Oscraps Blog Blitz Featuring Vera Lim and a Contest!

Hi everyone! I am so happy and excited to participate in the first Oscraps Blog Blitz! This blitz features a daily blog train featuring layouts and projects and reviews of a beautiful kit created by the December Oscraps guest, Vera Lim.

Check out the kit: Wild and Beautiful by Vera Lim.



Wild & Beautiful is a “gorgeous and stunning pastel colored kit!” It includes 10 papers and 34 elements (available as colored and shadowed versions – 63 total elements)


Now I should let you know that in exchange for writing this post, this kit was provided to me for free to review, but Oscraps asked that we make our reviews honest - so that it should not influence what I post here.

First a bit about where I am at right now. I've really been thinking a lot about trying more clean layouts that emphasize the photos and carefully and beautifully use digital scrapbooking product and I wanted to put these ideas to use when I created my layout. I'm not sure if I really ended up doing that with this layout because the pieces of the kit were so much fun and just had to be used! I was inspired by the name of the kit - Wild and Beautiful and upon downloading the kit, I thought of several possible uses for this kit in my scrapbooking projects. Here's the first layout I've made with this kit.




Now this is a good sign, because I don't always use kits more than once if I don't really think of other layouts immediately. We'll see if the other layouts floating in my head materialize, but I love having ideas swirling around. I liked the soft colors in this kit, because, well, it feels very "in" right now as well as the great chance that it will go with a lot of photos.

I've really liked and admired Vera Lim for a long time. This is the first opportunity I've had to create with one of her kits. It is beautiful. I love the dimensional flowers that are so popular right not and a lot of the fun and creative elements. The papers are fun - many with some of the elements already placed on the paper. This kit does not come with any really solid or light papers - but you could easily use a paper from another kit if you are looking for a more plain item to coordinate.

Several of the elements are color variations and shadowed elements. It is very clear and the total number of unique elements is clearly provided. I like having the options to choose and it is and I think it is great as long as you know that before you purchase. The elements are also labeled e1, etc. and I prefer descriptive names in case I want to search later or as a hint to how the designer envisioned some of the elements. I really liked the style and variety of the elements and found that I wanted to use a lot of them on my page. There is a really nice combination of handdrawn and dimensional elements.

Overall, I really loved working with the kit and I can't wait to create with another one of Vera Lim's products.

Thanks to Oscraps and Vera Lim for providing this kit. Here's a little more about Vera Lim -


Vera Lim lives in beautiful New Zealand with her dear hubby and two georgious kids. She decided to guest this month at Oscraps because, well, she heard some good things about the O’s and thought why not try it for herself!

Here are some links to find out more about:

Vera Lim
Vera Lim's Guest Designer Store at Oscraps
Vera Lim's Facebook Page
Vera Lim's Blog
Vera Lim's Store

And do you remember that I mentioned a contest earlier? Here's how to enter!

Visit each blog on the Vera Lim Blog Blitz and gather the words for a Christmas quote. When you have compiled the quote, e-mail it to bloghop @ oscraps.com (remove the spaces). All e-mails must be received by midnight CST, Wednesday, Dec. 22.

One winner, from those who submit the correct quote, will be picked randomly – using Random.org - to win a kit of his/her choice from Vera Lim.

Here the words to add from the Created by Heather blog - "It may weave a spell of nostalgia."

And here's a link to the post on the Oscraps blog about the Vera Lim blog blitz

And a list of the blog tour spots:

The Tour:

12/15

Oscraps Blog
http://bit.ly/VeraLim_blogblitz

Elisa Hubbard - ehstudios
http://blog.through-my-eyes.org/

12/16

Tronesia Derrico - diamndprincz
http://dsbmylife.blogspot.com

12/17 *** TODAY*** You are here!

Heather K - interstitchal
http://createdbyheather.blogspot.com

12/18

Elaine Millar- elainem
http://elainemillar.blogspot.com

12/19

Lisa Jurrens - imsewkrazy
http://www.imsewkrazy.blogspot.com

12/20

Tricia Berg - Lulutoo
http://thehappydandelion.blogspot.com

12/21

Melissa Rhodes – scraphappyrhodes
http://idahorhodesfamily.blogspot.com

So if you are just starting here -check out the Oscraps blog or check out yesterday's post at Tronesia's blog and tomorrow's post at Elaine's blog!

Thanks for coming!

Digishoptalk December 2010 Featured Designer

December's Featured Designer is Creashens. The kit she created is totally amazing - I just love the style and combination of elements!!!

Here's a set of gift tags I created with the kit Merrily. I love how it is so traditional and yet modern and retro all at the same time!!!



I made some of the elements - including the ornaments dimensionally layered also for that extra pop.

New to You Designer - Digishoptalk December 2010

The New to You Designer this month at Digishoptalk is Ramona the Pest.
I created this card using the kit Hearts Full of Thanks available at Brownie Scraps.

Battle of the Creative Teams - DigiScrapAddicts

If you are looking for the ScrapMatters DSD Blog Train - you are in the right place - just scroll down 1 post!

So I've been participating in the Battle of the Creative Teams at DSA for the past four weeks with the team for Andilynn Designs. It has been a blast working together with 4 great scrappers each week to come up with our entries - Shari, LeAnn, Becky, and Amber. Thank you gals for all of your hard work! If you'd like to see all of our layouts - they are linked in this thread.

Here are my layouts over the past 4 weeks -


The voting for the fourth week is going on this weekend - Andilynn's team would vote it if you voted for us! The link will be posted in a thread here for week 4 when it goes live. Thanks in advance!

ScrapMatters DSD Many Thanks Blog Train

Happy DSD everyone!
If you are following the blog train - you should have arrived from Fran's blog.

Our theme of the blog train is thankfulness - the theme of the free with purchase kit for DSD weekend - Many Thanks.

I am thankful for a lot. But I am really thankful for good people who make life worthwhile - here's to you.

I created a hybrid placecard - printable 4 at a time on an 8.5 x 11 inch page. Hope it makes some of your entertaining this year a bit easier and festive!



**EDITED*** Sorry this download is no longer available :(

This link will be active for one week - after that the downloads will be available in the ScrapMatters store.

Next on the blog train is the amazing and fabulous Andrea of Andilynn Designs. She has a coordinating hybrid printable for you. And while you are at Andilynn's blog - check to make sure that you have her new web address http://andilynndesigns.scrapmatters.com in your readers or subscriptions to get updated on all of her new items and fun info. The http://andilynndesigns.com address still works - but all the feeds come from the andilynndesigns address now! And don't forget, if this train gets stalled or derailed - check the ScrapMatters blog for a list of all the participants! Have a great day!

November DST Featured Designer - Karla Dudley

The November Featured Designer - Karla Dudley - just moved to Design House Digital. I like the stamps in this kit and the patterns on the papers are really wonderful.

November DST New to you Designer!

This month - November's New to You Designer is Carena's Designs at DigiDesignResort and the kit is Golden Forest.



I really like how my blending with the photo turned out with this layout. I converted it to a bookmark shape too and it turned out great!

DSt Gold Member Kit - October 2010

The gold member kit for this month at DST is Sense and Sensability by TaylorMade Designs. I absolutely loved creating with this kit because I have been wanting try Amanda Taylor's designs for a long time - but I just hadn't gotten to it yet. She has a wonderful simple yet well crafted style that is a sure combination for a beautiful page. I'm hooked.

Here's my layout:

New To You October 2010 at DST

The new to you designer at DST is picked randomly each month - and the designer featured this month isn't new to me (love her) but I hope you check out Erica Zane's Designs at ScrapMatters. It's kinda funny because Erica was a featured designer last year at DST and had a fabulous kit she created then that is not revamped and in her store.

This month the feature is EZ Wishes - a birthday bundle with lots of great stuff inside. One thing I love about this kit----- lots of green - my favorite color - so I made a birthday card that's very green and has an alpha cut - out on it. I've been wanting to try that out for a long time.

Here's my card:

September DST - New to You Designer

DST has a new feature - instead of the Hot Product - there is a New to You Designer picked each month by a lottery.

For September - the New to You Designer is Down the Road Designs and this is her featured kit: Bohemian Blooms.



Here's my layout with the kit:



Next month will feature a designer from a store I frequent....

Would you like to receive a free kit designed by Gwenipooh?

Gwenipooh has retired from selling in a store - but she has created a new freebie available on her blog!



Cute isn't it? In order to receive the kit - you just have to create a layout using one of her freebies - head over to check it out!

DST September Featured Designer - Faith True

Great kit -isn't it! It's only available for the Gold Members right now at DST....
Here's my card.

Happy Birthday ScrapMatters!

ScrapMatters is having a birthday party and we are all invited - hope you get some time to stop by - and hope I do too! Blog train! Sale! And lots of fun and games!

August DST Featured Designer Gold Kit!

Some changes are happening at DST - and now the CT members get to work with the gold member kit! I'm excited about this because some of the best designers in the community have the oppportunity to make an exclusive kit for Digishoptalk. I've always wanted to get my little hands on some of these beauties!

Here's the layout I made with the August Gold member kit - by Fruitloop Sally!


I just love the fun elements in this kit - the doodles, the popcorn, the rides.... puts me in a good mood!

Fun all in one Gift Card!

I made a gift card recently and thought I'd post it here. I wanted to make a gift certificate and thought I'd make it an all-in-one with a box to wrap up!



The yellow area is where the sentiment goes along with a little more detail!

Here's the front of the box - a little hint to what's inside - but I didn't want to give it away from the beginning!


This will get wrapped up with a sparkly ribbon for some extra shine!
I used Simply J Studio's Gift Card Box template and Jackpot by Britt-ish Designs to create this funness!

Gwenipooh's Retirement Sale

This is a sad time :(

Recently one of my favorite designers - Amy Sumrall retired from The Lilypad. And now another fabulous designer is retiring!

Gwenipooh will be closing her shop at the end of April at ScrapMatters. But the upside - she's having a sale!




Check out her store to grab any items you've been eyeing. Gwen - wish you the best - it's been great creating for you!

Check it out! Winning layout at Vanilla Bees!

I'm so excited! I was chosen as the winner for the first digital scrapbooking challenge at Vanilla Bees ! It was an inspiration challenge - and I'm looking forward to more challenges - you can use any kits you want!

happy together

I really liked how this card came out...

I used Happy with my family by Gwenipooh Designs.

Vanilla Bees

I just found this site online -haven't had much of a chance to check it out yet - but it looks like it might be pretty cool and run by some really inspirational scrappers. They are having a contest too for some photo actions that look fantastic!

http://www.vanillabees.com

April Hot Product at Digishoptalk!

The kit for this month is fun and brightly colored - with some great characters inside like the turtle and crocodile.... it's called Dazzletude and it's by Teresa Hernandez.

I used a calendar overlay for 2010 by Geeky Diva Designs for this project - easier for me to keep track of the months at a glance.

Disclosure Policy - Long Version

Since I am on the creative teams of several designers and stores, I think that it is a good idea to have a disclosure policy on my personal blog. On the right hand side of this blog, I have blinkies of all of my creative teams. Please feel free to contact me if you have any thoughts, questions, or concerns!

***

I am a member of creative teams for digital scrapbooking designers. I receive digital scrapbooking kits in exchange for creating layouts and advertising these products. Although I receive this compensation, I truly love the kits I use and would create with them even if I were not part of the team. I create for Andilynn Designs, Geeky Diva Designs, ScrapMatters, Elise Hansen, Plain Digital Wrapper, Digishoptalk, and Gwenipooh, Amy Sumrall, and Pamela Donnis as of the writing of this post. The blinkies on my blog will have the most up to date list as teams change.

Official policy:
This policy is valid from 09 March 2010

This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. This blog does not accept any form of cash advertising, sponsorship, or paid topic insertions. However, we will and do accept and keep free products, services, travel, event tickets, and other forms of compensation from companies and organizations.

The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post may not always be identified as paid or sponsored content.

The owner(s) of this blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers' own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.

This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.

To get your own policy, go to http://www.disclosurepolicy.org