Hybrid Card Tutorial

August 20, 2010 by carina

I’ve been meaning to post this awesome tutorial from CT Member Joyce. This is a fantastic tutorial showing off how easy it is to take digital products and turn them into cards. Take it away, Joyce!

1.Create your cardstock pieces with a program like Photoshop Elements. I created 4×4, 5×5, and 4×5 shapes and clipped the patterened papers to them. I flattened the image and printed it onto white cardstock.

2. Next I trimmed my patterned paper pieces and used my Quickutz Epic
to cut out the butterfly and label shapes from the patterned paper. I
gathered up a few more supplies like green cardstock, butterfly
ribbon, Maya Road stick pins, and some buttons.

3. I embellished my butterfly by adding 3 tiny buttons to the front,
foam tape to the back, and stick pins pushed into the foam tape for
antennae.

4. I cut my green cardstock to 5×10 inches, folded in half at the top,
and layered on my elements. Brown patterned paper trimmed to a 4.25″
square, then yellow patterned paper that was cut into a label diecut,
and butterfly in the corner. Another embellishment technique I used
was to add a butterfly flight trail with my punch tool and dot the “i”
of precious using a rhinestone.

Now I have the perfect unisex card for my next baby shower! The Basics
papers are so versatile you can create something for most any occasion!

A Lazy Saturday

June 26, 2010 by carina 1 Comment

We went to Lagoon (a Utah theme park) and are now recovering. I love theme parks, but a day of rest is necessary afterwards.

So today, we are still in pajamas and creating all sorts of disasters. The girls got out the scrapbook stuff and created their own “books” this morning. I’m also planning on getting to the mountain, er, laundry accumulating downstairs.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the chat this morning. It was a bit of a problem because the site was overloaded, so I left up the thread and anyone can comment on it until 5pm MST to win the $10 gift certificate. I’ll announce the winner at the end of the thread. Want to check it out? Go here.

You also have a chance to grab one of my kits for free this weekend during the sale and a couple of $1 Kits. You’ll also notice the Meredith Fenwick has her entire shop for sale so you can check it out the sale here.

Designer Weekend Sale—Daisy Jane and Informed

June 23, 2010 by carina 2 Comments

Today is release day. I have a couple of new releases today (30% off today only), but my favorite is my Americana, which I made in honor of Independence Day.

If you’ve been looking for a digital scrapbooking sale from me, here it is! My designer sale going on this weekend at DHD. There will be a free kit (You’ll want to jump on and download it!), and two $1 kits. All of Daisy Jane and Informed with be 25% off on Saturday and Sunday ONLY.

I also have a special code for my blog readers! This coupon code is for 25% off the FRESH PICKED MEGA COLLECTION on Saturday and Sunday only! Your code at check out is: BLOGLOVECG

And finally, come join me for a chat in the DHD Scrap Room at 9am MST on Saturday, June 26th. If you’ve ever wanted to see the pure mayhem of chatting through a forum for 1 hour, you should come join in for it!

A Few Baby Safari Digital Scrapbooking Layouts

June 10, 2010 by carina 4 Comments

Here’s a few Baby Safari layouts to inspire you!

Layout by Candice Palmer.

Layout by Susan Haglund

Layout by Candice Palmer

Layout by Candice Palmer.

Layout by Mindy Hanson.

Layout by Joyce McCall.

Facebook Fan Freebie

June 7, 2010 by carina 4 Comments

I recently started a Facebook page so that you can keep up with blog posts, sales, and freebies. So here’s one of them! Once we hit 500 people, I’m going to give away my new Pretty Posy digital scrapbooking kit to everyone who joins! Once we hit 500, this kit will go on sale at Design House Digital. So take advantage of getting it free now!

Here’s a cute little layout I did of my friend’s daughter, Isn’t she adorable?

A Digital Scrapbooking Sale at Design House Digital

May 26, 2010 by carina 1 Comment

I’ve been putting out Fresh Picked for a couple of weeks now and after seeing the spring and summer collection, you had to know that autumn and winter were going to follow, right? So tomorrow, you can check out those collection at Design House Digital along with the mega kit that includes all 16 kits.

What’s the big deal about the Mega Fresh Picked Kit (try saying that 3 times fast!)? Well, all these kits alone would cost you $63.84, but the mega kit is only $39.99. Add the 30% off for release day (Thursday only) and that whole jumbo kit is only $27.99. It’s pretty much a steal.

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What do I like about Fresh Picked? Well, other than the solids (I like having a huge stack…I mean, I tried 3 green backgrounds on this layout before I settled on the correct one!), I like that it’s a collection I can use for any season.

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Also wanted to mention my new little Facebook page. Yes, I’d love you to join; Yes, I feel silly about having one; and Yes, I will have a Facebook freebie on there soon (I just couldn’t think of any “no’s.” If you don’t want to join now, just look over on the sidebar for the link. I’m hoping that this page will make it easier for you to hear about sales, blog posts, and design news coming from my little corner of the world.

Products used in the above layouts all created by Carina Gardner | Green Layout: Fresh Picked Summer Borders, Spring Solids, Spring Stamps, Summer Solids, Summer Florals, and Autumn Stamps

Blue Layout: Fresh Picked Winter Papers, Winter Stamps, Winter Titles, Autumn Tickets, and Design 365 Color Kit 1

Designer Get-Together for Design House Digital

May 8, 2010 by carina 5 Comments

I just got back from a lovely weekend retreat with Design House Digital designers in Midway, Utah. We laughed, listened to Glee, worked, and chit chat. Who was there? Jen Allyson, Deena Rutter, Melissa Esplin, Mary Shaw, Gennifer Bursett, and Spencer Nugent (who showed up at Hi Mountain Drug in Camas at the end of the retreat). It was wonderful hanging out and getting to know these awesome girls a little better!

Here’s a run down of what we were up to:

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Thanks ladies for all the fun!!!! I’m excited to get to know you all better and steal your headbands (um, thanks Melissa!), decorate with the new birdie plate (I love you Jen!) and force you to help me pick out shoes (everyone had to at least LISTEN to that).

On the Subject of Family

May 6, 2010 by carina 3 Comments

IMG_1374_sm Sunday night we got together as a family at Liz and Tim’s house. It was fun, the food was good, and the company was excellent. Liz also had me up late to help refresh an old chair. I couldn’t help but show it off here because the final result was amazing. I should have taken a before photo. Just know that old white washed wood was dingy and the old faded cream textured fabric was ragged and dirty. I was glad we gave it new life with this geometric fabric and white finish! The contrast of the antique chair with the bold geometric made me pretty happy.

I also promised an update on my sister who has adopted a darling little boy! SuiKim and Steve has had new baby Grant for a couple of weeks now. It seems as if he has always been here! Siri coos over the baby and asks when we are getting a baby brother. Um, not any time soon, darling. Sorry to disappoint. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who bought Baby Mine! It was a wonderful success!

IMG_1383_sm SuiKim was over at my house yesterday and I had a darling package from one of our Decorators from Design House Digital, Heather. She had used the Baby Mine kit to make two adorable sleepers (which she sewed!!!). SuiKim and I were touched! Thank you Heather for the generosity! Grant is going to look stunning in sleepers! I was also impressed with this darling baby card Heather made (I need that script font!). The tininess added to the intimacy and sweetness. You are best Heather!

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interNational Scrapbooking Day-Freebie

April 30, 2010 by carina 18 Comments

IMG_1307_sm All the hail and sleet the last couple of days gave me some extra “inside time” to get this freebie together for you in honor of interNational Scrapbooking Day! Otherwise, I’d still be in my yummy lime green gardening boots planting ranunculus in my front yard!

So here’s some of the fun going on at DHD: There is a HUGE site-wide sale happening, chats all day on Saturday, May 1st, and freebies to be had. I’m jumping the gun a little by posting a day early with this freebie, but I say let the fun begin! Be sure to drop by HERE at 9am MST for my chat at DHD (hint, I’ll have a little exclusive freebie:).

So why is this kit called Paisley v2? Because you can download Paisley v1 by signing up to be a fan of Design House Digital on Facebook! When the fan page hits 2000 fans, this freebie will be given out.

Okay! Here’s Paisley v.2. Just click on the kit to download it!

ABC Book Template

April 21, 2010 by carina 2 Comments

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I’ve been working on this new hybrid ABC Book for a couple of days now. It’s a little present for my mother-in-law for Mother’s Day…shhhhh! Don’t tell! She even gave me a little time to work on it while she hauled my kids to the aquarium for a little “grammy” time yesterday. I had to share because I made this little book from MeadowLark™ and my new ABC Templates that will be out tomorrow at DHD. The mini illustrations are so sweet! Think Mother’s Day (or in my case, Grandma’s Day). The bonus? It’s pretty easy to make.

dhd_carinagardner_abc_sqPREV The templates all fit on a 4 in x 4 in photo (I get 4″x6″ photos printed at Costco and leave the extra space blank). All I did was take my “ABC photos” and dropped the templates on top (the digital kit comes with both white and black versions-52 files in all).

Once they are printed, you only have the fun part left! This little book is 5 in. x 5 in. You could make your book any size though. When I make my photos 4″ x 6″, I tend to make a 5 in” x 7 in” book. I was loving the black and white papers because it made the photos really pop. I added red ink to all the paper edges as an accent and some fun MME rub on letters to the cover (the other elements on the cover come from the MeadowLark™ die cut accessory sheets). Oh ya, and my favorite way to get things bound? A quick trip to OfficeMax to let them spiral bind it for me. I’m okay with the hand off on this part of it!

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Design House Digital Designer Blog Hop Freebie!

April 20, 2010 by carina 22 Comments

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If this is the first post that you are hitting for the DHD Designer Blog hop, then you are in for a treat! If you’ve hit this blog from one of the other designer’s blog, then WELCOME! I’m happy to give you one more piece of the DHD Designer Blog Hop Freebie!

dhd_carinagardner_dhddesigner_1PREV So what is the DHD Designer Blog Hop? It’s an opportunity for you to check out each of the Design House Digital designer blogs and get to know your favorite designers! And what better way to do it than by giving you a little freebie to boot? Well, little is maybe a bit of an understatement, heehe. To get the entire kit above (can you believe how big it is?) simply click on the icons below with the designer’s name and hop from blog to blog, downloading as you go! (Hint, if you just click on the right hand icons you’ll hit every designer going one way, if you click on the left hand icons, you’ll hit each designer going the other way!)

Download my 6 digital papers from this gorgeous kit by clicking on the icon below. I’m totally loving the colors (spring is calling to me!)! Enjoy!

While, I’m here, I ought to mention that I’ve made a few changes to the blog and studio sites. A little easier navigation system (if you want to see designs in fabric, paper, digital, and courses, all you have to do is click on DESIGNS & RELEASES now.) It’s also easier to find the free downloads and the newest releases (under DESIGNS & RELEASES). Check it out up top! And my final little bit of news is that the ladies over at My Mind’s Eye’s blog have been doing some FABULOUS stuff with my new Meadowlark™ line, so check it out if you get a chance!

Okay, ready pick up the rest of this delicious kit? Check out these designer’s blogs:

Winner of Color Kit 3 Giveaway is…

April 8, 2010 by carina

from random.org is Comment # 8

Rhadonda says:

Children truly are a gift and a blessing. Congrats to your sister. I will be back to buy the kit to help your sister. Hobby…..new to digital scrapbooking and loving it. I also love to sew and smock (kind of like embroidered hand stitch) little girl dresses. The new color kit looks awesome too. Thanks for the opportunity.

Congrats Rhadonda! I LOVE smocking (not doing it but looking at it:). You’ve won Color Kit #3. I’ll contact you to get you a link to download this fab kit! I know this giveaway was short notice, so thank you to everyone who participated! Be sure and check out DHD today and pick up Baby Mine or Color Kit 3 if you get a chance!

A Super Post- A Free Download, A Giveaway, and A Good Cause

April 6, 2010 by carina 18 Comments

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I’d like to start with the good cause because, well, it’s the most exciting for me! My little sister SuiKim (pronounced “Sweet-Kim” without the “t”) and her husband Steve found out a couple of weeks ago that they have been chosen to adopt a little baby boy! I’m especially happy for SuiKim and Steve, who are just about the nicest, kindest couple of people around. They have spent most of their marriage wanting to have a child, and haven’t been as fortunate as many of us. If you’ve gone through this process, you know how heartbreaking and difficult it is. I’m so grateful that this opportunity has come for them and wanted to share my joy with you.

sisters Without going into my family history, I’ll just tell you that my family as suffered a bit of heartache the last few years (a story for another time). Because of this SuiKim and Steve don’t have many financial resources. I wanted to help the best way I know how. So the digital kit above, BABY MINE, will go on sale on Thursday, April 8th, at Design House Digital with all the proceeds going to help pay for the adoption. Thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity in helping me get this new little family started. I’ll be sure to post pictures of the little one when he arrives (camera will be waiting in hand!). (BTW, the pic on the side is my sister Yanni (right), SuiKim (center holding Yanni’s son Tad), and me).

If you don’t digital scrapbook, or just want to help, I’ve included a donation box here for you to send money to them.

Please Donate To SuiKim and Steve’s Adoption

Powered by The-Online-Quest

Thanks again for all your help in this effort! I’m excited to see this little family get their first baby!

Okay, on to the next thing! A giveway. Yes, I know you like giveaways and I do too! Due to hit Design House Digital on Thursday is a new Color Kit. I’ve been getting emails about this, and FINALLY I got to it! Want to win it? All you have to do is leave me a little message in this post about your favorite hobby—Are you scrapbooker? Quilter? Avid crafter? Obsessive organizer? I love hearing about others’ obsessive need to create! I’m right there with you.

Here’s little peek at Color Kit 3. I’ll post the winner Thursday morning, bright and early so leave me some love sometime on Wednesday.

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And finally, a little freebie for you! It’s a little party card download made from the Baby Mine kit. Use it for a birthday, baby shower, baby housewarming party, or (in my case) “Baby’s Here!” party. If you aren’t a “digital person,” no worries! This card is already positioned on an 8.5″ x 11″ paper so all you have to do is download and print. You may get a download window, or the image may appear in a new screen (if this happens just right click on it and SAVE IMAGE). It’s a high quality jpg that will print beautifully for you! Enjoy!

Pinfeathers Sale

April 3, 2010 by carina 1 Comment

I started this morning with an Easter egg hunt and brunch at my house with family. I was just thankful that weather’s little April Fool’s joke had mostly melted away. Brunch was still held inside, but we held the hunt in the backyard. I was just telling Siri how much I loved Easter egg hunts as a kid. I even remember one year we found eggs hanging on the tree in our front yard with all sorts of treats. My parents said they didn’t know who put the eggs up and the mystery made it even more wonderful. I was just thinking about it last week and realized that my PARENTS were the ones to have hung the eggs. I guess it only takes 20 years to figure something like that out.

I hope you are also enjoying your Easter weekend! We start spring break and I hope to spend most of my week just hanging out with the kids and having a little family holiday. A break is much needed!

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Before I drop off for a week, I thought I’d better let you know about a couple of things. First is that at DHD there is a designer sale going on this weekend only on my PinFeathers Collection. You should check out the freebie, $1 item, and the 20% off that is happening Sat-Sun only (April 3-4).

Second, I wanted to mention that Meadow Lark is officially on sale at My Mind’s Eye. Go check it out! It’s part of the Spring Release that also includes So Sophie (which is to die for!) by Jen Allyson and Deena Rutter.

Sick baby

March 28, 2010 by carina 2 Comments

I’ve been dealing with the croup for, well, not even the last 24 hours. My poor little toddler started hacking last night and got to a point where she couldn’t catch her breath. It was probably overly anxious, but Josh had dialed 911 before I knew what had happened. Of course, by the time the ambulance arrived, she was breathing steadily again. After a horrible night of sleep, lots of loads of laundry (because who knew all that gagging would result in so much vomit?), and an elevated fever, I ran her up in InstantCare. I’m in for the long haul for a couple of more nights.

Of course, my baby is most important, but during the periods of her little naps or Josh’s trips to McDonalds (that’s all she will eat right now-terrible, I know), I’m trying to stuff a few more things into my new Drawing Class currently being sold at Jessica Sprague (It’s also now being sold at a discounted price as a bundle with Illustrator 101). I also wanted to let you know that I will be doing a one time only WebCast for the class on April 15th for everyone who has registered. I’m excited for you to begin illustrating!

Here’s a few other things happening! Expect to see my new paper line, Meadow Lark, showing up from My Mind’s Eye soon! You’ll also like to know that you’ll be able to find two glitter books from me at Hobby Lobby and Michaels in the coming months. Yum Yum! And finally, I’m suppose to finish out this week by sending tons of files to China for my new Halloween paper line for My Minds Eye. I’ll announce it and give a peek as we get closer to summer releases!

Okay, one last thing before I run. This weekend, DHD is beginning their new designer releases, which begins with yours truly! Check it out because one of my kits will be free and a collection will be one sale. Oh, and I promised the decorators I’d get a Color Kit out. I promise, I’m working on it!

For now, I need to get back to tending my little one so we can be back on track for a festive Easter!