Template #80

Wow! There are actually now 80 templates in the subscriber area! For those new to the template class, I can imagine that you are set to create many layouts over many months now.

Here is the rectangle preview.

Here is the square preview.

And here is my layout.

You can find the template in the forum (as I'm doing all freebies now) by being registered and logged in and clicking on the thanks link underneath the post.  After you click the thanks link, you will get a direct download (I surely don't like it when I have to go everywhere to get the freebies).

People are having a hard time finding the thanks link and I do not understand why. If it were a snake, it might bite them! Here is an image of what it looks like underneath the post.

I dried roses in the microwave!

 I'm so excited about the new garden challenge I created. You can sign up for it now and it starts on October 1.  One of the challenges is to dry something from the garden and while looking up resources on how to do it, I was inspired to do it myself!

These two scanned in flowers that I dried will be offered to subscribers, but one of them will be the next newsletter freebie.
Make sure you Join site newsletter.  We work hard to keep you informed through that newsletter.


Here is the layout I made with my dried flowers.  It will also be Template 80 to come out later today or tomorrow.

I wanted to share with you how I dried my rose in the microwave.

I tore a strip of waxed paper and some paper towels and layered them.  I wish I had put the waxed paper next to the flower because the paper towels made engravings on my flower.  However, I thought the texture was cool too, so either way will work.  Just be considerate of what texture is next to the flower/leaf.

Next, since I choose a rose which is a fat flower, I squished it down some with my fingers.  The petals broke off a little and I gently realigned them.  With flatter flowers, this would not be necessary.

I folder over the layers of paper towel and waxed paper and put it in the microwave.  I put a microwavable dish over the flower.

I decided the one dish was not heavy enough to squish the flower down, so I added another microwavable dish on top.

Next, I microwaved it for 1 minute.

You can see the moisture came out of the flower as it soaked both the paper towel and the waxed paper.  The flower looked dry and flat and I was excited.  However, I tested by microwaving it yet again for one more minute, after I put a dry paper towel over the flower.  I could not move it easy, so only replaced one of the towels.

It turned out wonderful!  I was so excited.  It took some careful and gently fingers to peel the flower from the paper towel.  I can imagine smaller flowers might be even more difficult.

I put the flower on my scanner and scanned it at 600 px. I turned it over and scanned again to get the other side.  Then it took me a few hours to extract both flowers as I wanted a high quality image.

I had a lot of fun with this easy project!  If you don't have flowers or leaves in your yard, buy yourself a treat at the florist!

Don't Scrapbook and Drive

Lauren Reid shared this public service announcement on Google Plus and I couldn't resist passing it along.

Come on.  Fess up.  Do you ever scrapbook and drive?

Template #79 and what is new for Subscribers in October

Oh goodness! I started this blog post yesterday. I do not have enough hours in the day.  But I think 99% of the people in the world probably say the same thing.

I made Template #79 for you.  I'm not crazy about it, but I cannot be crazy about everything I do otherwise the better ones wouldn't seem better.  They all cannot be great.

This is the template in rectangle.

This is the template in square.

This is my layout with the template.

Dowload link is in this thread.  This is how I am sharing freebies now.  You must be registered and logged in to see the "thank" link underneath the post.  Once you click the thank link, you will see a direct download link.

****
As I've written in the newsletters, I have been working very hard for this site for about two months and I do hope I can keep up the pace.  In September I averaged a new lesson or content at least every other day, but more likely almost every day it seems.

I often write in the forum chatter what I am doing each day so that people (especially subscribers) can know how hard I am working.  I do not think anyone realizes what time I put in here (and for such little money!).  I remember when I first started here telling hubby that the idea was that I would put in a lot of time in the beginning and then the videos would be there and I would not have to work so much later, but just run the classes.  However, if I do not keep coming out with new content, then people do not come back.  Plus, I just have so many ideas that I cannot seem to implement all that I want to do.

Last weekend I worked to create the three "extra" classes and the new Course 2, Take 2.  This was more work than I thought it would be and I did not get to any other new content, although all four classes in themselves were "new content."  It feels like I am spinning my wheels when I work on things behind the scenes as I have nothing to show for it.

As I have announced to the individual classes, my new goals are to focus on new content only for the classes that are open for enrollment.

The special classes mentioned above are:
Garden Challenge
Scraplift
Title Challenge
Course 2, Take 2

so, the new content is ready to go for those classes.

Also for October, open enrollment for classes beginning October 1 are:

Designer
The Fun Extras
Course 2
Elements

Each of these classes over the month of October will get new lessons.  I'm trying to round them up to the next denominator of 5....so...

Course 2 is on 82 lessons now -- so it should get 83, 84, and 85.
The Fun Extras is on 96 lessons, so it should get 97, 98, 99, and 100
Elements is on 17 lessons -- so it should get 18, 19, and 20
Designer is on 57 lessons -- so it should get 58, 59, and 60

....so that will be my goals for October and if I get them done, I may do more because some of them I think I have more ideas than I can hold within me!

...PLUS...moving forward with the photography lessons...

whew!

I'm tired just thinking about it.  However, I did keep a pace like that for September.  I have only one template left for my goal and it should be coming out today or tomorrow and I will have reached my September goals.


Of course, all subscribers get all new content, but blog readers will get some of it too.  I hope you are receiving my blog posts via e-mail and keeping up with me.  I can't even keep up with me!


I invite you to join us.  There is so much here for just $5.50 a month.  I try to keep the site focused on "just scrapping."

Worship Wednesday

"Worship Wednesday" builds up the Body of Christ by sharing worship music so that we might find music that we have not heard of before.

Wooden words and digital scrapbooking papers

image source

You can buy wooden words at the craft store and easily print out digital scrapbooking papers to decoupage onto the letters.  I love this gift idea to include a family photo into one of the letters by simply twisting a wire around a pencil and inserting it into the wood.

Where in the world is Hummie's World?

Where in the world is Hummie's World?

It is whereever you are at!

Visit the forum thread here for download.

This new activity will begin now as our special activity for the month, but be open permanently.

Download the graphic and print it out on letter size paper. I suggest card stock or photo paper to make it stiffer, but any white paper will work.

Wheever you are at, take a photo of you holding the graphic. Reduce it to 600 px and upload to the gallery under the "Where is Hummie's World" label.

Post in the above-linked thread using the code underneath the photo in the gallery. Be sure to help us by making a note in the description regarding the location. Any other comments are welcome in the description.

We will then post your pin for you on our map, including your photo. The map is in the sidebar of the site, but can also be found here.

Take your photo in your own home if you want low effort. Or drive to a location that says something about your location and take a photo showing the background.

You may submit multiple graphics. Keep the graphic in your car when you travel and take photos whereever you go. We put a sticky note on our graphic so we could replace it with a new location at a later time. More sticky notes and a marker, along with the graphic, in a plastic baggie make it handy at any time in my car.

I hope everyone joins us! It will be more fun the more locations all over the world that we see Hummie's World.

Come Create with Us

We announced in private earlier in the week the end to the collab. I was not sure where I would take this project from here.

What we were doing was not a good fit for HW. What is shared at HW reflects on the designer class here. I want to keep a high standard so that others will want to come and take the class by what they see the students creating.

I almost let the project go all together, but I did not want to keep those seriously interested from participating.

I have thought about it for a few days and have decided how this will be run. I want to stress quality over quanity. I do not want this to be a "marketing" thing, but rather a practice exercise. I also considered how this might put more work load on me and whether or not I was willing to take on more.

Anyone can now participate in this project.  You do not need to be a paid subscriber.  You just have to have a passion for wanting to up your design skills and share with others.

You can read more and see the next palette in this thread.

When a child is born...

When a child is born, so are Grandparents!

Garden Scrapbooking Titles

I've been working all day on the site. I need to take a break soon.

I've been preparing for the upcoming October classes today.

One of them is a brand new "garden" challenge.

I finished thinking up the challenges and making the threads and guides for the challenge.

I also made a list of 273 garden titles.
You can go here to see it.

I'm hoping for some participation in the class.  I keep thinking to myself "what if no one uses all this stuff I've spent all this time on?"

I should be more positive, huh?

There is one challenge that has even inspired me.  I might just take a break today and go work on the project.

Photoshop Elements 10 - Text on a Path

I am so excited for the digital scrapbooking community that the 10th anniversary edition of Photoshop Element contains text on a path! It's what we have all been waiting for.

Although for the most part intuitive, it did take me a short while playing with it to learn how to use it. In this video, you will learn the three new tools in PSE10 and how to use them in your digital scrapbooking layouts.

Feel free to embed this video in your own post or link it up for others. Let's spread the word about how great this new tool really is and how easy it is to use.

House for Sale

HOUSE FOR SALE

ADDRESS: Heaven

FEATURES:
Many rooms with a master suite
Spacious love
Open floor plan for peace
Large eat-in grace
Fenced in mercy with room for expansion
Son room with a marvelous view of salvation
Pool of milk and honey in the back
Pearly gates in front

DIRECTIONS:
The only way to the Father is through the Son

PRICE:
$0.00 - Calvary - Owner financing

COMMUNITY:
Friendly angellic neighbors.
Great family and friends.
Praise the Lord all day and night.

BONUS:
Crown of stars, new luxurious robe and golden slippers with matching
wings. Bring a friend and get a reward.

For more information, call your local agent or representative - Name,
address and phone number listed below.

NAME: Jesus Christ
ADDRESS: Repent Highway and Streets of Gold
PHONE: Dial John 3:16
Author Unknown

Come join me on Google Plus!

I find it interesting that the day Facebook rolls out a new newsfeed and new "ticker" above the chatbox which receives nothing but bad remarks from masses of Facebook users, Google Plus become open to the public the day before. What timing, huh?

For all those unhappy with Facebook - there's another option; Google Plus is open to the public now; don't say I didn't tell you so!

No character limits on posts; can edit post; 10 people in webcam chat at a time; no notices of likes/friends; easy privacy settings; easy to delete (instead of "hide" and they have your message forever) -- should I go on?

Here's mine:  gplus.to/Hummie

When you join G+, be sure to at least put your interests in your about/profile page.  If I don't know you are interested in digital scrapbooking or other interest, I might not follow you back.  Spammers follow random people and I cannot follow everyone back unless I can tell you are real.

Twitter Round-up

I'm happy you're happy clicking!

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This is cool! Fun new on-line - free - Photoshop and Illustrator alternative: (July 2009)

Um, would you buy this toilet paper foam? Okay, would you use it? Would U feel comfortable leaving it out next to the tp? (July 2009)


Ziggy cartoon this morning reads: They say life is what you make it...but I seem to have gotten hold of a ready-mix one! (oh my, so true!)(July 2009)

Just learned a new one~ psml .....hey, I psml when I sneeze, bend over... lol...psml...gonna be my new "thang." (June 2009)

Love love love this layout that was in the scrapgirls newsletter

This looks like fun!

30 metal textures for the guy-cool layouts

Photoshop Tip: Rotate View Tool

Faith True's 3D action is one cool looking action!

78 photograph rules for complete idiots (this cracks me up, but is so true!)

Photoshop Tutorial: Lovely Fog Overlay 

How to Effectively Use Contrast, Auto Levels, and Batch Processing

Digital Scrapbooking Tips and Tricks: Three Ways to View Multiple Documents at Once.

Basics - Adjusting your camera's settings for the photo you want.

Some great basic skills for text.

Obsidian Dawn Scratchout brushes - great for layout papers

Ali Edwards video on using the half circle numbers is on the DesignerDigitals blog.

Every wedding day should be this happy! You've GOT to watch this one!


Creating Alpha by making a pattern with a paper

Anna Aspens moved from Designer Digitals to OScraps. Interesting. 9-10-11

It's amazing how the fire goes out right when the movie ends; it's like God did it every time. 9-10-11

as photographers. it is important that our memory cards are well maintained. Check out these 11 tips 9-7-11

Some days you're Albert Einstein; others, you're Forrest Gump.

7 Gotta Have iPhonography apps 9-13-11

Ah, that's wild. Could see the fireworks from my bedroom window. Never been able to do that before -- it was like they were right here. 9-12-11

Oh yippe, fireworks at the fair. Nothing but noise coming from the fairgrounds tonight -- can we get an evening in quiet? 9-12-11

This one is hard to listen to 9/11 Twin Towers Heaven Remix Video (I Miss You Daddy) via @youtube 9-12-11

When did my children become such slobs? 9-10-11

Tutorial list for paper scrapbookers. Cool! 9-10-11

The demolition derby is much more fun watching than listening from my house next to the fair #semofair 9-13-11

you're one smart cookie... love this printable to stick on small cookie packet for children's lunches. 9-13-11

Title work tip tutorial by WM[squared] #digiscrap 9-13-11

On the go coloring book -- cute gift idea! 9-13-11

This layout is a super cute idea for documenting your child's classes. 9-13-11

I always say, "I want to grow up to be a cute little 'ol lady" Gotta love the support and love here. 9-15-11
 
Have you seen the growing list of digiscrap site acronyms? It sure is handy! I have links on my homepage too, but no acronyms! (9/17)

Oh yippee--not! A weekend project of trying to fit the "stocked-up" goods from the basement into the kitchen cabinets. No need to stock up any more. Oh, the joys of empty-nester syndromes.

just remember when life knocks you to your knees its the perfect position to pray (Sept 17)

Digi-Gathering: Digi-Gathering, a group on Flickr. (9/18)

Gawker and Webcam Timershot look fun! Oh, to have time to play! (9/18)

Seriously? This SLR: Intervalometers is only $17.35? Hard to believe; may have to shop around. (9/18)

One of these days I'm going to do an animated video of time with camera shots! It looks like so much fun! (9/18)

shooting the sun? Take two photos, but use your fist to cover up the sun in one of them. Merge in photoshop. Cool! (9/18)

Have you heard of "lens sweet spots" -- generally 2 stops above maximum (9/18) 

Worship Wednesday

"Worship Wednesday" builds up the Body of Christ by sharing worship music so that we might find music that we have not heard of before.

Why do I always feel not caught up?

Is it really the 19th of the month already? Why is it I always feel like I am trying to catch up? There is always so much work for me to do.

I don't know if you watch the sidebar of the forum, but each time I put up new content, I edit the list.  Sometimes I look at it and think "wow, did I really do that much that often" as I see the dates so close together.

And yet I have so many other things for new content on my to-do list not yet done.  Do I set goals for myself too high?

I did change my personal goals so that I only focus on the classes that are open for enrollment.  This is helpful to me as it feels less overwhelming.  I can just forget about the other classes for now and not worry about them.

However, when the month gets past the middle of the month, I have to begin thinking about the first of the month classes beginning.  Some of these classes require so much work before they even begin!  With so many new classes coming out over the next few months, there is a lot of planning work to be done behind the scenes, as well as creating the actual threads and guides for the lessons.

In addition, the new photography class is important to me to keep continuing with new lessons now, while the weather outside is good for recording hands-on videos.  Even if I do not get the whole lesson finalized, the outdoor parts need to be done.  I did not get any done last weekend.  I need to do them on the weekend because I need hubby to watch the video camera while I work the digital cameras while filming.  We cannot do this during the week because he gets home from work so late and it is getting dark outside.



Here is a layout I did yesterday in between church activities for the lesson using the radial blur filter for the filter class.  I like doing layouts with just a little bit of an artistic bit in them.  I don't know why I buy digital scrapbooking kits because I tend to do simple layouts without many elements in it, like this one.

I recorded the lesson this morning and got it up for the class.  One thing done today!

I still have one more filter lesson to get done this month on my personal goal list, as well as two more templates.  If I get that done, I will feel good because I reached my goals!  However, I need to do the photography ones too and start focusing on the October classes, as I mentioned above.

Some days I just need to stop thinking about all I need to do and just maintain my policy of "one step at a time" and "I'll just get done what gets done and that's what God wants me to get done."

Working three jobs is rough sometimes.  I work a full time job, then I keep up this website which is like another full time job, and then I teach a night class.

The night class went well last week and I am excited about it.  The students are great, but it is a large class.

I try to fit in going to the gym as I really need to do that, but so many things seem to keep preventing me from going.  Often it is unexpected family and friends that keep me from going.

There is someone in my like right now who is causing me a lot of stress.  We are trying to help him, but it seems that we are "helpless to help."  Unless he makes better choices, we cannot help him.  We can only be there to catch him when he falls.  I was down the other day about this "helpless to help" feeling when my niece redirected me.  I know we are never really helpless to help others because we always have the power of pray, but sometimes the brain gets focused on what I can do and I forget about what God can do.  I think we've all done that at times.  That's why we need fellow Christians because everyone needs a redirect sometimes to be reminded of what comes first.

We are feeling more and more like empty nesters.  We used to keep an extra stock of canned and boxed goods and other groceries in the basement. For instance, there was a row of canned green beans and before I would go grocery shopping, I would observe each row and if it were low, that is what I would buy.  The newer products were stored in the back so that there was a constant rotation of food items.  I even had labels on the shelves to indicate where each product would go.



However, we are feeling the pains of being almost empty nesters.  It is no longer needed to have this huge stock of food.  We have been trying to "eat it down" for some time now.  It has become time that we bring up what is left over and put it in the kitchen cabinets.  Of course, this is requiring a whole new re-work of the cabinets.  Some kitchen gadgets we do not use often will need to go to the basement.

We are spending time emptying every shelf and putting everything back in.  Will it all fit?  Time will tell.
  We have an awful lot of eating to do!

In addition, with one more boy half-moved out, we are cleaning the boys bedrooms and giving them a white wash.  This task is more time consuming than I care to admit.  How did our boys ever become such slobs and why have we not gone in there and taken over sooner?

The SEMO District Fair was all last week and as I often say, "we live next to the fair."  Well, not really next to it, but close enough to feel next to it.  The traffic and noise are not always something we like to have, but are willing to tolerate because it is a good thing.  One night early in the week I was surprised that the fireworks could be seen from my bedroom window over the tree tops.  The seemed much closer than I knew they were.  I did go to the demolition derby on Tuesday night, as well as watch the Fair parade on Monday night.  I did these activities for my Little (Big Brother, Big Sister).


This week they finally fixed the water line at the street that has been leaking for who knows how long and we are glad to get some water pressure back, especially in the shower.



I thought this was funny.  I put it on the Facebook fanpage and no one commented, so I wonder if it was as funny as I thought.  Hubby texted me one day and it was the first day I had pulled out long pants due to the cooling weather.  The pants were really tight and I was uncomfortable all day.  I am wondering if I have gained some wait.  I really want to get to the gym more.  I'm afraid to get on the scale.  And yet we have all that food to eat.  Is there something wrong with this picture?

I don't get time to ramble and tell you about my life much anymore in blog posts.  There just isn't time anymore.  I appreciate everyone who actually reads them and cares about me.  It's amazing to me how many complete strangers really care about me.

Not enough virtual memory -- and Photoshop Elements

A student asked a question about an error message for "not enough virtual memory" and I thought the answer was a good one to share with blog readers.

The error message "not enough virtual memory" does mean RAM. How much RAM do you have? I've found 4 GB is almost necessary now-a-days.

There are other things that can affect your loss of RAM.

How many other programs do you have open? Close them all.

How long has it been since you last restarted your computer? Often programs hold onto RAM even after the program is closed. This drives me crazy! I have to restart my computer after doing a few layouts just to refresh the available RAM.

How often do you run ccleaner? It is a free program. It deletes all those cookies that are bad ones that might be running in the background of your computer using up RAM without you even knowing it. Clean up your computer. I do it daily. (seriously!) It is my testimony to keeping my computer running smoothly. Make sure you do the first tab on the left daily, but do the registry cleaner (second tab on left) about once a month or whenever you install and uninstall programs.

Using OneNote to organize and tag digital scrapbooking supplies

Here is a new video to share with you!

This video shares how to use Microsoft OneNote (or possibly other notetaking software) for organizing and tagging your digital scrapbooking supplies.

I am SO excited about this! I've had this idea in my mind for a long time now, but haven't had time to implement it. I went to scrap last night (Friday Night Chat and Scrap at HW where staff gets time off) and decided I needed to start setting this up so I could actually scrap!

I am loving how each Friday as I take time for myself, it seems as if it still allows me time to share new things with you.

Most digital scrapbookers use file management software such as Photoshop Elements Organizer, Bridge, Windows Live Photo Gallery, iPhoto, ACDSee, etc to tag in order to find what they need for the the layout they are working on.

I previously thought for sure I would use Windows Live Photo Gallery, but it is just too overwhelming to think about taking back six years of things!

Instead, I've decided to utilize Microsoft OneNote. It is so easy to set up and tag and search. In addition, IT IS PORTABLE!

I am using OneNote more and more for everything I do. It is great to consolidate.

Template #78 freebie

I'm enjoying finally getting some scrapping done just to scrap! This book of our Hawaii vacation is now into page 7! Yeah! Although I've still not finished just the airplane flight! Ah!


Template preview. This is in both SQUARE and RECTANGLE, as always.

You can find this download link in the forum here.
With the ability of the new "thank/like" feature in the forum, I have decided to utilize it to share freebies.  You must be registered and logged in to see the link underneath the post.  Once you click the thank link, you will see the direct download.

While your in the forum, I invite you to stop by and introduce yourself in the welcome area or visit the chatter area so we can get to know you.  I'm always curious about all these complete strangers out there grabbing my freebies.  Who are you?  (giggle)

As always, freebies are given for a very limited time (but I give away everything I do!), but can be found in the subscriber area along with the hundreds of other downloads for only $5.50 a month.  This template is here for subscribers.

Photo Circles Framed

Image Credit

I love this idea for a simple gift for those people who seem to have everything. 

Create the circles with digital scrapbooking, print them out, and frame them with photos cut into circles. 

Can you image grandma's delight with photos of her grandchildren?

Maybe someone likes quotes?  You could insert quotes in the circles instead of photos.

Never broken that I know of--always rains #semofair

Never broken that I know of--always rains the week if the Semi District Fair!! I'm soaked!!!

New Subscribe Button on Facebook ... huh?

I'm seriously trying to wrap my head around the purpose of the new subscribe button on facebook.

Read more here:  https://www.facebook.com/about/subscriptions

I suppose this is for people who do not want to create a fanpage, but want people to be able to follow their public posts without having to confirm them all as friends.

Worship Wednesday

"Worship Wednesday" builds up the Body of Christ by sharing worship music so that we might find music that we have not heard of before.

Symphony in F

Feeling footloose and frisky, a featherbrained fellow forced his father to fork over his farthings. Fast he flew to foreign fields and frittered his family's fortune, feasting fabulously with floozies and faithless friends. Flooded with flattery he financed a full-fledged fling of "funny foam" and fast food. Fleeced by his fellows in folly, facing famine, and feeling faintly fuzzy, he found himself a feed-flinger in a filthy foreign farmyard. Feeling frail and fairly famished, he fain would have filled his frame with foraged food from the fodder fragments. "Fooey," he figured, "my father's flunkies fare far fancier," the frazzled fugitive fumed feverishly, facing the facts. Finally, frustrated from failure and filled with foreboding (but following his feelings) he fled from the filthy foreign farmyard.

Faraway, the father focused on the fretful familiar form in the field and flew to him and fondly flung his forearms around the fatigued fugitive. Falling at his father's feet, the fugitive floundered forlornly, "Father, I have flunked and fruitlessly forfeited family favor."

Finally, the faithful Father, forbidding and forestalling further flinching, frantically flagged the flunkies to fetch forth the finest fatling and fix a feast. Faithfully, the father's first-born was in a fertile field fixing fences while father and fugitive were feeling festive. The foreman felt fantastic as he flashed the fortunate news of a familiar family face that had forsaken fatal foolishness. Forty-four feet from the farmhouse the first-born found a farmhand fixing a fatling. Frowning and finding fault, he found father and fumed, "Floozies and foam from frittered family funds and you fix a feast following the fugitive's folderol?" The first-born's fury flashed, but fussing was futile. The frugal first-born felt it was fitting to feel "favored" for his faithfulness and fidelity to family, father, and farm. In foolhardy fashion, he faulted the father for failing to furnish a fatling and feast for his friends. His folly was not in feeling fit for feast and fatling for friends; rather his flaw was in his feeling about the fairness of the festival for the found fugitive. His fundamental fallacy was a fixation on favoritism, not forgiveness. Any focus on feeling "favored" will fester and friction will force the faded facade to fall. Frankly, the father felt the frigid first-born's frugality of forgiveness was formidable and frightful. But the father's former faithful fortitude and fearless forbearance to forgive both fugitive and first-born flourishes. The farsighted father figured, "Such fidelity is fine, but what forbids fervent festivity for the fugitive that is found? Unfurl the flags and finery, let fun and frolic freely flow. Former failure is forgotten, folly is forsaken. Forgiveness forms the foundation for future fortune."

Four facets of the father's fathomless fondness for faltering fugitives are:
1) Forgiveness
2) Forever faithful friendship
3) Fadeless love, and
4) A facility for forgetting flaws

Fortuitous Felicitations

Author Unknown

Gift Idea - Framed and Wired

Image credit

Jump on over to the Myra Road Design Team blog for a products listing for this adorable framed and wired display.  I can see this even being made with digital scrapbooking materials printed with a few additional things glued on.  What mom or grandma wouldn't be touched to receive such a gift?

Template #77 is ready for you!

Here is template #77 freebie, as always, on the blog for a short while, then forever in the subscriber area for $5.50 per month.  I hope to see you in the template class next time it begins.  I love seeing what you do with these templates.

Catch and Release

The more I work at it the more I think it's not so much the fishing that scares them but the catching.

Especially with the book of Jonah, many churches are more afraid of success in an evangelism program than failure. Jonah got angry at God because Jonah's preaching was successful! Catching means broken nets and sinking boats. Catching today means something I might just have to change - what wasn't broken will now need to be "fixed" to suit the new catch - the boat I always thought was safe to get into is now filled to overflowing and I can't find my old pew to sit in - Maybe what we are more about is "Catch and Release."

I think that's true with many long-time church members. They aren't opposed to new people, but they want the newbies to love the church as much as they do. Unfortunately, that can also mean, "love what we've been doing for decades as much as we do" and an attitude, "since they haven't experienced all our history, they couldn't possibly love the church as much as we do."

They cannot be part of the past. They are always "outsiders" to the past. They join because of the future. They can be part of that. Congregational members who keep talking about the past are probably not going to attract many new people.

Author Unknown

Twitter Round-up

As always, happy clicking!

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Decoupage frame with digital scrapbooking papers. #hybrid

2011 downloadable calendars in assorted formats (whose making calendar gifts with digital scrapbooking?)

I have an urge to make this PCV pipe sprinkler just for my flower garden.

Interesting. Youtube is now tracking which videos I put on my blog? How do you use the tool with other blogs?

A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you the less you know. -- Diane Arbus

When inspiration does not come to me, I go halfway to meet it. -Sigmund Freud

These fabric roses look much easier to make than the paper of the same. Do I dare try?

You can stick fabric flowers on a wreath (use colors to match decor!)

Using line art silhouettes

Google can do an e-mail merge. Too cool!

low light photography tips

Makes those eyes shiny tutorial by Traci Reed

Teacher notecard holder tutorial from Sweet Shoppe

Apparently if I stayed a little later, I could have seen Julie Roberts on Kauai (Aug 17)

Tired of your ol shoes? Look what you can do! (Aug 17)

This status update is for all those sentimental, sappy moms sending their children off to school (most especially, those "first" grade levels ie. kindergarten, jr. high, high school, etc.) (Aug 17)

As seen on Youtube pages launch.

Impact Label cool(Aug 15)

Understanding what focal length will do in your camera lens. From @petapixel (Aug 15)

This makes me want to doodle on my photos with a Photoshop (Elements) brush! (Aug 15)

You can buy special lens for your cell phone camera! What will they think of next! (Aug 15)


Apparently if I stayed a little later, I could have seen Julie Roberts on Kauai (Aug 17)

Tired of your ol shoes? Look what you can do! (Aug 17)

This status update is for all those sentimental, sappy moms sending their children off to school (most especially, those "first" grade levels ie. kindergarten, jr. high, high school, etc.) (Aug 17)

As seen on Youtube pages launch.

Impact Label cool(Aug 15)

Understanding what focal length will do in your camera lens. From @petapixel (Aug 15)

This makes me want to doodle on my photos with a Photoshop (Elements) brush! (Aug 15)

You can buy special lens for your cell phone camera! What will they think of next! (Aug 15)

Shooting into the sun; this guy blocks sun with hand; takes 2; merges 2 in photoshop (Aug 15)

Just dropped off bunch of gifts in mail. You'd think it was December. (Aug 23)

How to make The Perfect Spanish Omelette. | WinePleasures.com (Aug 23)

Check this video out -- LEGOLAND California Staff Pranks General Manager (Aug 22)

We saw Central Pool renovations a week ago -- love how we can now walk out together, rather than through separate dressing rooms (Aug 22)

RT @danielleyoung Luv this passage: If anyone is in Christ that person is a new creation. The old has gone, new is here! 2 Cor 5:17 (Aug 22)

Designer Apprentice Season gallery of downloads

I'm working on a new lesson about exposure compensation. How often do you use exposure compensation when you shoot photos? (Aug 20)

the mosquitoes were eating us alive! Oh the Cape Girardeau summer nights! (Aug 19)

headed out to record a photography class video tutorial ...anyone anxious for the class? (Aug 19)

It's midnight and my baby is leaving to travel states away. (with no place to live). Harder than sending him to kindergarten years ago. (Aug 19)

Things aren't all that bad in an upside down world, are they? (Aug 25)

Do you use an HDR program? What is your favorite? Which ones have you tried? (Aug 25)

Are you present antemeridian? (Aug 24)

Okay, I've been stuck between 1281 and 1283 facebook fans for months now. How do I get over this hump? (Aug 23)

Why didn't they have one of these when my boys were little so I could play with it! -- ABC3D (Aug 23)

RT @JesseCFriedman I saw tweets from DC about earthquake, then 15 seconds later felt it in NYC. Social media is faster than seismic waves! (Aug 23)

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.9 struck in northern Virginia - Praying that everyone is safe from harm. Did you feel it? (Aug 23)

Angie is busy pinning art journaling examples. Do you like to art journal? Share with others your experiences. (Aug 25)

Little bit poorer, but a little bit sunnier - literally -- tree has been topped, as well as neighbors. (Aug 25) #50

Two good no drama days ...can I get a third? (Aug 25)

Check this video out -- Hurricane Irene - View from Space via @youtube

Scrapbooking on a website example. Beautiful photos with heartfelt journaling. This goes on foreever and draws you in

Good day! Photography and scrapbooking are caring for and respecting those moments like they are your own, because for a moment, they are! (Aug 28)

God did not promise life would be all sunshine and no rain, but that he would give us strength anew to climb life hills again!! (from my friend Tina's post) (Aug 28)

56 min 41 seconds into video recording and my trusty laptop ran out of RAM (Aug 27)

This laptop loves me even when I abuse it! May it never wear out!! (Aug 27)

Going on 12 hours of working today and still going strong!! At least for a short while more! (Aug 27)

RT @lainehmann: Someone left me a comment that they were "disappointed" in my free video. I offered them their money back. ;) (Aug 27)

Yes!!! I am!! @scrapgeek: Can #Photography Become an Addiction?

My son shared this Christian rapper with me (God in all genres!) -- KB - Head to the Heavens

Jeanette shared this in the forum. First Day of School photograph s.

Beautiful perfect night here in Cape Girardeau Missouri - then I come inside to air conditioning - what's wrong with this picture? (Aug 27)

Scrapbooking on a website example. Beautiful photos with heartfelt journaling. This goes on foreever and draws you in.

Photography composition: Frame within a frame (Aug 29)

Everyone seems SO anxious to start the new classes beginning September 1. I'm so excited that you are so excited! (Aug 29)

Off to run errands for the boy again in my lunch hour. Gotta love being a mom !! (Aug 29)

Nothing we do in His service is ever in vain. (Aug 28)

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─ ─ ─ ▄ ▄ █ █ ▌ █ ░ ♥ ░ . HURRICANE IRENE VICTIMS ░ ♥░ ░ ░ ░▐
▄ ▄ ▄ ▌ ▐ █ █ ▌ █ ░ ♥ ░ PRAYERS COMING YOUR WAY ░ ♥░ ░ ░ ░▐
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▀ (@) ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ (@)(@) ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ ▀ (@) ▀ ▘ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

With new Facebook rolling out, be sure to check your application privacy settings (contest apps, Networked Blogs, Klout, SocialOomph and any app you use to publish to your personal profile) I understand they may be reset to defaults. (Aug 31)

This is cool! Words on the glass frame; made with silhouette machine. (Aug 31)

Free mini kit! Cool! @DigiShopTalk Discover New To You in the August Insider! #digiscrap -

@kfvsweather Hi Jaime Travers! Welcome as our new KFVS meteorologist in Cape Girardeau! (Aug 31)

RT @DestinDreamin "Love many..trust a few..and always paddle your own canoe." LOVE IT!! Have a fab day, tweeties!

RT @CapeArts "Not everyone trusts a painting, but people believe photographs" Ansel Adams


I'm so ready for scheduled time off from site work and Friday Night Scrap and Chat!!! (Sep 2)

@oldguycomedy I SIT relieved. Rolfl (Sept 2)

Sshh you weren't supposed to tell i take phone there!! RT @oldguycomedy That's the REST n RELAX ROOM !!! :0) lol (Sept 2)

@oldguycomedy RnR /--translate please (Sept 2)

Today would have been Mom and Dad's 50th wedding anniversary. Missing my Dad today and thinking of him. (Sept 2)

God doesn't have phone, but I call on Him. He doesn't have Facebook, but I'm still His friend. He doesn't have Twitter, but I follow Him. (Sept 1)

cantwa.it And yet another site (phone ap) to choose movies you want to watch based off of likes of others. (Sept 1)

Saying it repeatedly won't make it come any faster! lol RT @TigerTulipScrap @HummieIsMe Weekend Weekend Weekend Weekend. (Sept 1)

I'm free from the tasks I was working on! It feels like it should be the holiday weekend now, but alas, there's one more work day! (Sept 1)

Do you digital scrapbooking design? Check out this site. digiscrapquality.com

Oh, time for a brain break! My head hurts! Taking time out to exercise my body! (Aug 31)

Jeannette shared a link to a blog train.  

Digital Scrapbook Tutorial: Adding Color Fills & Patterns to Doodled papers.

Tutorial for Photoshop (only) - Load files into a stack

Make a cell phone holder from a gift card. Cool idea!

I agree! I wish I could watch it now, but it is for US in foreign countries @crittyjoy this should be interesting: http://www.ustvnow.com/

Make a candy pencil treat for your children with digital scrapbooking paper.

I'm sitting on patio working on site. It's 63 degrees and I'm freezing!! Had to get heater and blanket and hot tea!! I'm silly to bring an electric heater outside! and on September 5!

Man is so made that he can only find relaxation from one kind of labor by taking up another. ~Anatole France

Have you seen the custom books at Shutterfly? Check out "happiness is" by paislee press - would you do a book

Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep". Scott Adams.

Here are some great tips on photographing newborns!

use your digi stash and vacation photos and make postcards as gifts 

How 2 know where a shortened URL on twitter really goes   


How do we get passed the fear to get to the next step? These fears in life are meaningless. God only asks us to be still. Trust in Him.

No matter how much we scream, the roller coaster of life never stops.

God never moves. It is us who has moved away. But God keeps calling us-like a parent calling a child.

Getting more from your patterned paper

Every man has an equal chance to become better than he is. 


Checking out free software program called Filenote that someone in the Subscriber Area suggested

It is impossible to enjoy idling thoroughly unless one has plenty of work to do. ~Jerome K. Jerome

God has a purpose for your life and no one else can take your place.

Pop up gift card holder. Fun hybrid idea!

Digital Scrapbooking Tips and Tricks: Viewing Documents at Actual Size

This is a cool technique from CottageArts. Take one photo and repeat it, zooming in each time.

I'm wondering about the program that can put music on an iPhone from Windows Media Player.

Simply Sarah's #46 template. Her templates are a MUST HAVE in my book!

nteresting site for designers

Check this site out to find more great people to follow on Twitter!

I'm wondering what Ella Publishing is.

Photoshop Elements videos at DesignerDigitals 

Delight yourself in the surprises of today! (My men are ALWAYS leaving me surprises!)

Typeface Tuesday - Stamped and Stenciled at Misty's

An online service that will help you test the layout of your web pages across a variety of browsers & operating systems.

Visualization that shows current most popular stories from Digg, Delicious, Reddit, Hackr News & Yahoo! Buzz in one page

A simple layout redo.

There's happiness in little things, There's joy in passing pleasure; But friendships are, from year to year, The best of all life's treasure.

Every sunset brings the promise of a new dawn. 

“I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess” ~M. Luther

Hurry up and wait--should become--hurry up and pray.

Jesus Savior, pilot me-- unknown waves before me roll. Hymn 649

United Breaks Guitars! This is funny!

What are Smash Books?

I've started a series of post for ideas for Christmas gifts and I absolutely love this idea as a gift for a young girl. Give her a Smash Book! What is a Smash Book?

It is an idea started by K and Company and can be purchased at Scrapbook.com for only $12.99.

The spiral books are pre-embellished journals and come with a pen which has a gluestick on one end. The idea is to glue in things like tickets and other small remembrance items, rather than tucking them in your purse or drawer where they would get lost later, and jotting down notes and doodles. 

What are you going to smash? That is the general theme to help understand the concept of "smashing" things into a book.

You can read their blog here.
Here is a video to help you understand what a Smash Book is.




There are accessories such as stickers that can be purchased to the books.

I can see this branching out into the hybrid digital scrapbooking world.  You can purchase a pen and glue stick for $2.99 and create a personalized book using other skills.  For me, I do not have the time to do that and would probably purchase one of K and Company's books, but I think it would be fun.

Okay, can I say I kind of want one for me?  Oh Santa!

I still have my plane tickets of my very first flight stuffed in my purse.  It would make a great start!

9/11 Remembrance Post (10 Years Ago)

9/11 Remembrance Post
10 Years Ago
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Join us on Facebook by posting a comment in memory of the 10 year anniversary of 9/11.

Link

Please post a comment in memory of the events of September 11, 2001; Share what you remember doing when the attacks happened, what you remember most, and what you remember feeling.
If you are not comfortable sharing, then just post "in memory."

Please pass this e-mail on to your friends so that we may work together to build a large remembrance wall.

This event changed the hearts of people globally and brought together the world to fight against terrorism. Let's stand together in sharing our heartfelt comments.

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It is best to encourage everyone to post in one location, but if you do not have a facebook account, you may also share in the forum here. I will repost your comment to Facebook for you.

Freebie Quick Page 50 Years Ago Today

I made this layout last week when I was being sentimental sappy about my parent's wedding anniversary that would have been had dad still been here with us.

I decided to make a quick page for you. It is in .png format. It is also available in the subscriber area.

Google Friend Connect

I just added google friend connect to the sidebar of my bog again. Someone asked me to follow theirs and it reminded me of this feature. Honestly, I have a problem with having so many options of people following me because it seems like I'm asking too much of the followers here. So I've not had this feature up on my blog. I decided to add it again because that may be what people are familiar with and they may be looking specifically for it, especially if they have a blogger blog.

There are 127 followers on it. Who knows when I last had it on the blog, so it is not really a good representation of readers. That's another reason I hesitate to add it.

It's there if you like that feature.

Worship Wednesday

"Worship Wednesday" builds up the Body of Christ by sharing worship music so that we might find music that we have not heard of before.

Unexpected fun in the small things

Yesterday, hubby and I headed out to do a video shoot for the landscape lesson in the photography class.

We drove down country roads until we saw a secluded setting where we could record in private.   I'm not quiet sure where we were (but we did find our way back) and we choose a spot away from houses and where it seemed no traffic.

Not long after we were being eyed by a guy in a pick-up truck.  He even parked down a hill and scooted backwards slowly as if watching to see if we were going to harm something.

We began recording the video and part way into it heard voices.  What? Voices on a country road in the middle of no where?  Soon four women out for a country walk came by.  We explained what we were doing, but they never stopped a step.  Of course, we had to start the video over again.

Next, we could not believe it when a combine came out and started working on the very field we were filming!

We just kept filming.  I wasn't going to spend a long time looking for another perfect field to photograph because there probably is no such thing as a perfect field.

We were so laughing.  Who would have guessed we could find laughs in such small things.

Generous Giving

The story is told of a farmer who was known for his generous giving, and whose friends could not understand how he could give so much and yet remain so prosperous.

One day a friend said: "We can't understand it. You give far more than any of the rest of us, and yet you always seem to have more to give."

"That's easy to explain," the farmer said. "I keep shoveling into God's bin, and God keeps shoveling back into mine, and God has the bigger shovel."

Author Unknown

Photo Blocks

Photo Credit

With Christmas getting so close, I thought it would be fun to collect some easy Christmas craft gift ideas.

The idea of decoupaging photos and simple squares of digital scrapbooking prints onto blocks for a shelf sounds so easy and yet so special.