Snowmaggedon and Some Free Stuff

 Hello Blogsilvania!  

We had horribleness here in Houston, otherwise known as no electricity or water for three days in freezing cold temperatures - in the teens even.

We bundled up good though and enjoyed it as best we could while trying to survive in below freezing temperatures without running water.

I have a free shabbat coloring sheet up in my store. I first made it with an extremely ugly challah, but I have since made the challah over again and although it is not the best challah ever drawn, it is looking much less clunky now. Download it for free by clicking the preview image:

I also have a couple of new free stuff up on pixelscrapper if you want a hedgehog or bird:

And last but not least, just because way back when this blog started out it used to be for silly signs, here's Jesus's opinion on masks. Apparently:

 

Bernie and the worksheets

 Hello all three people who actually check this blog!

I know you're out there so I might as well update.

Here's a picture of me in the KPFT 90.1 Houston studio with Bernie, because apparently I STILL am not tired of the Bernie memes:

For real though, Seth Walker joined me on Bayou Brew on Friday, February 5th so if you're interested, that archive will be available for two weeks.  You can click on the picture to reach the archives. Because. I couldn't figure out how to get the picture to be un-clickable unless I dive into the code and stuff, so why not take it easy?

I've got a bunch of new stuff in my TPT store, including this free Purim cut and paste activity. Click here or on the preview to download it.

Plus a bunch of other Purim stuff here. 

My valentine article is up on Western New York Family and San Diego Family. You can see the Western New York one here.

In between all that we are trying to get our home back in order from the massive flood back in June and I am making a go at homeschooling this kid. Her room is coming along:

Of course Bernie had to come visit. Because isn't that the way these days?

The bedrooms and one bathroom are coming along very nicely. The kitchen still has little odds and ends to finish up. But the main bathroom still needs a bit of work.

Thanks for coming by!

A Scrapbooking Kit and a Picture of How Our House is Coming Along

 Here's a new digital scrapbooking kit for the new year - 2021!

The free download has expired but you can purchase it here.

See the other Pixelscrapper contributions to the February 2021 blog train here! 

Also here is a photo of us dancing on New Years Eve during our party over Zoom because I know you came here to see that too:

What with Covid-19 and all, that was as close to a party as we could get. 

I'm not sure if I ever posted on this blog about our house getting destroyed by a massive flood, but you can sort of see our new floors and new walls and new bookcases in this photo in any case. Our home is still under construction but you can see the progress here at least!

Thanks for stopping by!

Bohemian Rhapsody

Hello internet! I imagine that you have come here looking for a picture of me petting a dolphin. But I had bad hair on this adventure and instead here is a picture of a dolphin jumping over various members of my family plus some guy named...Scott?  Travis? Something like that.

I'm still in the picture, but my hair plays a less prominent role.

Those few people who didn't come here to see a picture of me with a dolphin probably came here from Pixelscrapper for the free download. Ok, maybe most people are visiting for the free download. After all, it's a new month!

This month's theme was called Bohemian Rhapsody. I'm not sure what a Bohemian Rhapsody is except for a Queen song, so I just went with music.

This was available FREE for the month of August 2019 and is now available at my store here or by clicking on the preview. I'm pretty happy with the guitar playing cat EVEN if my seven year old thinks it doesn't look like a cat at all and even though I should have made him or her playing an electric guitar.

I'm not really sure what type of events or special moments people will scrapbook with a guitar playing cat, but please enjoy!

Winter in the Tropics

Hello people! Over at Pixelscrapper the theme for the month is Winter in the Tropics. I guess that means it must be winter in the tropics. When I search for where exactly the tropics are, I get a Houston address...so I'm thinking Google misunderstood my question.

In any case, I went with this. I'm hoping it's close enough:

This free download has expired but is available on my TPT store.

If you want to see the rest of the wonderful offerings for this month's blog train, just click here. All are free for at least the month of July!

And since you asked, here's a picture of my kid:

She is having a fantastic summer filled with art projects and as many of the Rainbow Magic Fairy books as I can possibly stomach. 

Hope your summer is going well too! Or winter if you're in the tropics. Although I remain confused about that since the tropics...well...let's not make me look any more ignorant than I have already professed to be. Happy scrapping folks!

Lots and Lots'a Matzah - a Passover / Pesach scrapbooking kit

New scrapbooking kit for the Pixel Scrapper blog train. This month's theme was "Storytelling." I had been wanting to make a Passover kit for awhile and figured this was the perfect chance. Because what  is Passover if not storytelling? Free download has expired but this awesome kit is still available on Etsy by clicking HERE or on the preview picture.

This brad to go with it is free for always with an account on Pixel Scrapper (click here or on the photo).

Hopefully anyone who sees this is behind in Passover scrapbooking and can use these! If not there is always next year!

Clean as a Whistle

How clean *is* a whistle, actually? It's hard to tell. But no matter how clean or dirty, this kit will be free for the month of May to scrap all your best messes and clean ups. Bubbles included because why not?

This free download has expired, but click here or on the preview to purchase at my store!

Happy scrapping, folks!

Umbrella Weather - Pixel Scrapper's April Blog Train

Hello again everyone! I was super busy this month which a bunch of stuff nobody visiting here would care about, so my contribution to this month's blog train is rather small. Still, better than nothing!

Last month there was some sort of problem with the site where I hosted and a couple people were unable to download my portion. So this month I am giving Mediafire a try. Let me know if it works out ok. If there are problems I will try harder to get my portion to Pixel Scrapper next month.

This free download has expired. But don't worry! It is still available here or click on the preview picture. Happy scrapbooking!

Laissez Les Bons Temps and Stuff

Hello people! This month's Pixel Scrapper blog train theme is Mardi Gras. My portion can now be found here.

I've never gone to Mardi Gras unless you count Mardi Gras Galveston, which totally should count.

Mardi Gras Galveston has been going on since 1867 with a break in public celebrations from 1941-1985. And that is not really too bad considering New Orleans Mardi Gras only started in 1837.

In any case I've never been to the New Orleans Mardi Gras. But I've been to The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, which is practically the same thing, plus cows.

The point is that I only sort of semi knew what I was doing when I made this kit. I mean, I only semi know what I'm doing when I make any kit. But I think my quality control is improving.

Free download has expired. It is now available here at my TPT store!

What a Zoo

Digital download now available here.

Here's my little sweetheart as a flower girl in a friend's wedding:

Here are the photos from the zoo that I'm actually planning to scrap with the Walk on the Wild Side blog train kit:

Needless to say she was not particularly enamored of this trip to the zoo. She kept asking me how I talked her into going into the giant bug exhibit.

Hope everyone has had a great start to 2019 and please download the free kit by clicking here or clicking on the preview picture. (Free download has expired. This is available on Etsy for next to nothing. Otherwise known as $2.00).

Click here for the rest of the Pixel Scrapper blog train!

A Happy and Sad New Years

Hello Blogsilvania and particularly people visiting here from Pixel Scrapper. Sci-Fi Scrapbooking kit now available here.

At our house, we replaced our New Years Eve celebration with a memorial service for my mother-in-law, Norma who passed away this weekend.

Norma Leah
July 7, 1921 - December 29, 2018

She was 97, so she did have a long and full life.

Rest in peace, Norma.

Here is the free download for the Pixel Scrapper January 2019 Blog Train. I wish you all a happy and healthy 2019. Click here or on the picture to download. (Free download has expired. This is now available in my Here on Etsy).

Happy Hanukkah Blogsilvania

Hello digital scrapbooking world! My Hanukkah kit can now be found here.

But of course, in order to download, you have to scroll past a couple Thanksgiving pictures. That's just the rules. If I go through all the hassle to make a post, there have to be pictures involved:

Now that you've seen the requisite photos, click HERE or on the preview to download. (Free download has expired. This can now be found at my TPT Store for next to nothing. Also known as $3).

For once in my life (or actually the five months I've been doing this) I actually like my own kit well enough to use it. Hopefully I've done all the links and stuff right to get it to you!

Enjoy people!

And thanks Pixel Scrapper for offering this blog train! Find the rest of the blog train here!

A Coloring Sheet for Chanukah and Hanukkah and let's not forget Hannukka or Hannukah.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

These days the influx of candy and sweets comes even before the actual birthday parties. As an invitation to a party a girl in the Head of Demolition's class gave out lollipops almost as big as her head. Of course she ate it in one sitting. Because her mom is old and lazy.

I've been working on this for Pixel Scrapper's December blog train and it will be up on or around December 1. (It's actually up and back down but can be purchased here for a measly two bucks).

Meanwhile, here's a free downloadable coloring sheet using more or less the same elements. Click here or on the picture to download:

Dinosaurs - Get 'Em While They're Hot! Or Free. Or Something. Anyway they're downloadable and free for at least all of October.

The free download has expired but is available very reasonably here. 

If you came here for the free downloadable scrapbooking kit you have to look at the happy kindergartener first:

That's just the way it is. We're all pretty pleased with how kindergarten is turning out. Except for the 7:30 am start time. We could live without that part.

Meantime, who knew I could draw an actual dinosaur? These felt elements are very forgiving that way. You can download the kit  here or by clicking on the preview for at least all of October 2018. (Free download has expired. This is available on Etsy)

Probably I should have considered a few non-dinosaury elements for those who just liked this month's color choices but...this is only my third time making a kit so what do I know? Hope you enjoy and that it works the first time for a change!

Get a bunch more free downloads with the "I Dig It" theme at this month's Pixel Scrapper Blog Train!

Cozy Kitchen Scrapbooking Kit

Hello Pixel Scrapper visitors! Plus anyone else who has accidentally found his or her way here. The free digital download has expired and is now offered very reasonably here.

In fact, if I offered it any more reasonably, I'd pretty much have to pay Etsy for you to take it. But whatever. I was just starting out when I made this one so I figure it should be a bargain.

I am awfully proud of myself for having produced my second ever blog train contribution for Pixel Scrapper! But first, I can't blog without a picture of the Head of Demolition. 

The big news around here is that this kid has up and gone to kindergarten!

Uniform and all! This free scrapbook kit has expired but is now available in an Etsy shop for next to nothing!

Happy scrapping everyone!

I'm a Pixel Scrapper Person Now

Hello people! I bet you thought this blog was dead as a doornail, didn't you? But it's only dying and I am now slightly reviving it in order to host my contribution to Pixel Scrapper's blog train.

But first, I can't make a blog post without pictures, so here's one from our recent trip to Vermont. Once the Head of Demolition realized that people could actually survive without air conditioning, she was all over these rocks, as if she had lived in Vermont her entire life and wasn't a tried and true city girl:

Anyway so back to the blog train. This month's theme is "Kids Ahead". I created my first ever scrapbooking kit in order to participate. I'm hoping I now have it cleaned up enough to be useful.

This free download has expired but will be available again one day if I ever set up an Etsy shop!

Head to this Pixel Scrapper thread in order to download other kits from people who actually know how to design stuff and aren't just experimenting.

Summertime and the living is...with guinea pig

Hello Blogsilvania!

As many times as I have left this blog to flounder, I'm apparently not ready to leave it for dead just yet.

See? Here's a picture of the Head of Demolition with our foster guinea pig. The animal has been staying here two weeks and leaves today. The kid has been here a little over six years now.

But that's not why I'm really posting. I'm posting because I'm participating in Pixel Scrapper's blog train for August. So I'm hosting a preview of my contribution here for the theme Kids Ahead.

Never mind that I've never made scrapbooking paraphernalia from scratch in my life. Quality schmality. Or something like that. This will be posted on August 1st for your free download. Right after I figure out how to zip it up and where to host it, that is.

So here's what's coming up for August:

That's about it around here! (Now available here)

Facebookdom Wants a Free Texture AND a Free Recipe Card!

When I asked all of Facebook whether they'd rather have a free texture or a free recipe card, SO MANY people responded that I didn't even feel like counting it up.

It was neck and neck between a texture and a recipe card for a little while, but I think the recipe card may be pulling ahead.

Unfortunately I already started working on a texture.  Because they're fun.  But it's okay.  I will TOTALLY do the recipe card too!

AND I promise I'll tally up the votes.  Because it seems sort of semi-negligent not to after people took the time to voice their opinions so prolifically like that.  But the $500 Paypal giveaway isn't over until the 14th, so I'll wait until people are done weighing in.

I am kind of addicted to taking pictures of rainbows with my cell phone.  The problem is, they're not great quality and then they sit on my phone doing nothing.

I always consider overlaying them with inspiring quotes, but I'm not really an inspired quotes kind'a gal.

So a texture was a fun way to dress this one up without getting all mushy.  Plus, it hides the poor quality of my cell phone.

I like using textures for buttons and graphics and stuff.  I don't really use them on pictures.  Like, almost never.  But here's how it would more or less look (before and after) if I did:

On the off chance that someone has landed here without previously being exposed to the fun that is textures, or even just for those who have only known me in Blogsilvania and never heard my voice, I made a little video tutorial.

My Chief of IT showed me how.

Plus, if you watch you get to hear the Chief Content Provider and Head of Demolition give her unsolicited opinion on her preferred blending mode.

I did the tutorial in Photoshop, but if you have Elements, it's pretty much the same. If you have neither, you can still get in on the fun using Pixlr.com.  You can even use Pixlr right in your browser!  

So that's about it folks!  My very first free download and my very first Photoshop and/or video tutorial. Click here to download and happy week everyone!!!!!!!


Shared with:












 And some or all of these fine folks.