Monday, September 30, 2013

Card Design: Digi Darla's Challenge #82--Anything Goes with Optional Twist

Happy Monday morning to you.  I'm here with post number two if everything that has been scheduled comes out as planned.

It is time for the latest challenge going on over at the delightful Digi Darla's Challenges Blog. This week for Challenge #82 the theme is "Anything Goes with Optional Twist:  Harvest Moon".  There is one final anything goes challenge this month.  The twist as created by Emily is to add a moon to your project.  However, remember the twist is completely optional. 

One person will be the lucky winner of FIVE Digi Darla (DD) images!  AND any entries using a DD image get entered into a SECOND drawing for THREE images. So, you could technically win eight images!  If you do use one of Kim's wonderful images make sure you let us know by writing DD after your name when you enter.
 

I've used the following Digi Darla's digi in my project this week:

Here are the card and details, I hope I haven't forgotten anything... 

General Comments:
  • This is one of the cards that I mentioned when we embarked on the Anything Goes journey at the beginning of the month.  I actually started this in February.  I completed the inside and got everything cut and all the little pieces glued together but never actually assembled the front of the card.  Then it just sat and sat in a folder because I got so busy trying to get all the required cards done for the various teams I support.  Thankfully, this week has allowed me the opportunity to finally complete it.
  • Now I can honestly say that trying to fit the card with the twist isn't really going to work this time.  Unless of course you can imagine that the floral arrangement is actually a unique universe where the planets are all made of flowers and leaves and that the hearts are little asteroids of love and comfort and that the little circles are moons to these botannical worlds.  Yeah...I didn't think so...but hey, at least I tried!!!
FRONT
Digital Image:
  • Floral heart:  You can find this pretty image in the DD store by clicking on the image name or watermark linked above. 
    • The image was coloured digitally in Photoshop Essentials 5 to match the colours in my papers.
Sentiment:
  • While I don't dig them out all that often these days, I've relied on a set of stamps that I have from the Stampendous Set called Encouraging Words.  It also dawned on me while I was assembling it earlier this evening, that the font used looks suspiciously like Scriptina Pro.  It is funny how I find myself looking at different flyers and packaging and seeing fonts that I work with.  I guess they are all ingraining themselves into my brain!  However, they better leave room for all the other things that I have to remember too!

INSIDE   
Digital Image:
  • I used the same image from the front only left it empty and faded it out to serve as a backdrop in behind the sentiment.
Digital Sentiment: 
  • This is one of my favourite sentiments from the wonderful Sharon over at A Piece of Heart.  It is beautiful isn't it?  It is also the perfect sentiment for a sympathy card and it is still available for a freebie if you are interested.  Click on the watermark below to go to the page where you can grab it.  Don't forget to leave Sharon some love if you do.


OVERALL
Paper Products:
 
  • Card base: Crafts Brand Cardstock, lilac-- available Dollarama.
  • Designer Paper:  
    • Recollection's Paisley and Damask Paper Pad.
    • Dark purple (matting front and inside) --Michael's open stock scrapbook
      paper. 

So, how about you mosey on over and show us your incredible talents by entering in our current challenge this week over at Digi Darla's Challenges?  While you are there please check out the wonderful creations from the rest of the design team.  We always look forward to seeing the delightful creations you come up with. 

Until next time,



Card Design: October New Digis Over at Fresh Brewed Designs

It is another busy week and what better way to start it than with showing off the new releases going on over at Fresh Brewed Designs.  It may be the last day of September but October's images are out, so come and see what is new TODAY!

This Fall Flower Fairy is so tiny that she fits comfortably underneath the flowers in your garden.  That is great camouflage when you are just a few inches tall and need to be making your escape from some not so friendly backyard predators.  She'll help attract all the pretty birds and butterflies into your backyard so make sure you go and grab her today. She is the perfect fall feature for your garden or window box.

This Apple Blossom Fairy is sure to help your trees blossom with fresh ripe fruit making your bounty even more blessed!  If you have fruit trees on your property, you'll definitely want this special fairy to come home with you!

This guy looks like he could play hide the acorn with the local squirrels.  If you are having a problem with squirrels in your yard then you definitely will want to purchase this Acorn Fairy because he'll find all the acorns that have been stashed on your property and help lure the squirrels to a better locale, like the local park.  This little guy decided he wanted to adorn the front of my card so of course I had to oblige him!

Here are the card and details.  I hope I haven't forgotten anything...

FRONT
Digital Image:
  • You'll be able to grab this or any of the new release images in the store today.
    • I've coloured this image with a combination of coloured pencils and Copic markers.  The ground work is in pencil and the remaining colouring is done with Copics.  Colours used include:  E000, E00, E02, R20 (skin); Y32, Y35, Y38 (hair and jumpsuit); YG61, YG63, YG67 (coat and boots); R11, R14, R17 (wings); E13, E15, E19 (acorn); and BG10 for grounding around the entire image.
Ribbon
  •  The brown ribbon is Crafts brand from Dollarama.
 
INSIDE
 
Digital Sentiment:
  • This is one I got as a freebie from the wonderful Paulette of Create with TLC.  Click HERE to go to Paulette's blog and HERE to go to the store. 
    • While the image is no longer available for free, you can get it as part of the Stuffed Digi Stamp Set available in the store now.  Click on the watermark below to head to its location in the store.

    •  I've coloured this image with Copic markers.  Colours used include:  YG63, YG67, R11, R14, Y35, Y38.

OVERALL 
Paper Products: 
  • Card base: Michael's Recollection's card set, white. small.
  • Designer Paper:  
    • The dotted paper (front and inside) is from Recollection's All Seasons Paper Pad.
    • The brown cardstock used on the front is Crafts Brand Cardstock, available Dollarama.
Love the fall?  Love fairies?  Then you can't get much better than the combination of the two: Fall Fairies!  Actually, that is not true.  There is something better.  What about Fall Fairies on sale?!  Yes, you heard me.  Pick up the trio of fairies at the same time and only pay $6.00 (US) for the entire group!  However, you need to hurry as this bundle deal will only be available until 11:59 pm, on Saturday, October 5th, 2013.

Thanks so much for stopping by and checking out my card and the latest digital images over at Fresh Brewed Designs.  I hope you have the chance to take some time for yourself, grab a cuppa and relax while browsing through the store.  Maybe one or two of them will find their way back home with you.  



At Fresh Brewed Designs we always have a fresh pot of creativity brewing. So stop by and join us for a cuppa whenever you want!




Until an hour from now,

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Saturday Showcase: September 28, 2013

Hello!  I hope that you are all having a wonderful day in your corner of the world.

If you are new to my blog, it is time for the Saturday Showcase where I highlight other artists' work (whether it be stamps, cards or otherwise), a blog post offering a great technique, or I might even just pick a whole blog to showcase. The criteria I use is that it has to move me in some way (it makes me laugh or cry; awes, inspires or astounds me; etc). I believe that it is extremely important to support other artists within our creative community and this is one of the ways I am able to.  If you are new and would like to find out more on why I created the showcase, you can go HERE.


If you have been popping by every Saturday in September, you are well aware that I have had one particular blog in the spotlight.  As I mentioned at the beginning of September, my intentions were to focus the entire month on this amazing blog simply because it offers so many different features and it is impossible to cover it all in just one post.  At the beginning of September I covered the Vintage Digital Images displayed on this incredible blog.  Two weeks ago I showcased the phenomenal talent of the TLC Design Team.  Last week, I covered some of the awesome freebies that I have loved.  So, it is time to spend one last Saturday with the blog stylings of...

CREATE WITH TLC
My focus for this week is to show you some of the...
Miscellaneous Special Feautures 
On This Blog
Owned and Operated by...
Paulette 
Her store can be found HERE.

We have come to the final Saturday in September, and as such, it is time to finish our tour through the wonderful world of Create With TLC.

Did you know that Paulette has been at this for over 20 years?  I certainly didn't.  I thought she was extremely generous before but to have been giving away goodies for over two decades?  Well that is just phenonmenal!  It started with a Yahoo Group.  She had a huge mailing list of people that she shared her incredible creations with.  They also bounced ideas off of each other and developed friendships along the way.  That mailing list was for her printables--candy bar wrappers, boxes, little bags, etc.  Things that I and many others have only become familiar with in the past couple of years, she and her group have been creating long, long, LONG before I knew this world existed.  From the Group she moved to her own Forum and then that lead to the blog that so many of us love today.  What I found most incredible is that Rhonda from her DT along with about 30 of her followers, have been with her since the beginning.  Can you imagine the depths of those friendships?  I hope that I can be sitting here in 20 years with all of you guys still by my side.  Wouldn't that be an incredible testament to friendship?!!

Okay, so believe it or not, there are still some features of Paulette's blog that I haven't covered yet.  So how about we take a look at them...

FOLLOWER FREEBIES
Along with all of the freebies that Paulette give out in general, she also does something special for her followers.  By being a follower, meaning that your little picture is listed under her Crafting Buddies Section through Google Friends Connect, you have the opportunity to collect special, exclusive, one of a kind goodies by following the instructions laid out in these special posts.  Generally it means firing off an email to Paulette.  It can't get any more simple than that to add these unique items to your collection.  Since I started following almost a year ago, I have personally collected at least 21 of these wonderful vintage images.  For Paulette, it is an opportunity to thank all those people who continue to follow her and of course another excuse to party!  In fact, right now as of today, Create with TLC is celebrating
2,320 FOLLOWERS!
So what are you waiting for?  If you aren't already following just think of all the extra goodies you are missing out on!  Click HERE to find out what you need to do to get a hold of this unique bestowal.  Membership definitely comes with privileges!

TLC CLUBS
Another feature that is really cool is the TLC Clubs.  While in the past they have been a bit longer on occasion, now they are generally 5-10 days in length.  For an extremely low price considering what you get in return, you have goodies mailed directly to your inbox for the entire length of the club.  
Right now the November Club is on sale.


For just $7.73 CA (€5.56, US $7.50, NZ $9.08, ZA R73.95--did I forget anyone? oh and please note that these prices will change daily [US excepted] in accordance with currency fluctuations), that is quite a phenomenal deal.  You are paying a little over a dollar a day CA to receive lots and lots of digis each day including word art, digis, vintage images, digital papers, coloured printables, etc.  To give you an example, one past kit had over 77 images in it and another one had 130. It all depends on the club and the length. The Halloween Club had over 160 images! The minimum that has ever been received is 12 images a day. That is like paying less than .10 cents an image.  You'd be hard pressed to find a deal like that anywhere on this planet!  Paulette's current intentions are to do one club every month.  There is usually something to celebrate each month and of course Paulette knows all the great holidays and occasions to observe (more on that in just a moment).

Paulette is graciously sharing with you all, a peek into this month's club exclusively for my readers...


So, if you have a little change lying around, this is definitely the perfect place to spend it.  If you are interested in checking the current Club out, I've linked the above two watermarks to take you straight to its location in the TLC Store.

Unique Dates for Celebration 
Another feature I love is that Paulette knows, and often celebrates all the unique, weird and wonderful occasions right along with the more popular ones.  Where else would I learn about Hug a Vegetarian Day which was celebrated yesterday--and yes I did hug a vegetarian--a real live one--my hubs!  Then of course there is also:  Love Note Day, Confucius Day, Safety Pin Day, Vegetarian Day, Guardian Angels Day, Ten Four Day, and Balloons Around the World Day--and those are just SOME of the interesting occasions being celebrated just next week!  Paulette will often create unique word art pieces, papers or other printables to celebrate some of these obscure dates.  Only on TLC do we find word art to celebrate Intl Eat an Apple Day, or digital papers to honour Vinyl Record Day which is still available HERE or Clam Chowder Day which is still available HERE, if you are interested.  There are so many more to check out.  Have fun strolling through the archives to learn about days you never knew existed!


Scavenger Hunts
Another fun thing that Paulette does is to occasionally have a Scavenger Hunt.  Every now and again, she'll come across some really cool vintage images that she wants to share exclusively with people willing to take the time to play along; people that really appreciate her generosity, people who spend a moment thanking her, as opposed to the hoards who consistently grab and run without ever a word of thanks.  Sometimes it is just an image or two up for grabs, sometimes it can be many more. They are usually only available for a limited time and you never know when they are going to pop up; so, for those of you who enjoy these kinds of fun events make sure you check the blog each day, sometimes more than once a day!  You never know what you might miss, missing even just one post!

Freebie Mailing Service
Are you sometimes unable to be at your computer for a few days at a time?  Are you often so busy that you don't get a chance to download the freebies on Create With TLC BEFORE they have retired (fingers pointed firmly in my direction)?  What happens when you are away for the week and miss all the goodies Paulette has posted?  Well, I have a solution for you!  Another feature that Paulette offers is a Freebie Mailing Service.  Right now for the low fee of $6.00 US, Paulette will take the time to send each and every freebie posted during the month of October, directly to your inbox on a daily basis.  This way, you won't miss a single freebie offered during the month.  In fact, there just may be a few extra goodies that find their way to the members of the mailing service also! If you are interested in this service, please click HERE.  You can purchase it, directly from that post by clicking the 'buy now' button!

Random Acts Of Kindness


If you believe that kindness has fallen by the wayside, I'm afraid that seems to be the trend.  However, I am here to tell you that it really does still exist out there.  The many incredible readers and followers that I have who take the time to read my posts and share their thoughts, show me that it still exists.  The beautiful words and acts of kindness I see when visiting your blogs from the readers who have left YOU a kind word, show me that it still exists.  The many new friends that I have now who send me a card 'just because', or an email to make sure I am doing okay, or those who have sent me gifts for no reason at all, show me it still exists.  The very many artists out there who continue to offer freebies to their readers, even though the comments left are staggeringly low compared to the number of hits or downloads, show me that it still exists.  Today, this week alone I have been the recipient of TWO random acts of kindness.  One that I will be sharing with you in a different post.  The other was from the lady of the hour, Paulette herself. Kindness still exists and Create With TLC is a sure testament to that fact.  

The last feature I am going to share with you today is based on this concept of random acts of kindness, or as they are also referred to: RAKs.   According to Wikipedia, a random act of kindness is a "selfless act performed by a person or people wishing to either assist or cheer up an individual person or people."  It is believed that the phrase may been coined by a lady named Anne Herbert.  She states that she wrote the words: "Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty" on a place mat in a restaurant in Sausalito, California in the US back in the early 1980s", and she believes that the concept of RAK, stemmed from someone picking up that quote and running with it.


Back in November of last year, Paulette tried to see how much kindness she could spread.  Given the thousands of people that visit daily, it was her hope that each person reading the post would take a moment and pass on some kindness to another.  Then, for those recipients to spend a minute passing it on even further.  Now while it didn't have quite the spreading effect that Paulette had hoped, it was certainly a beautifully thought out experiment; one I hope to duplicate in the future.  Can you image if all 2000 of her readers (that is roughly what her numbers were about a year ago) had taken the time to engage, and it had multiplied?  Think of all those moments of happiness, all those smiles, all that positive energy that could have lit up the world for a brief moment in time.  Just imagine the possibilites!  Two of the freebies that Paulette offered during that time are the watermarked ones I've used above.  If you want to send a little random act of kindness card to someone you care about, you can still get these images.  Just click on the watermarks above to go to the original post.

Another random act of kindness that Paulette did was to create a RACK--a Random Act of Christmas Kindness--last December.  In that case, she asked her readers to send her the email address of the person they would like to have RACKED.  Then, she in turn sent out a goodie to that person.  I myself was the fortunate recipient of a RACK from the lovely Suze of Craftysuze.  It was a complete surprise to me as I had been blogging for just a little over a month at the time and certainly didn't expect to be hit with a random act of kindness.  But that is the whole point isn't it?  That you just do something special for someone for no reason other than to show kindness?!   

So, make sure that you keep your eyes opened for the opportunity to participate in a future RAK over on Create With TLC.  For that matter, keep your eyes opened for the chance to take part in a future RAK on this blog.  Paulette has inspired me in more than one way and I hope to be able to create my own little experiments to pass on kindness.  Kindness is one of the most valuable gifts you could ever give someone.  How many people have you gifted with a kind word or deed today? 
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Wow.  What an incredible honour it has been covering all that is Create with TLCI am so grateful that Paulette agreed to let me showcase her blog and store throughout the month of September.  I hope that you have enjoyed your foray into the other unique features of Paulettes blog along with everything else that I have explored this past month. 

The artists that I showcase work very hard to provide the inspiration that I bring to you.  Please be sure to go and check the world that is Create with TLC.  However, you'd better pack for comfort, you are going to want to stay and visit for awhile!  If you do pop over, leave Paulette a little bloggy love if you can, thanking her for all that she has provided us with over the years.  A little thank you can go a very long way.

Until next time,
 

Note:   *Thanks to Nikki from Limited Runs Stamps for creating my Saturday Showcase badge.

Reference:
Author Unknown. (Year Unknown). Random act of kindness. Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random_act_of_kindness. Last accessed 28th Sept 2013.

Friday, September 27, 2013

Happy Hug a Vegetarian Day!


Have you hugged a vegetarian today?  No?  Well it is Hug a Vegetarian Day so what are you waiting for?  Don't know any vegetarians?  Well actually you do--ME!.  So if you can't find a real live vegetarian to wrap your arms around, send me a virtual hug by leaving it in a comment on this postFor everyone who virtually hugs THIS vegetarian between now and Tuesday which is World Vegetarian Day, I'll send each of you a cool veggie themed digital paper (on that day or shortly after).  Now make sure that I have your email address.  If you are not comfortable leaving it in the comment with the words 'at' and 'dot' replacing the at sign and the period (that way spambots won't pick it up) and you aren't someone who regularly corresponds with me (meaning I do not already have your email address) then you'll have to send me an email with your address by clicking HERE. If you have to email me please put 'EMAIL ADDY FOR VEGGIE HUG PAPER' in the subject line so I can easily find it in my inbox.   But I definitely want to see those hugs in the comment section.  Let's see how many I can muster up between now and Tuesday.

In the meantime help yourself to the three word art goodies in this post.  The one above and the two below...




I am running rather late tonight so I am not going to have the chance to list the fonts and locations.  I can tell you they are all free for commercial use.  If you really want to know, you just have to ask either by leaving a comment or sending me a quick email.  I am always happy to answer any questions you may have.

NOW you'll also want to go and visit Paulette over at Create With TLC who has an awesome image to help celebrate Hug a Vegetarian Day.  Check it out...


It would be perfect to use with at least two of the sentiments above.  Click on the watermark to take you to its location in Paulette's awesome blog and make sure to leave her some love if you grab it.  Also, don't forget to join me again tomorrow when I present my final Create With TLC Saturday Showcase.  You're NOT going to want to miss it.

Oh and just wait until we reach World Vegetarian Day in just three short days.  I'll have even more cute treats waiting...

Until next time,


Credit Notes For This Creation:  © 2013, Lisa L. Décosse.  PUO.  However, you are allowed to use these word art images on handmade projects that you intend to sell on a small scale basis provided credit is given.  You also need to include a credit note and a link to this blog should you use any of my images in your creations and post them on your blog.  Please be sure to familiarize yourself with my full terms of use found in the copyright tab at the top of this page.  I have included a quick summary below.  

If you are not sure how to copy the image, check out the download instructions page.

Please be sure to read the Angel policy found under the copyright info tab above for the full terms.  Below is a quick summary of those Terms of Use: 

Along with the Credit Note above...  
  • Do not claim the image as your own.
  • Credit 'Decosse's Dynamite Doodles' or 'Lisa L. Décosse' somewhere on your creation
  • Credit and provide a link if you post a creation on your blog using any of my work in your creations.
  • Do not share my images with family, friends, etc.  Additionally, do not post any images to file sharing services like Box®, 4-Shared®, etc.  Instead, please direct people to my blog so they can grab the image for themselves.  If you would like to post a watermarked version of the image, please contact me to obtain one.
  • If I have signed an image, do not delete my signature.
  • Leave a comment on my blog.  It is currently the only way for me to know if any of my freebies are being nabbed.  Additionally, it will help to inspire me to continue to create and offer future freebies




Thursday, September 26, 2013

Card Design: From the Heart Stamps September Challenge

It is time for me to post my card for the From the Heart Stamps progressive stamp of the month challenge.  In order to enter this challenge, you must either have received the latest image by having participated in the previous month or you can buy the stamp for the current month's challenge.  Everyone who enters and follows the rules is a winner because you automatically get the stamp for the next month's challenge.  Stop by the site and check out the rules for yourself.  While you are there, have a look around.  They have some really great images.  Below you will find the card I'm entering for the September challenge. 

Here are my card and details, I hope I haven't forgotten anything...

 FRONT 
Digital Image:
  • The image on the front, Bobbing for Apples, is available for purchase over at From the Heart Stamps.  Click HERE to go to its location in the store.  How precious is this stamp.  The cool thing is that you get two different versions of the stamp to work with, one with the fence and one without.

      • The majority of the image was coloured with Copics. Dress & hairband: Y11, Y13, Y15. Girl: E000, E00, E02, R20 (skin); E21, E23, E25 (hair). Apples: R22, R24, R29. Leaves & Grass: YG61, YG63, YG67. Dog: E11, E13, E15. Water: B91, B93, B95. Tank: C1, C3, C5. Sky: Colourless blender, B00, B02. Fence was done with coloured pencils.
      Digital Paper:
      • The litttle corners with the apples on them is from a really great digital paper from Create With TLC.  Now those yellow stripes are not part of the paper.  Unfortunately, our black ink was running really low and it is the only thing I can think of that caused the stripes.  I did debate reprinting them after the hubs went out and bought a new ink cartridge; however, I kind of liked the effect and not wanting to waste anything, went ahead and used them.  These wonderful papers that Paulette so generously gave out as freebies are still available on the blog.  You can find two different versions HERE.

      INSIDE 
       
      Digital Sentiment: 
      • This great autumn sentiment is from my collection of TLC Creations.  Click HERE to go to Paulette's blog and HERE to go to the store.  It is simply perfectly matched with this image.

      OVERALL
      Paper Products: 
      • Card base: Michael's Recollection's Card Set, large.
      • Designer Papers:  The chevron paper (front and inside) is from Recollection's The Sweetest Thing Paper Pad.
      • Green paper used for matting is Michael's open stock scrapbook paper.

      Challenges:
      From the Heart Stamps -- progressive stamp of the month challenge 
       
      Thanks for popping by everyone!

      Until next time,





      Wednesday, September 25, 2013

      Wonderful Wednesdays: Winsome Words for September

      If you are new to my blog and would like to know how Wonderful Wednesdays got started, please click HERE.

      Hey Peeps!  It is time for the final items for the September kit.  Continuing with our Fall Into Fall theme, I present you some Winsome Words...

       


       
      I'm having so much fun learning about layers which is allowing me to finally do some really neat word art.  All three of these word art creations are in png format and while the original size of each is quite large in order to accommodate scrapbookers, you can always re-size the images smaller without distorting the quality.

      I hope you like my final offerings for this month's kit and can find some use for them.  If you have missed the previous ones, or if you are new to the site, you can go HERE, HERE and HERE to grab the other items. To find items from previous kits look for Wonderful Wednesdays or look under the individual names of the month, i.e. January Kit in the label section.  If you create a project using one of these images or any of the images I create, I'd love to see them and post them into the 'Your Gallery' portion of the blog.

      Next month brings with it a whole new theme but you'll have to wait and see what I have planned.

       
      Until next time,



      Follow on Bloglovin
      Credit Notes For This Creation:  © 2013, Lisa L. Décosse.  PUO.  However, you are allowed to use these word art images on handmade projects that you intend to sell on a small scale basis provided credit is given.  You also need to include a credit note and a link to this blog should you use any of my images in your creations and post them on your blog.  Please be sure to familiarize yourself with my full terms of use found in the copyright tab at the top of this page.  I have included a quick summary below.  The bottom image has used templates from Brooke Gazarek at Pixel Scrapper for the leaves only.  

      If you are not sure how to copy the image, check out the download instructions page.
      Please be sure to read the Angel policy found under the copyright info tab above for the full terms.  Below is a quick summary of those Terms of Use: 
      Along with the Credit Note above... 
      • Do not claim the image as your own.
      • Credit 'Decosse's Dynamite Doodles' or 'Lisa L. Décosse' somewhere on your creation
      • Credit and provide a link if you post a creation on your blog using any of my work in your creations.
      • Do not share my images with family, friends, etc.  Additionally, do not post any images to file sharing services like Box®, 4-Shared®, etc.  Instead, please direct people to my blog so they can grab the image for themselves.  If you would like to post a watermarked version of the image, please contact me to obtain one.
      • If I have signed an image, do not delete my signature.
      • Leave a comment on my blog.  It is currently the only way for me to know if any of my freebies are being nabbed.  Additionally, it will help to inspire me to continue to create and offer future freebies.