It's Spring, I'm Ready to Learn Something New...and a Freebie!

Spring is my very favourite time of the year. The blossoms are sprouting, the birds are singing, the days are getting warmer - it's just such a pleasant time...it makes you feel good to be alive!

This year, to mark the arrival of Spring, I've decided to take a course and learn something new! I've just discovered Shimelle Laine. Well, not really discovered, as I'd heard her name when I was a paper scrapper. But recently I've discovered some of the online classes she has, and I'm hooked.

Learn Something New Everyday is the course I've signed up for. The class encourages you to take each day as it comes and find at least one thing in every day that can teach you something. Something big, something small, something funny, something solemn. Some days you might learn a random fact and others might teach you something about patience, determination or reflection. Every day is a new opportunity, and we track it all through things we love: some photographs, a bit of writing and as much pretty paper as we fancy.

Doesn't it sound fun! So that's my focus for September. I'm going to learn something new everyday, and I plan on posting here to keep track of things.


And for something completely different, I've decided to start designing! I'm going to call myself Digi.Girl.Designs by Di Basnett. As I start out and learn lots about designing, I'm going to rely on you guys to be my guinea pigs. I'll be posting lots of freebies here on the blog, and I'd love for you to download and try out my products. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

So here is my first freebie. I've created an acrylic alpha. You can download here, or just click the image. Enjoy!

30 Days of Blogging - Day 13, 14 & 15

Boy...I can't believe it's been 3 weeks since I've blogged, and in that time we have seen another awful natural disaster in the world! I find all this devastion quite disturbing. My heart aches for all those who have lost life, their loved ones, their homes, their work.....I just can't quite comprehend it all. Pictures like this just break my heart.



What I am sure of through, is that all these earthquakes and tsunami's are building up, and it feels like there is going to be a HUGE, MASSIVE disaster in the not too distant future! Let's hope that I am wrong.


Day 13 - so today I'm meant to talk about my goals. I've had my time of chasing big career goals and things like that. Today my goals are a lot simpler. And that in fact is my word of the 2011...SIMPLIFY! So, firstly I want my family to be healthy and happy and have lots of fun together. We pretty much are, so I hope it stays that way...LOL! I want to become fitter and thinner....but fitter first and foremost! I would like to be able to afford to send our daughter to private school. We would like to move further out of the city....so we can live a less chaotic life! And you know...that's pretty much it for now!

Day 14 - share a picture I love. There are so many, but I love this family photo that was taken when we on holiday in the UK last year. The picture was taken in March 2010, at Warwick Castle.

{image linked for credits}

Day 15 - share a bible verse! I like this verse, as I believe if everyone lived their life like this...irrespective of faith or belief, the world would be a much better place.

“Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling … ” (1 Peter 3:8)

WOW...I'm half way there, only 15 days to go on my little blogging journey. It's taken a while, but I'm getting there, and am determined to finish!

Some Scrapping Shares

Some awesome kits being released today!

Just love this wedding/engagement themed kit by Lyndsay Riches, available at Scrap Orchard.



And here's a layout I created with it.



And how gorgeous is this release Sweet Serenity from Amy Stoffel at Gotta Pixel. I love this kit, and the layout I created is very special to me.






And lastly, I created a layout from my Day 3 of blogging post about my first love. I think it's turned out great. I used Up In The Air, and Sweet Starts Photoless by Nikki Epperson at The Digi Chick.

the scrapping comp to end all scrapping comps...

Scrap Orchard is having an amazing competition, where you can win some incredible prizes! Just look at these!



This is a contest you don't want to miss out on. Prizes include an iPAD, iPOD Touch, Scrap Orchard Gift Certificates, and so much more!

And it's super easy to participate! Just collect points by completing the challenges. The more points you collect, the more chances you have of winning. There's no eliminations. There's no judging! Just a prize drawing! The game is already ON! ....so hop over to the Iron Scrapper forum for all the details! You know you want to!

So come and join in with me in the forum. Tell them Di (scrappy*di) sent you.

Till next time,
Di xx

toot, toot, we're off on another blog train ...

It's February 15th, and we're off on another DSC Blog Train. Yippee!

The DSC team have been busy creating this month's blog train from the fabulous Feb Collab which has a lovely romantic theme. Well it is the month of Love!

We've all created brag book pages (6"x4") perfect to remember those Things That You Love! So make sure you pop by all the stations to pick up your pages.

Here's my contribution:

You can download here.

This is the last stop on the train. You should have arrived here from AV Designs blog.

And if you fall off the train along the way, here is a list of all the stops:
Pom
Debbie
Isabelle
Lisa
AV Designs
Di -------------You are HERE!


Oh. And don't forget that this train is making it's way right around the world, across many time zones, so if you get to a stop and your goodies aren't there, make sure you check again later!

And lastly, don't forget to leave some love, if you like what you see.

Till next time,
Di xx

it's here...one love...charity collab for haiti ...

'One Love refers to the universal love and respect expressed by all people for all people, regardless of race, creed or color'.

48 hugely talented and very beautiful designers have created this amazing kit with the common purpose of raising funds for Haitian Aid Relief.

The kit has 114 papers, 356 elements, 3 alphas, 6 page templates and 1 hybrid template, and costs just US$15. Or you can buy the bundle which includes 16 12x12 quickpages for just US$20.

If you only buy one kit this year, this should be the one. The funds will go to such a good cause. You can purchase and find out more details here.

I purchased the bundle, and can't wait to start creating. I hope you'll join me!

Till next time,
Di xx

giant charity collab for Haiti ...

Just some advance notice that the digi scrapping world are putting together a charity collab kit to raise money for the survivors in Haiti.



It looks awesome, doesn't it! When I have some further info, I'll let you all know.

Till next time,
Di xx

win a new kit ....

Want to win a digi scrapping kit? Of course you do! Lita's new release is called La Tua Cantante, and she is offering you 2 chances of winning it.



I just love the colours of this kit.

Go here to DigiShopTalk, and leave a comment for your chance to win!

Till next time,
Di xx

one day only...don't miss it! ...

If you don't do any more digi shopping this year....you can't miss this offer.

Amy Stoffel is having a 50% off everything sale over at Scrap Orchard.


....and it includes new releases........

But it's for 1 day only......02 December (US time). Don't miss it!

Till next time,
Di xx

toot, toot...we're off on another blog train...

It's nearly the 15th, and that means we're off on another Digital Scrap Cafe blog train.

The DSC team have been busy creating this month's blog train from the fabulous November Pick N Mix collection available in the store.

We've all created a 12x12 Quick Page, and there are nearly enough pages to make a complete album. So make sure you stop by all the stations in the train to pick up your pages.

Here's my contribution.

You can download here.

This is the last stop on the train, and you should have arrived at this stop from Kristy's blog.

And if you fall off the train along the way, here is the complete list of all the stops:

Grace
Asa
Claire
Chelcee
Isabelle
Debbie
Kristy
Di << you are here

Oh, and don't forget that this train is making its way right around the world, across many time zones, so if you get to a stop and your goodies aren't there...make sure you check back again later.

And lastly, remember to leave some love if you like what you see!

Till next time,
Di xx

happy idsd everyone ...

Well today is officially international Digital Scrapping Day, and there are so many sales and activities happening it is hard to keep up.

If you love using templates, my friend Litabells Designs is having 50% off at her stores Daydreamers Designworks and Digiridoo Scraps.



Most of the designers at Scrap Orchard are taking 35% off their kits, and some of the designers are having some additional special.


And Digital Scrap Cafe is having 40% off everything, a Make a Wish forum and a Treasure hunt.


If I find anymore good ones I'll be sure to let you know.

Till next time,
Di xx

new jessica sprague free class ...

Those of you who follow me know that I *heart* Jessica Sprague. Well she's offering another of her free classes, and I thought I'd share. This one is called Holidays In Hand, and promises to be just as fantastic as her previous ones.

Here's all the details:


Take advantage of this opportunity to refocus on what matters to YOU during the holiday season, no matter how you celebrate. Go here to find all the details about registering. Hope to see you in class.

Till next time,
Di xx

it's november and a new challenge at DSC ...

Hi everyone! Happy November! Can you believe we are just a month away from Christmas! I'm getting kind of nervous, as we are heading to England for Christmas this year....and I'm not at all organised. I haven't done an ounce of shopping, and don't even really know what I'm going to buy! I guess I better get myself into gear!

I have a new 'What's in the coffee cup?' challenge just posted at Digital Scrap Cafe. This month you need to scrap a layout that includes these items:



And here's my sample:


Be sure to check out the DSC forum for all the details. And if you complete the challenges at DSC each month, you earn digi-bytes that can be used to buy items from the store. I hope to see your layouts.

Till next time,
Di xx

quote challenge and a freebie ...

I'm hosting the quote challenge over at Digital Scrap Cafe this fortnight, and I've made a freebie word art for you.

I was rummaging through some old photos, and came across some photos of Emma playing in the garden with my dad. It was such innocent fun, that it reminded me that it is the simple things that make the most long-lasting memories.

And so my challenge is to scrap using the quote - Memories are made of this.

Here's the word art I've made. One is just the simple words, and the other includes a grungy frame. And I've also included the layout I made with the wordart.

You can download the wordart here!

If you don't like what I've created...use your own! But make sure that you scrap a layout of an important memory you don't want to forget. And make sure you leave a comment and link me up to your layout, so that I can go and leave you some love!

Till next time,
Di xx

a new ct gig, a ct call and a freebie ...

I'm excited to be joining a new template designer as part of her CT team. Lita, who I have come to know through Amy's team, has just jumped the fence into designing and has asked me to join her team. I'm so excited, as I love working with templates. And let me tell you...her templates are fab. She's just opened her store at Digiridoo Scraps, and has another on the way.

She's having a CT call, so if anyone is interested, you should contact her. Here's some details.

On the scrapping front, I have been working on a couple of layouts for kits that will be released this week...so I can't share just yet. But I do have a Quick Page freebie for you. I've worked with a gorgeous kit called Tainted Love, from Designs by Rozie. Rozie is hosting the Cafe Colour Challenge, over at Digital Scrap Cafe, and has offered us this gorgeous kit to scrap with.


You can download the quick page here

I hope you enjoy it. Don't forget to leave a comment if you do.

Till next time,
Di xx

brag book freebie ...

I've participated in the Colour Challenge over at Digital Scrap Cafe, and Designs by Rozie has put together the most beautiful kit to use. I was so inspired I've made a complete brag book. 10 pages in all.

Here's Rozie's kit, called Fleeting Romance.

And here's a sample of the brag book I've created.

Download >> here <<

All you have to do is add your photos, some titles and personal journaling - and tada....you have a beautiful album or gift.

I hope you like it. Make sure you leave a comment to let me know if you do. And thank you Rozie for such a beautiful kit to be inspired by.

Till next time,
Di xx

win a $25 coupon to amy's store ...

That's right. You could win a $25 coupon to Amy Stoffel's store at Scrap Orchard. All you have to do is create a layout from Amy's template using her products to be in the running. And if you don't win the $25, there's a 2nd and 3rd prize of $15 and $10 respectively.

So what are you waiting for. You've got till 25September to enter. See Amy's blog here for all the details.

And here's a layout I've created with the template.


Till next time,
Di xx

retiring sale at scrap orchard ...

Just a quick post to let you know that Amy Stoffel is retiring some of her kits at Scrap Orchard, and they're going out at just a tiny US$2.99. That has to be the best deal around.

Be sure to check them out here.

Till next time,
Di xx

recipe blog train freebie starts today ...

Well today starts a blog train by some of the CT girls from Digital Scrap Cafe. We've all used the fantastic September collab kit from the store to create recipe cards of our favourite one dish recipes. Not only do you get the recipe card, but a blank card so you can add your own favourite recipes.

I've chosen my Chicken Cacciatore. Hope you like it.

Download here

Here is a list of all the blogs in the train.

Nicole
Debbie
Isabelle
Trish
LovingSue
Anne-Katrine
Grace (back at DSC, so make sure you have a look around while you are there)

We hope you all enjoy your ride on the blog train, and pick up some yummy recipes along the way.

If you get to a blog and the recipe link hasn't been posted yet, please go back later in the day and check again. We are all on different time zones in the digi world.

Till next time,
Di xx

my layout was chosen for a scraplift feature ...

I had a lovely email from sarahbhb a couple of weeks ago, saying she was doing a feature on scraplifting, and asking if she could scraplift my one cool chick layout in her Tuesday Inspiration blog post over at Inspiration Lane. Of course I said yes.


And her interpretation of my layout is awesome. Make sure you pop over and take a look, here.

Till next time,
Di xxx