In the wake of what has happened in Haiti, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about purpose.  Whether you believe in a higher power or not, I think we all can agree in the power of doing good for others.  48 designers came together and made a gorgeous kit.  Now to some, that might not mean much, but to the people of Haiti, who will benefit from the proceeds of this kit, I’m sure it means the world.

This crisis has gotten a lot of attention in the media, but lately as I’ve been watching and reading coverage, I can’t help but think that there are people who are going through tough times every day.  This doesn’t minimize our attention to the plight of those in Haiti, but it helps us to become more aware of our world and our place in it.

Today I want to encourage you to start looking for ways to help others.  Whether its a financial, spiritual, emotional or basic need, if you’re in the position to help someone, do it!  Get involved with local charities and foundations.  Participate in events that raise awareness for causes that matter to you.  Help someone load groceries into a car.  Hug the people you love.

Helping others is contagious.  When you do it, others will want to help too.  Get your family and your kids involved.  And when you start on the local level, it will naturally spread, and you’ll want to spread some good to people across the world.

If you feel compelled to give to Haiti, do it.  Whether its a monetary donation or a care package, I guarantee you that the people on the receiving end will be forever grateful.  Every quarter, every dollar helps, and more importantly their spirits will be uplifted when they know that we are standing with them.

Purchasing the One Love kit is a fantastic start.  The profits from the sale of this kit will be donated to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund.   The bonus is that you will have a beautiful kit (and I mean spectacular, these designers have outdone themselves!) but the reward is that you will have done something to help others.  Here are some examples of gorgeous pages that people have posted in the Scrap Orchard gallery, embodying this united spirit.

The journaling on this one by Nzingha really moved me.

Check out this gorgeous page from Ola.  What a beautiful message!

And this great one by Eressea, which features a fantastic song by TobyMac.  Check out the lyrics and credits for the page here.

So I have come to a somewhat painful decision in realizing that Project 365 is not for me. I hate admitting when I can’t do something … but I’m just not finding the motivation to take a meaningful picture every day. BUT, I don’t want to entirely give up on the idea. So I’ve decided to adapt it to fit my current needs and abilities. (I think we forget sometimes that modifying is an important part of goal setting. Sometimes we set a goal and soon realize it was “too lofty” and not really what we can do, or maybe even want to do. But instead of giving up on the goal entirely, we just need to adjust it so that it better fits our abilities and deep desires.)

This is what I’m doing instead: taking 1 picture each week that helps me document my focus on my word for the year, SUNSHINE. I want to take pictures of the things that bring me sunshine, that help me feel positive and happy. And I also want to take pictures of the obstacles that spring up in my path to Sunshine — the things or moments that pull me away from the sunshine. I hope that at the end of the year I’ll be able to look back and see an upward/forward progression in my life … and that I’ll have a visual reminder of what’s important to me and things I struggle with, but mostly importantly, proof that I can do it, that I can change, that I can BE the change. Perhaps this project will also help me to stay focused on SUNSHINE … you know, a weekly reminder to be looking for the sunshine so I can take a picture of it, or to recognize an obstacle that’s hindering my sunshine.

If you’re still going strong with Project 365, kudos to you! I’m so proud of you (and somewhat envious, lol — but maybe Project 365 will find a place in my life another year). If you’ve fallen off the P365 wagon, maybe try adjusting the project to meet your lifestyle, your abilities, your needs and wants. Perhaps it’d be better to take 1 picture a week instead of every day — or maybe even just one picture a month. Maybe focus your project on your word for the year, or build around a goal you’ve set for yourself. Just don’t give up entirely, k? Find a way to document this year and YOU in a way that feels good to you.

Hi all, Ellie here with today’s new digi scrap releases from SuzyQ! I apologise I’m posting this a ‘lil later than normal today, it’s just that the day is nearly over here in the UK and what a crazy day it has been! My two kidlets have just not wanted to co-operate today lol! But I got here eventually which is the main thing!

Anyway SuzyQ Scraps has two fantabulous releases for you this week! Long standing fans may recognise the new kit as it’s a makeover of one of SuzyQ’s older kits…does anyone remeber dino-RAWR! ?? Well here is the re-made Dino-RAWR 2!

What do you think? I think that’s an awesome colour scheme for a dino kit myself Here’s some previews of the papers and elements for you to drool over…

And of course I have to show you some awesome inspiration from the wonderful QTs! Check these out!

Onto the other new release for this week for all those stitch addicts out there…Stitch Hiccups #3! These are great for just adding a finishing touch to your pages…

So that’s my blog post done for another week! Don’t forget that both Dino-RAWR2 and Stitch Hiccups #3 are 20% off until February 4th in SuzyQ Scraps store at Scrap Orchard

Happy Scrapping,

Good Afternoon Digi World! Melissa here sneakin’ in with a sneak peek!!! Suzy has been up to here wonderful digital designing self! Check out this beautiful kit she has coming out tomorrow!

Isn’t just way too cute?!? Be sure to stop by the blog tomorrow to see the whole wonderful kit!

Have a good day everyone!

I LOVE learning! I don’t know about you, but I just seem to THIRST for knowledge. Books are one of my favorite ways to learn — I can mark them up, jot down notes in the margin, and refer to the book over and over again. I also enjoy classroom learning. Campus Education Week has been a fun one to attend the past several years — sometimes I’ve made it to lots of classes, other times only a handful (like when I was pregnant, lol). We live further away now, but last year we were able to arrange with my mom to watch our little boy during the day so dh and I could attend classes from 8 until 4 from Tuesday thru Friday. (Thanks Mom!) My favorite classes are the ones on relationships. And I just LOVE Connie Sokol’s class.

So, back to digital scrapbooking (and related stuff) — I thought I’d share with you some of the classes I’d really like to take … the ones I’d sign up for TODAY if time and money were not an issue.

DIGITAL SCRAPBOOKING CLASSES

Yes, I still scrapbook (on occasion … but I’m really wanting to make more time for it, ’cause I miss my therapy!) and I still have so much to learn. So here’s a list of classes I’m interested in taking.
A Library of Memories by Stacy Julian (www.bigpicturescrapbooking.com) — this will have to wait until next year, ’cause I missed this year’s registration
The Photoshop Brushshop by Tiffany Tillman (reneepearson.com)
Kid Perspective by Deanna Lambson (www.bigpicturescrapbooking.com) — FREE and self-paced
No Excuses Journaling by Lain Ehmann (www.bigpicturescrapbooking.com)
Pen Tablet Basics for Scrapbookers by Jessica Sprague (www.jessicasprague.com)
Type + Writer by Liv Esteban and Jessica Sprague (www.jessicasprague.com)
Type + Writer 2 by Liv Esteban and Jessica Sprague (www.jessicasprague.com)
Now We’re Rockin’ With Photoshop – Class 2 by Jessica Sprague (www.jessicasprague.com)
Digi: In Deep – Class 3 by Jessica Sprague (www.jessicasprague.com)

PHOTOGRAPHY & PHOTO EDITING

Seeing as digital photos are a big part of scrapbooking (lol!), I have some interest in taking better pictures. I don’t want to be a photographer … I don’t want to take prize-winning photos. But I’d love to be able to take better pictures, so instead of finding 2 gems amid 100 shots, maybe I’ll find them in a dozen or so.
Oh Shoot! Beginning Digital SLR Photography by Candice Stringham (www.jessicasprague.com)
Photo Editing: Good-to-Great Workflow by Jessica Sprague (www.jessicasprague.com)

DESIGNING

I’d love to learn more to improve my designing — not just my skills, but also my efficiency. I’m self-taught in the programs I use, and I just KNOW I’m missing out on a lot of fun stuff. I’ve had my eye on a couple of classesfor Illustrator.
Illustrator 10-Week Course by Steve Laskevitch (creativetechs.com)
Illustrator 101: Designing for Yourself by Carina Gardner (www.jessicasprague.com)

BLOGGING

I’m working on improving my blogging skills (which reminds me, I need to post on the family blog sometime …) and just found out about a conference on blogging (from How To Blog at The Daily Digi). It’s not too far away (meaning, less than 6 hours) and near family so I wouldn’t have to pay for lodging. Very tempting … and I could meet Steph and Katie from The Daily Digi. Hmm…
Casual Blogger Conference

So, what would you like to learn more about? Have you taken any digital classes? Do you have any on your wish list?

Ever wonder about Photoshop actions? I remember when I first started digi … I had no idea what people were talking about, lol! But now I know that actions are a series of recorded steps that perform specific steps. Like turning a photo black & white. Or saving your .psd layered file in a printable .jpg format as well as in a web-friendly version. I use actions every day in my designing — and quite often in my scrapbooking too. Some are absolute time-savers … and others create super cool effects.

So, if you want to learn more about actions, I can recommend two great articles:
Actions in Photoshop (TaylorMade Designs)
Lights, Camera … Actions! (The Daily Digi)

Honestly, I’m behind the times when it comes to all the cool actions that are out there. But I have used actions from these sources in the past:
Pioneer Woman
CoffeeShop

And I hear My Four Hens also has some great ones … I confess, I’ve downloaded her free actions but haven’t had a chance to try them out just yet.

Atomic Cupcake has some neat ones for designers (and maybe for scrapbookers too, but I’ve only used her as a design resource) … I use her puffy felt action.

What actions have you tried?

Hi Everyone! Amber here with a desktop wallpaper freebie for the coming month. February 14th is Valentine’s Day in the United States, so I made a love themed desktop to share with everyone. I don’t like to have a calendar on my desktop, but there is plenty of room to add one if you so desire. There are a couple size choices in the download, and I’ve also included a version for our friends using MAC. My husband is a MAC person, so I just included the copy I made for him. I stay as far away from his computer as I can, so I admit I don’t know much besides the fact that the icons go on the opposite side as a PC! I hope it works. I used SuzyQ Scraps newest digital scrapbooking kit Love Monsters. If you haven’t picked this one up yet, you need to! This is by far one of the cutest kits I’ve ever seen, and it’s just so much fun to use.

I won’t keep you waiting any longer. Here is the download! Just click the image:

February Desktop Freebie Preview

I worried about not offering enough different sizes to accommodate everyone, so please leave a comment to let me know if there is a size that you need. Even just a note to say thanks is always appreciated!

So I’m back with the results of the RAK!

Congratulations to:

Nikki M.

Leonor S.  and

Juli S.

they all emailed me with the correct answer – Love Monsters was the kit that SuzyQ Scraps released on Friday!

Check your emails ladies and you’ll have a code to pick up this fantastic alpha:

Come back soon…you never know when I’m going to hijack SuzyQ’s blog again for another RAK

I am sure that many of you like to read blogs. I’m sure you’ve even been to the blog I’m going to mention. “THE PIONEER WOMAN“. Really, need I say more?

I will admit, it’s been awhile since I have visited her blog. However, once you are there, you will be there awhile. She has so many things to offer there and especially give inspiration. She has a whole section on photography. Great tutorials. Great actions!!

Another confession…….I probably spend more time on the cooking section!! I love to sit and watch her step by step explain and describe her recipes. I will say, I step back and think “Wow, the colors of that photo or the crispness.” I know lame but it really is amazing.

So take a minute and get some inspiration from her blog today. Might be a dessert or it might inspire a layout, but relax and let the Pioneer Woman take you away!

Just a reminder, don’t forget to pick up One Love at Scrap Orchard.

I had the immense pleasure this last week of working with some very talented designers in creating this charity collab kit for Haiti.

This beautiful kit is available at Scrap Orchard and includes 114 papers, 356 elements, 3 alphabets, 6 page templates and 1 hybrid template and  16- 12 in. x 12 in. .png quick pages. You can buy the bundle, or purchase just the kit, or just the quick pages. Only available for a limited time!

One Love — The Kit
One Love — The Quick Pages
One Love — The Bundle

From the product description at Scrap Orchard:

“‘One love refers to the universal love and respect expressed by all people for all people, regardless of race, creed, or color.’

“Forty-eight designers from around the community have joined together to bring you this incredible kit with the common purpose of raising funds for Haitian aid and relief.  Our theme, “One Love”, symbolizes not only our heartfelt effort to help the people of Haiti, but also encompasses the diverse styles of all the designers involved in this project.  This kit represents the diversity of our community and shows that even though we are all different, when we come together the result is truly spectacular.

The profits from the sale of this kit will be donated to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund.  We chose the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund not only because it embodies the spirit of One Love, but also because 100% of the donations will go to the relief and recovery efforts in Haiti and because they are working to provide both immediate relief and long-term support to the earthquake survivors.”

And here’s a list of all 48 designers (alphabetized!) that contributed to the kit, plus a list of the gals who made the quick pages.

Amanda Heimann Designs
Amy Sumrall
AnnaBV Designs
Cindy Schneider
Dani Alencar
DeCrow Designs
Designs by Julie Bullock
Elegant WordArt by Bethany
et designs
Faith True Originals
Fizzy Pop Designs
FruitLoOp Sally
Holly Designs
Irene Alexeeva
Jady Day Studio
Jennifer Barrette
July Designs
Karina Designs
Kasia
Kristin Aagard
Kristin Cronin-Barrow
Krystal Hartley
Lauren Grier
Lauren Reid
LCC by Amy Stoffel
Lyndsay Riches
Mag Designs
Megan Turnidge
Melissa Bennett
Miss Tiina
MK-Designs
mle Card
NewlifeDreams
Palvinka Designs
Penny Springmann
Pixel Geek Designs
Sabrina Dupre
Scrapping With Liz
Silversword71
Studio Flergs
Studio Tangie
Susan Robinson Designs
SuzyQ Scraps
Tracey Howard
Tracie Stroud
Vera Lim
Wild Dandelion Designs
Ziggle Designs

Quick Page Artists

Amanda (PhotoCowGirl)
Ann (Nzingha)
Bec (Bec)
Cheryl (GoneWithTheWind)
Jenn (Jennamy82)
Jennifer (GrahamLikeTheCracker)
Lilja (Liljatr)

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Graffiti Chicks

Please help us help Haiti!