Digital Scrapbook Page from a Template

Even though for my business I custom-design digital papers, elements and templates, I still enjoy using the designs of others, especially people like Jessica Sprague. (If you are into digital scrapbooking, or want to be, you will want to follow her blog, especially her Photoshop Friday tips and freebies.)

I made the above layout using the free template and papers posted by Jessica last Friday. I did very little modifying because it was so perfect for the photos I wanted to scrapbook. I'm very pleased with the way it turned out. It's awesome to create a layout in just a few minutes, after someone else has done most of the work!

Holiday Mystery Gifts Knit-along

I recently got involved in the Holiday Mystery Gifts knit-along via yahoogroups and we're having a Blast! Here is a pic of the current mystery project:
What is it? I don't know yet!! The guesses among the knitters have been absolutely wild as you can imagine; I mean, look at the shape of it so far, lol! For these mystery projects we are given clues for 7 days. Each clue has a portion of the knitting pattern, so you knit each portion over the 7 days. At the end of the week we will have a completed . . . . something or other!

Also, twice a week new knitting and crocheting patterns are posted. You pick the ones you want to make and go for it. All the designs are originals created by members of the group, and all are suitable to be given as gifts, so doing this now, with Christmas coming couldn't be better timing!

If you enjoy knitting or crocheting at all you'll definitely want to come join the fun. It's a great, and very friendly and helpful, group of ladies, and a fantastic way to improve your knitting skills. There's always someone to help you over a rough spot in a pattern, or to give advice on yarn and needles, plus there's a big gallery of photos of completed and in-progress projects.

I'm tellin' ya, you'll love it!

Blogaholic

Is there a 12-step program for people addicted to blogs? That would be me! I can spend (literally) hours every day reading blogs, leaving comments, following any and all links in the blogs, which usually take me to other blogs with fun posts and links to follow, and so on and so on! My bloglines list is nearing 40 blogs now and growing rapidly. Nothing is more exciting than hearing that little "ding!" that bloglines makes every time one of the blogs I subscribe to is updated with a new post. I drop what I'm doing and rush over to see what's new, lol!

Most of the blogs I follow are written by women who love the same thinks I do -- whether it's scrapbooking, cardmaking, sewing, quilting, cross-stitch, knitting, photography, etc. Some of them are written by members of my family; blogs are a great way to stay in touch with family and friends and share photos.

My latest blog find is "Just for You by Jenn," which I found via Lisa Leonard's blog (another great read & you've GOT to check out the jewelry she creates)! Jenn yet another talented lady. She's a Stampin' Up demonstrator/seller and she makes the coolest greeting cards!She's also running a contest and all you have to do is read her blog and leave a comment on it to be entered in the random drawing for a free set of Stampin' Up stamps (shown above). So hurry over there and check it out!