sampler from Pillowgirl and she's having a contest to win $10 for her store.

Here's the adorable Xavier kit I mentioned yesterday from Fishingmom Designs. Isn't the bear just the cutest....

Here's Andrea's newest sampler. Check her blog for the other part that goes so well with it.

Love anything that I can use for those pages of my dogs. Tainya-scrapsnack has this adorable kit on her blog.

And lastly this adorable word art from DigiScrapDepot. This is just about the most precious word art I've ever seen. Love the shoes.

Have you seen the Blog Action Day info on my and others blog? It's a really cool idea and I'll explain more about it tomorrow. Let's hope that my call for help with this Blogger issue will be answered by then. If you have any ideas on how to help me fix it, let me know. It's driving me crazy & it's a short trip.

Until next time, scrap happy!

**- Diane