EXACTLY!

I'm sure that makes no sense whatsoever but that's OK because neither does anything else.
I started my rounds on all your wonderful blogs today and managed to read and comment on about the first three or four. After that, I only read. I'm afraid that I just don't have it in me today to do all the comments. I promise I will get back to my regular routine, just not today.

Now I've got something to give you. This is one of those things that at the time seemed really cool when I was doing it, and maybe it is. But, in my current state, I'm just not seeing it anymore...lol I don't know if you would consider this an overlay or more of a template. I'll try to explain how I used them without being too confusing. Each overlay/template/whatever it is consists of shapes in 3 different colors (white, gray, black) First I selected just the black and then added one color to that, then I did the same with each of the other colors. Maybe you can get the idea of what I just said by the example in the preview.


The download I have for you today has eleven of these thing a ma jigs and three actual papers that I made using them. Being the total ditz that I am none of the papers that are shown in the preview are included. I guess after I did them I deleted them because I can't find them anywhere.
I think maybe I should just go to bed now and try again tomorrow.
Oh DUH!!!!!!!!!!! I guess you might want the link for the whosey whatsits huh? Download it right HERE



FYI spell check seems to have a problem with the word whosey but not whatsits. Go figure.

That's right, I'm giving you a "D". Template that is. I finished the next page of my A to Z project.

I did this one slightly different than the other ones. I decided that I really didn't want the letter to always be so large. To make the one paper for this layout, I took a screen shot of one of my blog posts. I opened it up in photoshop elements and then cropped a section of the text. Then I duplicated it several times, rotated the layers in different directions and finally added a gradient layer on top.
So this is the template that I'm giving you today.

But wait! There's more. I've also included the text paper, the ribbon and the element that I used in my layout. Not enough? OK, fine, I'll also throw in my layout, minus the picture of me. Today, you get all this for the low low price of free. Now you can't beat that. What are you waiting for? Click right HERE to grab it

Wow! When was the last time I did a scrapbook page or offered you a freebie? Today I started working on quite a few different projects, digital and otherwise, and managed to finish at least one. I haven't worked on my A to Z project in a while so I opened it up and set my mind on completing it.


Here's the template I made for you to use. You can download it HERE

I wanted to let you all know that the crazy lady came back last night again. She baked cookies. Since I woke up this morning I haven't seen one sign of her. Now I kind of miss her because I had to do the dishes myself.
Today I pretty much just enjoyed the fact that the sun was shining and even though it's Sunday I DON'T have to go to work tomorrow. I tried to work on my frosting container projects but didn't get very far. I have three of them finished and 3 more almost. Maybe I'll take some more pictures of those tomorrow to show you. That about sums up my day, how is your weekend going?

I have the worst habit of starting projects, getting side tracked and starting another. Before you know it there's a pile of things waiting to be worked on and finished.
I have way too many pictures waiting to be edited.
I now have the second blog that I want to pay attention to.
I've got frosting containers to decorate.
I have a bag of yarn that has been sitting for over a year waiting to be made into an afghan.
There is a box of assorted unfinished craft projects sitting in my basement.
Then of course there is also my plan for the A to Z layouts.
I did manage to finish B tonight



And here's the template. I'm sure that I could have done better on this one. Maybe my heart just wasn't in it this time.
The download is HERE

Hope everyone is having a great night.

Before I get to the point of this post I want to thank everyone for all the comments to my last post. Your kind words, thoughts, sentiments and prayers are so very much appreciated.

Now on to today's post. I came up with a project that I'm going to call "Simply me from A to Z" To explain: I'm going to do a page for each letter of the alphabet. This is sort of a discover yourself through the alphabet kind of thing. Starting with the letter A which in my case is my name and so becomes my title page. Each letter will be used to describe or explore something about myself. The subject of each page will correspond to the pages letter. I would love it if anyone else out there wants to play along. You don't have to it with scrapbooking it can be in pictures, drawings, journaling or whatever you choose. You can do this project as fast or as slow as you choose. Take one letter a week or do the whole alphabet in one sitting. Your choice. If you want to play along leave a comment here so that I can check out what you come up with.
this is my first page.


And since I haven't done any freebies in awhile, I decided that I would make templates out of each of my layouts.

So if you would like to use my template you can grab it right HERE

I have a folder on my computer labeled "PSD files incomplete" This is where I store all the projects that I've started but never quite finished. Right now there are 10 files in that folder. Some of them I think I should probably just delete and mark them off as a lost cause, but....
Seeing as how I don't seem to have any new inspiring thoughts floating around in my head, I dug into the incomplete file. I am determined to clean it out. After this post I'll be down to 9 files. I still had the psd file from miss kitty so I made a template for you. I also colored a few of them and threw them in there too. On top of that I threw in a kitty patterned paper and wavy edge mat. If you would like Miss Kitty you can download her right HERE

I feel like I've been in a complete fog for the last several days. I haven't wanted to do anything but lay around and sleep. Today I finally feel like the fog has lifted and have a little bit more energy, YEAH!
To share a couple edits with you. This first one was a picture I took of one of those plastic outdoor chairs. The chair is just a plain off white sort of color. I added a blank layer over the original picture and colored in the roses. Then I just played with different blending modes till I liked the way it looked.


Just a random picture I took when we were at the last concert in the park. Mainly all I did was crop the picture, clone out a coke bottle and a persons butt, then messed around with levels and color curves.


I also did a couple layouts. I had that song "I never promised you a rose garden" stuck in my head. I'm not sure if that's the title to the song but maybe you know which one I mean. Anyway, I took the edit I did of the chair and used it as an overlay for the top of the page. I used the words from the song to put on the page of the book and dug up a picture from our wedding. Not your typical wedding layout, but then I'm not necessarily your typical scrapper.


Here's another one. I used pictures from my walk at a nature trail I visited as overlays on both papers.

I have to start off by sharing a comment left on my post about the fruit flys. J said "You'll like this solution:Drink 7/8's of a bottle of wine.Leave the open bottle with the remaining wine on the counter. Every so often shake the wine bottle and drown the buggers that are licking the inside of the bottle! (Just remember ya can't suck down the last of the wine...) A dark colored bottle makes it a bit more attractive! "
Thank you J for the suggestion, I may just have to try it. I also loved the reminder about not sucking down the rest of the wine...lol I would have left you a comment elsewhere but your blogger profile is set to private.

OK, so on with the rest of the post. Here's a layout I did last night. I used another one of June's great kits from http://censloft.blogspot.com/ The kit is called "Everyone" because indeed, you can use this kit for everyone. Great for scrapping those less than frilly pages.


I did something I haven't done in a long time. I sat down and made a wish list. Sort of like those Christmas lists you make every year when you are a kid and want it all. For years now, whenever someone has asked me what I want for birthday or holiday I always say nothing. Truth is there are things I would like to have but they are always things out of price range for the person asking. So just for fun (or out of boredom) I thought of a few things that I've been wanting to get. Just as soon as the old bank account says I can here's what I'll be getting.


Last but not least I have a little something for you. Rather than the typical 12 x 12 template, I decided to do several 4 x 6 templates that can be used for making brag books. There are 5 templates included in the download.



Hope you like them. Grab them right HERE

Maybe where you are there's sunshine, but here it's cloudy and cool. The kind of day that makes you want to lay around and do nothing.
I've been reading about ATC's lately and I'm rather fascinated by them. I've been thinking about making some myself, of course mine would be of the digital variety. I read an article somewhere about using an old deck of cards to make them on. What I was thinking of doing was printing out the pictures that I do and then gluing them on to the playing cards. Then I would cover the other side of the card with paper and add my contact information. I'm not sure what I would do with them after that but it sounded like fun. This is a picture that I did to put on one.


This is just a random picture I took of Wade while he was riding down the street on his bike, obviously edited.



I discovered a website called Creative therapy The don't do challenges, they refer to them as catalysts. I liked the concept and I plan on going through them to try and spark some creativity.
Another site I found was One Little Word Here, they post one word every other Wednesday. You take it from there. You create whatever you want based on that one word. It can be scrapbooking, hybrid, digital art, whatever, anything goes.
The word right now is "Why" so I created this layout.

The kit I used for this layout was a freebie from http://www.freedigitalscrapbooking.com and was designed by Marie Stones. I believe the name of the kit is "Mother's Love"
Now I have a freebie for you. Here is Template number 10. This is what I used for my "Why" layout. You can download it right HERE

That is the name of a song I heard on the radio this morning on my way to work. It's by Lifehouse and I really liked it. The link will take you to the page that has the lyrics to the song.
Speaking of whatever it takes, sometimes you have to do whatever it takes to get you going and inspired. To get me going and inspired I'm still surfing the Internet and checking out all the wonderful kits and pages that others are doing. I'm also trying to get myself back into doing more editing with the mounting pictures I have in my files.
This is a picture of a weed I took the other day. Some people will take pictures of anything. Believe me I do mean ANYTHING. There are some of my pictures that I would be embarrassed to show you because the subject matter is just way too strange....lol


Here's the edit that I did to it. There were several layers to this one. A couple of layers where I used filters, a couple with other pictures I've taken to use as textures and then the final layer was a tissue paper texture. I was pretty proud of this one. Of course there's no one around here to show it off to so it had to be part of the blog post.


This is a layout I did last night. The kit was a freebie from www.deliciousscraps.com

At least it is for Duke anyway. He's loving the new boat we bought him last weekend. He's always wanting to get in the pool. He'll get on the rafts, float out in the middle of the pool and then sit there and bark because the raft isn't moving anymore. To make things easier on us and more entertaining for him, we tied a rope to this one so that we can pull him back in.



Once you pull him in you have to give him a push and send him back out again. He would gladly play this game all day.


After pool time was over, I did a little freebie searching. I found a kit called "Happy Summer" and the link to download it is http://digitalcrea-galerie.fr/blog/?p=148

I think that I may possibly be the only digital scrapper who has NEVER bought one single thing, with the exception of my program, photoshop elements. I've never purchased a kit, an element, a template, an action, or a brush. Everything I use is either a freebie that I got from someone else or it's something that I made myself. I've been in forums before where I've mentioned this and the response has been "Oh don't feel bad, I held out for the longest time too." I don't think they understand. I don't intend to ever buy a single thing. I have no desire to spend money on something that can be done for free. If I wanted to spend a fortune, or even a little bit that would turn into a fortune, I would try regular old fashioned scrapbooking.
I'm curious here. Am I the only one like this? I really want to know, leave me a comment and tell me if you are a die hard freebie collector or do you splurge and hit the shops.

Now for some sharing. I finished June's month in review layout. I also got started on the one for July.


This is one I did from some of the pictures I got over the weekend. The big kid in the background is Wade. I took the picture while we were riding the tilt a whirl. Love the grin on his face.


The picture in this layout is of a little rock I have out in my front yard. I couldn't find anything I liked to do this layout so I dug deep into my old stash of freebie kits and found this one. I can't remember where I got it from or even how long ago it was. I do know the designer though. The kit is by Jeannie Papai designs.


And finally the template I made before I did the layout. I don't know how useful anyone is finding these templates but if you would like it, you can find it HERE

Before I do anything else, I have to share this with you. There was a comment left recently in a forum regarding my blog. This is what it said:

"Just keep blogging and have fun.. don't think about something that will make you sound so .. haha... cheers "

Now, I don't know about you, but I find this hysterically funny. I wasn't offended by it, but I do disagree with the notion that I make myself sound like I'm blogging from a bar stool. Even if I do sound like that, I intend to continue because this is just me, it's who I am and how I act.

(Pause to take a sip of tea)

Now on to the rest of what I wanted to share with you today. I did another layout but I'm not entirely happy with it. I was on a roll for a couple weeks, but now I feel like I've just lost it. Here it is though, be it ever so humble...


And here is the template that I made for you. Download it right HERE

The end of another work week, YEAH! I have no plans for the holiday weekend, other than to enjoy the time off from work as much as possible. Hopefully the weather will be a little better than it has been the last couple of days. We had a ton of rain last night and this morning which always means that my back yard is going to flood. When I went to let the dog out this morning I found water pouring in my basement door. As if getting up at 4:30 isn't bad enough, I had the extra thrill of wet floor. Wade came up with a solution to the problem, however when it rains as much as it did, it just couldn't handle all the water coming in as fast as it was. Luckily it wasn't as bad as it has been in the past. By the time I got home from work it had pretty much dried up.

Well, enough about my wet floor. I picked up a great kit today from Digivic She's offering it free through Sunday 7/5. This is the perfect kit for scrapping all those great pics you get this weekend. This is the page I did with it.


Once again, before I did the layout I made a template first. I'm thinking that this is working better for me when I do my scrapping. It gives me a plan to follow rather than just trying to throw things on the page.

If you would like the template you can grab it right HERE No restictions on the use of the template.
Before I go I would like to wish you all a safe and happy holiday.

Are you feeling catty? Maybe the cat got your tongue? Did you get your cat nap in today? Lucky for you I'm out of witty little sayings. I'll just share with you a random picture I got yesterday. I just happened to spot this cat sitting next to a building. He was either saying "Look at how ferocious I am" or "This is a good time for a nap" I really couldn't hear him since I was across the street.

While we are on the subject of cats, I did this page. This is or shall I say was, my cat Pringle. Unfortunately he got out the week between Christmas and New Years and we haven't seen him since. Either he has a new home he likes better than this one or....Never mind, I don't even want to think about the or.


The curled edge on the one paper I got from http://www.storeide.se/gunhild/velkommen.htm She has some great freebies there. They can be used for either personal or commercial use. You'll want to check it out. Oddly enough, when I went to get the link for her page, there was a picture of her holding a cat. That really didn't influence today's post. Just a very funny coincidence. (at least funny to me)
Yesterday I told you that I was working on a new template and I finished it up right before I did my layout with it.



So here it is template #4, download it right HERE Again, no restrictions on how you want to use this. I think from now on, whenever I offer just a template by itself, that's what the TOU will be.

Yep, I did some more layouts. Ever since I asked for cc on my kits and such I seemed to have lost my momentum for making them. I guess too much negative feedback forced me to slow down and take a closer look at what I've been doing. One of the comments I got was: "I think you are on the right track, if you keep trying you'll get there. You're quick pages are well composed and I like your templates quite a lot. Maybe you should find a niche and stick with it." Of course there was much more to her review of my work, but for the sake of my ego I'll leave that out....lol
Any way, as I said, I slowed down and took a good look at what I was coming up with. I started focusing more on looking at other peoples work. I've been able to put together more layouts that I'm actually happy with instead of just semi satisfied. I still want to be able to provide my readers with something other than my ramblings though. So for now, I'll be sticking to smaller things. (this blog reserves the right to change this claim at any time) You should be seeing more templates, quick pages and possibly mini kits. Maybe, when I feel like I'm getting somewhere I'll try and get back into kits again.
So with that said, I did a couple more pages. Wade is like a kid when it comes to bikes, 4 wheelers, or anything with a motor. We were at a friends house over the weekend and he got to do a little playing.


We also stopped at a near by beach. I love the quote by John Lennon. Especially since it gives me a reason for wasting the day away doing what I enjoy.


Finally the template that I made from the second layout. I included a quick page, a few papers and a few elements.

Yesterday I spent way too much time cleaning (=no fun) so today I spent an equal amount of time doing what I consider to be fun.
Here's what I did:
1) visited 100 blogs that are members of entrecard and gave them a drop. (it may have been more than 100 but that's the maximum number of drops you can leave in a day)
2) played around and made this


3) Did this layout using a wonderful freebie from one of my favorite blogs http://censloft.blogspot.com/


4) Did another one, using the same kit



5) Made a template from the second layout