be AUDacious

catching up with Ella Publishing

There's so much great stuff going on with Ella Publishing right now, so I wanted to share a quick catch-up post with you! About a month ago, Angie contacted me and wanted to know if I was interested in trying out a skin care line that had been in touch with them. I said sure, even though I normally don't have much of a skin care routine. But developing better habits centering on taking care of myself is one of the things I'm trying to work on, so this seemed like a great chance to get started.

Muvazi sent a trial run of products and I started working them into my developing skin-care routine. As I stated on Ella's blog, the products are easy-to-use and so far, they seem to be working. My skin is hydrated, my forehead frowning wrinkle is less conspicuous (I don't think it will ever disappear), and I'm well on my way to having an established skin care routine -- one step closer to taking better care of myself (and creating a good example for my girls on the importance of doing the same thing.)

Angie challenged us to create a layout about ourselves as part of the blog feature, which caused me all kinds of anxiety. I snapped a quick shot with my iPhone, and to be honest, it isn't that bad. I think I'm learning to be less critical of myself. It doesn't hurt that I have two daughters and a husband who constantly let me know that they think I'm beautiful and smart and funny and loved and all those other good things. I just have to continue to learn to believe those things about myself, too.

credits: template and kit from This Week collaboration by Karla Dudley and Tiffany Tillman at Design House Digital, alphabet from Karla Dudley's Digi Essentials 6 at Design House Digital

Muvazi is generously sponsoring some giveaways on the Ella blog, too: If you'd like to try the Muvazi line yourself, we have a KILLER deal for you. Use the codePAMPERYOURSELF to save $80 off the kit (includes cleanser, serum, moisturizer, and eye cream) AND get free shipping. It's priced at $149 and you get it for just $69. No kidding! And there's a 30-day money-back guarantee, too, so if it doesn't work for you, there's no risk. And come back tomorrow for your chance to win the kit for FREE!

Speaking of shaping up, have you registered for SPRING TRAINING yet? Right now is the perfect time to enroll in for this fun event. I mean, just look at the lineup: great coaches, informational videos, creative exercises, organizational tips, live chats, bonus downloads and tons of prizes -- and all designed to fit into your busy schedule! What are you waiting for? Sign up now!

Ella's newest e-book is out, and it's perfect for booklovers, craftlovers, and thriftstore-lovers alike! Book Crafting features layouts and projects you can complete by repurposing old books, as well as a ton of prompts just perfect for starting your own reading journal. 

Don't forget to #Take12 tomorrow -- join us as we take 12 photos on the 12th of April as part of our year-long series Take Twelve 2012! Just finding out about this great project? Here's everything you need to know!

Use coupon code TAKE12APR on Thursday, April 12 only, to save 12 percent on any TWO items*—including the Take Twelve Guided Inspiration Kit and the Take Twelve Templates. And here's a hint, it will work on Spring Training, too!

*One coupon per person. Cannot be combined with other coupon codes or gift certificates. Excludes gift certificates.

 

march madness and girl vs scrap

Well, almost the entire state is celebrating UK's win in the NCAA tournament (I say almost because I doubt there is much celebration happening in Louisville). But even though March Madness is over, that doesn't mean we're finished with our Mad March Memories celebration at Design House Digital!

In addition, voting has started for our Digiscrap Competition winner, so cast your vote here; you can vote once a day until the April 6th deadline. We've got 24 gorgeous layouts to select from, and one lucky voter will also win a class from ReneePearson.com. 

It's time to kick off the April round of Girl vs Scrap over at One Story Down today, too! This month your challenge is to:

Here's the layout I created:

credits:
Photograph tab and leaf doodle (recolored): Photobooth by Paislee Press
alphabet: Candyland by CD Muckosky
page border: Storyteller by One Little Bird and Paislee Press
all other papers and elements: Tell Me A Story collaboration by One Story Down designers
font: Olivetti Type 2

Upload your layout to the gallery and then post a link on the blog or in the forum by 4/30/12; just for playing along, you'll get this lovely freebie from Tickled Pink Studio:

 

now open: one story down

My friend Lauren, whom I've known in this digital scrapbooking biz probably longer than anyone else I know, has just opened a lovely new shop, One Story Down! I love Lauren's style, and I love her love of stories, and One Story Down is the perfect combination of those two things. Here's what's going on:

Spend just $10 in the shop and get the very first Team Collab, Tell Me Stories, FREE!

It's an awesome kit; I've scrapped with it twice and still have notes for at least two more layouts using it.

While you're shopping, be sure to head over to the forum and check out the games and challenges going on. You could win some FANTASTIC prizes (like a GC to Persnickety Prints or Ella Publishing, a spot in a photography class, custom jewelry, and more!) Check out this thread for the Jo Tote giveaway!

w.c.s giveaway + spring training 2012

My friend Celeste contacted me a few weeks ago and asked if I'd be interested in doing a giveaway in conjunction with a project she was completing for the write.click.scrapbook blog. (If you aren't familiar with w.c.s., it's a great resource for scrappers and one of my favorite sites for inspiration and instruction). Of course, I said YES -- and I'm so glad I did. Celeste has put together an amazing mini-album that combines some great digital supplies with the February Studio Calico kit. Go leave a comment and you can win a set of my iCONIC Banners! 

This is just a reminder that if you haven't taken advantage of Ella's March coupon for their Stamping Secrets e-book, you are running out of time. Between now and 3/31, you can save 15% off the regular price by using the code SECRETSTAMPER at checkout. The book is a great deal, and the techniques inside are applicable not just to cards and scrapbook pages, but also for home decor. There are also plenty of great techniques that can be replicated using digital supplies. There are also four videos available as part of the e-book, which is a great way to learn a new technique for you hands-on learners.

Speaking of video instruction, you'll want to go ahead and sign up for Ella's Spring Training 2012 event while you are grabbing your copy of Stamping Secrets.  If you register between now and April 1, you'll save $5.00 off the full price of $44.99. This event is one you definitely don't want to miss -- it's FILLED with so much, including coaching videos, exercises, chats, challenges, giveaways and more!

 

 

what's going on: the weekend

If you haven't picked up the Softly Collaboration that I put together with the fabulously talented Robyn Meierotto, today is your last day to get it for 25% off. 

Robyn and I will be chatting at 2 pm CST in the DHD chat room, so make sure you stop by to visit. I'll be offering up a new set of paper-piecing templates for free to anyone who attends the chat; if you can't make it, you'll be able to purchase the templates in my shop on Thursday.

As this weekend's Featured Designer, I've got a number of great deals in my shop: 18 to be exact! That's right -- I've marked down 18 kits to just $1.00, plus I'm offering this template for free. All of my $1.00 kits are perfect for both your Project Life and your Take 12 projects. Here's a glimpse at the 2012 Digital Kit and Templates in use for my March 2012 layout:

Speaking of the Take12 project, Ella Publishing Co. has some GREAT deals going on right now, including a Lucky 3-Day Sale on selected items. But you've got to act fast if you want to take advantage of them.

 Also, if you haven't picked up your copy of the Stamping Secrets e-book, I've got a special code you can use to save 15% through March 31. Enter the code SECRETSTAMPER at checkout.

And lastly, you can save $5.00 on the cost of registration for Spring Training 2012 -- this is one event you won't want to miss!

 

Winner announced: DHD Mad March Memories GIVEAWAY

It was just absolutely awesome to hear how much you guys all like the See-Throughs (btw, there's a new set in the shop today!) I hope you'll all be adding your gorgeous layouts with the DHD Blog Hop kit to our gallery, and I hope you'll be playing along with our challenges too! Remember, Round 1 layouts are due today!

Melinda, email me at audneal at gmail dot com so I can get your gift certificate code sent to you! Thanks again to all of you for your enthusiasm, your kind words, and your support of my products!

DHD Mad March Memories Blog Hop

For the first time in a long time, I'm really excited about March Madness because my Murray State Racers have a chance to make some real noise in the big dance! We're making some noise over at Design House Digital this month as well, kicking off our own version of March Madness, digiscrap-style!

The shop has been just overflowing with great products recently, and one that I'm personally excited about is a new one I released last week called See-Throughs.

Essentially, these are 12x12 clipping masks that create a fun peek-a-boo effect on your layout backgrounds. They are an easy way to add an extra bit of pattern to your page, and they can be used in so many different ways.

Here's how to use them: 
NOTE: I am using Photoshop Elements 5.0, so if you are using a newer version of PSE or CS, then things might look a little different, but the steps will essentially be the same. Also, I know that there are multiple options for achieving this same effect -- this is just the way I've always done things. Feel free to share your shortcuts and suggestions in the comments section of this post.

Step 1: Open the See-Through in your program.

Step 2: Select a pattern paper and drag it onto your canvas. Move it to the layer BELOW the See-Through. Resize the patterned paper if necessary.

Step 3: Select a different patterned paper or a solid paper and place on the layer ABOVE the See-Through.

Step 4: "Clip" the second paper to the See-Through by first using the keyboard command CtrlG (Layer > Group with Previous). Then merge the two layers by selecting the keyboard command CtrlE (Layer > Merge layers).

Step 5: Add a drop shadow to the top layer now. Finish off your page by adding photos, embellishments, journaling, and a title. 

credits: star paper from Robyn Meierott's Everyday papers, kraft paper from Robyn Meierotto's Let's Go papers

There are lots of different ways you can modify this product to fit your needs. The masks are easily resizable, so you can clip your photos to them, or cut out portions of them to clip to journaling cards, accent papers, tags, and more. Play around with your background papers too -- use three or four different patterns. Embellish them with stitching, glitter, buttons or brads. You're really limited only by your own creativity. Here's how our Design House Decorators have put them to use on their own layouts.

Katherine

Aria

Celeste

 I'm offering up the See-Through from my tutorial as a freebie for you all; just click on the link below to download it.

Download An-dhd-freebie-seethrough

But wait! That's not all! Hopefully you made your way here from Aria's wonderful blog, which is the 3rd stop on our blog hop. (If you've gotten lost or mixed up, you can always head back to the beginning at the DHD blog.)

If so, then you know that your goal is to gather a letter from each blog post (along with whatever great freebies are available) and then head back to DHD to enter them for a great prize: this gorgeous collab from some of our DHD designers! Plus, you can enter to win a new Wacom tablet (details here).

As one final thank you for being so wonderfully supportive of my designs, I'd like to offer one person a chance to win a $10.00 gift certificate to my shop.  (UPDATE: Winner announced here.) (I've got an awesome collab coming out this week with Robyn Meierotto that you don't want to miss, so a GC sure would be nice to have right now!)

To enter, just leave a comment here on my blog. Want to earn additional chances to win? Here's how:
1) Tweet about the giveaway (with a link to this blog post); come back to the comments and link me up to your tweet.
2) Post about it on your favorite message board; come back to the comments and link me up to your message board post.
3) Share the news on Facebook; come back to the comments and link me up to your status update.
4) Follow me on Twitter and/or like my fan page on Facebook.   

You've got until Wednesday night at midnight CST to comment; I'll use random.org to draw a name on Thursday. After you comment, don't forget to head over to Carey's blog to find your next letter!

and the giveaway goes to:

It's great to see how many of you are interested in Ella Publishing Co's newest e-book, Stamping Secrets. The best part? There will be many more opportunities to win this month, since each Ella Friend will be hosting a blog giveaway for a free copy during March. So if you didn't win this time around, keep your eyes peeled for another chance, coming soon. In the meantime, you can always head over to the shop and buy a copy for yourself (and if you win one of the giveaways, then Ella will just refund your purchase price -- it's a great deal any way you look at it!)

MaryBeth, email me at audneal at gmail dot com and I'll get your redemption code to you right away! Thanks again for everyone who entered!

stamping secrets: new ella e-book giveaway!

Stamping Secrets: 7 Sensational Stamp Sets Used 21 Ways

By stamping experts Nichol Magouirk, Ashley Cannon Newell, Lea Lawson, Nancy Burke, Robyn Werlich, Shari Carroll, and Shemaine Smith

Ready to make the most of your favorite stamps, and learn new tips and tricks along the way? 

In 28 packed pages, you'll enjoy 21 gorgeous projects, 35 expert stamping tips, 6 step-by-step written tutorials, and 20 minutes of exclusive video instruction—all for just $10.99.

We hand-picked seven sensational stampers and invited each of them to:

• choose a favorite stamp set from a favorite stamp company
• create three versatile projects using that set (scrapbook layouts, cards, and more)
• share their expert stamping tips, tricks, and tutorials with you!

With stamps from Stampin' Up!, Hero Arts, Technique Tuesday, PaperTrey Ink, Lawn Fawn, BasicGrey, and Unity, this eBook truly offers the best of the best. No matter your skill level, Stamping Secrets will put you on the path to stamping success!

LEAP DAY SPECIAL AND E-BOOK GIVEAWAY

For today only (Leap Day), you can purchase Stamping Secrets at a special introductory price of just $7.80 -- that's 29% off the regular price. Beginning tomorrow, you'll be able to grab it for $8.79 -- 20% off -- until March 7th, when it reverts back to the regular price of $10.99.

Even better, I have a copy that I'm giving away to one random person. Just leave a comment on this blog post -- post about it on Facebook and Twitter for extra chances to win (just make sure you come back here and leave a comment with a link to your Tweet or FB status). I'll use random.org to draw a winner on Saturday. All comments must be recieved by midnight CST on Friday, March 2 to be eligible. 

(If you've already purchased a copy of the e-book, you can still enter the contest -- Ella Publishing Co. will just refund your purchase price.)

 

Celebrate Leap Year with these great sales!

To celebrate Leap Year, we're running an all-day sale at Design House Digital -- everything in the shop is 29% today only! In addition, today is the last day that you can grab our Daily Dollar Deals products. After today, everything reverts to its original price, so if you haven't grabbed these items, do it now!

 Ella Publishing Co. is having a Leap Day sale too, and they've got this great giveaway going on right now:

ONE lucky winner today (randomly drawn from the comments) will take home $150 worth of stamps, pictured here! All you have to do is leave a comment on the Ella blog telling us which of the pictured stamp sets is your favorite.

ONE additional lucky winner randomly drawn from the comments will receive the February SMAK Kit by Unity Stamp (value of $45). We'll ship free to winners with U.S. addresses. International winners will pay shipping. Deadline for comments is Wednesday, February 29. Winners announced March 1.