Hey guys…yes, SP here again, lol!  And i’m so happy to be announcing the winner of our SEVENTH template challenge here at the BLOG!  We’ll be bringing you TEMPLATE CHALLENGE EIGHT soon (Thursday, January 6th to be exact, lol)!

I loved this template and fell in love with so many of the submissions…I decided that we needed to have TWO ‘winners’ this time, YAY! :o)  As always…I went to the wonderful RANDOM.ORG site to select our winning numbers (love that site, lol)…and here are the two gorgeous layouts that had the ‘lucky’ numbers!

I seriously do not know if it gets any cuter than these two pages?!  lol!  Even though the layouts are by different scrappers – they almost look like they should be in an album together, don’t ya think? lol!  On the left is HAVIN’ A SNOWBALL by creativesparkmommy…and on the right is PLAYTIME by zenmom3!  They are both precious and really draw you in!  A fantastic job by both with this template…and totally inspiring – so THANK YOU to you both!  I hope you enjoy your $25 gift cards to the Shabby Shoppe (sent via email)…have fun shoppe-ing!

THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE for participating in these challenges – they are truly inspiring in so many ways and we look forward to them as much as you guys, lol :o)  Be sure to check out our BLOG CHALLENGES gallery to see ALL of the fantabulous submissions for this challenge (and others)!

REMINDER:  Our MERRY MEMORIES blog challenge is still going on…you have until January 6th to get your submissions posted (and linked in the blog post)!  We will be selecting THREE winners in that challenge…and there have already been so many adorable and fantastic entries!  Can’t wait to see more :o)

I’ll be back in the next few days to update everyone on the blog schedule and upcoming posts, etc.! 

Have a great day or night…and HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR!  I hope you all have a super fun and blessed and safe weekend :o)

Shabby PrincessShoppe News, Template Challenges, Uncategorized 3 Comments

Hi guys :o)  SP here!  Once again, sooooo happy to bring another new GALLERY GIRLS feature to you!  Just to explain what this post is all about…all of our ‘regular’ gallery posters that we love and feel that we have almost come to ‘know’ – I refer to as my ‘GALLERY GIRLS’ :o)  So, I decided a few months ago that it would be wonderful to spotlight a ‘new girl’ each month!  So…I am so thrilled to ‘introduce’ you guys to our third gallery girl, JENELLE (though, if you visit the Shoppe’s gallery very often – you are likely already familiar with her layouts)!  She is super sweet and fun and a terrifically talented scrapper!  She has become another ‘fixture’ at the Shoppe and we absolutely love having her here!  Her two adorably handsome little men (Nick and Corey) are the focus of most of her layouts – aren’t they precious?!  Jenelle has a great sense of style – and it shows in all of her pages…as does her love of family!  So, how about we get to know her a little better?  But first – how about a couple of brand NEW layouts that Jenelle created just for this special post…

Tell us a little about yourself… 

Hi all.  So thrilled to be asked to do this for the Shabby Shoppe Blog.  My name is Jenelle and I live in Melbourne, Australia.  My husband and I have been together for 15 years (8 of those married) and we have 2 sons – Nick (5) and Corey (2).   I am currently a stay-at-home mum, but in ‘my other life’ I am a teacher.  Travel has a big highlight of my life so far, having lived in Thailand for 12 months as an exchange student and also spending a year in the UK with my husband, working in London and travelling throughout Europe, the US and Asia. 

My eldest son is due to start school in February next year.  I am so excited for him (and also excited about creating digi-scrap pages to highlight this milestone!!)  Thanks for making me feel so welcome in the Shabby Shoppe community – such a supportive group and I love looking through the blog and gallery every day! 

How long have you been scrapbooking digitally…and did you do any paper scrapbooking before giving it a try? 

I started paper scrapping when my husband and I first went on a trip overseas and had all these photos and memorabilia from our trip.  I made up a couple of albums with all the trimmings and it took me ages to complete.  Really lovely to look back on now, although I would love to re-do it digitally.  Then I paper- scrapped our wedding photos and our photos from our honeymoon travels (which is not finished I must add!).  My husband bought me my first digital camera for Mother’s Day just after my first son was born and I have been scrapping digitally since then (2005).  Little children and paper scrapping are NOT a good combination!!  Shabby Princess’ website was my first introduction to digital scrapping supplies and there has been no turning back!

How would you define your scrapping style? 

I’m not really sure if I have a style of any sort.   At high school I really enjoyed taking classes in graphics, so I do like to create pages with clean lines and I try to follow compositional rules (well, what I remember of those rules from high school!).  Sometimes, I try to be ‘reckless’ and throw things together with scatterings of elements, but it always looks like a mess to me, so I revert back to agonizing over small details again…  Aghh! 

What is the first component of each page that you create – or does it vary from page to page (i.e. photo, papers, journaling, etc.)? 

I generally start with the photo I want to highlight and try to match colours/elements to the photo (quite obsessive-compulsive about that part!  LOL!).  But if I am starting with a template, I may try many different photos before I decide which fits best.  One component that I really need to work on is the printing of my final product!  I still have not had any of my 12×12 layouts printed.  Very hard to find a good place to print 12×12 at a reasonable price and of good quality here in Australia (although Kylie has directed me to one and I will definitely be trying them out.) 

Show us your favorite layout…and tell us why you like it so much :o) 

Not sure if I actually have a favourite as such, because I tend to become quite critical of my layouts once they are finished!  Very fussy scrapper, not a good trait!  I do, however, like my layout called ‘Hide and Seek’ because it all came together very quickly and easily and that very rarely happens for me!  I knew as I was taking the photos of Corey that it was all going to come together nicely.

What tip/technique/idea do you know now that you WISH you had known about when you first started scrapbooking? 

Oh, I wish I knew all the techniques in Photoshop!  I am still learning new ones each time I scrap.  I only just cottoned-on to using guides this week and that has made life a lot easier!  I am also trying to master the Pen Tool along with creating and saving my own shapes.  One tool I have no idea how to use is the dodge/burn tool.  My new year’s resolution is to read up on those tutorials!  My sister is always on speed dial when I get stuck on something in Photoshop (she is a self-taught master!) 

What in your everyday life inspires you in your scrapbooking?  How do you transfer that inspiration to your scrapbooking pages?

I like to draw inspiration from fellow scrappers, through galleries and scrapbooking magazines.  (Georgeinci’s layouts are always a great inspiration to me.  As are the SP creative team).  I still have an interest in graphics and graphic design, so I like to look at ads and logos for inspiration, whether in magazines, on billboards, TV ads, packaging etc..  Then there are times when I get so bombarded with ideas that I just can’t decide how to transfer them onto a layout!  Not really a creative blank, more like an overload!

:::SP interrupting to show another new layout that Jenelle created for the feature (my fave!):::

Tech Stuff (tell us about your camera and your software): 

I wish I could say that I had a top-of-the-range digital SLR camera with all the trimmings, but it is on my wish list for when I return to paid work!  Nonetheless, I have been very happy with my point and shoot Fujifilm Finepix digital camera.  Had this camera for just over 12 months now and very happy with its performance so far.  To do my editing and layouts, I use Photoshop CS2 on a very old and slow computer.  An upgrade to all of these will also have to wait for that illustrious return to paid work! 

:::FIVE FAST FACTS::: 

• FAVORITE COLOR:  Blue
• FAVORITE FOOD:  Thai food and of course CHOCOLATE!
• FAVORITE MOVIE:  Mary Poppins
• FAVORITE SONG:  It’s gotta be anything from the 80’s!!  I’m a bit of an 80’s rock tragic…
• FAVORITE MEMORY:  The first time I held both my sons

 So, now you ‘know’ Jenelle a little better!  She is a constant inspiration for us at the Shoppe and I’m sure you are finding yourself inspired, too!  Be sure to check out Jenelle’s fabulous gallery for even more gorgeous layouts and inspiration!  THANKS AGAIN for being a ‘gallery girl’, Jenelle :o)

We’ll have another new GALLERY GIRLS feature for you in January – so stay tuned (you never know – it might even be YOU!)!

I’ll be back tomorrow to announce the ‘winner’ of our SEVENTH TEMPLATE CHALLENGE here at the BLOG :o)  Have a great day/night!

Shabby PrincessGallery Girls, Uncategorized 12 Comments

Hi guys…SP here again :o)  This is a quick post to share the FREE, 2011 January desktops!  So – I should probably start by saying HAPPY 2011, lol…even though we have a couple of days to go :o)  As you probably know – we have been running a poll for a while here on the blog to find out the top TWO desktop sizes that you guys want!  I was surprised to find that we need to make no changes at this time, lol!  Selfishly – I was hoping that the 1920×1200 size would make its way to second place, but no such luck, lol!  That is my screen resolution…and I haven’t gotten to use one of our free desktops in a LONG time, lol!  Oh well :o)  We’ll try to run the poll every six months or so to see if there are any changes…and will make any necessary modifications :o)  I know many of you wish we could design EVERY size each month (I do, too, lol) - but I’m sure you understand that that is just not possible.  So, we hope that you can enjoy our monthly free desktops…and if they don’t work for you – be sure to check back and vote in our next poll – it’s the only way we can be sure we are creating the most wanted/needed sizes!

So…here is our first free desktop of 2011 – designed by our wonderfully sweet and talented KYLIE (thanks so much!)!  It has a magical feel to it…and while there are some fun little snowflakes on there – it is pretty versatile and will work even if you are not in the middle of winter right now (or do not have snow)!  ENJOY!

CLICK HERE to download the 1024×768 version

CLICK HERE to download the 1280×800 version

As always – THANK YOU so much for stopping by…and for enjoying our desktops :o)  We plan to keep them coming…

Shabby PrincessFree Desktops, Uncategorized 32 Comments

Good Morning (or evening :o))!  SP here…tired and exhausted after a busy and fun-filled Christmas weekend!  WOW, it was WONDERFUL…but Goodness I must be getting old, lol!  I feel like I could sleep for a week (wish I really could, lol) and would love to just sit on the couch all day today, lol (not going to happen)!  Christmas morning was magical – just love seeing it through the eyes of a child!  We are all so blessed and have so much to be thankful for (and we are)…especially each other!  There were lots of presents, but I don’t think that is what any of us will remember when we look back on the weekend – I think we will remember the fun moments, the laughs, the hugs, the food, the JOY and the time together.  Don’t get me wrong, presents are GREAT, lol (and i LOVE all of mine)…but we enjoy the time together so much…and remembering the meaning of Christmas!  Anyhoo – it was a FANTASTIC weekend and I wish it could last forever, lol!  But…as we were returning home last night from a movie (Yogi Bear…cute and the little man laughed a LOT, lol) – our son said, “ISN’T IT TIME TO TAKE DOWN ALL OF THE LIGHTS AND THE TREE NOW?”  And, I guess he’s right – but it still made me sad, lol!  Partly because I wish Christmas could last all year…but also because MAN, it is a lot of WORK, lolol!  So worth it though :o)

I truly hope that you all had a WONDERFUL weekend, too!

Alright…how about I get on with the LAYOUT OF THE WEEK?  lol!  I haven’t been to the gallery for about a week (been so busy with the holidays) and I wasn’t even sure we would have any new layouts posted with everyone’s schedule being so full!  But, there were actually quite a few, and all so lovely!  Many are for our current challenges (template challenge SEVEN  which is now closed, and the MERRY MEMORIES layout challenge) – but there were other fabulous pages as well…like this one by KristiL!  It just makes me laugh – I have NO idea what the context of this photo or layout is really – lol…but it makes me smile and I enjoy the silly-ness :o)  Not to mention the design is beautiful (I love the huge snowflake peeking out)!

So, CONGRATS, KristiL - I hope you enjoy your $10 gift card to the Shabby Shoppe (sent via email) :o)

I hope you all have a fantastic week…I’ll be back on Wednesday with our latest GALLERY GIRLS feature (you won’t want to miss it)…and will have the free January desktop soon as well!  Oh, and I’ll be announcing the winner of our seventh template challenge on Thursday!

HAPPY WEEK :o)

Shabby PrincessLayout of the Week, Uncategorized 5 Comments

Hi guys…SP here!  Hope this is a great start of the week for everyone…a very SPECIAL week :o)  Our little man keeps telling me every morning…just exactly how many days are left until Christmas, lol!  It is a great reminder…but also stresses me just a bit as the countdown continues, lol!  I am not exactly READY yet…but getting there!  We had family over this weekend and it was a wonderful time (can you believe I did not take a SINGLE photo?  ugh…lol)…the first of a few Christmas and holiday get-togethers!  We ate SOOOOOO much, too LOL!

Anyway…I’m not here this morning to ramble on about my weekend…I’m here to share our latest LAYOUT OF THE WEEK with you…YAY!  As always – not an easy decision!  I saw so many AMAZINGLY FABULOUS layouts from NEW members…and from my ‘forever favorites’!  None of this helped, lol…the choices the choices!  But, in the end, I went with BEAUTY by MadtownMama because it really just jumped out at me…

 I really love the angle…and the photo sequence with the color photo!  The colorful button frame really makes it ‘pop’…and isn’t she GORGEOUS?!  I love all of the expressions that were captured…and the quote is perfection!  Be sure to check out MadtownMama’s gallery for more from this super beautiful book (created as a Christmas gift for her parents) – LOVE it!

Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful pages with us, MadtownMama!  And, CONGRATS on LOTW…enjoy your $10 gift card to the Shabby Shoppe (sent via email)!

Everyone…have a WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL week!  I’ll be back NEXT MONDAY for another LOTW!  In the meantime…the BLOG is taking a little time off so we can all finish preparing for the holidays (see the post below this one for the actual schedule)…and of course – enjoy it with family and friends!  We hope you do the same!  No matter how you celebrate the holidays…HAVE FUN and make it memorable :o)

xoxo – SP

Shabby PrincessLayout of the Week, Uncategorized 6 Comments