A quick post of a wonderful cam.

I have been watching intently the following webcam of a mamma hummingbird and her babies as they hatched and grow. They will be fledging the nest soon and I cannot believe I have not thought to share this wonderful webcam with you until now. The mamma hummingbirds name is Pheobe and her babies have been named Bea and Jay although we will not know if they are boys or girls before they fledge. This is a great opportunity for you to show your children a wonderful miracle of life. You can watch the cam with me HERE. You can also join the chat and ask questions that you have about the hummingbirds from the moderators on staff in the chat at all daytime hours. They are very knowledgable. The nest is located in Orange County California so you need to watch during California daylight hours. I have been lucky enough to watch Bea hatch and last year I watched two baby hummers fledge the nest, which was simply amazing. I have also seen during the day many different schools signing on to show their students the babies and watch them from hatching to fledging. It truly is a unique experience. I hope you take the time to have a quick peek and I really hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Tata for now.

Quick post tonight and a new layout.

Hi everyone!! Just getting in a quick post today! I have been having a blast at my new job and I even started teaching today...Can you believe it? I start my actual classes on Monday, but I taught a vitals class today for the MPM students which I think turned out okay for my first time ever teaching. I start 2 classes next week one being Educational Strategies and the other a Computer Tech class revolving around Microsoft programs like Word, Powerpoint, Excel, and Outlook. Wish me lots of luck please!! I may need it.

Anyway here is my latest layout (I should actually say layout I can share with you at this time: I will explain this in a moment). This is a layout for a challenge at Scrapbook Graphics about our goal/s for the year. Well, I am sure you know by now that I am really working on my weight and health, so here is my layout.

Credits:
Buttercup Designs: Punched Petals Vol. 2 @ SBG
Studio Gypsy: Industrial & Keeper of Time @ SBG
Tangie Baxter: Keep Moving Forward Freebie & Impossible Things @ SBG
 
Now about that layout I did but cannot show you yet. The reason is because its part of the SBG Valentines Day blog train coming soon to a blog near you. Keep your eyes tuned in to SBG for details that should be coming at anytime I would think. I am so excited to see all the goodies you will be getting for FREE!!!!! I will post that layout along with the information as soon as I have it in my hot little hands....Or maybe I should say my hot little E-mail?
 
Have a great day all!! See ya soon!!!

Good Morning everyone!

Well, no layout today I have had a busy week. I have some good news. I got a new job as a teacher at a local college! Yeah for me!! I am so excited. Don't think this is going to slow down my scrapping though because I have a lot of photos to get done.
In the meantime though I found this awesome video on how to create realistic shadows in photoshop. I don't know about all of you but I think creating shadows has been my biggest issue with creating my pages. I can never seem to get the shadows right like other people seem to be so good at. I also think that the correct use of shadows can make or break the overall composition of a layout. I see some layouts that look like the elements are hovering over the pages and others that look like they are all part of the background papers. So how do we get those shadows to look like that are layered on the pages and not freakishly flying or somehow sinking into the page? Well, this video is a great start to getting those shadows right. Check it out HERE.

Daddy's Girl and a Freebie!!!

I finished this layout last night of my brother and niece hanging out together. Audrey absolutely adores her Daddy and he feels the same way about her. I wanted to use some flowers I had here on the layout so I scanned and created these digital versions of the flowers I had here at my house.

Credits:
Buttercup Designs: Punched Petals Volume 2
Studio Manu: Moments to Remember & Timeless Elegance
Studio Vivarant: Moments to Remember

Everything is available at Scrapbook Graphics except those adorable flowers I scanned and created in digital format. Lucky for you all I am a generous person because I am going to give those awesome flowers to you all here as a freebie along with a few other little goodies I created in PSCS today.

You can grab this freebie HERE and I would love to hear your comments here on my blog about the freebies and how you like them. I wanted to try and get some hybrid scrapping done today, but I had Boot Camp and my son was home from school sick, so I took him to my moms so I could go to the gym. Once I got back I sat and talked to her and my Aunt and we went through some old photos that I want to start scrapping. Maybe I will get the hybrid project done later now, we shall see.

Well, that is it for me today. I hope you enjoy the freebie and leave me a note please! Thanks!
Huggles!

Family is so special....

Its been a lazy day around here at the ol' Salmon house. Hubby and I decided to go for a drive to get out of the house and well it ended up in a total waste of 1/2 a gallon of gasoline. We drove all the way to Ventura and wanted to go and look at a lake Piro, (I think it was called) but when we got there they wanted $9.00 for us to simply drive around the lake and check it out for 1/2 an hour. Holy Cow! Hubby refused to pay it so we turned around and drove home to Bakersfield. Yep we never even got out of the car once. Yippieeeee!! Now we are home and I decided to upload another layout I completed yesterday for you to peruse.

I just love all the bold primary colors in this layout! I used another one of Courtney's templates from the BadicBuds Vol. 3 set at Scrapbook Graphics and I also used a kit from SSD called "2 Thumbs Up" by Penny Springman and Libby Pritchett. I was really unsure about the kit until I got over half way through with the layout and I decided to move some of the BG papers around a bit. I had the red patterned paper on the top and the black behind the red and it just didnt work well that way, so I moved the two around and it made a drastic difference in my eyes at least. I think the bright colors pop so must better agaisnt the black background and they sort of got lost on the red patterned paper. You see we live and learn everyday.

For your information and just incase you happen to be able to get there in time a friend of mine Maddy has a great freebie up on her blog today to create a Hybrid Circular Card. The link is HERE and her design turned out great. I already downloaded it and hope to give it a go either tonight or tomorrow. When I get it done I will post it here for you to see. The template also includes a template to make a great envelope for the card as well. I'm rather excited about giving it a whirl. Get there fast thought because she is taking it down tonight and will put it up for sale in her store tomorrow. If you download it and create anything I would love to see your result. Have a scrap happy day!!! See Ya!

"Hoo" will be mine?

Are you ready for Valentines day yet? I am, well kind of. I decided to make Wyatt some really cute Valentines Day candy boxes to take with him to school. So I went on a cute template box search and found a great freebie that is shaped like an Owl. I just love Owls and I thought this would be the perfect box to make for my son to fill with Valentines Day goodies for his friends. I uploaded the file for you all incase you want to give it a whirl HERE. I had a very hard time finding a working link for the original template.

Isn't that the cutest thing? The box is not very wide so you can fit small candies in it like M&M's or Sweethearts for Valentines Day. You could change the papers about and also use it for other holidays as well. It would work well for Halloween I think. I did mine all digital but it would be great as a Hybrid with buttons and bows added to the box. I wanted something that would be fast and all I would have to do is fold it up and fill them.

I also created a new layout with some photos I took of my Nieces at my mothers house. They got to spend the day together playing and were having such a great time together. My brothers both must think alike because they actually accidentily dressed them in the same shirts that day.

I used a template from Buttercup Designs: "BasicBuds Vol 3 Templates" and a kit from Studio BCD called "My Favorite Things" both available at SBG. I really like how the colors worked with the photos. These two designers are simply spectacular!

If you happen to use the Owl Template to make a box please share your creation with me as well. I would love to see them. Have a great day everyone!!

R U a Beginner Scrapper??

I received a wonderful surprise in my In-box today when a friend of mine Kait Gonzalez shared a list of links she had formatted to help beginner scrappers get around the world of Digiscrap and provide them with resources such as tutorials, freebies, and well just awesome information to assist the beginner scrapper get started and be creative. I thought the information was spectacular and she said I could share that information here with you. I am telling you there are resources here I did not even know about and I have been scrapping for years now. I don't want this post to be too long so I will simply post the information for you to peruse and get out of your hair for the day. I'm off to Fot Body Boot Camp, today I am halfway through my program!! Yeah!!

Beginners, stop here first:

http://debbiehodge.com/category/howtocomplete/

http://thedailydigi.com/



Having a good foundation is essential in creating your digital scrapbook pages. It gives you page direction and structure. Sketches are your friends. :)



Sketches

http://www.scrapbooksetc.com/layouts/sketches/

http://www.everything-about-scrapbooking.com/scrapbooking-sketch.html

http://www.pencillines.com/

http://www.pagemaps.com/



Tutorials

http://www.scrapbook-bytes.com/chat/articles.php

http://www.scrapgirls.com/SG_University_The_Basics.htm

http://thedailydigi.com/

http://www.theshabbyshoppe.com/tutorials/software_tutorials.asp

http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/category/tutorial/how-i-did-it/

http://www.cottagearts.net/tutorials.html

http://www.digitalscrapbookfaves.com/digital/digital-scrapbooking-tutorials

http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/vBulletin/forumdisplay.php?145-SBG-Classrooms

http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/vBulletin/showthread.php?5506-Design-Theory

http://www.scrappersworkshop.com/



Titles / quotes

http://freedigitalscrapbooking.com/digital_scrapbooking_pagetitles.html

http://www.scrapbook.com/quotes.php

http://www.peppermintcreative.com/phrases.php



Fonts

http://www.dafont.com/

http://www.1001fonts.com/

http://www.urbanfonts.com/free-fonts.htm

http://www.abstractfonts.com/

http://www.1001freefonts.com/

http://simplythebest.net/fonts/



Sharpening your photo

http://www.theshabbyshoppe.com/blog/index.php/2010/09/22/focus-on-photos-sharpen/

http://thepioneerwoman.com/photography/

http://www.mcpactions.com/blog/2011/01/20/preparing-digital-files-in-photoshop-for-print-part-2-strategies/



Free Kits

http://shabbyprincess.com/downloads.asp

http://donnadowney.typepad.com/simply_me/2010/05/sponsor-spotlight-back-on-the-road.html

http://krystalhartley.blogspot.com/2010/06/new-lds-primary-inspired-kit-and.html

http://www.peppermintcreative.com/index.php?main_page=downloads

http://freedigitalscrapbooking.com/

http://mandagirl.com/free-templates/



Scrapbooking sites that you might want to check out. There’s a ton more out there but these are some of the ones I frequent.



Scrapbookbytes

Scrapbookgraphics

DigiShopTalk

PickleberryPop

TheDigiChick

ScrapGirls

Digital Scrapbook Pages

Digital Scrapbook Place

Cherry On Top

Oscraps

2 Peas in a Bucket

Scrap Matters

Scrap Orchard

Digiscrapaddicts
ScrapbookElements

MSScraps

Funky Playground

Sweet Shoppe Designs

Catscraps

Weeds and Wildflowers

ScrapMatters

Little Dreamer Designs

I would also like to add After 5 Designs to that list as I myself love that site as well.
Well, I will leave you know to start clicking links and have a great time. If you find any sites you think woudl be great additions to this list please let me know. I would love ot keep building on this list.

Hybrid creation from the Hybrid Challenge at SBG

If your anything like me then you enjoy hybrid scrapping, but just do not take the time to do it very often. I am not sure why I don't maybe it has something to do with getting all my supplies out and then having to put them away afterwards, maybe digiscrapping has made me slightly lazy in that sense. I have done 2 of the Hybrid challenges now at SBG and I really enjoyed them both. The first challenge was to create a triangular box and now this challenge was to create a pop up card. It was actually really fun, my result is below.



It really didn't take me much time, actually less then what a layout takes me for sure. I used Studio Gypsy's collab with Viva Artistry "Industrial" again. (I'm just loving having that kit) and I am quite happy with the results. If you want to try your hand at the challenge you can download the template here. You really should try it, its a lot of fun.

Excitement has over taken me and I have a layout to show you....

Well, I was so excited about all the great things that happened to me today that I couldn't wait to create a layout using a Buttercup Designs Template and the spectacular new kit I won from Studio Gypsy and Viva Artistry!! I just published it at SBG and on my FB page, but here it is on my blog officially!

I just love this kit! It is SO little boy!! It works perfectly with anything manly or boyish, but you could still use it for your girls too couldn't ya. Off to go and try to complete the Hybrid Challenge now. This one is a pop up card which I have never done before. Wish me luck. I will post pics when I am done.

It is a great day!!!!

Wow what a day I have had and it is only 9:42am!! I guess I should actually say that it all started on Tuesday, but I only today really got to sit down and use most of the stuff I am going to tell you about.

I have been trying really hard to attend the chats on Tuesday nights at Scrapbook Graphics, because they are really fun and I really want to get more involved in that community. Chats are a great way to meet people and socialize. Well last Tuesday I entered a layout into the Chat Challenge which I posted in a previous post here on my blog. On this Tuesday when I went to the chat I found out that I had won the Chat Challenge and recieved a $10.00 GC to Studio Boutique Cute Doll!! Awesome!!!
(Peeking out my window)

Well, while I was in the chat room Studio Gypsy (LisaMarie) announced that she had a contest running on her blog and the winner would receive her new bundle collaboration with Viva Artistry for free. It is an awesome bundle which you can see HERE. I wanted this bundle so bad, but being unemployed and with the price being $13.00 I could not afford to purchase it. I really was drooling over the kit, because it would make such spectacular boy layouts. Well, I went to LisaMaries blog and I entered my name into the contest with great hope of being chosen. O.M.G. I got a notification yesterday in my SBG mail box that I won the contest!!! I just finished downloading the 9 files associated with the kit and I am so going to play with it after I finish this post!!
(Peeking out my window)

Now you would think that would be enough to make anyone a happy camper right? Well, that isn't the end of my luck today!! Remember in a previous post I had told you that I was applying to Buttercup Designs CT team? Yeah? Well, I got an E-mail today from Buttercup Designs offering me a position on her team!!! Holy Guacamole Batman!!! Can this day get any better?!?!? I just don't think it can!!!
(Peeking out my window)

So now I have a brand new kit from Gypsy and Viva Artistry, as well as items I purchased with my $10.00 at Boutique Cute Doll, and I have a Creative Team to use them on since Buttercup Designs creates templates for your layouts not kits!!!! What spectacular LUCK!!!
(Peeking out my window)

So I sit here now writing you this post continuously peeking out my front window. I just know Ed McMahon is going to show up on my doorstep with a huge check announcing I am the next Publishers Clearing House winner. I am keeping a very close lookout!!

Wow!! I want to thank all the wonderful designers at Scrapbook Graphics and I also want to thank all the new friends I have made at SBG in the fun chats on Tuesdays there. Everyone is so encouraging and I always have so much fun in the chatroom! Just to make sure I give the proper thanks to everyone take a look at all the designers stores posted below. You never know you may find something you love like I do on a daily basis.

BCD (Studio Boutique Cute Doll): HERE
Studio Gypsy Designs: HERE
Viva Artistry: HERE not at SBG but I have used her designs and I love her style.
Studio Buttercup Designs: HERE

Now off to go and play with all my goody goodness I received so you may not see me for a while. Keep checking back as I create pages I will add them here to share with you.

Much love and tell Ed I'm waiting for him please!!

New Layouts

Finished a couple more layouts for posting at http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/. The first one is a layout I did of my son Wyatt. I cut him out from a photo I took of him at the art museum last week and then played around with wings and crowns:

This was a lot of fun, but it took me a while to get all the splatters just right so it looked nice and not messy.

Credits:
Bisontine: B-Boy
MK Designs: Designer Stash Vol. 6
Traci Reed: Bad Sewing Machine 23
MandaBean: And I quote Children
Shawna Clingerman: SuperYou
 
Next is a layout I just finished tonight for the chat challenge at SBG. I also entered another layout in this challenge last week and I won the challenge!!!! Can you believe it? I got a $10.00 GC to Studio BCD. I actually used that GC to purchase some of the items that I used in this next layout.
 

These are photo's I took at Seal Beach, Ca. over the weekend when Wyatt and I drove up to see my DH when he was working offshore. It was actually a lot of fun because we actually got to see Brad come off the platform on the boat and dock at the pier. Wyatt of course thought this was the coolest thing in the world.

Credits:
Dutchie Project 265-2 Templates @ SBG
BCD-Romantic Craft Papers @ SBG
Studio Rosey Posey- Island Allure @ SBG
 
Thanks so much for checking in and hopefully I will have an update soon about the CT I applied to. Keep your fingers crossed for me please.

I finally found my word!!!

It seems like it took me forever and I tried on a ton of words before I found the right one, but I think I finally found the right word for me. I started by looking at words like calm, challenge, and creativity but they did not seem to work well for me. So I tried on determination and healthy which also were nice, but simply not what I was searching for. I thought maybe something different like lead or possibilities, but to no avail they also did not seem right. Finally I tried on the word "experience" in it verb form you know meaning: " To participate in or partake of personally, feel, go through, have, know, meet (with), see, suffer, taste (of), undergo." I really think this one fits! Yeah me and my word!! Well, since I found the word you know I had to scrap the word so below you will find my layout introducing you to "My Word".

Journaling: I have been searching for my "word" this last week or so. Not just a word that other people see me as, but a word that describes "my personal journey" in life. A word that tells people not only what they see in me, but what I see in myself. I have finally found that word. The word is "Experience" in the action form, meaning: " To participate in or partake of personally, feel, go through, have, know, meet (with), see, suffer, taste (of), undergo." I want to experience the world around me, touch it, taste it, feel it, explore it, learn about it, and do so personally. Not through a book or a museum, but through life. Other cultures, places, people, I want to experience them all.

Credits: 2Peas Fonts Barndoor & Notebook
Kit: Passport Required-Creations by Rachael
 
Thank you so much for taking a look! I hope you are all locating your words as well.

My Word Journey

I decided to apply to the CT of Buttercup Designs at SBG my favorite scrapbook shop. Since I was applying I wanted to try my hand at at least one of her templates to see how I enjoyed the process. I have to say this was a lot of fun. At first I was a little stressed out, I mean what do I do with all these layers and suggestions? Once I got started though and really started playing with elements and papers on the page it went so fast and I created a spectacular layout quicker then I would ever be able to accomplish from start. I like the idea that the template is a suggestion of a design. I can change it or add to it as I want to make it my own and still come up with something I feel is "my" creation. Here is the layout I created tonight with Buttercup Studios BasicBuds Volume3 Template 3 and Gypsy Studios kit Keeper of Time.

Isn't it spectacular? I just love it!!

If you want to go to SBG to see the layout closer you can do so here. I love to get wonderful comments they always make my day!!

Have a great one!!

Wow its been a while....

As you can probably tell I decided not to go back to designing and really focused on getting my education finished. I can happily report that I am now a graduate with a Master Degree in Business Administration Management. Now I just have to find a job. LOL

I am still scrapbooking and have started to look at CT positions that have some leniency in them. Meaning I don't want to have to create a layout everyday and submit it to 20 galleries in order to partake in the CT ya know. I want to be able to commit my time without worrying about committing my time. I want to enjoy the process of being part of a CT not stress over it. I enjoy scrapping, it is my outlet, my way of getting away from the stresses of the world. I certainly don't want to make it a stressful situation as well. I think that would be defeating the purpose. I want to be able to get a job and still know that I have the time to commit to the CT. I guess that is called responsibility. I have a strong sense of it. I believe that if you commit to something you need to commit whole heartily or not do so at all.

Sort of like my new commitment to health. While I am certainly not becoming a health guru, I just want to loose some weight, tone and form myself back into what I see as a healthy individual. I am not looking at becoming a size 0 again like I was in high school and when I got married, I would be happy getting to an 8. I just want to feel good again and be capable of taking a long walk or walking up a mountain side without feeling like I am going to pass out from the exertion of the activity. Wish me luck and patience as I am not good with patience. When I workout hard, I really would like to see immediate results and that just isnt going to happen for me in this endeavor. I think slow and steady will win the war certainly is true here but can I keep to that slow and steady pace? It certainly has not been true in the past, I tend to hit the road running and then run until I'm about to pass out and quit. So patience will be my goal with this stage in my life.

Speaking of goals, I have taken on the goal of finding my word for the year. Have you ever really thought about this? Okay so maybe I was way to into the book "Eat Pray Love" because I was about to head to Italy when it was released and I was so excited, but I truly believe there are a lot of life lessons within the pages of this tale. One of the things spoken about was words that describe. Such as the word for Italy was Sex, the word for Sweden was conformity, the main character was asked what her word was. She was unable to come up with a word that described her in a way other then writer, wife, girlfriend, friend. What she needed was a word that described her personal journey in life not what she did for a living or what she was to others around her. It made me think about what my word would be and like the character in the book I am unable to locate that word. I have decided to attempt to find it. It must be hiding here somewhere in all this mess. I am sure I just stored it away somewhere and can no longer find it. You know how you put something somewhere for safe keeping and then forget where it is. I bet I will find it where I least expect it. Maybe I can try on a few words and see if they fit? Does it work that way? Can I try on a word like a pair of spectacular shoes or a great Coach purse? Lets say I like the word "spontaneous" or "energizing" maybe these are words I would like to be. Does it work that way or do I need to actually already be that word and not know it yet? I guess my journey is to find that out. Will this require that patience again that I spoke of before. Maybe I should try on the word patience......... We shall see.