"Feathered Friends" Final DD & Freebie

Well, goodness!  Another month is passed.  Another daily download is, hopefully, on your hard drive, with this last day.  But, don't slow down.  No!  We have another month, waiting in the wings, to wow and impress you.  LOL  This Mai DD is the one I have told you about.  I chose the colors and the theme.  I showed you the theme logo, yesterday.  Today, I am offering you a quick page in the color palette and theme, flowers.  

(click on image to go to MediaFire for download)

I want to point out the kitteh to you.  Kitteh was done with Pencil Pixels to give him a hand-drawn effect.  The actions there are so impressive to me.  Check out PencilPixels and download some freebie styles, frames and see what sets their actions apart from the crowd.

The ladies did the most amazing goodies to go along with this.  What we are going to do is show you good folks a preview of each day's download with a link to the forum.  Our forum at Magickal Scraps is safe.  It's just the store that is messed up and can't be accessed.

For today, the last DD for April's "Feathered Friends", click on the image below.

That will do for today.  I have some things to do before tomorrow's release of the new DD.  Thank you for your interest.

Hugs,

Su

SMILE!

DD Freebie, Garden, & May Poles

Greetings, this fine evening.  LOL  The moon is full as of last night and Beltane is coming. In my neck of the woods it is well into spring.  The flowers are beginning to fade and fall from the stems, ensuring reproduction next year.  My dogwood, azaleas and bottle brush tree have already passed their prime, their discarded flowers no longer good for much but compost and memories.  Beltane is all about the birth and re-birth of elements of nature.  In days of old a May Pole ceremony marked this same celebration.

Some folks still do the May Pole thing, particularly of late with the rise in popularity of what we call 'New Age religions'.  The elementary school I attended had a May Day celebration every year.  I loved to watch the pretty colored ribbons, winding over and under, that ended up in a lovely patterned 'pole'.  I don't mean to be disrespectful or raunchy, but, there was a certain phallic symbolism in the May Pole.  Actually, there is quite a bit of sexual reference in this sabbat, Beltane.  The whole selection/reproduction cycle sounds a lot like something on a dating website.  Flirt and date to find a proper mate(selection), "engage", then, reproduce.  It is the same the world over.  

I plan to chill out and maybe have a walk around my garden,  It's about time to start maintenance on all the new growth!  I have a pile of stones and broken-up cement sidewalk pieces.  They were going to make a little path of stepping stones to a 'faerie garden'.  I will post pictures when I get it done enough to recognize what it is.  LOL

The last thing today is the daily download.  Since there is only one more day to April, I am still posting them in my blog.  However, beginning Mai 1, with the new DD, they will go back to the forum.  Several of us hosted the DD's when the store was messed up.  The forum is still okay to use.  Now that Snowy has some time off, perhaps we can get the store back up online and running smoothly.

Mai's DD is the one where I chose the colors and the theme.  Here is that logo:

This DD will start on Mai(May) 1(first)

The last two days of April are all that's left.  I will post the 29th now and the 30th late tonight.

Until then, have fun today!  A person can change the direction of a moment just by their facial expressions.  Smile today and see what may go better.  I can almost guarantee a better day!  After a couple of well-timed smiles, I always feel good!

Hugs,

Su

Tornadoes, Kaleb, Doors & DD Freebie

Here's hoping everyone had a wonderful weekend.  It was sure lovely here in Florida.  Until the (tornado) storms.  The news called it a storm, but, as it was coming through, there were tornado warnings.  The storms are the same ones that swept through Mississippi, killing something like 10 people, a day or so prior.

I don't normally get concerned over high winds and storms.  You do what you have to do to protect yourself and the rest is out of your control.  This one was weird.  I was trying to nap.  I heard what sounded like someone suddenly running water full blast.  But, when I looked up at the window, instead of seeing the tops of trees, it was solid grey!  I jumped up and went to the children, who were starting to freak out.  We gathered in the center hallway of my house, where overhead supports would protect us the most from falling ceilings.  It didn't last long, but, long enough to scare the peewiddle out of the family.

When the wind and rain settled down, we ventured outside.  The first thing we saw was my neighbor's house.  An huge oak tree was felled on top of the roof, covering almost the entire house.  I ran over there knocking on the door and calling out, but, they weren't home.  The first photo is his roof from my yard.  It is visible just above the fence.

This is the base of the huge tree that fell on his house:

And, finally, this is what fell in my yard.  These branches just missed the children's trampoline:

We were really fortunate.  The worst part was not having power for a couple of hours.  The storms came through around 2 in the afternoon.  At 10 o'clock last night, crews were still clearing a portion of street by my house.  Trees and power lines were felled all over the place.  Our power was out until about 5 in the afternoon, so, about three hours without power.  My daughter took the little ones and drove around a bit.  By this time, people had located the obstructions and were working to clear them.  Otherwise, her jaunt could have been a bad move.  One thing that was noticeable everywhere you looked.  Little sprigs of new growth from the trees were all over everything.  It was almost beautiful.  Imagine a rain where sprigs of greenery fell instead of water.  That is what it looked like.  It's pretty much all blown away or I would get a photo of that.

Sarah had just cleaned the pool and got it all set up again for the warmer days.  Now, look!

I'll say it again,  "We were blessed!"

I had joined in on a progressive scrap at another site.  I went through the entire week of adding all the goodies.  It turned out really nice.  But, I missed turning it in on time.  I didn't want to waste the layout, so, here it is:

 

The kit is the April Collab, "Gentle Rain", from the SAS Design Team.  Click image for the complete list of artists in a zip file for you)

On one of Kaleb's visits with me, he was in a particularly good mood.  I snapped a few more shots of him being all smiley-cute and made a layout for them:

He's such a cutie pie!  But, then, I am prejudiced!  LOL

Next, I 'cut-out' and colored these doors.  They can be used for anything one wishes.  I thought they were neat.  I set them up in the 'collage sheet' format as it seems like a good idea for a single object like the door.  Have at 'em.  Enjoy!
(Click image to enlarge, then, right click and 'save as')

Last, but, not least, here is the Day 27 "Feathered Friends" daily download from Magickal Scraps.
(Click on preview to go to download)

So, until next time, smile!

Hugs,

Su

2 Freebies "Feathered Friends" DD

I appologise for missing Saturday's "Feathered Friends" daily download from Magickal Scraps!  Here it is.  Here are Days 25 and 26.

(Click on images to go to download)

Thank you,

Su

Motherhood, Freebie DD and so

0Nearly one year ago, my youngest daughter, Sarah, and her two children, Nicky and Jaela, came to live with me.  It wasn't because she, nor I, weren't cutting it on our own.  She owned her own home.  But, she was here every afternoon.  We would make dinner together.  It helped her after working all day and it ascertained that I ate a decent meal each day.  Living on my own I didn't always eat right.  

My home is the same small 3 bedroom clapboard house my children grew up in.   So, the two little ones shared one room and my daughter had her own, old room.  My rooms are off the other end of the house - a bedroom and bath, accessible through the kitchen, then, an huge, but crammed, laundry/utility room.  It was tight, but, not as tight as her little home, yet, another reason for them moving in.  That is how we have lived this past year.

After I raised my three children to adulthood, I became disabled.  I found myself on my own, with a lot of time.  This is when I got a pc and did my spiritual research and got into Photoshop and srapbooking.  Always the avid learner, I relished the role I had found myself in.  Aside from the misery often experienced with my disability, I felt my life was mine.  It was the time most parents often think about.  Oh, we'll always be involved in our children's lives, but, there is a deep sense of satisfaction and pride in seeing your child off into the great wide open on their own.  If you've given them the tools they need for survival, you don't have anything to worry about.  Yes, there are crisis and the 'situations', but, there will always be some craziness going on and we always make it through!

Needless to say, upon the arrival of my daughter's little family, issues began springing up.  I didn't want Sarah to take advantage of me.  I had raised my family.  Been there; done that!  (No, I didn't buy the t-shirt.  LOL)   Also, due to my back problems and some mental issues, there were many times I had to slip away to my rooms.  Children are children!  But, I just didn't have what it took to tolerate children all the time anymore.

So I thought until Sarah told me she was moving into a new place a friend agreed to sell her.  At the same time, I am seeing how overwhelmed being a single mom is for my girl.  It's hard on everyone.  I'm not making excuses.  But, she has a particularly tough time sometimes.  Because of this, I had began doing more for the children so Sarah could deal with the rest.  I have even kept the children for her so she could get away for a few days.  It's like, now that she is moving, I am realizing that I still love caring for my family, especially children. 

The other night after they all came home, Jaela wanted to play in the pool.  Sarah had to cook dinner for them.  (She takes care of her children;  I take care of me, but, help her some of the time)  So, I took over the dinner so Sarah could be outside with Jaela in the pool.  The window over the kitchen sink looks out into the garden where the pool sets.  Its one of those above the ground one-piece pools.  You just start filling it with water and it takes on it's shape as it fills.  It's about 3 feet deep and 8 feet across.

So, there I was, standing at the kitchen window, watching my daughter playing around with her own little girl.  Nicky was on the pc, a child's game website, carrying on his very first online "friend" conversation on the site's chats.  He was flirting with some girls.  He's almost 8!  LOL  I'm digging on all this domestic bliss and I felt happier than I had in eons!  

All my fighting it to have 'time for me', all the struggling over how much to do and not to do, all the craziness, they're all moot points, now.  I love my little family and I want to be a contributing factor in their upbringing and happiness.  They'll be moving soon.  It isn't far and they'll still be here most days after work.  This is no put-down for my daughter, but, my age and experience has allowed me a different kind of relationship with the children.  I get to be in on the fun stuff, while she takes care of all the menial stuff.  I get to enjoy them, while she has to 'sweat' them.  Turns out, this is really hurting Sarah.  She needs my help and she finally sat me down and asked me for it.  So shall I give it.  The children are the one's that are important, so, I shall do whatever it takes to be sure they are safe, stable and happy.

I'm still going to be broken-hearted when they go.

Thanks for enduring my babbling.  

It's kind of like experiencing child-rearing all over again, except, this time around I have an apprentice.  LOL  Sarah. 

And, now, today's "Featherd Friends" DD from Magickal Scraps.

(Click on image to go to MediaFire for download, please

Wishing You all a lovely weekend!

Hugs,

Su

40 Years of Earth Day, DD, Freebie

This is my second post today.  In all honestly, I took a pain pill last night and laid across the bed, thinking I'd get back up and post this morning's DD.  I post them last thing at night for the next day.  Well, I didn't get back up until 6:15 this morning.  My BAD!  Since it was too early for me to write about Earth Day, I decided I would come back.  So, here I am!  LOL

Earth Day

Since my "hippie" days, I have been an extremely active proponent of the environment.  I'm proud that I played a role in bringing about the environmental changes that came about as a result of my generation's protests.  It takes many a voice to bring on change.  So, though mine was just a tiny 'squeek from the corner', it was part of the larger voice which finally brought about government regulation for the environment.

Back in 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin announced his idea for a nationwide teach-in day on the environment in a speech to a fledgling conservation group in Seattle on 20 September 1969, and then again six days later in Atlantic City to a meeting of the United Auto Workers. Senator Nelson hoped that a grassroots outcry about environmental issues might prove to Washington, D.C. just how distressed Americans were in every constituency. With students across the nation already willingly and actively protesting their concerns for the war, racial equality, society as a whole and the environment, the movement took on a life it's own.

Said Nelson:  "Earth Day worked because of the spontaneous response at the grassroots level. We had neither the time nor resources to organize 20 million demonstrators and the thousands of schools and local communities that participated. That was the remarkable thing about Earth Day. It organized itself."

 

Out of the movement came the popular icon:

Which soon adorned a flag:

The first Earth Day was celebrated April 22, 1970.  To me, it seems as though it has taken the 40 years since to convince folks that this is a serious matter.  Back in the '60's, it was a joke to say, "Save water; shower with a friend".  But, it was representative of the fact that this generation of idealists were keen to what was happening to the planet.  So, here we are 40 years later and look at the mess we have.  What was it?  Were the powers-that-be afraid the "hippies" were right?  It makes me mad!  I protested the war; it finally ended.  I protested women's rights.  Look where we are today.  I protested discrimination at every level, race, religion, sex, etc.  Look at the leaps and bounds these issues have made.

Don't get me wrong.  I am not taking credit for any of this.  But, if no body got out there and protested, if no body wrote letters to congresspersons, if we all just rolled over and said the hell with it, where we would be now?  Somebody has to do it and I was young and naiive and an idealist of the highest degree.  Each and every one of us 'squeeks from the corner' made a powerful voice, though, when done in unison.

Greed, at some level, is the most powerful cause of environmental damage.  The cutting down of forests is for someone's profit.  Why else would the ancient trees be a target of the bulldozer?  Somebody was in it for the profit.

Whales are hunted for their blubber, meat and numerous by-products.  They've been nearly hunted into extinction.  Greenpeace still wages sea warfare with the whaling ships.

I realize protesting isn't a 'hippie' invention.

Those gentlemen lost their fight against the TVA's plans to flood their valley for the new dam.  But, they tried!  We tried.  Apparently, I think, this country was ready for change.  With so many people protesting, voicing thier opinions, it was just a matter of time.  Things couldn't stay the way they were.

Whatever the case, I am proud to say that I made a difference.  We do every time we vote, too, you know?  LOL

So, by now, you've given thought, perhaps celebrated, even, this Earth Day 2010.  If I could have one more wish, it would be that each and every person act like it is Earth Day everyday!

I made this in honor of the day.  It isn't the greatest, but, if you like it, click on the image to enlarge, then, right click and save.  It's a total freebie.  Use any way you like.

 

That's a gonna be a wrap for me, tonight.  Here is today's "Feathered Friends" DD from Magickal Scraps:

First thing this morning, my granddaughter, Jaela, came and got in bed with me.  I turned my TV on cartoons for her.  "Blue's Clues" was on and the episode was all about recycling.  They played a game to show which bin each of the recyclables went in to.  Plastic bottles went into the plastics, carton into paper, etc.  Jaela was trying to play along, but, she didn't get the concept of the 'material' of each of the recyclables.  She's only 3.  So, I showed her a few things I recycle, which I do everything the city will pick up.  We are able to place all the goods into one bin and the city sorts it.  But, I thought it was great that she was interested and eager to learn.  She is our future.  Her generation will have to take what is left and try to make it right, or, at least, good enough to survive.  I don't envy the children.  We've handed them our problems.  But, thank the gods and goddesses, we've come a long way.  Maybe they'll have something left after all.

This year, to celebrate, I prayed for the future for our children.  Then, I made a vow that I will do everything I can to teach the grandchildren how to reduce, recycle, reuse, and to tread lightly on our dear mother - earth.

Thank you for your interest.

Hugs,

Su

Freebie Feathered Friends

HAPPY EARTH DAY!!!

 I'll be back later with some goodies.  Meanwhile, here is today's "Feathered Friends" DD from Magickal Scraps.

 (Click on image to go to 4Shared for download)

Hugs,

Su

Freebie, "Things" & Art Wolfe

I don't know why I didn't think of this last night!  Any time I am in a funk, I can listen to some music and it helps so much.   What's that saying, "Music soothes the savage beast?"  I don't know about beast, but, it did help.  I get creative and, well, upbeat.  Tonight it was the Cowboy Junkies.  This song was used in the "Natural Born Killers" soundtrack, their cover of Lou Reed's "Sweet Jane" 

And, so, I started on another project - the October DD for Magickal Scraps.  Since I am still 'testing the waters', they let me pick another month to work with them on for the daily download.  May's was the first one.  It hasn't happened, yet.  LOL  For October's, I chose the palette and theme.  Betcha can hardly wait, huh?  LOL  I'll give you this much, I chose a 'vintage' theme.  It should be nice.  Fun, too.  I enjoy working with those ladies.  They're a HOOT!  They've been good friends.  Love ya'll!

I don't know if you know this dude by name.  I didn't.  But, his photography was easily recognizable.  Art Wolfe.  Heard of him?  Well, Creative Techs , the "Live, Worldwide Classroom" people are having a three part course called, "The Creative Eye", with Art Wolfe.  The dude is so awesome!  He's real laid back and seems a kind, gentle soul.  The first course was today, where he talked about his 'work'.  Art has a website, oddly entitled, ArtWolfe.com.  You should pay it a visit.  He shoots series of images of, say, people from all over the world.  He had noticed people's hair and how each culture wore their hair, or adorned it.  So, he shot a boatload of images of people's hair all over the world.  The images are rather intriguing, showing the significance people place on their hair.  He paid notice to dogs.  It seemed no matter where he went, people had dogs for pets.  So, he did a series on dogs.  There's a book he put out, "Vanishing Act", where the animals in the wild are camouflaged by their natural surroundings.  It makes it kind of fun to 'find' the animal in the image.  The man is fascinating.  And, even though today's class is past, there will be two more in the next two weeks.  Just half an hour of the dude would leave you intrigued!  Check out the CreativeLive courses.  Times are all there for any of their courses and they are all FREE.  If you want to purchase the video of the course and receive the course download, then, there is a fee.  Otherwise, they do a great presentation with some really cool people.

From his online store , here is a sampler of some images you may have seen.

It's been a rough day.  I have things to write about, but, we had some rain and that has set my pain level to rising rather drastically.  It's hard to sit for any amount of time.  Or lie.  Or stand.  Or, whatever!  LOL  But, I'm in a much better mood.  I read the grandchildren "The Cat in the Hat", tonight for bedtime.  I had NEVER read it!  I had the sequel, "The Cat in the Hat Comes Back", but, I had never read the first one.  It explains these:

My daughter came home from her birthday weekend to Disney with these t-shirts for her two little ones.  I didn't have a clue as to what they meant.  Now, I know!  LOL

Here, then, is today's DD from Magickal Scraps, "Feathered Friends" collab.

(Click on image to go to 4Shared for download)

I certainly do appreciate your stopping in.  Til tomorrow,

Hugs,

Su

"Feathered Friends" DD Freebie

Bummed!  Pain!

I'm just going to post today's "Feathered Friends" Daily Download from Magickal Scraps.  We are still trying to get all the bugs out of the site so we can go on.   

Thank you for your patience.

(Click the image to go to 4Shared for download)

 

Tomorrow will be a better day.

Hugs,

Su

Freebie DD and Beltaine/Earth Day

In a fortnight, April 30, we will be celebrating Beltane. 

Also called: May Eve, May Day, Walspurgises, bowers, fields energy: youthful play, exhuberance, sensuality, pleasure goddesses: May Queen, Flora gods: May King, Jack in the Green rituals: love, romance, fertility, crop blessings, creativity endeavors customs: dancing Maypole, jumping fire, mating, flower baskets 

Beltane is one of the four "fire festivals" or "greater sabbats". Although the holiday may use features of the Gaelic Bealtaine, such as the bonfire, it bears more relation to the Germanic May Day festival, both in its significance (focusing on fertility) and its rituals (such as maypole dancing).

http://blessedbeuknetwork.ning.com/page/sabbats-1

May Pole Celebration

 Earth Day is celebrated on April 22, 2010.  There are festivities and ceremonies.  Folks will plant trees and honor the green earth.  So, sounds familiar, eh?  Really, what is the difference if we are all about earth and her well-being?

The most important thing to remember is to treat her like every day is earth's special day.  You don't have to wait until special days to honor and celebrate our dear mother.  Any time is a good time to plant a flower in honor of the spring warmth.  Thanking momma for keeping us safe throughout the dark winter months is not so odd.  Do something nice for her in return.  Clean up an empty lot.  Donate or haul away old, unnecessary items that clutter your, and her, space.  Donate to conservation organizations.  Do your homework, of course.

I preach this, or something akin to it, in nearly every post.  I feel bad, though.  When I was a young lady, coming of age, during the 60's, my philosophy was to make 'the world a peaceful place in which to live'.  "Living on the Earth", by Alicia Bay Laurel, was my handbook, as I, and others, took extra steps to conserve energy, like the old 'showering with a friend' scenario, and to treat the earth with kindness.  We held high ideals that, if we could get society to change and be nice, the world would be a better place.  If we boycotted furriers, little animals would stop winding up on woman's shoulders.  If we could get rid of 'grocery-store-mass-packaging', and only sell pure, healthy foods, we would all be healthier and wouldn't need so much medical care.  If we could have had our way, me and my merry, little group of friends would be skipping around, holding hands and weaving daisy chains.

My Manual

We had the concept, back then!  Why did it take another 40 years before society, as a whole, started doing something about the sad condition of the earth?  We could have put a stop to all this plastic crap long before it clogged earth's arteries and choked little animals.  Why couldn't we have taken a cue from the research and put a stop to the way our resources are diminishing?  Now, they're almost gone and folks are forming committees and appointing directors and trying their damnedest to figure out how in the hell they are going to undo the damages caused by years of human beings' mistreatment.

Maybe, I could have stopped more of it.  Back then, you were "wierd" if you took on anything above most people's comfort zones.  I wondered if the whole disposable diaper influx into the market was some devious plot by the 'Commies' to attack us from within with 'chemical' warfare.  LOL  Now, all I can do is ask that the next generation take things a little more seriously.  Use your common sense.  If it doesn't feel right, chances are it isn't.  Ask questions.  Be heard. Get involved.  The 'people' do have the 'power', you know.

Okay, now that i got that out of my system, I plan to plant a little herb garden and work on my botanicals blog in celebration of Beltane.  I'll tell you more about it as it develops.  It should be fun.  Today's post is a bit indicative of the content that will be there, as I write about and explore the connection with earth, plants, our bodies and harmony.  This comes about as a project I am doing for a group I'm in, "Wildwood Planet".

I have the next Daily Download from Magickal Scraps, "Feathered Friends", April's kit.  This is Day 19.  

(Click on the image to go to MediaFire for download.)

This kit is turning out to be quite something special!  Celebrating another of nature's gifts is always nice.

Well, that is all for today.  I will be back tomorrow with another DD and who knows what else?!  LOL

Namaste,

Su

Freebie, Daily Download & Paul Revere

 I know you are going to think I'm batty, but, here goes,

Listen my children and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-five;
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year.  He said to his friend, "If the British march
By land or sea from the town to-night,
Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch
Of the North Church tower as a signal light,--
One if by land, and two if by sea;
And I on the opposite shore will be,
Ready to ride and spread the alarm
Through every Middlesex village and farm,
For the country folk to be up and to arm." (For the rest of the poem, go to http://www.nationalcenter.org/PaulRevere%27sRide.html)  I can't remember my own anniversaries, my children's birthdays, friend's birthdays, no one's birthday.  But, every single year I remember that poem - on the day.  For my friends from across the sea, Paul Revere was a dude with a fast horse who alerted a rag-tag bunch of farmers/turn/soldiers when the British were arriving.  If it makes any difference, Longfellow was the author.  I love reading his works.  They have rhythm!  LOL  

In a previous post I told ya'll about how Magickal Scraps was so viciously hacked?  Let's just say the police may have to be involved as it wasn't just us.  I'll leave it alone, now.  But, we don't know how long all this is going to take to get the site back up and running.  We're not giving up!  I told you about Miss Edna and Kyra giving out the links to the April Daily Download from Magickal Scraps.  From here on out you'll be able to get them here, too.  I shall post the day's DD early, early in the day.  I know I'm starting this late in the month, but, hey, I want to help keep the spirit of Magick alive.

So, here is the DD for April 18, 2010

 (Click on Image to go to MediaFire for Download)

And, there ya go!  LOL  Come back here, or to one of the other ladies' blogs to pick up your DD for the day.  The DD's will all be the same on all of our blogs.  We figure that between each of us, ;plus Snowy, all keeping the spirit alive in our blogs, Magickal Scraps will not only stay alive, it will blossom!  LOL  Fooey on hackers.

The other ladies who are keeping Magickal alive and offering the DD, also, are:

Miss Edna 

Kyra

I have some flowers for you.  These tulips were made with Dreamcatcher's Action.

(Click on Image to go to MediaFire for Download)

These tulips are CU/Free/No Credit

So, I will be back later today, since it is after midnight.  Enjoy your goodies and make room for some more!  LOLOLOL

Thank you!  and HUGS!!

Su

Freebies, Brushes and Lorem Ipsum

Anyone who says they can't wait until their children are grown, to you I say, "Ha-ha-ha!"  What parent hasn't considered the rewards of raising a child to adulthood?  That is the golden moment, the prize, the ends that justify the means, the 'grand illusion'!  LOL  If you think that 'adulthood' means your job is done and you can sail smoothly on to retirement, welcome to reality.  The only difference with grown children is that they have 'grown-up' issues.  Bless all the little children, but bless the parents of the big ones.  LOL  I have been wrapped up in some family-related things that have really blown this girl away.  But, as my support system says, this, too, shall pass.  Hurry up, already!  LOL

My cyber-home, my online place of refuge, "Magickal Scraps" has been hacked - viciously!  About a week ago, the owner, Snowy, advised us that the store had been hacked and that she was working on it.  Wow!  The poor girl has been through the ringer!  After finally being able to get into the store, another fiasco was waiting there for her.  Apparently,  there is some worm, or something, that has infected her IP number, or something of hers.  She is working with her host and all to try and remedy the situation.  She's been keeping us all posted, bless her heart.  I'm glad, too.  I have been so lost!  

As a safety measure, we aren't even using the forum.  The daily downloads, "Feathered Friends", featured in the slide show at the top of the page, are being given out by a couple of our wonderful ladies on their blogs,

Miss Edna

Kyra

Go see them and collect your parts to this great kit!  Hopefully, real soon, we will be back up and running and we'll see you there!  One way or another, we will survive!  Don't forget I am a participant in May's DD.  Just to keep you interested, I have a little 'freebie' for you.

 (Click on image to go MediaFire for download)

I used the cone and scoop for this layout of my Granddaughter, Jaela.

So, I will look for you in May!  LOL

In my continuous search of the web for cool stuff, I found a few things that might interest some.  If you are anything like me, you have a gazillion brushes.  I love brushes!  They are easy to work with, extremely versatile and they come in every imaginable shape, size and subject.  In the past, if I needed a certain type of brush, I would Google it.  There are some sites that feature brushes and I check them from time to time.  I usually find what I need after a bit of searching.  Now, I have found a search engine for brushes, FindBrushes.com.  You type in what kind of brush you want and it takes you to a page with the brushes they have.  The best part, though, is the instant download.  Under each preview is the download button and it pops right up.  No traveling here and there.  You just seek, find and save.  LOL  Give it a whirl.  I found it very easy to use.

While on the topic of brushes, I located, yet, another cool site for them, Digital Art by DiaMara.  The brushes are phenomenal!  They are more like artwork, themselves.  There are also some textures, patterns and a few styles.  Do check out the artwork there, as well.  Nice!

Last week I was looking for a newsprint pattern to use when making backgrounds or just to incorporate into my design.  With the exception of the rare front page headline grabber, there just aren't any.  I realized that images of newspaper text won't do because any of the text would have to be copyright-free.  I actually found a cool-looking front page from an Israeli newspaper that would have worked fine.  Then, I got to thinking.  What if the headlines, being in Israeli and their translation unknown to me, described some horrific incident.  That would not work.  Then, I happened across something with 'lorem ipsum' text and had a brainstorm.  Well, light shower, at least.  LOL  Lorem Ipsum is dummy text that is used when there is a need to show that there is text in a spot, but, it is totally generic.  It is used a lot to show the text parts of a web design layout, among other things.  I'm sure you've seen it.

So, I Googled 'lorem ipsum' and, lo and behold, there is a site you can go to to create your very own lorem ipsum text!  I never knew that this text is actually 500 years old!  Some enterprising printer took a group of text and scrambled it around to use for a sampler.  It has survived this long! Lipsum.com is a site with a generator.  You enter the number of paragraphs and words and it generates a page of lorem ipsum text.  First, I played with the paragraph and word count to where it began to resemble a newspaper page, with the columns.  Then, all I had to do was highlight, copy, take it to Photoshop and create a page.  I even used a font that resembled what I thought newsprint looked like.  A little tweeking, some color enhancement followed.  What I wound up with is the raw 'sheet' of newsprint text to use in designs.  Here is one sample of what I got:

If you click on the image and right click to save it, you can have it if you like.  This sheet was designed at 3600dpi, then, I reduced it to 1200dpi for web.  A blending mode, like "multiply" will get rid of the white background.  Duplicating it will deepen the text.  It is mostly to just give the impression of text, where words aren't important.  Or, go visit Lorem Ipsum site and create a pattern all your own.  You might want to add a few images or advertisements.  Just keep them in column format for a realistic image.  And, the best part - no credit or attribution needed!  Yay!  We have so much to keep up with already, don't we?  This is purely for my resources.
 
In closing, I want to share a little something with you.  My grandson, Kaleb, is doing real well.  He's eating like a sport and gaining weight.  My son and the family all just went on vacation during the children's spring break.  He got to go meet his other grandma, Danielle's mom.  Upon returning, though, there was a ton of stuff the poor girl had to get done.  A week long vacation with 5 kids?  C'mon!  Even the best of us would be up to one's ears.  There was shopping and laundry and errands in preparation for Danielle returning to work outside the home. Well, I'm sure you get the picture.

Needless to say, Granny came to the rescue.  LOL  I got to take Kaleb for a good part of the day.  He is three and a half months old and a pure joy!  He is at that point where he sits and watches you, very amused and content.  He grins so readily! Such a happy little guy!  Danielle is a terrific mom!  My son should count his blessings every day.

So, with Nicky, my other grandson, helping, we had a fun time.  Here's a photo of the little guy.  As I was saying how happy he is, he didn't like the sunglasses Nicky put on him.  LOL

I have several projects in the works.  I've been creating some art, some images from emotion.  It has helped me through the latest stuff that is happening.  Whatever works, right?  So, until the next time, I bid you adieu.

Namaste,

Su