Thursday Things...Mini Kit 3 Freebie!!!

How fun is this?!!! I've been working diligently today on One Crazy Summer - Mini Kit 3. It rained so we couldn't play outside until late in the afternoon. So I finished some fun stuff for this mini. My favorite part is the rope frame. I can't wait to see how people use it. I so love incorporating natural textures in a believable way. The kids are having a blast at vacation bible school. I love having 2 hours a day to myself (although I haven't used it to get ahead on housework LOL). Saturday, Zoe goes to her first Girl Scout camp of the year. It's a science fair day camp. She's been growing a FUNGUS GARDEN in a container in one of my cupboards and keeping a journal on what colors of fungi are growing and how fast they appeared. Lucky for me DH loves this kind of stuff. I will spare you any pictures. Okay - another midnght post so I'm off to bed. Click on the image to download and don't forget to leave comments and love....I really read them all and I've been encouraged by those who told me they like the way One Crazy Summer is shaping up. xoxoxo

Tuesday Treat - One Crazy Summer Freebie #2

Am I on a roll or what??!! I was so inspired by fellow designer, Ellie Lash, and her tales of becoming a designer and more, that I actually got another mini kit finished! I'm not promising one every day, but you never know! Today is another work day for me but check back because you never know! Just click on the image to download it. Let me know what you think of the kit so far and don't forget to leave some love!

Monday Mini Kit - One Crazy Summer Freebie #1

I hope everyone had a great weekend! Monday is a work day for me so I'm actually posting this before I go to sleep. My kids start their summer activities this week, so I will have plenty of inspiration for my One Crazy Summer theme. Tomorrow is the first day of Vacation Bible School although I may need to take Zoe to the pediatrician instead. Her fever was gone for most of the day, but returned around dinner time at about 100°. This week's VBS is at the church where both kids attended preschool. Since it lasts all week it won't be a problem if Zoe misses one day. Now for what you all came here for.... my freebie! This kit actually matches the Tin Stamp Alphas which I released on Friday. This will be just the first of many Mini Kits that will make up what I HOPE will be a cohesive Mega Kit. ROFL I would love to see any layouts including my designs. You can add them in comments or use my email link in the side bar. Just click on the image to download and don't forget to leave me some love :)

Guest CT Contest and other things...

I have been a busy lady. My Zoe girl has been sick for 3 days. Yesterday her fever hit 103° and she's had a terrible headache. I really didn't want to leave her side much so I had lots of time to work on scraps etcetera. I updated my blog template thanks to Joanna's suggestions. I didn't realize I would have to hunt down all my blinkies and widgets again, but it's all chalked up to learning LOL.

I also found a wonderful designer, ScrapShana, with a very talented CT called Shana's Starlets and she is holding a contest for a guest CT. At this point I would LOVE to be part of a CT and this is a great chance for me to get some experience. So I took her lovely kit Chocolate Linen which is this fabulous combination of soft browns, blues and violet and put together a layout. I would have LOVED to use everything in her kit it is so cool. I did create an alpha with her delightful checked background paper (Am I becoming some kind of Alpha Addict or what???? ROFL). Click on Shana's Chocolate Linen kit for the link to her site and her freebie.

I would love some feedback on my layout and alphas. If Shana gives permission I will see about finishing the alpha set as a freebie.... Wish me luck in the contest!!!

Good Morning Monday!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I had a 4 year old with a fever hovering around 104°F (38°C) and a terrible headache. Sti;ll we went over to a church we bought a wooden playset from, in order to disassemble it and bring it home and had Murphy's Law take over our lives. When I offered to buy the playset from the church I forgot that we had just traded in our Ford F35o long bed pick-up truck for a Ford Escape. DH has had a truck as long as I have known him. After three trips to the church (it's only 10 minutes away) to attempt taking it apart, DH decided to rent a truck for a day and just load it in one piece. Let me precede this by saying that DH brought home a Saturn Sky from work on Friday. Since he's a test engineer he does this occasionally, especially when there is a car he knows I'd love to drive. So, by his choice, Mark and Mack went to pick up the rental truck at 9am on Sunday morning (Father's Day... I know). We headed out at about 12:30 to go to the church. When Zoe and I got there with the convertible, shortly behind the boys, Mark was ready to have me help him tip the playset into the truck.... it was 1 inch too wide!!! So we started to tear it apart... mark went to move the truck forward a bit and it sunk to the axel in soft, wet dirt. After 40 minutes of trying to wedge something under the back wheels, Mark pulledthe Sky up and used it to secure a strap that he used to pull the truck forward. It worked, but the knot he tied to fasten the strap was tightened so much, we couldn't get it undone. He left me to work on it while he got back to disassembling the playset. Almost instantly it downpoured!!!! Quickly I put the convertible top up, closed the windows and trunk on the Sky, Mark gathered the kids, the dog (yes she was with us) and the tools together and we huddled in the back of the still unloaded rental truck. As the rain poured down (of course blowing into the back of the truck) and we all tried to stay dry, sweet little Zoe said, "this is the worst Father's Day EVER!" to which Mark replied, "No, it's not. We're all together as a family. That's all any Daddy ever wants for Father's Day is to have his family all together." AWWWW! Suffice it to say that we did get the playset pulled apart, loaded and unloaded again in our driveway at home (although not before I sunk the SKY in the soft, wet dirt up to the frame and pulled it out the same way we did the rental truck). By 4:00 Mark had taken the truck back and he and I cleaned the inside and outside of the Sky so that it could be returned in perfect shape. In spite of this excitement and drama, I did manage to get a new kit under way called, appropriately enough, One Crazy Summer. I've already finished the Alphas for it, but as today is a workday, I'll have to load them up later. Be sure to check back!!!!

Looks Like Rain Final Freebie

Hello friends! Well we reached Thursday, the final installment of my Looks Like Rain kit. I've had some very nice comments and I'd LOVE to see any layouts using elements or papers from it! I also had my first attempt at making a blinkie. Grab it for your blog if you want. I've got some ideas for the next one, but some of my programs have been acting la ittle flakey and today is a work day for me AND the deadline for my girl scout paperwork. (Did I tell you I am a procrastinator??? LOL) A note about the Wax Impression Alphas, the style isn't working with the lower case letters, so I will have numerals and punctuation for tomorrow. I've got an idea for my next alphabet design...it's so fun!!! But I am still looking for a better way to give them a transparent background. Maybe I'll have another post for today. Mornings seem to be the only certain time I can steal a few minutes while I have my coffee. I have so many kits that I have downloaded from some of you and I really want to get some layouts done. I hope you all will still visit! I also want to catch up on my favorite blogs. I love knowing what's going on with others. :) Here is the Looks Like Rain Freebie for today. It has Journaling Strips, Fasteners and some really fun Baling Wire. (Words I never thought I'd be saying! LOL) Don't forget to leave some love... Later in the day...... Here are two layouts I did today. You can see all the design credits by clicking on them (for fonts etc.) But the first one is from my friend Val at Une pause café and her Wild On kit. I added paper from Hillbilly Sweetpea and her kit Bloom Where Yo Are Planted. The second layout I did with a kit I've had for awhile. I think it's perfect for Zoe's first Halloween. It's a kit called Adorable Animals from Designs by Karen.

Looks Like Rain Layout and QP Freebie!

Another beautiful busy day! I'm so happy I had a minute to do a layout with the rainy day photo I had in mind and my Looks Like Rain kit. I liked it so much I turned it into a QP. If you like it, grab it! I love to share. I know that my images do not have the transparent backgrounds I intend them to have. I'm still trying to troubleshoot this issue. I am exporting my .png files with a transparent color, but when I import the images to use, they are solit again. I am working in Corel Photo-Paint 12 which shares a lot of features with PSP, but obviously a transparent background is a well hidden on if it exists LOL. Actually I have googled this issue and joined ask.com and the only solution I've been given gives me a .gif with a transparent background, but poor resolution.....

Well, friends... here is the quick page freebie. More tomorrow...we're going to have a family swim!

Looks Like Rain Freebie! and more...

I had a busy day yesterday, but I still found time to check out some of my favorite blogs. I also snagged some blinkies to add to my page. If you read my blog and have a blinkie you would like me to add just let me know. I can either snag it from your blog or you can send me the code. A couple of my favorites didn't have blinkies (you may know who you are). If I figure out how to make them myself, maybe I'll design a couple to share! It ended up raining most of the day yesterday, so I did stay focused on my work. It should be nice out today, actually around 85°F or 30°C all week long. This is great Michigan weather. I have a couple of perfect photos for my Looks Like Rain kit. If I get a chance I will do a layout and a QP. Thanks again for stopping by. If you grab my freebie, don't forget to leave some love! Just click on the image to download. xoxoxo

FREEBIES - Looks Like Rain (Day 2 and 3)

Sorry that I missed yesterday's freebie. My IT guy (sweet husband Mark) had to do some fixes on my system. Hopefully I won't have to deal with any errors today, but he still needs to reinstall my service pack three update. Yesterday was actually sunny and hot and our family got to swim in our pool!!! It was perfect. Then the rain came and today....

Looks Like Rain!

Just click on each image to download that section of my mini kit.

In the meantime, today is a work day for me, so I hope the rain keeps up at least into the afternoon. It is so much easier for me so stay focussed when it's gloomy outside.

Tomorrow I will need to take the kids over to the school and clean out the Brownie Troop closet for the summer months. I am still not sure where to store everything (LOL). I also have to remember to have the reports ready to turn in before Saturday. Then I am done at least through the month of July. Some of the girls want to go to Troop Camp on August 1st. WOW! Summer has just started and it seems like it's nearly over :)

Oh yes!!! I am so excited about this... I'VE BEEN TAGGED!!!! One of my favorite digital scrapbooking bloggers and designers (I have lot's of her kits) Joanne Cinnamon at My Digital Addiction has tagged me.

Seven Random / Weird Facts About Me:

1. I met my husband in 1995 at an AOL party that was organized at a bar in Lansing, Michigan.

2. I HATE to empty the dishwasher. This is a random dislike and luckily my Dear Husband humors me whenever he can.

3. I actually use digital scrapbooking as a means of keeping up with graphic design techniques LOL.

4. I I used to belong to a group of designers called ACAD (Association of Corel Artists and Designers) where we would meet and talk about ways to work around software issues. This was before the days of message groups, bulliten boards and Google searches!

5. I need coffee every morning. I have even trained my kids to say, "If Mommy doesn't get her coffee, she gets cranky." LOL - this way they know how serious my addiction is! :)

6. I have used the screen name HeatherMSU since I first joined AOL in 1994. The MSU stands for my Alma Mater, Michigan State University - - GO SPARTANS!!!!

7. I am one of the world's great procrastinators who comes from a long line of procrastinators! One of the things I like best about my DH is that he never procrastinates. My parents even have a rule that they never mention needing something done unless they're ready, because Mark will do it immediately LOL!

Here's who I'm tagging:

1. Val at Une Pause Café. She is a member of the Crisdam Designs CT and is one of my favorite designers. She has a blog I love to visit and I think it's great that she translates all of her entries. 2. Dragonfly Digitals from Kopperhead. This is a wonderful blogspot and she has a great new kit that you just have to check out!

3. Digiscrap Designs by Lorie. I have some of Lorie's designs from a year ago when she was still lsmdigital works. She is an amazing talent and I love keeping up with someone I knew from my first days of scrapping on Scrapbook Flair. 4. Ikeagoddess. Here is a name so many of us know. She is a wonderful source of freebies and a great reference for those of us who love to share. But she is also a great scrapper! Her layouts are fun and inspiring!

5. Mandy at Mandy's Mystiques. She is a super designer and inspiration and has a CT of her own. I know many of you love her work already, but if you don't you need to check her out! 6. Shauna Burke-Smith at Pineapple Plantation Designs. Shauna is on the Scrap Orchard CT. Her layouts and designs are wonderful. She is way out of my league but is also an inspiration to me. 7. And finally I am tagging Bonnie at Silver Rocket Scraps. I have just recently found her blog and I love reading about her family. She is a wonderul designer and I look forward to using her kits.

Well, this must be my longest blog to date. I promise not to make a habit of going on so long but there was a lot to cover today. So check out today's freebies and be sure to come back tomorrow for the Looks Like Rain frames pack!

FREEBIE WEEK! - Looks Like Rain

All of your wonderful feedback and tremendous support over the past week has really inspired me. I have finished my very first mini kit!!!! I am calling it "Looks Like Rain" and it has some really bright colors and unusual textures. It will even go well with my "Wax Impression Alphas" which will be finished with this coming Friday Freebie.... but, until then here is what I have for you:

Sunday: Looks Like Rain Papers

Monday: Looks Like Rain Overlays

Tuesday: Looks Like Rain Rainwear Elements

Wednesday: Looks Like Rain Frames

Thursday: Looks Like Rain Miscellaneous Elements

Friday: Wax Impression Alphas, lower case and numerals

Here's a sneak peek at the entire kit. Please let me know what you think of it since your appreciation was my motivation. Who knows, maybe I'll even get a quick page or two for you. I really love the color combo and how it all came together for me.

If you use any of my designs I would truly LOVE to see your layouts. You can include a link in your comments or just send me a copy.

Well, it's been a long day of designing and doing laundry... lucky for me it was a downpour day outside...(see it "Looks Like Rain" here too :). Now I'm off to tuck my little ones into bed. Just click on the image below to download today's freebie.

Don't forget to leave me some love with your download... You have all been so wonderful that I am truly having a ball!

MY FIRST FRIDAY FREEBIE!

Well everyone! I am soooo excited. I managed to get all my alpha images exported and zipped and loaded onto 4shared. I hope some of you try these. I'd like to know how they work for you all and if you'd like to see the lower case letters and numerals! Just click on the image below to download and I would love to hear your comments, ideas and suggestions. Today is my day off (my marketing job) so I was able to visit my favorite blogs (I will try to add blinkies for them-still learning how). There are some wonderful kits and layouts in the digital world. It's all so inspiring!!! I'd like to scrap some layouts with a couple I downloaded and share them here and with the designer. I am also brainstorming some original design ideas of my own. Maybe something to go with these early days of summer. Today is my Zoe girl's last day of grade 1. I need to scramble to get her registered for the girl scout resident camp she wants to attend this year. She took some great pictures last summer and I scrapped this fun page.... I did it for the Scrapbook Flair Out of Africa Kit Challenge. Click on the image for design credits and a closer look. Zoe took so many good photos that this page is pretty full. Still, it was early in my digital designing. I like to think I've learned a lot since then. Today is my day to catch up on housework as well as get a little scrapping done. Here is the freebie I promised you. Just click on the image to download it. If I get a new layout done I will upload it tonight... Thanks for checking out my blog and my freebie! xoxoxo

First Friday Freebie coming tomorrow!

I am working on my first freebie to share! I am so excited about this! It's actually an alpha set I developed while messing around for a challenge on Scrapbook Flair and I use it in many of my own layouts. The Alphas are called Wax Impression and they look like a drop of wax impressed with a letter. I think they look most like wax when they are red, but you can get a sneak peak if you check out the "D" in my header.

Anyhow, this is my first attempt to export to .png files and also to use the 4shared for my uploads. I'm even working on a packaging design for DigiScrap Dreams. Check back tomorrow to see! I would love any feedback and pointers you may have to share with me...

A Dream Begins

To any who may read this blog entry, hello! I am trying to get a digital scrapbooking site up and running smoothly. As I have never done anything like this before (although I am a frequent visitor to others' remarkable blogs) I am always open to suggestions to make my posts and content better.

This past weekend I survived Zoe's first slumber party and am in the process of scrapping the photos I took. It really was a lot of fun. We had a circus popcorn cart that we borrowed from our church and made our own pizzas with pink dough! With only five little girls, aged 5-7, we had no problems at all! I never would have been as relaxed if I hadn't learned from the girl scouts!!!

These images of Zoe opening her birthday gifts was the first of many. The colors were chosen as it was entered in an unique colors challenge at Scrapbook Flair. Click on the image to see the credits.

Today is my daughter's last full day of first grade. After two more half days we will all be on our summer schedule. Yesterday was the final meeting of my girl scout troop. We had a bowling party and I gave each of the girls a scrapbook (surprise!) You can see them in my gallery at Scrapbook Flair. I'll be setting my summer work schedule to 3 seven hour days each week on my marketing job. That will give me an outing day with the kids (library, park, events, exhibits, etc.) and time also to keep house and work on digital scrapping!!! I will be watching my favorite sites and responding to CT calls when I can. Visit my blog often, since I will be learning and improving as I go!