Whoa

I finished uploading the zip files and previews to the server for the July mega kit. I was astounded to realize that there are well over 200 MB in the kit! I had to divide the paper files into two downloads, and even then I'm afraid they may be too big for some people to download. I think everyone just loved the color scheme and kit theme so much, it was hard to stop creating. I know my two papers look fairly simple, but until I lowered their quality they were over 25 MB EACH. They kind of look like chenille, and I can't wait to use the technique on other elements, like patches. I also have a new blinkie, which anyone is welcome to snag. I created it for the Guardian Peas charity website. They'll be giving away my Manhattan Loft kit as a prize during their chats the first weekend in July. Definitely check them out; they are raising money to help three very sweet boys who need your help. Here's the Guardian Peas website, for more details: CLICK ME Snag my blinkie!

Must be summer!

Can you tell? I've accomplished NOTHING scrapping-wise since the beginning of the year-end, final game, exhibition, teacher gift, summer plan season. I even bailed out of Miss Mint's Next Top Scrapper competition because I just couldn't get into scrapping anything. Also, we'll be at my parents' house during the contest with no Photoshop access. The only thing I have been able to work on is my part of the Customer Loyalty Kit that becomes available with each monthly ezine. Our July kit is very diverse and beautiful, with a vintage 4th feel. The name is "Freedom's Ring," and I've accepted the responsibility of organizing all the pieces and prepping them for download. Anita's going to teach me how she made that nifty animated preview for last month. So if you're looking for new stuff from me, you may not see anything substantial until school starts in the fall! My little guy is heading to full-day kindergarten, and Miss Thing will be in 2nd grade, and I hope to have lots more time for designing. Until then, have a wonderful summer and keep checking in here for NDISB updates! EDITED: Had to add one thing today, which is a funny scrapbooking video that Marcy posted over at DigiShopTalk. You HAVE to see this! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_duMORCX0EU

Bingo chat coming Friday!

Natural Designs has a brand new chat room, and I'm the lucky duck who gets to host the Inaugural Chat to break it in! We'll be meeting on Friday, June 23 at 10 pm Eastern to play some games of Bingo and have a grand old time. Everyone is invited! I recommend you check out the thread in the forums that contains the instructions and the word list first, because we won't be able to wait for anyone who shows up without their cards ready. But you can always jump into the next game if you don't have them quite done when the chat begins. Click here for the official thread! Bingo winners will receive prizes from the ND store, but everyone who attends will receive a free mini kit so no one will leave empty handed. I hope you can join us!

Things to cherish

Today I spent a lot of time just listening to my four year old talk. (He does a lot of that.) In about half an hour I managed to snag several quotables, which I think I'll use on a scrapbooking page called "Half an hour with Ben" or something like that. Get a load of these: Me: Hey Ben, you aren't hungry are you? He: Why shouldn't I be hungry? I'm hungry enough to eat a baby zebra! Upon tasting toast with honey for the first time: "Needs ketchup." Upon seeing his toaster pastry (a replacement for the toast with honey) has an empty spot in the middle of the frosting: "It has a pupick!" (pupick is Yiddish for belly button) On Star Wars: "That gold guy is 3CPO. Or maybe 3D-CPO. Sometimes I get it backwards. And sometimes I get it forwards. And sometimes I get it silly." What a crackup!

Hi everyone!

I've been keeping an eye on my stats at Top Digi Blogs, and it appears there are several people who actually check in here every day! Thank you so much!! :) I'll try to update more frequently so you don't get bored. The response to the Summer's Call mega kit has just been phenomenal. I think Theresa and Anita did such a good job by themselves, but it's just making things easier having more designers and more creative team members now. We can help share the work. The kit colors were a real inspiration, and everyone interpreted them a little differently. There's a nice blend of the darker and lighter colors, some playful elements and some elegant ones, it's just a very well-rounded kit. Add to that the fact that newsletter subscribers pay NOTHING and you've got a very cool deal! So if you didn't sign up for the newsletter this month, be sure to sign on before the next one is published in early July. In personal news, we finally got our summer vacation squared away last night. We've been scouring the net for two weeks now, but it was just hard to make a decision on where we wanted to go. Some of you know, my 46-year-old husband had a heart attack in early January, and although he recovered and came home very quickly and is making a lot of good life changes, it shook us all up quite a bit. And the poor guy NEEDS a nice, relaxing vacation in the worst way. We finally settled on Sebasco Resort in Maine. The people over the phone were very friendly and helpful, the website photos are so pretty, and it looks pretty low-key. Lots of stuff for the kiddies to do as well. So don't be surprised later this summer if you see a kit inspired by the Maine coast! The coupon for Strawberry Kiwi (in the post below) is still active! But it expires on Friday, so if you're contemplating buying any of the pieces in that set be sure to do it before then. With the coupon, the papers are 1.80, the elements are 1.20, and the alpha is 1.50. It's a great deal! Have a wonderful Tuesday! I'm off to see my 4 year old in his gymnastics exhibition! :)

It's up!

My new set, Strawberry Kiwi, is up in the Natural Designs store now. Yay! If you missed it, the previews for all the set pieces are in the post below. In addition, the add on kit is posted as a FREE*bie for anyone who would like to sample my work. It's a nice little basic kit on its own, especially if you know how to recolor things, but it works best in conjunction with the other pieces. So please check it out and even if you choose not to purchase the kit, enjoy the FREE*bie with my compliments. :) Click here to visit my store! I've just come back to add this: A COUPON!! YAY!! Just for my precious blog readers, take 50% any or all of the Strawberry Kiwi set for one week only! Enter this coupon code at checkout: be8a31c891 This coupon is good for only one use per customer, and only until Friday, June 16. All I ask is that you do not share this code with your friends; instead, please direct them to my blog to pick it up themselves. But by all means please tell your friends about this limited time offer!

Bleary-eyed, but awake!

Wow, last night was a late night. Once I finish a kit design it's down to putting all the administrative files together, and that sometimes takes HOURS! And I don't like to stop until it's complete for fear I'll forget something. But the kit is done and only you, my wonderful blog readers, will see it first. :) But before that, I have a couple of other things to tell you. First, if you haven't registered in the store at Natural Designs in Scrapbooking, then rush right over and do it now. Make sure you select that you want to received the ezine as well, because it will be released soon and it contains an absolutely GORGEOUS mega kit by all the ND designers. Including me. ::blush:: Wanna see? It's animated, so keep looking to see all the papers. I KNOW! Awesome, right? Wow. Next, here are the previews for my purty little kit, called Strawberry Kiwi. I'm not sure exactly what date it will be in the store, because I need to give my CT a chance to make some sample layouts. But a couple of days at the most I think. Below you'll see the Paper Pack, the Element Pack, the full Alpha (upper, lower, numbers, and symbols) and the Add On which will be in the store as a freebie. And last but not least, a big THANK YOU!!! to the women who participated in my first every blog challenge. They were: Wendy, Jackie, Jessica, Cheryl, Sherry, and Cheryl. I did try to leave praise for every one of your layouts, but Two Peas was acting up on me this morning so I wasn't able to comment for Wendy or Jessica. But your layouts were absolutely lovely! So the winner of the free kit is.... WENDY!!!!! Wendy, please send me an email at csimon01 at gmail dot com, and I will send you your coupon. You can choose either the Sunday Mist kit or the Manhattan Loft kit for free. I hope you like it! All other participants, please email me at the same address above and I will send you a big smooch in the form of a 20% off coupon for any one item from my store at NDISB. :) Well that's about it for today. I have my giant mug from Lost Wages (that's what my dad calls Las Vegas) and it's full of very high potency coffee to get me through the day. Somebody poke me if I fall asleep and start to drool on the keyboard, okay?

Finally, an update!

First off, I apologize to those of you who were sweet enough to participate in my blog challenge! I promise I will spend tomorrow looking at all your layouts, leaving you nice comments, and drawing the name for the winner. Also tomorrow I'll be posting the preview for my newest kit. I'll tell you the name: Strawberry Kiwi. It's so cute, I just love it! There will be a paper pack, an element pack, an entire alpha, as well as a freebie add on pack at NDISB. So don't miss this one! :) I'll see you all tomorrow! (Oops, I guess I mean "today" since it's almost 3 am. Should I go to bed now or just stay up?)