Thursday, February 19, 2015

Card Design: Sweet Birthday Cards from Nicecrane Designs

http://nicecranedesigns.com/
Hello there!  I hope that you all have had a good week thus far.  I just can't believe how fast February is going.  I fear it will slip through my hands before I have the chance to get everything done that needs to be completed.  At least I've managed to cross one of those tasks off my list, as I've managed to create a card using one of the images in the Sweet Birthday Cards collection from Nicecrane Designs.  This set contains some really sweet vintage images perfect for any feminine birthday card that you need to design.
  
FRONT
Digital Image Details: 
  • Sweet Birthday CS:  For this card I have used the image you see in the middle of the bottom row of the preview below.  The great thing is that with a little cropping, these images are perfect for many types of occasions.  Click on the name or the watermark below to take you to its location in the store.
http://nicecranedesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=39&products_id=1210
Embellishments: 
  • The two different types of flowers used are from Forever in Time and were purchased at the Dollar Tree. 
  • The half pearls are Crafts brand and were purchased at Dollarama.


INSIDE
Digital Sentiment Details:
  •  This great sentiment was created by Paulette from Create with TLC.  I picked it up a while back as a freebie.  For more wonderful freebies, click HERE to go to Paulette's blog and for some awesome sets to purchase, click HERE to go to the store.

OVERALL
Paper Products:  
  • Card base:  The card base is from a set I picked up at Michael's.  It is Recollection's Coordinates brand.  It is a great little set that has the design already built into the card for those days when you need to pull one together really quickly.  
  • Image and sentiment bases:  Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, white.
  • Matting behind sentiment: Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, Pink Buttons collection.
 Challenges I am hoping to enter...

Before I go...
Once again I thought I would share another wonderful set available at Nicecrane's Designs.  With spring around the corner (unless Wiarton Willie lied) and Easter around the next one, I thought I'd share a sweet Easter themed set with you.  Check out these adorable Chicks & Ducklings (Easter).  This set contains five sweet vintage images suitable for card and ATC design.  Be sure to go and check them out while you are at the store (click on image below to head to its location).
http://nicecranedesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=117&products_id=1247
Don't forget, to stay current on ALL the latest releases and to check out the fabulous inspiration from my fellow DT members, be sure to head over to the Nicecrane Designs blog.

I am so happy that you had a chance to pop by and check out my latest creation.  I'm hoping to be back tomorrow with my latest Imagine That Digis by Kris creation.  So, I'll see you all again then.

 Until next time,


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Monday, February 16, 2015

Card Design: Gerda Steiner Designs Progressive Challenge...February

http://gerdasteinerdesigns.com
It is time to post my creation for the Gerda Steiner Designs Progressive Challenge. So many adorable images available.  They just keep getting cuter and cuter!  Here is the image we got to work with for this month...

http://gerdasteinerdesigns.com/all-digital-stamps/22f3jcrhaf8dcnnqgt8wskzut9drkp
Everyone who played along in last month's challenge received Bunny with Glasses for free. If you decide to hop on and play along in the Gerda Steiner Designs Progressive Challenge, then you can purchase this digital by clicking HERE (or on the watermark above to head to its location in the store). This way you'll receive next month's digital stamp for free.

Here are my card and details...

General Information:
  • Where's a recycling challenge when you need one?  I was able to use parts of a used tissue box to make this card.
FRONT

 Digital Image Details: 
  • Bunny with Glasses:  You can find this image in the store.  Details above.  This image was coloured in with Copic Markers.  
  • Birthday Hat:  I added a cute little hat to make him more birthday like.  It is from Scribbles Designs and is 1/2 of the Birthday Cake & Hat set.  Click on either watermark below to head to their location in the store.
  • One Christmas Gift:  Finally, I decided to use a versatile image from Sami Stamps.  You can find it in the Christmas and Gifts section which you can find by clicking the watermark below.   I paper pieced it with one of my word papers.  While you can't read it, it says 'celebration'.
http://samistampsshop.blogspot.ca/p/christmas-and-gifts.html
  INSIDE

OVERALL
Digital Sentiment Details:

  • Both of the great sentiments I used were created by Paulette from Create with TLC.  I picked each up as a freebie a while back.  You can find more great freebies on Paulette's blog, by clicking HERE.  To find great sets in the store, click HERE.
Paper Products:
  • Card and sentiment base:  Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, white.
  • Designer Papers:  The floral strip and the strip of yellow are from my scrap pile.
  • The blue striped cardboard on the front and inside is from a tissue box.
  • The dark blue used as matting is from Michael's Recollection's openstock paper.
Challenges I am entering: 
 Other challenges I hope to enter... 

***Please note that if the word verification appears, ignore it and simply click the 'publish' button***

Well guys, that is it for this one.  Lots to do, lots to do.  See you all again soon.



Until next time,
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Motivational Monday & PoP Midway Reminder: LAUGHTER

If you are new to my blog and would like to know why I started Motivational Monday, please go HERE.

This will be another packed post as I'll be sharing this month's Motivational Monday passage, a card I created and a couple freebies.  The reflection, my project and one of the freebies can also be found over on the midway post at the Path of Positivity.  This month the theme is LAUGHTER.  On with today's thoughts...  

The Importance of Laughter

From giggles to guffaws, there is nothing quite like the sound of laughter.  It is so common that we can forget how strange and important it is.  Can you imagine walking into a room of people who are laughing if you've never heard the sound of it before?  Or what if you didn't have emotions and got to experience laughter for the very first time?  I was watching an old rerun episode of Star Trek:  The Next Generation, late last night.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with the show, it was a popular science fiction show created by Gene Roddenberry back in the '80s.  One of the main characters on the program is an android named Data.  Data doesn't have any emotions, yet longs to be a human being; a little bit like Pinocchio.  In the episode I watched last night, Data risked his own existence to save an omnipotent being called Q.  In an act of uncharacteristic benevolence, Q imparted Data with the gift of experiencing true laughter for the very first time, as a way of saying thank you to the android.  It started out as a couple muffled giggles and turned into a series of full belly laughs.  When Data had finished laughing, he was asked by a fellow crewman to describe what it was like, Data replied, "It felt....wonderful."

 Yes, wonderful is definitely one way to describe the experience of laughter.  Other descriptions include, freeing, amazing and liberating, just to name a few.  The great thing about laughter is that it crosses all genders, all ages, all nationalities, all religions, all cultures.  It helps us to make connections with others.  Laughter is a "social vocalization that binds people together. It is a hidden language that we all speak" (Robert Provine, 2000, para. 2).  It aids people in resolving their intentions within social interactions and for helping to provide an emotional context to their conversations. Laughter within a group can signal acceptance as it creates an opportunity to have positive interactions with others.  The more comfortable we are within a group, the more likely we are to open up and feel free to experience the joys of laughter. It brings us together in ways that other emotions can't.  Laughter can truly help to bond people and bridge cultures and divides.

 If at all possible, each of should experience a daily dose of laughter.  Not only are there social benefits but there are psychological and physiological ones as well.  

On the physiological side of things, laughter can aid in the reduction of stress, is helpful for those coping with major illness, and studies indicate that it has even been known to boost our immune system, thereby helping us to ward off disease.  It can even benefit our cardiovascular system.  "Researchers estimate that laughing 100 times is equal to 10 minutes on the rowing machine or 15 minutes on an exercise bike" (Kim, 2003, para. 5).  Talk about an effective tool to help us take care of ourselves! 

From a psychological  standpoint, the benefits of humor and laughter are also quite incredible.  Many of us store negative emotions such as fear, sadness, anxiety, depression and anger for example.  We tend to stuff these lower frequency emotions deep down inside.  This of course can start to have a negative effect on our physical body by causing biochemical changes if we don't find healthy ways of expressing them.  While there are many ways to go about releasing these emotions, laughter can provide us with an effective and fun way to harmlessly do so.   Laughter is cathartic. It can help to purge the negativity and bring us back in balance.  In just moments, experiencing the wonderful joy of laughter, we can start the process of soothing our soul.

 So, whether it is sharing a joke with a friend, watching a comedy on TV, or surrounding yourself with funny people, find ways to bring more humour and laughter into your life.  You'll benefit from it in ways you never thought possible.  Who knew a case of the giggles could be such an important aspect of everyday life!
__________________________________________________________________________________
Next up, is the card I made for the midway...

FRONT
Digital Image Details: 
  • Teddy #2:  This adorable image is from one of our guest sponsors for this month over on the PoP challenge, Limited Runs.  If you are interested in purchasing this cutie pie, click on the watermark to head over to the page it can be found on in the store.
 (Category:  Furry Critters, Section: 31-40)
Embellishments:
  • The flowers are from Forever in Time and were purchased at the Dollar Tree. 
INSIDE
OVERALL
Digital Sentiment Details: 
  • Both of the sentiments I used were created by Paulette from Create with TLC.  I picked each up a while back as a freebie.  For more great freebies and inspiration be sure to click HERE to go to Paulette's blog and for more awesome sets for purchase, click HERE to go to the home page of the store.
Paper Products:
  •  Card base: Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, white.
  • The designer papers are from my scraps pile.
Challenges I am hoping to enter:  


 __________________________________________________________________________________ 
Finally, that brings me to a couple of freebies.  The first was offered up at the challenge start and the second was just offered up today for the midway...


© 2015
Font Information:

© 2015

Font Information:
Please be sure to click on the images to bring them up into the lightbox in their proper size before saving them.  Click on the font name to take you to a download location.  All these fonts were listed as free for commercial use at the time each of these project were made, and as such, it is my understanding, that I am within my rights to use these fonts in my creations and offer them to others.  Please refer to my full terms of service for what you can and cannot do with these digital creations.

These word art creations are in png format and published at 300 ppi. They are quite large in order to accommodate different programs that people work with.   If you are a card maker you can always resize them smaller without distorting the quality.  

Credit Notes For These Creations:
© Lisa L. Décosse. PUO. However, you are allowed to use the sentiments on handmade projects that you intend to sell on a small scale basis provided credit is given. You also need to include a credit note and a link to this blog should you use any of my images in your creations and post them on your blog. Please be sure to familiarize yourself with my full terms of use found in the 'Download Instructions & T.O.U.' tab at the top of this page. Of important note:  Please do not share my images with family, friends, etc. Additionally, do not post any images to file sharing services like Box®, 4-Shared®, etc. Instead, please direct people to my blog(s) so they can grab the image for themselves. If you would like to post a watermarked version of the image, please contact me to obtain one.
_______________________________________________________________
I invite you to go and check out, not only, the fabulous creations some members of my Design Team had the opportunity to create over on the Path of Positivity (click HERE for the midway) but also some of the great entries into this month's challenge (click HERE for the challenge).  I also invite you to come over and enter a project yourself, if you haven't already.  This is the perfect month to be exploring the concept of faith.  I'm sure that you know someone who'd benefit from a reminder to keep on believing.

Well, that is it for today!  Have a great week ahead everyone!




Until next time,

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Sunday, February 15, 2015

Card Design: Scribbles Designs Challenge #26--Clean & Simple

http://scribblesdesignschallenge.blogspot.ca/
 It is time for our new challenge over at the Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog.

This time around, for Challenge #26, the theme is Clean & Simple.  There are many different kinds of card making styles and clean and simple is one of them.  However, not everyone sees clean and simple the same way.  For some it might mean an uncluttered design with lots of white space, for others it might be a very simple layout but with a few embellishments here and there.  For the purposes of our challenge this month, we'd like to see a very simple layout with either a minimum of embellishments or none at all, allowing the focus of your creation to be a well coloured image.  Bring on the white space and show us what you've got.

In order to participate in our challenges you DO NOT NEED TO USE A SCRIBBLES DESIGNS IMAGE on your project but you must follow the monthly theme and the other rules that have been established for our particular challenge blog.  You can find them, along with the prize information, listed in the right hand sidebar of the challenge blog.  This challenge will end at 9pm PST on March 14th.
 
You can purchase your Scribbles Designs images HERE and there is a free image over on the challenge blog as well to help get you started.  Also, be sure to check out the special Freebie Friday posts as it is another great way to build your Scribbles Designs collection.
 
To help inspire you, I have created a simple, love you card.  I've decided that I want to be giving the hubs more cards this year, just because, and this month's challenge provided me with a great opportunity to get started.  So, on cue...
HUBS



BACK AWAY



FROM THE



COMPUTER!


Here are my card and details, I hope I haven't forgotten anything important...

FRONT
Digital Image Details: 
  • Hand Cut Heart:  This cool and funky heart shape is one of the freebies currently available on the blog.  Click on the name, to head to its location in the store.
  • I paper pieced this image with the four papers available in my Heartland Mini Kit which is now available for sale over in the Scribbles Designs Store.  Thanks so much to Sandy for allowing me this opportunity to start selling my kits!  Click on the watermark below to find it in the Scribbles Designs Store.
http://buyscribblesdesigns.blogspot.com/2015/02/ddd-heartland-mini-kit.html
    • You can purchase the set of 4 papers for $1.50 or the whole set for just $1.00 more!
http://buyscribblesdesigns.blogspot.com/2015/02/ddd-heartland-mini-kit.html

Digital Sentiment Details: 
  • This wonderful sentiment was perfect for this card is of course from Create with TLC. I picked it up a while back as a freebie.  For great freebies and inspiration be sure to click HERE to go to Paulette's blog and for awesome sets for purchase, click HERE to go to the home page of the store.  While I couldn't find this exact one in the store, I did find the same saying in another great layout.  Click on the watermark below to find this particular one in the store.
Through Thick and Thin

INSIDE
Digital Sentiment Details:
  • #B 12 Flutter Heart Border:  This wonderful image and sentiment combined is also available in the Scribbles Designs store.   Click on the name or watermark below, to head to its location in the store.

OVERALL
Paper Products:  
  • Card, image and sentiment base: Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, white.
Digital Paper Products: 
  • The background was created in Photoshop Elements.  I just found a basic layer style that had all the colours found within my hearts and applied it to my layer.  
 Challenges I am hoping to enter... 
***Please note that if the word verification appears, ignore it and simply click the 'publish' button**
So put on those thinking caps and design a project that fits our theme. If you need some images to help you out you can check out all wonderful ones that are in the Scribbles store. You have an entire month to enter at the Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog, so I hope to see you there. If you have some time I invite you to go and check out the wonderful inspiration offered up from my colleagues on the DT. We always look forward to seeing what you come up with for each month's theme!   
Until next time,
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Saturday, February 14, 2015

Happy Valentine;s Day!

It's Valentine's Day and you know what that means--a freebie in honour of the occasion!!!

https://app.box.com/s/ejbp2iql6k3m14tr5jwg
This digital paper is 3600 x 3600 pixels, in jpg format and published at 300 dpi. I've used resources from Sheila Reid, Delicious Scraps and HG Graphic Designs.  To grab it, click the download button to be taken to a download location.  In the zip folder you will find a copy of the paper, its preview sheet, the credit information and my terms of use which are standard to all my folders. 

Hope you all have a great day and the chance to snuggle up with a sweetheart of your own!

Oh and if you missed it, I gave out a word art freebie in my last post which you can find HERE.

Until next time,
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