:WORD ART: Freedom Quote Word Art

Faulkner was the vote winner on the freedom quotes, so here's your word art freebie...enjoy!

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD

Be sure to check out my other word art downloads to make sure you haven't missed any.

:PHOTOS: Fireworks...

I didn't get quite as many 'keepers' from my fireworks photo shoot this year as I have in the past. This year it was dead calm and the air was heavy, so the smoke just seemed to hang in the air and made for lots of murky photos.

However, I still got a handful that I really love and honestly, I've got quite a collection of them now and sometimes I'm not even sure why I keep shooting them. There's just something about the colors and lines that makes them all so unique and beautiful.

READER RESPONSE:

How did your fireworks shots come out this year? Share a link!!

:REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: 8 is Enough by April Foster and Studio Calico

8 is Enough by April Foster and Studio Calico is the latest title to the collection of Ella Publishing Co. eBooks.

The subtitle of this book is "Easy ways to stretch supplies and use leftovers." This gives great insight into exactly what this eBook is all about.

In the intro, April shares who own experience with needing to downsize her craft stash for various reasons and shares the following thought:

"I thought these limitations would be stifling, but they were freeing. I found myself putting layouts together faster than ever - and enjoying the creative process more than I had in a long time."

Certainly the author and her contributors (Nicole Harper, Kelly Noel, Stephanie Howell, and Lisa Truesdell) feel that limits can have this effect for many of us and give us specific examples throughout the eBook as to how it can be achieved without having our layouts become repetitive and stale...as many fear can be the result of limited supplies.

Each contributor has a turn to present 8 their personal eight product picks and then proceed to showcase four amazing (and individually unique) layouts they created using this ONE collection of products. And get this - the products collections are all created from LEFTOVERS from past Studio Calico kits!

Things like cardstock, fonts and pens are considered freebies.

I loved how each artist also brought a scrapbooking tool of some sort (like a punch) in to the mix of their 8 products and showed how versatile it can be in creating accents and embellishments to keep your layouts looking fresh.

Each sample layout comes with a brief discussion of the layout and basic process of how the artist used her products to create the layout.

Each sample layout also comes with a {stretch it!} note - basically an additional technique or idea related to the project to help stretch the products used.

Not all, but most, also come with a {bonus tip}. Generally, these notes have ideas geared more towards design, journaling, photo techniques and more.

At the end of the eBook, there is a worksheet which serves as a call to action to choose your own 8 products and create your own 4 amazing designs.

They're even hosting a contest for those that submit their product list and layouts to Ella. They will choose one winner each month through March 2011 to be featured on the Ella blog, receive an Ella prize package AND the Studio Calico monthly kit club! Take the challenge!!

8 is Enough is available for download for only $6.99!!

GIVEAWAY:

I have one free download of 8 is Enough to give away to one lucky reader!

Leave a comment by 5 p.m. CST on Thursday, July 15th, 2010 answering the following question for your chance to win:

Have you ever consciously limited the number of products you allowed yourself to use on a given layout or group of layouts? Did you find that the limit stifled or energized your creative process?

I'll announce the Random.org chosen winner on Friday, the 16th. Be sure to come back to see if you've won!

GOOD LUCK!!

:PHOTOS: Yankee Doodle Sweetheart

Just a few shots at Grandma's house on the 4th...I think I'll be creating a layout with that title and these photos sometime soon.

I'm still working on editing my fireworks shots...busy week...hard to find time. Hope to share some of those with you early next week!

:LINKS: A random collection of link love...

While these links are numbered, it is simply a way to differentiate them...it is by no means a measure of there greatness. :-) (Because they are all great!)

#1 - The Summer 2010 edition of Scrapbook & Cards Today is now available and it's beautiful!

"This issue features all the best that the season has to offer — the secrets of colour, fast, fun, and functional mini albums, managing digital workflow with Stacy Julian, great ideas for working with tissue paper, an inspiring selection of summer cards, and a reader’s gallery that is full to the brim with FABULOUS summertime layouts. Just to name a few!"

While it is available for subscription, you can also download it for FREE right onto you computer and view it there as well. Don't miss it!

#2 - On the Willette Designs blog, Kelly as posted a free download called 100 Summer Photo Opportunities. This download would tug at the heartstrings of any scrapbooker as it not only offers ideas for great activities for some summer family bonding time, but also activities that happen to be quite photo (and scrap) worthy!

#3 - Elle's Studio is offering a FREE online class soon based on journaling called Journaling in Your Own Words. I don't know about you, but I LOVE resources on journaling to help encourage me to try new things and keep my journaling fresh.

It is described as "A 3-week journey exploring how others tell their story, with tips and techniques to help you share yours on your scrapbooking projects."

It runs August 8-28, 2010 and I can't wait. Go to this post on the Elle's Studio blog for more information.

#4 - Creating Keepsakes has 4 fun (and free) Downloadable Summer Scrapbook Titles available on their website.

They are perfect for pool time, vacation, travel and more! Be sure to download them and add them to your arsenal. They are available in both JPG and PNG to accommodate both traditional and digital scrapbookers.

#5 - Carina Gardner has some Dirty/Clean Dishwasher tags available for free download on her blog that are not only functional, but also downright cute.

AND...they could have a use beyond the dishwasher and into your scrapbooks! Perhaps you could use them as an opportunity to record your feelings about the continually stream of dishes to deal with in your household OR perhaps something a little less literal. I also thing these tags could be perfect for bath time before and after shots of you little one(s).

#6 - The August 2010 issue of Scrapbooks etc. featured a scrap-as-you-go travel album by Sande Krieger using travel-themed journaling cards.

You can download those very same travel-themed journaling cards for free on their website here.

If you've got a trip coming up, they'd be great for recreating the album as seen in the magazine, but they could certainly be used so many other layouts and projects as well.

READER RESPONSE:
Which of this is your favorite fun and FREE link above??

:WORD ART: Breathe Quote Word Art

Votes for the favorite 'living in the moment' quote went to Oprah. So, here's your free word art freebie.

Enjoy!

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD

Be sure to check out my other word art downloads to make sure you haven't missed any.

:SPONSORS: July 2010 AMOM Sponsors

GET IT SCRAPPED

Debbie Hodge at Get it Scrapped has a great new class offering called Building Pages.

It is an amazing offering that is both instructional and inspirational! It comes with a huge PDF document, a collection of sketches/layered templates (compatible with Photoshop) as well as 12 short videos that correspond with the 12 lessons included in this self-paced class.

In case you missed it, I posted details and a review of this class last week. Go here to check it out for more information!

BIC MARK-IT

This month BIC is a paid advertiser advertising BIC Mark-It™ Permanent Markers on my blog.

BIC Mark-It™Permanent Markers come in 36 colors in Fine and Ultra Fine tips and are the perfect tool for inspiring creativity! A soft rubber grip provides all day comfort when working on detailed projects.

These permanent markers give you everything you need for any craft project you can imagine. Set your creativity free with these 36 acid-free* colors!

Click here to find them on Facebook®!

*No added acid; no measurable pH

NICOLE LOMBARDO

Nicole's always got great new die cut designs available at her Etsy shop...and old favorites in new colors and textures as well.

This month, this scrapbooking scroll called Damask Burst in turquoise is what caught my eye.

Check out her store for more great items!

ELLA PUBLISHING CO.

Ella Publishing Co. is back with another great eBook offering this month - 8 is Enough by April Foster and Studio Calico.

In this eBook, five talented scrap artists show that a little product can go a long way!

Watch for a detailed review (and a giveaway) of this eBook title on my blog very soon!

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WOULD YOU LIKE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BECOMING A SPONSOR OF THE AMOM BLOG? If so, please contact me and I would be happy to provide you with further details.