Digi Pick of the Day

Happy Halloween!!!!!

It's here, it's here!!!!  My favorite holiday!!!!    While it saddens me that I have to work, I did manage to dress up in a way.  I'm all in black and I'm wearing a black vest decorated with all kinds of Halloween images (thanks mom!).   I took a picture but I look huge, so I won't be posting that one, LOL. 

Halloween 2007 Pick of the Day
Miki Ferkul (Microferk)'s Ancient Ways - Samhain just had to be the pick of the day for this very special day.  Take a moment to read the description on the site, not just of the kit, but of the origins of this holiday.  As a longtime student of ancient religions I am always warmed by the way that the beliefs of our long dead ancestors have worked their way into our modern lives.  In Miki's description you can see the origins of some of our traditions and you can also see how the holiday came to be associated with the dead and the unseen.  For me Halloween has always been about autumn, the changing of the year, the end of summer and candy ;-)  Miki's kit is a beautiful tribute to all of the traditions of Samhain with its rich autumn colors and beautiful patterns.  I love the full moon and the Indian corn.  Very nice touches.  To Miki and to everyone out there celebrating Halloween I wish you a very happy turning of the wheel ;-)  For those of you not celebrating....go eat some candy and join in the fun!!!!

Some Halloween Art

It is a joy to partner on Altered Art Chicks with two very talented ladies.  Many of you know Krista Mettler from her digital art, but I'd like to take a moment to introduce you to the artist behind our Mootsie line of products, Audrey Angrisani.  Audrey is talented in so many mediums but I have to admit she blew me away this Halloween with her work in clay.  As a member of the Society of Diverse Halloween Artists, this is a woman who takes her autumnal art seriously, with a not so serious twist.  Enjoy now some of my favorite works in clay by this very talented and special lady.

Dr. Ivan is just laugh out loud cute. Check out the test tubes!  I just love his crazy hair.  The lab coat is an amazing work in clay.  I just love this guy ;-)

You know you're in for trouble when these two show up at your door!  As if they are not cool enough on their own check out their little trick-or-treat baskets!!!   Amazing!!!

This little sweetie is in need of some of that Proactiv Solution stuff they sell on TV.  It doesn't seem to be hurting his trick-or-treating, though.  That bag looks pretty full!  He's so cute you just have to give him some sweets.

Wasn't I right?  Pretty cool stuff huh?  She's working on Christmas now!  Can't wait to see what she has up her sleeve next.  Have a very Happy Halloween!!!!!!!

Digi Picks 10/30/07

Coolest Avatar Maker of the Day!!!
I originally found Bless This Chick a year ago and had a blast playing with it.  One day I showed it to Gracie and she made me bookmark it for her.  Now she'll often ask me to "make girls" with her and I see her on there all the time.  As I was playing with her the other day I noticed how many new outfits and accessories they have added.  The idea that this site is free just blows my mind!!!!!   If you haven't created an avatar for yourself, but you've always wanted a really cool one, this is the place to go.  While you are there check out their sister site Vimrod .  The books are now for sale at Amazon and they would make great stocking stuffers. These cartoons are hysterical!!!!

Sale, Sale,Sale!!!!  & Freebie!!!!

Did she say sale?  Yes, it's true!  Altered Art Chicks is having its first ever storewide sale! Beginning tomorrow, yeah Halloween, everything in the store will be 31% off!  We are so excited about the cool new hybrid products we've gotten in stock and we know you will be too!  We've got a variety of cool purses just dying to be altered and all kinds of mini-books to turn into great holiday gifts!  Come check out all we have to offer in this unique emporium we call home!  As a special Halloween Treat we've even got a fun and free digital mini-kit called Witchy-Poo. It won't be available until tomorrow in the emporium, but here's sneak peek:

Here's a peek at some of the cool hybrid products you will find on sale starting tomorrow as well....

The sale ends at Midnight Eastern on Sunday November 4th so you have plenty of time to stock up and save!!!!

If you're new to hybrid crafts or paper crafts in general take a look in our Studio for great inspiration.

Digi Picks 10/29/07

Hey gang.  Kind of in a rush today, but I wanted to have a digital moment, LOL.  My voice has partially returned and I don't feel like I've been run over by a truck so I believe I am getting better ;-)

Kit of the Day
Someone help me.  I'm trying so hard not to buy more stuff but I feel compelled to pick up the gorgeous collab kit from Rachel Young, Kate Hatfield and Michelle Godin entitled Funky Junky .  It's pink.....well, rose, and kind of red and a whole bunch of other wonderful coordinating colors and I am in love.  I keep telling myself "no" but then I go back and drool over the preview and I hear it calling to me.  Well actually it's the elements that are calling.  The newsprinty/colored and funky flower is saying "Melissa...you need me, you know you do.  Do not deny our love!"  Meanwhile the alpha is floating in my head forming words like "desire, destiny and fate".  I'm a lost cause...really!

Layout of the Day

In high school I used to slobber all over the cover of Rick Springfield's Human Touch album.  He was so hot back in the day, and from what I can see on Triciadoll's Rick Springfield Concert layout he is still looking pretty darned good!  Wow, what a shot!!  I'm so excited for her.  Look at her plant one on Dr. Noah Drake!!!  You go girl ;-)  I love the sense of fun she created on this layout with the glitter lips and the bright colors.  I'm totally digging the way she has that bw photo going across the focal point with the green swirl.  It covers up the crowds hands a bit and helps to frame the photo.  Great layout and huge congrats!!!!!

Digi Picks 10/26/07

Thanks for all of your well wishes.  My cold is slowly getting better and today I have a voice.  I'm blowing my nose every five minutes, but that's a good sign that it is clearing up.  Tonight I will be celebrating with my family at a 90th birthday party for my Aunt Vi.  She is an amazing woman, who is full of life, love and laughter.  I asked her secret and she said just keep moving.  I told her I admired how positive she always was and she said she truly believes that it is important to work to keep that joyful spirit in life.  She told me about the tragic loss of her first child the other day.  I had never heard her talk about it before.  She said it was a horrible time, but she knew that she needed to find joy in the love and comfort of her husband and family and that time and the Blessed Virgin would help to heal her pain.  (Can you tell we're Catholic?)   

I was very moved by her words and I can tell you that she went on to have two lovely daughters and now has 7 great grandchildren!  She is very active in the community in her Assisted Living and she is loving life.  I cannot wait to dance with her tonight at her party ;-)

Kit of the Day
This is actually a repeat, but it goes with my story above.  When Carrie Stephens first released Vivacious I bought it so that I could scrap my pictures of my Aunt Vi!  It immediately reminded me of her personality.  So I am going to take tons of pictures at tonight's party and scrap them with this gorgeous and fun kit.  The cool part is that Aunt Vi showed me the suit she's wearing tonight and it is aqua!  How perfect for this kit.  There is some add-on wordart too, so I'll be whipping that out onto my pages as well.

Freebie of the Day
The unbelievably generous Shabby Princess has just released a new free kit for fall called Harvest Spice.  I love the subdued autumn hues she chose for her palette.  I immediately hit download when I saw it. I have never purchased or downloaded a freebie from SP that was not of the highest quality.  I am always amazed how beautifully everything coordinates and she always seems to know exactly the right kind of elements to make for her theme.  Like the flowers in this kit are going to rock both as flowers w/stitching as she has shown in the preview and as photo corners.  Loving the alpha!!!!!!  Thank you so much Kristie for your generosity. Cannot wait to see that Holiday Card Collection!!!!!

 

Sick, sick, sick....

Just popping in to say that I'm sick....head cold, no voice...fever...still at work...this sucks ;-(  Be back tomorrow.

Digi Picks 10/22/07

We had a great weekend in the Goerke house this weekend.  Saturday was a glorious autumn day and we went pumpkin picking.  Saturday night was date night and Gracie went to this cool babysitting place that opened in Westfield over the summer.  They are a day care that is also open on Friday and Saturday nights.  They have a pizza party, show movies and do crafts so that Moms and Dads without babysitters can get a night out.  Gracie loves it and calls it "the house with all the toys".  Saturday they decorated pumpkins as their craft.  Sunday Gracie was sick and had a slight fever but she and I still got to spend a ton of time together.  We made meatballs together for the first time.  It was very moving for me because I was her age when my grama taught me how to make them.  Gracie thought squishing the meat was cool, LOL.  I actually did a layout of our pumpkin picking trip already, which leads me to our picks...well digi picks that is ;-)

Kit of the Day
I was in search of a non-Halloween, fall themed, fun kit for my pumpkin picking trip.  I happened to click on a Gina Miller banner (yes, banners work) and found Sweet Candy Corn Elements and Paper Pack and faster than you can say "add to cart" I was scrapping!   The candy corn flower is what really grabbed me immediately, but there are a bunch of really cute touches in this kit.  There's a shimmery overlay that gives your layouts a little something extra and some glittery swirls as well.  Perfect kit for fun fall memories!

Cool Site of the Day

Have you checked out Digi Scrap Connection yet?  If not, run over there and subscribe to the feed!  It rocks.  Mona Minnie,  a long time member of the digi community, has created a great resource for designers and customers to hook up.  You can find info about sales, freebies, and new kits with just a click.  Have you lost track of where a favorite designer is selling?  Check out the Designer Directory!  One of my favorite things about this blog is that it shows me who is having a sale in a list format with the start and end date.  That way I don't have to go back through my emails or dig through forums to remember what I have most certainly forgotten, LOL. 

Digi Picks 10/17/07

Digi Tip of the Day
I came across a great article on the Photoshop Blog having to do with how to know if your hard drive is headed for a crash.  I think this is such a great article and anyone who has important data on their hard drive should take the time to read it and listen to the sounds.

Kit of the Day
Jackie Eckles has a great new kit in a really unexpected color...teal...I'm loving this palette!!!  Rugged Sam is a great kit for the men in your life, but I can totally see this for fun girl layouts as well.  Digging the little bits of ribbons that look a bit distressed. 
 

Digi PIcks 10/16/07

Well I got my office into some semblance of order and then the UPS in the comms room failed.  No internet for anyone!!  Woo Hoo!  Who's job is it to fix that?  Oh yeah, mine!  So that was my afternoon.  By the time I got it back up I was wiped and I spent the last hour of my day talking pirates with my AAC Chicks.  In the blast from the past category, check out my picks from this date last year.

Kit of the Day
Ready for yet another Halloween kit?  Mindy Terasawa has put her skill at making adorable little characters to work and created Little Creepers . These papers are just so cute!  Look at those little guys all hanging around looking so not scary, LOL.  Love the traditional colors and the heavy use of black in this kit as well.  She also has a companion pack of stickers which, if you have already overloaded on Halloween kits, would be a great addition to your stash.  Just loving the haunted house!

Layout of the Day

Having treasured memories of a childhood pet is such a blessing.  Having a photograph that perfectly illustrates that bond is a true treasure.  Crabby posted a gorgeous layout about her grandparents' dog Sy that features the sweetest picture of the two of them together.  I love the way she extracted part of the image to create some visual interest.  The journaling literally brought tears to my eyes. 

Running a Little Behind this Week....

Sorry.  I'm a bit behind this week.  On Friday night I was moved into my new office at work.  This is what greeted me on Monday morning....

So I've got my computer up and running, printing and all!  My phone is back to life and I've shut off the lights because they are so freaking bright it is like sitting on the surface of the sun!!  I'm going out at lunch to buy a floor lamp at Target.  I had such a headache last night!!!

I'll be back later with some actual digi picks.  In the meantime enjoy playing "spot the diet coke" and "which digi kits did she use for the stuff on the bulletin board" with my photo ;-)

Digi Picks 10/12/07

I am so excited to be going away this weekend for a scrap retreat!!  My friend Maureen and I will be celebrating our 40th birthdays this weekend.  Well her birthday was in September and mine is in December, but we needed an excuse to drop a ridiculous amount of money on a crop and spa weekend and this seemed like a good one, LOL.  We will be staying here and on Saturday night we are having hers and hers massages with reflexology treatments as well.  Then we will ooze into our room and sleep or stay up all night talking!  We've been friends for 27 years and when we are together I feel 13 all over again ;-)  I'll be bringing my laptop and my print along with three huge rolling bags of paper scrapping supplies.  I also just got a shipment of hybrid supplies that will be debuting in the emporium at Altered Art Chicks in November.  So I'm bringing those to make some samples!  As you can see I'm being pretty ambitious considering I've only got two days of scrap time, LOL.   Okay enough about my fabulous weekend, how about some picks.

Cool Non-Digi Digi Product of the Day
I'm on a roll with titles this week huh?  Unless you live under a rock you have probably heard that November 3rd will be Digital Scrapbooking Day.  Well did you know there is an official t-shirt?  Featuring the artwork of the fabulous Clara Wallace, this t-shirt is a must have for all of us digi freaks!  There are variety of styles and colors to choose from.  I'm torn between the brown short sleeve and the  contrasting long sleeve versions.  I just love the word art in the flowing hair.  Gorgeous!  Even better news?  All profits will be donated to the Susan G Komen Foundation to support breast cancer research and support.  While you are shopping you might want to pick up Clara's Halloween themed shirt.  I'm in love with the line "I'm only here for the boo's"!!!!!

Layout of the Day
Juliet's Good Times is making me feel really inept, LOL.  This layout is awesome!!!!  She did it for a challenge wherein you had to take several pictures and turn them into one image.  Using the slide pictures was such a great idea and she executed this flawlessly!!!  I am totally blown away...really!  See all the exclamation points???!!!!  Not only does the combine the photos and do an awesome pop extraction but then she adds that adorable touch of flowers and grass on the sides of the slide on the notebook paper matte!  Don't you just love how kids hair gets all static-y on the slide?  Always cracks me up.  Juliet, you are amazing.  I'd try to scraplift this layout but I am so not worthy, LOL.