Saturday Showcase: December 8, 2012

It is that time of week where I showcase other artists' work (whether it be stamps, cards or otherwise), a blog post offering a great technique, or I might even just pick a whole blog to showcase. If you are new to my blog you can find out why I created the showcase HERE.

My top picks for this week include...

Card Choice

This wonderful card was designed by

  SUZE

Her blog is called

craftysuze 
 

Suze has been one of my dedicated followers since week one.  She has already made and shared four cards using my designs.  So, I have had the opportunity to check out many of Suze's cards.  I definitely like what I see.  Once of my favourite cards is the one she created using one of my fall background papers.  It is found in her post, "Foxy Thanks" from November 14th.  Now this isn't the reason I chose to showcase this card.  REALLY!  I just love how all the colours worked together.  I haven't had the opportunity to print out any of the papers from my premiere paper pack so it was really cool to see how well it came out.  I applaude Suze's ambitions because she downloaded the papers, created and posted her card all on the same day I released them!  Her fox is just so cute and all the elements come together to make a design that catches your eye.  Now to prove that this choice isn't about stroking my own ego, I'm showcasing a second of Suze's designs.  

This card is from her post, "Punch It Out", dated November 3rd. I just love the overall feel of this card.  The contrast of the gold pearlized paper with the white is very striking.  The results of using both the diecut and punch are fantastic.  The image is just delightful and those embellishments are beautiful.  You can find out the details to both these card by following the associated links. To view Suze's other designs, please visit her blog (clicking on the blog name will take you straight to her blog).  

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

  Free Digital Stamp Artist Choice

This cute stamp was designed by

  ANJI PEARSON

Her blog is called

Anji's Antics

Anji's Antics was one of the first places I found on the internet offering free stamps.  Anji offers up freebies and music lyrics almost every single day.  The image of the Christmas moose is from her November 20th post entitled, "My Daughter Came To See Me".  I just fell in love with this adorable moose.  From the expression on his face to the Christmas lights hanging from his antlers, he is just too cute for his own good.  I have big plans for this sweetie pie.  If you haven't already found her, Anji's blog is definitely worth a visit (clicking on the blog name will take you straight to her blog).  

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

  Next that  brings me to the...

 This is a special category highlighting 

a stamp for sale by another artist.

  This week that honour goes to...

 

 This neat paper pack was created by

DIANE NOBLE

Her blog is called

 Diane's Daydream Designs 

Her store is located HERE

This stamp set is available for sale HERE

I share something in common with Diane--we are both triple D's; and, no I'm not talking about our bra sizes.  I have enjoyed visiting Diane's blog for some time now.  She always has great card designs which I have taken some inspiration from.  She also offers a freebie on occasion and I have been fortunate enough to grab most of them before she puts them into the store.

While window shopping one day, I came across this lovable family of snowpeople.  I got a chuckle out of their name and of course loved the expression.  Memories of growing up in a snow belt came to mind.  There were many opportunites to build snowmen during the winters and I'd often create snow families on our front lawn.  Of course, in my snow family, just as in my own, there was only one snowchild.  Diane has lots to see so please go and take a peek at all the wonderful things she offers (clicking on the above links will bring you to their respective locations).  

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Normally, this would be the end of the showcase.  Today however, 

I am once again asking for your help in my special segment called... 

However, instead of asking for your financial support, this time I'm asking you to share some of your talents.  

 A couple of week's ago I featured Ginger's House in the Showcase.  For those of you who still don't know her, Ginger is a teacher in Florida.  In her class there is a special little boy named Sebastian who has a condition called Arthrogryposis. To learn a little bit more on what this is and how it affects him, you can read her post called, "Cards For Sebastian".  As far as Ginger is concerned, she has learned as much from Sebastian as she has taught him--maybe even more.  In the time that she has known him he has taught her valuable lessons in patience, perseverance, courage, perspective and more.  You can learn more on how this little boy has impacted her life in the same post mentioned above.  According to an update on Sebastion featured in the post, "Another Surgery For Sebastian", on December 19th he will be going in for another surgery.  Christmas will be very different for him this year.  While he will still experience the joy and wonder that only a six year old can experience at this time of year, he will also have to deal with "doctors and casts and pain and medication and sleepless nights for him as well as his parents".  It is Ginger's wish that Sebastian's hospital room be filled once again with love and hope.  The cards that he received during his first surgery, many of which came from strangers, meant the world to him.  Ginger is hoping for a repeat of those feelings of love, and care and kindness. 

 I realize it is a crazy, busy time of year but if there are any of you who might be able to find the time in your busy schedule and the generosity of heart to make a card and send it to Sebastian, it would mean so much to a little boy in need.  You can visit Ginger's House and read the post mentioned above to see the complete story on Sebastian and find the address where you can send your card.  To get you started here is a special freebie that you can use for the inside of the card if you want to.  I've provided it in a number of different varieties.  Since there are so many configurations, (sentiment with image, sentiment alone, image alone in different ways, different colours) I needed to create a zip file. Now, I've learned that I can link it straight to the zip file and eliminate a step for you so I hope it works okay. However, if anyone has a problem with downloading this file, please let me know.  This is just a sample of one of the elements.  Click the word 'here' in the caption under the image to download the zip file.

Please click HERE to get download

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Well, that is it for this week's edition of the Saturday Showcase.  Thanks to all these wonderful artists for agreeing to allow me to showcase their work on my blog.  I'm sure I'll be coming back to them time and again.  Though you never know, I may be contacting YOU next to showcase something incredible you've created.

If you are interested in the information used to create this sentiment, I have included it below along with my other usual caveats. 

 

Until next time,

Notes:  

*The hands used in creating the 'helping out one of our own' banner are from Antique Images.

 *Thanks to Nikki from Limited Runs Stamps for creating my Saturday Showcase badge.

Fonts Used: 

• Tom's Handwriting

Click the font name to take you to a download location.  This font is considered free for commercial use.  The quote's author is unknown.

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 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.

Paper Pack Premiere

Tonight has been a banner night for me.  I am pleased as punch as the saying goes.  That is the saying isn't it?  Anyways, suffice it to say it has been a good night creatively.  I'm way behind in everything else but full of creative input and output.  It has been a night of 'firsts'.

To start, I created my very first set of papers and I am kinda happy with how they turned out.  They are nothing too special but I think someone might be able to make them work for a fall type backdrop.  I made them approximately 1800x1800 pixels.  I've noticed that most papers are created at 3600x3600, but I find that way too big for card purposes.  Even 1800 is huge.  However, if enough people are interested in the larger sizes, well...I'll see what I can do.  Right now I'm just hoping someone will be interested enough in the smaller sizes.

So creatively speaking, it didn't take too long to make them tonight.  From beginning to zipped end, I was finished in about two and a half hours.  Given that sometimes it takes me that long just to put a sentiment together, I'm feeling pretty good about the time invested in the first part of this endeavour.

Secondly, I had to learn how to compress files  Now, unfortunately, even at 1800x1800, the files, especially given that they are png files, are still really big (if anyone knows how to make them into a smaller file size without actually making them look smaller, I'd appreciate the assistance).  Accordingly, I needed to learn how to zip up the files.  That is a new one for me too.  I've unzipped many a file, but tonight was the first time I've ever zipped one up.  With a little guidance from hubby, whose wise words were, 

"you know how to unzip a file?"
         "Yeah."
"Just do that only backwards."
        "Okaaay."

In actuality, it was that easy.  I practiced zipping up and zipping down (sorry couldn't help myself :-])  a couple of times to make sure that everything opened up all right.  Now, if only my body moved that fast, but I digress...

Lastly, and I patted myself on the back for this one, I had to figure out how to upload a zip file to blogger.  Except that isn't possible.  Thus, I had to decide where I was going to put the file so that you could download it.  Now, I did some research for some quick options.  I didn't really want to go through the time looking into, determining the best upload site, and then having to sign up for an account tonight.  I know I need to do it relatively soon because it will give me a clearer indication of how many people are actually downloading images but given that it is already 1:30 a.m. and I wanted to get this out to you for tomorrow, I had to come with another option.  I went through a couple of tutorials that recommended creating a Google website.  Hmmm...straight away my mind went to my orignal website.  So, I did some research there and learned I could upload a zip file and create a link.  When you go to the page and click on the link, it automatically brings up the 'save' or 'open' option, thus allowing you to download the file.  Consequently, I've just gone over and set the page up.  Now keep in mind I did it in a hurry so it doesn't look like anything special.

So, if you've managed to stay with me through all my rambling, you definitely deserve a small reward.  Therefore, if you want it, please feel free to follow the link and download my very first paper pack.  

 Here are some thumbnails 
  
 
 

 of what the papers look like. 

Click HERE to go to the fall leaves paper pack download page.  

When you get there, click on the image that looks like this:

When everything was all set up and all the links were created, I did a run through to make sure it worked out.  It did for me, hopefully it will for you.  If you have any problems though, please let me know.

I had wanted to get some Thanksgiving sentiments created but I should probably get to sleep some time before the sun rises.  So check back soon for more free goodies.

If you intend to download the file be sure to read the terms of use included within the zip folder and PLEASE leave me a comment here before heading over there. 

After you have taken a look at the papers, I'd appreciate it if some of you might be willing to provide me with some constructive feedback as this will help me tremendously in my growth process.

Until next time,