Cathy Zielske's Blog

Blog Sponsor Giveaway Winners

Here are the winners, as chosen in the same order delivered to me from the Random Integer Generator. Drum roll please:

The winners of the Open Circle Necklace from Lisa Leonard Designs are:

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The winner of the Inque Boutique Stamp Sets and Inks from Cherry Blossom Studio is:

 

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The winners of their choice of any (5) products from my entire collection over at Designer Digitals are:

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Ladies, email me at czdesign@comcast.net to claim your goods.

And I think we should all be magically rich, have live-in child care and house cleaners and personal chefs, have a Shutterfly branch in our basements, and then maybe, just maybe it would help us make more pages.

Who's with me?

Blog Sponsor Giveaway: Lisa Leonard Designs, Cherry Blossom Studios and CZ Design

I don't own a ton of jewelry. In fact, there are about 4 necklaces I own, and two of them are from Lisa Leonard Designs. Today, Lisa is giving two of my blog readers this necklace, the Open Circle Necklace:

 

Gorgeous, right? And Lisa will customize it to say whatever you like.

I am presently awaiting the arrival of my own version of this necklace with my chosen word, "abundance."  I guess you could say it's my belatedly chosen word of the year, ala Ali Edwards. It ties in with  my personal goals for this year: abundance in health, love, spirit and creativity.

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One blog reader will receive an amazing collection of Inque Boutique Stamp Sets and Inks from Cherry Blossom Studio. They are made of etched rubber in pretty colors vs. the traditional red and the set is valued at over $200. This is a serious haul of rubber for any scrapbooker or stamper. Cherry Blossom Studio, as you may recall, also carry my beloved Kokuyo Adhesive in their online store.

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Finally, two readers can choose any (5) of their choice from my entire collection over at Designer Digitals.

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To enter, leave a comment and ask me what is your number one barrier to completing scrapbook pages. After doing an interview on Martha Stewart Radio, they asked me this question about you, my blog readers, and I feel like I gave them an okay answer, but want to hear it directly from you. I will draw a winner sometime on Sunday morning. Good luck. Note: if you are reading this on Facebook, you'll need to come to my blog site to enter.

[comments are now closed. check back to see if you're a winner]

Lying on your driver license and tales of crafy men (and craftier women)

I'd like to tell you a story about two very distinct and separate things.

First, it's a story of how men get crafty.

Second, it's a story of how women get even craftier.

Digging in the closet the other day, Dan unearthed this framed gem from our office's pre-IKEA glory days:

 

See, we are savers of certain things. One of those things happens to be every single driver license we've ever been issued.

Several years ago, Dan gathered them all up, tore out a Plymouth Belvedere ad from an old Life magazine, and created the master work you see here.

It quietly adorned the wall of our then-shared office for a number of years until IKEA came to town and Mama said, "Let there be light colored veneer!"

Somehow, this little number didn't make the final cut for office acoutrements.

And now, I feel badly about it because you know what? It's pretty dang cool.

Let's take a closer look (and no worries for anyone who wants our address and numbers; the new Minnesota licenses sport a new design AND new numbers.)

We start with the oldies. My Washington state license, from high school:

 

What you're not seeing is a rust-colored new wave tail jutting out from the base of my skull. I think even the DMV photographers knew: "One day, people will laugh at tails. Let's crop in a bit."

Now let's look at Dan's earliest license:

 

So young. So sporty. And so dang skinny! 140 pounds, ladies. Aw yeah. Never met a skinny boy I didn't like. Moving on.

 

Enter my Texas era. By the lack of skin pigment, one could easily mistake this for an Antarctica license, but I assure you I was a legal resident of the greater DFW Metroplex. Wearing a Ramones t-shirt given to me by a horrible then-boyfriend, both my eyebrows and lips were clearly on overdrive.

 

Moving right along. This was Dan before we met. The only noticeable change? Better hair and 20 more pounds.

 

Ahhhh. There it is. My first Minnesota driver license. I look a tad cocky with my head slightly askew, as if to say, "I'm not afraid of your winters OR your long vowels!"

 

More Dan. A bit more serious and with taller bangs, and of course, the unmistakable air of being desperately in love with me.

 

And more me. Wow, Cath.…why so glum? Dan refers to this look as my Mark Rypien era. I think I was still adjusting to having a last name no one would ever pronounce correctly on the first and often second attempts.

 

And last but not least, we return to a much more mature, happy and devastatingly handsome Dan.

And that is all I have to share, lest you should see my current license, which is actually coming up for renewal next month, just prior to my 44th birthday. (March 8, for anyone who needs a little extra time to plan something special for me.)

Just wanted to share how some men—men like Dan—get crafty. They save and preserve driver licenses from glory driving days since past for all to admire and enjoy.

The way women get even craftier? The weight on our licenses reads "125."

Forever.

Save your life! (A free digital template download for you)

On Saturday, I  hosted a coffee hour chat as part of Designer Digitals 1st Quarter Sale-a-bration. It's always fun to chat (albeit very, very quickly!) a bit about scrapbooking and about what makes me love this hobby the way I do.

I always come back to the same thing: scrapbooking saves my life. I don't mean to make it sound all dramatic and schmaltzy, but it really does offer up this singular opportunity to document and save the stuff that makes me who I am.

Do I scrapbook with great frequency? No. Do I take a gazillion pictures? Well, yes, I suppose that I do, but when I train my scrapbooking eye on any given topic, I emerge with the main thing I went in for: a story to remember.

Simple and focused, I save a little bit of my life one scrapbook page at a time.

Today, I'm giving you a template (both in 8.5 x 11 and 12 x 12 sizes) and challenging you to save a bit of your life.

One photo. One story. Just find someone in your life who is amazing to serve as your subject.

It's probably not too hard to come up with just one. Me? I live with three of them and every day, I could probably come up with a story to tell, just like the story of Cole's renewed passion for all things Titanic.

My goals as a scrapbooker don't revolve around frequency or quantity. I just want to put a bit of this life down on record.  And it's not just for the kids, or because it's what Moms are supposed to do. I do this for me. I do this for the creative freedom that comes from telling my stories. Our stories. From this, goodness and gratitude inevitably flow.

This template is designed for use in Photoshop Elements and Photoshop. (It won't work with any other photo imaging program.) The base template looks like this:

 

Included with this package is a beefed-up step-by-step PDF instruction sheet to help some of you less seasoned designers use the template. Here is the download: (The files are zipped and you will need to unzip them in order to use them. Simply click on the link and the download should automatically begin.)

Download CZ_AmazingTemplate

As you know, I combine the best of digital and real world scrapbooking in my approach. For example, the layout at the start of this post is purely digital and 12 x 12. Most of my albums are 8.5 x 11, so, I turned off the background layer, printed it out on a piece of 8.5 x 11 photo paper, trimmed it out and mounted it onto a piece of kraft cardstock. It looks like this:

Digital to hybrid, just like that. And why not just keep it purely digital? Well, let's just say I like to pull out my adhesive and feel the love.

Any way you choose to work with this template is up to you. For those of you who are relatively new to digital, this will give you an idea of how my Designer Digital templates work.

Here is a quick video tutorial to show you how I created the 12 x 12 digital page, and then how I turned it into an 8.5 x 11 page. (Note: for you 8.5 x 11 scrapbookers, the process still applies, but you can just start with your preferred size of template. The core image area on both templates is the same size. Also, to watch the video in a larger size, simply click on the link below the video.)

Digital Scrapbooking Tutorial from Cathy Zielske on Vimeo.

If you have any questions, please feel free to leave them in the comments and I'll be checking them throughout the day.

Just wanted to share a bit of life-saving love with you today. Enjoy the template.

It's just my way of saying thank you for hanging out at my blog from time to time. I do so appreciate you.

xoxo,

DIGITAL PAGE SUPPLIES: Krafty No. 7 Paper Pack • Spot Dots No. 13 Paper Pack (altered) • Ethan Solids Paper Pack • Just Linens, No. 1 Paper Pack • Stitched by Anna No. 1 • Avenir font

Media blitz!

[Adorable mug available from Pop Deluxe]

No, I'm not holding any press conferences to confess how my penchant for tea and Japanese adhesive has caused irrevocable strife on the home front, but I am making the rounds in the next few days.

Tomorrow morning I'm hosting a Coffee Chat at 8 a.m. EST as part of the Designer Digitals 1st Quarter Sale. You can wipe the sleep from your eyes, bring your hot beverage of choice, chat with me, and I'll be giving out a free digital word art package for everyone who shows up! Do you want to know the secrets of the universe? NOW IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY!

Then on Monday morning at 8 a.m. EST, I'm going to be interviewed on Martha Stewart Radio as part of the Morning Living show. I will be dishing out some tips on scrapbooking and how to get into the fold in a do-able, realistic way. If time permits, I may also mention to the hosts about the time I tried to make Martha's empanadas recipe and how it took 7 hours to complete just 20 of them and that they were just okay.

Then, later in the week, I'm going to take a self-imposed Vow of Internet Silence to counteract this insane amount of ME showing up everywhere.

That will last just under 13 minutes. 

Then it's all about me again.

Have a great weekend, readers.

A blissful shopping experience, a $5 off coupon for you, and a hybrid layout share and process

Last week I posed a simple question to you, my readers, regarding tea. The response was utterly amazing—the most non-giveaway comments I've ever received. Many of you tipped me off to Adagio Teas, and today, I'm here to report on what I found.

The bottom line? My shopping experience—from my initial browsing of their site to the final sip of my first cup made using their products—was singularly impressive.

 

When I opened my package I was greeted by stellar design and you know me: I've got a bit of a soft spot for design.

 

The design starts when you meet them online, and continues right down to the last packaging detail. They even throw in a book for first-time customers. For free.

 

For free, people. Who doesn't love a company that throws in something useful for free?

 

My purchases included the ingenuiTEA, two glass mugs (which I am IN LOVE with) and some assorted tea sampler packs to get started on my exploration of loose, gourmet teas. (Note: it really is worth it to go and watch the video on how the inegnuiTEA works. Again, form following function. Love that.)

My first cup yesterday morning was of Adagio's English Breakfast, and it was DIVINE. (I know my British readers are looking for the milk and sugar, but remember, my English comrades, I'm on a diet.)

 

Every time I look at my tea maker, my mugs and my little adorable tins I just feel good. I want to call up whoever heads this company and say, "Whoever it is making your decisions, tell them they have just made a lifetime customer of me."

I mean, I got an email from them that said, "Your UPS man just delivered your package," and lo and behold, there it was. Cradle to grave, amazing service.

I believe if more companies put this kind of thought and care into the entire experience that more consumers would be giving them their money and feeling good about it in the process.

And here's the coolest part: they are offering my blog readers, who are first-time Adagio Tea customers, a coupon good for $5 off a purchase. Simply use this code at checkout: 2426405196.

Just enter the code into the gift certificate field during the checkout process!

All I did was email them and ask. How cool is that. I feel all powerful right now, like Dooce or something.

So there's that.

And that inspired the following scrapbook page.

See, tea is my new smoking. I love anything that can be habituated, or ritualized, and right now tea is it, mama. Unlike my former smoking habit, this one smells goo gobs better and is actually good for me!

I decided to make a layout featuring my lovely tea shots, and using one of my digital templates in a hybrid fashion, and I'm going to share the process with you.

Here is the finished hybrid layout:

 

SUPPLIES: Layered Template No. 42 (Cathy Zielske) • Cat's Life Press Stamp • Staz-On ink • PSX mini alpha stamps • Avenir font

A lot of people like the idea of digital templates, but want to use them in a more hybrid fashion. Here is how I took a basic digital template and did just that.

Here is the basic template design:

First, I did the digital thing, dropping in my photos and my journaling into the template:

 

The next thing I did was to fill the entire background with white. I then saved this file, and did a Save As to create a new file, which I then cropped to 11 x 8.5 inches.

 

The reason I did this is to be able to send this file to print onto an 8.5 x 11 sheet of photo paper. In this way, I was able to use the core design of the template as the base for my photos.

I printed this image at 97% of original to allow for some play with the document's original outline.

Then, I opened the original digital file, and turned off all the layers except the one holding the outline.

 

I printed this onto a 12 x 12 sheet of cardstock.

The final step was to trim out the photos just to the inside of the outline and manually round the corners, before finally mounting it onto the 12 x 12 piece of cardstock. Voila! Hybrid layout done!

 

Just wanted to share a) a great company, b) a few nice photos of my new habit and c) how you can take anything fully digital and blend the best of both worlds.

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And speaking of the digital world, the Designer Digitals Quarterly Sale kicks off today at 6 p.m. EST. Now is a great time to stock up and save on any and all digital products. If you've wanted to dabble a bit, enjoy the savings you'll find for the next few days. You can find my entire collection on sale tonight here.

Thanks again to Adagio Teas.

Signed,

Your new loyal lifetime customer

Ta-Da!

While we're on the subject of Titanic…

What you need to know is that Cole tossed out his work from my first post about this. The deck area wasn't level. All that work? Into recycling.

He started over and what you see above? Ta-da!

 

(Um, Cole…I know you're being all creative and what not, but what ever happened to just using a glue stick?)

Remember people, that Kokuyo? It's like gold.

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A Kokuyo adhesive side note: Two of my sponsors are carrying Kokuyo adhesive. If you are jonesing for some, please visit Cherry Blossom Studio, and it will be coming soon to A Walk Down Memory Lane.

Edited to add: Cole woke up today and was all, "Mom? Did you post the video? You have to post the video!"

I do what I'm told. Enjoy the 3-D experience.

Okay, he just finished filming his stop animation re-creation of the movie. I just had to lump it into this post, for posterity. Plus, he's working the British accents as hard as he can. And the still of the video? Makes me get weepy remember that scene in the original. Enjoy!

Whatever floats your boat

Cole is obsessed with Titanic for the second time in his life. Some of you might remember the first go round, from Clean&Simple Scrapbooking, The Sequel:

Granted, he had other epic disasters lumped into his 2004 focus, but the granddaddy of them all was Titanic. And now it's come back around for a reunion tour.

It shows up everywhere. In books:

 

On numerous pieces of paper:

 

And now, on my dining room/scrap room table:

 

 

He works night…and day.

 

Bazzill Basics Cardstock—now with more ship building power!

And to top it off, Cole has decided he wants to have a giant inflatable Titanic for his birthday this year. He knows those things aren't cheap to rent, and he also knows it's somewhat of a morbid concept. Nevertheless, this weekend set out to create a PowerPoint presentation entitled, "101 Reasons You Should Get Me a Titanic Slide." He said I could share a few of the slides with you.

I don't know, Cole. A trip to Branson would be pretty rad.

I just love this kid. With his persistence and persuasiveness, he's either going to become an insanely wealthy prosecutor, or the most successful QVC hawker the world has ever seen.

Cole and I watched "Titanic" the movie together yesterday. It was his idea to cap off a weekend of ship building. I'd planned a Valentine's Day full of errands and what not, but instead I just sat with Cole and watched all three hours.

I got choked up a number of times, as the reality of the Titanic was that it was a tragedy of unimaginable proportion. I asked Cole what it was about the Titanic that so enraptured him. He answered, "Mom, I'm like you…when I'm into something, I need to know everything about it."

And there you have it.

Here's to whatever floats your boat and the passion that goes along with it.

Note: I'm sure none of you are thinking he got the idea of "SAILOR" language from me.

Giveaway Winners

This Valentine's Day, I decided to skip out on using the Random Integer Generator, and I just took two comments: the first, and the last. And it may not be the last time I do it this way, gentle blog readers. So that means the following:

The winner of Molly Newman's new workshop over at ReneePearson.com called "Keep it Together." is:

And the winner of the charming Valentine's kit from ScrapScription:

Ladies, contact me at czdesign@comcast.net to claim your goods!

And me? I'm heading out for a Valentine's Day dinner with my Valentine, and four other Valentine adult folks. See you back here tomorrow!

Sponsor Giveaway: ReneePearson.com and ScrapScription

One blog reader will win a seat in Molly Newman's new workshop over at ReneePearson.com called "Keep it Together." If you feel like your drowning in a sea of digital stuff, Molly is going to show you how to get a true handle on your entire stash! Read on to learn more:

THE DETAILS: This 4-week workshop begins on March 17, and runs through April 13. Seasoned digital vet Molly Newman is going to help you to get a handle on your digital photos, scanned images and digital scrapbooking supplies once and for all with this hands-on class. You’ll learn how to design, step-by-step, an organizational system that works for you and the way you scrapbook. Get the encouragement and motivation you need to create a system you’ll actually enjoy keeping up to date. Scrapbook more and faster than ever before when you know just where every holiday snapshot, vintage family photo and piece of digital paper is located.

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One of my blog readers will win this charming kit from ScrapScription.

THE DETAILS: Won’t you BE MINE?  This album is dedicated to those we love and cherish in our lives.  Keep the titles for a dedication album to a special loved one this Valentine’s Day or change them to fit a more traditional love themed album—the choice is yours as you get an entire package of the adorable red and white heart print chipboard Thickers in your kit!  The bracket album covers come to us from Teresa Collins and the inside pages are made up of patterned pages, tags, envelopes and even a few page protectors.  The paper line and die cuts used in this album are from the wildly popular My Mind’s Eye – BE LOVED collection.  You’ll love this off beat mix of pinks, peaches, reds and soft turquoise.  This kit is full of specially punched heart shapes in a variety of sizes and colors to coordinate with your album.  You’ll cherish the finished project almost as much as you cherish the people it is about.

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To enter, tell me if you're a fan of Valentine's Day, or if you'd like to see Cupid taken down for good.

I'll draw a winner sometime on Valentine's Day, this weekend.

(comments are now closed...check back to see if you're a winner.)