Freebie, Friends, a Few Layouts and the FTC

by
 If my start, so far this year, being creative is any indication of the year to come, I shall be busy!  I have a couple of projects that I am working on on my own.  Then, there are the great challenges I get myself in to over at Magickal Scraps.  This place is what I consider to be my “online home’.  I am sure you all have some place, or places, that you frequent, you know almost everybody and where you are involved in a bit of the conversations.  I’ve learned probably 75% of what I have learned, so far, in scrapbooking, being involved in scrap challenges.  In addition to some of the similar challenges in other forums, there are several ‘different’ challenges at MS.  There is a “Technique/Design” challenge, where Snowy gives us a tutorial, or, resources, like, brushes, shapes, fonts, etc, and has us work with them.  If there is more info to help with the challenge, she gives us links and whatever resources necessary.
There is also a “Book of Shadows” challenge.  A BOS is a person’s personal collection of prayers and other information that they gather over time to assist in their worship.  It’s sort of a “spiritual journal”.  For these challenges, we’ve done ‘herbals’ and we’re in the middle of ‘gemstones’, now.  For these, we scrap or do a little note and mini kit, based on different elements of that topic.  In addition to learning a lot about some herbals and/or some gemstones, their meanings and uses, and so on, you also get to create some cool note papers and a few nice scrapbooking papers and elements along the theme.  These, we share with each other.  The ones that have been done, so far, are very nice!  It’s quite a deal and fun, too.  Here is a preview of some I did last year.  Click on image to go to that post, here, on my blog.
  I haven’t participated in all of these, like some of the others.  We take it a couple of letters of the alphabet at a time.  I’m missing quite a few ‘letters’, but, Snowy and Kyra have done them all.
Which reminds me, Snowy creates ‘designer resources’ all the time and posts them on her blog, Snowraven’s Cave – for free!  Check them out!  Also, if you have been in scrappin for more than a day, you have no doubt heard of “With a Dutch/Russian Heart”. (links to her own freebie kits) Dear Kyra is one of our members.  In addition to running her daily digi-scrap’s Daily Freebie List search engine and providing all scrappinland with a good listing of each day’s freebies, she is an extremely accomplished scrapper.  She’s funny, too.  LOL   There is Miss Edna.  Miss Edna is our resident ‘fairy godmother’, along with Kyra, of course.  LOL  Her blog, Miss Edna’s Place is a testament to her charm, her writing style, her photography of wildlife and her designs.  She, and her sidekick, Tootsie, come up with some gorgeous kits and quick pages.  She’s one hell of a nice lady!  Then, there is Crystal and Nana and Tutu, who, though they don’t post that often on their blogs, are quite busy creating and entertaining over at the forum.  There are several other folks who help make Magickal Scraps the place that it is, but, there is always an opening for more.  We are a liberal-minded group of ladies who’s desire to design is matched, only, by our zeal for, and appreciation of, life.  These are human beings – good ones, too.
Since our illustrious leader is Wiccan, Miss Edna came up with this image, ‘supposedly’, depicting the individual members of the forum.  LOL  I make no comment as to which witch I am.  LOL
Tootsie even got in the picture! (that’s her in the purple sweater)
Next, I show a couple of layouts that I did for several of the challenges, this month.  The first one was done for the Template Challenge.
It’s a study in ‘layer effects’ and ‘blending modes’, in disguise.  LOL  I always learn something from a challenge.  For this one, I found a great Photoshop tip.  It’s a ‘sampling technique’ to use to see which font you like best.  When working with text, you can type a word, right there on your layout.  Make sure you highlight the layer, then go up to the text window in the toolbar and scroll through your list of fonts using your scroll wheel on your mouse.  As long as you have the ‘text’ tool selected and the text layer highlighted, this should work.  You may have to click on the drop-down menu and select the first one, but, then, you should be able to scroll through with the mouse wheel.  You can also use the up/down arrows to scroll up and down the list.
Next, is the layout for the Quote Challenge.  I had planned on adding some other elements, but, kept coming back to this simple one, instead.

Then, just for the hell of it, I made this layout.  I was perusing Morguefile images and found a photo of a woodland scene.  I immediately took it over to Photoshop and created the layout.  The photo inspired me that much.  I e-mailed the artist, “jandrew”, as he/she asked, if you use one of his/her photos.  I haven’t heard from him/her, but, I hope he/she liked it.  I hope you do, too.
I don’t normally do things like this, but, there is a special need, here.  ChanniD, a name you might recognize from scrappinland, recently lost her father – on New Year’s Eve past.  Channi has recently been the driving force to starting and hosting blog trains with a distinct ’cause’ as the theme.  From her main blog, ChanniD’s Awareness Scrapbooking, she has done one train on ‘domestic violence’ and another on ‘human trafficking’, so far.   She has plans to continue with other causes that can always use some attention to bringing awareness.  It’s through awareness that change can come.  Channi receives nothing for doing these one-person campaigns.  And, if you have ever downloaded one of her kits for a train, holy moly!  You are in for a real treat!  Her previews do not do her kits justice, needless to say.  LOL  Now, she is in need of help to pay for her father’s final expenses.  If you think you can help her in any way, click on the link I gave, earlier in this paragraph, to her main blog.  While there, download, for free, the pretty kit she designed “In Loving Memory of My Father, Skip”.  Whether you are able to help her out, or not, remember her in your prayers, that she be comforted in this time, her time in need.  Thank you.
Now that I have plugged several of my closest and dearest friends, I have a little piece of information all of us need to have, I think.  I don’t know if you know this, or not, but, as of December 1, 2009, if you receive a “freebie gift” from another in return for you promoting their product/service, you must disclose that gift.  I’m not sure that I understand it very well, but, it sounds to me like the government is trying a) to stick their noses in our business – again! or, b) to make “honesty in advertising” more “honest”.  In other words, if Company/Website A gives you free merchandise, you’ll be apt to tell anybody anything, right?  That is what they hope to curb, I guess.  There are too many problems with it, for one thing.  Who is going to monitor this?  How will they prove you did get a free gift in return for a promo?  Who cares?  Whatever!  I complied.  At the bottom of my blog, w-a-y-d-o-w-n amongst the very bottom-most pixels, is a possible required disclaimer one supposedly needs to post on their blog page.  If you want to ‘read’ the government’s guidelines, specifically, the Federal Trade Commission’s guidelines, here is the .pdf file on it.  To try to glean a better understanding of what this ruling is about, Wired.com offers a decent explanation.  Like I said, I don’t know if this is even necessary, but, I included it just to be safe.  The website where I found my ‘template’ is no longer showing that post, but, I don’t mind if you use mine as a ‘guideline’ and enter your own information in to the format that I posted.  Now, I could rant and rave on about this.  Instead, though, I will just advise you of what I learned, offer you more detailed informative links, and let it go at that.  I have done so.  And, I received absolutely no compensation for any of my comments.  LOL
Finally my most recent project.  This one was for the Brush Challenge, where we used “Valentine” brushes by Crucibelle, to make a layout or a kit.  I did the latter and, though, I got into the Valentine’s theme, I went with a rather cynical outlook.  Since most of the heartbreak one experiences in one’s life may come, in part, in the form of a ‘letter’, I named this one, “Love Letters”.  I hope you like and enjoy.
(click on image to go to 4Shared to download)
The link should take you to the folder which contains the 4 files to download.
Thank you so much for your interest.  Stay warm and “be happy”.
Su

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7 thoughts on “Freebie, Friends, a Few Layouts and the FTC”

  4. Good Morning Su. I h ave just finished getting caught up on reading your blog. My oh my, I did not know about that new FCC ruling. Not that I have anything to declare, but it's shame they are looking in on our little blogs. Your new little grandson is just precious!! It's amazing how strong those little preemies can be. And he will grow up to be just as strong as all the other babies.Your blog is a such lovely place to visit. It has a nice warm feeling to it. Thank you, I enjoy stopping by. I shall be in Florida soon. Maybe we can get together and visit. Wouldn't that be nice! You have a grand day now. Hugs, Edna B.

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  5. Wow – you have been a busy girl. I love reading your posts and sharing in your news and photos not to mention the lovely presents you continue to leave for us. Your quote challenge is wonderful Su….. The simple design doesn't take away from the beautiful quotation. x x

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