It’s Friday.  No seriously, it is.  Don’t believe me?  Go look at the calendar.  I’ll wait.  …  …  See?  Where did the week go?  It just flew by here for us.  I’m thankful it is here though.  I’ve had enough of this week and I’m looking forward to a long weekend.  The kids are off Monday for President’s day, and Tuesday for February vacation.  I definitely could use the break.  Speaking of break (go with it…trust me) how was your Valentine’s Day?  Everything I had planned went down the drain when I noticed my car was leaking.  I thought it was oil, but after bringing it to the gas station I found out it was Power Steering Fluid – see?  I brought it all back around to needing a break…and my car was broken…lol.  Anway, I got it fixed but it took a while.

 I would like to now show you our new releases!  We have so many new items!  Don’t forget though our Free with $10 purchase grab bag by Luv Ewe Designs.

And now our new releases:

http://store.gingerscraps.net/CU-Electroid-Patterns.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/Personal-Use-Electroid-Patterns.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Grunge-fitti-one.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/FleurPeche-Kit.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/FleurPeche-AddOn.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/FleurPeche-Elements.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/FleurPeche-Papers.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/D-like-Dandy-mini.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/What-A-Girl-Wants-Kit.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Tangelo-Squeeze.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/Tangelo-Squeeze-Alphabet.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/Tangelo-Squeeze-Elements.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/Tangelo-Squeeze-Papers.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/Tangelo-Squeeze-Acrylics.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/Tangelo-Squeeze-Dotted-Acrylics.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Enjoy-Life.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/My-Sorrow.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/ILY-Stinky-Face-redux.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/My-Love-Mini-Kit.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/My-Love-Alpha-pack.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/My-Love-Stacked-Paper-Set.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Made-With-Love-Collaboration.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Must-love-Pandas.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/Must-Love-Pandas-embossed-solids.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/Must-Love-Pandas-template-set.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Shabby-Sweet-Kit.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/Shabby-Sweet-PreDeco-Paper-Pack.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/For-The-Love-Of-Layers-Vol-26-CU-Ok.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/Shabby-Sweet-Word-Bits.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/Shabby-Sweet-Trashed-Bits.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/Shabby-Sweet-Word-Art-Pack.html

There you have it.  Please make sure you keep reading the upcoming newsletters.  I have a few things up my sleeve that you will definitely want to know about!  Shhh….

Hi!  How are you?  I know that isn’t a good way to start a newsletter but honestly I’m running out of things to say.  So what’s up?  Did you have a good week?  What do you have going on this weekend?  Me?  Aren’t you kind!  Well today’s my brother’s birthday, but well, we aren’t doing anything for him…hehe.  I’m dealing with some kind of bug going through my house.  Luckily two kidsare well, one seems to be starting, and my husband, yeah, well he’s sick too…and a man (need I say more?)

I know you didn’t come to hear me complain so let’s get right down to business!  First I’ll start with the Welcome Wagon Kit!  This week’s kit is from Sugar Kissed Designs.  It’s totally free for everyone – as long as you are registered in our forum!  It will give you a little sample of how talented our designers really are.  Think of it is cake testing….only you are kit tasting.  Not as yummy as cake, but at the same time it is!

Second we have our February Grab bag!  Remember that if you spend $10 in our store you get this grab bag by Luv Ewe Designs for free!!

Here is a deal for you too!

http://store.gingerscraps.net/ConniePrince/

Now the reason you are all reading this!  Our fantastic new releases!  Pull up a chair and enjoy the scenes!  Make sure you check out the entire store since there will be TONS more!!

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Nightshade.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Bee-Mine-Doodles.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Love-Is-Sweet-Kit.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Love-Struck.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Memorable-Moments.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Blessings-Of-Life.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Friends-For-Life.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Clustered-Templates.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/LOVEly-Day-Bundle-Pack.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Granny-s-Attic.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Romanzza.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Craft-Templates-So-In-Love.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/You-are-a-Gem-May.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Project-2012-February-Mega-Stash.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/Project-2012-February-Kit.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/Project-2012-February-PreDeco-Papers.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/Project-2012-February-Basic-Journal-Mats.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/Project-2012-February-12×12-Temps-CU-Ok.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/Project-2012-February-Date-Labels-Vol.-2.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/Project-2012-February-February-Days.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/Project-2012-February-Flair-Pack.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/Project-2012-February-Mega-Alpha-Vol-2.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/Project-2012-February-WordArt.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Project-2012-February-QuickPage-Album.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Forever-Love-Papers.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/A-Little-Vintage-the-kit.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/A-Little-Vintage-paper-pack.html

I know right?  You are all probably thinking what I am…how very lucky we are to have these designers here.  Lucky for us all we do!!  Now I’m off to spend my money in the store!  I’m sure I will see you all there!  Have a great weekend and I’ll see you back here next week!

Good Morning!  I hope you all slept well and your ready to start the day.  I have some very exciting news for you!  We have a new designer joining us!  I can’t wait to introduce you to her!  Her products are incredible.   I can’t wait to show you!

So without any further ado…and because I’m just so eager for her to open her store (yeah, she’s that amazing)….I would like to introduce you to….the one….the only…

SNICKERDOODLE  DESIGNS!!!

*Store*  *Facebook*  *Blog*  *Newsletter*  *Twitter*

Let’s learn all about her!!!

 Hi all!  My name is Karen and I am the face behind the name of SnickerdoodleDesigns. I live in sunny Southern California with my husband of 41 years (Where has the time gone??).  We have two grown children, both married, and two delightful grandchildren (ages 8 and 10).

I have been creating “scrapbooks” since my junior high school days, when I thought it was more important than most anything else in the world to remember which boys winked at me or passed me a note in class. (Yes, I still have some of those notes.

My scrapbooks became more sophisticated as I grew, and I was ripe for the explosion of “scrapbooking” in the late 1990′s.  I was one of the charter members of the Creative Keepsakes magazine, and thought I was in Heaven when all of the adorable papers and elements started hitting the market!

Then in 2008 I decided to create an on-line photo album.  I used the company-supplied templates and, while I enjoyed the process, I wondered if I couldn’t “fancy up” the pages just a bit….. I soon discovered the absolute joy and wonder of digital scrapping (which I had so strenuously and fervently resisted!). Like so many other digital converts, my hobby room is now filled with drawers and cabinets of papers, glue, ribbons, glitter………. you get the idea, I’m sure.

Because I have always been involved in some sort of creative expression, it was a natural progression for me to go from my initial interest in digital scrapbooking to designing my own elements and papers.

When I opened at my first store in January 2010, I needed a design name. Because I want my designs to inspire in others warm feelings of love, comfort, and peace, I tried to think of what inspired those things in me. The first thing that came to my mind was my Mom’s cookies (I’m soooo simple!) – and SnickerdoodleDesigns was born. (My mom lost her battle with breast cancer at the age of 44, when I was just 23, so my design name is very personal to me.

I love nature and you will find that theme in much of my work. I design from emotions, either those I have experienced or ones that I wish to invoke in others; therefore, my kits are all very personal to me. There is always a story, a thought, or a personal emotion behind them.

I love making papers and can spend many hours getting just the right color or texture that I want. I love that “ah-ha” moment when something comes together, and I stop in my tracks, knowing that I have just achieved what I wanted.

What I find most rewarding about design work is seeing others use my creations in their own projects. I know it sounds really “cheezy” to say that I truly consider it an honor when someone utilizes my designs to create something special of their own – but that really is the truth. 

I always love hearing from my customers, appreciate their feedback on my work, and always consider it an honor when they share your creations with me!

Would you like to see her goodies?  Before I show you them…yes I’m really such a tease…I do have some good news for you…Her store is 35% off for this week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I told you she was amazing!  The time has come for me to reveal just some of her goodies!  Make sure you check out her store to see much much more!  Also keep in mind that all of her kits also come with a Collection of other goodies too (like word art, styles – oh remind me to tell you about her styles, and clusters – but each collection is different so really check out her store).

 http://store.gingerscraps.net/Empty-Nest-Collection.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Dare-to-Dream-Collection.html

 http://store.gingerscraps.net/Kitty-and-Tweet-Collection.html

 http://store.gingerscraps.net/Imagination-Station-Collection.html

 http://store.gingerscraps.net/Artist-In-Me-Collection.html

 http://store.gingerscraps.net/Puppy-Love-Duo.html

Now let me tell you about her styles.  She does something incredible for us PSE users!

Instructions for use of PSE

Strip Photoshop Styles will always come in the format of an asl file. Photoshop users can simply drag and drop the asl file onto their work space and it will be available for use.

Photoshop Elements users must install asl files in order to use them. (There is a round-about way to use them; however, it can be confusing.) While having to install styles is not difficult, many users are somewhat intimidated by the process. In addition, the rebuilding of the PSE database can take a while. If a PSE user has too many styles installed, Photoshop Elements will run slowly.

Because I love both creating and using Styles I wanted to devise a way that would make them more PSE-friendly. The result is my PSE Strip.

The PSE strip is simply a PSD file which includes a sample of each layer style within this package.

To use the strip, you will need to open the PSD file as you would any PSD file. Let the strip reside on your workspace. As you work on your layout and want to use a style, simply bring up the PSD file, right click on the style that you want to use, Copy, then Paste onto the element you would like to apply it to.

What is the difference between using the PSE strip and using the Style Sheets that are sometimes included in Style Packages?

When you use a Style Sheet, you clip your element/text to the sheet. Your element/text will take on the look of the style pattern. However, it will not retain any of the Style characteristics that might be available in the asl file. For example, if there is an inner shadow on the style, this will not be available when you clip a style sheet. It WILL be available if you copy/paste the style.

Any questions? Please feel free to contact her at: Karen@SnickerdoodleDesignsByKaren.com

Doesn’t that sound great?  I can’t wait to get my hands on them!

So there you have it!  Another talented designer joining us.  Have a great day and I’ll see you back here on Friday!!

Good Morning GingerScraps Friends!!  It’s Friday and boy am I happy about it.  I’m looking forward to spending this weekend just relaxing.  I think a nap sounds good to me this weekend.  Maybe some chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven too.  Yum!

 Let me show you what we have cooking here at Gingerscraps!  We are looking for a good Sweet Cookies to join our Sugar Cookie Team (praise team).  Do you think you have what it takes?  Great!  I look forward to hearing from you!

There are also a bunch of sales going on right now…as we speak…well I’m not really speaking, I’m typing…although by the time you read this I won’t be typing anymore…so um..what was I saying?

Happy Happy Birthday to our very own HarmonyStar! I love it when the birthday person hands out presents to you!

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Harmonystar/

http://store.gingerscraps.net/ConniePrince/

 Here are the New Releases our designers have for you.  Remember to check out the store too because not everything is listed below (hint hint…wink wink…know what I mean? know what I mean? )

Before I forget though, this is your last chance to get this month’s free grab bag by Marie H Designs!!  Just spend $10 in the store and it is all yours!!

http://store.gingerscraps.net/4×6-Announcement-Templates.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/6×4-Announcement-Templates.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Fun-A-Delic.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/Fun-A-Delic-Papers.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/CU-Medium-Textures-1.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/Personal-Use-Medium-Textures-1.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Facebook-Timeline-Templates-Vol-2.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Peacefull-Mini.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/Peacefull-Add-on.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/Peacefull-Stacked-papers.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/February-2012-GrabBag-Sale.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Bananas-For-You-WordArt-Pack.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/Bananas-For-You-Trashed-Bits.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/Bananas-For-You-PreDeco-Temps-CU-Ok.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/Bananas-For-You-Border-Cluster-Temps-CU-Ok.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/New-Beginning.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Love-Treats-Hybrid-Template-Set.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Love-Pocket-Hybrid-Template.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Struck-by-Love.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/You-are-a-Gem-April.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/In-My-Life-by-Craft-tastrophic.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/So-Tender.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/In-The-Mood.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Scrub-A-Dub-Dub-Kit.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Snow-Fun-the-bundle.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Sweet-Heart-Doodles-CU.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Enchanted-Winter-Kit.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/Enchanted-Winter-Add-On.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/Enchanted-Alpha.html
http://store.gingerscraps.net/Warm-and-Cozy-Template-Pack.html

 Have a great weekend and I’ll see you back here on the 1st!

 Hello My Friends!!  I’m so excited to be here today.  The snow is gone (although rumors have it that it will be back later this week) and the weather is warm (but yet again, it’s New England…it won’t last long).  I have some great new friends I want to introduce you to.  Gosh, I have no idea who to start with.  They are both fantastic.  I was fans of them both before they were here.  I’m so excited I can share them with you.

First up we have

Joyful Heart Designs! 

 As you know I like to stalk my designers…um…I mean I don’t peer through their windows…much…I mean.  Sorry Jenn…I promise…not….to….oh..um…never mind.

Here are some legal ways to stalk her!

*Store*  *Newsletter*  *Facebook*  *Twitter*  *Blog*

While I was looking, oh I mean, researching (yeah, researching sounds better) about Jenn, this is what I found out:

- Joyful Heart Designs is a mix of whimsy, funky, and grungy-goodness

- Jenn started designing back in Oct. 2004, after doing web design since 1999.

- She is a stay-at-home mom with three kiddos and a hubby of 17 years.

- She is originally from Texas but now resides in Madison, AL.  

- She loves making papers and is crazy about grunge and color!

- All of her personal products are Scrap-4-Hire friendly

Here are just a few products to show you all her amazing talent!  Make sure you check out her store for more and more goodies!

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Bordering-on-Awesome-one.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Almost-Vintage-the-kit.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Grungy-Sentiments-two.html

Isn’t her stuff awesome?  I have someone else I want to introduce you to that is just as awesome.  This designer I’ve always admired from a far (and no, it has nothing to do with a restraining order…lol).  She is fun to talk with might be just as happy to be here as we are to have her.  I still think I’m a little bit more happy about it though.

Please help me give a very warm welcome to…

Jill DZines!!!

She is another great person to stalk!

*Store*  *Blog*  *Facebook*  *Twitter*  *Newsletter*

I asked Jill to tell me a little bit about herself.  This is what she had to say!

 I  am SOOoo excited to be  joining the GingerScraps team!!

I’m  a 40-something YO SAHM,  with wonderful hubby, Paul, and 2 terrific  teen-agers (one is 19 and in  college  already!  I can’t believe how FAST  it goes!).  Daughter Eliza  is pursuing a nursing degree/career.  Son,  David, age 15, is into  weight-lifting/body-building, and you would NEVER  guess he’s only 15  looking at him – he looks like a college football  player, at least!   Both kids were home-schooled until 9th grade, when they started  high-school.  There was no way I could provide all of the opportunities  and electives once we hit high-school age, so I decided to retire. 

I’m also mom to 1 spoiled and neurotic cocka-poo  (cute but bark-y dog)  and 1 pampered Egyptian Queen disguised as a Siamese kitty.  But don’t  tell her she’s “just a cat”…  she is sure that she is the ruler of our  home!

I’ve  been digi-scrapping since  early 2005, as far as I can figure out.  I  started with Photo-Shop  Elements 3 (back when that was the newest  version! LOL!) and about a  year later I graduated to Photoshop CS2  (brand-new at the time) because  I knew I wanted to learn to design  digi-kits, and most of the  tutorials I found at that time (for making  kit elements) were for PS,  not Elements.  I love the creative freedom  that Photoshop allows, and  now I also use Illustrator, which I also  really love!  I am so happy  (and lucky!) to have a husband who is  supportive of my addiction. These days I use PSCS5 and Illustrator.  I love some of the new tools that Adobe has come out with!  I also make cutting files for Silhouette/Cricut etc. digital cutters, and am  hoping to expand that collection in the near future.  

I am inspired by beautiful color combinations, mostly.  Also inspired by just plain-old-everyday real-life events, and needing to scrap them!  Often when I make a kit, I have some family photos in mind that I want to scrap with.  And then sometimes I’ll just see a photo in a magazine, or a cute dress, or something else that catches my eye, and I think “I have to make a kit like that!”

Lately,  I’ve been on a  bread-baking spree, and trying many different recipes  for  soft-and-fluffy buns, English Muffins, sour-dough,  Honey-Whole-Wheat  bread (my fav), and more.  I even ordered a special  kind of yeast  from Amazon –  one that you cannot typically find in  normal grocery  stores, but it works SOOooo well!  (It’s called “SFA Yeast” for any who are curious – and I also add extra gluten as well, which gives me great results.)

I am also a musician, playing  piano/keyboard, banjo,  percussion (bongos, congas, djembe, etc.) and  played in a large  (contemporary) church band for over 15 years.  I  decided about a year  ago to step away from that “for a while”  (indefinitely?), and I  am really enjoying not having to get up early on  Sundays to go practice and  play!!  :)

So first I need to say…the banjo? Seriously?  My husband is dying to learn.  Jill…want to come over to my house?  Please?!?!  How cool would it be to hang out with Jill….would you all be jealous?  Well we can’t have that.  PARTY AT MY HOUSE!!

 Would you like to see what goodies Jill has in her store?  Of course you would!  Make sure you check out her store as I know she will be adding things ALL the time (I got a sneek peak of some of her new stuff and OMG is it perfect! but shhh…I didn’t say that).

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Jill-DZines/

 Boy are we lucky to have these two designers joining us.  Thank you to you for being a fan and I promise to keep bringing you only the best in digiscrap land!!

 Wow, this never really happened to us before.  For the first time ever we have a guy joining the staff.  YAY!  You should have seen the excitement in the forums that there is a man around!  This presents a small issue though.  I have no idea what to call him. I mean he isn’t a lady so we can’t call him a GingerBread Lady, yet we can’t call him a GingerBread Man since our GingerBread Man runs around the forum handing out coupons.  (Have you seen him lately?  I wonder if he’ll be stopping by soon).  So what to do about the name. Do you have any suggestions?

Enough about names though, let’s find out more abut our new GingerBread…person.  Our new designer isn’t a designer.  Well, maybe that isn’t true.  He is a designer, but not a scrapbooking designer.  He is a website designer/guru.  In fact he just put a like button in our gallery so you can post your layout directly to facebook with just 1 click of the mouse!  Woohoo!

 He has been our website designer for all these years and now he can be yours too!

That being said let me introduce you to Stephen, also known as

Mr. Wyld Web Designs

 Since we all know about his wonderful and talented wife, Charmaine (Wyld Web Designs), let’s find out more Stephen!

 I am a Work-at-home father of 3 with an Associates Degree in Web Design and Development.

I try to stay up to date on the latest Technology around the web. I have been doing basic Web Design since 1998. Since then my skills have grown and I’m able to do more complex Web Designs. 

He certainly is a man of few words but let me tell you he is super talented at what he does!  Speaking of what he can do for you..let me show you!

Here are some of his services!

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Ecommerce-Store-Install.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Ecommerce-Module-Install.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Ecommerce-Theme-Service.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Forum-Install-Service.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Forum-Plugin-Install.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Forum-Skinning-Service.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Forum-Update-Service.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Wordpress-Install-Service.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Install-Wordpress-Plugin.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Wordpress-Skinning-Service.html

http://store.gingerscraps.net/Upgrade-Update-Wordpress.html

I hope you take advantage of his expertise!  You definitely won’t be disappointed!