A Little Scrapping

Tutorials

2010-09-09T20:44:00.002-06:00

I think possibly the best site to get tutorials is at Digital Scrapbook University. Their site is very well organized and covers tutorials for many of the software programs used in digital scrapbooking. They also have a Tutorial Forum and offer Digital Scrapbooking Classes.

Another really good site is at Scrapbook Bytes. The tutorials are a bit outdated as far as new editions of software are concerned, but you can still figure out where they're going if you are familiar with your software.

Want an all inclusive tutorial list for PSP, visit Cathy's Corner. Pages upon pages of awesome tutorials await you here.

Font Freebie

2010-03-15T18:01:00.003-06:00

I haven't quite had the energy to sort through all the freebies and post them. I am physically getting back to normal with the exception of lack of energy. I also got a cold, got over it, then it hit again a couple days ago, mix that with asthma and I've barely got enough energy to sit upright.

Anyway, I was going through my feeds, trying to clear some out, and I ran across a font freebie. It is super cute, so go snatch it.

Sort of Back

2010-02-17T21:47:00.002-07:00

For a quick update, the pathology report came back and I did indeed have stones. Take that Dr. Witter!!!!! Needless to say, I will be finding a new primary care physician.

Anyway, today I was planning on bringing you freebies, but I got stuck backing up all my files ALL DAY LONG, and still working on it. We're going to update my computer with Windows 7 so I want to make sure that I don't lose anything. So, not only am I backing up My Documents and Programs, but I'm also backing up everything on my external hard drive, which has all my scrapping stuff and pictures. Boy, do I have a ton of stuff!!! It'll be worth it though, that way if my computer and/or hard drive dies, I won't lose anything. I highly recommending backing up files. I should take my own advice and do it more often.

I think I have about another half an hour left to go before the external hard drive is backed up, then I'm off to bed. Then tomorrow, I'll finish up with my C drive and I'll be set to go. Windows 7 here I come!!!

On Hiatus

2010-01-25T15:00:00.002-07:00

Things are doing actually a bit better around here. I found out that my gallbladder was not functioning properly and I qualified for surgery. I waited until the 20th for my appointment with the surgeon. Meanwhile, I became extremely ill. The surgeon took one look at me and knew that I was in trouble, so he took me into surgery within hours of seeing him. He was able to do the surgery laparoscopically, which he wasn't sure if he could do, but I'm so thankful that he did. The surgery was a big shock to my already ill body, so I had to spend a day in the hospital, but was able to go home after 24 hours.

Since then, I've been doing pretty well. It feels great to not be in so much pain, now it's just a different pain, and it's awesome to be able to eat whatever I want and not get sick. I'm still pretty weak and get lightheaded quite easily, but overall I'm doing pretty good. I'd probably be doing better if I wasn't so sick to start out with.

Anyway, for reasons yet unknown, still waiting for the pathology report, my gallbladder completely shut down, grew almost twice its size, and became somewhat infected. No wonder I was so sick.

So, I will still be taking some more time off to heal, then I'll be back in full force bringing you tons of digiscrapping goodies. Until then, savor each moment and live each day to its fullest.

Apologies

2010-01-14T11:23:00.003-07:00

I'm so sorry about not posting freebies for the past couple of days. Things have just gotten worse with my health. I'm in more pain and more sick and basically spending all my day in bed. In one hour, I will be going to the hospital for a HIDA Scan, which will see how my gallbladder is functioning. My guess, not so great. Then it's only a matter of time before I will have the surgery to remove my gallbladder. I am so hoping that that day will be sometime next week. I don't know how much more of this I can take.

In the meantime, I have been so blessed to have such awesome neighbors and friends and family. One of our neighbors brought dinner to us last night, and I am so grateful for that act of service. I had to create a beautiful Thank You Card to express my thanks to her. This served a double purpose because it also helped me to keep my mind focused on something greater than myself and my pain.

Here is the card that I created. Thank you, Dawn!!!

CREDITS
Background Paper - Jaime Kit Papers by Laura's Corner
Crumbled Paper - krizokraft papers by krizomel
Ribbon - Point It Out by Natalie Braxton
Other Papers - Spontaneity by Natalie Braxton
Felt Flower - Spontaneity by Natalie Braxton
Button w/Bow - Release Me Add On by Fanette Designs
Buttons - Blessed by Michelle Underwood
Butterfly - Funky Nature by lauraskathi
Scalloped Template - Totally Templates #1 by Christine Nash
Stitching - Stitches by Tracy Blankenship

No Hunt Today

2010-01-11T19:56:00.003-07:00

I'm sorry for this, but it's been a very difficult day health wise. I finally saw a specialist today and he agrees that it is my gallbladder. Unfortunately, he wants me to have yet another test done before referring me to a surgeon. It is extremely frustrating and I'm at the end of my rope. I hope that this will all be resolved within a couple of weeks so I can get back to my normal self. Until that day, though, I have to take each day as it comes. I hope that tomorrow I can bring you all freebies.

Weekend Hunt

2010-01-09T19:51:00.037-07:00

Those who know me know that I don't get on the computer on Sunday. So, today's hunt will have to last you until Monday. You can wait though, right?! :o)

There are a lot of Quickpages today thanks to The Lilypad's Birthday Bash. They are so creative over there. I love their stuff!!! Have a great weekend!

Today's Freebies
just click on the pictures to get to download sites

Kits

Elements

Alpha

Templates

Quickpages

Hybrid Project

2010-01-09T11:01:00.004-07:00

I'm not usually the hybrid type, mostly because I'd rather do things all digital and I don't have that many scrapbooking supplies, but today I found myself in a unique situation. Today is my niece's birthday and I found myself without a gift bag for her present. So, I had to come up with something to put her gift in. This is what I came up with. (You'll have to excuse my very poor camera skills.)

I took a brown paper lunch bag and printed a digital paper on both sides. Then I created a card and printed it on a shipping label, then affixed it to the folded bag. I finished it off by stapling a bow that I tied using some leftover wide grosgrain ribbon that I had. I used Miss Mint's Party Pants Kit found here.

Birthday Bash at TLP

2010-01-08T15:28:00.038-07:00

It is The Lilypad's 3rd Birthday and they are celebrating this weekend. I have to say, I love, love, love The Lilypad!!! They have some of the absolute best designs in the digiscrapping world. Trust me, that is not an understatement. You have to go check them out, especially this weekend during their Birthday Bash. Click on the ad to get to the fun.

Today's Freebies
just click on the pictures to get to download sites

Kits

Elements

Alpha & Wordart

Templates

Quickpages

Small Hunt Today

2010-01-07T20:11:00.014-07:00

My little one has an ear infection and is teething, so needless to say, I haven't gotten much done today. So, I've chosen just a few freebies for you today and they are all quickpages. I love quickpages!!! They are so easy to use, take up hardly any time to put your photos in and journal, and require practically no use of creativity on your part. That's what I love about them. We all have those days, like my day today, where I have no time and my brain isn't working enough to come up with a layout. So, without further delay.

Today's Freebies
just click on the pictures to get to download sites

It Has Been Forever

2010-01-06T17:07:00.022-07:00

I can't believe that I have neglected this blog for over a year. Well ... that's life for ya. I think one of the reasons, in fact I know that the biggest reason for me not updating for so long is just plain burnout. I had such high expectations for this blog, everyday was planned with something new, but I just simply couldn't keep up. I applaud those who can come up with freebies and tutorials and much, much, more on a regular basis.

So, I have decided to switch things up around here and start over. Instead of bringing you the regularly scheduled program, I will now start to hunt for freebies, tutorials, and other exciting stuff and share them with you as well as every now and then put in my own work.

Let's get started!

Today's Freebies
just click on the pictures to get to download sites

Tutorial Tuesday

2008-10-07T12:34:00.003-06:00

I have a tutorial for you. Finally, I know. This week's is on how to make stickers.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Friday Freebie

2008-10-03T16:07:00.004-06:00

I'm back and I've got a freebie for you. I thought these stickers would go great with those upcoming Halloween layouts that we're all going to be doing in a few weeks.

DOWNLOAD HERE

I've Already Done It, Have You?

2008-10-01T14:23:00.000-06:00

It's the first of a new month, time to back up your files.

Asking Forgiveness

2008-09-25T14:41:00.003-06:00

I have been such a slacker these past couple of weeks. I became a foster parent a couple weeks ago, and life with a toddler is crazy. I had forgotten what it was like to have a little one around the house. He's such a handful. Needless to say, I haven't had any time to update this blog and provide you with goodies. As soon as I get on a schedule, I will be back. I promise. Until then, keep scrappping.

Friday Freebies

2008-09-05T14:29:00.006-06:00

I as promised, you get two freebies today because I didn't have time for one last week. I hope you enjoy them.

DOWNLOAD HERE

DOWNLOAD HERE

Keeping Your Computer Safe – Part 3

2008-09-03T14:41:00.002-06:00

This part of Keeping Your Computer Safe is fairly simple, sorry, no pictures. I really just want to stress the importance of having Virus Protection and Spyware Removal, and also give my opinions on certain software.

As far as Virus Protection goes I like McAfee the best. I have tried Norton, also known as Symantec, but I have found that the software takes up more disk space and causes the computer to run slower. McAfee has many products that will protect your computer and they are very reliable.

For Spyware Removal, I recommend Ad-Aware. It is a free download, but you can purchase the upgrade to Pro or Plus for real time protection. As long as you are diligent in scanning your computer on a regular basis, the free version will work just fine. I scan my computer at least once a week.

So, there you have it. There’s not much to Virus Protection or Spyware Removal. You just have to make sure that you have some sort of reliable software to protect your computer. There are many more companies out there that you can obtain software from; I’ve only had personal experiences with the one’s I’ve mentioned above. They have worked very well for me and have protected my computer for several years. Just remember, you need to protect your computer!!!

Tutorial Tuesday

2008-09-02T11:17:00.003-06:00

Today's tutorial is on how to make scripts. This is a really fun tutorial, and you will get instructions on how to make a Porcelain script. Have fun!!!

DOWNLOAD HERE

Back It Up

2008-09-01T10:14:00.006-06:00

It's the first of the month, so that means time to back up all your files. It would be disastrous if you lost any of your important pictures, layouts, downloads, etc. It may take some time and a few DVD disks, but it will be worth it.

BTW, sorry about no Friday Freebie last week. It was just one of those weeks. So, for this Friday, you'll get double the freebies.

Also, because the first of the month fell on a Monday, Keeping Your Computer Safe - Part 3 will be done on Wednesday.

Tutorial Tuesday

2008-08-26T10:57:00.004-06:00

This week's tutorial is on how to make gel letters/text. To learn how to do this, download the PDF. Have a blast!!!

DOWNLOAD HERE

Keeping Your Computer Safe - Part 2

2008-08-25T11:48:00.009-06:00

Last time we talked about keeping your computer safe with Firewalls. Today we will discuss Internet Options and Automatic Updates.

Let’s start with Automatic Updates. It is important to have Automatic Updates turned on. I’ll show you how it’s done. First, click on Start, then on Control Panel. Once there, click on Security Center. This is the screen that pops up.

If your Automatic Updates are turned off, like in the picture above, just click on the Turn on Automatic Updates button to turn them on. Then, you want to check on your settings, so click on the Automatic Updates link on the bottom of the page. This screen will pop up.

You can choose for yourself which setting you would like it to be on. Personally, I like the Notify me but don’t automatically download or install them. That way it doesn’t slow my computer down when it automatically downloads and installs updates. I can choose when I want to download and install them.

Now, let’s talk about Internet Options. While still in your Security Center, click on the Internet Options link at the bottom. A screen like this will pop up.

We’ll just be talking about the Security and Privacy tabs today. You want to adjust your security levels for each of the zones, Internet, Local Intranet, Trusted Sites, and Restricted Sites. The security level you set them at is up to you, but I will share with you what I like mine to be set at. So here, for the Internet, I like mine set on Medium-high. For Local Intranet, Medium-low:

For Trusted sites, Medium:

And for Restricted Site, High:

Let’s move on to the Privacy tab. My preferred setting is at Medium with the Pop-Up Blocker turned on.

This concludes this part in Keeping Your Computer Safe. Remember, it is up to you where you want to set your security levels at, I am merely making suggestions here. But, it is important to get to know these security measures on your computer. Also, remember to continually update your computer and software. This will keep your computer running smoothly and keep it protected.

Friday Freebie

2008-08-22T16:04:00.003-06:00

My kids started school on Wednesday, two days ago, so I felt it was only appropriate that this Friday Freebie be something related to school. So, I made this Quickpage for you're enjoyment.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Tutorial Tuesday

2008-08-19T09:36:00.004-06:00

This weeks tutorial is down to the basics, resizing. It's fairly simple, but an invaluable one if you're just starting out. Download the PDF file and go crazy!

DOWNLOAD HERE

Keeping Your Computer Safe - Part 1

2008-08-18T09:00:00.007-06:00

I want this blog to be educational not always fun and games with digital scrapping. In a several part series, I would like to share my tips with you on how to keep your computer safe and how to keep your computer maintained and running smoothly.

As digital scrappers, everything we do is on our computers. It makes perfect sense to protect our computers and what is on them. So, this first part in our series, I will be sharing with you tips on how to keep your computer safe with Firewalls.

What is a Firewall? Simply put, a Firewall is a barrier keeping harmful things away from your computer. The Firewall filters information coming into your computer from your Internet connection. A Firewall can come in the form of a software program or a hardware device.

My personal philosophy is you can’t have too many Firewalls in place for your computer. This is precious information that we’re holding on our hard drives - pictures, memories, etc. We don’t want them vulnerable to outside forces.

A Firewall that is automatically given to us is provided by Windows. To check to see if your computer is protected by this Firewall, first go to your Control Panel by clicking on your Start button.

Then this screen will pop up or something like it depending on your version of Windows. I’m using Windows XP.

Then we want to click on Security Center, which will lead us to a screen similar to this:

Click on the Windows Firewall, and you will see something like this:

You want to have the On circle checked, and you are protected. Now, I won’t get into here, because it would take too long, but there are exceptions that need to be made for the Firewall. Such as some programs, that are installed on your computer, might need to gain access through the Firewall in order to connect with the Internet for them to work or just to update. I would suggest talking with a professional about how to set these exceptions up.

On to more Firewalls. There are some software programs that you can add in order to make your computer barrier stronger. I really like Comodo. You can even download their Firewall Pro for free here. Also, if you add a router to your home network, the router can come with a Firewall of its own. Linksys has some really great routers for excellent prices. You can visit their website here.

Okay, I think that’s about all for Firewalls. There’s actually much, much more to them, but I just wanted to touch on the subject and make you aware of why it is a good idea to have them in place, and give suggestions on what to use. Do your research, and always seek the advice of a professional as working with Firewalls can be complicated.

Friday Freebie

2008-08-15T15:57:00.009-06:00

It's Friday, so that means FREEBIE time!!! Now that we're getting to the end of summer, it's time to make all of those summer layouts that we haven't had time for. I know I am soooo behind on my summer layouts. This freebie was inspired by my son's pictures that he took at Scout Camp. He had some friends of his take his picture while on the beach at Bear Lake. This is an element pack comprised of some fun items seen at the beach.

This Element Pack consists of:
3 Sand Glitters
3 Felt Animals

DOWNLOAD HERE

Tutorial Tuesday

2008-08-12T14:08:00.008-06:00

Today's tutorial is how to get a realistic looking paperclip onto a digital layout. Because there are so many pictures, you know how I love pictures, I have put this tutorial into a PDF file for you to download. That way you can always save it on your computer so you'll always have it with you and you won't have to search for it when you need it again.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Offline

2008-08-11T16:38:00.002-06:00

I wasn't able to post on here for awhile because for whatever reason Blogger identified this blog as a spam blog. I had heard that they were having problems with this, but I thought things had gotten fixed. Apparently, not. Thankfully, this blog has been cleared of all charges and is back up and running. I'll be back tomorrow with Tutorial Tuesday. Have a great day!

Organization

2008-08-04T21:34:00.004-06:00

When it comes to digital scrapping, organization is key. In order to find what you are looking for, you need to know where to find it. This post will show one way to organize your stuff. This is how I do it.

I have an external hard drive where I keep all of my scrapping stuff and pictures. I spent several months last year scanning in all of my photos from years past, before I got my digital camera. It was a difficult task, but now I have everything on my computer for easy access. On my external drive, when I first turn it on, this is what I see:

Let's look at the Pictures section first. Obviously, this is where I keep all of my pictures. I have many folders for all of my pictures, but below are the ones for my children.

In each of my children's folders are other folders organized by ages. Here are just a few of them in Alayna's folder.

Inside each of the age folders are more folders and single pictures. For events with many pictures I create a folder of it. Below are, again, for Alayna (Year 8). The folders, which are hard to read, consist of her 8th Birthday, Christmas 2007, Halloween 2007, etc. For the single pictures, in order for me to remember when they were taken I have dated them and numbered them in order. So, the first single picture was taken December 8, 2007, therefore I have dated it 120807 (mmddyy). Then I put in an underscore and number it (_1). I do it that way so I can put more than one photo for a specific date.

That about sums up the Pictures portion of the organization process. Next, we'll go back to the beginning but explore the Scrapbooking side of things.

In the Scrapbooking folder, I have two folders shown below. We'll start with the My Stuff.

This folder is where I keep all of the stuff that I make, like layouts. Again, I have a folder for all of my children and the layouts that I do for them. I also have some other folders for Avatars, Blinkies, Sigs, Cards, etc.

There's really not much to the My Stuff folder so we'll look into the Scrap Downloads folder. I have many folders under this category. Below are the folders that are under Scrap Downloads.

In each of these folders, except for the Elements folder, are individual folders with the actual product. The Elements folder is so general that inside it contains several more folders, which are shown below. Now, it's not a very big picture here, but if you click on the picture a bigger one will appear. Inside each of these folders are the individual product folders.

Let's take a look at an individual folder. This one is for a kit called Urban Jungle. Inside this folder are each individual piece (some pieces shown in the next photo here). I do want to point out a couple of very important parts to the individual folders. When the products are downloaded, they usually automatically download into a folder. On rare occasions they don't have you have to create a new folder to place all the pieces into. After the folder is downloaded, in order to remember where I got the product, and to give credit where it is due, I rename the folder to include the website where I downloaded it from.

I like my folders to look nice. In order to see what is inside of them, I have the picture of the folder as the preview that was downloaded with the product. To do this you 1) Right click on the folder, 2) click on Properties, 3) click on Customize, 4) click the Choose Picture button (when you do this, the below picture will pop up), 5) choose which picture you want to use, 6) click Open, 7) click Apply, and finally 8) click OK.

I hope that you have enjoyed this organizational tutorial. I know that it keeps all the stuff that I have just a mouse click away.