CT Leader Needed

I am looking for a special someone...
Here is a description...
- Loves to digital scrapbook.
- Loves to get my stuff for free.
- Can lead a team of 3-4 other scrapbookers as a Creative Team Leader.
- Has some CT experience.
- Can commit to 2-3 layouts per month (or more if she wants more stuff for free before the rest of the world)
- Will post these layouts in 3 galleries (2 of my choice, 1 of his/her own)
- Blogs at least weekly.
- Will participate in challenges at least once a month that I provide.

You know me, I am a busy designing woman. I need someone to support me, I promise I will make it worth every minute.

You think about it. If you are interested, send me a quick email at pillowgirlmk@comcast.net that tells me about you, your CT experience, has your best layout galleries in it, your blog address if you already have one, and tell me why you would make an excellent Team Leader. Also tell me what I can do to motivate you, reward you, make you feel good, and brighten your day. Please include CT Leader in your subject line of the email.

Freebie! Patterned Elegance Extras

Do you remember my Patterns of Elegance? I couldn't help but think I forgot something, and I realized today what it was! So here is a little pack of "Extras" that I never released before. They are stickers, some for journalling, and then a paperclip with a ribbon attached and a gold brad.

Here is the link to the papers and embellies I released a while back with this set if you still don't have those or need a refresher.

Download these Extras here
Special Thanks to Atomic Cupcake

Maryse's QP Entries

When I saw these, I thought WOW WOW WOW. Maryse has a real eye, I think :) She has made some QPs that really stand out in a crowd. I would never thought to use these kits this way but they are just CUTE CUTE CUTE. They look so sunny and fun. Don't you think? Give her some praise in a comment, eh?

Valinda's QP Entries

I have always been a big fan of Valinda's Quickpages and her blog. She makes it really easy for me to make any old photo look fabulous. I was thrilled to see that she rose to this occasion and made us some super duper quickpages!

For this QP, Val used the Berry Lime Kit. I loved this kit, it is so bright and vivid. And pink isn't just for girls these days, I tell ya. Val made a second one for us too, out of the Sherbet kit. When I was making this kit, I thought orange and pink were almost too bright for my taste... but then I loved it when the kit was done. This kit has some of my all-tie favorite word art, inspirational and upbeat. And Val sure makes it look good!

These quickpages will be available to anyone who joins in the exchange :)

Some questions have come up about how to get them to me best. You can upload them to a file sharing site like 4shared.com and just email me the link if that is easiest for you. Whatever works for you will work for me :)

Now... please take a minute to post some comments about all of the QPs being shared, I am adding a whole bunch! These designers are really talented, I hope you are thinking of a lot of ways you will use their QPs when the exchange is done and I post the links.

QP Exchange Entries...

Janalyn has combined different pieces of the Sherbet kit into this bright and fun layout. I love the matted photo areas and the tag for journalling up top. This was such a fun kit to create, I am glad you chose it for this exchange so we all can have fun with your quickpage later!

Kisses by kcatonio... using my Black and White Beauties. This is one of my favorite kits ever, I had so much fun working with only black and white... and what a GREAT layout this will make! I can think of about a thousand kissy moments I could capture in this quickpage. Thank you so much for your creative use of this kit.

GrannyB has gracefully accepted the exchange challenge and created this wonderful quickpage with some of the Patterns of Elegance pieces and the Timeless Beauty Word Art. Simply beautiful, I think the paper and the quote go so well together. Good choice!!! And thank you for joining the exchange. It wouldn't be the same without ya.

----
I have received several entries, I only had time to make previews of 3 tonight but I will post more tomorrow. This is so much fun to see what you create with my designs, and I really appreciate your input and feedback more than you will ever know. This QP exchange really touches my heart because I know you put a lot of work into these. Thank you soooooo much.

Please take a moment to leave comments here for those who design these quickpages. You will be getting them for free if you join the exchange, and you will be spotlighted here as well. Remember, to compliment someone else only takes a moment, but can touch their heart forever :)

Bringing Your Own Designs for the QP Exchange

I was asked if you can bring your own designs into your QP Exchange layout.

I think you can, but you need to still include something of mine, and you will need to also send me a written statement that says I have permission to redistribute the quickpage freely on my site. I don't want to get all legal-ese but I would hate to get sued or called a pirate. You know what I mean?

First Quickpage Entry!!!

I opened my email and found that Scrapguy has been hard at work with my kits making his entry for the Quickpage exchange. This is great! I love how he took the pieces and made something I never would have thought to put together by mixing and matching things.

And can you believe it is his first ever attempt at a Quickpage? Great work!

Everyone, you will get this in the Quickpage Exchange by sending me your submission. Leave some love for Scrapguy in the comments below.

Handy Tools

So do you have a handy guy in your life? I sure do. He asked me to make some more "Manly" stuff for him, and he likes my elements when I make them from scratch... so I put together a little bundle of tools. I will be making a whole kit of this kind of stuff, but it is a slower process when I am trying to be all precise for him :) Here is a set of 3 basic tools that every man has in a box, belt, or drawer somewhere.

Download them here

I know my blog posting has slowed down a little this little while. I have been uber-busy, helping around the house with my mom and chasing Miss Maia. I have been designing, but not finishing, so be prepared for sometime when all of the sudden my designs just EXPLODE onto the web :)

About the Quickpage Challenge

Someone asked me if there is a deadline on entries. Let's shoot for 2 weeks from today. That gives you plenty of time to try a few if you want, or to really focus on one really good one.

Some hints on making quickpages... What I do...

- Make a real layout. Use a photo you would normally use in a layout as a place holder.
- Highlight your photo layer and delete the photo shape entirely. Then delete that space in all of the layers below it, leaving a transparent hole.
- Merge your layers
- Save it as a PNG.

This should make a simple quickpage. There are lots of tutorials out there if you google "Quickpage Tutorial"

Misty Cato has a good tutorial here

QuickPage Exchange...

I have an announcement... AHEM!!!

ATTENTION QUICKPAGE DESIGNERS AND THOSE WHO HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO MAKE ONE BUT NEVER HAD MOTIVATION...

I would like to start a game of Quickpage Design. You can use ANY OF MY FREEBIES that I designed over the last year or two. (HA I haven't been designing THAT long.)

Here's how it works.
You make a Quickpage that is 300 dpi, 12x12 square using only my products in PNG format. No one else's because I can't redistribute them if you do that.
You send it to me at pillowgirlmk@comcast.net
I will add it to a secret place and add your email address to my secret list.
I will display some of them here on the blog for anyone who wants them, but I will hold on to several of them and ONLY share them with the group of scrappers who have submitted a QP to the contest.
Please make them without photos so anyone can plop their own photo in.

Come on you talented chicks and dudes, show me your stuff!
If you need one of my kits, check my freebie gallery, my luckybug gallery, or even some of them are still on this blog if you dig. Or email me :)

There could be hundreds of QPs in this sharing ring. This is gonna be loads of fun.
Comment here if you are in for the challenge.

Here's a Paper Pack to help inspire you if you like :)

LINK EXPIRED: Watch for this in my store

Another Alpha Freebie

I have a little girl, as you all know :) So a lot of my inspiration is in the pink world. Here is a fun alpha I made that is a grungy little pink and black polka dot.

How will you use it? Download it and go nuts like me :) Email me your creations and I will spotlight them here on my blog!

I promise a longer post later but mom just walked in from her doctor appointment and I gotta go get the scoop.

ALL PAPERS 40% OFF AT SCRAPHEAD!
ONE WEEK ONLY! Every paper at Scraphead is on sale. Paisleys, watercolor washes, grungy dots, florals, textures, denims, solids and more. Just enter code PAP707 as you check out and your paper packs will be discounted 40%!

Some more Layouts from a Visitor: Thank you Carla!

Credits
stitching by Miss Vivi (Home sweet Home Kit)
Eyelet ribbon by Pillowgirlscraps
Vintage frame by Designing on the Edge.
Fonts crykitty and FG Matilda

Remember to Enter the SNAPSHOTS OF SUMMER CONTEST

Seriously, I don't think I have ever wanted a prize so bad as I would want this one, and it's sad because I am on the CT so I can't win it... so YOU NEED TO WIN IT IN MY HONOR :)

All you gotta do is use two Scraphead products in a layout about Summer and you get entered to win. A little bird tells me there aren't a ton of entries for this yet, so get your layouts going!

Check out this camera prize, it's a Canon, and I gotta say... Canon makes some nice cameras!

Check out the contest here. Join up. You know you wanna.

A Layout from a Visitor

I saw this layout today by tnchick and she graciously allowed me to post it here. She used my latest freebie, the gold-digger alpha and wow LOOK at that sunset! Go leave her a comment here.

Art Layout

Credits here

I think I like this layout the best so far. I had a lot of fun making it, and with such great papers and elements to work with, who wouldn't? It helps that my model is so damn adorable :) Oops, I just said a naughty.

Alpha Freebie...

It's something I consider Essential, it's something shiny, it's something every girl needs in her wardrobe... it's GOLD.

Download here

It's been a long day. I don't have a lot to say... hubby and I had a spat. I hate it when that happens. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day...

Tomorrow is "Pioneer Day" here in Utah. It's the day Utah was founded I think, sad that I don't really know. Anyhow, there are fireworks and all sorts of festivities... I get to go to work during the day, but I am thinking I will take Maia to see some fireworks tomorrow night if it doesn't rain.

I sent in my first ever application to join a Design Team today. Cross your fingers. Don't worry, even if I were the most famous, sought out, in demand scrap designer, I would never stop my freebies :) I love my friends and visitors here.

Inspiration... and a freebie!

You're gonna have to read for the freebie today :)

Here is my post for the Favorite Things challenge at Scraphead.com's forums. I hosted this challenge. It's not too late to get a layout in, a little bird tells me you have a little more time... (hint hint)

Credits: Paper is from my Essentials, the chocolate doodle is by Carol Abrams at Scraphead.

Credits: Nature Walk kit by Kate Rietz at Scraphead

Credits: Nature Walk kit by Kate Rietz at Scraphead
Summer Fun Kit by Mira Designs (buttons)

picture by elaine_23_photo

I found this on Photobucket today, randomly surfing, and somehow I just really liked it. It is so true about most women I know. It certainly suits me anyway. I think I might use it for a layout about myself, or at least to inspire one. Maybe it might inspire you too.

Some thoughts on my "Unperfectness"

I am slow, I walk slow, I clean slower, and my body doesn't always go as fast as others would like it to. But, I do things right the first time, I notice the little things that happen while others miss when they are hurrying to get where they are going.

I am sensitive. Little things get to me. I can't sometimes handle the ugly things people do to each other. But, my friends know they can always count on me to understand when they are hurting. They can confide in me knowing that I will listen with my heart.

I am cheap. If I can avoid spending money on something, no matter how big a pain in the butt it is to do a different way, I will take the free route. I hate taking my car to the mechanic to do things I can do myself. I hate paying for something I can make for myself for even 10 cents cheaper. I think that is what made me get into freebies and scrapbook design. It has inspired me to create many things for myself rather than take the easy route and buy them. Some might criticize me for it, it drives my hubby nuts, but then again... I can afford more necessities this way.

Freebie: Timeless Beauty Word Art

Download here

What are some of the Unperfections that you and I might have in common? Do you celebrate them or do they make you insecure? Do you feel self-conscious about them or do you embrace them and find ways to appreciate them?

Freebie!!!! Picnic Papers

Download Here

These papers remind me of an old fashioned picnic. Hope you are having some good summer fun and can use these.

John (hubby) has asked me to make some special kits. He wants me to make "Manly kits" with tools and fishing and camping stuff. So, that's coming soon. Keep your eyes peeled.

Last Day...

Today is the last day to enter your layout for the challenge of the week at Scraphead. Don't miss your chance to get $5 in free products at Scraphead. So far, there's not a lot of entries so your odds are REALLY GOOD.

Click here to get in on it at their forums

Ribbons and Bows oh My!

I combined these ribbons and bows into one download for you. I hope you will enjoy using them, they coordinate with my latest freebies. I especially love that I figurd out how to put little touches of metal in some of them.

Download them here. Also, remember to drop me a note :) I am loving reading your responses...

Someone asked how I like Divshare versus 4shared... in a nutshell, I like it more because they don't delete your files if no one downloads them for a while. So I can keep my files posted forever. Also, I pay a small fee each month to get some of my file downloads to be direct downloads (but I run out early in the month :)) And there is no limit on how many files I can have them host, so that means that I can virtually give you my freebies to infinity and beyond.

I am a nutjob :)

Free Papers and Embellishments

At long last, here are a few more installments to my latest series. First, some patterned papers you are sure to love. These papers will mix and match beautifully. They all have some form of pattern or texture to them. And they will match all of my freebies for the next short while as I am IN LOVE with these colors.

Download the Patterns of Elegance Papers here

I also found that I am in love with wood today. I sat down and made you some pretty wooden embellishments, frames, and labels for your layouts. I especially love how the two frames turned out. I hope you do too!

Download the Wooden Embellishments here.

Tomorrow, ribbons, bows, and some more miscellaneous stuff. For today, enjoy these parts of the series!

Updates on Life:
My mom is getting better. So far she seems a little better every day. She has quit smoking since she had her stroke, and has even cut pepsi out of her diet. My sister spends the day with her here at our house while our household goes to work. Luckily she has the week off of work. Mom has a therapist coming over tomorrow to help her keep working on her physical therapy to regain the full use of her legs and her right arm.

I am starting to really consider selling some of my digital scrapbook designs. It would be neat to be able to say, "I did that" I suppose. I am a freebie designing mama and always will be, but it would help to cover the costs of my storage and stuff. Also, I really want to someday afford to buy Photoshop CS2 or CS3... I hear it is the Cat's Pajamas.

So you read this far? How about if you click on the link and leave me a comment? Tell me anything, about your day, about your car, about your job, or just that you downloaded this stuff :)

Walk in the Clouds Papers

These delightful papers will set a dreamy scene in your layouts. With 9 papers, you are sure to find a good color for your photos... AND these papers will coordinate with the Mystery Kit I have been working on, so save them now so you can combine them with the fun elements I have in the pipeline :)

Get them on my Freebie Gallery in the Papers section

The new kit I am working on is going to be a big one. I am separating it into themes and will be offering different pieces for download as they are completed. I love this color scheme, so it might just have a ton of stuff for you to play with :) Keep your eyes on this blog for more.

Sneak another Preview :)

Look what I am making... a new kit :) You can see the color scheme and some of the papers and a hint at the elements too. It's gonna be my best yet, I tell ya.

Coming Soon!

I am working on what may be my best kit ever! It's gonna take a little doin', but this is sure to be great for all kinds of beautiful scrapbooking. It has a little pink, a little blue, a little neutral, some brown... and the colors go together spectacularly (if ya ask me).

Here is a sneak preview. Still don't know what to name it, but it is just in the beginning stages so I am sure I will think of something :) That's the hardest part for me... names.

My mom has been home today, and she is doing so well. I thank you all for your prayers and kind thoughts, I truly believe that one of the best things about this world we all scrap in is that I have yet to meet a scrapbooker yet who isn't a positive ray of light in my day... and with all those good folks prayin' for mom, I am sure she is off to a great start to recovering :)

Whimsy Paper Flowers

You know what my favorite thing about the Essential papers I created a while back? They are so versatile! I sat down to create today just to pass some free time while my headache subsides, and I got a little flowery. Here are the flowers I create, I hope you find use for them :) I used the Essential Papers and somecutting and pasting and doodling and such and here ya have it.

Download them here! I am also adding a bunch more stuff today to my Freebie Gallery. Gonna get as much of it uploaded as I can, then I am going to find a way to make it even COOLER by coordinating and organizing it so you can find all of the stuff that goes together easier.

So go check it all out :) More free stuff to come.

Updates: Mom came home again today. I am hoping this time that she can stay home longer and do a lot better. She is my hero.

Challenge by ME! At Scraphead.

I had the honor of hosting the challenge at Scraphead this week. I am excited to use it to learn more about my fellow scrapbooking friends! Please take a minute to check out the challenge and hopefully join in!

Two lucky scrappers win gift certificates to Scraphead! Just for doing what you love to do anyway.

http://scraphead.com/forum/showthread.php?t=91

Background from "Butterfly Kisses", by Jeanelle Paige,
Word Art from "Blue Lavender," set by Miss Mint,
Cuddlebug embellishment part of "A Boy's Life," by Amanda Roberts
More a collage of me... one photo of my husband and daughter, one of Seattle's Market, and one of my favorite ice cream

Bringing Back and Old Favorite

I created a kit called Sherbet early in my freebie design days. It is still one of my favorites to this day. It is bright, summery, and cheerful. And the word art is some of my favorites ever, so positive and inspiring.

Come get it at my Freebie Gallery in the KITS section

I also added a few plaid pieces to the gallery and will be adding to it some more this weekend. My goal is to have all of my freebies in their new home within a week or so. That's depending on my mom's progress and such, but I should have enough time to jam pack that gallery this week.

Speaking of mom's progress...
She is in the hospital right now, hoping to not get sent home again until she can do a short flight of stairs without worrying it will put her right back into the hospital. Half of her body and face are somewhat numb and hard to control, so the doctors are suggesting some heavy duty rehab, either at an in-patient facility or with a private therapist in our home. The woman who once was unbreakable and invincible is now dependent on others to help her walk or even dress herself. I pray she will find the inner strength to put up this big fight she has ahead of her. It's a long climb up a steep hill in the dark, but if anyone can do it, my mama can.

She has not smoked since Sunday, she is making good progress there. Partly I think because they won't let her leave the area of the hospital she is in, but also partly out of sheer determination to be healthy again. She also can't eat well (stroke survivors sometimes struggle as it can cause them to choke) so she has lost 10 pounds, but she is eating soft foods and doing what she can. Of course, she has cut her Pepsi and chocolate consumption down, so some of that weight loss is from that :)

I love my mom so much. The craziest things go through my head, and it really makes me realize how fragile life and family really is. Hug someone you love today.

Hold On

A Pueblo Indian Prayer

Hold on to what is good,

even if it's a handful of earth.

Hold on to what you believe,

even if it's a tree that stands by itself.

Hold on to what you must do,

even if it's a long way from here.

Hold on to your life,

even if it's easier to let go.

Hold on to my hand,

even if I've gone away from you.

ARGH

As I sit here, my mom is on her way back to the hospital. ARGH. Looks like she had a rough day. Anyone have an encouraging word or two about how the sun will come out tomorrow?

Striped Ribbon Freebies, Updates, Etc.

Today I sat down and made 18 striped cloth ribbons with 18 matching bows! These have such a great texture to them and will coordinate with any of my Essentials collection. Of course, with all this color you are bound to find a kit or ten out there you can also coordinate them with. Try mixing with some of my other bows in this color scheme as well!

I split the download up into two so you can get just the bows or just the ribbons if you like. The links are below each preview.

Download Bows

Download the Ribbons

Mom came home today. For those who have not read any of my posts from this week, she had a series of strokes on Sunday and has been in the hospital since. She is a bit slow, has some speech problems, and has a hard time getting around... but she is HOME!!! YAY!!!

Calendar Quickpage Freebie

MOM IS COMING HOME TOMORROW MOM IS COMING HOME TOMORROW MOM IS COMING HOME TOMORROW MOM IS COMING HOME TOMORROW MOM IS COMING HOME TOMORROW MOM IS COMING HOME TOMORROW MOM IS COMING HOME TOMORROW MOM IS COMING HOME TOMORROW MOM IS COMING HOME TOMORROW

MOM IS COMING HOME TOMORROW

I sat down with a few elements and papers and made a calendar and decided to also make it into a Quickpage if anyone is interested in snagging it.

• It's on 4Shared for now, but will go onto the Freebie Gallery later this week. Download it here! All you need to do is add the dates and the name of the month, then pop in a picture and POW, you have a bright calendar.

Where to get the Elements I used for the downloadable Quickpage:

• Red and Black Paper from my Paper Essentials (Plaster Texture)


• Red Ribbon from my Essential Ribbons #1


• Red Bow from my Essential Bows #1


• Lileya's Indian Ornaments Brushes from http://lileya.deviantart.com/

My First and ONLY Tattoo

So I mentioned that I used a scrapbook doodle for a tattoo. Some folks thought I was kidding! So I took a picture. It needs a touch up in a month or two, and I might add some color then, but for now it is black with a little dark blue.

The doodle is from this FREEBIE on Scraphead by Jessy Designs.

Scrapbooking Freebie: Soft Wave Overlay

This fun overlay is a great addition to a summery or water play layout. Use it to add a touch of the waves or the ocean to your page.

Download on 4shared here. I will add it to my gallery as time permits :)

Overlays are easy! If you have software that allows you to layer your elements, these transparent files only show the white portions. You can then leave them as they are, recolor them, or even try some of the blending modes and other effects on them.

Win a new Canon Camera! WOW WOW WOW!

I just checked my email. Scraphead is having a summer contest and giving away a digital camera to the winner! Not just any digital camera, but a nice Canon one. I have played with this model before, it is SWEEEET.

Go to this post in their forums for all of the details.

Also, from my personal experience... if you are looking for a great summer kit for this contest, try the Summer Fun Kit at Scraphead, it is a bright and sunny kit, that's for sure.

So come join up and good luck! What have ya got to lose?

Updates

I just got home from the hospital. Looks like mom is getting better and may come home as soon as tomorrow. I am keeping my fingers crossed. She is in a regular room, off her IV, and eating soft foods... so it is looking good. Her last "mini stroke" was yesterday afternoon, so it is looking like she is stabilizing AND she doesn't seem to have any major residual damage from the strokes. YAY!!!

Also, Leah at Scraphead is doing this week's challenge since I am so busy. I will do the challenge next week though :) She has made a little mini-kit for you to use in it. Go to this thread to get in on it and to pick up the free mini kit.

The challenge is to use all 4 of these elements (plus any others you would like) in a layout. You have to use all 4, but I bet you can think of some great ways to do it. Think outside of the box. Or inside. Or all over it :)

Thank you all for your kind comments and for the emails I have received. You have made these hard times a lot brighter :)

Sunday at Pillowgirl's Scraps... LONG POST and freebie update

I am home now from the hospital and spending some time on my computer to just kinda numb my mind. It has been a hectic week for me.

I will go backwards, starting with today as it was the most eventful one.

I woke up this morning at 4:30 to my stepfather telling us that an ambulance was on its way and my mom had some sort of a small stroke. She has been healthy as can be, but today was just not her day... So I spent the day running back and forth across the valley to the University of Utah hospital. And just in general being where I was needed and spending time with my mom. She had about 7 mini-strokes today while she was under observation. Apparently the one she had at home was no "small stroke" and she may continue to have strokes until they can find the trigger or clear out whatever blood clot is blocking her bloodflow to her brain.

She is resting in the neuro critical care unit and will be there at least until tomorrow. I will be in and out visiting her until she comes home. I can't imagine life without my mom, and today I don't want to. She is my best friend.

Earlier this week, we got a phone call from one of my hubby's old friends who lives in Colorado. A mutual friend of theirs was on a bus from Ohio to live with some guy in Utah and start his life over. The person he was supposed to meet here flaked out on him, so he was halfway to Utah with nowhere to go. So he stayed with us overnight on Thursday and on Friday we all made a trip to Colorado... we came home the next day. While in Colorado, we both got a tattoo from the guy who lives in Colorado who is a licensed and very talented tattoo artist.

It's my first tattoo ever, and likely my last. It's a pretty paisley design you might recognize if you have the scrapbook freebie it is inspired by. It's one of the paisleys from a freebie at Scraphead. Yes, I immortalized a scrapbook doodle.

Anyhow, that's an update.

I also added 10 files to my scrapbook gallery at http://pillowgirl.hyperphp.com/gallery so go check them out. You might have missed them before.

I haven't forgotten you...

I have so many things to post about... I just got home from a quick run to Colorado on an unplanned semi-emergency, I got my first tattoo, and I am hosting a challenge at Scraphead this week...

But my mom had a stroke at 4 AM today and is in the emergency room at the University Hospital, so I am spending most of my time today going back and forth from home to there. I will post more later. In the meantime, please pray for my family if you believe in prayer.

Win WIN Win

Hey get yer bums over to Scraphead and enter their weekly challenge. This week there is a free template that you can use to make your layout, but even cooler...

A GIFT CERTIFICATE TO THE WINNER AND 1 RUNNER-UP TO SPEND IN THE SCRAPHEAD SHOP!

So come on over and enter to win, last day is tomorrow I think!