Showing posts with label Freebies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Freebies. Show all posts

Simple calendars, post it note holder and freebie template

2 comments Posted by Lynn at 2/10/2012 07:06:00 pm

Oh, the relief now that I have all clients' tax returns in and can finally catch up on my sleep and get the office organised!  January is always a hectic month with me working all hours (literally) and it is not unusual for me to be working until 3,am, 4 am or even 5 am most mornings.  So, as you can well imagine, the first couple of weeks in February are really slow work wise.  It is not that I don't have any work, far from it, it is just that I am too tired to even think about it!


So far this week, I have had a couple of client meetings but the main highlight of the week has been a trip to Ikea to buy a new shelving unit and a matching desk.   Hubbie very kindly built them both up for me and so I am now sitting here thinking about tidying and organising the office....only thinking, mind, because actually dong any of that would involve me:


a) thinking about what to put where; and
b) actually moving and doing something other than just sitting at my computer!


So, instead of actually clearing the decks ready for work, I have instead being playing, and this is what I have made:












These are so easy and straightforward to make.  All you need is a sheet of A6 cardstock scored at 3", 6", 6.75" and 7.5". Stamp on one side, add a calendar tag and voila, one desktop calendar ready to go!


Of course, I couldn't leave it there.  Stamping an image is all very well, and it does look good, but I thought that a flower would look even better..... so naturally, I had to experiment!   This is the first one I made, black card and a bright orange flower:




Isn't that flower gorgeous?  It looks so effective on the black card too :).  






So of course, I then had to have a go with different cardstock, and different flowers:






 The green gingham flower was made using a Woodware punch, and the orangey flower is actually a Tim Holtz/Sizzix tattered florals die.  I used plain white paper and then sprayed the die cut petals with Cosmic shimmer Mist (ancient copper).  


I am so pleased with the results (talk about modest, eh?!!!)!


Whilst January tends to be a very profitable month for me as clients call in to collect their accounts and tax returns (and pay me!), I just don't get chance to do any crafting at all, so as well as the calendars, I have also been playing around with loads of other things.


One kit I have been working with is All Wrapped Up by Snickerdoodle Designs






Well, I had originally intended to use the printables from this kit to make gift tags and jar wraps, but due to work commitments (why, oh why, is the tax return filing deadline in January?  It means most accountants barely have time to think about Christmas, let alone celebrate it) never had the chance to do this.  So then I thought I would use it for my son's birthday (which is in January) but yet again,. work got in the way of that idea.  So, whilst I know this is more of a Christmas kit, I am a great one for making the most use out of all supplies, digital and paper, so decided to use this kit to label the storage jars in the office:



I actually tweaked the tags slightly to take out the "To" and "From" (I used the clone tool to cover up the text) since I wasn't using these as gift tags, and then stuck the wraps and the tags onto each bottle.  Having been to Ikea earlier in the week, I had grabbed a set of jars whilst there, and they are the perfect size for these tags (although I did resize them slightly to completely cover the circular front of each jar).  I couldn't resist the wrap though which,even though Christmassy, has such a cute mouse on it!




Well, not content with that, I then adapted a post it note holder I had bought before Christmas and again using the All Wrapped up kit, came up with this:


Please excuse the poor quality of the photos - there is no natural light in my office so I have to rely on the flash in my camera and photoshop editing!



You will see form the above that the cover tucks into a flap in the bottom layer.  I made this by drawing a semicircle (in pencil) on the inside of the bottom flap:


Then I carefully cut around this and erased the pencil marks:







I created my own template from the post it note holder that I bought, and here it is:



and you can download this here or by clicking on the preview above.  
This is for personal use only I am afraid, but please do come back to show what you made if you use it.

Happy Scrapping!


 

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Layout Artist 2011 and Next Designer contest 2011 - free mini kit

0 comments Posted by Lynn at 9/05/2011 03:28:00 pm

Well, I did mention these in my last post so I suppose I had better tell you all about them!

Firstly, the layout contest.  Well, we were given a kit to work with, and it was gorgeous!  It was Early Morning Light by Piggy Scraps Designs:



You really need to go check it out as it is beautiful and is currently on sale at $2.50 as well!  I've linked the preview to the shop so you can have a look ;).

Anyhow, all we had to do was create a layout, so this is my effort:


The posting deadline was midnight last night (EST) but because we went to St Andrews, I managed to get mine in on Friday.  Voting is now taking place, so if you would like (and you know you want to!!!), please go to the gallery and vote.  If you vote for me that would be even better, as currently I only have one vote and that was mine!  The gallery is here, and the voting poll is here.  I probably won't even get to Round 2, but I know I always learn so much by entering these contests, and it is fun, albeit stressful when I can';t decide what to do or keep changing my mind!

I have also entered the Designer contest and for this,we were give a swatch to work with:



I love the colours but found the fact that there was no green a real hardship - I ended up with blue leaves instead as you can see!!!





My kit is previewed at The Studio here where you can also find the download links, but you can download it direct by either clicking on the preview above or here.  Go check out the gallery as there were lots of entries to the contest which means lots of freebies!

I'm not expecting to get any further in the contest (although it would be really good if I did) but I always learn so much when I enter design contests.  This time, for instance, it was a case of playing around with brushes to create the patterned papers and to  make some of the elements.  I also played with the filters in PS CS5, which is why one of the flowers is slightly different from the others as I applied a filter to it.

Happy scrapping!


 

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Quick Pages freebie

1 comments Posted by Lynn at 9/07/2009 06:59:00 am

I'm off to make breakfast for my children in a few minutes before going to see a prospective client and just have time to post this before I get everything ready.

I managed to get some scrapping time in yesterday and made these two pages with my kit from the SAS-y Designer Contest:




I've made them into quick pages and, as promised earlier, you can download them HERE.

Happy scrapping!

 

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SAS-y Lady Contest

0 comments Posted by Lynn at 9/06/2009 08:25:00 am


Well, I actually managed to finish my entry to the SAS-y designer competition last night (well, strictly, it was early this morning as it was just gone midnight when I uploaded it!). That must be a first for me, to finish something well before the deadline (3pm EST today)! I normally lurch from one deadline to another and spend my life fighting fires, metaphorically speaking.

Anyhow, do you want to take a look at what I came up with? Well, here it is, Arbour Winds:



The colour swatch we were given is not necessarily one I would have chosen myself, but I ended up really enjoying working with it as it was a challenge to come up with something that didn't look like many other kits you see these days. I used some CU stuff, but the flowers you see in the close up here are mine, all mine (insert evil chuckle here, lol!) as I took the photos and extracted them, so can't blame anyone else for any loose pixels and whatnot in those!



I ended up making far too much to go into the kit, so there will definitely be freebies coming soon! I just need to find the time to sort them out and upload them! A surprising amount of time is always taken up when designing anything in just making a preview, uploading and posting so it's not just a quick two minute job.

So why don't you all nip on over to the Stone Accents Studio and take a look at what all the contestants have come up with? The gallery can be found by CLICKING HERE. All the kits are being offered as freebies and the download links are in the gallery. There's an amazing range of kits and styles considering we all started off with the same five colours so I am sure you will find plenty there to help build your stash!

Voting doesn't begin until later today, so I will let you have that link as soon as I get it - obviously I am hoping you will vote for me ;). Roughly half of us (probably this includes me, lol!) will be eliminated in this first round. You have to be registered in the SAS forum to vote, so please don't let that put you off and just get out there and vote (even if it's not for me ;))!

OK, I'm off to finish printing our church notices now as I only have an hour now before church. And yes, it probably is leaving it a bit late but I always end up printing them off at this time on a Sunday. I just don't know where the time goes!

Happy scrapping!

 

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September desktop

4 comments Posted by Lynn at 9/02/2009 06:10:00 am

Yesterday was busy - the first "real" day back at work after a holiday is always hectic and yesterday was no exception. I seemed to have millions of phone calls when normally the phone hardly rings at all. I even had one very nice gentleman from Google ring me up asking me if I wanted to take out a month's trial on google search engine (only £3.30 a day plus VAT!!!) and when after several minutes of me saying I didn't want to take out any more advertising at this time, he slammed the phone down. I don't know who he was, but slamming the phone down on me is definitely not the way to get my business, especially as I was perfectly polite to him. He must have either been having a lot of refusals that day or was totally stressed out after the Bank Holiday weekend!

Anyhow, despite being busy, trying to get my own accounts finished for once (!!!!), I managed to make a September desktop using my part of the ADSDesigners School Daze blog train:



I am afraid it is only in one size (1280 x 1080) but hey, one size can be made to fit all, eh? Just like those trousers in the Colour Purple?!!! If you really need it in a different size, just let me know and I will see what I can do ;). Oh, and in case you are wondering, the birds will be offered as a freebie hopefully sometime later this week (depending on work commitments as I do have a large set of accounts to get done for Friday so time is at a premium at the moment) - I just didn't have room for them in the original zipped file of the kit.

To download the desktop, CLICK HERE.

Happy scrapping!


 

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ADSDesigners September blog train

4 comments Posted by Lynn at 9/01/2009 01:26:00 pm



Well, it is that time of the month again - release day for the ADSDesigners September Collaboration, School Daze. I have been busy zipping files an uploading to 4shared this morning but am going to make you wait a bit to catch you up on what has been happening since my last post.

Well, where to start? Firstly, we (i.e. me and the guys - two of our boys and our daughter) have been in the Lake District for a much needed holiday. Of course, I took my laptop and some work with me but, as usual, didn't get anything done, or at least, hardly anything, so I guess it definitely was a holiday for me then! Much to the perpetual disgust of the children, I took millions of photos and I will probably bore you silly with the photos as well as I intend posting some here once I actually get them off my laptop and camera onto my desktop.

I actually managed to get some decent photoshopping time in whilst we were away, which is something almost unheard of! Mind you, it didn't please DD as she wanted to go on the internet (which I paid a small fortune for to get access for the week so we were all determined to get a much use out of it as possible) and could only do that once I'd finishing photoshopping for the night which was usually well past 11pm if not later!

The Lake District, as usual, was stunning. I just love it there and we spent a lot of time around Lake Windermere and Coniston Water, with the guys getting soaked as they had fun in the water. You wouldn't have thought the eldest two were 20 and 18 as they behaved more like their 12 year old brother than anything else! In fact the elder boy even braved the water completely to go swimming! Admittedly, he was frozen afterwards but he was determined not to leave the Lake District without having swum at least once.

The weather was mixed - after all, this is summer in the UK, and we were on holiday in the Lake District. Most of the rain was either overnight or early in the morning and oh boy, was it heavy! It was literally bouncing off the roads and you couldn't even stick your head out of doors for one second without getting soaked. But we managed to get in lots of walking, plus plenty of time strolling around just doing nothing in particular, as well as lots of paddling time for the guys, reading and photoshopping for me plus a memorable visit to the White Scar Caves :). Photos to follow once they have been transferred to my desktop and hopefully you won't find them too boring.

We finished off the week with a trip to Blackpool, thinking the illuminations were on. But no, despite having the internet and reminding each other to check, not one of us bothered to actually find out when the lights were switched on. As a result, when we got there on Sunday they were still putting some of them up! So no lights for us, apart from the lights I saw when I tripped up on the pavement and went flying, ending up with very badly bruised hands and wrists, one of them so bad that even now (Tuesday) I can't put any pressure on it. Of course, hubbie was all sympathy when we arrived home (not!). For some strange inexplicable reason, he seems to be convinced I am accident prone and always tripping or accidentally cutting myself when baking and so on....the children also seem to be of the same opinion!!!!!

So, back to the photoshopping and the reason for all this time spent designing. Well, apart from the ADSDesigners blog train, I have also entered the Stone Accents Studio (SAS) Designer Contest, mainly for the experience and to learn some more tips. I honestly don't expect to get past the first round but everyone seems so friendly, and I have already learnt one or two useful things. Round 1 of the contest has just been posted, and since the deadline is Sunday, I really need to get a move on!

But here (at last, I here you say) are the details for the blog train. I split my previews this time with one for the papers and another for the elements:







and you can download them here.

Included in the kit are:

  • 6 papers;
  • School bus;
  • 3 ribbons;
  • 2 styles of buttons in 2 colours (4 buttons in total);
  • 1 stitched line
  • 1 messy stitched circle;
  • 4 crayons (red, blue, green, orange);
  • 2 red patterned photo frames, on with a ribbon;
  • 1 blue patterned photo frame;
  • 1 pin;
  • Bookworm;
  • Homework folder; and
  • An apple for the teacher
I have a desktop almost ready for you too as well as a few other bits and pieces that wouldn't fit in the zipped file, so keep coming back over the next few days and I will try and get everything posted.

The other designers taking part in the blog train are as follows:

 

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Senior moment!

4 comments Posted by Lynn at 8/18/2009 01:43:00 pm




Well, I was sat here wondering how many people might have downloaded the second set of watercolours, when I realised that you can't download something if it hasn't been uploaded in the first place! Talk about forgetful! I actually got these ready to upload a couple of days ago but completely forgot to let you know.



There are ten papers in all, and they are darker than the first set but hopefully you will like them. Click here to go to 4shared to download them.

Happy scrapping!

 

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ADSDesigners blog train

2 comments Posted by Lynn at 7/01/2009 04:37:00 pm



Well, the latest ADSDesigners blog train is released today, and here is a preview of my share of the kit:

I've seen most of the other previews and they all look awesome! My part contains:

  • 5 papers
  • 2 frames
  • 1 bird
  • 1 ricrac
  • 2 knotted ribbons
  • 3 flower buttons
  • 1 tulip
  • 1 butterfly and rose overlay
Looking at the preview, I've actually managed to omit the ricrac, but it is included in the zipped file. I've been in such a rush today to get it all uploaded and everything but have to go out shortly. I'm also in the middle of trying to cook tea. Since I'm trying to do a cheese sauce, it is kind of difficult running from the computer in one room, into the kitchen and then back again!

There's not a lot in my share of the kit, but I have more goodies for later in the month so keep checking back!

Just click on the preview to go to the download page and then follow the links below to the rest of the stops on the blog train! The links will be up all of July, so you have plenty of time :).

http://beaconscrap.livejournal.com/
http://beckmoorescrapalittle.blogspot.com/
http://nutnbutdezigns.blogspot.com/
http://candystreasures.blogspot.com/
http://cattscrapps.blogspot.com/
http://desertgirl-blog.blogspot.com/
http://foxyladycreation.blogspot.com/
http://www.digicyberscraps.com/
http://digital-keepsakes.blogspot.com/
http://fairydustprincess-magicmaker.blogspot.com/
http://heavenlycrafts.blogspot.com/
http://kikkinkreations.blogspot.com/
http://lindasdreamdesigns.blogspot.com/
http://living4him2.blogspot.com/
http://magsgraphics.blogspot.com/
http://studio-mamaecha.blogspot.com/
http://mytreasuredscraps.blogspot.com/
http://pinkmaryjane.blogspot.com/
http://pixiemamadesigns.blogspot.com/
http://scrappingwithjen.blogspot.com/
http://themathematiciansassistant.com/


Happy downloading!

 

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Surprisingly enough....

2 comments Posted by Lynn at 6/06/2009 03:46:00 pm

....I'm not actually working today! That makes a very pleasant change so I am now catching up on various blogs, updating all my posts and, surprise, surprise, actually finding some time to spend messing around in photoshop!

I'm actually sitting here in my office, sipping my jasmine tea and just messing on the computer whilst son #2 sticks all my invoices and till receipts into a folder for me! He is currently moaning like crazy about how boring a job it is, how he hates doing it even more than he hates entering details onto the computer but that is the price you have to pay if you want to get a student loan and your mother needs her accounts doing!

It is currently tipping it down outside, typical British summer weather to be honest, although it has been really nice the past few days. The forecast for tomorrow is a bit iffy but am hoping that it will at least be dry. We have plans to walk (crawl?) up the Wrekin but only if it is not raining.


For those who may not know, the Wrekin is a hill not that far from here and it is 1,335 feet above the Shropshire Plains. You can get some glorious views of Shropshire from the top provided, of course, that the weather is fine. The above is a photo of the Wrekin taken from the grounds of Attingham Park, a stately home on the outskirts of Shrewsbury.

There are many local legends about the Wrekin, and here is one courtesy of Wikipedia:

A giant called Gwendol Wrekin ap Shenkin ap Mynyddmawr with a grudge against the town of Shrewsbury decided to flood the town and kill all its inhabitants. So he collected a giant-sized spadeful of earth and set off towards the town. When in the vicinity of Wellington he met a cobbler returning from Shrewsbury market with a large sackful of shoes for repair. The giant asked him for directions, adding that he was going to dump his spadeful of earth in the River Severn and flood the town. "It's a very long way to Shrewsbury," replied the quick-thinking shoemaker. "Look at all these shoes I've worn out walking back from there!" The giant immediately decided to abandon his enterprise and dumped the earth on the ground beside him, where it became the Wrekin. The giant also scraped the mud off his boots, which became the smaller hill Ercall Hill nearby. Ironically Shrewsbury is subjected to flooding from the River Severn on frequent occasions naturally.
Folklore from the wilds of Shropshire!

Anyhow, since the weather is too wet to do anything outside today, I decided to have a play with the Soft Denim swatch and came up with these gingham papers:



Feel free to download them - just click on the preview to take you to the download link!

I'm off to do some more photoshopping! Hope you all have a lovely weekend, no matter what the weather is like where you are ;).

 

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ADSDesigners Blog train

2 comments Posted by Lynn at 6/01/2009 07:59:00 pm


Well, after a hectic weekend when I had to work until 2 am on Sunday morning and then until just gone midnight on Sunday, then having to dash out to a client to sort out tax returns and accounts I have finally had chance to upload my part in this month's ADSD blog train. I am sorry this is late, but real life hits big time on occasion. The preview of my part of the kit is shown below.



and comprises:

  • 5 papers;
  • 6 flowers;
  • 1 Butterfly;
  • 2 ladybirds;
  • 1 overlay
  • 2 ribbons;
  • 1 journalling paper; and
  • 1 frame
Just click on the preview to take you to the download link.

Please take time to go visit all the stops on the blog train - there are some fantastic designs out there and they will be available for all of June.

http://adsdesigners.com/adsdblogtrain.htm

Have fun! I'm off to create a desktop using my part of the kit and am hoping to upload this tomorrow for those interested!

 

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ADSDesigners April Blog Train: Spring Things

9 comments Posted by Lynn at 4/01/2009 09:35:00 am


Well, the April ADSDesigners blog train is released today and there are some wonderful creations out there! The theme this month was Spring, and here is my share of the megakit:


There are 12 papers in all, 19 elements and an alpha (upper and lower case plus numbers)

The download links are in three separate files:

Papers

Elements

Alpha

The other designers and the links to their blogs are:

Mags - http://magsgraphics.blogspot.com/
Mardesia -http://craftersboutique.blogspot.com/
Willow Grace Designs - http://willowgracedesigns.blogspot.com/
Blind Sight Designs - http://www.blind-sight.org/blog
Anne-Marie - http://a-mdigitaldesigns.blogspot.com/
Shel - http://shelbellescraps.blogspot.com/
Gina http://gina-moondancecreations.blogspot.com/
Linda - http://lindasdreamdesigns.blogspot.com/
Lisa - http://ronimasil.blogspot.com/
Lois AKA Ladye - http://scrappinwithladye.blogspot.com/
Melanie - http://88designs.blogspot.com/
Crystal aka sAmazed http://amazedscrapper.blogspot.com/
Jennifer - http://knittinjen.blogspot.com/
Penny - http://www.alliekatcreations.blogspot.com/
Digital Keepsakes - http://digital-keepsakes.blogspot.com/
JIC Creations - http://jiccreations.blogspot.com/
Dawne - http://desertbloomdesigns.blogspot.com/
by God's design http://digibygodsdesign.biz/
Foxy - http://foxyladycreation.blogspot.com/
Crystal - http://crystalcreationsbydesign.blogspot.com/
Jody - http://munchkynscraps.com/
Lynn - http://heavenlycrafts.blogspot.com/
Laura - http://mytreasuredscraps.blogspot.com/
Cre8: http://cre8iveformuladesign.net/blog/
Wendy & Sarah - http://kikkinkreations.blogspot.com/
Wendy - http://brokenjarcreations.com/blog
CandysTreasures - http://candystreasures.blogspot.com/~
Anne http://mousee23.sosblog.com/index.htm
Zena - http://digitalscrapbooklove.blogspot.com/
Bonnie - http://bonniecarter.blogspot.com/
Gail - http://gails-space.blogspot.com/
BlueVelvet DeZigns - http://nutnbutdezigns.blogspot.com/
Aubrey's Mom- http://scrappinbyaubreysmom.blogspot.com/
Jen - http://www.scrappingwithjen.blogspot.com/
TMA Designs by Lynn - http://themathematiciansassistant.com/
Beckmoore ~ http://beckmoorescrapalittle.blogspot.com/
EmCeeScraps http://emceescraps.blogspot.com/
ScrapperGirl Designs - http://scrappergirldesigns.blogspot.com/
Liz - http://grungeandroses.blogspot.com/
Brandi White - http://esnqueen.blogspot.com/
Morgaine Creations© http://morgainecreations-gone-scrappy.blogspot.com/
My Sweet Tater http://tatersplace-mjstitch.blogspot.com/
Designs By Mel - http://designsbymel.blogspot.com/
Lei - http://fairydustprincess-magicmaker.blogspot.com/
Judith - http://justanotherscrap.wordpress.com/
Donna - http://www.tootlebugz.com/
Lacson - http://www.bhebhethartzdesignz.blogspot.com/
Erika {aka PinkuPixie} - http://ppbits.blogspot.com/
Panda Bear Designs - http://www.pandabeardesigns.blogspot.com/
Catherine - http://cattscrapps.blogspot.com/

The links will be valid all month, so you have plenty of time to grab the freebies!

PS Sorry for the error in the elements link. I've fixed it now, so thanks for letting me know:)

 

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Lake District

1 comments Posted by Lynn at 9/08/2008 09:32:00 am

I don't know how many of you have ever been to the Lake District here, but it is absolutely beautiful, even in the rain. This is a photo of Lake Windermere, on one of the few sunny days we had:



We had some good weather, one day when it rained after we went out so we ended up getting soaking wet (even the kagools couldn't keep out the rain, we were soaked right through!), another day when we couldn't go out at all and the rest of the time is was cloudy and overcast. All in all, typical British summertime weather! I took loads of photos, annoying my children in the process as they kept having to wait for me to catch them up when we were out walking, and we certainly did lots of walking. I had the aches and pains to prove it!

This is a view of Coniston water:



And was taken whilst walking from Coniston Jetty back into Coniston. Fortunately, it was not raining for us, although it definitely looks as if it is raining in the hills!



Anyhow, I thought you might like a couple of freebies, so here are some stock photos with one overlay (in colour and desaturated) freebie for you. the photos are from flowers in our garden, so you have my husband's green fingers to thank for these!





Feel free to use these as you will, commercial use and scrap for hire use is OK, just don't repackage and claim them as your own.

Download the stock photos here and the overlay here.

 

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Funky Playground Designs: Teachers Pet

3 comments Posted by Lynn at 8/08/2008 11:45:00 am

Well, I'm still participating in the Teacher's Pet program at Funky Playground Designs, although this is a learning experience, and not as part of the competition to become the next FPD designer. The second assignment was all about extraction, and this is what I came up with:




Feel free to download it here or click on the preview to take you to the download link. The link will only be up a few days so grab it while you can. Other freebies are in the fpd gallery in the "Teacher's Pet" section.

 

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