Bigger and Better Things! (Fashion)

Okay, so I know that this has nothing to do with digital scrapbooking.....well to me, fashion has everything to do with everything! If I am dressed nice and comfortably, I feel more free and creative! Hence, I can create better scrapbook layouts digitally?! Okay, that was a bit of a stretch!

I am not a small girl, yet I LOVE nice clothes. I am tired of searching high and low for current fashion trends and style tips. My new blog baby is a collection of fashion for sizes 12/14 and up! I do not work for these companies and I do not advertise on my blogs to make any money what so ever.

Come and take a look!

Click here for fashion inspiration- my new blog baby!

(this is from Torrid.com. Perez Hilton started his new blog cocoperez.com. If he can discuss fashion then why couldn't I? I do not claim to be fashionable, a fashionista, etc. If I did earn a bit more money, I may be able to look more put together and that's a fact!)

99 cent special of the week at Designer Digitals!

I really love this page which is just 99 cents today! What a great deal....No I do not work for or promote for this website or designer! Visit this site each Thursday and Sunday for super 25 and 99 cent deals!

I feel so inspired. Just look at it.

Gotta Crop Digital

Gotta Crop Scrapbooking Getaways and Gotta Crop Shop lives on digitally! Have you jumped onto the "hot tamale train" of digital scrapbooking? Whether you are a beginner or have been improving your digital skills for a while now, we would love to have you join us!

This is a Facebook public group open to anyone and everyone. You may view our digital layouts, post your own and leave tips. Or, just come on by to say hello! We are always up on the top digital scrapbooking trends and products and would love to have you become a part of our community.

The more the merrier! Click here to check out our Facebook page!

(Credits: Jen Allyson Apricot Avenue 2peas, digital brushes by Kate Teague Proud to be Digi kit 2peas, Sande Krieger, Carina Gardner Imprint v.6 Frame Brushes 2peas and Chicago House Trial font)

Please email me at misslocascio@gmail.com if you have any questions regarding Gotta Crop Digital. Or, you may contact the admins Marianne and Michelle through the Facebook home page.

Warning... we are known to be extremely fun!

Entryway Basket Rack with Martha Stewart-Craft of the Day

Need a quick spot to temporarily store papers, back packs, coats and winter weather items? You can create this entryway basket rack with fairly easy instructions from Martha Stewart's website today.  You can find baskets like this almost any place these days. I see them on clearance at Ross and Marshall's as well as Target and Ike at reasonable prices.

Click on the title of this blog above to see the featured craft today! She features a different craft everyday.

Our entryway could use a little help....and that dog needs a bath!

Digital Scrapbook Basics with Design House Digital Has Enhanced My Day

     Digital scrapbooking tutorial using Photoshop Elements to create a basic layout.: Design House Digital


"If you're new to Digital Scrapbooking and want to learn exactly where to start, learn the basics by watching this quick video tutorial on how to create a basic layout using Photoshop Elements." - Design House Digital

     Even if you are not so new to digital scrapbooking, like me, you can still get something out of this video! Jen Allyson shows you how to make custom drop shadows which are by far, better than the generic drop shadows built in PSE! It was helpful for me to compare my Photoshop Elements techniques with another persons.

     My friends and I are in the process of putting together our first digital crop with our laptops! I cannot wait. It should not be too difficult since my friends used to plan scrapbooking getaways for a living as Gotta Crop Scrapbook Getaways. Anyways, enjoy the video! Then visit Design House Digital's website for great digital kits, great ideas on their blog and useful tips.  My day is better now that I used a few of the tips in the video on some new creative team pages I created. (click the title of this blog above...a link directly to their site.)



     My little darlings are not at all ready for digital scrapbooking. Here they are, earlier today, scrapbooking with my embellishments I no longer really use! I sure collected a lot of stickers and things which are perfect to accent their pages.
        See what my kids were doing while I was on my laptop enjoying the heck out of my Sunday. If you have children, do they scrapbook? As Jasmine would say, the girls were "doing an art". Any time the girls would like to do something creative, such as coloring, cutting, stamping or card making, they ask if they can "do an art". Even though it does not make sense, I do not correct them because I feel like it is something special that just the three of us know about and do together. Nope, Dad does not "do art"!

     (Three photos above accented with PSE actions- free from Coffee Shop. Return back in a week or two for more instructions. I LOVE photoshop actions! Do you use actions?)

We Tied The Knot

Totally Chic kit by Stacy's Back Door Designs

I still have not ordered my coffee table photo book of my wedding photographs! I am going to hire someone to add bluer sky to a few more of the photos. After many hours of practicing that technique myself, I am still not satisfied with the outcome. I am satisfied with this layout above! I found a knot in the On The Move kit by Stacy too! LOVES IT!

Digiridoo Shop Link to the On The Move Kit

Beautiful Day in Sacramento (and California)

 

 Most of the state of California has been nothing but stormy for the last four or five days. The photo above was taken in Sacramento (I do not claim rights to any of these photos, nor did I take them).

The sun finally shines during the calm after the storm. Sacramento had a bit of flooding but nothing out of control at our house. I was prepared with our sand bags though! (I will post prior years storm damage photos here soon!)

The song 'Beautiful Day" by U2 is said to be about a man who lost almost everything, yet finds joy in what he still has left. We all experience personal storms which can last for a day or two and even longer. Do you notice that the issues do always get better? We are not promised that life would be simple, but we do have simple moments that we should appreciate to the fullest! We weather emotional storms. It is interesting to me how mother nature can teach us life lessons if we are paying attention. Storms do pass. We do get tired of seasons, like winter, and wait patiently for warmer weather. When you are in a   situation that you are 'tired' of, wait patiently for it to pass!

Here are some additional photos of Sacramento area this week.

This rainbow is right over downtown Sacramento. It appears that the rainbow ends someplace near my job. Now that I am in my 30's I no longer search for my personal 'pot of gold' at the end of rainbows. I know where my treasure is. Do you know where yours is?

This was taken in Elk Grove, a few miles south of Sacramento. The previous photos are all current and can be found at http://www.news10.net/. Normally, I would post my own photos but I was a bit under the weather (haha) for several days. I did not get out much.

One final picture of the Sacramento area. I found this photo which was actually taken last summer...

....a local water tower in Sacramento!  Zap zap zap! I hope you have an electrifying weekend!

Here are some of the words to one of my favorite songs, I previously mentioned, 'Beautiful Day' by U2.

"It's a beautiful day. Sky falls, you feel like It's a beautiful day. Don't let it get away.

You're on the road, but you've got no destination. You're in the mud, in the maze of her imagination.
You love this town, even if that doesn't ring true. You've been all over, and it's been all over you.
See the bird with a leaf in her mouth, after the flood all the colors came out."
(The bird is the dove, which is a symbol of peace, people!)
"Touch me, take me to that other place. Reach me, I know I'm not a hopeless case.
What you don't have you don't need it now
What you don't know you can feel it somehow
What you don't have you don't need it now
Don't need it now
Was a beautiful day"

My friends Lesley and Thomas, from Orcutt, California, really know how to enjoy their beautiful day! They had major rain, a seven hour power outage, and turned their bad weather into unique quality time. Here are some of their wet photos. I am happy that the Brown's have allowed me to post their photos!

The photos make me want to go outside singing in the rain like I used to when I was a kid. In fact, Lesley and I have been friends since we were five-years-old so we HAVE sung in the rain together in the past. Good memories and good times!

This is a pretty flower called the white nikeesis inmudissis. I especially love the check mark shaped leaf of this flower.

Now wasn't that a romantic adventure? Okay you have to know that there were some less than desireable moments to this hike. Take a looksie.....

Thanks to the Brown's for sharing their adventure and sense of humor with me and you. You and me? Oh, uh, um, Thomas is a teacher and I am a little extra concerned about my writing for this post. His wife will probably make him read it! I love your digital  memories and thanks again!

To check out the Brown's blog visit Six Diamonds (Yes, they have six children!)

Sunny Bride

I thought I would brighten up our day today with this layout I made over the weekend. This photo may not be the most flattering one of myself to post to the world on my blog. However, this was the first full day of my honeymoon last July! It was about 88 degrees and my hubby and I were swimming in the pool, sunbathing and just relaxing before taking a drive to the lake in Lake Tahoe.

Right now California is covered in rain, wind and gray clouds. What can you look back on in your life that can take away the dark moments when "skies are gray"?

Or should I spell it like- "grey"?!

Credit: Paper and Arrows by Sahlin Studio, Enjoy the Moment kit. Carina Gardner Imprint Calendar brushes and frames.

(click on 'Older Post' on the bottom right hand corner to see more layouts I posted today!)

Stand Tall kit by Stacy's Back Door Designs

A few years ago, when Jasmine and Anika were entering kindergarten and first grade, I had to nudge them a bit when it was time to go to school in the morning. They were hestitant to go to school because they would miss me (and Dad) "all day".  I miss those days and occasional pep talks about how "fun it is to go to school and play with your friends". The first year or so of school was a lot more exciting for them. Even though my girls do not take their friends or play time for granted, these two things are just not as exciting anymore as they once were.  I remember always telling them, especially our youngest, to be strong! I still love dropping them off at school and picking them out. I love seeing my girls forge their way(s) in to this world!

I used this adorable kit by Stacy's Back Door Designs called Stand Tall. It includes some great word art. I used some of the word art and lowered the percentage of opacity in Photoshop Elements to make a light, overlay of the words. The kit is 20% off right now, so go get one!

See other layouts by my Creative Team Members plus a freebie here!

(click on 'Older Post' on the bottom right hand corner to see more layouts I posted today!)

Sweet Love kit by Elyane Araujo Designs

Buy your own kit on SALE...click HERE!

Layout samples:

http://www.faithsisters.com/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/48159

http://www.coolscrapsdigital.com/csdgallery/showphoto.php/photo/7606

http://hmscrapshop.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3638&cat=532

This kit is perfect for Valentine's Day. Gerry, my husband, has a massive sweet tooth. I love the idea of using the candies because he is my sweet heart, but also, it is something which reminds me of him! We even had some candy on BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) on the way to Union Square in San Francisco a few years back, shown in the photos! What will you be doing for Valentine's Day this year? We have not made plans yet.

http://hmscrapshop.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3639&cat=532

http://www.coolscrapsdigital.com/csdgallery/showphoto.php/photo/7608

http://www.faithsisters.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=6921

Totally Chic Release January 13 & Freebie

Since the start of 2009, I have seen more and more chandeliers gracing foyers, dining rooms, and scrapbook layouts! Yes, chandeliers have become a familiar trend in digital scrap booking, yet how many of us have actually used one in our layouts?

(Black Orchid Chandelier)

Before I could use one, I had to determine what does a chandelier symbolize? I know, I probably over analyzed this a bit, but that’s just me being Betty. A chandelier can be a symbol of grace, elegance, or sophistication. These days, you can buy an ornate chandelier made of many different materials such as iron, plastic, animal antlers or pixels!

The kit Totally Chic includes a gorgeous chandelier which can be used on layouts of those little ladies in your life that are sophisticated, or spoiled, or sassy! Add a little bling like glitter or rhinestones and you could create a perfect diva-in-the-making layout.

Check out the new kit from Stacy’s Back Door Designs below, just released January 12. The kit has a lot more to offer than just a chandelier, but I felt like showcasing the chandelier trend which has been increasing in popularity since last year. Good news….Stacy is currently offering a freebie quick page you can scoop up which was created from the Totally Chic kit! Read on for the 411.

Click Here And Scroll Down To The Bottom of the Page for freebie quick page!

Digiridoo Shop to Get Your Own Kit

(Dad Hanging Out with His Chicks was featured January 11 in the Monday's Made You Look picks of the week at Faith Sisters. com!  Click here to see all of the selected layouts.)

In addition to viewing the two new pages I created with this kit above, please check out some great chandeliers which caught my eye. I have collected these layouts from various scrapbooking galleries and blogs on the web (and they were not created by me).  Check them out for more ideas of what you can do with the Totally Chic kit.

This is the freebie ( below) offered by Stacy's Back Door Designs. Just add your own photos. This is Stacy's first kit release for 2010. I am happy I have great products to design with!

Layout by Gennifer Bursett http://thebursettfamily.blogspot.com/2009_10_01_archive.html (not made with the Totally Chic kit)

Fave Thing Layout by Peni

Have you created a layout with a chandelier embellishment? I would love to see it if you would like to post a link to it in the comments section!

 

A couple more images to leave you with!

 

Pretty in Pink layout found at Scrap Matters (omg is that Molly Ringwald?)

A pink chandelier ceiling fan on my wish list for each of my daughter's rooms

I saw this at Lamps Plus almost a year ago and cannot get it off of my mind! It is very Shabby Chic. Lookie here, off on a tangent again! These real chandeliers have nothing to do with scrapbooking BUT they are digital photos...my digital memories!

Shortest Post Ever!

Check out my new Basic Grey blog header!
http://www.basicgrey.com/

The background will be installed as soon as I get help! I attempted it for about 40 minutes but without directions from Basic Grey, I am stumped. I tried HTML....tried adding it by code made in Photobucket...and more. Ahh, I will just wait until they reply with quick instructions.

Any who, I am glad that Basic Grey offers papers, embellishments, brushes, iphone and computer wallpapers, plus cards and quick pages......all delivered via PC digitally!!!

I bought the baby boy card for my friend whom just gave birth to a baby on New Year's Eve. It is a gorgeous card for a gorgeous baby!

As far as their amazing paper products, I have about 50 or 60 pieces of Basic Grey paper, a few embellishment packs and other Basic Grey items. I love them all but I never used them since they were 'coveted'. Do you have a stash of Basic Grey papers like I do? Now, since they have digital products, I can buy one page and use it a million times!!!

I am now dashing off to visit the baby for the first time! New life, new year, and new products to experiment with.

Enjoy YOUR new year.

Happy Birthday, Mom, January 4th!

(Top left, Mom with my older sister Lisa, Mom with me and my husband, Mom with my sister and I, and bottom, Mom with her husband Ken and my two daughters)

I would like to wish my mom a wonderful day!

This month, January, I have four of my digital pages being published in Scrapbook News & Review magazine!  A few years back, some mini albums I helped design with Gotta Crop were published in Woman's Day magazine. However, this is my first time having my own work published. The magazine contacted me on January 1....what a good way to start off the new year followed by Mom's birthday.

(We ended the year with my nephew's birthday December 31 but unfortunately he lives in a different state).

Any who, two of the pages which will be featured in the magazine later this month, have photos of my mom, my sister and two nephews while we visited Disneyland almost 10 years ago! My mom can now say she is featured in a magazine too this month. Not such a bad start to the new year for Mom either, I hope.

After the digital scrapbook pages  have been published, I will share them with you here, via my blog.

I am off now, to work on the My Lifetime Story project/ hobby with Faith Sisters.

Here is more information about it copied from their website:

In 2010 we are going back to the basics of leaving a legacy of faith. This years challenges are all focused on YOU and your lifetime story. When you join us in this challenge you will be creating a mini-autobiography. We are counting down the days till January 6th because we are so stinkin' excited about the My Lifetime Story challenges!!!

Wouldn't you to know what your grandma's favorite toy was as a child, how she felt when she met your grandpa, her favorite scripture and the song that expressed her heart? Your children and grandchildren will have that treasure when you join us in this challenge!



We will start out with your family roots in January and move into your childhood in February. We will continue throughout the year with your teen and adult years as well. The last challenge of the year will be a letter to your future generations or anyone who reads your book.



Each of our stories is important. This is a book that everyone should create about themselves. It will be the most treasured album of your family. As you create this album about your lifetime story you will be leaving YOUR LEGACY OF FAITH. This is an album that can make an impact in your life as you create it, but it will also create a major impact in the lives of your family both now and in future generations. As your children read your story in this scrapbook that YOU created, they will take your stories to heart. Your stories may have more impact on them than even Bible stories, because they are personal and from someone they know and . When friends and neighbors pick up your storybook and look through it you will be witnessing without even saying a word. They will read your lifetime history and discover your of Jesus, and His forgiveness and faithfulness in your life!



The My Lifetime story challenges will begin the first Wednesday in January. A new challenge will be posted each Wednesday all throughout 2010. The last challenge will be posted the last Wednesday of December. Just because the challenge series ends at the end of 2010 doesn't mean your lifetime story album is finished. We will continue to offer periodic challenges to continue your autobiography and keep it current.



Please join us in this year long challenge! Some of these challenges may be layouts you have already completed. That is ok! We need to get these all compiled in your lifetime storybook. Everyone deserves to be the star of their own book, including and most importantly YOU! If you don't put some time aside to create your My Lifetime Story album now, you may never find the time. If something were to happen to you, would your legacy of faith be lost forever? Take action now, join us as we create our lifetime storybooks for the next generation to see the glorious work the Lord can do in the life of a woman that loves God!



Begin thinking about what size album you would like to use for your My Lifetime Story challenge. What size do you prefer? Start gathering your supplies now so you will be ready to start when we kick off the first challenge January 6th!