*Gasp!* A Freebie!

Click here to download!

When I'm working on a kit, there are often items that don't make it into the final version that I offer for sale. There's nothing wrong with them (most of the time), they're usually cut in the interest of kit size, or they don't fit the mood of the kit. These are two papers that were cut from my Cherry Vanilla Cola kit, because I felt that they didn't really 'fit' the kit. So- I'm offering them up here, as a freebie.

I plan on doing this will many of the things that don't make it into my kits. I hope to upload new freebies for your enjoyment- as a way of saying 'thanks for stopping by!'. Most of them will probably be backgrounds- although I have one freebie that I'll be offering in the future that is really a set of curve templates that I'm calling 'The Girls'.

I hate having things go to waste- which is why I'm offering these things as freebies. I figure that someone, somewhere could use them.

Oh- and before I go, if you are interested in seeing a larger preview before downloading, simply click on the image.

Enjoy!

*Proud*

Yep- I'm proud. Very proud. Insanely proud. I don't do this often- most of the time, I tend to doubt myself too much, but this time- I'm going to be proud and toot my own horn, so to speak.

I've been a busy little beaver the past couple of weeks, and I managed to get FOUR new kits added to the store today. Yay! Some weeks, I'm lucky if I get two kits added, lol!

I really really really like this kit. It's called Summer's End- and it's a really neat combination of oranges, greens, yellows, and reds. It's probably a little on the girly side, but considering that the other kits that were added this morning are more boyish than anything, I don't really care. I think that it looks good, imho.

I took this picture a few weeks ago, with the intent to scrap it and talk about how my parents have all this space at the farm, and my boys chose to play in the mud puddle in the middle of the driveway. I hadn't done anything with the picture, because I just wasn't in a layout mood. But- I just had to do something with this kit, and I don't always feel like saying that. (It's that self doubt thing that I really need to get over.)

I'm working on getting over my self doubt. It's not really a good thing to have- because second guessing myself could possibly hurt me. I just need to sit back, and think 'hey- if I feel like it's done, then it's done.' Otherwise, the kit just keeps getting bigger... and bigger... and bigger. It's not really an 'excitement' thing- it's a 'will this be worth it for my customers?' I'm not longer willing to sell myself short- I put a lot of hours and blood sweat and tears into my work, and I want to get paid for it.

It's a good feeling when you can look at a completed kit and go 'Damn, I'm good.' I wish that I could do that all the time.

Because, ya know, damn- I'm good.

Something Fun: A Scrapbook Survey

I picked this up from One Digital Scrapper, who got it from someone else. Feel free to copy and pass it on.

Scrapbooking Style
Traditional paper based or Digital? Or Both (Biscraptual)?	Mostly digital, sometimes biscraptual
Other Mixed Media Arts?	I like to alter tins and stuff
Define Your Style in 5 or less words	Eclectic? I tend to go with whatever feels good at the time.
Name your Scrapping Heroes	Um, Holly McCaig is the only one that comes to mind at the moment.
Social Scrapping
2Peas or Not?	I check it out every day, but don't post all that often. i mostly spend my time between a private board, the Digi Chick, and Pages of the Heart
One forum lover or spreader of your joy?	tend to spread the joy, lol
Active Member, Moderator, or Lurker?	somewhere between active and lurker on most boards
Do you Scrapblog?	Yes
Do you Attend Crops, and if so - how regularly?	not really- although I try to attend crops at POTH.
Do you Attend Scrapbooking Events and Retreats - if so, how regularly?	Nope
Scrapbooking Objectives and Profile
Are you or would you like to be a Scrapbooking Designer?	Yes- at POTH Digital Scrapbook Store
Would you Like to Make Money from Scrapping?	I already do
Is Scrapbooking a Career Objective - fulltime or parttime?	part time, wouldn't mind full time, but the kids don't allow it, lol.
Do you scrap for yourself, your family or others?	Mostly for myself. if the kids decide they like them, great. if not- oh well, i had fun doing it, lol
Is it about the legacy, the memory or the art?	all of them!
How Many Hours on average per week do you plan / actually do towards scrapbooking?	as many as i possibly can...
Average Monthly Budget for Scrapping Supplies?	whatever I make the month prior from selling my designs, lol.
How many scrapping magazines do you buy/subscribe to on average per month?	i don't subscribe to any- i buy them whenever i have the extra money.
How many Idea Books do you own?	nothing for scrapping- a couple idea books for altered art
A Bit About You
How many years have you been scrapping?	almost 5 years total- digital for 3 years
Define your family and partnership status	married for 6 years in november, three sons (5, 3, and almost 2)
Fultime worker, part-time worker, fultime at home	i'm a SAHM
Just Some Fun
What do you think will be the next big product / trend in scrapping?	not sure- I'm loving the return to color and basic shapes, as well as the retro look. i like the softer distressing looks that are popular now- especially when combined with clean lines.
What old product / trend would you like to see make a comeback?	i really can't think of any, lol!
What’s your favourite website to do with scrapping? (Only one!)	Pages of the Heart- little bit of everything, with friendly members.

Newsflash: We're Allowed To Complain!

Why is it when someone complains about a site or designer, that someone invariably has to come along and defend said site and designer?

I'm not talking about the polite conversation- the one where people say 'I don't see that' and leave it at that- I'm talking about the people who flame someone for not liking their favorite site- the people who say nasty things because they take complaints personally.

We should be allowed to voice our opinions. We should be able to say that we aren't happy about something without being flamed for it.

The site can only control what is said on their message boards and mailing lists (if they have them- not all do). They- and their members- can not control what is said on other message boards and mailing lists.

People are going to form opinions based on their experiences. If my experience with a site is negative, then I'm going to use my right to not visit said site. I may or may not complain about it to someone else. This is my right. Nobody can control this- but me. Don't assume that just because your experience with a site is a positive one that everyone has had a positive experience with that same site.

And definitely don't try to change my mind. It won't work. Let me- and everyone else- complain without the whole 'bashing bandwagon' thing. Maybe- just maybe- the site isn't all that you think it is.