I've occupied this seat for way too long

I give credit to every single designer out there. This is hard work! I've spent most of me freetime playing on here just trying to figure things out and try out new things on both paintshop and photoshop. I was all into a boyish kit and saw that Bren Boone posted the new color challenge at Scrap Orchard. I wanted to participate and got the bright idea to make something with this palette.

I'm getting comfortable with papers now and want to practice some more, but I'm lacking in element skills. I need to organize my stash and figure out what I have and what I need to make. I think if I did a theme it might be easier for elements to come together. I did make this and I'm rather pleased with it. I suck at previews, I think I spent more time fiddling with that than I did making the kit. Hope you enjoy it!

PAPERS

ELEMENTS

The elements are done!

So I'm calling the elements done. The perfectionist in me isn't 100% happy, but the logical part of me tells me this isn't too bad for my first go. So, what do you think? I wanted to scrap with it before sharing, but I'm ready to move on to something else.
I'm thinking a boyish kit (for you Li) or maybe a birthday themed since Andrew will be two in April. There's a link for the alphas and elements. There were also two links for the papers and I noticed they weren't downloaded equally.

ELEMENTS
ALPHAS



I did squeeze in some time to do this page of Allison using Ziggle Designs and Studio Ziska's Forest Friends collab available at Scrap Orchard. I love this kit! It's so bright and cheerful and I love all the little critters. Recognize the layout? I used one of my own templates.



It's been a nice weekend so far. Today's the first time Randy hasn't worked on a Saturday in a long time. I've enjoyed it, but know Monday's going to come too fast. Tomorrow's going to be a cleaning day. My house so needs it, but I just haven't had the motivation to get it done.

My first paper pack! and it's free!

Really quick post because it's 2 in the morning. I've been working on these papers all night and wanted to share since I am going out of town tomorrow. I haven't really started on elements yet, but was so proud of these. What do you think? I realize I only made 5 patterned papers and it probably shouldn't of took 5 hours, but I think I've got it figured out. woot woot.



link one

link two

Brand New Grab Bag from Matahati Designs

Matahati Designs has a brand new Grab Bag out in celebration of her birthday! It really has some great stuff in there AND it's only $3, but only for a week so hurry and go get it!


Here's a page I whipped up this morning. I think this is one of my favorite pictures of Allison.


I also did this one using Matahati's [url=http://scraporchard.com/market/product.php?productid=16892&cat=0&page=5]It's a Charmed Life[/url]. Love all the deep colors in this kit!


SherrieJD and Tangie Baxtor have an amazing western themed kit out called [url=http://scraporchard.com/market/product.php?productid=17741&cat=0&page=1]Yippee
Ki Yay[/url] that you can get at Scrap Orchard.

I scrapped this picture of my grandfather as a toddler and didnt' really want to title it, but wanted to put a quote on the wooden part and haven't found anything fitting yet. I do love the way this page came out though.




I got to play around with Haynay Designs Angel Baby Boy kit again and came up with this page. I remember when Andrew had this little turtle face. I miss my little baby :(


So that's what I've been up to. I haven't really scrapped in a while and really enjoyed it. There just aren't enough hours in the day to do all I want to do. I wanted to show off a video of Andrew, but it's still loading and the kids both woke up so I'll have to share it later.

Freebie #12

So I would've had this to you sooner if my husband hadn't been pestering me for the last hour. It's kind of nice having him back on first shift, we actually see each other again. I love the way this next template came out. I can't take credit for the fabulous layout it came from though, it was by my friend Becca as one of the ADSR challenges. I just love her style and she was pretty much my scrapping inspiration when I first started. (and still is)

The image is linked to her page at DST. Go leave her some love and check out some of her other pages.


Okay, here it is, the last template of this series. One day, I may organize and give away coordinating templates.

(image linked to 4shared)


Have you enjoyed these? Have you used them yet? I would love to see some layouts using them. I did a little searching for myself at DST and DigiScrap Addicts and left some love for those who credited me. I would love to see more! You can e-mail me links to your layouts at tawisha @ yahoo dot com

Up next on my designing list is some decorated wordart. Any suggestions on words, phrases or quotes you would like? Leave me a comment and I'll choose some of them to make.

I feel kind of bummed. I've got you all here now and don't want you to leave. :( I feel like I'm actually "talking" to someone on this blog now. If I promise to give away more stuff will you stick around for a while? lol

looking foward to the word art suggestions!

Lots to share plus a Freebie!

First of all, sorry I didn't get around to yesterday's template. Life got in the way. Thursday night, Allison didn't sleep. At all. Yesterday, I took the kids to Meijer (45 minutes away) to go grocery shopping by myself. Let's just say that it was an adventure. Little old me pulling two carts around the store. We were all in bed by 9 last night and now here I am at 5:30 a.m. up.

Have you heard about the new website Digiscrap Addicts? It's a brand new site that is just plain awsome!! Head on over there and get a feel for it. There are some freebies, which are all awesome, plus giveaways and all kinds of stuff. It wasn't technically supposed to open til April 1st so there are a few things still missing. They also have a CTM enabling thread and a place to share member freebies! Lots of stuff there!

(image linked)

Next, I'm really excited to say that I'm now on Matahati Designs creative team!!!! She is one of my favorite designers and I believe I have all of her stuff. I'm still so thrilled about it! Her and Faith True teamed up again and made this awsome kit Vintage Charm

(image linked to store)

Here's a page I did using it. I really can't wait to use it some more!

(click image for credits)

SherrieJD has been putting out some AMAZING stuff lately and I've been the bad CT that hasn't been using any of it :( I did however do a page using her Kitschy Kitchen kit that is just awesome! There are so many vintage elements that I just adore in it.

(click image for credits)

Studio Ziska is a guest at Scrap Orchard this month and has paired up with Pineapple Plantation Designs on this beautiful Delicate Garden kit. It's so soft and pretty.

I love the way this page turned out!

Julie Marie paired up with Danielle Corbitt to make this cute Girls Night Out kit! Isn't it fun? And it's on sale right now!

Here's a layout I did, when my cousin finds out I shared this, she'll probably kill me, so if I disappear that's why :) (I'm the one wearing the Nike t shirt. Remember when those were cool?

(click image for credits)

And finally, hey I the title said lots to share, Here's your template! I based it on this layout I did about one of our visits to the Allstate 400 (which we still call the Brickyard 400) Hope you enjoy!

(click image for credits)

(image linked to 4shared)

That's it for now. I'll be back later this afternoon to give you my last template. I'm kind of sad. I've enjoyed the company! Thanks again to everyone who has left me comments. Big thanks to those of you who took the time to say more than thank you! It really does mean a lot.

A little toddler humor for you & a freebie

So if you don't have small children or are easily grossed out, you may want to just skip my ramblings. :)

I was giving the kids a bath tonight. Alli is still in the baby tub and I put it in the big tub with Andrew. I got Alli out to get her dressed, dumped her tub and put it away. Andrew has this strange look and starts pointing at the water. I'm trying to get her dressed and keep telling him to sit down, I'll get him out when I'm through with her. He's literally freaking and trying to climb out of the tub. I look in and see nothing that would scare him, so I continue dressing her. When I went to get him out, I noticed that someone had poo'ed in the bathtub. I honestly don't know which one and think it might have been Allison by the way Andrew was overreacting. I was trying to put his pjs on and he kept peering over the tub to see if it was still there. After dressing him he ran to the door and wanted out bad, but I explained to him that I had to get it out of the water. I've never seen him so upset as I did when I put it in a bowl and dumped it in the toilet. The kid had an emotional breakdown.

I found it humorous and kept laughing, he would cry more when I did which makes me wonder if it was actually his and he was a bit embarrased by it. I consider myself lucky though, this is the first time it's happened.

So that's my funny story. I guess only funny if you have or have had little ones and have experienced this sort of mess before.

Now for your freebie. I've used this for a page I've done using a new collab kit that JulieMarie has coming out tomorrow. I'll post it then, it's super cute!

(image linked to 4shared)

freebie template #9

This is going to be short, I've got to catch up and make some layouts or some designers might be a little mad at me. :)

Here's my next template for you. I've tried to be some variety while making these, hoping I could please everyone, that's wishful thinking isn't it?

(image linked to 4shared)


Hope you enjoy and get some use out of these! Oh, I've started working on something I'm calling "Morning Walk." I may just have it ready soon to share.

Ready for another free template?

So as anyone reading my blog can tell, I am lacking some major organizational skills. I've just been throwing templates at you all for the last 5 days and really haven't thought about anything else. I have made 12 templates for you all. After today, you'll have eight, then I'll do one a day for the next four days. Honestly, if I hadn't been found by the fabulous Ikeagoddess, I don't think I would have made as many as I have. But I really am enjoying them and will make more, but probably not as many at once. I'm thinking maybe one or two a week.

I really have to crack down and learn CS3. Once I figure out the basics, then I'm going to start making real stuff. lol. If/when I start designing stuff, my main goal is to put together kits that are different and unique from anything else. I'm not planning on using the same CU products that you'll find in a lot of kits out there and I also promise that when I do start making kits, you will not be downloading the same things recolored. Honestly this is one of my biggest peeves. I hate that I spend money on a *new* kit only to discover that it's just a recolored version of the one I had previously bought. {sigh}

I also want to make things that would go in a paper scrapbook, lots of realistic elements and textures. I'm starting out small though, don't expect a full size kit from me anytime soon. :)

Okay enough babbling, you came here for the free template, right? Here's it is. I would love to see any pages you make with any of my stuff! It may just inspire me to make more. You can e-mail me a link to tawisha at yahoo dot com

(linked to 4shared)

Scrap Orchard's Blog Train has started!

I'm so excited about this!! I just went through and all the sites are up and running smoothly. You can start at Scrap Orchard's blog and you will be collecting peices of this gorgeous kit!



Have fun! Remember they are having a buy one, get one sale. Seriously, who can resist a good sale like this!

free template #7

I wish I could say that I spent the day outside enjoying the beautiful weather, but I didn't. My kids have been sick for the last week and now I've got it. Mainly just the sniffles, watery eyes, scratchy throat, but it sucks. I'm happy to report they are both over it though. We've had some rough nights of sleep. It's hard for a pacifier dependent child to sleep to keep it in their mouth while their noses are all stuffed up. I'm excited because the weatherman says it's supposed to get up to 74 tomorrow! I'm so ready to open up the windows and let in some fresh air. I'm so sick of being in the house and we really didn't get to be outside much last year because Allison was a newborn. Come to think of it, we really didn't get out much the year before that because Andrew was a newborn. I really need to get out! Speaking of Andrew, he's gonna be two in about a month. I can't believe it really. I let daddy use the clippers yesterday. I had to put him on my lap facing me and hold his head while daddy cut it. From his screams, you would think we were trying to kill him. Poor kid, probably scarred him for life. He does look really cute though, but it made him look so much older than he is. He doesn't look like that little baby boy anymore. If I think of it tomorrow, I'll snap a pic.

I made this next template based on my cousins layout I did a while back. I just love Erica Zane's Where the Heart Blooms (available at ScrapMatters)

(linked to 4shared)


Here's the layout:

(click image for credits)

I'm off to check out CS3 and see if I can find a decent video tut on scrapbook related use. Right now I don't care about editing my pics, I just want to know how to make a layout. I wish I could use psp for layouts and CS3 for designing, but my poor 5 year old computer can't handle both programs. My hubby did say that the next time we have some extra cash, I get to get a new computer!! Not holding my breath though. lol. We have small children, we won't come into extra cash anytime soon. I think he's sick of me hogging this one all the time and doesn't want my "scrapping junk" on it.

Hope it's all good.

I've put up links to 4shared on all of the freebies and now I'm all paranoid that a link won't work or something. It's been such a long time since I've used 4shared that I don't remember if there's a password. If it asks for one, it's Andrew.

I've also changed them all to .zip files. I hope I've linked the correct files to their images. You should see the folder where I have them all. Talk about messy! And for some odd reason, I can't get the spacing right on my last post.

So anyways, thanks for hanging with me while I figure out all the problems. I just got CS3 this weekend and am bummed that I haven't even opened it to play yet and while I would like to do it tonight, it's after midnight and I really should head to bed. Anyone have any good tutorials? I know it's going to be impossible for me to use at first since I've been using paintshop for the last two years.

Crossing fingers that all the links are right, if not, I'll try to fix them in the morning.

Some info and my 6th freebie

First of all, sorry I ran out of bandwidth(?) It shows that I've only used 30mb out of my 1gb. I'm not sure about box.net though. I used it for the ScrapMatters competition and have always used 4shared before. I will edit the links and put new ones up for 4shared tonight.

Thanks for helping me figure out my sizing problems. For some reason my resolution got bumped up. Not sure how that happened, but I fixed it. Also, I'm kind of dumb with the technical computer stuff and have no idea how to tell someone to open .rar files. My DH put it on the computer and I didn't realize that it was any different than other zipped files. I do know that the program is WinRaR that I use.

Okay, now to the fun stuff!!

I was just informed that Scrap Orchard is going to have a BOGO sale March 17-19 and they are giving away a free kit on there blogs!!! How exciting! You will start at Scrap Orchard's blog here and blog hop your way to a very very cute kit! I'll post a preview Tuesday.

Do you ever have the problem that nobody ever comes over to your house right after you clean? It's always when you let things go and the floors are littered with toys, clothes and whatever else your kids (husbands too) leave there. You haven't done dishes and the sinks piled up. You haven't showered and still in your pajamas at three in the afternoon. That's kind of how I feel about this blog. I started this mainly when I got on my first creative team. I've posted pages for a couple of family members and I have 4 followers. I'm kind of embarrased about my lack of creativity with this little space of mine and now that people have seen it, I feel like I need to clean it up a little. I was thinking about this earlier and looked around my house and realized this was my house today! So I spent all day cleaning and just now got on the computer.

Here's my next template freebie!

(image linked)

http://www.4shared.com/file/93143680/9f60aff2/sarahbennett_template6.html

I just looked to see if I had other options but the .rar and I can make it a .zip file. Is this the more common choice? Here's the link to the .zip file:

http://www.4shared.com/file/93144613/4a7c7db8/sarahbennett_template6.html

I used it to create this layout for Bren Boone's brand new color challenge at Scrap Orchard. You really need to participate because her freebie is so worth it, plus you'll earn points towards a SO discount! I used Pineapple Plantantion Designs and Franziska Altmann's Delicate Garden collab, it's so soft and pretty!

Where's template 1 & 2?

So a long time ago I made up a couple of templates. They are still on my blog, but I thought I would go ahead and do some new ones using #1 and #2. I'm getting confused by my numbering system and really didn't know if I was going to make a bunch or not. I use PSP and have only used it to scrap with. When I tried out for ScrapMatter's design contest, I didn't know all the functions of my program and still don't. I've decided that I am going to get some form of photoshop soon, but am afraid of having to learn a new program. I scrap so easily with psp that I'm afraid to try something new. Once I get my new program, then I will try designing papers and elements again. For now, I'll just stick with the templates!

This has been a trial and error process and I think I figured out what I have to do to make the templates fit papers. I'm still fiddling around with my preview images and haven't decided if I want to make all of them with the same color scheme or not. I get bored with using black and gray templates and thought it would be fun to use colored ones. I'm currently following the colors of the layouts that I've been basing the template on. Also, I have no idea if the .psd documents are right since I can't open them. I've resized my preview page so it's not as big and have no clue if my TOU is correct. If you see anything that needs fixed or improved tell me. :)


NEW link to 4shared: (zip file) http://www.4shared.com/file/93145772/d25fe7fa/sarahbennett_template1.html

(image linked)


NEW link to 4shared: (zip file)
http://www.4shared.com/file/93145777/a2351375/sarahbennett_template2.html

(image linked)


This template was based on this layout. Isn't he the cutest?!?!

(credits)

So, I'm not planning on giving three templates away everyday, but check back tomorrow for another! I really have to get some layouts done, but I'm having too much fun making these!

Thanks so much IkeaGoddess!

Wow! Never would have imagined visiting her site last night and seeing me there! Thanks everyone for all of your comments and for downloading my templates! I have to make this short because DH is working today and I have Alli on my lap trying to type and Andrew destroying the house.

Here's another template! I was informed that the templates seem to be a bit big. I will be working on that before I load the next one. If you use any of them and have any suggestions, I would love to hear it. Honestly, I don't know if I'm making these the right way or not :) Any help/CC would be appreciated.

NEW link to 4shared: http://www.4shared.com/file/93146990/baf929bc/sarahbennett_template5.html

(image linked)


Please join me in the Saturday Scraplift Challenge at Sunshine Studio Scraps. Today is my first time ever hosting a challenge and would love to see you all there! You can find out more information in this forum.

Here's the layout you would be lifting.


Again, thanks for all the love yesterday!

Another FREE Template!

So I'm in a scrapping slump and am really having fun making these templates! This one is based off of this layout that I did for a speed scrap this week.
(click image for credits)


Here's the template. Seriously, tell me what you think.

NEW link to 4shared: http://www.4shared.com/file/93146984/a48fdce4/sarahbennett_template4.html

(click image to download)


Stay tuned.. I have more templates that I've made up while the babies were napping and I'll be giving them away in the next few days!!

Free template!!

I'm trying to learn my program a little better and have made a few templates before, but really wanted to practice using and making different shapes. I made this template based on my Silly Girls layout. Let me know what you think of it. Do you like templates using bright fun colors? Does it work with your program? I saved it in both .psd and .psp versions. I didn't make any .png copies, mainly because I'm lazy and don't know if there is a fast way to do it.

NEW link to 4shared: http://www.4shared.com/file/93145776/d53223e3/sarahbennett_template3.html

(image linked)

New color challenge starting soon at Scrap Orchard

I'm so excited about this! And isn't this ad fantastic! You will definitely want to try this out. The freebee is sooo worth it!

Kinda bummed..

I didn't make it past the first round of the ScrapMatters design contest, but I'm proud of my little mini I created. It was my first time ever making anything and I was quite proud of it. I just checked box.net and it has been downloaded 176 times!!! So it must be alright. I did this page after I made it, to test it out and make sure it was usable.

NEW link to 4shared: http://www.4shared.com/file/93147864/8372fc38/sbd_smds_round_1.html




(image linked)
Here's the link to it: http://www.box.net/shared/thszdo7npg


I am planning on following along with the contest and learn as I go. I'm working on a paper pack that is totally different than this mini. I've also made some other things to go along with the mini that I'll share once I figure out just exactly how I want to package things.

Leave me a comment and tell me what you think of this.

I've been kind of busy

So ScrapMatters is having a design competition and I have entered. I've never designed anything before and this was a big challenge! I must admit that I really love it! It has consumed the majority of my free time this week and I've neglected most of my housework. If you scrap, be on the lookout for freebies from me because even if I don't make it to the next round, I want to continue designing. Go over to ScrapMatters and check out all the amazing, free minis in their gallery!

I've managed to squeeze in some pages though:

Brittney (Britt-ish Designs) hosts My Story challenges over at SM that I'm really enjoying doing. Here's my name and what it means:

http://www.scrapmatters.com/gallery3/showphoto.php/photo/27144/ppuser/364

Because of these challenges, I asked my mom to borrow the family albums to scan pictures and found this one, that I love.

http://www.scrapmatters.com/gallery3/showphoto.php/photo/26748/ppuser/364

GG Digitals has a really cute kit in the SM February newsletter

http://www.scrapmatters.com/gallery3/showphoto.php/photo/26727/ppuser/364

http://www.scrapmatters.com/gallery3/showphoto.php/photo/26418/ppuser/364

http://scraporchard.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=29481&ppuser=1471

http://scraporchard.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=29211&ppuser=1471

http://scraporchard.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=29070&ppuser=1471

http://scraporchard.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=28952&ppuser=1471