Blog Train: Winter Arabesque Kit from Imagine That! Digis by Kris

Hello and welcome to an incredible week long event.  In honor of Imagine That! Digis by Kris' 2nd Anniversary, we invite you all to a special "Blog Train of Freebies"!!  Kris has "hopped on board" with Pixel Scrapper this month and made up 10 mini-kits that are perfect for digi-scrapping, or printing and using for cards & other paper crafts in a beautiful "Winter Arabesque" theme.  Hop on board to collect them all and be inspired by our Design Team and if you are a member at Pixel Scrapper (it's free!) you can grab all of their mini kits as well :) 

You are definitely not going to want to miss this spectacular blog train as Kris is generously giving away the ENTIRE KIT for FREE!  Yes, you read that correctly.  You will find one section of the kit at each of the ten spots along the blog train.  The sections of the kit will be available for download from January 23rd to January 29th.

The section of the kit being offered up on my blog is...

Download Glitter Snowflakes and Flourishes HERE

Here are my card and details.  Check it out...

FRONT

Digital Embellishment Details:

• Glitter Snowflakes and Flourishes set: I've used one of the snowflakes from the above set on the front of my card and just duplicated it.  Remember, you can download this set for free from January 23rd to the 29th by clicking the link above.
• I've also used a doily from the Snowflake Doilies set available for free on a fellow DT member's blog (see blog train list below).

Digital Images Details: 

• Snowmen Trio:  I've also used an image from the Snowmen Trio set for the focal point of my card.  I've chosen once again to work with the coloured version for this project.  Another great reason for investing in Kris' work is that the full sets in the store all come with a coloured version. When you purchase a full set, you always get your choice of which image to use!  Clicking on the name or watermark below will take you to the set's location in the store.

INSIDE

Digital Embellishment Details:

• Glitter Snowflakes and Flourishes: I've also used a second snowflake from the set and one of the flourishes for the inside of my card. 

Digital Sentiment Details: 

• This great sentiment was one available in the Snowmen Trio set.

OVERALL

Paper Products: 

• Card, image and sentiment base: Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, white.

Digital Paper Products: 

• The glitter papers used on the front and inside are from the Glitter Papers and Word Art set available for free on a fellow DT member's blog (see blog train list below).

Challenge I am entering...

• http://scribbleandscrapcrafts.blogspot.co.uk/ -- Anything Goes
• http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes
• http://yourscrapbookplace.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes
• http://thegloryofchristmaschallenge.blogspot.de -- Non-Traditional Colours
• http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge2.blogspot.co.uk/ -- Anything Goes:  Christmas
• http://christmascardsallyearround.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes:  Christmas 
• http://jinglebellesrock.blogspot.ca/ -- Bring in the New (All the digital elements are from a brand new kit that I'm using for the first time)
• http://christmasblogchallenge.blogspot.ca/ -- Only One Designer Paper (it is digital but there is only one used)
• http://suzysmarty1.blogspot.co.uk/ -- Anything Goes with a Twist:  Make it Cute
• http://meljensdesignsdt.blogspot.ca -- Let it Snow

If you missed the start of the blog train, head over to the MAIN BLOG.  Just hop from blog to blog downloading each mini kit!!!  This is Kris' gift to all of you for a great first two years of Imagine That! Digis by Kris.

Here are all the stops along the way in case you've missed some...

Deanne

LisaD. <-- You are here!

Lisa Lynn

Helen

Tania

Linda J

Edwina

Lynne

Silvi

Tonnie

PixelScrapper

We'd also love to see what you come up with using items from the kit; so, if you EVER have the chance to make something, be sure to add your project to our link up which you'll be able to find on the main challenge blog and at stops along the way, including here.  Just scroll down until you see the Inlinkz link up! 

I hope you have fun and enjoy our special blog train. If you do join in and download any of the mini kits, be sure to head over to the MAIN BLOG and leave Kris some love for being so incredibly generous!  

Thank you so much to everyone who has left their condolences regarding the loss of my husband's mother.  I'm going to be spending as much time with the hubs that I can right now but I'll see you all again soon. 

Until next time,

Link Up Below:

An InLinkz Link-up

Card Design: Deedee's Digi of the Month Challenge...January

Okay, so the last thing I should be doing is getting involved in another progressive challenge.  So, I'm going to blame it all on Edwina B. from Edwina's Creations ;).  My wonderful friend Edwina lets me know when she comes across a new freebie that she thinks I might be interested in.  Recently she let me know of a free set over at Deedee's Digis.  As it turns out, the current freebie is the image for January's Digi of the Month Challenge.  On top of that, anyone who participates in this month's challenge will receive a $10 gift code to the shop for EVERY unique entry plus be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift code to the shop.  Then, everyone who plays along with this month's challenge will also receive next month's featured set for free at the end of the challenge.  Now seriously, how could I resist that!  Plus since DS4J is no longer having their progressive challenge this year...well, looks like I've replaced one with another. 

Check out the cute set available for free right now...

Click on the watermark above to go to its location in the store.

Here are my card and details...

General Information:

• Where there is a will, there is a way and so I've created another Christmas card.  There is no time like the present to keep adding to the pot to ensure that I don't go through the yearly Christmas Card Panic.

 Christmas Cards to date for 2015:  3

FRONT

Digital Image Details: 

• Ice Fishing:  You can find this set in the store.  Details above.  I used the coloured version from the set.  I printed the image right on the card base.

Digital Sentiment Details:

• This great 'frosty' sentiment was created by Paulette from Create with TLC. I picked it up as a freebie a while back.  I recoloured it digitally to match the colours in the image.  To find other great sets in the store, click HERE; and to check out Paulette's blog, click HERE.

Embellishments: 

• The washi tape is Elmer brand and was purchased at Dollarama.

INSIDE

Digital Sentiment Details:

•  This sentiment is available in the Ice Fishing set (details and link above).

Embellishment: 

• The snowflake is Recollection's brand and was purchased at Michael's.

OVERALL

Paper Products: 

• Card, image and sentiment base: Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, white.
• The paper I used as matting on the inside is from Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, Cool Water Collection.

Challenges I am entering:

• Deedee's Digi of the Month Challenge

 Other challenges I hope to enter... 

***Please note that if the word verification appears, ignore it and simply click the 'publish' button*** 

• Word Art Wednesday -- Anything Goes
• http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes but must be a card
• http://wagsnwhiskersrubberstamps.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes
• http://thegloryofchristmaschallenge.blogspot.de/ -- Non-Traditional Colours 
• http://sparklesforumchristmaschallenge.blogspot.ca/ -- A Christmas Critter with a Splash of Glitter (my critter is on the front and my glitter is on the snowflake on the inside of the card.) 
• http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge2.blogspot.co.uk/ -- Anything Goes:  Christmas 
• http://christmascardsallyearround.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes:  Christmas 
• http://jinglebellesrock.blogspot.ca/ -- Bring in the New (the tape is something that was in my stash but this is the first time that I have used it) 
• http://suzysmarty1.blogspot.co.uk/ -- Anything Goes with a Twist:  Make it Cute
  

Well guys, another one is done.  I have another card I'm going to post about as soon as I can finish the post.  The card has been done for a while and I wish I was posting about it under better circumstances.  Unfortunately, there is going to be some sadness in that particular post.

Until then,

Final Holiday Handout and a New Year's Day Message

It is a brand new year filled with possibility and promise.  What does the new year hold for you as an individual, as a family, as members of your community, your nation or as a member of this world that grows smaller each and every day?

Do you have new year's resolutions that you set and keep, or not keep as the case may be.  Or, do you set achievable goals like I do?

What plans do you have for the months and year ahead?

The New Year offers so much promise and possibility, we just have to commit to living each and every day as it hits in order to recognize and tap into all the blessings that come our way.  I want to wish all of you a happy, healthy, and rewarding New Year in which you fulfill your fondest dreams. I found a poem which expresses everything I'd like to share with you:

My happy New Year wish for you
Is for your best year yet,
A year where life is peaceful,
And what you want you get.

A year in which you cherish
the past year's memories,
And live your life each new day,
Full of bright expectancies.

I wish for you a lovely year
With happiness galore;
And when it's done, I wish you
Many, many more.

(Author Unknown)

And finally, we come to the last holiday handout of the season.

Welcome to a brand new year.  The canvas is empty.  What are you going to draw?

Until next time,

Holiday Handout: Day 22

It is New Year's Eve today.  Along with the traditional New Year's Eve parties and events taking place throughout the world, this day also has significance in two very different parts of the world:  Japan and Scotland.  

Did you know that the New Year celebration is one of the most major events in all of Japan? In Japan, Omisoka  refers to New Year's Eve.  I've learned that each year the Japanese spend many hours shopping and cleaning their homes to get prepared for the new year.  It is supposed to represent the idea of eliminating the past and starting the new year afresh.  Shogatsu is the celebration of New Year's day itself and it is a time when Japanese people decorate their homes and gift their children with toys and money.  It is also a time when greeting cards are shared with family and friends. Food delicacies such as fish cakes, boiled seaweed, mashed sweet potatoes with chesnuts, soybean mixtures and other items are all a part of the festive spread.  When midnight strikes on the 31st of December, bells ring out in the Buddhist temples a total of 108 times. After the bells finish ringing a feast of soba noodles takes place which everyone partakes in.

Over in Scotland, Hogmanay is celebrated starting today.  The celebration of Hogmanay, the Scottish word literally meaning 'the last day of the year' begins the night of December 31st and lasts throughout the night carrying on until the 'Ne'erday' which is January 1st.  Depending on the location in Scotland and possibly even the household, the celebration sometimes carries on until January 2nd, which is considered a bank holiday in Scotland.  

Apparently the customs associated with Hogmanay are different for different locations within Scotland.  In the north-east part of Scotland in Stonehaven, a 'fireball swinging' custom takes place.  People make balls of chicken wire, tar and paper and then people swing the balls over their head while walking through the streets. It seems that the main attraction of the day is casting the burning balls into the harbor which apparently makes an impressive display in the evening.  It is meant to signify "the power of sun to purify the world by consuming all evil spirits" (New Year in Scotland).  Then, over in Burghead in Moray, the burning of the clavie is common.  This is an ancient Scottish custom where a bonfire of casks is split in two (The clavie) and then lighted on January 11th which is the first day of the year according to the Julian Calendar.  One of the casks is rejoined together with a huge nail, filled with tar, lighted and carried around the village while it flames.  Finally it is carried up to a headland where the ruins of an altar stand.  Here it forms the centre of the bonfire built up of the split casks. When the barrel of burning tar falls into pieces, the people scramble around to get a lighted piece so that they can kindle the New Year's fire in their cottage hearth. The charcoal of the clavie is then collected and put up the cottage chimneys "to keep spirits and witches from coming down" (Wikipedia).

Isn't it amazing what you learn when you start interacting with a world wide audience?  I have gained so much knowledge over the course of the last 22 days in an effort to learn about holiday traditions in different cultures and religions around the world and I am a better person because of it.  I have tried to be as inclusive as possible.  I know that I missed a few traditions at the beginning of December and promise to touch on them next year.  When I started the holiday handouts 22 days ago I had no idea as to the extent that I was going to cover.  I certainly never intended to offer so many of them or delve into so many different traditions but as each day went by it became more and more important for me to continue until the new year was upon us.  I hope that you have enjoyed the freebies and have learned a thing or two along the way about the people around you.  If there is someone interested in teaching me about their own cultural or religious traditions as they relate to the holidays, I would love for you to send me an email.  I intend to continue down this path next year but hope to expand it to be more inclusive of the new people in my world.

Wherever you are, I hope that you have a fun filled but safe day.  What are your family traditions for New Year's Eve?   Traditionally, my husband Raymond and I sit around, watch movies and nibble on hors d'oeuvre for two days straight--well I suppose we do take time out to sleep in between.  This year Raymond will be working for part of today so we'll be starting our celebration a bit later than usual.  We started this tradition because when we were first together, I could never go to any dances or parties because there was alway smoking at them (I have asthma and am highly allergic to smoke) and, well these days, while there is no longer any smoking allowed at public events it's kind of difficult to dance with two canes and a broken down body so we just stick with our made up tradition.

Here is your holiday handout for today.

Only one sleep to go before a brand new year...

Until next time,

References:

 Author Unknown. (unknown). Burning of the Clavie. Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burning_of_the_Clavie. Last accessed 30th December 2012.

Author Unknown. (unknown). Hogmanay. Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hogmanay. Last accessed 30th December 2012.

Author Unknown. (unknown). New Year In Scotland (hogmanay). Available: http://www.happywink.org/newyearfestival/new-year-in-scotland.html. Last accessed 30th December 2012.

Putatunda, Rita. (2012). Winter Holidays Around the World. Available: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/winter-holidays-around-the-world.html. Last accessed 30th December 2012.

Sim, Martin. (2006). About the Fireballs. Available: http://www.stonehavenfireballs.co.uk/history. Last accessed 30th December 2012. 

Font Used: 

• Nocker 

Click the font name to take you to a download location.  This font is free for commercial use.

Image information:

The curling ribbon images are from Pixel Scraper and since I downloaded them with the 'free for commercial use' license, my guess is that it also extends to you if you use them on cards that you intend to sell. 

If you haven't already, please become familiar with my terms of use found in the copyright tab at the top of this page.  I have included a quick summary below.   If you are not sure how to copy the image, check out the download instructions page.  
 
   Quick summary of Terms of Use:   

• Do not claim the image as your own.
• Credit 'Decosse's Dynamite Doodles' somewhere on your creation.
• Do not share my images with family, friends, etc.  Additionally, do not post any images to file sharing services like Box®, 4-Shared®, etc.  Instead, please direct people to my blog so they can grab the image for themselves.
• If I have signed an image, do not delete my signature.
• Leave a comment on my blog.  It is currently the only way for me to know if any of my freebies are being nabbed.  Additionally, it will help to inspire me to continue to create and offer future freebies.

Holiday Handout: Day 21

Now and the whole year through...

There is a bit of a story behind this one.  One of the regular blogs I follow, Sweetly Scrapped, shared a template for angel wings that she found at the About Crafts website.  She showed us how to create really cute ornaments using the template and cutting out the design on pretty papers.  That got me thinking about doing the same type of thing only using digital paper instead of the tangible kind.  So I painstakingly created my own set of wings and then used a pretty paper from Far Far Hill, reduced the transparency, added a solid backdrop and then a quote.  A few hours later I was finally done and was relatively happy with what I had created.  I thought, "Yeah! Technically, I created something new that I haven't exactly seen anywhere".  I decided that I'd wait and post the new image towards the end of my holiday handouts.  Two days later Sweetly Scrapped came out with 138 pairs of her own.  Oh well, at least for a day I had something new before everyone else, unfortunately no-one else got to see it before someone else published the same concept.  138?  It took me a few hours to do just one.  I can't wait until I'm that proficient that I can crank out so many in one instance.

I can't believe tomorrow is New Year's Eve?  Where does the time go?

Until next time,

Please note that due to the nature of this design, you may not use it on products you intend to sell since the paper backdrop is for personal use only with no profit generation.  If you use this image please ensure that you also credit Far Far Hill for the paper. 

Font Used: 

• Jempol

Click the font name to take you to a download location.  This font is free for commercial use.

If you haven't already, please become familiar with my terms of use found in the copyright tab at the top of this page.  I have included a quick summary below.   If you are not sure how to copy the image, check out the download instructions page.  
 
   Quick summary of Terms of Use:   

• Do not claim the image as your own.
• Credit 'Decosse's Dynamite Doodles' & 'Far Far Hill' somewhere on your creation for this specific design.
• Do not share my images with family, friends, etc.  Additionally, do not post any images to file sharing services like Pinterest®, 4-Shared®, etc.  Instead, please direct people to my blog so they can grab the image for themselves.
• If I have signed an image, do not delete my signature.
• Leave a comment on my blog.  It is currently the only way for me to know if any of my freebies are being nabbed.  Additionally, it will help to inspire me to continue to create and offer future freebies.

Holiday Handout: Day 20

Well the new year is almost upon us.  How has your holiday season been so far?  Did you slow down enough to actually enjoy it?  Did you find some quiet time to sit and meditate on what the new year may bring?

As the holiday season winds down and we start to maneuver towards our regular routines, my wish for you would be that you carry the joy of the season with you all year through.

Images are all the same size when you click on them to save them.  Given how many I'm putting here, I made them smaller to conserve space.  I created a simple small caps version (28 pt) and a flakier all caps version (20 pt).  Take whichever ones interest you.

Just two days to go before we embark on a brand new year!

Until next time,

Font Used: 

• Christmas Flakes

Click the font name to take you to a download location.  This font is free for personal use only.
 
If you haven't already, please become familiar with my terms of use found in the copyright tab at the top of this page.  I have included a quick summary below.   If you are not sure how to copy the image, check out the download instructions page.  
 
   Quick summary of Terms of Use:   

• Do not claim the image as your own.
• Credit 'Decosse's Dynamite Doodles' somewhere on your creation for this specific design.
• Do not share my images with family, friends, etc.  Additionally, do not post any images to file sharing services like Pinterest®, 4-Shared®, etc.  Instead, please direct people to my blog so they can grab the image for themselves.
• If I have signed an image, do not delete my signature.
• Leave a comment on my blog.  It is currently the only way for me to know if any of my freebies are being nabbed.  Additionally, it will help to inspire me to continue to create and offer future freebies.

  

Holiday Handout: Day 19

I don't know where you are in the world, but it is definitely a winter wonderland up here in northern Ontario.  We had a serious snow storm last Thursday and Friday that ensured we had a white Christmas where I live.  How about you?  Is it cold and blustery where you are from or warm and balmy?  If there is a few feet of snow on the ground, then this holiday handout is for you.  I've offered it in three wintery blue colours and one in black.  The snow mounds have individually been coloured in with white so that if you print them out on coloured paper, your snow won't take on the colour of the paper.
 

The countdown to the new year continues...

Until next time,

Font Used: 

• Igloo Laser

Click the font name to take you to a download location.  The license information for this font is unknown.  I'd suggest you contact the author if you want to use it for commercial purposes.

If you haven't already, please become familiar with my terms of use found in the copyright tab at the top of this page.  I have included a quick summary below.   If you are not sure how to copy the image, check out the download instructions page.  
 
   Quick summary of Terms of Use:   

• Do not claim the image as your own.
• Credit 'Decosse's Dynamite Doodles' somewhere on your creation for this specific design.
• Do not share my images with family, friends, etc.  Additionally, do not post any images to file sharing services like Pinterest®, 4-Shared®, etc.  Instead, please direct people to my blog so they can grab the image for themselves.
• If I have signed an image, do not delete my signature.
• Leave a comment on my blog.  It is currently the only way for me to know if any of my freebies are being nabbed.  Additionally, it will help to inspire me to continue to create and offer future freebies.