Nontraditional Valentines w/ free digital images

I hope every one's weekend is going as expected and that you are having a great time, I look forward to spending extra time when my family is home  rather it be cooking an exceptional meal to just casually sitting around chatting.
Last night I put together a valentines card that steps out of the ordinary colors for this occasion and I was very pleased with the results.
As you know I have been playing around in Photoshop CS4 and Illustrator CS4, I  am enjoying it so much and eventually want to bring you digital images that you will want to use on your cards. As for now I am just accumulating thoughts and have started on a frog theme. I have two completed but I want to wait to give you the full package. So keep checking back!

So the image I am giving away today is basic but none the less very pretty as you will see how I put it to use in the pictures below.

My combination of digital and manual card making:

The background is my design that I put together in Photoshop. I used a blur effect to soften the look of the butterfly brush strokes. I then added an weaving overlay.
The heart was a long process considering it was my first trial at forming each colored piece by cutting 1" circles then use a new pencil ( not sharpened) as a base to wrap and scrunch around, then I glued each into place on a heart that I hand drawn and cut out.

Giveaway

This image is a PNG file so that you can print it on any colored paper, PNG just means it has a transparent background as opposed to white. If you want the colors shown in the image print using white paper.

As a special bonus I also am giving away this 12"by12" scrapbooking background and distressed layer grouped into one that I created!

The first image is a jpeg file and the second image is a png. file
This is great if you are putting together a digital album just for online or even have it sent to professional printer company if you are manually putting together a special album that you can show friends and family when they visit you!

I hope this project inspire you, enjoy your freebies

Note*  I am only a newborn when it comes to creating digital images but seeing I have drawn half of my life and took a course that taught me how to use the Adobe Suite ,  I thought I would combine it with card making and present you with digital sets in the future..I feel really good about this and know I can do it...I am learning so much!!!

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Altered box -Valentines

Hello!

First of all I want to thank all of you who left such sweet comments on my blog, it has inspired me greatly to create more. I always make a special effort to visit all of you and be sure to comment.

Today I am showing you an altered box, it was once a Peter Puck candy box like the Life Savor boxes you get at Christmas time for a stocking stuffer.

Also I received my Peachy Keen stamps last week and couldn't wait to try them out...I used them on the hearts that I stamped and cut out... I loveeeeeee them!!!! You can find these stamps over at

http://www.peachykeenstamps.com/products/PK_490_Everyday_Character_Face_Assortment-171-30.html

PK-490 Everyday Character Face Assortment

I am entering this project into

The Dream Valley Challenge over at http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/
There are so many creative projects, be sure to check them out for there is no shortage of inspiration there!

To know what techniques I used, read below each image

Now for my project

On the front I add the cutest little lamb that I cut out using a Sizzix Side Kick that accompanies the Cuttle bug. The flowers were made by using my flower punches, I punched them out of worded distressed paper, I curled the edges with a tooth pick and added a vintage button. The background was made with white card stock and inked over with Tim Holtz's distress ink pad ( Antique Linen) with a sponge dauber.

As you can see I used stickles on my lamb to create a more 3D effect , I also added the punched out heart and bow.

Here you can see the expressions used on my hearts from Peechy Keen Stamps! To order these go to the link mentioned above.

Here you can see the opening where I have put cinnamon heart candy as an added touch.

Hope you are inspired!

Create Inspiration, Express Gratitude

Well I am off to a real busy start this week, I am participating in 3 blog hops and 1 link up party and having a blast getting to know some of the sweetest and talented blogger's out there!!!

Last night I decided to change it up a little and do a quick easy layout. I had a photo of myself and seeing I had only ever done one (of myself) I thought it would be fair for years down the road when one of my Grandchildren takes a trip down memory lane, they will see the creator of all the albums!!! Isn't it funny how we leave ourselves out of it!!, I am about to change that , it doesn't matter if I am too skinny or too fat... or if my hair is limp...you know it!! We use any excuse we can...well enough of that.

Here is me! ( with a big bow). I am putting this layout in my scrap room so that I will remember how I felt when I design it, which was I wanted to inspire people with my creations... I want to share love outside of my family to at least one person a day and lastly to always be grateful and show gratitude.
I may not think I need a reminder but who knows???

So yes this is me but it was 5 years ago....since then I had put on weight... The reason I never showed this picture to anyone was because during that time I heard at least once a week that I was too skinny....I am proud of who I was then and who I am now,  even though I gained 30 pounds I have never felt better!

Also last night I did something I never do... I played around in Illustrator and drew a flower...I thought I could print it out and use it on one of my layouts! Then I thought although it is amateur, somebody might like it and want it!

So here is the picture , all you have to do is click the picture , right cling and download, it is a PNG file. Enjoy!!!
Have a fantastic day!!!

Click on image, then right click , choose "save picture as"