Surprise Arrival!

And, now,

For your viewing enjoyment,

   

After months in the making,

Arriving one month early,

All the way from Gator Nation, Florida,

(where even our coaches can't retire)

Weighing in at 6 lbs 8 ozs

and, 19 inches long,

I present to you,

Kaleb Ethan

 

Surprised Everyone with an early appearance!

Just in time for a 2009 Tax Deduction!

I'm on my way this morning to go meet the newest addition to our family, Kaleb.  I will post more pictures when I come back.

I'm so excited!

Su

Freebie for a Peaceful and Joyous Eve

I come here this evening with a warm heart, a tear of joy in my eye and a smile on my face Brillo won't take off.  I am so pleasantly happy!  My oldest child and I had a great day together today!  Both daughters, my son-in-law (I have never written that before, much less spoke it) and three of my grandchildren went to this daughter's home for a Christmas get-together.  It was very nice.  Kristi, the daughter I have been stressing so much over, made a marvelous dinner of fresh ham, roasted sweet potatoes, steamed broccoli with cheese sauce, spicy-cheese biscuits, macaroni and cheese made in a crock pot (YUMMY!), and various goodies, cookies, pies, cheesecake (I'm seeing a theme, here - LOL) and goodness knows what I am forgetting.  Her home was so warm and homey and she was of good spirit, herself.

Kristi had gotten us each a little something, then, got the two little grandchildren a couple of nice things, each.  She gave Jaela twin Cabbage Patch Premies and to Nicky, she gave a Jacksonville Jaguars football jersey with his last name on the back.  He's sleeping in it, now, as I write this.  LOL  I got a little ceramic Oriental lantern incense burner with a box of assorted incense cones.  But, what really put this grin on my face was the hand-made card that she had given each of us.  In mine, she had written "To New Beginnings".  Boo-hoo!!  (Hang on, got to wipe a tear.  Okay, now, where was I?)  We're on the mend!  We even said "I love you" to each other.  I am so happy tonite.  Blessed Be!

Since I am in such a light-hearted and happy mood, I want to give you a little kit I did, recently.  It's flowers and it's delicate and there is no green or red to be seen!  LOL  I give you this, "Lily of the Valley" kit.

(Click on image to go to MediaFire to download)

I must take a minute to mention just how wonderful everyone has been, particularly in spirit, this holiday season.  It must have been infectious!  LOL  Between the birthday greetings and the many holiday well-wishes I, alone, received, I know I have truly been blessed.  I received so many greetings in the form of e-mails and comments that I am still answering some of them!  I realise this activity goes on, all over, at times like this holiday.  I see it everywhere I look when I am online. But, it makes no matter, to me.  Every single word is appreciated.  The support I get is unbelievable!  I just love it!  What I thought was going to be a bad time for me this holiday has turned about and been one good blessing after another.  My faith in this world is slowly, but, surely, being restored.  I'm not so naive as to think things will stay this way, all the time, but, I can sure see how much a positive attitude plays in to a good outcome.  I owe much of my positivity to the support I get, here.  See?  I'm blessed!  LOL

Thank you for your interest and your patience in reading my insanity!  LOL

Su

Holiday Greetings to My Friends, Visitors and Acquaintances

As I sit writing this, there are 49 minutes left in this day, Christmas Day.  I made it.  LOL  The 'holidays' are finally over for me!  That sounds awful, I know.  But, unfortunately, I cannot help but feel relieved once they are behind me.  This one was rather harsh, but, I made it and I hope everyone understands.

I have met so many wonderful people since I found my way in to the scrapbooking community.  There are as many in the area of my interest in my spirituality.  Folks have been so very kind, generous of their time and knowledge and, more than any thing, supportive of my learning, both Photoshop/scrapbooking design-wise and spiritually.

For my birthday, the other day, and for this holiday season, I have received an outpouring of gorgeous and meaningful greetings and gifts.  The senders are the most beautiful folks I have met and befriended, here, online.  I have sat down, I don't know how many times, to post a holiday greeting for my friends and to wish them all the best holiday ever.  But, with my emotional state, I turned into a bawling fool before I could even get started good.  Now, though, with the better part of the day behind us, I feel I can do this.  LOL  Empathy is a pain in the heart!  LOL

I just want to say that the friends I have, the casual acquaintances and those who(m?) I have come to know better, are some of the most wonderful folks I have ever had the privilege of knowing!  In a way, you know little about people you meet online.  But, you also get a chance to learn a little about a person before you decide to befriend them.  Either way, those friends are special to me.  This holiday season, I have been honored to have some of the best friends in the whole wide world!

Since, by now, it is after midnight and, thus, no longer the 'day', and I never did get a personal note out to each of them, I just want to give a little "shout-out" to just a few good folks:

Magickal Scraps is my home.  You ladies are the most beautiful people I know!  You all have taught me so much about myself.  Thank you!  Ladies!  Cheers!

Jodiann, I love ya, Toots!  If ever there were a lady who could charm you off your tootsies, you're the lady!  Your enthusiasm for life is amazing!  You are my driving wheel!  I thank you, sweetest!

Donna K, Bless You, dear heart!  I hope this holiday was not too hard for you.  You have been in my thoughts so much.  I wish you peace of mind and heart.  I am here.

Keryn, you are my rock, my soul friend!  You give me permission to be 'okay'.  I love you so much for that!  With a world between our locations, I feel you are next to me, often.  I think of you a lot.  I hope you have had a good holiday.

And, Karen, Bless Your Heart!  I don't know how you keep on going, sweet lady!  May the Light shine down on you and your loved ones, now, and always.  You deserve much happiness and I believe you will know it, once again, very soon.  It will all be okay, honey.  I love you!

There are you other folks, too, of whom I wish the very best.  I hope you received more than you ever dreamed, this holiday and that each of you find much happiness and prosperity in the New Year.

From me to you, my online friends:

I took this image over to Blingee and "Blingeed" it, too.

Glitter Graphics

MERRY CHRISTMAKWANZANNUKAYULE, YA'LL!

Love, Light and Wishing you All Peace and Joy,

Su

Blessed Yule

 

A Visit from the Yule Spirits

Author Richard De Angelis

'Twas that night before Yule, when all 'cross the heath,

Not a being was stirring; Pagan, Faerie, nor Beast,

Wassail was left out and the altar adorned,

To rejoice that the Sun King would soon be reborn.

The children lay sleeping by the warmth of the hearth,

Their dreams filled with visions of beloved Mother Earth,

M'lady and I beneath blankets piled deep, had just settled

down to our Solstice sleep.

Then a noise in the night that would leave us no peace,

Awakened us both to the honking of geese.

Eager to see such a boisterous flock,

When we raced to the window, our mouths dropped in shock!

On the West Wind flew a gaggle of geese, white and gray,

With Frau Holda behind them in Her gift-laiden dray.

The figure on Her broomstick to the North sky made it clear,

La Befana was approaching to bestow Yuletide cheer.

From the South came a comet more bright than the Moon,

And we knew Lucia would be with us soon.

As these Spirits sailed Earthward o'er hilltops and trees,

Frau Holda serenaded Her feathery steeds:

"Fly Isolde! Fly Tristan! Fly Odin and Freya! Fly Morgaine!

Fly Merlin! Fly Uranus and Gaea!

May the God and Goddess inside you soar,

From the clouds in the heavens to your cottage door."

As soft and silent as snowflakes they fell;

Their arrival announced by a faint chiming bell.

They landed like angels, their bodies aglow,

Their feet left no marks in the new fallen snow,

Before we could ponder what next lay in store,

There came a slow creeking from our threshold door.

We crept from our bedroom and were spellbound to see...

There in our parlor stood the Yule Trinity!

Lucia the Maiden, with Her head wreathed in flame,

Shown with the radiance for which she She was named,

The Lightbringers eyes held the joy of a child,

And she spoke with a voice that was gentle, yet wild:

"May the warmth of this household ne'er fade away."

Then she lit our Yule log which still burns to this day.

Frau Holda in Her down cloak stood regal and tall,

The Matron of Solstice, the Mother of all,

Under Her gaze we felt safe and secure.

Her voice was commanding, yet almost demure:

"May the love in this family enrich young and old."

And from the folds of Her cloak showered coins of pure gold,

LaBefana wore a kerchief on Her silvery hair;

The veil of the Crone who has secrets to share,

In Her eyes gleamed a wisdom only gained by spent youth.

Her voice was whisper, but Her words rung the truth:

"May health, glad tidings, and peace fill these rooms."

And she banished misfortune with a sweep of Her broom,

They then left a gift by each sleeping childs head,

Took a drink of our wassail, and away they all sped.

While we watched them fly off through the night sky we laughed,

At the wonderous magick we had found in the Craft.

As they departed, the Spirits decreed...

"Merry Yule To You All, And May All Blessed Be!"

A very warm and wonderful Yule to everyone!

Su

Blog Train Freebie and Nicky "Wonder"

Greetings!  I trust all is well and that everyone is enjoying the holiday season.  The children are already out of school for their winter vacation.  That, for me, means my grandchildren are around a lot more.  Now, I love my peace and quiet as much as the next person, but, the children are so special!  LOL  Grannies have patience for them when they have their 'melt-downs'.  Grannies know just how to make a dull day exciting and fun.  Grannies seem to know just what is needed when things aren't going right for the little ones.  Princess pictures from online, printed out in full color, seem to take away the bad in my little granddaughter's day.  LOL  Personally, you and I both know that the saving grace isn't the picture, at all.  It is the time we spend with them, just finding the right picture and then waiting for the printer to slowly eject the delightful image into their little hands.  I think it could be a picture of Ed McMahon, they just need that few minutes, when nothing is as important as the child and their picture.

So, in addition to having him around more for the two weeks until after the New Year, my grandson, Nicky, missed the last two days of school before their vacation with his asthma.  When possible, I keep them home with me so their Mommy can still go to work.  He probably has a bit of a cold, too, because he just coughs and 'strangles', which makes him gag.  Oh, it's fun!  But, he is feeling better.  Wanna know how I know?  (giggle)  Well, Friday afternoon, their last day of school, we were hanging out in my room, playing computer games and finding the Chipmunk songs we like.  Nicky, who is 7, left my room and was gone for a few minutes.  Missing him, I went in search.  I found him, sitting in the middle of his bed, just a pounding away on his piano keyboard.  He was ROCKIN' OUT!  His keyboard has buttons which add in different instrument sounds, depending on the type music.  He had some really jazzy beat going and was going to town, rocking side to side, playing his fingers across the keys, which didn't sound half bad!  It brought back images of Stevie Wonder, playing the keyboard and singing one of his super hit songs.

My close friend, James, gave the keyboard to Nicky when he was only 3 or 4.  No, he's not a child prodigy, but, when I would keep the boy on a Saturday evening for his Mommy to have a night out, I often took him with me to James' for dinner and a movie or whatever.  James had the keyboard in his den/office where we would hang out.  He let Nicky get on the keys and play around.  One night, we noticed that this little kid, this 4-year-old, was almost making a melody, of sorts.  LOL  So, James picked up his guitar and started 'playing along' with Nicky. It didn't sound half bad.  They 'jammed' for a while, Nicky just beaming and getting in to the 'groove'.  With that, James decided that Nicky could possibly benefit from a chance to play music, and gave him the keyboard that Christmas.  He not only seems to have an avid interest is making his own music, he isn't afraid to try.  I'm really looking forward to these next two weeks.

I'm going to switch topics, here.  I have something I want to share with you.   I signed up to join in to a Blog Train a few weeks ago.  Though I love to go on a good Blog Train, I had never joined in on the design part.  I made the decision to get in on this one because of the nature of the subject.  I've been an activist, of some degree, since my bra-burning, anti-Vietnam War, anti-discrimination, peaceful demonstrating I participated in as a young woman.  A few months back, a blog train "Against Domestic Violence" caught my attention.  (Those links are still active, by the way)  ChanniD, the lady who was behind that one, went on to add another super important 'awareness' to her topics of extreme wrongs needing to be righted.  This one, "Women Against Human Trafficking", was just too much and too personal, to me, to NOT sign up.

In this day and age, with all the laws and the awareness of so many wrongs, already, this abhorrent practice is one that doesn't really get that much attention.  Yet, the streets are literally full of perspective 'slaves'.  The way these 'human traffickers' work is to snatch young girls and women right off the streets or from their own homes.  Frequently, they are transported to other countries, making escape all but impossible.  This practice is world-wide.  They are then turned into 'sex slaves', forced to perform acts that I prefer not to list.  This whole 'underworld' activity is kept hush-hush, but, the clients may surprise.  There have been instances of important public officials and major business leaders subscribing to these sick encounters.  All too often, the law treats these as "prostitution" matters rather than the serious incidents they actually are.  The girls are forced, by fear of death, either to them or their families.  Some are killed, some during the acts, themselves.  It is just horrible to even think about.  Channi has put some links on the blog where you can read more and find out what you can do.  Click on the blinkie to go there; the links are in the side-bar.

Here's an awareness ribbon for you, if you would like.  Right click and save to drive.

The colors are deep and rich as are the beautiful contributions from the others who participated.  Here, is my part, "Out of the Dark":

(Click on image to go to MediaFire to download)

I hope that someone enjoys using these goodies as much as I did making them.  Be sure to go visit the other ladies' blogs that participated to collect some beautiful kits and other goodies for your scrapbooking.  Please, keep the time differences in mind, of course, and show them your gratitude, if you would, please.

Connie:  http://designsbycouric.blogspot.com/

Channi:  http://channidsfreebiescraps.blogspot.com/

For more goodies:

WAHT Blog:  http://womenagainsthumantrafficking.blogspot.com/



I have more to write, but, it has been a long day.  We celebrated Christmas with my son's new family, today, since the children are going to go spend their vacation with their daddies.  I'm so loving having four, soon-to-be five, more grandchildren!  My DIL has done a fine job raising her children.  They are so sweet, well-mannered and lovable!  They are just as responsive to me!  While we were together we made the plans for when the new baby, my son's first born child, arrives.  Kaleb was due to come the end of January.  He is so huge, already, that the doctor may induce after the first of the year.  "Granny", here, is going to look after the other children when their mom goes in to have the baby.  I'll take them up to meet their new baby brother, as well.  We can't have them feeling left out.

Finally, I have had this image for a few days and just had to post it.  I thought it was hilarious!

It has been a good day.  Here's hoping yours was, too.  I hope tomorrow brings more good things.  LOL
Hope.
Bless you, Pandora!

Su

Freebie "Make Believe" is Finally Finished!

FINALLY!  LOL  I could keep going, adding more and more to my project, but, I have to stop sometime.  I have thoroughly had a ball doing this 'project'.  It actually began with last month's Color Challenge at Magickal Scraps.  Naturally, or should I say 'lately', I can't seem to get anything accomplished in a timely manner.  The roller coaster ride emotions are in full swing.  LOL  Mostly swinging upwards, too!  I can't complain.  Anyway, after the month was over and things had moved on, I had so much invested into this "kit", I had to finish.  So, here it is, mid-December and I am finally calling it finished.

As I wrote in the last post, this idea came out of my granddaughter Jaela's infatuation with princesses and 'make believe'.  We come together in that respect.  I have always had my secret world of make believe, stemming from my own childhood.  A world she and I share.  We get online and find pictures of princesses and Tinkerbelle.  When we find our favorite we print it out and Jaela carries it with her the rest of the day.  LOL  She's three years old.  For the longest time she would try to get the 'image' off the computer screen.  She would touch it and cry that she wanted 'her princess', until I got it printed and handed to her.  She still didn't quite get how the screen got on paper.  She would look back and forth between the two.  It was cute.  She's starting to figure things out.

Before I get to the 'project', I have something I made that I wanted to share.  I don't really think it needs an explanation.  I like the spirit in which it was meant.  I hope someone likes it.  Take it and add it to your scrapbook.  It's all yours!

(Click image to enlarge, then, right-click and select, "Save Image".  It is 1200x1200px.)

Now, I give you "Make Believe".  Inside this 'project' is a collection of images and designs that represent all the fun little objects, people and far away lands that make up my fantasy world, as well as, that of my little three-year-old granddaughter, Jaela.  It is a world we share and, so, a great way to connect to each other.  I hesitate to call it a scrapbooking "kit".  It really isn't, in the literal sense.  But, it does have a lot of elements and background papers.  There are a couple of bows and some of the sprinkles and flares.  Aside from that, it turns into a gallery of old-time and modern images and symbols of fairies, fairy tales, castles, even a 'boogy man'.  Many of the images came from Granny-Art, Florjuscrap, Lenagold, and Dover, so, may be familiar.  I just want to share what is special to me and Jaela.  My gratitude to these fine sites for the use of their images.

(Links follow previews)

 

Make Believe Elements 1

Make Believe Elements 2

Make Believe Papers 1

Make Believe Papers 2

The previews don't show all of the elements and papers.

Thank you for your interest.

Su

Freebies, "New" Family for the Holidays and a Link

 Greetings, all!  That big day is fast approaching.  True to form, I am no where near being ready.  But, that's okay.  My head and my heart are in the right place.  My son and his new family will celebrate their Christmas on the 20th, the Sunday before, since the children will all be going to their dads' for the holidays.  We are going to get together with them then.  I want to see my new grandchildren for Christmas.  My son married a sweetheart with 4 children.  They are expecting their first after the first of the year.

It's neat having an instant set of grandchildren added to my brood.  The oldest boy, Chad, who just turned 15, came over a few weeks ago and spent Friday night and all day Saturday with me.  Well, he hung out here.  I made us some treats and let him have the laptop for game playing.  He was set up in the living room, whereas, my world is in my room.  So, basically, he did his thing in one room and I did mine in another.  We met in between in the kitchen!  LOL  It was fun!  We were silly, yet, we talked about a lot of stuff.  I hope he, and the other children, too, will come to think of me and my house as a safe place they can come to and just be themselves.  They're all good children.

The one girl, Kristen, my granddaughter, came over one night for us to work on a school project together.  She asked for my help and came over by herself.  We found everything we needed online and created a cool t-shirt design based on a local talent show promotional.  I don't know what the end result was; like, if she won, or not.  I let her do all the arranging of the images on Photoshop.  I just had to give her a few quick lessons.  LOL  She did exceptionally well.

Then, there is Cameron.  He is real close to my other grandson's age.  He has been over to spend the night with Nicky several times.  They have fun, but, at 7 years old, both of them are still a bit into quarreling over silly stuff.  And, tattling!  OMG!  They try to out-do one another with tattling.  But, he is still a great kid and his manners, like those of the other children, are impeccable.  They are very polite!

Finally, there is J.T.  J.T. is 3.  He spends a week with him mom and, then, a week with his dad.  It seems like a messed up situation to me, but, it is part of the 50/50 parental agreement.  Jayden, his given name, seems pretty durable through it all.  Bless all of their hearts.  I hate divorces!  The little guy is still a bit too little to spend the night and hang out with granny.  When he is with his mommy, every other week, she wants him with her, which is totally understandable.  He isn't really interested, yet, in who I am.  He asked me, one day, what my name was.  I told him he could call be "grandma", if he wanted to.  As he gets more used to me, I'll have him over.

So, that is my new family of grandchildren.  This Christmas will prove to be an interesting holiday.   We did Thanksgiving over at my son's and it was very nice.  The children like to help out in the kitchen.  I have the patience for it.  So, I get the young ones mixing and chopping.  That's what granny's are for!  They do things with you that mean a lot because they make you feel like you are so special - even if you make a mistake.  LOL  I just figure, with all the bad and violence and scares in this world, the children need a break, a respite from it all.  Sometimes, they just need to be kids!  To be allowed to be innocent.  Let their mommies teach them their ABC's.  I'll stick to teaching them how wonderful and special they are.

If you have been keeping up and are wondering where this big surprise is, I am almost finished.  I won't bore you with details, but, I just didn't feel it was ready to be released.  I do have a couple of goodies from the kit, though.  They might give you an idea as to what I am up to.  Then again, maybe not.  Heh-heh.

A little background first.  I wanted to do a kit that was for my granddaughters, as well as for me.  I wanted to incorporate the stories I remember, my idols, heroes, the magickal, the fantasy, and the 'make-believe' that I know, from my own childhood, and pass on to my children and grandchildren as a matter of tradition.  Folk stories were never written;  they were sung, or told, by traveling minstrels and passed down from generation to generation.  So, it is with my family.  My grandmother and mother told me many stories.  Stories and things that were important to me are, naturally, going to be the same ones I share with my family.  Thus, these stories, these heroes of mine, become a part of their fantasies, their own 'make-believe'.

My kit, "Make Believe", is all about my fantasies from my childhood.  There are things that I wanted or wished I could have.  Most were strictly fiction, yet, their entire premise of magick and fantasy, rings a bell within me, and still does to this day.  I suppose that is the 'little girl' in me, like so many of us big girls, that never grew up.  LOL  Ask Peter Pan!  All you have to do is BELIEVE!

Here is a CU cluster for ya.  It is just a hint of what to expect.  Click on each image to download that cluster from MediaFire.

This one has transparent 'glass' so it may be used as a frame.

I would like to give special thanks to Donna K, whose pretty jewelry-like bling helped me to create these clusters.  Donna  makes magick!  LOL  Right now, as a gift to her customers, Donna is offering one doosy of a deal in her store.  Everything(almost) is free!  Yep!  FREE!!  There are a bunch of pretty elements, styles, embellishments, frames, flowers, clip art, etc.  The items are for PU only, even though the name of the store is "Designer's C U".  To use them commercially, all you have to do is join her group.  That's it!  There is no requirement other than just a membership.  With it, you can use the goodies as CU.  Once you see all she has to offer, and start regularly receiving scads of free C U downloads via e-mail from her group, I know you'll find her as versatile, and sweet, as I do.  She has a blog and her store.

I shall finish up the kit in the next day or so.  I have worked so hard on it, I want it to be perfect.  I have the content;  I just need to tweek everything to my liking.  It is almost complete.

Su

Freebie and Good Karma

It will be just one more day until I post my special goodies.  I found some more resources and had to put them in with the rest.  LOL As usual, I got carried away with designing.

I still have a little something I was playing around with for the holidays, some tags, frames and embellishments.  You have got to check out the 'gnome' tag.  LOL  They can be used for whatever you wish, however you wish.  I tend to make my elements quite large, so, be prepared to resize down.  Everything is at 300dpi, papers are 12x12, and elements range from 1200 to 2000 pixels, depending on the item.

Click on the image to go to MediaFire to download.

I want to say, too, that, just as I wrote yesterday, I have already been receiving support from friends around the web.  I think by me being forthright with how I am coping and what I am going through, others understand me better.  I don't feel like I am alone.  With more folks than just myself, pulling for me, the karma is much stronger, as it is in prayer.  With that much positive energy and good thoughts, I have nothing to worry about!  LOL

Did I mention I suffer from 'depression'?  LOL  I've all but written it, so, there it is.   A good many years back I went through the all the docs and tried all the meds.  Ha!  I lost a couple of years of my life, not knowing who, or what, I was.  Those psychotropic medications are wacked!  I've maintained on my own for the past 10 years with some help from a psychiatrist, but, very little medication.  I use meditation and positivity and anything else worth the time to try.  I keep an even keel this way!

You all are what makes my world 'okay'.  I am truly blessed.  Peace and love, ya'll!

Su

Freebie QP Tonite, Special Give-AwayTomorrow

I have been busy as a bee, playing around with Photoshop and working on some challenges and other projects.  This "spurt" of creativity is keeping my mind busy, so as not to dwell on the holiday season too much.  It's rough on me.  I enrolled in a free course offered by Jessica Sprague, called "Holidays in Hand".  It is about recording your December holiday from the first to the 25th.  Using prompts and having your materials all set, the season should be more enjoyable as we recall season's past and our living in the moment.  Ultimately, you wind up with a book of images and memories from this year's season.  Great importance is put on making this project enjoyable, not to take up a lot of time, one folks like me can accomplish.

As with a previous course of Jessica's, "Stories in Hand", part of the project involves memories of holidays past.  I've had a rough time most holidays.  I was a bit hesitant to 'open up a can of worms' with memories and sadness, right here at holiday time.  I needn't have worried.  Once again, the wonderful members of the course were supportive, sharing many of their own stories,  hard times and ways in which they handled them.  I have always worrried so over traditions.  While doing a writing exercise for this course, I realised that my family has their own traditions.  Ours just don't involve fireplaces, stockings and live trees.  My home is so small, these three things are a bad combination.  As far as baking dozens of many different cookies, we tend to enjoy certain store-bought brands which have become our 'tradition.'  Rather than following some 'ancient' traditions that just weren't feasible, for me, I came to understand that anything our family did, repeatedly, for enjoyment at holiday time, could be considered a 'tradition'.

I'm sure you get the gist of where this course took me.  I have a blog just for the courses of Jessica's.  It's called "Stories in Hand" and you are welcome to go have a read, if you like.  I am really handling this season a lot better than in the past.  Actually, with the support and friendships I have, here, in the scrapbooking community, I feel relatively safe from my emotions.  Thank you, one and all!

I have, literally, been on Photoshop all day long.  I'm feeling in need of turning in.  I will be back tomorrow, though, with some really cool goodies I have been working on.  I just need to package them all up.  It's sort of something special.  LOL  Tonight, however, I have QP freebies I did for last month's Chat Challenge at Magickal Scraps.  Based on "The Nutcracker", I recalled many of the whimsical goodies and 'dreams' of sugar plum fairies, then,  found images to represent them.

Before I get to the QP's, I would be sorely amiss if I didn't tell you about Magickal Scraps' absolutely gorgeous Christmas Download a Day "Tales of the Raven".  There is an "Add-On" in the store that goes with and it is chock full!  Snowy couldn't even preview all of it.  It has an excellent price right now, too, at $1.50US!  The slideshow, above, features the DAD, but, below is the 'preview' for the "Tales of the Raven Add-On".

 For my QP's, I really had fun searching for all the different images in the layout.  I hope someone can use them, there are actually two pages in the file.  One, for inserting your own photo, and the other with the 'scroll' intact.  I thought it would make a good 'cover page' or a page just for journalling.  A photo could still be placed over the scroll, as well.

Click on either image to go to MediaFire for download:

I must be tired, I didn't "wrap" them up with my label and stuff.  Jeez!  They're 300dpi and 12x12 and CU friendly, too!  LOL

Peace and enjoy your day.

Su