Freebie: 6 Brown Papers

This is the next-to-last set in the 6 Papers Series. The color for today is brown. Check out the textures and tones in this earthy set.

You can download the 6 Brown Papers here.

Sorry this is so short but I am very busy trying to get ready to move.

Don't forget the 6 Blue Papers, 6 Pink Papers, 6 Orange Papers, 6 Purple Papers , 6 Yellow Papers and 6 Green Papers.

Get 6 Yellow Papers Here!

Here is the 6 Yellow Papers, the download for today. I've been trying to keep these coming eventhough I am packing my entire house for the move. In one week I will be in my new apartment...for what that's worth.

I've managed to design a couple of things during my "down" time. I'm still managing to stay about a week ahead of my postings. Sometimes I can design something very quickly and sometimes it is a little more lengthy to get the finished product completed.

Other sets in this 6 Papers Series include: 6 Pink Papers, 6 Blue Papers, 6 Orange Papers, 6 Purple Papers and 6 Green Papers.

6 Green Papers Freebie Today

Today the digital scrapbooking freebie is another set from my 6 Paper Series. I hope you guys have been liking the papers I have offered so far.

Thanks to Pillowgirl for her overlays which I used to design 2 of the papers in this series. She was very kind to make them available.

Here are the 6 Green Papers. Have fun with them! Let me see your layouts.

Other papers in this series include: 6 Blue Papers, 6 Pink Papers, 6 Orange Papers and 6 Purple Papers.

More Papers! 6 Purple Papers Freebie

Another day, another set from the 6 Paper Series! This time the papers are purple! We are half way through this set.

I have been in the process of packing so I haven't had much time for my digital scrapbooking. I did have about 9 days worth of stuff ready when this whole mess happened in my life. I've designed about 3 things since then. So I need to get to work!

Here is the digital scrapbooking freebie for today: 6 Purple Papers.

Don't forget the 6 Pink Papers, 6 Blue Papers and 6 Orange Papers form previous posts!

Today It's 6 Orange Papers

Keep downloading the other papers in this 6 Papers Series and I will keep offering the new sets!

Today the digital scrapbooking freebie is my 6 Orange Papers. Remember, all the paper designs are completely different each day along with the color of the papers!

The other papers offered in this series so far are the 6 Pink Papers and the 6 Blue Papers.

Next Up: 6 Blue Papers Freebie

Here is installment number two in the 6 Paper Series. This is the 6 Blue Papers. I'm glad to see that you liked the first installment: 6 Pink Papers. (Yes, I know there are an awful lot of links in this paragraph.)

Keep coming back, there are six more sets in this paper series. Please keep the comments and emails coming in! I enjoy them.

Your Layouts!

Here are the last of Deborah's layouts using my State Template Series templates.

New Series of Freebies: 6 Pink Papers Is First

This time my new series is not templates, but papers. I am offering sets of 6 papers in eight different colors. The first set in this series is called 6 Pink Papers.

Each set has very different papers (this isn't just 6 copies of the same papers in different colors.) So if you don't particularly like one set, come back another day and see what a different set has to offer.

You can never have too many patterned papers! Some work well when you save them in your patterns folder in Paint Shop Pro. It really depends on the pattern and if it repeats well. Try using Effects>Image Effects>Seamless Tiling and see if that looks good. That is how you get a pattern to not look all chopped up when you use your paint can tool to fill things in.

I don't know if there is a "rule of thumb" about what works well with sealmess tiling, I just go by trial and error. I might waste some time, but I enjoy playing around with it!

Come back all week for the seven other sets in the 6 Paper Series

Mickey Mouse Collection 1 Add On Freebie

Here is the Mickey Mouse Collection 1 Add On I promised yesterday. Thanks so much to everyone who commented on here or on Disboards.com about copyrights and legal stuff. I am pondering the entire thing and certainly can see both sides of the copyright thing.

But I will leave this kit and the Mickey Mouse Collection 1 from yesterday up on my site as long as I am allowed to do so. I seriously doubt the Mickey Police will come knock on my door. If they do, I'll go quietly. Who could argue with Mickey?

Thanks for your intrest in my designs. This is sort of going to be my social outlet for awhile so I hope to make some new friends! I need them. I realized how lonely I am already and this is just the first week! (Scroll down a little if you don't know what I am talking about.)

Some GOOD News For Me (I Can Sure Use It)

I got the results from my Personal Training Certification and I passed with a 99%!

Sometimes you KNOW you know the stuff, but testing always makes me nervous!

Freebie: Mickey Mouse Collection 1

Lisa on the 4 Shared comments for my Winnie the Pooh Paper Set said, "Please do more Disney these are greaat!"
Ok, Lisa here you are! How about this Mickey Mouse Collection 1 freebie? I hope you like this. It was a spur of the moment idea. I got such a great response from my Winnie the Pooh freebie that I thought I might try a Disney themed set.

This kit contains 4 papers, 2 overlays, a frame and 5 other elements.

Of course tomorrow there will be a Mickey Mouse Collection 1 Add On (since I always offer an add on to my sets that are more than just papers.)

So enjoy your designing with these Disney freebies! Let me see your finished projects. And come back tomorrow for another Disney downlaod!

Nautical Alphabet and Nautical Symbols Freebies

Here are a couple of digital scrapbooking freebies for today's download. They go together so I thought I would offer them on the same day.

Here is the Nautical Alphabet and it was designed using the Nautical Symbols that ships use to communicate with each other...you know, signal flags. I don't know the correct term, but you get the idea! LOL

These will go great with US Navy families because now you can send a "coded" message on a picture and see if your Navy guy or gal figures it out!

Each flag stands alone as a statement, but together the flags can spell out words because each flag's design symbolizes a letter of the alphabet!

A Quick Update

Thank you to everyone who has expressed concern over my personal problems even if you don't know me. The final update is that it is now time for me to begin a new stage of my life on my own.

I am ok with this (most of the time) but I know it will take a long time to heal completely.

It's Summertime Template

I have had this It's Summertime Template idea for quite awhile but while I was designing my Major Cities of the World Template Series templates I kept putting off designing this one.
Then I began to see similar ideas in papers , elements and quick pages. I want to assure you that this is my own idea...it is just such a common theme that I can imagine many, many people thinking the same thing!

So here is MY version of the beach umbrella/day at the beach template. Combine mine with elements and papers like Rosa has over at Miamiscraps4U and you can have yourself an entire summer beach themed digital album. (This link is only one of several parts to her wonderful kit!)There are also other kits and things I have seen on the DigiFree Search Engine. You'll just have to go exploring! I could think of worse things to do!!! LOL

You Have To Decide This One For Yourself

Occasionally I read a book I feel I should recommend to others. Usually it is what we consider a "classic" or it might even be some cute NASCAR themed book.

Last night I finished reading a book by William P. Young called The Shack. A client from work gave it to me and didn't let on to what it was about.

First of all, the writing is very well done. I liked the author's prose style and it was easy to read. That was AT FIRST.

As the message in the book started to come out, it got more difficult to read. Partly that may have come from my own hesitation to face some of the issues the book was dealing with. But I think it was also because the subject matter got "deeper and deeper" and it was hard to follow the philosophical stream of dialogue.

This doesn't make it a BAD book at all. It just sort of goes from one thing to another. If you read the book you will see what I mean. Having majored in English in college I might be a little more in tune to something like that than someone else might be.

My religious veiws are private and I am not here to air my own beliefs. I'll just say that a lot in the book confirms how I feel about religion as a whole.

Many of you know this is a hard time for me right now and I think it is interesting that I just picked up the book Wednesday. I read it at first out of obligation to my client who recommened it to me. I have loaned her a number of "cutsie" books and this was the first she had lent me.

I started on it Wedenesday because I was finishing up another book. But I had actually had it over a week at the time I started reading it. So I had this book BEFORE my personal situation happened. Perhaps if I had read this book first I could have learned something about personal relationships that might have helped me in that matter. Yes, my situation didn't happen over night, but if I had been able to open my eyes while he was still here then perhaps we could have had the chance to work things out before he left.

Anyway, this is a work of fiction, but it isn't a typical "beach read." This book will make you question a lot of things. Perhaps that in itself is why you should read it. Then you can decide for yourself what you do and don't believe.

Tiger Alphabet Freebie

This morning I am offering one of the first designs I ever made. It has been sitting in my Projects Folder for many months and today it will be your digital scrabooking freebie.

I hope you like the Tiger Alphabet. I have come a long way since I designed this by just playing around with different "looks" in Paint Shop Pro.

Perhaps if I was just designing it now it might look completely different. But I thought it looked ok "as is" so I wanted to get it out to you.

Enjoy!

Tropical Overlays Freebie

Here is the third in a series of overlays that I have offered since last year. Here are the Tropical Overlays.

With this particular overlay set I have shown a brighter image than what the overlay really is so that you can see it better.

If you want the overlay to be brighter (more like a regular photo) then in Paint Shop Pro just go to the Layers Palette and over on the far right you will see the word Normal. (You may have to grab the palette divider in the middle and pull it to the left a little.) You should see an arrow next to Normal.

The drop down menu gives you many choices here and you would just chose Darken and that will change the intensity of the overlay.

But if you choose to use the overlay as slightly transparent then experement with different solid color backgrounds to get the effect on the picture you want.

These overlays are not 12 x 12 so you can actually "frame" them by using a solid color background and make the overlay not reach to the corners of the layout. This gives the look of a frame around the overlay.

As you can see, there are many, many different "looks" you can accomplish by just playing around with all the buttons and menus in your photo program.

The other overlays in the series are the Light House Border Overlays and the Winter Overlays.

Your Layouts!

Here are more State Template Series layouts from Deborah at Misfit Princess!

Winnie The Pooh Paper Set Freebie

Now that my template series are over I am going to offer some other types of dowloads. I will still make templates, but I want to offer some papers and other elements I have been working on.

Thank you for your kind words concerning my "situation" right now. I don't mean to weep on and on about it, but it is effecting my desire and ability to be creative right now and I wanted you guys to know why things on my blog may not seem "quite right." If you read someone's blog day to day and you see a shift in attitude or emotion then you do wonder what is wrong.


Ok, enough of the pity party! Let's get to the good stuff. Let me first explain that I have been watching people's Disney designs and I am really not sure about copy right and all that. If Disney asks me to stop then I will stop.


I am not making any profit or gaining anything from offering these free images to my readers. Heck, I don't even hit the radar as far as traffic on my blog goes. I am certainly a very small fish in the entire ocean when it comes to the digital scrapbooking world.


OK...if you have continued to read this far down you are awarded with the download for today! Here is my Disney inspired contribution to digital scrapbooking: Winnie The Pooh Paper Set.


I also used an overlay by Pillowgirl to create the textured look on the papers. It came from her Commercial Use Overlays Sampler 1, but I do not think it is still available. I just wanted to give her credit for it.

Raleigh Template is Last Freebie in the Major Cities of the World Template Series

Today is the last day for the Major Cities of the World Template Series. I saved the best for last...but it has become bittersweet.

Raleigh is where I met my fiance' and we have great memories of our time there together. But things are not well with us and at this moment I am no longer engaged. Lines of communication are open and we are still friends. But I don't know if we will get back together again.

So here is the Raleigh Template in hopes that it has some kind of magic mojo to help me because I don't want to lose him.

The figure on the template is Sir Walter Raleigh, for which the city was named. This is actually a photo from the cover of the 1952 program of the outdoor drama, The Lost Colony. The actor is a very young Andy Griffith.

Ft. Myers Beach Template Freebie

A very quick Ft. Myers Beach Template post today.

I am dealing with some personal issues that are overwhelming me right now.

Freebie: Niagara Falls Templates Times Two

When the Niagara Falls was requested I decided to offer both the US and the Canadian side at the same time. So here is the Niagara Falls Templates download.

I hope you can use either one or both of these templates! Only 2 more templates in the Major Cities of the World Template Series after today! It is hard to believe that this series is coming to an end and I don't have another template series like these lined up.

But don't worry, I have plenty of other things to offer right now. It's time for a little change!

Houston Template is Freebie For Monday

For all of you Texans (or wanna be Texans) here is the Houston Template. The Texas Template was by far the most popular of my State Template Series templates so I am sure this template will be popular too.

I used an old wild west "wanted poster" as the background for this template. To get the faded paper look you can go to effects>texture effects>sculpture>and pick a parchment style pattern to make the paper look authenic. If you don't have a pattern like that, here is a parchment paper clipart that you can save to your patterns folder either in Paint Shop Pro or Photoshop.

It's really easy to use this particular effect and if the paper is right it will show the different shades of the wanted poster. If your paper is too "busy" (has too many crinkles in it) then it might not let the darker area of the background show against the lighter area. If this happens, choose another pattern and try again.

I Was Nomimated For An Award

Thanks to Tracy over at Tracy's Scraps for nominating me for the Brillante Weblog Premio 2008 Award! Not only did Tracy honor me by selecting me from all the scrappers she knows, but she is actually the person who first "taught me" how to fill in a template. She corresponded with me through email until I got it right.

From there I was HOOKED and my love of designing my own templates (and other elements/papers) developed. I've taught myself how to use Paint Shop Pro and Photoshop, but I couldn't have done it without some help along the way!

Here are the rules for the Brillante Weblog Premio 2008 Award:

1. The winner can put the logo on her blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of the girls you've nominated.

So here are my nonimees for the award:

1. Deborah at Misfit Princess who has almost worked her way through scrapping every single one of my State Template Series templates!

2. Jasia at Creative Genealogy who helped promote my Countries of the World Template Series by desiging a beautiful Polish layout to celebrate her heritage.

3. Lisa at Designs By Lisa Minor who graciously offered to convert my State Template Series into DIP for her following of scrappers who work in that format.

4. Lady Shannon at Memories Made Easy who took her time to teach me how to make Styles in Photoshop.

5. LadyPatsFan at My Chaotic Life because I love her layout she made using my Stanley Cup Template and because she is so encouraging and grateful when she downloads one of my designs. She always leaves some love!

6. Rosa at Miamiscraps4u who took my Mountains Majesty Template and made a wonderful Quick Page out of it back when I was just starting out.

7. Vicky at Digiscrapdepot because anyone who has anything to do with digital scrapbooking knows her freebie website. It is awesome and Vicky is a sweetheart.

So please visit my nominees' websites and let them know you love their blog!

New Orleans Template Freebie

Here is the New Orleans Template as today's digital scrapbooking freebie. This template contains an overlay that can be adjusted as you like or you can leave it as it is.

There isn't a journaling space on this template because the overlay was so "busy" I thought it might get lost on the background. You can add journaling if you would like or just let the picture speak for itself. You don't always have to have writing on your designs.

Maybe you don't remember when or exactly where your New Orleans pictures was taken (too much Mardi Gras perhaps?!) LOL

Don't forget the Louisiana Template from my State template Series!

Template Freebie on Saturday: Hong Kong

This morning I go back to China to offer the Hong Kong Template. This template is #41 in the Major Cities of the World Template Series.

This template will go great around the Chinese New Year because of the dragon "float" motif.
Take a look at the Countries of the World Template Series offering China Template. Both of these templates go well with each other.

Winnipeg Template Freebie and a Bear Tale

Good morning! Wow, Friday again! You gotta love it! Where did this week go??!!

Today I am offering the Canadian city of Winnipeg, Manitoba in my Major Cities of the World Template Series. The teddy bear on the template represents the origin of the much-loved Winnie The Pooh.

The Winnipeg Bear, the inspiration for Winnie-the-Pooh, was not
actually born in Winnipeg. Instead, Winnipeg Bear was purchased in White River, Ontario, by an officer (Lieutenant Harry Colebourn) of the Fort Garry Horse
cavalry regiment en route to his embarkation point for the front lines of World War I. He named the bear after the regiment's home town of Winnipeg. In 1924, on an excursion to the London Zoo with neighbour children, Christopher Robin Milne, son of author A. A. Milne, was introduced to Winnie for the first time. An E.H. Shepard painting of "Winnie the Pooh" is the only known oil painting of Winnipeg’s famous bear cub. It was purchased at an auction for $285,000 in London, England, late in 2000. The painting is displayed in the Pavilion Gallery in Assiniboine Park. ~Wikipedia

I thought this story would appeal to everyone who loves all the A.A. Milne characters. What a SUPER way to have your town go down in "history."

So here is the Winnipeg template for downloading.

Template Freebie: Logan (UT)

This is the last of the "lesser known" cities in the Major Cities of the World Template Series. Here is the Logan (UT) Template.

Still left in this series are the following templates:

• Winnipeg


• Hong Kong


• New Orleans


• Houston


• Niagara Falls (NY and Ont)


• Ft. Myers Beach


• Raleigh

So we are nearing the end of a great run of templates. I have enjoyed designing your requests for a total of 145 templates (not counting "extras" like holidays or NASCAR.)

Please keep coming back as I start to offer other elements, papers, templates, styles, etc. as I design them. You never know what I'll be making next! It will be well worth it just to come and take a look every now and then!

And remember, it is ALWAYS FREE here.

Your Layouts!

Guess who is working hard again designing layouts using my State Template Series templates?!?

Right! It is Deborah at Misfit Princess!

Also check out her Alphabet Dog Series Part 1 and Part 2. If you are a dog lover you HAVE to see these!

Look What Else I Found!

Here are some papers from the Scrapbook-Bytes store. The 30 paper pack is called World Tour Sketchbook and you can use the papers with my Countries of the World Template Series and/or my Major Cities of the World Template Series.

There are also 2 smaller packs if you don't need all the places in the larger one. There is an Italian Sketchbook and a Parisian Sketchbook.

**Note that these are not freebies. But the price is very reasonable!**

Look What I Found!

Here is a small kit of papers and an overlay from Zin From the Alps at Everything Grows Better With Love. It is called Moscow and of course I am telling you about it so that you can use it with my Moscow Template from my Major Cities of the World Template Series.

Today: Cedar City (UT) Template Freebie

I had quite a few very nice comments on my Concord (NH) Template yesterday. I'm glad so many people can use it. Some of these city templates aren't getting many downloads. But that's ok because the people who ARE downloading them are very appreciative!

Today's digital scrapbooking freebie is a little place called Cedar City in Utah. This is the template I had a little trouble finding a theme for. I decided on the city sign (because lots of people take their photos beside city and state signs.)

Here is the Cedar City (UT) Template. Also download my Utah Template which was offered awhile ago in my State Template Series.

Thanks for all your requests and comments. Only a handful more of these city templates and then I have another series to offer. But, this time it isn't templates. Keep your eyes open for it in about 2 weeks! I have some other stuff to offer first.

Concord (NH) Template Freebie

Here is another smaller city that was requested along with the larger cities for my Major Cities of the World Template Series.

Remember, it IS a major city if it has significance to you or your loved ones.

I was happy to design the smaller cities along with the larger ones. I enjoy giving people what they ask for. So here is the Concord (NH) Template.

Concord has some beautiful Victorian style homes, as well as some buildings dating back to the 1700's.

Don't forget my New Hampshire Template from my State Template Series.

A Quick, Fun Quiz

I'm stealing links fom the Misfit Princess again. Last time it was the candy hearts. This time is it Which Sports Car Are You?

I think this is really neat because it says I am a Ford Mustang and I actually drive a (blue) Mustang! It is my favorite car! Finally! Someone got it right!

You are a Ford Mustang!

You're an American classic -- fast, strong, and bold. You're not snobby or pretentious, but you have what it takes to give anyone a run for their money.

Palma de Mallorca Template Freebie

Here is another Major Cities of the World Template Series installment that I had never heard of. This Spanish city dates all the way back to the Romans. Here is the Palma de Mallorca Template.

The next 3 templates will also be from slightly "lesser known" cities that people requested. This doesn't make them any less desirable as cities, but it might not be somewhere you have ever been or thought to go. Maybe you'll get some new travel ideas.

You can always download these templates and take what elements you like from them and not use the entire template if it doesn't pertain to you. In my dealings with digital scrapbooking I have learned to download when I first see something and if I decide later that I can't use it then I delete it.

My Friend's Wedding

Yesterday one of my Pilates instructors (and a good friend) got married. She had a beautiful (but HOT) outdoor wedding here in Florida.

I thought I would share a picture with you. I haven't had time to do any layouts with the photos because I have been busy finishing up half completed designs so that I don't fall behind with my gifts to you.

Here is the wedding party as Chino and Vanessa say "I Do."

Your Layouts!

Here is a layout from Catmanor. She spent the 4th of July in Heidelberg and used my Heidelberg Template to scrap her pictures!

Once again someone used a little "creative license" with my temlpate but it looks GREAT! Thanks for sharing with us!

Freebie: Acapulco Template

Well it is back to work today for me. I enjoyed my 3 days off in a row. I actually did finish my Major Cites of the World Template Series designs. Wow. Another series finished.

Now I have to start on something else. I have an idea, but I need to get busy on it before I run out of templates in this series!

Today's digtial scrapbooking freebie is the Acapulco Template. Pair it with my Mexico Template from my Countries of the World Template Series.

Freebie Template: Mexico City

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July. We didn't do much of anything but hang around the house. We grilled hamburgers and watched Dale Jr. come in 3rd in the Nationwide Race. Not too bad.

Here is the next installment in the Major Cities of the World Template Series. The Mexico City Template features El Angel, a beautiful statue in the center of Mexico City.

Check out the Mexico Template from my Countries of the World Template Series. That template will go great with the one for Mexico City.

Happy 4th of July