Moving My Blog :-)

I've had one final blog addy change. The links here have been updated!!
Hi everyone, I have a big announcement - I'm moving my blog, Well I actually have already moved. Here is my new blog url - http://munchkynscraps.com
I've already imported everything from this blog to the new one, I just have some of the much older images to still get transfered. Otherwise every link that is on this blog is already on the new blog,
This is the last post there will be on this blog, I'm going to try to find & set up a re-direct so everyone that comes here will automatically be sent on to the new blog,
I have a blog award to post and a tag to answer. Head over to the new blog now to catch up on all my news, I have lots, lol. Of course there will be a freebie there too :-) http://munchkynscraps.com

Zoo Spirit CU Freebie Time :-)

I'm so behind! I have several new items ready for the store but for previews & I'm so slow at those. Plus I promised myself & my store owner, Leaonna, that I would work on them last night and instead I went to bed early, my bad!! In my defense if I had tried to work on my previews as tired as I was I probably would have to do them over anyway, when I'm too tired I'm no good for anything :-P The good news is that I did actually get real sleep and didn't wake up til 2:30 this afternoon. I've been in a fibro sleep, actually no sleep, cycle and boy was I ready for it to end. That makes today the day to get those previews done! but first -------

I have some more Zoo Spirit to share! When I was at my DD's in June, we took the kids to the Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead free petting zoo that is in the suburbs of Kansas City, KS, just outside Overland Park, KS. I absolutely love this place, It's great and getting pretty big now too as they keep adding on, the goal is to look like the kansas prairie circa mid-late 1800's. Think Little House on the Prairie :-) They've done an excellent job. The best part is that this is a free admission park. They do have a few things for the kids & family, a pony ride, hay ride, panning for gold, there are 5 things and you can get a pack with all 5 specials for $10. This is one of the best family deals there is today, It's getting hard to find anywhere you can take your kids, have a full day of fun for $10 and a pocket full of quarters to feed the animals. We take the kids there even when we're broke and they have fun with the animals. This last time we were there in June and they had a slew of new baby goats with bottles available for feeding them, I took a bunch of pics and have a layout to show you ----

As you can see, my grandkids Abbi and Jake had great fun feeding the baby goats, some of the baby goats thought Jakey's toes were bottles and kept sucking on them, I wish you could hear his infectious giggle! You may notice a little 7 on my bus where the route number is, I couldn't resist adding it, Here the 7 route bus is the one that takes you to the San Diego Zoo :-)
I have the glitters I made for my part of Zoo Spirit for you today. There is a photoshop style & pattern along with png fills for psp users. As always. my glitters are DR/CU Okay! :-D

Photoshop Style & Pattern - Download Here
PNG Fills - Download Here

I'm so sorry I'm not getting as many freebies posted thru my blog, but. I have lots of freebies at Strictly Reveal. We just got our first store sponser - Scrappin' Freestyle - you can now find reveals of all the grab bags available in their store on Strictly Reveal. There were 6 mixed bag freebies on Friday and 2 on Saturday, make sure you head over there and grab them. All 6 of Friday's mixed bag freebies are DR/CU. Lots of cool goodies I don't want anyone to miss, I'm in the process of expiring the freebie links from July 20 and back. Check it out now before I have everything gone, I'm about half way through.

Big Post - CU Freebie & Zoo Spirit Grab-a-Collab Blog Train :-D

I have a big post this time, I've been so busy, I've been a very bad blogger. Please remember to check Strictly Reveal every day, I have lots of freebies in the mixed bag freebies there. This is going to be a big weekend, we have several reveals being posted, 2 today, possibly up to 9 for Friday, That's 9 freebies, 1 with each grab bag revealed. There should be some really good sales this weekend too.

I have a new CU freebie to share with you all first. This a set of desaturated glitter swirls. Some of you may already have this set as it's just come out of an expired mixed bag from Strictly Reveal. This freebie will be available here on my blog and at my store Busy Scrappin' ---

Download Here or Here

I already have my part of the August Collab for the store at Busy Scrappin' done & turned in, It should go up as the with purchase freebie this weekend too, Please check it out, I'm very pleased with how it came out. The theme is 'Get Funky With It' with an appropriately funky color scheme :-)

One other quick piece of news, I'm going to be moving my blog. I've decided to go with ScrappyStation as that gives me a dedicated server and no more losing images to photobucket's ugly replacement icon, No worries about my newly posted links, this blog will stay active until I have everything here imported to the new blog & I'm sure it's working properly :-D

Now I've saved the best for last. It's August 1. the next ADS Designers Yahoo Group MEGA Grab-a-Collab Blog Train has arrived!!! This month's theme is 'Zoo Spirit' I had loads of fun making this kit and as usual, it's almost a mega by itself. I just don't know how to make a small kit, LOL, Once again I need to give a "Clean Your Hard Drive" warning because there are over 48 contributers to this kit, it's FABULOUS!! You're going to want every single byte of it!!!

Elements Part 1 - Download Here
Elements Part 2 - Download Here

Papers Part 1 - Download Here

Papers Part 2 - Download Here

Here are the links for the rest of the parts. Have a nice ride on the Zoo Spirit Blog Train :-D

abyscraps


Amanda Truitt

Angel

A Zone for Digiscraps


Brooke & Joni


Burkhart Scrapzone (Michaele)


Buzybee Designs (Penny Lewis)


By God's Design


City Scribe Scraps

Crafter's Boutique (Mardesia)

Creations By Rachael


Creative Digital Scraps by Chiara


Creative Dreams


Deb


Debbie


Designs by Crazy Diamond

Designs by Lisa Minor

Erika (PinkuPixie)

Gone Scrappin' Designs


Heartprints Digital Designs


Kalo Designs

Kelly's Sanity Saver


Kim's Scrappin'


Lady V dZine


LBCreations: Designs by Babette


Lighthouse Designs by Beth


Lighthouse Scrapping and Harbor Designs


Lori Imel


MagsGraphics


Michelle Blagg Designs

Monica at Random Inspirations


Nadine: Scrappinmamma


Nancy Schmidt


Panda Bear Designs


Serina,s Designz


Scrappin with Doodle


Scrappin' with Ladye


Scrappin' with Jersey Girl


Scrappy Cats

ScrappyShannon

Scraps by Shilo


ScripityScrap Designs


Share Joy


Stacey Crossley


Stellarific Creations


Stephanie


The Scrap Loft: Kathy Goldstein Designs


utski can scrap

New Freebie in the Store :-)

I have a new product I just added to my store at Busy Scrappin' and a freebie to go along with it. I came up with some really nice Rose & Vine Borders. They came out so nice I just had to put them in the store but I have a small paperpack made with the borders for your freebie ---

This download link will take you to the store at Busy Scrappin'. Just scroll down to the freebie section towards the bottom of the page. Just click on the preview to download, no registration needed --- Download Here

Are you all checking Strictly Reveal everyday?? If you're not, you should be. I have loads of freebies in the Mixed Bags at Strictly Reveal. We also have several contributing designers making new stuff just for Strictly Reveal. Remember, with every grab bag revealed, we have a freebie mixed bag to go along with it at the end of the post. These freebies will expire, so make sure you grab them quick. The first week's freebies will be expired soon, You want to make sure you grab our special gift provided by Sweetmade, this special freebie is only available for a very short time after which it will go into her store at Ashalee & Sweet. We also have a fan blinkie promotion. Make sure you grab a Strictly Reveal fan blinkie and put it on your blogs and in all your sigs. We have some RAK's and 1 really special $5 gift certificate RAK to that store I just mentioned :-) I'm keeping a list of everyone and every blog I see that has our fan Blinkie, we may choose you for one of those RAK's :-D We are changing servers today so if things aren't working quite the way they should yet, please check back later or tomorrow :-)

Celebration Freebie & Links Fixed Updated :-)

All links are fixed back thru late May. I'm not sure why you had download problems, it downloaded fine for me but that doesn't necessarily mean much, 4shared has been know to act wierd on a regular basis. If you have download issues again, try waiting a few hours or try again the next day, Chances are when you try back it will work fine. Please continue to let me know if the download issues continue. Good customer service is important to me, If it becomes necessary, I will find a different file host.

Have you all checked out Strictly Reveal today?? We are up to 24 reveals! What this means for you is 24 FREEBIES!! There are both personal use/scrap4hire and universal personal use/scrap4hire/designer resource/commercial use mixed bags. I don't have the numbers in front of me but there are more DR/CU bags than PU/S4H only bags. This is one site you should have on your daily's list. So far, we have posted new bags every day! We also have new designers coming onboard to help provide some really cool freebies for you all. I'll let you all in on a little secret, all my parts in our PU/S4H bags coordinate, Once you've collected all the parts, you'll have a nice mega-kit. Once I have this first kit just for Strictly Reveal finished, I'll change the colors and theme and start a new one :-) If you make sure you check digiscrapdepot on a regular basis, you'll never miss a bag. I always post there first when a new bag is available, The info on the grab bags available is invaluable! You never know when you'll spot that next 'gotta have it' item :-D


I have a freebie to Celebrate my first kit "Bright & Dark" at Busy Scrappin' I have 2 4x6 Brag Book pages for you. Just click the preview, that will take you to the store. Scroll down to the Freebies section and click the preview again to download :-)

A Quick Note to Lianne

Hi Lianne, thank you so much for letting me know you found broken links. I'm going to check all my links now and make sure they are right. I'll post again when I have everything repaired :-)

2 Big Annoucements!!! :-D

I have 2 big annoucements today --

1 - Leonna of Busy Scrappin' has accepted my app to her store. I'm so excited!! This is all coming together right now so I'll have another more lengthy post to tell you all about it.

2 - Have you all visited the new Strictly Reveal grab bag reveal blog?? If you haven't you need to head over from here! My friend Melanie of ByGod'sDesign has started this new blog. I myself am a total grab bag junkie! After all, most of the time, they are the best deal in scrapping supplies. Usually new products and 3 or more full sets, They come from a variety of designers & stores available from $2 and up, The only drawback to a grab bag is not knowing what the products it contains actually are. For me and lots of others that's part of the appeal, but there are just as many of us out there that want to know what they are getting before they part with those hard earned $$. This is what we do at Strictly Reveal. We give grab bag reveals with the designer and store's support. We are completely different from other reveal blogs. We are all reveals. freebies and no drama! Oh yes, DId I mention the FREEBIES! I am the new freebie mixed bag coordinator for Strictly Reveal. At the end of each reveal post there is a goodie bag waiting for you, Melanie calls these your "Parting Gifts". I'm working with Melanie on keeping plenty of our mini mixed grab bag freebies available, We already have several designers donating items for our mixed bags. This is a call to any and all designers who would like to provide a supporting hand and get some extra blog exposure as well, I always have odds and ends that don't make it into the final kit. Why not think about donating those odds and ends to Strictly Reveal! We have a cool "I'm in the Bag" blinkie (see my sidebar) for all donating designers, we also have a couple of fan blinkies for everyone. We'll have a link back to your blog in our Strictly Reveal Sidebar. All items accepted, Personal Use, Scrap4Hire, Commercial Use, Designer Resource. When the grab bag revealed is PU/S4H, the mixed bag freebie items will be PU/S4H. When the grab bag revealed is DR/CU the mixed bag freebie is DR/CU. Any one interested can leave a comment here or drop me an email at aerynx@gmail.com

New Page Kit & CU Freebie - Updated :-)

I have a new kit to share tonight. I'm calling this one a Page Kit as it's very small for me, 6 papers, 14 elements, & a quickpage . This one came together very quickly too, I started it this afternoon and tonight it's ready for you. A few days ago Pillowgirl had the daily download at My Scrap Shop. It was a very pretty CU mini kit with the nicest Once Upon A Time overlays. As soon as I saw the kit I knew the pics I had to go with it. More pics of my granddaughter playing dress-up, this time with an old princess halloween costume, Between the pics and cu items I was inspired and this is what came out of it. Here is a layout of my granddaughter, Princess Abbi ---

This is the first kit I've made that I've chosen the colors from the pics I wanted to scrap. It's very pink and very girly. Here is my Princess Page Kit---

Download Here Link Fixed, again, lol :-)

My previews are so bad, I'm horrible at making them, I promise the kit looks much better than the preview shows :-)

Update - You all know I always make glitters for my kits, even when I'm only using 2 colors, I have my glitters for Princess Page Kit ready for you. There is a photoshop style & pattern plus png fills. Commercial Use Ok :-D

Download Here

New Layout & Peek at New Kit

Today is my granddaughter's 5th birthday. I know everyone says this but it really doesn't seem she should be 5 already. She is a normal 5 year old girl and playing dress-up is one of her favorite things. While I was there visiting last month my DD & I picked out the cutest ballet dress, I'm not sure what the correct term would be, and matching fluffy high-heeled shoes. The shoes from the toy dept of course but we found nicer outfits in the children's dept for cheaper than those in the toy dept so we just got the dress a couple sizes too big so she can play with it for awhile and not grow out of it so soon, After Abbi opened her presents my DD sent me some really cute pics of Abbi modeling her new outfit. Extractions have been a hard thing for me, especially since making the switch from photoshop elements 5 to photoshop cs2. I really missed the magic extractor included with pse. It works so much easier than the regular extractor included with ps cs2. I have a little tip to share. I always back up my plugins folders so even tho I don't have pse installed on my computer right now I did have the plugins folder backed up, I went into the preferences of ps cs2 to the tab where you can point the program to an additional plugins folder, and pointed it to the backup. I now have pse's magic extractor available to me in ps cs2's filter menu and it works great! I have a mostly finished layout to share, I'm so happy with how the extraction came out, I need to show it off ---


This is brag book size, my fav layout size, For this layout I used a template from the CU Micro Templates set by Paula Yagisawa. You're getting a peek at my new kit, my first to go into my new paypal store front widget. It's called Summer Glitter & Grunge. Look for it to go live in the next day or so. I'll post previews, etc when I have it all ready to go :-)

Backyard Playground CU Freebies :-)

I hope everyone is having a great holiday weekend. Also I hope you're ready for more backyard playground. I have 2 CU freebies for you today. I have the glitters and felts I made for use in my part of backyard playground to share. Both are a ps style & png fills for other apps. I do have a question for all of you. I need your input concerning my photoshop styles & patterns. My personal preference, which tends to spill over into my designs, is to keep a pattern file of the original glitters/felts & to make my styles with my preferred bevel/emboss, etc settings. The issue I'm concerned about is that my preferences tend to make the styles file size on the large side, sometimes the huge side, lol. I've been researching this a bit to see what the industry standard is, but it didn't really help, I saw styles made in both ways. So, after all you are the ones using them, I've decided to ask you what you want. I'm going to try to set up my very first poll. In the meantime please leave in comments how you like your ps styles :-) Today's glitters and felts are an untouched flat style. I also would like to know if you want the pattern file too with an untouched style. They would be basically identical except for the ps file type. If anyone wants the pattern files to today's downloads, just drop a note in comments and I'll upload it for you :-) ---

Download Here

PS Style - Download Here

PNG Fills - Download Here

Keep checking back, I have one final part of Backyard Playground to share with you :-)

Happy 4th CU Freebie :-)

Happy July 4th!! I have a little treat to share to celebrate the day :-)
Last night I was working on another layered border and I got the idea to make it into a special July 4th CU freebie ---

Download Here

I hope you all have a safe and happy 4th!! Make sure you check back tomorrow for more CU glitters :-)

It's CU Freebie Time!! :-D

I mentioned in my first Backyard Playground post that I wanted to come up with something special to share with you to make up for being late with some of my links. I was playing with some new ps resource stuff last night and came up with a new layered border. It has a texture and in 3 layers for easy color customization. There is a psd file for ps users and png's for use with other apps. Best yet it is Commercial Use Okay!! :-) The examples shown in the preview are included and of course made to coordinate with Backyard Playground. The Backyard Playground examples are personal/S4H.

Download Here

I'm finishing up previews for my glitter and felt styles in backyard playground colors. Keep checking back, the next CU freebies will be up soon :-D

Are You Ready For More Backyard Playground?? :-D

First -- I have to apologize to you all. We have guidelines to follow for our ADS group collabs. One of those guidelines asks us to have every file name start with our designer name or some sort of unique tag to avoid problems with overwriting files for those of us that put all parts of a collab kit into one folder. I somehow missed changing my file names to include my tag in one of the parts I posted last night. The part affected is Elements Part 2. It has been updated now. For the 568 of you who have already downloaded Elements Part 2, the only change is in the file names, The elements themselves are still exactly the same. I sincerely apologize for the oversight!! My only excuse is that I was determined to have my elements posted before I went to bed last night. It was 4 am when I had them uploaded and posted,

Next -- I have more Backyard Playground to share with you!!! I have a set of glitter-edged felt bracket frames and a set of grosgrain ribbons. I promise they look much better than the previews, My previews still need work, lol ---

Bracket Frames - Download Here

Ribbons Part 1 - Download Here
Ribbons Part 2 - Download Here

Make sure you keep checking back, I have CU freebies for you up next :-D

Backyard Playground is Here!!!! Updated :-D

I've updated my post. scroll down a bit for the update :-)

I'm in the process of spiffing up my blog. I still have lots of blinkies to re-do. I've removed the Popsicle Paradise Blog List but the links to my part are still there, just moved down aways. I needed to make room there for the new blog hop list, yes everyone 'Backyard Playground' is here!!

The ADS Designers Yahoo Group has a new Collab MEGA-Kit!! Welcome to Backyard Playground!!!
I have to admit to deserving the wet noodle from my group members! I'm running very behind on my part. You all know the issues I have regarding kit size, no matter how much I try to keep it small, it just doesn't work. Plus I now understand all the discussion I've read concerning issues with Photoshop CS3 Extended in Vista. My DD has Vista on her computer and my photoshop would not recognize a .png file. I tried a couple of times to find out why but in the end it was more fun to play with my grandkids and leave it til I was back here. I know you'll forgive me for being a little late, I do have my papers ready to go right now and I'm working on the elements previews now as well. And you know I always have special things to add-on coming over the next few days anyway, you may just end up with something really special to make it up to you :-D

Here are the papers to my part of Backyard Playground ----

Papers Part 1 - Download Here
Papers Part 2 - Download Here

Update - I have the elements for my part of Backyard Playground uploaded and ready for you now. here are the links :-) ----

Elements Part 1 - Download Here
Elements Part 2 - Download Here

I'm also in the process of changing my logo. When I started designing I was wanting something reflective of the wizard of oz/over the rainbow theme (being from Kansas, lol) and at the time the tornado graphic seemed a good idea. After the recent destruction at K-State and the horrible storm season we've been having everywhere, that tornado graphic seems very disrespectful now and it's gone for good. The weather while I was at my DD's in Kansas was mostly great. One afternoon we had a short storm blow thru that left a gorgeous double rainbow, one very bright and one very faint. My DD snapped a pic of it from a moving car on our way to the store. The pic came out great and I'm using that as a basis for my new logo to try to stick with the over the rainbow theme. Along with the change in logo, I have a change in my TOU to allow S4H. Both my logo and TOU are works in progress and look very rough right now. Please forgive me for not having them ready in time.

Here is the Blog Hop link list. We have 43 designers participating. It's time to explore the Backyard Playground ----

Becky

Beth

Brooke

Crystal(digiscrapalicious)

Crystal(s.amazed)

Dawn

Debbie

Debi

Denise

Donna

Erika

Heather

Joni

Joy

Karen

Kathy(carolinagirl)

Kathy(scraploft)

Kay

Kelly

Kim

Krisi

Lara

Leaonna

Lori

Melanie(bygodsdesign)

Melanie(scrappinasithappens)

Melanie(sweetasmel)

Michaele

Mollie

Monica

Nadine

Nancy

Nikki

Patty

Penny

Rachael

Shannon

Sheila

Stella

Sue

Tammy

Utski

Home Again

I'm back in CA. I've decided to move back to KS. If anyone knows of a cheap and easy way to move across the country please let me know, any ideas/suggestions are greatly appreciated. LOL, with gas prices they way they are today, I'm not sure there is an easy way. But, I've explored my options that I can think of but my brain feels like mush after 2 days on a greyhound bus. I really need to bite the bullet and force myself to fly. I'm terrified of that idea and suddenly the bus doesn't seem quite so bad again :-D

I'm going to be working on my blog today. This stuff with photobucket cutting off images is for the birds. I've had great suggestions left via comments on how to fix these issues and keep them from happening again. I'm going to be implementing some of those changes today, because -----

Keep your calendars open on Tues July 1!! The ADS Designers July Blog Hop is coming. I know you are all going to enjoy "Backyard Playground." We have the greatest group full of wonderful designers of all experience levels. We have so much fun sharing all the cu freebies we can find, great tuts, and if one of us needs help for any reason, we're all there to do what we can!! Our monthly collabs are so much fun I can hardly remember now what it was like to be learning all this on my own. Once again I'm warning everyone to clear out a nice chunk of hard drive space! I'm constantly fighting a losing battle for my hard drive space, I fill it up faster than I can empty it onto dvds. I understand now why I see so much discussion about the best 500 gig and up EHD's, lol. I have a couple hours of burning to do myself to get ready. Backyard Playground has almost twice as many contributers as Popsicle Paradise, our group has grown :-D

I'm off to spiff up the blog :-D

A quick post and a note for Chiara :-)

I'm still at my daughter's in KS, I'll be back in CA this Saturday. Everyone keep July 1st open and clear out some more hard drive space, lol, you're going to need even more!! :-D We ADS Designers are doing it again, an even bigger blog hop. Keep watch for "Backyard Playground" you're going to love it just as much as Popsicle Paradise!!

I have a quick note to Chiara --

We would love to have you in our ADS group! Here is a link to the group page at yahoo http://groups.yahoo.com/group/adsdesigners/

We're happy to help in any way we can!! You can reach me by email at aerynx@gmail.com :-)

Sorry about the images

According to Photobucket.com I've exceeded the allowed monthly bandwidth for a free acct. I'm so sorry all my previews , layouts, and other images have been replaced with that annoying photobucket icon. While I find it very annoying to have all my images disappear, it's also a really good thing because that means lots of you have found my blog :-) This is another first for me so I'm not quite sure yet what I need to do. I'm thinking a photobucket pro account may be in my future. In the meantime I'm so sorry and I'm working on fixing this as soon as possible :-)

Welcome back to Popsicle Paradise :-)

I have my last add-on for Popsicle Paradise to share today. I'm a little sad it's the last, This has been a great week, My download counts are over 1000, I never expected that. It's totally cool!! And Thank You so much for all the wonderful comments, I read each and every one, I get lots of warm fuzzies reading them. Everyone's Popsicle Paradise links will be active at least for the month of June, mine will stay active as long as I have space at 4-shared and I know several others plan to keep their's active too. I have my download links and the blog hop links list in my sidebar towards the top so they don't get lost as the original posts move down the page. They will remain there for the rest of June. I decided to make this final add-on a grab bag style surprise. There is an alpha, a few papers and elements that didn't make it into the main kit and a few little surprises made with cu items I didn't have then. Here is my final part of Popsicle Paradise ---

Download Here

I have a new kit ready but for the previews, I'll be working on those this weekend, I hope you've had great fun in Popsicle Paradise and have a great weekend ;-)

More Popsicle Paradise, the 3rd CU freebie

I have my 3rd CU add-on for Popsicle Paradise today. I found a couple of good tuts on making felt. I used what I learned to make the flowers in my part of Popsicle Paradise. Today I have a layer style/pattern/png fills of those felts in popsicle paradise colors of course :-)

Part 1 - Download Here
Part 2 - Download Here

Make sure you check back tomorrow, I have one more Popsicle Paradise freebie :-)

More Popsicle Paradise, CU Freebies :-)

WOW!!! You all are the best!!!! At less than 48 hrs of posting, I've had almost 800 downloads on my part of Popsicle Paradise!! Thank you all so much for the wonderful comments both here on the blog and at 4-shared. Every time I read them I get warm fuzzies :-D I would like to say a special thank you to everyone that left condolences on the deaths on my mother in Feb and my close friend, ex-hubby George last week. All my previous records for download count and comments have been broken, a couple times now, lol.

Are you ready for some more Popsicle Paradise??? I have 4 more things coming to go with my part. 3 of these are CU Ok and you get 2 of them today :-D

First is the overlay I made to make my popsicle papers. This the first overlay I've done that came out the way I wanted and that I liked. I'm kinda proud of it so I want to share it with all of you :-)

Download Here

A couple of weeks or so ago we were discussing and doing tuts in our ads designers group on how to make seamless tiles. These had me making LOTS of different tiles. Along the way I made seamless glitters for every kit I had at least a color scheme for along with every kit I had in the works. After those I started making glitters for my kits that were already finished. I made glitters for the Popsicle Paradise color scheme even tho I was finished with my part. I would like to share these glitters with you. There is a layer style with a bevel & a pattern that's flat for photoshop along with png fills for psp users ---

Download Here

As Always, when sharing, please send your friends here to my blog. Please support the fight against digital piracy!

Keep checking back, There's 1 more CU freebie and a surprise add-ons pack still to come. Have fun in Popsicle Paradise :-D

Happy June 1! Welcome to Popsicle Paradise :-D

Happy June 1!! The MEGA-kit collab Popsicle Paradise from the ADS Designers Yahoo Group is here. Clear a good chunk of hard drive space and have fun ---

First I have a layout to show you. Heather of HS Designs has made quickpages from all or most of our kits. This layout was done with Heather's beautiful quickpage made with my part of Popsicle Paradise ---

My grandkids Abbi and Cole truly in Popsicle Paradise :-)

At the end of this blog hop you will have parts to Popsicle Paradise by 23 designers of the ADS Designers Yahoo Group. This is my first chance to participate in a blog hop, I'm very proud this is my first. I would like to say a big Thank You to Anne of Creative Dreams for organizing this incredible thing, Please trust me when I tell you, you won't be disappointed. It was an amazing thing to watch come together. As most of you already know, I just don't know how to make a small kit, so here is my part of Popsicle Paradise ---

Elements Part 1 - Download Here
Elements Part 2 - Download Here

Papers Part 1 - Download Here
Papers Part 2 - Download Here

I also have the quickpage from above as a cool goodie add-on - Download Here

From here you go on to Angie, and 21 more ADS Designers. Have fun on the hop!! :-D

Angie - http://angiesasylum.blogspot.com/
Anne - http://creative-dreams.net/
Brittney - http://brittneycreations.blogspot.com
Catt - http://cattscrapps.blogspot.com/
Chantal - http://www.chantalmiller.co.za
Crystal - http://amazedscrapper.blogspot.com/
Crystal – http://digiscrapalicious.blogspot.com/
Dawn - http://bearlyscrapping.blogspot.com/
Donna - http://mamadukez-creationz.blogspot.com
Faye - http://www.angelfayescorner.blogspot.com
Heather - http://www.dylanstokes.blogspot.com
Joni - http://fenncreations.blogspot.com/
Leaonna - http://busyscrappin.blogspot.com/
Melanie - http://blog.bygodsdesign.biz
Monica - http://randominspirationsbymonica.blogspot.com
Nancy - http://catstation.net/scrappycats/blog/
Nikki - http://justpassinthru.wordpress.com
Patty - http://secondhandangel.wordpress.com
Penny - http://www.alliekatcreations.blogspot.com
Sheila - http://http://abyscraps.wordpress.com/
Tammy - http://mommyofjayden.blogspot.com/
Xandra - http://xandra-a84martin.blogspot.com

News and Updated CU Freebie :-)

It's been a very hard week for me. My close friend that had a serious stroke on Friday last week was taken off life support and died on Tues, May 27, his 59th birthday. We felt it an appropriate day in the circumstances. I haven't been able to scrap anything yet, it's too raw for me, but I do have a layout to share. My daughter prefers paper scrapping over digital and she made this paper layout, Unfortunately her scanner is non-functional at the moment so she sent me a pic of it --

George May 27,1949 - May 27, 2008

've been a mess most of the week but I did manage to finish up a post I started last week for a CU freebie ---

Thanks to the ladies in my ADS Designers Yahoo Group, I have learned to make seamless tiles. I realized while working thru a couple of tutorials on the subject that my 'Over the Rainbow' kit CU add-on, Oil Paints Textured Layer Styles for Photoshop had these horrible seam lines in anything over 3 inches. So -- Today I have an updated version to share, completely seamless, Please delete the old version, this one is much nicer! I like a bit of bevel on my styles but I realize not everyone does so in this update I have the layer styles with a bevel, a pattern file that is flat, and png fills for psp users :-)

Over the Rainbow CU Ok Add-on Oil Paints Textured Style, Pattern, & Fills - Download Here

New Layout and My First 3 Tags :-)

I have my first of seven tags that I owe - My first tag went to Sindiego
I also have my second and third tags - the second goes to DreamerPaula
and the third goes to Andrea Gold

I noticed that most of my ADS group members had multiple tags so I've decided to tag my favorite designers :-)

I have a layout to share, this is my layout for the May Template Challenge at GDS. Andrea Gold has beautiful templates. This month's goodie is a 2 page brag book set and posting a layout gets a full size Template for a posting gift ----

Brag Book Template by Andrea Gold. Ano Nuevo Kit by Jessica Alger. Glitters by me :-)

I haven't had much time to design the last few days with everything that's going on. I do have a couple things ready to go but for the previews. That always seems to be the hardest part for me, lol. I promise to get something posted as soon as I can :-)

I've Been Tagged :-)

It's been a very busy week. I was working on my post last night, telling you 7 weird and random things about myself. I was just too tired to decide who to tag next and was going to finish this morning, But, I've had a family health emergency today so I haven't gotten done anything I planned to do. My ex-hubby and I decided years ago to get a divorce and stay friends rather than stay married and be enemies. We have continued to be close friends, This morning he had a stroke followed by a full out brain bleed, The doctors in the er had to make burr holes in his head. It was very hard to see him so quiet and still. He's in a coma and there's no way to know right now if he'll wake up or not, and what damage there is. I know you all will forgive me for not tagging anyone right now, I've been tagged 5 times now and I will try to get a layout made for the layout tag blog game. Blog tag is so fun, I'm such a bad blogger, I need more hours in the day, Here's what I have so far on answering my tags. I promise I'll get caught up. Doing this will help keep my mind occupied,

I've been tagged, and not just once but 3 times! This is the first time I've ever been tagged, it's pretty cool. Now if I can just come up with 7 appropriate wierd or random things. On to the formalities ---

I've been tagged by --- Tara of Creations by Tara, Kathy of Carolina Girl Scrap Creations, and Debbie of Beckmoore's Scrapalittle Thank you for the chance to play ladies :-)

Here are the rules ---

1. Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog

2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.

3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.

4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

And now 7 facts about me ---

1 - I'm an old hippie that still loves tie-dye. I've shared a house with a bunch of other old hippies for 10 years+ in Southern California,

2 - I'm originally from Kansas. When asked how I got to California, my favorite answer was/is - I put on my ruby red slippers, clicked my heels together 3 times and said there's no place like home and I landed here, without landing a house on anyone, thank goodness, lol. I heard every Wizard of Oz joke there is when I moved here and too make things worse, I had a yorkshire terrier at that time, not quite a scottish like in the movie but close enough. Nevertheless, the movie remains a family favorite.

3 - I'm totally addicted to Netflix!! I love movies and don't go to theaters. I impatiently await the mail on movie days, lol.

4 - One of my favorite programs for my computer is Windowblinds, part of Object Desktop by Stardock/Wincustomize. Windowblinds skins the win xp/vista user interface. There are lots of artists, called skinners, that live for making skins to make computer desktops look different, I have an idea but I need a skinner's help. I want to convert my scrapkits to skins. Imagine opening your start menu and seeing the layout of your choice. Getting a right click menu that looks like a journaling or tag. Think scrapping your computer interface. Anyone interested in this idea please leave a comment with your email.

5 - My mom passed away on Feb. 18. It was a hard mother's day,

6- I'm a complete computer junkie. Alot of women shop for shoes, etc, not me, lead me to closest software store. Better yet, I stay at home and shop online. I'm also totally addicted to freebie hunting, And not just for scrap freebies, Some of my best other than scrap freebies over the years have been a complete queensize quilt cover set from England, a leatherman multi-tool, an igloo cooler, tons of samples and full size products, photo paper and other printing supplies, pens, calendars, cook books and magazines,

7 - I've found that I prefer to have both photoshop cs2 and paintshop pro 9. They're usually both open at the same time, Oh yea, ArtRage too, lol.

Next comes tagging 7 others. I'll be back tomorrow to do that. My brain is fried from trying to think up 7 things about myself, lol. When I get this tired my fingers tend to forget how to type. Goodnight, cya tomorrow :-)

New 'Micro' Kit :-)

I really like the 6 inch by 4 inch brag book size scrap pages. It's alot easier for me to send a 6x4 layout into Walgreen's Photo to be printed for 15 cents than it is to send in an 8x8 or 12x12 from $1.50 up. I've filled a photo album already this year and urgently need a new one, lol. Don't get me wrong, I do make layouts in all 3 sizes. Sometimes, if the layout resizes right, I have my larger layouts printed in 6x4. With my larger 8x8 or 12x12 layouts I like to make a picture dvd so I can pop the disc in my dvd player and watch a slide show, very much like the slide shows available on most blogs. Last month my fav designer Paula Yagisawa aka DreamerPaula released a gorgeous 6x4 full kit called "Micro Flowers" at her Gotta Pixel store. It was the first kit I've used that was designed in 6x4, I usually resize down from my full size kits. I immediately started having ideas for my own 'Micro' 6x4 kits. The kit I have for you today is my first 'Micro'. But first, I have some layouts to share. These first two I made with Paula's 'Micro Flowers' ---

Here's my munchkins again :-D. I made these layouts as a 2 page set, I have them meet on the doodled flower side. I did throw in my own touch in a couple of places. I made the frame using all 5 colors of the fibers in the kit. I love the charms, Paula also included a blank charm. I just embossed a recolored to match arrow on the blank charm. The colors in this kit are fabulous and it's so fun and easy to work with. You can check it out for yourselves at Gotta Pixel.

I have my first 'Micro' kit, designed in 6x4, to share today, 'Spring Pastels Micro 6x4'. Truly the only thing 'Micro' about this kit is the layout size, there are a whopping 50 papers and 80+ elements. All papers are 6x4, 300 dpi, and all elements are scaled to size. Here are a couple of layouts ---

These layouts are my beautiful daughter Courtney with son Jake first and daughter Abbi second. Several items were made with CU items by members of my ADS Designers Group. Isn't that mushroom the cutest? I've made both of these layouts into brag book pages as a bonus :-) Here are your links ---

Papers - Download Here

Elements - Download Here

Brag Book Pages - Download Here

Don't forget the June 1st Popsicle Paradise blog hop. There are 23 of us at last count from my ADS Designers group participating. I have to tell you the kits are fantastic. This is going to be HUGE and GREAT!!! You don't want to miss this. Busy on June 1st? No worries, the blog hop links will be up for at least 30 days. Clear out some space on those crowded hard drives, you're going to want it, lol :-D

A Quick Freebie :-)

I have some glitter papers and brads to share. I made them to go with an upcoming kit but as I finished more of the other papers and elements, I decided I didn't like them with that kit anymore, But, I do really like how they came out so here's my newest freebie, Black Glitters. There are 5 glitter papers and 10 oval & square glass brads. The preview looks really crappy here, I promise they look much better than the preview :-)

Download Here

New Kit :-)

I'm so proud of myself, I actually kept my dentist appt this week. I have a very bad habit of letting my phobia take over at the last minute and not going. I had one extraction and one filling. The shots to numb me up were horrible but the rest went fine. It is nice to be able to chew my food properly again. I'm mighty tired of soup, lol.

I have a new kit to share today. I'm really bad at kit names, I call this one Square Swirlies.

Papers - Download Here
Elements - Download Here

As always, please when sharing, send your friends here to my blog. Please support the fight against digital piracy.

Don't forget to mark your calendars for June 1st. There's a giant ADS Designers blog hop coming, We still have new designers signing up. Make sure you block yourself a good amount of time, it's going to be great!! Check out the listing of ADS Designers in my sidebar, our group is growing all the time, We have a great group for aspiring designers/commercial use freebies. It's the best!! Info on joining available at Digiscrapilious

I also want to say thank you for the wonderful condolences comments and emails I've received on the passing of my mom in Feb. They mean the world to me!!

I have several new kits in the works and a new commercial use freebie as well. Check back soon :-)

Toothache :-( & Autism Awareness Collab Kit :-)

It's been a long, painful 10 days or so. I've had the worst toothache I've ever had, plus I've been very sick with it. So now I have the trips to the dentist, I'm VERY phobic with dentists. It usually does take pain or an abcess to drive me there. I have my second appointment tomorrow, my tummy is already in knots, lol. You know I'm sick when I don't feel up to being on my computer, I'm so sorry I've been away so long, I had planned to have a cute mini ready for NSD, but..... I should have it ready in a day or so, There is a much more important post I'm late for ----

Donate to AutismSpeaks.Org

send the receipt to XandraMartinDesigns@yahoo.com

with Autism Charity Kit in the subject field, and you will be sent the download links and password!

I feel blessed to have been given the opportunity to participate in such a worthwhile project!! Here's a peek at my part -

I'll be back very soon with my next freebie :-)

New Freebie :-)

I finally finished my kit 'April Grunge' for the Stone Accent Studios April Color Challenge. This is my first kit made for a color challenge. I think it came out really nice :-)

Part 1 - Download Here
Part 2 - Download Here

Spring Polka Dots Last 2 Parts :-)

I'm so sorry it's taken me so long to get the last 2 parts of 'Spring Polka Dots' posted. I've been feeling abit under the weather, but not quite so crappy today, so. Here are the last 2 parts. There may be an add-on coming, I'm working on a alpha :-)

Part 5 - Download Here

Part 6 - Download Here

As Always, Please when sharing, send your friends here to my blog. Please support no digital piracy.

I have a kit ready to post for the April Color Challenge at Stone Accents Studio. Check back later, I hope to have it posted very soon :-)

2 Freebies Today I is CU Ok :-)

A few posts back I mentioned there was something really cool coming, we've been given permission to post teasers so ----

Mark June 1st on your calendars, it's a day you're not going to want to miss. I've been participating in an aspiring designers yahoo group started by Crystal of DigiScrapalicious and The Template Club. We are making a mega collab kit. There will be LOTS of parts!! Trust me, you don't want to miss this, the previews are looking fabulous!! Information on the aspiring designers group can be found at DigiScrapalicious :-)

On to the freebies ---

Freebie #1 is a set of 2 quickpages for Spring Polka Dots. Here they are in use with my grandkids, my little munchkins --


I'm sorry the alpha I used isn't included in the kit yet. I'm just starting to work on my own alphas so I hope to have it ready for you soon :-)

Download Here

Freebie #2 is a set of Commercial Use ok Layer Styles, made in photoshop cs2. These are an add-on to my first kit 'Over the Rainbow'

Download Here

As Always, when sharing, Please send your friends here to my blog. Please support no digital piracy!!

Come by tomorrow for the last 2 parts of Spring Polka Dots :-)