Happy Friday! I hope everyone is enjoying the week. It’s been a fast one.
Remember if you spend $10 in the store, you get this great kit free.
Let’s see what our designers have for us this week. There is a lot of fall, thanksgiving and we’re starting to see a little Christmas mixed in.
How are your challenges going? Complete any 10 challenges and get this great kit as a reward.
Calling All Genealogist/Scrapbookers!
PDF Version : bit.ly/3EsDCc3
At the end of this week, Commonwealth countries will be taking a moment to remember our war dead. November 11th is Remembrance Day. (In the US it’s Veteran’s Day, a slightly different theme.) This time of year I think about all the people I’m connected to who have served in the military, not just the ones who died, but all of them. That got me thinking about how scrapbookers are family historians, whether they chronicle the current generation or dig up bones many generations past. Reading some discussions in the Forum has told me there are a lot of GingerScrappers who are interested in genealogy, and I’m sure many of them have treasured family photos of long-deceased ancestors. So today I’m going to talk a bit about scrapping with heritage photos, and share some scrapbooking collections I think are especially suited.
Photography came into being almost 200 years ago, with the first permanent image captured by Nicéphore Niépce, but it wasn’t 1839 and the invention of the daguerrotype by Louis Jacques Mandé Daguerre that it really got attention. Over the next couple of decades, many innovations were developed that allowed photos to be taken more quickly and for them to be printed on paper. Long exposure times meant that people being photographed had to remain as still as humanly possible for several minutes – motion blur was a real problem. It’s harder to smile consistently for several minutes than it is to keep one’s features relaxed, so most early photos with people in them looked pretty grim. Then too, life in those days was pretty harsh for the average person, so maybe smiling didn’t come naturally. If a family had the financial means to be photographed in the mid-1800s, they viewed it as a status symbol. Matthew Brady changed the photographic world forever when he captured the horrors of the War Between the States (nothing civil about it!).
Very few of us can claim famous ancestors. Mine were labourers: farmers, thatchers, miners, factory-workers, servants. Days were long and they worked hard. Clothing was utilitarian; dark colours were preferred because doing the laundry was a HUGE chore. And many dyes were very expensive, so only the wealthy could wear bright colours. Even when they wore their Sunday best, most people’s clothing was plain. My 3x Great-grandmother Sarah Ann Rump was a dressmaker, so she was dressed a little more fancy. Here’s a swatch to help you see what I’m talking about.
Furnishings were handed down from generation to generation. Upholstered items typically were also darker in colour to conceal the day-to-day dinginess that came from not having a vacuum cleaner. All of these things can be used to help date a photo if there’s no information about it. It can be a lot of fun trying to decide when a photo was taken, and it helps narrow down who the people could be. Then… the real fun begins! Turning the photos into memories preserved.
GingerScraps is lucky to have a very talented pool of designers whose heritage collections are treasures in and of themselves. I’m going to introduce you to some of them, and show you some impressive kits they’ve created. I know you’ll love them!
First, Diane of ADB Designs is the QUEEN of historical collections. She has one for pretty much every era and facet of life in North America. In the interest of keeping it reasonably fair, I’m only going to show you three of her collections. Each of them will be linked to the store so if you see something you like, you can go right to it!
Aimee Harrison is another designer with a sizeable assortment of beautiful kits. Here are two that I particularly like.
Returning to GS after a few years’ hiatus, Cheré Kay Designs too has some very charming collections.
Connie Prince is prolific. She just cranks out amazing collections one after another!
Dani, aka JB Studio, is quickly becoming a favourite designer for me.
Kristina, whose designs are labelled Kristmess, has some very elegant kits in her store. This first one is a selfish inclusion – half of my DNA comes from Scotland, Ireland and Wales.
Memory Mosiac is Joy, one of our November Spotlight designers. I think I need this collection…
Ooh La La Scraps is one of the brands designed by Katie.
And finally, Tami Miller Designs has some beautiful choices too.
I’ve barely scratched the surface here! And I’ve got the scrapping itch. Excuse me while I go peruse my photos… I think Sarah Ann needs a layout.
PDF Version : bit.ly/3EsDCc3
Memory Mosaic and Polka Dot Chicks
Now that the first-of-the-month insanity dust has settled, let’s get to know this month’s Spotlight Designers, Joy aka Memory Mosaic, and Tammy aka Polka Dot Chicks. [Editor’s note: It’s Joy‘s birthday month!] These two ladies sat down with me (and Tammy‘s 18 month-old grandson) to do a little Q&A session. What follows is a transcript… to minimize confusion, I’m taking the “O”.
O: Thanks so much for chatting with me and letting me give our readers a peek into your lives. I like to get the meat-and-potatoes out of the way first, then get to the sweets after, so I’ll throw you a softball. How long have you been designing?
J: I started designing in 2015.
T: Since 2008
O: So a good, long time! Joy, what led you to designing?
J: I will admit, when I started digital scrapbooking, I didn’t think I had the ability to do design work. In 2013, I started as a CT member for a designer. She taught me a few basic things that started to give me more confidence, to try more. In 2015 I made my first kit. I will admit, when I look at it now, it wasn’t very good. But, it was the start, and I’ve been doing it ever since.
O: Boy can I relate! I came to digital scrapbooking in about 2010, and those first layouts were so… awful! When I found my first digi home and started working through their challenges, my skills grew and so did my confidence. I never dreamed that I’d be doing what I’m doing now. What does your design space look like? [Editor’s note: Tammy is wrangling her little person ATM.]
J: This past year, I have tried a couple different places. I now have a small office that I work in a lot. It has an old tall secretary, some books shelves and a dresser with some baskets and file organizers. I still take my laptop out to the living room and work and sit on the sofa while watching TV. I hardly ever can just sit, and watch TV, most of the time, I am always doing something else at the same time.
O: I’m the same! Multitasking is like breathing for me. Where do you find your inspiration?
J: A lot of my inspiration comes from my everyday life, childhood memories/experiences, and my family.
O: I think you’re speaking for most of us. Do you have a favourite kit in the GS Shop? I know, it’s like asking you which one of your kids is your favourite. It changes from day to day!
J: One of my favorite kits right now is “Artsy Bits #6“. I love making kits with a “vintage feel” and “grunge”. I was challenged last year to come up with some “Art Journaling” kits. And I started making my Artsy Bits collection. This last one is my favorite. I love the colors and just how it came together.
O: Art journaling is a difficult thing for me. I never feel like I’ve done it well. Strong work! Oh, Tammy‘s back. Hey Tammy, Are you more likely to dance or sing in the shower?
T: Sing – even though I can’t sing! What about you, Joy?
J: Sing. I am not the most coordinated, and I would probably fall if I tried to dance in the shower. LOL!
O: I’ve asked that question a few times. And I’ve done both. Immediately followed by a trip to the hardware store and some no-slip strips for the shower pan. 🙂 Here’s another softball. What colours do you like best, and which make you shudder?
T: My favorite colors are red, pink and black/gray – well technically my favorite color is plaid but I am quirky. My least favorite colors are orange and green.
J: I love blues. I like to mix it with red/burgundy. I also really like blue and yellow together. These colors feel calm and happy. My least favorite is mustard yellow.
O: I don’t love orange or yellow. Tammy, you know plaid’s technically not a colour, right? 😉 Do you have a green thumb, even though you don’t like green?
T: I can keep indoor plants alive. I have a philodendron that I received when my grandma passed away in 1992 and it’s still alive
and now has an offshoot. Big plant is named Papa Phil and the off shoot is Phil Jr.
O: I’ve gotten pretty good at gardening, indoors and out. I bought a foot-tall fiddle leaf fig at Costco a couple of years ago and now it’s four feet tall, with branches everywhere. But I waited to long to clean up my flowerbed and got caught by a snowstorm. Too late now. Pray for me? Crazy question alert: If you could only eat one meal every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
T: Steak, mashed potatoes, green beans & creme’ brûlée for dessert.
O: Yum! If you could have a super power, what would you like it to be?
T: To clone myself to be able to help out my kids/grands when they all ask at same time…lol.
O: YES!! If I had a clone, one of us could be cleaning up the yard while the other grocery-shopped. Oh well. Can you play a musical instrument?
J: I play the piano… not very well, especially considering all the money my parents spent on lessons. I started taking lessons when I was 6 and pretty much took them off and on through college. I did play in church when we were missionaries in Ecuador.
T: The radio! Nope. Not musical at all unlike all my kids.
O: I took piano lessons for a couple of years but we didn’t have a piano so I practiced at the school. Didn’t work so well. What would your dream car be?
J: Honestly we have only had older used cars for a long time, so I would say, my “dream car” would be a “new car”. You know one with all the new “bells & whistles”. But, for now I am happy to have a car that runs. 🙂
O: Been there! My current vehicle is a seven-year-old SUV with room for both people and my son’s wheelchair. I think my next one – when the day comes – will be a hybrid. I travel too many backroads with no services to feel safe going all electric. What did you want to be when you were small?
T: A nurse or a teacher.
O: Did you know that nurses are also teachers? That was my favourite part of my job, teaching parents about what was making their child sick and what we were doing to fix it. Aside from necessities, what one thing could you not go a day without?
J: My laptop. I am on it every day. It is what I use to make my designs, and I use it for other work.
O: Me too! If you had a warning label, what would yours say?
T: Caution: Will start snort laughing when cracking up…. lol.
O: Last question, I promise! What celebrity would you like to meet at Starbucks for a cup of coffee?
T: Any of the actors who played James Bond but Pierce Brosnan would be at the top of the list.
O: <fans herself> I can see it! Well, thanks again for giving our GingerScraps community a little glimpse of yourselves. Before we go, I’d like to remind everybody that not only are the ladies providing this month’s Daily Download (found right here on the Blog!), they’re also hosting the Designer Spotlight Challenge and have some coupons for all of us! Check ’em out.
See you all again next month for the December Designer Spotlight.
Here we are at another Friday my friends. I do hope you had an amazing week and have been enjoying the fun stuff in the November Buffet. You still have a couple of days to grab the Buffet deals.
Remember if you spend $10 in the store, you get this great kit free.
Let’s take a look at some of the new products in the store this week.
Have you gotten a start on those challenges? Complete any 10 challenges (there are over 30 to choose from) and get this great kit as a reward.
Well scrappers, here we are at November 1. Have you started your scrapping wish list for Christmas. It’s definitely time to start those plans.
Let’s start off this month with our Buffet Bundles. One easy click to add bundles of Buffet goodies to your cart.
The designers have given so many things to chose from with this color scheme. The topics are all over the place. Remember with the Buffet, all kits use the same colors so they can be mixed together to create your perfect kit.
Remember any $10 spent in the store gets you this great collab. This would be a great one for those best friend photos. {we go together].
This Free With Purchase was created by: Just So Scrappy, Kristmess, Lisa Rosa Designs, and Miss Fish Templates.
It includes: 2 Alpha {Uppercase, Lowercase, Numbers & Punctuation}, 62 Papers, and 94 Elements.
Are you ready for Thanksgiving (in the US)? {let the stuffing begin}
This Monthly Mix was created by: Aimee Harrison, Aprilisa Designs, CathyK Designs, Scrapbookcrazy Creations by Robyn, and Sweet Pea Designs.
This collab includes 1 Alpha {Uppercase, Lowercase, Numbers & Punctuation}, 62 Papers, and 101 Elements.
Now to the October Daily Download Sneak Peek. This month’s Daily Download is from Polka Dot Chicks and Memory Mosaid! Make sure you are checking the blog every day to get all the pieces of this kit!
We are excited to have a new guest designer join us this month.
Bio:
Hi! I’m Adrienne and the face behind Adrienne Skelton Designs. You may know me under ACM Designs back in the mid 2000’s. I sold at Gotta Pixel and Divine Digital and DigiScrap Warehouse. I started designing back in the late 90’s when my kids were growing up. I could not afford to buy paper scrapbook items so I would design using Paint Shop Pro and then print them out to make my Scrapbook pages. Back then I didn’t know about digital scrapbooking. I had to quit designing in 2011 because of health reasons. Started back designing again last year in 2021.
A little bit more about me: I was born and raised here in Missouri. I have been married to my husband (Gordy) now since 2010. I have 3 Wonderful Boys: Ryan (31) Brendan (28) and Wil (25) 2 of which are out of the house with families of their own. 1 Still lives here with us, and a Grams to 1 boy (Landon) Almost 2 now. Also can’t forget to add my 3 Cats Smokey, Sammy, and Stormy!
I used to design a lot of commercial use items back in the day, but have now focused on more kits than Commercial Use, but my favorite things to design are grungy overlays, blended papers, page edges, brushes, stamps and more. I am an artist in my spare time and I love to put paint to canvas, oil, acrylic and watercolor including mixed media.
I have a club if anyone is interested in seeing when my New Releases are out and special sales or freebies. Please feel free to join Club Adrienne Skelton Designs
https://www.facebook.com/groups/346392190685784
I also have a Blog which I post on as well
https://adrienneskeltondesigns.blogspot.com/
Pinterest: https://pin.it/7mz2HaR
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adrienneskeltondesigns/
Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/91f3f328d4e6/keep…s-and-freebies
Are you ready for the November challenges? Remember any 10 completed challenges gets you this great kit.
This Challenge Reward was created by: JB Studio, Jumpstart Designs, Neia Scraps, Scraps N Pieces, and Dear Friends Designs.
This collab includes 1 Alpha {Uppercase Only}, 67 Papers, 82 Elements, and 4 12×12 Template {png, psd & tif file formats}.
Not only is it the 1st, but it’s also a Tuesday. That means the $2 Tuesday sale in the store.
Let’s take a look at some of the beautiful layouts from our store CT using the November Free with Purchase.
Goodness, it’s the last Friday in October. This month just flew by. Not always a good thing when one still has a bunch of things left to do for the month.
There is still a few days left to get this amazing Halloween kit. Spend just $10 in the store and get this free with your purchase.
There are a lot of fall and Halloween goodies new in the store this week.
Are you still working on those challenges. Any 10 completed challenges gets you this kit as a reward.
Happy Friday my friends. I do hope you have had a great week. It’s definitely fall in my area of the world. Temperatures a little cold for this time in October, but I’m glad for the heat being gone.
Remember any $10 spent in the store gets you this great collab. Get ready for those Halloween pictures.
Let’s see what is new in the store. I’m seeing a LOT of Halloween kits this week.
Have you picked up the October Monthly Mix. Those sunflowers and pumpkins are so cute.
How are those challenges going? Still some time left to get them finished and logged in. Complete any 10 challenges and you will get this great collab as a reward.
Challenge Spotlight: Minikit
Hey GingerScrappers! It’s time for another Challenge Spotlight. This month I’m going to take you through the October Minikit Challenge Gallery. This challenge is hosted by the Polka Dot Chicks, Tammy and Shelby. The Challenge revolves around a minikit they design and provide to participants at no cost. Participants can use all of the kit, or only part of it, and are allowed to use a template. Here’s a look at the October kit, which coordinates with this month’s Buffet colour palette.
Let’s have a look at the layouts that have been posted up to now. The layouts are in the order they were posted to the Gallery and are linked through the member’s user name so you can pop into the Gallery and leave them some praise, if you should so desire.
First up is sparky_mom with a special event announcement. She’d used the entire kit, tucking part of the wavy string under her photo strip and using the large circles on her background as journaling blanks. Congratulations, family!
NHSoxGirl went minimalist with her layout, using the paper with the huge circles as a border for her large-and-in-charge photo.
Alasandra has used the whole kit, with a large-circle paper divider and the paper with the triangles on it cut in triangles to repeat a theme.
MarilynZ has added a word cloud, a soccer ball flair and a silhouette to her minikit. She slightly recoloured the photostrip. Using the large-circle paper as her background compliments the soccer theme.
The big-circle paper is pretty popular! Branma has it in her background too. She’s created a sweet little cluster with the flower elements and anchored her photos with the brads. Cute pup!
AnnieA has a cute series of photos in her photo strip. She’s used everything, with the big-circle paper forming more of a border around the tiny-heart paper. The cluster in the centre ensures the eye goes right to the photos.
I LOVE dhariana‘s use of white space here. I can see she resized the papers, adding a border mask to the tiny-heart paper in the background. There’s only a single photo, and every piece of the kit is visible. Very pretty!
The only part of the kit fontaine didn’t use was the paper with the triangles on it. She recoloured the photo strips and used them as ephemera, using the Paint Bucket to fill her background with the russet colour from one of the big circles. And her photo is masked so it spills over onto the paper behind it.
I so admire people who can use bold prints like these with such great results. Big, bold prints scare me! But not willow… she’s used them very nicely here, and turned one of the circles into a frame for her title.
PixyGirl has used it all, cutting the sides of the photo strip off, recolouring them yellow and using them as paper strips to anchor her photos. The photo strip makes another appearance, but separated into three independent frames.
I’ve never seen this effect jenazs has created before. It looks as though she’s turned her elements into overlays, allowing the papers’ patterns to show through. She has recoloured some of the flower elements with colours pulled from the papers and her photos and turned the brads into flair. Very interesting.
There’s a good amount of white space in this layout by mum23ms. She’s added some ricrac (maybe created using one of our tutorials?) and some splotchy paint behind her photo cluster. She clipped the big-circle paper to the photo strip – it took me several looks at it to figure that out!
Last but not least, we have this very inventive layout from Tbear. She’s used the whole kit, but in some unusual ways. The triangle paper has been snipped into tiny triangles, and scattered like confetti with some super-shrunken brads. The twine has been turned into stems for the flowers. The tiny heart paper has been desaturated somewhat and the big spot paper has been made smaller, duplicated and laid end-to-end to create a border along the bottom. I think this is my favourite of them all.
The first half of October has been unusually summery here in the Okanagan valley. But I see the forecast is showing a sudden descent into much chillier weather, bringing rain with it. I’m actually looking forward to it!
How many of last week’s fonts did you download? I picked up 14 of them! See you next week with a Quick Trick.
Welcome to the first Friday in October. Did you all enjoy DSD? Did you find some great deals in the store and enjoy the fun and games in the forum? We hope so.
Remember any $10 spent in the store gets you this great collab. Get ready for those Halloween pictures.
There are a lot of fall kits in this week’s Fresh Baked line up. Let’s see what’s new.
Have you started on your challenges? There are so many to chose from and when you complete 10 you will get this great kit as a reward.
Hold onto your computer mice my friends, we’re going to have some fun. Happy Digital Scrapbooking Day (week)! A week because we can’t just celebrate something like this on one day (or weekend).
There are a lot of new items from the designers in this post, but please make sure to check out the store for even more goodies.
One of the great things about a celebration at GingerScraps is the Free with Purchase Mega. Spend $20 in the store and get this fabulous kit. I’m ready to {relax & rejuvenate}.
This great kits is a free with any purchase over $10 today.
This is just a sampling of the new and fun kits, grab bags, and sales in the store.
You still have time to get your September challenges in. Complete 10 challenges and get this kit as a reward.
