Okblues Designs Blog

I just posted the new Sketch Challenge at GDS. This challenge uses a layered template designed by me with bonus stitching included. Here is a preview of the layered template:

I hope you can find time to join us in this challenge & I look forward to seeing your layouts. This challenge will end January 11th. All who participate will receive a surprise freebie from me.

I hope all of you enjoyed a wonderful Christmas. It was a nice, quiet celebration at home this year for our family. In celebration of the holidays, we are having a storewide sale at goDigitalScrapbooking until January 2nd. Everything in the store is 40% off.

This sale includes the new products too. Such as the Glass Frames I just added to the store. Here is a preview:

Here is an example of the Glass Frames in use:

While you're at GDS, check out the other happenings. There's still time to sign up for the Supreme Team Contest if you haven't done so.

Each summer we try to attend my hubby's family reunion at Robbers' Cave State Park. It is usually hot, hot, hot and one of the highlights for the kids is going swimming at the lake to cool off. Here is a layout I did for the current Sketch Challenge at GDS with photos of dd Doris enjoying a swim

If you want a break from the holiday madness, stop by & give the Sketch Challenge a try. Or share your all-time favorite holiday recipe in the Recipe Exchange.

Need a fun way to accent your photos in your layouts? Then check out my daily download today at GDS. Here's a preview:

And here is a preview displaying them in use with a couple of photos of the kids from last Christmas.

Look for the complete set in my store soon. While you're at GDS, check out the challenges and contests. See you there!

Christmas Express has arrived at the GDS store today. A little whimsical, with traditional holiday colors and comical Christmas characters, it's sure to add fun to your holiday pages. Available as individual paper pack, element pack and alpha pack. Or purchase the complete page kit including all the individual packs and save 25%.

The papers feature soft and refined textures.

Here is a close-up of some of the elements:

If you make any pages with this kit, please email the links as I would love to see them!

Week 1 of the Recipe Exchange is over and there were some really great recipe cards created. Here was my card for Week 1:

Credits:Veggie Garden, flower from Hoppy and tear action all by Atomic Cupcake; Bow by Clara Wallace. Font: Courier New.

And I just have to show off this wonderfully creative recipe card Holly created. I love it, the elements and papers are absolutely perfect for her recipe.

Today we started Week 2 of the Recipe Exchange. This week's theme is "Cookies". Not necessarily Christmas cookies, but any cookie recipe that is a favorite of your family and friends. Here is my first card for Week 2:

I understand that this is a busy time of the year for most of us, but I hope you can find a few minutes to drop by & swap a recipe or two with us this week. And those who participate will get a zipfile of all the recipes submitted in full-size suitable for printing. While you're there, check out the ongoing Daily Downloads. There have been some awesome creations given away, but you have to be quick as they are only up for a day. There are also other fun challenges taking place and new products are being added to the store. Hope to see you there!

Here is a little sneak peek at my latest kit, Christmas Express. The kit will be in the store at goDigitalScrapbooking this Saturday. You will be able to purchase the papers, elements, or alpha individually, or the complete kit if you choose.

There are 14 papers and 50 elements, as well as a complete alpha in this kit. I hope you enjoy this whimsical kit and it's comical characters.

When I started digi-scrapping, I set a goal for myself to complete one layout per day. Well, I'm not even coming close to meeting my goal this year. I did finish this 2 page layout today using some older photos of the kids sledding and playing in the snow while we were living in Pennsylvania. As an adult, I gripe about snowy weather, complain about having to drive in it, shovel it, etc. But through the eyes of my children, it's not something to complain about. Rather, it's a wonderful, magical world to have fun in. Maybe I should take a lesson from them. Slow down, look at a snowflake up close again, enjoy the wonders God provides us instead of taking it all for granted. Here's page 1 of Winter Fun:

And here is the second page:

Credits: Winter Weather Warning by Miki Ferkul (Microferk Designs, available at Scrapbook-Elements; Alpha (colorized), snowflake border and snowflake tag from Snowy Winter Solstice, also by Miki and available at Scrapbook-Elements. Fonts: Comic Sans, PC Diva. Winter Weather Warning was a fun kit to work with and with the variety of papers & elements in the kit, I could make a dozen more layouts using it.

The first Recipe Exchange Challenge is up and running at goDigitalScrapbooking. Click on the image to go to the challenge forum at GDS.

I will choose holiday related themes throughout the month of December. I hope you'll drop by & give the Recipe Exchange a try.

There hasn't been a lot going on at home lately, just work and school. I'm trying hard to get in the Christmas spirit, but I haven't had much success so far. I hope to get our tree up this week & do some baking and candy making. That should help put me in the mood. I have my Christmas kit almost ready to upload to the store. I am hoping to have it in the store this week. Then I can move on with some other ideas I have for designs.

I almost forgot...we did have a bit of excitement Saturday evening at the farm. We had prowlers attempting to catch our miniature horses and colts in the front pasture. It was late evening, dark and about 20 degrees outside. Hubby found their four-wheeler hidden in the brush & called the sheriff. Turned out to be some adolescent boys. No real harm was done, so we decided not to press charges this time. I can't promise dh will be that lenient if it continues to happen. That's about it on the home front, so I'm heading to bed.

I didn't realize how spoiled I have become in regards to my internet usage until my DSL bit the dust yesterday. They were kind enough to give me dialup till they fixed the problem and that was appreciated. I just didn't remember how slow our dialup really is. Good news is they have the DSL repaired now. This gives me more consideration for those users that are still stuck with dialup.

We've had more of our crazy Oklahoma weather this week. We started the week in the balmy mid 70's. Then a front moved in and temperatures took a nosedive to highs in the 30's yesterday. Fortunately we didn't get as much snow as they predicted, less than an inch. But we did get a lot of rain and some ice before the snow. I grew up in the north, with lots of snow. It sure is pretty to look at, but I'd rather not have much. I guess I've lived away from real winter too long.

A new sketch challenge started at goDigitalScrapbooking yesterday and will run through December 13th. Here is my layout for the challenge:

Credits: Garden of Friends by ConnyB; Fiber from Pastel Romance by Ashley Bailey; Brad from Necessities - Silver & Alpha from Bright New Day, both by Atomic Cupcake; Flowers and staples from the Collaberation Kit by the DigiDareYa Team; Sketch by Bree Clarkston at ScrapMaps. Font: LD TakeANote.

Sorry, there's not a layered template this time. However, all participants will receive an exclusive freebie from me at the end of the challenge.