Hi all! Trish here with my first blog post of the new year! I hope you are all having a great start to the year :) I’m here to present you with this week’s layout of the week. Only… I have more than one. I actually have FIVE, but it’s all good because my five all make up one gorgeous set.

I chose kirplnk‘s “Nicole Wall Art” set. They are so creative and gorgeous, and I just love love love them. I always love pages that are different from the rest, and this set with no pictures and using almost only papers instantly stood out to me. She used Shabby Princess’ Clementine papers just wonderfully.

You can find the individual pages here, here, here, here, and here.

Don’t forget that today is the deadline for Template Challenge EIGHT here at the Blog.  SP will be back on Thursday to announce the ‘winner’, AND to share Template Challenge NINE with everyone.  Until then – have a great week.

TrishLayout of the Week, Uncategorized 5 Comments

Hi guys…SP here again :o)  I’m just here super quick today to share our latest FREE DESKTOP with you!  I kinda struggled with this one, lol…but I think I like how it turned out…and hope you do, too :o)  You really can’t do a February desktop without including a little bit of love, lol :o)  As per usual…we have it for you in both 1280×800 and 1024×768…so here ya go:

CLICK HERE to download the 1024×768 version

CLICK HERE to download the 1280×800 version

Again, hope you enjoy this desktop and use it with love :o)  Everyone have a WONDERFUL weekend…we’ll be back on Monday with LOTW!  In the meantime…don’t forget to take your TWO pics per WEEK for PROJECT SCRAP 2011…can you believe January is almost over?  LOL!   I’ll get the Project Scrap GALLERY up and running this weekend and can’t wait to see all the January layouts!   xoxo –SP

Shabby PrincessFree Desktops, Uncategorized 36 Comments

Hi guys :o)  SP here and I am HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY to bring you another GALLERY GIRLS feature!!  I am alway in AWE of our next Gallery Girl’s layouts…her sense of style is incredible…and each and every layout a truly special and unique creation!  She has the ability and talent to tweak and rework papers and elements…which result in completely original and one-of-a-kind layouts!  I think I am also drawn to her pages…simply because like me – she has one little man, and he is definitely the focus of most of her pages!  I sometimes lack inspiration when it comes to making FUN and PRETTY pages for my little man…and when I am feeling uninspired…I go directly to her gallery and see the magic she works with her boy pages, lol!  Of course, EVERYONE can and will be inspired by her gallery…so be sure to check it out!   OH…I guess I have yet to mention her NAME, lolol!  She is KIM…known as CREATIVESPARKMOMMY in the Shoppe’s gallery :o)  So….ready to get to know Kim a little better?  Me, too :o)  But first – how about a brand NEW layout that KIM created just for this special post (there are more new and absolutely GORGEOUS layouts from Kim throughout the post…so be sure to scroll down).  I have to say that I always ‘shrink and group’ the layouts so the post does not take so long to load…but seriously – I’m not sure I can shrink any of these, lol!  I will…BUT, know that Kim will also be uploading all of these layouts to her gallery…so you can see larger images and more info about each there :o)

This layout just captured me :o)  I LOVE every single thing about it…it just has such a SWEETness to it, don’t ya think?  And, her clustering of elements and title work – PERFECTION!

 TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF…

My name is Kim, I live in Charleston, West Virginia. I was a 70s baby and am still an 80s girl. I have been married for 7 years (to my elementary school crush ;-), I have a beautiful (inside and out) 3 year old boy — who is my greatest joy, my miracle baby and my saving grace. I’m a full-time creative director for a small advertising/political consulting agency.  I’ve been creating, crafting, painting and drawing all my life. I strive everyday to share that creative spark with my son, who has a natural talent for drawing already. Often overheard in our house, “Mommy, let’s art today.”

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SCRAPPING DIGITALLY…AND DID YOU EVER GIVE PAPER SCRAPPING A TRY?

 I’ve been scrapbooking digitally for about 9 months. My mother was our family’s historian, so to speak, and a hardcore paper scrapper. I loved looking at her work and shopping for supplies with her. I attempted paper scrapping when my son was born — with the best intentions. BUT I soon realized that crafts involving small parts and pieces did not work well with a little one in the house ;-) That is why I now recommend digi-scrapping to all my friends with young ones. I just wish I’d found digi-scrapping when his naps were longer!

Another new layout…when I first saw this one – I just melted!  It doesn’t get any sweeter…just look at that ‘auntie love’!

HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOUR SCRAPPING STYLE?

I love sweet and simple, but my layouts never reflect that. I’m going to work on making greater impact with fewer elements on my pages – but your designs are sooo beautiful I have a hard time editing! So to answer your question, my style has yet to be defined, and is evolving.

WHAT IS THE FIRST COMPONENT OF EACH PAGE YOU CREATE…OR DOES IT VARY FROM PAGE TO PAGE?

I would have to say always the photo – or at least the essence of the photo.

Here are a couple more fantastic and new layouts by Kim (absolutely ADORABLE!)…

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LAYOUT (TO DATE) AND WHY?

 Probably “My Brown-Eyed Baby” it is one of my favorite photos of Jackson, with a quote from a very special book and it was my first digital scrapbook layout, and my first post.

WHAT TIP/TECHNIQUE DO YOU KNOW NOW THAT YOU WISH YOU HAD KNOWN WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED SCRAPPING DIGITALLY?

I use photoshop everyday in my job – but am surprised by the multitude of small useful things I’ve been picking up here and there.

WHAT IN YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE INSPIRES YOU IN YOUR SCRAPBOOKING?

My son, most definately, but also little things like a new font (I’m a font freak) or a found natural color palette. I am also inspired daily by what I see in the Shabby Shoppe Gallery — amazing stuff — especially from the Gallery Girls who’ve come before me.

and yes…another NEW layout!  I have to say…this is a favorite – I can only imagine how much FUN Jackson had that day :o)  awesome layout design…just blows me away!

TECH STUFF :o)  Tell us about your camera and software!

I use Photoshop CS5, and have some Christmas/Birthday money “burning a hole in my pocket” that I’m dying to spend on a Bamboo Tablet. I’ve never been very good at taking photos – but recently bought a Canon EOS 20D second-hand from my photographer friend and finally got lenses of my own (second-hand, as well!) I haven’t really made time to work on my skills – the photography blog tips are still over my head :o) But one of my
resolutions is to get better control of my camera and take lots of photos – I’ll need them for Scrap 2011!!!!!

FAST FIVE FACTS!

• Favorite COLOR:  orange
• Favorite FOOD:  Cheese – currently Mini Babybels, they are soooo addictive and the red wax is great for making a clown nose to amuse the little man!
• Favorite MOVIE:  Shawshank Redemption, Bridget Jones’s Diary, Old School
• Favorite SONG:  anything 80s hair band —especially KISS, and whatever my son is singing, at the moment it’s still “Frosty the Snowman”
• Favorite MEMORY:  The first time I heard my son’s heartbeat, the first time he yelled “mom” after waking up from a nap.

 and last but not least…two more layouts from Kim :o)  Just look at that PRECIOUS and HANDSOME little face and those awesome layouts!

 THANK YOU SO MUCH for having fun with us, Kim :o)  It has been a total pleasure and I leave this post completely INSPIRED…which is what it is all about!  Best of all – I KNOW I am not the only one!  Of course, I’ll be bringing you another new GALLERY  GIRLS post next month…so stay tuned :o)

And, I’ll be back tomorrow with February’s FREE desktop :o)  THANKS for stopping by…have a good one!  xoxo –SP

Shabby PrincessGallery Girls, Uncategorized 14 Comments

Hello everyone!  Beckie here with this week’s Product Spotlight!  Well, the cold weather has definitely settled in throughout most of the US, so I thought another fabulous winter spotlight was in order! It’s Winter Wonderland:

I was super excited for Winter Wonderland because I haven’t had the chance to work with it yet!  And like every Product Spotlight we do, I love seeing what the other Shabby Artists do with each kit we select.  Winter Wonderland has so many wonderful cold weather embellishments – awesome glittery swirls and snowflakes!  And so many cute hand drawn snowmen characters – even a cute little penguin and even more hand drawn snowflakes and swirls!  All perfect for your cold, wintry memories!

So what are we waiting for?? Let’s see what the Shabby Artists came up with this week!

First up…Kylie!!  Oh, that girl always amazes me!  And this week she has TWO awesome layouts with Winter Wonderland!

And how about the fabulous Anna?!  I’m always so inspired by her layouts :)

And finally, here’s one from me!  We had an extremely rare snowfall where I live last year and the kids were just beside themselves with excitement! (yes, my son is licking the car.  gross!)

I hope we’ve inspired you to pick up Winter Wonderland, on SALE for only $5.95 this week! Be sure to stop by the Shabby Artist gallery to see these (and other) layouts.  Got your own creation with Winter Wonderland?  We’d LOVE to see it!  Share it with us in the Shabby Shoppe Gallery! 

Be sure to stop back by tomorrow as SP shares the latest GALLERY GIRL with all of us!

BeckieProduct Spotlight, Uncategorized 4 Comments

hey guys…SP here on a cold and dreary Monday morning, lol!  As I always tell my little man though – I do not need SUNshine, when I have SONshine :o)  lol!  I hope that the week is a great one for everybody!  I’ll be here three times this week…today with the LOTW post, Wednesday with a brand new GALLERY GIRLS feature…and Thursday with February’s free DESKTOP :o)  So…I better get focused here and share the LayoutS of the week with you!  Yes, that’s right…I could not choose only ONE this weekend!  There were lots and lots of amazing layouts – and SO MANY from our latest TEMPLATE CHALLENGE…I am loooovin’ those (thanks, girls)!  In the end, I selected three very different layouts – and all for different reasons!  Here they are…

I have to say they were all chosen on design merits :o)  But, they go deeper than that, too!  Each one has something special about it…so here goes :o)

 acmckelvey’s SLIDES & SWINGS – loooove :o)  Alright – so I am only showing you the ‘SLIDES’ portion here, lolol…but you can check out Carrie’s gallery to see the awesome ‘SWINGS’ layout that completes the spread!  They are PERFECT companions and quite honstly – are just some of the brightest, happiest and most cheerful pages I have seen :o)  The design is fabulous – i LOVE all of the element clusters and her title work!  Just fantastic!  Thanks so much for inspiring all of us yet AGAIN, Carrie!

And, nana_vg’s BEAUTIFUL ‘Favorite Daughter-in-Law’ page really stood out to me as well :o)  ‘nana_vg’ has long been a member of the Shoppe – and for just as long…has inspired me with not only her gorgeous pages…but with her beautiful and heartfelt journaling!  There is almost always a story, and she has such a wonderful way of telling it!  I really love her special words about her daughter-in-law – it is a very inspiring relationship!  Of course, the page is perfect, too – it has what I refer to as a ‘quite beauty’!  Just LOVE!  Thanks, V :o)

Finally, we have anniebeagles’s FOUR GENERATIONS layout!  This one jumped out to me for several reasons!  The first thing that caught my eye was the row of buttons at the top of the journaling!  You guys know I love buttons, lol…and I really loved the placement of these!  Then, when I clicked on the thumbnail – I realized what a special and wonderful page this truly was (beyond the gorgeous design)!  Such a treasure of a photo…and the journaling is just perfect, summarizing the fun events of New Year’s weekend!!  This page definitely has the ‘total package’ :o)  Thanks anniebeagle!

So there you have it :o)  Our LayoutS of the Week!  I hope you find them as inspiring as I have!  CONGRATS, girls…you have each received a $10 gift card to the Shabby Shoppe (via email…be sure to check spam folders)!  Have fun shoppe-ing!

Thanks for stopping by everyone!  Beckie will be here tomorrow with a wonderful PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT…and as I mentioned above…I’ll see you back here on Wednesday with an AMAZING new Gallery Girls post!  Until then – have a WONDERFUL and BLESSED week!  xoxo – SP

Shabby PrincessLayout of the Week, Uncategorized 6 Comments