Advice for the newbie! Contest alert.

Hey, I just wanted to put a little plug in for ScrapGirls...

The BESTEST best thing about ScrapGirls are their newsletters. I've been receiving them for about 4 years now! They send out a little freebie... every. single. day. Woohoo! I've been accumulating these for quite some time, I have them all on my external hard drive or backed up to CDs. Yep, all of them. So... when I REALLY get started, just think how much I'll have to work with!! Sign up for the newsletters HERE. Today, you could walk away with this cool paper:

Ro, the brain behind the thing, is having a most excellent contest on her blog. I went ahead and entered even though the question is, "What advice do you have for new digital scrapbookers?" Hah. I am new! But this is what I said...

Oh! I'd LOVE to win this book!! I'm still SO new... even though I've been receiving ScrapGirls newsletters for about 3+ years!!! Hahah! I've been slowly accumulating freebies with the hope that SOMEDAY I'll start digiscrapping for real. In the last 2 months, I've gotten fresh inspiration as my youngest child (of 5) is now almost 2... I am beginning to see the possibility of a little more free time in my future!

hahahah...maybe ;)

My best advice is, just start! In your zone-out time, start playing around with whatever photo-editing program you have (paint.net and gimp are two free options, but there are many). Start playing around until you start to feel comfortable with doing the basics, cropping, text, resizing, etc. Start collecting freebies. Start simple... you can always go back and scrap those pictures again someday if you don't like your work later on! There is so much online to help you on your way... (online tutorials, freebies, designer's blogs, etc, etc)
Just start! :)

I hope, hope, HOPE I win the book!
Amy
Tarapoto, Peru*

(*don't worry... I have a US mailing address as well ;)

That is the advice I have for myself! ;) And I'm taking it, even if very slowly...

I am STARTING! yay.

Now, I hadn't been to their actual site for a long while, so while linking-up this post, I saw they've done TONS of rennovations! It looks great! I must say that they have a LOT of stuff in their shop which you can find by using their search bar. And by subscribing to their newsletter you'll find out about their almost constant sales (not to mention the freebies). So, don't ever pay full price, wait for the sale (not that I've bought anything yet...). On their homepage they're even sporting a 10% off coupon for 1st time customers. AND, you'll also find a free e-book and starter kit for beginners. So, what are you waiting for? Check 'em out.

Have a wonderful day!
Amy

365 project - free templates

Hey! I just found a super neat blog by a cool gal that has been posting some REALLY great free templates over the last several years, the latest of which are all 365 project related. They are mostly all still available on her site! (with exception to a very few links that didn't work)
We're talking probably nearly a hundred free templates! Have a look at M Originals

Here's a sneak peek at her most recent, that I love, love, LOVE in a timeline format... (click the image to go there and grab it - while you're there check out all the other great stuff she's done!)



So, you know, when I start my 365 project... after I finish my first ever digiscrap project... then I will use this! hahah.

I'm still in the gather information (and freebies) stage...

I wonder if I will ever move beyond this?!

Yes.

I am determined.

And this project 365 idea is really growing on me.

Have a GREAT day!!

Project #2 - Trip report

I'm looking at this article today, and hope to give a more thorough read soon.

Introduction to the Elements of Design

I STILL haven't finished my very first project, but will post a picture when I do! :)

I did have to put together a couple of pages for a presentation I gave the other day, but because I still haven't learned how to use paint.net to a point where it is fast and smooth, I used picasa! They look hauntingly power-point-presentation-like.

Here they are in all their primitive glory...

evernote

Remember it all; sounds good.

Compile all the notes you write... ever. in one place. Then, find it when you want it.

Oh yeah, and it's FREEEEEE!

An irresistible idea.



This looks like just the 'coolest' thing...
I'm totally going to look into this, just as soon as I have a second... in other words, I have no idea when, but I really, really want to :)

Read more HERE and HERE and HERE.
Thanks for the tip Janet! :)

more drop shadow links

Okay, because of traveling, and now living in a big disorganized mess for the last week, I have NOT been able to work on my new blog header! :(

But when I was downloading freebies from ikeagoddess while I zoned-out tonight, I somehow ended up finding these two drop shadow tutorials. yay!

yep. someday these are gonna come in real handy.

simple drop shadows in PSE
advanced drop shadows in PSE

I find it somewhat hilarious that I'm blogging about this while I'm off to such a tortoise-paced start. Someday, I'll be glad though... even if just for laughs. :)