A Boy's Best Friend

So, I forgot to mention yesterday that I'm participating in a digital scrapbook layout challenge called "Summer Madness July 2014" over at pixelscrapper.com. It's more of a self-imposed challenge, as you get to name how many layouts you will get done in the month of July. It isn't too late to join, head on over to the website and post your magic number.

I was a little conservative and chose 10. Yesterday's post was 1 of 10 and today I'm posting 2 of 10.

I used the Pond Life Bundle by Sheila Reid to create this layout of my son and his best friend. My husband decided it was time John-Kyler knew how to change oil. It didn't take long for Simon to decide Kyler needed help. These two are the best of friends. Simon is definitely one of the family.

Post comments and questions below. I am more than happy to answer any questions you might have.

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting,
Dana

Pixel Scrapper Digi Design

Here's another Pixel Scrapper digital design. I'm loving this site so much. Papers for every style, many for free commercial use. However, I subscribed to the site because I love it all. I'm able to use all the images on the site without having to worry about copyright infringement. I do however, think it is appropriate to credit the site and its designers. Like Sheila Reid, who designed the Friends Forever Mini Kit that I used on this layout of my niece. Isn't she beautiful!

I highly encourage you to check out this site. Even if you aren't a digital scrapbooker, you can print the papers and embellishments and use them on traditional layouts and art projects.

If you visit the site, leave me a comment and let me know.

Thank you for stopping by and happy crafting,

Dana Desmond

Still Working On the Craftroom...

I'm still in the process of organizing my craftroom. I just can't seem to get it the way I want it. I went down and tried to do a little crafting last night, but I couldn't find anything. So I finally gave up and decided the layout and organization just wouldn't work.

Luckily, I have a 4-day weekend coming up. I'm planning to focus on getting the room layout right, sorting through all of my supplies, and deciding what to keep and what to get rid of. Hopefully, I will have supplies up on my site soon. Plus, watch for some give away items.

I guess that's all for the update today. Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting.

Dana

First Craft "Room" Ever!!!

I have been crafting seriously for the last 4 years and have never had an actual room to craft in. To my husband's dismay, I've always made space in other areas of my house. In 2011, my oldest daughter moved out and my son moved upstairs into her room. So, that left a spare bedroom in the basement. I'm not sure why I didn't move in then, but I hesitated, I think it has something to do with the whole, "What if she wants to move back in" business. Empty nest and wishful thinking I guess.

Well, this year my middle daughter will be going off to college and I finally decided it's time to accept the fact, my children are adults and leaving the nest. With my summer college break finally here, I now have the time. Yesterday, my son and my husband helped me move 99% of my supplies to the basement. It was a chore and I'm not sure if I will ever get it cleaned back up, but I HAVE MY OWN MOM CAVE!!!

The room has two full-sized windows, one that faces down the street, so I don't feel isolated from the entire world and the other facing into our wooded back yard. Couldn't ask for better. I posted a video yesterday of the beginning of the move and reorganization. In this whole process, I have found supplies I forgot I had and will probably never use, so look for a destashing to happen. Some I may give away and others I will probably list in my Etsy or Zibbet store. Below is the video I posted yesterday. (I apologize for the camera angle. I shot this with my phone and forgot to put it landscape.)

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Stay tuned for the finished project and any destash videos.

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting,
Dana Desmond

The Best Digi Scrapbooking Resource Ever!

Recently, while browsing the web for creative ideas, I came across a site totally devoted to digital scrapbooking. I knew what digital scrapbooking is all about...or so I thought. Digital scrapbooking never caught my attention because it usually involved a limited number of premade digital files and layouts that you just dragged and dropped your photos into. Wow, has it evolved.

Pixel Scrapper (pixelscrapper.com) is an awesome new site that not only encourages you to use their designs, they even give you the templates and tutorials to create your own. The designers are amazing and come out with new designs almost daily. Every month there are user participation challenges that can drive traffic to your blog. Users can participate in challenges and watch tutorials on how to manipulate your digi images.

Without a subscription, you can download selected digi images and templates FREE FOR COMMERCIAL USE. However, once you see all that is available to subscribers, you will soon realize what a good deal this site is for beginner and advanced digi scrappers. For $10/month, you can download items from the site for personal use or for $20/month, you can download all the content you want as many times you want for commercial use.

I have never found a site that offered this kind of deal. All they ask in return is for you to use their items and refer people to the site. Not a problem here. For a guilt free way to craft and sell my items, well worth it. Plus, I don't have the "last paper" anxiety that cause my to hoard my stash like my life depends on it. I have the files available anytime I need them.

I've also printed out my own kits and used the papers on mini albums, traditional scrapbooking and home decor projects. One of the best parts is that because I "own" the files, I can just flip through my collection and find the perfect match of papers.

Here are a few designs I've uploaded lately. Not all of them are photo scrapbooking, but sayings and notes I want to remember.



Jump over to Pixel Scrapper and join the fun. I you aren't the creative type, contact me and maybe I can do a little scrapbooking for you. You provide the pictures and I can either create flat printed pages, create traditional scrapbook pages or create a mini album for a special person or event.

Thanks for stopping by,

Dana Desmond