Aggie Shoots. Aggie Scraps.

Matthew’s second grade album arrived from Artscow and I was impressed with their cover. It’s been a year since I last printed a book from them and I noticed how the cover seems to be more laminated (is that the term?).  The colors were also right. Artscow  has the tendency to have a hit or miss with printing – so it is always better not to overplay effects on photos.

The binding. I remembered to label it. All my eight books have no labels!

Here are the spreads:

A few realizations:

1. Big pictures work on small albums. This one is 8×8 and the solo pictures of Matthew were awesome.

2. No journaling on dark colored pages – or have a font that is BOLD. The last picture had journaling on the red paper and not unless my son really puts his eyes near the book he cannot even read it.

Spreads are easier to do. It may look boring in Photoshop – but it will look so much better in print.

You better hoard on Janet Phillip’s double templates @ SSD now

I am so proud that I was able finish this. I hope I can finish two more before my credits expire on June 6th – trying to balance life a bit so I need to do other things.

You can see our full album here. You need to be an Artscow member first sign up here.

I got the best newsletter today! I have been eyeing Paislee Press’ albums for quite awhile now but they never go on sale (if they do, the discount was around 20% only) but Liz put her albums on sale today! You need to be a subscriber to get a coupon though.

I think I will be getting one album, leaning towards the defined baby albums – I remember taking the prenatal vitamins to give my kids the best nutrition and they still don’t have baby books!

I never thought I would depend on the internet as much I do today. Seven years ago, I wasn’t even keen on opening an e-mail address but had to because of work. Now, I am one of those people who need to check their e-mails every hours (Ok, fine, I confess, every 10 minutes even). I function exclusively  when I connect to the internet – my job is there, my friends are there (and yes, they are real life friends we just live so far from each other) and of course, my hobby and passion, scrapbooking, is there too.

I started scrapbooking December of 2005. This is when we got broadband internet connection at home. If we had connection way before, I would have started six months earlier. I saw some awesome pages from an online friend and just had to check it out. Incidentally, the pages were made from kits of Robin Carlton and Manda Bean, the very designers I work for at Sweet Shoppe Designs today. From there, I was hooked into the hobby, as they, hooked-line and sinker. There was a time I spent so much on buying digital scrapbooking kits and sadly, almost 75% of them I have never used (and have been since deleted from my hard drive). Now I rarely shop because I can get everything I need at Sweet Shoppe Designs. I am a lucky scrapbooker indeed!

One thing you need to have before scrapbooking digitally: a computer that can handle large-sized files with a memory than can handle Photoshop running on so many files and layers. You need an internet connection that can download large files too (dial up may be a pain in this regard). There are many Verizon deals you can avail right now. Verizon bundles now include internet connection, cable and phone line so if money is tight in the household you can save with these amazing Verizon offers!

I think I did a good job documenting my little boy this month. Actually, he really is not a little boy anymore. He eats like a wolf and still does not gain a ounce of weight. If he continues to be like this, he will be a tall and lanky teenager needing muscle supplements!

These pages are part of his school album that I finished this month.

SSD really has awesome boy kits – it’s quite a misconception that SSD only has pretty girly kits. While that is true, there are an abundance of boy kits all the time. They only tend to get overshadowed because who couldn’t resist cute girly stuff?

Have you ever had the problem of having too many photos and you are at a loss on how to scrap them? I used Janet Phillips’ 2 Many Photos Templates for my son’s school album. He is turning the magnificent ten this year and I am planning a really nice gift for him. Pretty soon he will be needing adult acne treatment and scrapbooks might be too mushy for him (He doesn’t want to take pictures even, at this age!) so I will soak up all the attention he gives me whenever he pulls out an album and reads it again and again.

Here are a few pages:

I am so inspired with Liz Tamanaha’s goal of printing her pictures into a book this year. Nothing gives a more natural high than seeing all your pages in real life. While I no longer have backlogs on pages I made, I have to admit that I have tons of pictures to print. Here is her workflow and project plans, may you be inspired as well.

And just in time she released the Off To Press templates,

I love the first set, I wish I can get both but we need to replace the air filter at home.

I already blogged about how much I love Artscow right? It is like the best diet pills for me when it comes to printing because they give so many freebies. Here are their latest offers:

Offer 1 : As we enter the final quarter of 2009, now is the time to get ready for the upcoming holidays. Christmas is traditionally one of the most celebrated festivities in our calendar year, so we’ve dug out a deal from the bargain basement to light up your eyes.
Design your own Christmas 4"x8" photo cards with your family photos and personalized messages. For just $7.99, you can create 20 individually designed cards and as a goodwill offer, we’ll throw in free shipping on top.
So log in to your account now and start uploading your photos.
http://www.artscow.com/Create/ShowProduct.aspx?ProductId=328
Coupon code: 20XMAS799
Expires on: 10/25/2009
Offer 2 : We are giving away 120 free 8×10 photo prints to each and every one of our valued members. Simply take the coupon code below and validate it within the Credits and Discounts section.
Upon successful validation, you will be able to see your free 8" x 10" prints credits spread over the course of twelve months. It’s really that straightforward, no strings attached, no small print!
Coupon code: 8X10PRINTS
Expires on: 12/31/2009
Take advantage of this freebie now.
http://www.artscow.com/Member/CreditDiscount.aspx

I have been up to my knees trying to complete my assignments this month because October is a very busy month for our family. Just today, I have received word that my son needs to be involved with practice practically all weekends, add to that there will be birthdays every week for the rest of the month that we are involved with too – my father and father-in-law! I am also helping out a friend scout disneyland hotels as her family will be making a trip next year!

I just want to share that there are new Artscow photobook offers:

Just enter the coupon code below to get your complimentary photo books today.

Coupon: FREE7X5BOOK40P
Expres: 10/10/2009

I have not been able to scrap all week since Sunday since I got busy writing and doing work plus looking for insurance quotes that will benefit us more. But I need to share this:

Here are the contributing designers this month:
Dianne Rigdon from Scrapartist
Zoe Pearn from Sweet Shoppe Designs
TaylorMade Designs from Oscraps
Gina Miller from Gina Miller Designs and Scrapartist
MGL Scraps from Scrapbook Graphics
K Studio (Kristin Rice) from After 5 Designs
Sugarplum Paperie from The Digichick
and Scrapbook Graphics as our monthly store sponsor!

…PLUS you get a free Summer 2009 mini album template set by Janet Phillips

If you have been following the blog, you should see the kits in full view but here are a couple of layouts I did with Zoe Pearn’s Summer Sorbet and TaylorMade Designs’ Sunny Disposition.

Credits:
The Digi Files 6 – TaylorMade Sunny Disposition; Unscripted 1 – The Good Life by TaylorMade Designs; Fading 3 by TaylorMade Designs; Scrappable Collection Templates 09 by Tiffany Tillman
Font: CK Solid

Credits: The Digi Files 6 – Summer Sorbet by Zoe Pearn; Font: CK Serendipity