Rock Star Birthday encore

Wow. What a crazy 24 hours it's been. My post yesterday afternoon (featuring Juli's QP) was written a couple of days ago and scheduled to post at the designated time.

I woke up feeling inspired and refreshed yesterday morning. I ran some errands early in the morning and still had that feeling until I logged on to my e-mail. I learned from a friend that a college classmate of ours passed away very unexpectedly Monday. He was 34 years old and left behind a wife and very young son. I went to a small college where everyone knew everyone, so I knew him and even had a couple of classes with him. He was always friendly, quick with a smile or laugh, and seemed like an all-around nice guy. Even though we weren't close friends, I'm still saddened by his passing. I can only imagine what his family and close friends are feeling. One of my friends said it best, "Be sure you tell your loved one you love them--and do it often. You never know if it's the last time you'll see them."

OK...on to other matters.

I have sent notices to all those who applied to be a member of my CT about their status and will be making the announcement about new members here soon. I wanted to let a couple of days pass so people had a chance to read their e-mail before announcing it here. Look for that announcement this weekend.

I designed a little add-on to this kit and it features four worn papers, my metallic ricrac, an amp, and a speaker. I used Gunhild's worn paper overlay, which is a popular choice these days, because I haven't had time to create one of my own. I'm working on it though! :)

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See you tomorrow for the release of the May ADSD collab, Sunshine Beach. Have a good day and happy scrapping!

Rock Star Birthday alphas

Hello again! I hope you're all having a good week. I went to a great event about philanthropy at my alma mater last night. It was so good to be back on campus and to get a chance to hear a great speaker and network with others. I woke up really refreshed and inspired this morning--such a great feeling. I hope it lasts all day.

Today, you're getting the alphas for this kit but I have to give you a bit of background about them. A while back, I found a great website, ImageAfter, where you can download images and use them to make just about whatever you want. I downloaded some metal textures that I was going to use for papers. I wound up not using them for that purpose but I did think they'd look cool as accents for embellishments. I was having a terrible time trying to decide what to do for the alpha for this kit when it hit me: Create a style using one of those metal textures you found on ImageAfter!

Here's the great part for you: You're getting five full alphas (upper and lower case letters PLUS numbers and punctuation) with this kit! I couldn't make up my mind about which color I wanted the alpha to be so I did it in all five. However, because of the style I used on the alpha, they are on contact sheets rather than separated as individual png files. From the poll results of a couple of months ago, I know most people prefer to have their alphas split up individually, but I hope you'll forgive me this once if I did it the other way. :)

The font I used for this particular alpha is called Damaged Goods and can be found on a number of sites, including SearchFreeFonts.

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See you tomorrow with an encore (add-on) to this kit. Have a great day and happy scrapping!

Are you still rockin'?

Looks like you are loving this kit! I love reading your comments. Thanks!

I have to share this funny story: Yesterday was one of those days where you have to laugh at yourself because you'd cry your eyes out if you didn't. Lots of little annoyances but the funniest thing happened while at my grandparents. I went over there to help pack up some clothes they wanted to donate to Goodwill. I was using the adage, "Lift with your knees, not your back" when I picked up a big pile of clothes off the floor. I crouched down and rrrrrrrrriiiiiiipppppppp--ripped a HUGE hole in the back seam of my jeans! I suppose I should have been mad since the jeans weren't snug or anything but I my only reaction was to burst out laughing. I had been thinking the other day that they were getting close to being rags but loved wearing them so much that I couldn't bear to part with them. I guess I have no choice now! :)

Back to the Rock Star Birthday: Michele did a two-page spread with this kit showing her kits and their rockin' toothbrushes. The other half of this spread can be seen in this post.

And here is the second half of the embellishments (all embellishments are shown in the preview below).

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See you tomorrow with the alphas. (Yes, there is more than one alpha for this kit.) Have a great day and happy scrapping!

Rock Star Birthday elements, part I

Did you all have a good weekend? I'm actually kind of glad it's Monday so I can get back to my "routine." We had out-of-town guests the past few days. It was nice to see them--especially the new baby--but it was nice when they left yesterday too as it gets rather exhausting having company (especially when you're not used to dealing with a newborn and a 2-year old).

Today you get the second installment of the Rock Star Birthday kit. But first, another layout from Ginger. (I've got another layout from Michele to share with you tomorrow.)

And now, the reason you're all here: the first half of the elements (shown below).

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See you tomorrow with the second half of the elements. Take care and happy scrapping!

Are you ready to rock?

I hope so because my newest kit is called Rock Star Birthday and it's perfect kit for all those fun pictures you have!

This kit was a "special request" kit by Ginger. A friend of hers asked her to make some items for her son's birthday party. Ginger gave me a palette and theme to work with and I went from there. This kit was so much fun to design--I could really let my imagination run wild with this one.

This week is extra special, too, as you'll be getting the usual stuff (papers, elements, alphas) PLUS I've created a special add-on and the fabulous Juli created some QPs for you. Both of those extras will be available later in the week.

My CT did an excellent job creating layouts (as usual). Take a look:

Michele

Mary

Juli

Ginger

My layout, featuring Reichen. He just turned two last week. Happy Birthday Little Dude! (I used Pixie Perfect Designs' February 2009 Candy Mold template from Digital Candy.)

Here's a preview of what you can collect this week:

And here is today's portion of the kit, the papers:

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See you tomorrow morning with the first half of the elements. Happy scrapping!

Sneak peek: Rock Star Birthday

TGIF! Although this weekend, Friday means the start to the city-wide garage sales so my neighborhood is teeming with people on the hunt for bargains and good deals. I was amazed by the number of people parked in the streets--and how poorly they parked--trying to be the early bird that gets the best deals. Me? I'm staying home!

Thank you to all who have voted in my poll or left me comments about interest in a download-a-day (DAD) kit. The feedback has been valuable. I can tell you that the first DAD kit won't start until mid-May and last a couple of weeks. I haven't decided how long the links will be valid but it will be more than one day. Yeah, maybe that defeats the purpose of a DAD kit but I know I've been disappointed when I've missed a day and either have to buy the kit in its entirety or do without that day's download.

Before I give you a sneak peek at next week's kit, one final reminder that the deadline to apply to be on my CT is tomorrow (Saturday) at midnight. You can find out more information about the requirements here. I'm hoping to make my decision this weekend and let all the applicants know their status by the end of the day Monday at the latest. Get those applications in!

I wanted to give you a sneak peek at next week's kit, Rock Star Birthday. The kit was created by special request and is filled with bright colors, bold shapes, and fun embellishments. I will start releasing the kit on Sunday afternoon, so be sure to check back then to pick up that.


Have a good weekend and stop back on Sunday for the Rock Star Birthday papers!

Big Blooms mini-kit

Did you have a good weekend? Mine was very productive. I got so much done on Saturday (cleaning out closets, helping out my grandparents, grocery shopping, making cards, etc.) that I took it easy yesterday. I figured I'd earned it! :)

I did get a treat this weekend--a 1.5 TB external hard drive! My birthday's not for a few more weeks but my parents figured with all the digital stuff I do, it was a good idea for me to have one. I've already moved a bunch of stuff to it but I hardly made a dent in its capacity.

Now, for the reason you're here: The Big Blooms mini-kit. This kit is my submission for Amber's April Whet Your Palette Challenge at Digital Candy. I'm a huge fan of hers and she does such a great job picking out colors for her kits. This month was no exception. I love, love, love these colors. When I saw the palette, I immediately thought of big Gerbera daisies and had my inspiration. Even though the kit doesn't include any daisies, it does include some pretty big floral patterned papers. And I know the title says "mini-kit" but the only thing mini about it is that you're getting only seven elements. I went a little crazy and did 12 papers (only eleven made it to the preview though).

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I'll be back later this week with another little freebie for you. I'm working on a few different things, so I haven't decided which one to give you. I'll also have a sneak peek at next week's kit, Rock Star Birthday.

And don't forget: the application deadline to be on my CT is this coming Saturday. Get those applications in!!! You can find out more about it here.

See you later this week. Have a good couple of days and happy scrapping!

Date stamp set 02--it's CU-friendly!

Yep--another CU-friendly product. You really seemed to like the first set of date stamps I created a couple of months ago, so I'm back with another set. This time around, they look more like stickers but they are in greyscale so you can re-color them or add a pattern to them to make them fit your needs. If you are unsure about how to re-color items, you can download a tutorial about how to do so here. (The tutorial only includes instructions for Photoshop and Photoshop Elements as those are the products that I use. If you know of a place where you can get directions to re-color items in PSP or other programs, please let me know and I will add those links.)

Before I get to those, I want to give you a preview of what's coming up for you in the next couple of weeks. Next week I'll be giving you another mini-kit that I'm creating for the April Whet Your Palette color challenge Amber is hosting at Digital Candy. She always picks such wonderful colors and this month was no exception. I'm calling the kit "Big Blooms" because I'm using large floral patterns throughout it. You'll also be getting another CU product next week, but I haven't quite decided what to give you just yet.

And, don't forget, I'm looking to add some new CT members to my team. Information about the requirements can be found here. Applications are due Saturday, April 25th. I'd love to have you on the team!

Now, on to today's download: This set includes a total of 26 discs. There are two for each month (one with lines, one without) and a unlabeled disc (one with lines and one without) for you to use for your scrapbooking pleasure. The examples shown below aren't included in the file, but you will see those patterns in my next full kit, Rock Star Birthday. (I'm such a tease!)

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See you next week with the "Big Blooms" mini-kit. Have a great weekend!

Overdue announcement

I've teased long enough. It's time to make the big announcement. Here goes: I want to expand my CT. I'm especially interested in adding someone to make QPs with my stuff but anyone may--and should--apply. All levels of experience are welcome!

Here's the scoop:

• I'm looking to add 3-4 people to my team.
• You only have to do one layout per kit. Kits are made available to CT members at least week in advance of their release date. I create 2-3 full kits per month.
  
• I will post your layout on my blog and link to your blog/galleries.
• As a gift, I will do a kit in a color palette/theme of your choosing at least once (and likely more than that).

Requirements:

• You must post your layout to at least three online galleries (only one of which may be your blog).
• You must add your layout to the slideshow at the bottom of my blog.
• You must promote my latest kit on your blog. (If you don't have a blog, we can work something out.)

Interested? If so, e-mail three (or more) of your best layouts or links to me at shelbellescraps {at} gmail {dot} com. Include a brief bio, link to you blog (if you have one), and list any other designers you are currently working for. If you used any templates, please note that in your message.

Applications are due by midnight (CDT) Saturday, April 25th. I will make my decision as soon as possible after that. Your first layout would be due around the second weekend of May.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Bring on the applications! :)

For the Boys add-on #2

I can honestly say that I had one of the best Easters I've had in a long time. The church service was good--especially the sermon, the breakfast put on by the youth of our church was excellent (or should I say egg-cellent), dinner was really good (ham AND turkey), and lots of fun was had by all. It was especially nice to have my grandparents with us for the holiday.

I've finally finished the For the Boys add-on I've been talking about for a while. I figured out a quicker way to clean up stray pixels/jaggies than what I had been doing--I got five vehicles done in far less time than it took to do the first one (which I didn't even wind up including because I decided it wasn't good enough to share). Each vehicle is about 4" wide by 2" high. The cool thing is that I did five vehicles five different ways (chipboard, distressed chipboard, puffy felt, rubon, and sticker), so you're getting a total of 25 different vehicles! The drop shadows shown below are for preview purposes only.

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Back in a few with an exciting announcement!

A delay

I hate when people tell you they have something to announce and then make you wait for it. But the ends I have to tie up are taking a lot longer than I'd anticipated. I have also decided to to take the weekend off from designing to spend time with my family and celebrate my grandfather's homecoming.

I'll have the announcement for you on Monday--and a cool little freebie, too--to make up for it. Promise! :)

Have a great weekend and a very Happy Easter!

P.S. If you haven't voted yet on the poll at right, there are just a few more hours to do so.

Funky Grunge add-on

Happy Thursday morning to you! I hope you're all having a good week.

I have a new gripe: Grocery store coupons that are only usable on "selected varieties." I understand why manufacturers have those types of coupons but that doesn't mean I like it. I went grocery shopping yesterday afternoon and, as is usually my luck, the "selected varieties" were not any of the ones I wanted. The coupon I wanted to use was only good on iceberg lettuce salad blends (about the only kind of lettuce I don't like) and not any of the romaine, spinach, or mixed green blends so I didn't buy any salad at all. But don't worry, I did get my veggies in! :)

OK. I'm off my rant now.

Here's announcement two of three: My grandfather's coming home to Minnesota tomorrow! I cannot tell you how excited and relieved we all are that his health has remained stable and he was given clearance to return home. Thank you all so much for your prayers, good thoughts, positive energy, care, and concern directed my family's way. It has been a great comfort to us during this difficult time. Easter is a pretty big celebration around our house as is, this year we'll have even more to celebrate than usual!

Before I get to the add-on, don't forget to vote in the polls on the right-hand side of the page. Your answers will help me make some design decisions!

And finally, let's get to why you're really here: To get the final piece of the Funky Grunge kit. I included arrows like the ones used in the funky arrow frame and gave you four flower bases, four flower middles, and four flower tops (which could double as brads if you're so inclined). All are in the chipped paint style that I used throughout the rest of the kit. And, if you do any layouts with my stuff, I'd love to see it--send me a link to your page or gallery, an e-mail, or upload it to the slide show on the bottom of the page.

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(I'll have announcement three of three later this afternoon. Before I can make it, I have to tie up some loose ends. But I didn't want you to have to wait for the Funky Grunge add-on.)

See you later this afternoon with another exciting announcement!

Funky Grunge alpha

Hello again! Thank you all so much for your wonderful comments about this kit and well wishes on a speedy recovery. I think I'm *almost* done with this cold now thank goodness. And I finally got a good night's sleep so I'm feeling like a real human being again this morning.

A couple of days ago I hinted that there would be some exciting announcements later in the week. Here's the first of three: There's going to be a small add-on to this kit! Yay! I'll be giving you the arrows that I used to make the arrow frame and the different flower parts for sure. I'll also create a few other goodies for you, too. I literally just decided to do this now while sitting here, so please excuse the fact that there is no preview yet but I will have it for you tomorrow.

Today you're getting the alpha for the Funky Grunge kit. But first I have a confession to make: I scraplifted an idea from Pam for this alpha. A few weeks ago, she released an alpha for her Giggle, Shout, and Smirk kits and included the vowels in four or five different colors. When I started designing this alpha, it seemed that all the vowels--except O--wound up being bright pink. So, I took her idea and ran with it. I did all the vowels, including Y, in all four colors. As an added bonus for you, the punctuation is done in all four colors as well.

The font I used for the alpha is called Jungle Juice and is available on SearchFreeFonts.com.

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See you tomorrow with an add-on and exciting announcements! (Yep, announcements plural!)

Funky Grunge elements, part II

A short post today, I'm running short on time this morning. I do have to say though that I'm hoping that I'm almost done with my cold because man am I tired of blowing and wiping my nose. I look like Rudolph--and it's nowhere close to Christmas!

Ginger's third layout with the kit

And here is today's portion of the kit, the second half of the elements. If you missed the first half of the elements, they are available here.

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See you tomorrow with the alpha. Have a good one!

Funky Grunge elements, part I

Oh my goodness--you really like this kit. I'm so glad, too, because like I said yesterday, creating it really was a labor of love for me.

Have you ever had one of those days where you don't realize just how tired you were until AFTER you wake up from a nap? That was totally me yesterday. I had worked at a community event for nearly eight hours on Saturday and started coming down with a cold. I didn't sleep all that well Saturday night but managed to plug along pretty well for a while yesterday afternoon. About mid-afternoon I decided to lie down and rest. I fell asleep and was out for nearly two hours! Good thing I didn't have a long to-do list yesterday! :) I guess I really needed that rest.

I've got another layout from Ginger for you. I have to tell you, I'm super jealous of her this week--she's in London, my favorite city in the world! I love what she did with this one. I certainly never would have thought to use the papers with what look to be Renaissance costumes. I guess this kit is more versatile than I thought!

And here is today's portion of the kit, the first half of the elements.

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See you tomorrow with the second half of the elements. Stay tuned later this week for an exciting announcement! :) Have a good one!

Funky Grunge is here

OK. It's not technically afternoon here in Minnesota yet, but I've got this post done and I want to share it with you!

I'm really excited about this kit but I have to tell you, this one has been a real labor of love for me. I started it back in January and just finished it last weekend. I had all sorts of ideas in my mind as to what a kit in these colors should look like but just could not get those to translate onto the screen. Eventually, I decided to take some advice I used to give my students about writing: Just let it happen and see where it leads; don't set up limits for yourself. I'm glad I took that advice, because I'm pretty happy with the end result.

This kit is a little different than past kits in that it has a grungy feel to it. I know, I know, there are a *ton* of grungy kits out there. But this one features some really bright and fun colors--just what you'd expect from me! :) I also played with using multiple overlays and textures a lot in this kit.

My CT did a fanastic job with this kit. I just love what they've created! Check it out:

Juli

Ginger

Michele

MaryAnd my layout, featuring Reichen.

Here's a preview of the entire kit. Be sure to stop by each day (today-Thursday) to pick up the entire thing.

And here is a preview of the papers for this kit. There are nine papers, total.

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I'll see you tomorrow with the first half of the elements. Have a good one!

Sneak peek: Funky Grunge

I got more (virtual) memory! I upgraded my computer's RAM yesterday. I went from 1GB to 4GB and I cannot tell you what a world of difference it has made. I had some great overlays I'd downloaded from Tootlebugz a while ago and Photoshop wouldn't let me open them. No matter how few processes I had running or how much memory I allotted to Photoshop, it would always tell me "Photoshop could not complete the operation because there is not enough memory (RAM)." Grrrrrr...

Then last week I was trying to run a pretty simple action on a small shape I was going to use in a future kit and PS gave me the same error message. Frustrated, I went online, found out what kind of memory card my computer used and how much it could hold, did some comparison shopping to find the best deal, and bought 4GB of memory to max out the RAM on my computer. Let's just say that means more good stuff for you and far less frustration for me. Heck, I can even listen to iTunes and design in Photoshop now!

Before I get to the sneak peek, please take few seconds to answer the polls on the right-hand side of the page. If your answer choice isn't listed, please leave me a comment, e-mail me (address is to the left), or leave a note for me in my c-box.

I'm sure you didn't come here to learn about my RAM woes so before I go, here's a sneak peek at next week's kit, Funky Grunge. Be sure to stop by Sunday afternoon (Central Time in the U.S.) to get the first part of the kit.

Have a great weekend!