It's a Blog Hop! Spring Has Sprung

The Art of Digital Design 2 Blog Hop has ended. Thank you for stopping by. I will be participating in the May 2012 Blog Train (starts May 1) Be sure to 'like' me on Facebook and download a free digital goodie over there (changes periodically) You can find many of my digital designs at Natural Designs in Scrapbooking

WELCOME TO THE ART OF DIGITAL DESIGN 2 BLOG HOP.

In 2011, I continued on my digital design journey and was blessed to participate in another advanced class at jessicasprague.com, taught by Carina Gardner ~ The Art of Digital Design 2. You know I love to learn - and believe me, the AoDD2 class did not disappoint. Several of the designers from this class created digital goodies for you using a luscious color palette!

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Want another freebie? Head on over to "by the Shore designs" facebook page, be sure to "like" me - and download this fun coordinating alpha. (And I have more freebies planned for you in the near future over on facebook)

The full list of designers is below and they each have a wonderful coordinating freebie for you.(If at any time you get "lost" on this bloghop, please feel free to hop back here and you can go to each designers blog with a simple click) Your next planned stop on this blog hop is Crumpled Paper Designs.

I hope you enjoy the freebies that these designers have created just for you. Please take the time to leave a little love (comment) and let them know you appreciate their efforts and generosity. (And we have designers participating from around the world, so please be patient if someone's contribution is not yet available)

This blog hop only lasts through the end of March (as does the March Blog train) Download now and make sure you don't miss a single digital goody!

Enjoy your spring and all the blessings that surround you - and I hope that these digital freebies will help you create some fabulous layouts! Have a super day...by the Shore.

Week 12 - Project 366

The March 2012 Blog Train can be found HERE

Another week in 2012 is behind us - and another set of pages have been added to my "to be printed" folder. 84 days of memories - and many more wonderful days are ahead of us!

If you have not checked out the March Digi Blog Train - the link to my freebie is at the top of this post. It goes through the end of March.

AND....coming on the 29th of this month - I will be adding another freebie. Several graduates of the Art of Digital Design 2 (jessicasprague.com and taught by Carina Gardener) are hosting a mini-blog hop with a fresh Spring theme and a luscious color palette. Be sure to check back then!

The weather here in Colorado is fabulous....Spring is in the air (though we are not out of the woods yet - still plenty of time for a good old fashioned snow storm) Enjoy the beauty that surrounds you...by the Shore.

Art Journaling - Surrender

The March 2012 Blog Train can be found HERE

Another Art Journaling Prompt at jessicasprague.com - another layout in my "to be printed" folder. The prompt this past Friday was "surrender". This is another one where an idea immediately came to mind - yet I wanted to think and reflect on it. AND....I ended back where I started.

This is one of my favorite worship songs at our Praise Service at church. (I guess this layout serves a double purpose as it meets the lyrics challenge too)

Challenges at jessicasprague.com are issued on Fridays in the general forum. Come on over and give them a try. Sometimes a little idea or prompt can get those creative juices flowing - not to mention is just plain old fun!

Have a wonderful day....by the Shore. (I know I will, Spring Break started today and my girls are home for a week.)

Photography class

The March 2012 Blog Train can be found HERE

A few days ago, I registered for a photography class at jessicasprague.com. Oh Shoot! I have been waiting for a little while for this class to be offered again. Candice Stringham is the instructor for Oh Shoot! and I had the pleasure of meeting her at Spraguefest 2011 in Las Vegas. I was really impressed with her ability to demystify your DSLR camera. I liked her overall style and approach to teaching photography. The best part is I am confident that when the 6 week class is over, I will have moved from automatic to manual! Just in time for my daughter's high school graduation.


If you are looking for an online photography class, this might be the one for you. Class starts on April 2.

Hoep to see you there...by the Shore

Scrapbook Challenge

The March 2012 Blog Train can be found HERE

Each week, the digi-gurus at jessicasprague.com issue a scrapbooking layout challenge. This past Friday the challenge was a lyrical one. Choose one of your favorite songs - use that song and the lyrics as your title - and have fun!

This one was just toooo easy. Last October, I attended Spraguefest in LasVegas. My friends and I had a blast in Jesscia Sprague's digital classes - but we also enjoyed a margarita (or two) in Margaritaville. Good friends, good classes, and a good drink in your hand - who can ask for more....

If you have not scrapped about a favorite song - I encourage you to give it a try. I have done this many times. Some layouts are fun like this one, other ones are reflective and thought provoking and a few bring back fond memories.

Enjoy scrapping...by the Shore.

Art Journaling

The March 2012 Blog Train can be found HERE

Here is another Art Journaling page I created using a weekly prompt from jessicasprague.com.
Bright! So many ways I could have gone with the prompt - but this was the first thing I thought of. I mulled it over for a few days....and kept coming back to this childhood phrase.....

The prompt shared on Friday, March 16th was "surrender". Still reflecting about this one.....hope to have it done in the next few days. Any suggestions?

Oh....and it is offically Spring! I am happy dancing...by the Shore.

Project 366 - Week 11

The March 2012 Blog Train can be found HERE

Week 11 of Project 366 is complete and ready to be printed. And this week, I made sure to hand the camera to others to take a picture or two. My youngest daughter took pictures of the sunrise while I took pictures of her. And while at a Stampin'Up card class, I passed my camera to another gal to take a picture of my friend and I.

Spring is just a few days away! Are you ready? I know I am...by the Shore!

Photoshop Friday 3/16/12

The March 2012 Blog Train can be found HERE

I enjoyed working with the template provided with jessicasprague.com's Photoshop Friday (3/16/12) It was a fun template and perfect for these pictures of my fun and playful girl.

The technique shared was to use a light type on a dark background. I like the way this appears on the layout. I used my Shades of Gray collection for this layout and have added another file to my "to be printed" folder (and you know that makes me happy.)

Hope you had a wonderful weekend - we enjoyed a taste of spring and even a touch of early summer. All we need now is green grass and colorful flowers. But...I know that in Colorado, we are likely to see more of that white "stuff".

Have a fabulous week...by the Shore.

Persnickety Prints is having a sale!

The March 2012 Blog Train can be found HERE

You have heard me talk about my love of Persnickety Prints. The quality is the best. My layouts and prints are in my mailbox quicker than any other service I have used. And the customer service cannot be beat. So...what can make Persnickety even better...how about a sale.

Now is the time to stock up on print credits which can be used for your 8.5 x 11 layouts and/or your 12x12 layouts. Then, when your "to be printed" folder is busting at the seams (like mine is now), you can upload to PersnicketyPrints and use those credits. You will only need to pay for shipping and handling. GO HERE to purchase your credits....sale ends on March 18th.

Happy Shopping....by the Shore

Week 10 - Project 366!

The March 2012 Blog Train can be found HERE

Another week of 2012 has flown by - and this was a very special one in our family - one of my "babies" turned 18 years old. Hard to believe how quickly time passes.

Have I mentioned how easy it is to stay on top of Project 366 using these quickpages. Four full sets of double layouts - I simply rotate through these quick pages from week to week ~ adding the date, the "day of the year" (1-366), my photos and a touch of journaling. Scrapbooking at it's easiest!

The 366 Days in 2012 Quickpages are available at Natural Designs in Scrapbooking and are on sale now. Perhaps you have all of those 2012 photos still on your camera or maybe you have downloaded them but have not quite decided what to do, then consider these quick pages - you can be up to week 11 in no time at all!

Have a wonderful week....by the Shore.

Shades of Gray Mega Collection (and a sale)

The March 2012 Blog Train can be found HERE

Introducing a new digital collection that is simply perfect for a variety of layouts and hybrid projects. The Shades of Gray Mega Collection includes all three Shades of Gray paper packs, an elements pack and an alpha pack (which has 3 full sets of alphas!) While these five kits are sold individually, the Mega Collection is perfect for those that "want it all". Need a little incentive - the Shades of Gray Mega Collection is on sale now at Natural Designs in Scrapbooking - here

Check out these layouts which feature papers and elements from the Shades of Gray Collection.

Crafty Girls Layout also features a template from ScrappilyEverafter.

Basketball layout features a template from SimplyTiffany!

Hope you are enjoying your weekend...by the Shore!

A Speed Scrap & Photoshop Friday

The March 2012 Blog Train can be found HERE

I've been having fun over at jessicasprague.com ~ and adding more layouts to my "to be printed" folder.

On Thursday night, I participated in a Speed Scrap. Every 10 minutes, a new requirement for the layout was added. In an hour, I had a layout completed - start to finish. I used my just released "Shades of Gray" collection for this layout. (available and on sale at Natural Designs in Scrapbooking)


On Friday morning, a new Photoshop Friday 2012 class was waiting for me. This template was so much fun - and I could not wait to scrap my daughter's last day as a seventeen year old.(She was nice enough to pose for the obligatory picture)

Hope you are enjoying your weekend....by the Shore.

Layout Inspiration

The March 2012 Blog Train can be found HERE

Each week at jessicasprague.com; a new 'Spraground' challenge is issued in the general forum. An opportunity to try something new during the week - to think outside of the box - and to add another layout to my "to be printed" folder. (You know I just love to fill that folder up!)

This week the challenge was to use a font - and fill the letters with pictures. As it turns out - this was the perfect layout for a cover page for our 2010 DisneyWorld Vacation Album.

It was pretty easy and I love the way it turned out.

Find a nice bold font (I used BEBAS - which can be found at dafont.com. ) I typed out my title one letter at a time. This allowed a unique picture to be used for each letter. You could also use one picture for each word - or a single picture for the entire title - the options are endless.

Once the title is type out - line it up the way you wish it to appear on the page. (Hint, once it is lined up, I link the layers together so they don't accidently move) Add a picture above each letter in the layers palette and clip the picture to that layer (using the letter as a mask).

I added a wide stroke to 'mat' each letter as well as shadows. For the background on this layout, I used papers from ALL STAR BIRTHDAY - PRIMARY COLLECTION, available at Natural Designs in Scrapbooking. I love the way this page turned out. If you have not tried this technique - give it a try. For a cover page, it's a great way to offer a sneak peek of what's to come.

It's Friday - hope you have had a great week and are looking forward to a great weekend...by the Shore.

Art Journaling - WISH

If you are looking for the March 2012 Blog Train - it is HERE

The latest Art Journaling prompt at jessicasprague.com was "wish".

I am enjoying this journey of Digital Art Journaling. I find it relaxing and even therapeutic. One day I would like to sit down and use real paper, paints, chalks, inks and ephemera - but for now - digital keeps my area tidy and clean up is breeze!

A snowstorm that was in our forecast fizzled out last night. And I am okay with that - I am ready for summer....bring it on....by the Shore.

Week 9 - Project 366

If you are looking for the digital goodness of the MARCH 2012 BLOG TRAIN - it's right HERE

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We are officially in week ten of 2012 - and I have all of the layouts for the first nine weeks of Project 366 complete. Most of these have already been printed and are in our family album ~ the last few weeks are in my "to be printed" folder.

Here is what week nine looked like in the Meeks Household.

Yes, it is all about basketball - but that is our life these days. It is ever so easy to stay current using my 2012 P366 QuickPages. I simply add a few dates, my photos, a touch of journaling and I am done! My family loves looking through these layouts (as well as the albums from the first three years of Project 365 / Project Life)

These 2012 Quick Pages can be found at NDISB and My Memories.

Have a blessed week...by the Shore. (give your loved ones an extra hug today)