DSS Fall Daze & Blog Hop

Hard to believe that this is the first time I've blogged since June - but life has been pretty...erm...tumultuous might be the best word for it and everything online and digital has had to take a back seat to practicalities like paying the mortgage...sigh!

Still struggling with that particular issue - and looking for yet another job in the struggle to keep the wolves at bay...but here I am finally with just a little time to post an update.

Digiscrap Station is hosting a month-long event ... Fall Daze... just click the picture below to go to the calendar of festivities for all the great things that Nancy has planned...

And it's kicking off with blog train! The DSS designers have created a variety of wallpapers (some with October calendars and some without) which you can collect from their blogs - and here's a sneak preview:

Click on the preview to go to Nancy's blog for a full list of participating sites - and before you go hopping - don't forget to grab mine! I used my Slick City Chick kit, and there are three options, one complete and ready to use, and two with spaces for photos, both with and without the calendar - click the preview below to grab all three.

Well that's all for now - don't know whether I'll get time to blog again any time soon - but until then, slainte!!!

Fab Freebies & $2 Friday Express Deals

First of all, I'm really excited because I have a freebie featured in this week's DSS newsletter!!! It's a little mini called Tarantella Dusk which matches my Tarantella kit (scroll down to see the full kit available for a song!)

Just click on the picture below to take you to the newsletter where you can snag the freebie - and don't forget to sign up to the newsletter for lots more freebies in the future!


And next up is this month's stunning SDK Mega - the theme is June Bride and includes lots of fabulous minis - all of them free!

My contribution is a cute shaped quickpage collection that matches the Basic Grey Keyplate chipboard album - but the individual pages can also be used as clusters on standard layouts, or add a ribbon or tassel to create a pretty bookmark - or if you're planning a wedding you could also use them on invitations or place-cards for a truly custom look!

Four of the minis are already available - and more will be released through the month - including the album! Just click on the preview to take you to the SDK On the House category - and then be sure to sign up for the SDK newsletter to find out when the rest of the mega is released!


And if you liked my Tarantella Dusk freebie, you'll love the full Tarantella kit which is available for today only at just $2 in the DSS Friday Express - just click on the preview to go to the site:

Also in the Friday Express for just $2 are my new Desktop and Mobile Wallpaper Services - so now's the time to try them out!!! You'll also find my Florient brushes & custom shapes for Photoshop and my Timesaver Toolkit for PSP. But remember they're only on special today so grab em quick!

Well that's all from me - have a great weekend!!!

$2 Friday Express & May Madness Sale

There's a lot going on at the moment!!

Firstly, don't forget that tomorrow is the $2 Friday Express at Digiscrap Station, and I've got some goodies lined up for you:

Let's start with a couple of new products - my new Timesavers Toolkit is available in either Photoshop or Paintshop Pro formats and includes no less than 17 actions/scripts - and yep they're both on special tomorrow for just $2! Good for personal, commercial and scrap for hire!

Next I've got a set of six classic Celtic Crafts Quickpages for just $2 also:

And a taster of my commercial use PSP brush & tube sets (also available for Photoshop) - each pack contains 10 images in PSP brush, tube and PNG formats for maximum versatility - and Photoshop packs contain brush, custom shape and PNG formats. This Victorian Floral set is just $2 tomorrow only:

And finally a set of CU fondant icing frames all ready to frame your birthday pages or create your own cake tops - includes a set of randomly piped florets and borders as a bonus - and all for just $2 tomorrow only:

And finally, if you miss out on the Friday Express - you can catch these and many more great bargains in the Scrappin Digi Kreations May Madness sale - starting tomorrow!

Hugz!!!

I luv playing with pearls...

Yep, besides lace, I must confess to yet another vice, namely...pearls. Sigh! I've always loved them, hankered for them, yearned for them...and now I finally found a way to put my vice to good use lol!

I stumbled on the most incredible stash of pearls for beading and needless to say they found their way into my heart, into my hands and now into my etsy shop (and in the process some of them found their way under my desk...I'll have to go find them later lol!)



And I am loving etsy so much...I actually went and reactivated a shop I had at CafePress way back in 2005 and never used. It's in a fledgling state, there's only one design there so far...but if you want a quick preview, go here: http://www.cafepress.com/Belanna

Aaargh...I have lots more I wanted to catch up on, but I'm being summoned for dinner (isn't he a darling? I can't believe he puts up with me!) - so I must run...but I'll be back later!!!

Sales, Prizes, Coupons, Freebies....I'm worn out already!

Yep, NSD isn't even over yet and I'm already officially worn out lol!

So let's start with what's going on in my little patch....there are massive storewide sales (of course!) in all three of my stores - at Digiscrap Station, Woolsweater Street and Scrappin Digi Kreations - and you wouldn't believe the bargains - I've already snapped up a few myself lol! So if you're ready to go bargain hunting, come visit us at:

But that's just for starters - the main event is a huge crop extravaganza at Digiscrap Station...and I mean huge! Starting from noon on Sunday there are no less than 17 separate activities - including all sorts of layout challenges, games, treasure hunts and chats! Bring along all the freebies you've scored elsewhere and put them to good use in some fun and fabulous crop challengs.

There are oodles of goodies just for participating - and in addition to that - every thing you do earns you points - and what do points make? Prizes!!!! And oh boy, what great prizes! There's a 2gb flashdrive, Amazon gift certificates and much, much more...even a little something from my new etsy store lol!

So don't hang about, go get signed up now so that you're ready when the whistle blows 'All Aboard!' for the DSS NSD mega crop event! Just click on the graphic to go to the forum to sign up and get all the info you need to play:

Time for an early night I think, to get ready for tomorrow lol! Night night all!!!

Baubles, Bits & Bobs by Belanna

First things first...I'm on a bit of a high today because I passed my medical terminology exam - what a relief! Especially since I couldn't get hold of the recommended text, and only discovered as I began the test that half the questions weren't covered by the alternative text that the library gave me - horrors!

I nearly walked away but then thought, what the heck, it couldn't hurt to try. So whether it was fluke or skill, I really wouldn't care to say, but I'm just thrilled I don't have to do it again!

So because I'm on a bit of a high, I finally got my rear in gear and launched my Etsy shop - Belanna's Baubles, Bits & Bobs. I've only got one item in it so far, but I was really pleased that it was so easy to set up. Now I just have to take loads of photos of all the other bits and bobs I've been tinkering with lol!

In other news, fab things are afoot this weekend at Digiscrap Station - starting with the every popular Friday Express - whoo whoo! Then tons of sales - followed by a mega marathon crop - where you get to show off all the goodies you gathered, bought and won during NSD - no matter where in scrap land it came from. How cool is that??? And not to mention prizes...oops did I mention prizes? No, I'm sure I wasn't meant to mention that....and not just digi prizes but some real world goodies too....but you didn't hear it from me!

But don't let me Twitter on (coz I do that now too lol!)...there's so much to do, so little time, and I can't be late again....help, I've got White Rabbit syndrome!

Friday $2 Express, First ever sale & Freebie!!!

Hard to believe, but I now have enough items in my store to actually participate in the Friday Express at Digiscrap Station - everything in the Friday Express is reduced to $2 and since there are loads of designers, you'll find some real bargains - including some fabulous commercial use items!!! Click the picture to hop on board the Express:

And even harder to believe, I'm in my first ever sale! The Easter & Passover Sale at Woolsweater Street has just started and runs until Sunday. All of Karen's incredible actions are includes and some simply stunning alphas from Flitterfidget - and all at 25% off! Click on the pic to go shop the sale:

And if you're wondering what I've been up to lately, well I've been hard at work creating commercial use brushes, and a new kit called Tarantella - inspired by that sensational Hilaire Belloc poem about the gypsy dance of Southern Italy. And I've got a little freebie in both stores that matches it - a pair of CD-shaped quick pages that can be used as is, or added to a larger layout as frame clusters. Hope you like them!

So if you're shopping in the Woolsweater Street Sale or the Friday Express, don't forget to add this little sweetie to your basket:

Have a great weekend everyone!
Hugz
Belanna

At your service...

After much dithering and pondering, I am pleased to announce that I've finally summoned up the nerve to go commercial - with a new service for designers:



So, if you're a designer and you're finding that too much of your precious design time is taken up with other tasks and you feel you're missing out on the opportunity to make more from your designs - because you simply don't have time to create add-ons such as quick pages, albums, printables and hybrid items - then I'll do it for you!

The end result is then yours to sell as add-ons or standalone products, or to use as promotional tools such as bundle incentives, challenge prizes or chat participation gifts.

There are three 'flavours' of this service available:

• Standard Quick Pages - any of the usual 12 x 12, 8 x 8, 6 x 4 etc - or any size you want as long as it's essentially square or rectangular.


• Shaped Quick Pages - your choice of any of the Basic Grey, Maya Road or Cosmo Cricket ranges.


• Custom Hybrid Printables - you name it, I'll make it - gift boxes, treat bags, book marks, money holders, gift card holders, door hangers - whatever you fancy really! If you can describe it, I can make it!

I'm offering singles and six-packs in each category, and also a Pick & Mix six-pack that includes your choice from each category.

For more details on any of the options - you'll find the full range of services available at either:

And many thanks to Nancy at DSS and Sammy at SDK for the opportunity to be a part of their fabulous teams - and for their endless patience and understanding!!!

And if you go and browse, you'll find a little free taster in each shop - a pair of 8x8 Quick Pages made with my first ever commercial kit - Belanna's Celtic Crafts.

As time goes on I'm planning to add more freebie tasters of each service category - but until then I'd like to say a huge thank you to the wonderful designers who very kindly allowed me to use previews of items I've made for them to illustrate my services: Ali Folendore, Gail Cook, Karen Stimson, Krista Ringham and Liz Dau - colossal hugz to you all!

So that's it from me for now - still tons to do! But if you have any queries regarding the services or the options - or any suggestions for other items you'd like to see included - let me know!

Slainte!

Bad news, good news, late news...

We interrupt your scheduled programming to bring you .... me! Back again after a rather turbulent few weeks. First the bad news - along with millions of others I am now officially without work...so if you happen to know of anyone who needs a freelancing instructional content designer...let me know!

Now the late news...I'm always late to the party, but at least this time I'm only a week behind lol! My good friend and inspiration, Karen Stimson, introduced me to DigiscrapStation a while ago, and a jolly good store it is too! And as of last week they're hosting the Friday Express - fabulous $2 specials on all kinds of things including a whole host of personal, S4H and CU goodies.

Click on the ad to go directly to the Friday Express...but don't forget to have a browse through the store - there's lots of sales on!

And the good news? Well, erm... hopefully there's some of that on the way for all of us...but in the meantime, here's a little freebie to brighten your day...

Click on the preview to find out where to download this pair of 8x8 quickpages - you might just be surprised!

Candy Coated - Tweet Hearts

Well, it's been a while, but here I am finally designing again - this time thanks to Amanda's Candy Coated Challenges at the Bud Club. Each challenge begins with a video tutorial on a specific technique, and then we're awarded points based on how well we master/adapt the technique to make it our own.

The first challenge focused on using doodles to create three dimensional, layered elements - which I'd never even considered lol! But since the challenge required that we create our own original doodles to begin with, and I'm a bit 'challenged' in the doodle department...this is what I came up with:


Additional criteria for the kit was as follows:

• 6 papers - 4 patterned, 2 solids
• A full alphas
• 9 elements including 2 doodle-based, and one piece of wordart

Apart from my rather woeful birdie, heart and 'Love' doodles, I really love how some of the other elements turned out. Of course the lace-edged heart, frayed heart and eyelet lace ribbon are all thanks to Karen Stimson at Wool Sweater Street, she has some fabulous new actions!

If you'd like to snag my little Tweet Hearts kit (and lots more attractive ones besides lol!), click on the picture to go to the contest gallery, and please leave some love!

Sigh....

Regrettably I am another year older and have so very little to show for it... no cake, no presents, and very soon I fear, no job. And what am I planning to do about it? Bury my head, drown my sorrows, and hope that tomorrow is not the day I'm dreading it will be...

Ignore me, I'm wallowing in a forty year pool of misery and fear that's coagulating in my veins as I speak...but I just wanted to say this....

Birthdays really suck!!!

ADSR 4 - And we're off....

And we're off on another crazy helter skelter ADSR 4...and I have a new partner all the way from New Zealand - big hugz and hellos to Mag!!! And we have a new blog to track our progress...so please come visit us! Our team name is CaNZ Creatives and all you have to do is click the pic to find yourself transported to our ADSR blog:

This was my fairly hurried layout for the first challenge...and many thanks to Hummie for the inspiration! Hurried because I've been without power or internet most of the weekend and wanted to get it finished quickly before the lights went out again lol! The journalling is a little verse about siblings...of which I have many!

I kinda like mine, but by comparison, Mag's is a complete work of art...you really have to go see it!!!

On other news, I didn't get a chance to post the last couple of days of Ali's 12 Days of Christmas Freebies before they were gone...New Year just got hectic! So I hope you managed to scoot over to SBB to snag them, but just in case you didn't, I can at least show you what you missed!

That's all for now, can't wait for Challenge 2!!!!