Christmas Freebie

Christmas time would have to be my all time favourite time of the year. I adore looking at the shops with their Christmas decorations, the houses along the streets all lit up with lights, the special yummies that are reserved for this special occasion and of course the getting together of family and friends. I'm a little behind in my own Christmas preparations, so I hope you are doing better than I am. I've just posted a little word art freebie on my facebook page, so if you'd like to pop over and grab it, please do. Find it Here!! This word art may come in handy for the challenge that is over at Lady Anne's.

I hope to be able to bring you a little something each day up until Christmas, so please be sure to keep your eye out. Until tomorrow.

Digital Stamp Bird Cage Roses and blog hop

Digistamps4Joy's New Beginnings Blog Hop has just began. You start at DigitalStamp4joy original site and continue through until you end up at their new DigitalStamps4joy site. There is 8 fabulous sites to explore inbetween, all of them offering a blog hop prize, just for leaving a comment and becoming a follower. How easy is that?

You'll be able to pick up one of my own vouchers at one of the participating blog site. Now to find out which one has my voucher, you will have to join in the blog hop. Have Fun!!!

Introducing my new digital stamp called 'Bird Cage Roses' that will be available in my store soon. For now if your quick you'll be able to pick it up for free in the current round of the progressive challenges at Crafters Digital Arts Center. Details below. I designed this digital for my eldest daughter which adores all thing shabby chic. It was a little tricky to create the card without her seeing, but she took off early on the morning of her birthday and I was able to put it together before she returned.

The image was coloured with copic pens. I used a mask to create the white scroll in the background and sponged over it with lolly pink stamping ink. I also added the same sponging to one corner of the main image so that the stick on 'Happy Birthday' would stand out. The doily under the pretty little flower arrangement was lightly stained as well. I made a little stick pin for her and the butterfly was silver but I used a yellow/gold copic pen to give it the appearance of gold. Worked really well. The finishing touches are the simple bow with the long ends and the little group of pearls in 2 of the corners.

 

The inside was keep very simple with the paper I used doing most of the work for me. After scanning the front image I used it again inside on the side of the card where I placed a birthday verse.

Thanks for looking and don't forget to pick up the digital stamp 'Bird Cage Roses' and while your there join my own forum / group and if you going to check out the blog hop you'll want to join in Digital Stamps 4 Joys forum / group as well.

********************************************************************************* How does the CDAC Progressive Challenges work? The CDAC Progressive Challenge is a proactive freebie challenge. What that means is as long as you are proactive by making and submitting cards to this challenge you will continue to get freebies offered in a large variety of styles. These images are created by the artists that have groups here on CDAC and by those that participate in the CDAC drawing Challenges. This is a fun way to get and use fabulous images that will be offered during these challenges. You will have a full two week to enter the challenge, so not only will you get these images free (if you started with cdacpc1), but if you participate in each of the challenges during that series you will go into the drawing for the Grand Prize. EVERYONE that plays is a winner, because EVERYONE that plays earns the next challenges images for free. Repeat the process again, and you will receive the next freebies emailed to you again and so on and so on.....Come join in the fun and pick youself up some free images to play with, it only costs you $1 to buy into the challenge. *********************************************************************************

Progressive Freebie Challenge #12

This is my first card for the Progressive Freebie Challenge #12 with a theme: "Green, Great and Gorgeous"
Colouring medium : Copic Markers, Water Colouring Pencils and Glitter Pens 'atyouspica' clear and chocolate.
Image supplied by : A Day for Daisies *********************************************************************************
How does the CDAC Progressive Challenges work?
The CDAC Progressive Challenge is a proactive freebie challenge. What that means is as long as you are proactive by making and submitting cards to this challenge you will continue to get freebies offered in a large variety of styles. These images are created by the artists that have groups here on CDAC and by those that participate in the CDAC drawing Challenges. This is a fun way to get and use fabulous images that will be offered during these challenges. You will have a full two week to enter the challenge, so not only will you get these images free (if you started with cdacpc1), but if you participate in each of the challenges during that series you will go into the drawing for the Grand Prize. EVERYONE that plays is a winner, because EVERYONE that plays earns the next challenges images for free. Repeat the process again, and you will receive the next freebies emailed to you again and so on and so on.....Come join in the fun and pick youself up some free images to play with, it only costs you $1 to buy into the challenge.
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This Wednesday wasn't dull!!!!

Next Saturday (the 16th April) Karen from Krafty Karen's Blogspot will be running a challenge. The challenge will run for two whole weeks - to give everyone a chance to enter – and of course to spread the word.

And the best bit? There will be lots of winners! Please pop over to her amazing site and either join in the challenge she will be hosting or simply become one of her followers. You will be inspired by her wonderful creations week after week. Karen is one very creative lady and I'm so proud to blessed with her friendship.

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Nothing could be sweeter than to come home from work and find that your friendly postie has left you some packages. Today I recieved 2 and above is an image of all the goodies that my mate all the way from South Africa sent me as a RAK. I'm just bursting with excitement as I drool over all the beads, bits and bobs and flowers that she crammed into her gift for me. Everything is perfect and the collection is sure to come in handy with my next projects. I'm grinning from ear to ear and I can't wait to bling up my next card with some of the pretties.

Tee also included a special little bag that had my daughters name on it as she's gone out of her way to send over some centers that she thought my daughter could use in her headband creations.

Thank you so much Tee for your very generous RAK. Tee has her own blogspot where she shares most of her wonderful creations with us and likes to receive new visitors, so if you've got a few mintutes please go check her out at Crafts/Friends/Angels.

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My next package arrived safely from the States. I had joined my first ever stick pin swap and the 5 wonderful ladies in my group had posted their stick pins to one central location where they were collected, sorted and sent back out when all had been received. Thanks Priscilla for playing postie.

Wow!!!! The stick pins are all gorgeous and each one is unique with the well thought out assembly of beads displayed on the pin. I'm not sure if I will want to use them in my crafting projects as I'd have a difficult time parting with them now. I've got the mention that the ladies put extra effort into the packages that they used to transport the pins. From little pillows,a matchbook case and pretty cards. I will treasure these pins and wish to thank each of you for being in my group.
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Who says Wednesdays are dull? Not me that's for sure, ok well maybe most are but this one wasn't.

Vickie's Quickie

Vickie's Quickie (note the name change thanks to Jen)
One of my ATC challenges this month is themed 'Typography' so I've created this digi to use. I'm sharing it with you all this week to see what you can come up with. I'm leaning towards printing it out on Clear transparency film and layering it over a colourful background. (I'm going to make them now, so I'll post a pix later) Enjoy the digi and I can't wait to see what you come up with.
What is Typography?
Typography is the art and technique of arranging type, type design, and modifying type glyphs. Type glyphs are created and modified using a variety of illustration techniques. The arrangement of type involves the selection of typefaces, point size, line length, leading (line spacing), adjusting the spaces between groups of letters (tracking) and adjusting the space between pairs of letters (kerning).

Click on the image above it will open in a new window.

Save the new image to you own computer.

Click Here if you'd like to grab the png version

If you'd like to share you creation you can link it here.

Weekend Quickie

G'day everyone, I hope that your having a wonderful week. I created the digi this week from one of my favourite hangings that I used to make when I selling my crafts at markets.

The challenge is purely for fun and everyone wins as they get the digi to use. I'll be doing my best to put up a new digi every Friday night and you will have all week to post back what you might come up with and to show off your creative talents (Anything Goes). I welcome any feedback and comments. My goal is simply to have fun and share my digis with you.

I'm testing the waters and I'll be giving away one of my digitals (your choice) to one lucky creator via a random draw.

Click to open image in a new window.Save it to your own computer.	My Example is a hanging.

CDAC DIGITAL TABLET GIVEAWAY

Oh my gosh Priscilla has really out done herself offering this amazing digital tablet. Please check it out at Crafters Digital Arts Center. All the details on how you can win this are listed on the home page and it's really easy!! Beside the chance to win the tablet just for entering you will meet some amazing people and be inspired by the whole site. Be sure to join my Group Nana Vic's Digitals and let me know you've found me through this promotion.

Genius MousePen 8" x 6" Graphic Tablet
One CDAC Member will win this Drawing tablet. You can learn to draw your own digis with this prize. This brand new tablet is ergonomically designed for drawing, handwriting, sketching, coloring, or picture editing, and powered directly by the USB connection. It’s not only a fantastic media tool for designers, but a "hand-eye" coordination, fun input device for a computer. Giveaway ends Sept 13th and winner will be picked by random generator.

Prize Features are..

8"x6" working area, comfortable for easy drawing, painting and using the PC

1024-level pressure sensitivity for all kinds of shapes and thickness control

Make handwriting notes/drawings on the Internet and in any application program

Cordless mouse and pen design gives you unlimited freedom

3D scroll wheel for fast browsing on the Internet and in Windows documents

Corel Painter-The ultimate digital sketching and painting tool

Supports Windows 2003/XP/Me/2000/98

Would you like to win this?

1. You must be a member of CDAC since this is candy to Thank our members.

***Giveaway entry is from Aug 11th through Sept 13th (midnight PST)***

Anyone can enter!!!

Good Luck & Best Wishes! Blessings,

Weekend Quickie

G'day everyone, I hope that your having a wonderful weekend. I'm going to have a go at putting together a challenge. The challenge is purely for fun and everyone wins as they get the digi to use. I'll be doing my best to put up a new digi every Friday night and you will have all week to post back what you might come up with and to show off your creative talents (Anything Goes). I welcome any feedback and comments. My goal is simply to have fun and share my digis with you.

My sister is my biggest fan and has supported me for as long as she's been alive, I thought I'd kick off my 'Weekend Challenge' to say thank you for just being you. These cute little dolly girls have always been a long time favourite of mine and this really is a very versitle digi to use. Perfect for your sister, mum, daughter or girl friend, any female really. I can't wait to see what you come up with.

Please click on the images below (so they open in a new window and are the size they are supose to be) and save them to your own computer from the new window.

You may also like to be the very first group to enter your creation on my first attempt at hosting a 'Mr Linky' on my blogsite. I'm practicing for when I start getting into hosting challenges.

16 ATC's from 12" x 12" (card stock)

The month of May has really been a month filled with many firsts for me so far. Tonight I joined my daughter at a scrapbooking night that was hosted by the very talented Angie. I spent the day preparing my project that I was going to take with me. While packing my car (yep, I have wheels again and I've named my sardine can with wheels 'Dot' because I'm like a blue dot on the map again) I commented on how much stuff she was taking with her and she assured me that what she was taking was nothing compared to what some ladies take with them for a scrapbooking night.

We arrived just before 6pm and most the ladies where already busy with their evening projects, except Angie as she was busily preparing a delicious dinner for us. After introductions I settled into my project and the easy conversations that were happening around the tables. There was so much inspiration and creativity going on around me that it was a natural buzz to be apart of it all. As the ladies created amazing scrapbooking layouts or ATC's the conversations ranged from kids, husbands, family and friends, new ideas, techniques and just about everything in between.

There was one highlight that I'd like to talk about that I think is worth sharing and that was the relationship I witnessed between two shop owners. Angie and Dalena each have a home based scrapbooking/art supply business and they are friends that are willing to share and help each other to succeed. It was a pleasure to listen to these two shop owners exchange ideas and resources without the normal fears that most competitors have for each other. I realize that we live in a dog eat dog world but it's nice to see that some people are still treating each other with respect and working together for the better good of their business.  If more business would only adopt of leaf out of their handbook, the mind boggles at how much more productive we would be as a society. I've linked Angie's Shop and Dalena's Shop if you'd like to visit them.

I was surprised that more people didn't know how to get 16 Artist Trading Cards (ATC's) from a 12" x 12" card stock sheet. Just incase you didn't know either here is the diagram that will give you 16 ATC's each 3½" x 2½".

Overall it was a great night and I'm so pleased that I had the opportunity to meet new people, hear some great ideas and share some creative time with some wonderfully talented people. I'm looking forward to the next one and if you haven't joined at scrapbooking night yet do yourself a favour and organize one or find a group of like minded people and join them for a night of fun. Be prepared for a late night as it was over 3am before we got home.

ATC Car Crash

I thought I'd share another ATC that I made earlier this year for our local free swap held at Westfield Shopping Center once a month. If you live on the Gold Coast and would like more information about the swap just leave me a comment.

Now I'd be the first to admit that a car crash would not be considered an inspirational event but in this case it was. My year had not started very well with an unknown person or persons breaking into my car on Boxing Night. They destroyed the wiring (randomly cut every wire under the dashboard), cracked my windscreen, damaged the drivers door and front panel. Ok I'm not a car insurer but it really didn't look that bad to me *shrugs* however the assessor thought other wise and wrote my car off. What they gave me was enough to pay the car out but left me without transport.

My Sister and most of her family were visiting for the Christmas break, so between her and my bro-in-law they became my personal chauffeurs taking me to and from work each day. Having imposed on them for almost 1 week and they were not needing their car for the day I drove myself. I know that driving a mini bus is alittle different and because I was in a borrowed car I was being extra careful. Do you think the guy that ran the red light causing the car infront of to break suddenly and for me to bump into them cared how careful I was being? I think not, he didn't stop.

We did the normal thing exchanged names, address and phone numbers ect and both inspected the damage as woman will. They weren't worried, as really really to tell ya, I only bumped her. A little bit of white paint from my sisters car on their rear bumper. As I drove the few blocks home (yep, about 3 minutes away) I tried to fabricate some wonderful story about what had happened but nothing came to mind and I settled on the truth about how impatient male drivers are.

My bro-in-law after the digs about my driving didn't seem all to concerned about the damage either as he had to catch the bank and was quickly on his way to complete his errand. When we recieved a phone call about 10 minutes later the real damage was discovered. Greg was stranded on the side of the road with the car over heated, the bank closed and RACQ (roadside service) still 1/2 hour away.

Cutting this story short now, total damage to their car $5000, they were without a car for over a month and with 8 children, work and them now relying on others to transport them around. What else could I do but make this ATC to remember the whole event.

ATC Details:

My Sister, Penny took the photo of me that is used in the orange car. (As it's the most recent photo of me. I use it for my pic sign in also) Two of the trees in the foreground are torn from painted toilet paper the other two are scrap paper with distressed edges. The background is printed on cardstock and the two cars and people are printed again on photo paper. I cut the windows out and used crumpled clear plastic (recycled wrapping from something) to replace the windows. The cars and speech bubbles are raised with foam dots. After crushing/denting the front of the cars a little Dimensional Magic was used on the few little broken peices on the road.

Little Freebie : If you'd like to create your own version of this ATC you can grab the background image Here it's 300 dpi png

Imaginisce Goodies - Candy Giveaway

Want to win this gorgeous blog candy full of Imaginisce products? It's easy...become a follower on the Imaginisce blog, and also on Melinda Spinks' blog The Scrap Farm. Make a blog post about this giveaway and leave Melinda a comment to enter. Good luck everyone!

Easter Layout

OK lets see if I can work this out. It's been fun to get back into the swing of creating a digital layout. The one I created only took me all week but then again I had to oil the draws of the old filing cabinets that have been slowly rusting away in the brain. I didn't really think of a title for the layout so will go with 'Easter 2010'.I would like to give away freebies so I put together this little one for others to enjoy. I can't take credit for the original as I adapted it from one of Granny Art's quick pages and I'm sorry but I couldn't find the link back to it that page but I did find the grass that I used in the layout Here on her fantastic blog spot.
Freebie Rabbit, Flowers and the signpost. 300 dpi png

NanaVic_Easter.zip Download Here

Well it's so far over my bed time I'd better go. I hope this all works and I'm sure to get faster at putting up posts.