I've moved!

The Digital Celt has moved to a new site! Please visit www.thedigitalcelt.com to continue following my adventures. All the content from this blog is over there as well. By the way, I've already posted a free e-book and a new digital scrapbooking freebie on the new blog...what are you waiting for?

Slainte!

OMG! Watch a Single Mother Go To Jail and an Anaconda Cough Up a Hippo Video and You Can Win a Free iPad and Get $5000 Free FarmVille Dollars!

DON'T CLICK IT!!!

If you spend much time on Facebook or Twitter I'm sure you've seen people's posts on silly things like this. You may even have been given the chance to "get a free Apple iPad by signing up to test the product - it really works!" You probably won’t be surprised to learn that it’s all a scam. The con artists are usually trying to get you to add a premium cell-phone service and sucker your unwitting friends in with you.

Once you follow a Twitter link or become a fan of the Facebook offering, you’re often asked to give info on friends or get them to be fans, too, then redirected to something that looks like an Apple page, but is quickly replaced by a pop-up. One thing leads to another and pretty soon your mobile phone account is getting charged $10 a month until you cancel. All the while losing Facebook friends and Twitter followers.

Check out this YouTube video that explains more about these types of scams.



The SophosLabs (computer security and threat specialists) YouTube site contains a lot more videos about real security threats and other FB scams you may come across. Sorry, no overly stuffed anacondas, though. ;-)

40% off coupon at EK Success!

Check out this great coupon code from EK Success Brands for 40% off any one item in their online store! Enjoy the savings! Hurry - the deadline is 9/22! CODE: EKB402

The EK Success online store is here ---> http://shop.eksuccessbrands.com/default.aspx?keyword=oad+keepsake+9-08

This is what I got:



It came yesterday and I LOVE IT!!!

How to Become a Creative Team Member

Do you find yourself using products in your digital scrapbook and hybrid digital/paper crafting that come from a few designers or a certain store? You might have noticed samples of layouts and craft items in their store gallery or on their blogs that are created by a member of their creative team (CT), aka design team (DT). How did they get there and how can YOU join in the fun? Here are a few tips and ideas gathered from the designers themselves.

Definition

A creative team is a team of artists that is put together by an online store or digital designer to help them showcase their products and designs. CT members are usually required to create and post a certain number of digital layouts or hybrid creations in exchange for free product and/or other benefits.

Typical Requirements

The main job of a CT member is to promote the designs of the designer or store in as many ways as possible.

1. Create 1 to 4 layouts or hybrid projects per month. Sometimes you can use a combination of products from other designers, but you should try use at least 80% from the product you are showcasing.
   


2. Participation in the store forum and gallery. This means posting comments and ideas, participating in or hosting challenges, chats, etc.
   
   TIP: A good thing to remember when commenting on someone’s design in a gallery or on a blog is to make a constructive comment. Don’t do ‘drive by’ commenting such as “beautiful LO” or “nice job.” Really look at the LO and say WHY you like it or kindly suggest something that could be done differently or more effectively.
   


3. Post LOs and projects in 2 or 3 other online galleries, blog about projects/products, and post via Facebook and Twitter.
   
   Standard credits for your gallery postings should include the designer and kit names for the following
   

• Papers
• Elements
• Actions/styles
• Font(s)
• Technique(s) - optional

TIP: Do not link your credits to any designer’s store unless you are posting in their store gallery. This is a common store policy.

Sometimes a new CT member will have a ‘probationary period’ before they’re an official member of the team. This means that for the first couple of months, both you and the designer or store will be seeing how well you work together. They want to know if you’re trustworthy and will do your job on time and not just take your free products and/or share with others (unfortunately, it’s happened before). You may also find that your schedule doesn’t really fit with the CT responsibilities or your style just doesn’t match the kits you’re given to work with. It’s ok to step back and say, “Thanks for the opportunity, but it just isn’t working out right now.”

Before you Apply

Just as you would do when applying for a paying job - do a little prep work.

1. Post samples of your work using their products in your favorite online gallery. This is your portfolio and is very important. Why would a designer want to hire you for their team if you don’t even use their product? Choose a gallery where you have posted most of your work.
   
   Don’t delete those early LOs…even if you don’t like them anymore. Designers want to see a variety of samples and love to see how you’ve progressed as a scrapbook artist.


2. Research the past work of the current CT. When you create your portfolio LOs, don’t copy the styles of the current CT members. Be yourself. Designers want to see your personality shine through your work.
   


3. Be active in the forums and gallery at their store. If there is no store forum or gallery, be active at any other store or general scrapbooking forum and gallery like DST or frequently post comments on the designer’s blog. Designers want to see that you have a track record of participation.
   

Answering the Call

Just because you’ve never been on a CT before or maybe you never seem to get chosen, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t apply. Some designers even cruise through the galleries to find LOs that ‘speak’ to them and then send out a personal invitation! Remember, some CTs rotate members annually…be patient, do your homework, keep applying.

1. Apply to an official call.

• Check the announcement forum at Digi Shop Talk.
  


• Read the designer’s blogs and Facebook pages.


• Check other CT/DT call web sites
  
  
  • Scrapbook Update
    
    
  • Scrap Calls
    
  
  
  • Scrapscene
    
  
  
  • Just Calls and Crops
    

2. No call for the designer you like right now? Send an e-mail inquiry anyway. Real life happens to all of us and maybe a CT member needs a break or a designer is looking to add another one and just hasn’t gotten around to advertising.
   


3. Be realistic in your choices. Don’t apply if the designer’s style and your style clash. For example, if the designer makes country-kitsch designs and you love grungy, fantasy creations, you probably wouldn’t be a good fit for their CT.

Good Luck!

I'm having a "Going on an Extended Vacation" sale!

Don't despair...I'm not quitting, just taking a much needed break. I'm taking a vacation from designing to work on a few personal projects. But, before I go, and for the first time ever, you can buy my entire store!

For just $25 you'll get over $230 worth of products! And, everything is scrap for others (S4O) friendly - no extra charge!

The sale runs from September 16-30 - Take only what you want or take it all!

After you purchase my store, I'll send you a special coupon code and you will have until October 15th to complete your downloads. After that everything will be removed from the servers!

Here's an general overview of what you'll get...

5 sets of 5x7 Album Templates, 3 fun Alphabets, 3 sets of 4x6 Brag
Book Album Templates, 3 sets of Quick Page Albums, 4 Scottish Clan Packs, 7 Element sets, 7 Full Kits, 6 Mini Kits, 5 Kit Add-ons, 9 Holiday Ornaments, 4 Memory Purse Quick Page inserts, and 3 sets of Semi-PreMade Pages templates!

Please visit my blog and my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/catriona.macgregor) now and then to check for updates. Feel free to e-mail me any time, too. I will continue to take special requests.

As a famous California governor once said, "I'll be back."

Good Karma Friday: Victorian (Australia) Bushfire Appeal

The 2009 Victorian Bushfire Fund was launched by Australian Premier John Brumby in partnership with the Red Cross and the Australian government. It will assist individuals and communities affected by the recent, and still continuing, devastating bushfires in Victoria, Australia.

Over 30 Australian and international digi designers have come together to create a charity kit called "Spirit of Summer" with 100% of the proceeds going directly to either the Australian Red Cross or the Salvation Army. You donate to one or both of them, send a copy of your receipt to Carolyn at Scrap-n-Tag, and she will send you a coupon code to download the mega kit. If you donate $10 or more you also get a matching quickpage album. Of course I wanted it all, so I donated over $10! ;-) You should, too!

Click the image below to go to the Scrap-n-Tag store and read more about it.



But wait! There's more!
If you also send me a copy of your donation I will send you a coupon to download my mini kit "Firestorm" created during the devastating fires that roared through San Diego in October 2007. This mini kit isn't just for those who have experienced a house fire or forest fire, it's also for layouts of a "Fire Sale," or someone you think is "Hot Stuff," a "Five Alarm Chili" meal, or even a "Firefighter" in your family! Hey ladies, how about those crazy "hot flashes?" LOL! The kit includes: 4 hot papers, 1 flaming overlay, 1 burning mat, 5 word art titles, 10 numbers, and 1 rogue flame.

Homecoming 2009 - Let me tell you that I love you...

I don't know if you can see The changes that have come over me In these last few days I've been afraid That I might drift away So I've been telling old stories, singing songs That make me think about where I came from And that's the reason why I seem So far away today Oh, but let me tell you that I love you That I think about you all the time Caledonia you're calling me And now I'm going home. ~ 'Caledonia' by Dougie MacLean

The year-long festival kicks off on the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns birth, 25 January 2009, and runs until St. Andrew's Day, 30 November 2009. The events center around five main themes - Robert Burns, whisky, golf, great Scottish minds and innovations, and Scotland's culture and heritage. A few of the scheduled events are:

• January - a celebration of the songs of Robert Burns at the Clyde Auditorium in Glasgow
• May - a month of whisky with distillers across the country opening up their doors
• July - the biggest Clan gathering in 200 years in Edinburgh
• November - a celebration of Scottish music throughout the country

Get details, plan your trip, and more on the Homecoming 2009 web site: http://www.homecomingscotland.com

New Digital Celt designs coming in 2009

In addition to miscellaneous yet-to-be-imagined digital and hybrid products, I am definitely planning to create the following fabulous goodies!

A special Homecoming 2009 digital scrapbooking kit including a convenient matching 20 page "Semi-Premade Pages - template with a twist" album to get those memories scrapped and printed to share with your family and create a lasting legacy.

A Homecoming Heritage Add-on Pack featuring family heritage/genealogy quick pages will also be available in early 2009. Customize your album and add your family tartan and Clan badge to your pages with a Clan Pack.

Don't see yours? New Clan Packs will be added frequently...and you can always send in a special request.

A Celtic Child collaboration kit with my online designer friend Belanna, is in the planning and development stages so I'm not sure what it will contain, but you can bet it's gonna be great!

Another One Bytes the Dust: Digital Scrapbooking Magazine is dead

Posted on the Creating Keepsakes online community web site...

Dear CK Media employees, readers, and loyal contributors,

I am saddened to share the news that, due to difficult conditions in both the economy and the publishing market, CK Media has made the decision to cease publication of the print version of Digital Scrapbooking magazine after the February/March issue (on sale Jan 6, 2009).

Go to their web site to read the full article. As more information becomes available, they will post it on www.digitalscrapbooking.com.

I guess the key is to keep it DIGITAL and only make it available online. That would cut the production cost at least in half...no printing...no paper!

My very favorite digital scrapbooking magazine of all time was Scrapbook Answers magazine with a CD full of video tutorials and free kits. Sadly, it was discontinued in late 2006 even though it was a success and had lots of subscribers (like me!). The publishing house decided that it wasn't profitable enough and they decided to switch their publishing focus to young males who like video games rather than crafty, digital women. Whatever.

And the race is on...

Come play with us - Join the PDW Creative Team!

We're looking for scrappers of all styles and experience levels. Never been on a creative team (CT) before? Just started scrapbooking? That's OKAY with us! We want YOU to come join us! PDW has some big things coming, and as a Creative Wonder, you'll be the first to know!

Click here to visit the forum and check out the details!

Oh, Baby!

I'm gonna be a Gran, again! We are all really excited and 8-yr old Isabel can't wait to be a big sister!

The wee one is due to arrive in early May, so how about a Baby Pool to pass the time! Guess the following:

- boy or girl
- date*
- time of day (hour, minute, am or pm)
- weight
- height

(* it'll probably be a c-section but you never know!)

The winner gets a fun prize - but only Gran knows what it is! ;-) There will also be a special bonus prize given to a randomly chosen player when we find out if the bairn is a lad or lassy! Add your guess in a comment and remember to include your e-mail address so I can let you know if you're a winner!

Entries so far:
Mommy: Boy, May 10, 8:30 AM, 8lbs 6ozs, 21"
Tammy Moore: May 3, 9:13 AM, 7lbs 6ozs, 20"
Athena: May 16, 4:02 AM, 7lbs 12ozs, 21½"
Larry R: Boy, May 13, 10:46 AM, 7lbs 2ozs, 17"
Randy H: Girl, May 2, 8:15 AM, 6lbs 1oz, 18"
Sharon McB: Boy, May 5, 8lbs 11ozs
Gran: Boy, May 8, 11:35 AM, 7lbs 2 ozs, 17.25"

It's the Highland Games Weekend!

Hi all you lovely readers! You may have noticed my absence on the blog lately? This is the time of year (July) that I am busy with our local Highland Games association - getting ready for the biggest Scottish event in the state which happens annually on the last weekend in July...tomorrow!

We leave tonight to camp out for three days of listening to world champion bagpipe bands, watching hunky kilted athletes toss the caber, and having tons of tartan fun. This year we're camping in our wee vintage wooden teardrop trailer that we've been working on. It's now painted the same color as our PT Cruiser and I've been adding some Celtic knot stencils to the doors...gotta do it! Inside we have plaid sheets (of course!).


The "Wee Dram" gets a new foam mattress

There's still a lot of work to do on it to get it the way we want it, but it'll do for now. Stand by for some photos of the fun to be posted next week!

Slainte - and see you in the "Tilted Kilt" pub (the beer garden)!

Come along to the Digital Scrapping Blog Carnival!

Welcome to the 22 May edition of the Digital Scrapbooking Blog Carnival! The carnival travels from blog host to blog host and this time it's camped right here for your enjoyment.

Theresa L. Twogood presents Daily Prayer Journal posted at OLIN e-Book e-Publishing, saying, "I truly hope you can use this. Diaries, journals and scrapbooking all have that small common ground for daily personal/spiritual growth."

News

Karen (aka Karooch) presents Step by Step Digital Scrapbook posted at Scraps of Mind, saying, "Step By Step Digital Scrapbook is great new website that's specifically designed for digital scrapbooking beginners. It offers lots of getting started information and videos and can even provide a hand-holding Mentoring program to take away that learning curve confusion."

Other

Hummie presents The best links ever! - according to me posted at Katie the Scrapbook Lady, saying, "Awesome list of links to fun things!"

DreamScrapper presents Introduction to Digital Scrapbooking posted at Katie the Scrapbook Lady, saying, "Good introduction to things to know about digital scrapbooking. Lots of excellent resources are linked in this article."

Trends

Karen (aka Karooch) presents Black and White Scrapbook Layouts posted at Scraps of Mind, saying, "Black and White is a popular color scheme for scrapbook layouts. This article looks at some of the things to take into consideration when you're going for the Black and White look."

Tutorials

Hummie presents The Basics of Creating a New Layout in Photoshop posted at TaylorMade Designs.

DreamScrapper presents Color Theory 101 posted at Big Ideas - scrapbooking ideas from IdeaBooks4u, saying, "Great article on color theory that deals with the challenge of using a tetradic color scheme."

DreamScrapper presents Help from the Pros posted at Big Ideas - scrapbooking ideas from IdeaBooks4u, saying, "Tips on shooting a portrait, based on advice from Scott Kelby's book, "The Digital Photography Book.""

Nancy presents Video Tutorial - Digitally Tearing Paper posted at Red Leaf DigiScrapping, saying, "This tutorial will show you an easy way to realistically tear digital paper."

DreamScrapper presents Much ado about shadowing posted at Sailor and Lula Designs, saying, "Some nicely illustrated tips on using drop shadows appropriately. These tips (except the one using image warp) will work for both Photoshop and Photoshop Elements version 5 and above."

That concludes this edition! Submit your blog article to the next edition of digital scrapbooking using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Technorati tags: digital scrapbooking, blog carnival.

I know...I'm Late...

My promised kit isn't done yet. I was halfway done and then my muse led me in another direction altogether. She's like that...grin! So, it's still coming - but not right away.

It's CT Appreciation Week!

{Well, actually, it's now the middle of CT Appreciation Week!}

What's a CT? It's an acronym for Creative Team. Many digi-designers and digi-shops have one or two or twelve that help them out doing things like making sample pages with kits, creating quick pages (QPs) and mini albums, doing fun things in the forums, and posting their layouts in galleries all over the web.

This year, as a thank you gift for all they do, digi-designers all over the world banded together to create a MONSTER of a digiscrapping treasure trove of elements, papers, QPs, templates, brag books, and more! For a look at some of the previews, visit the official CT Week blog. There's even some special contests for the CTs to participate in throughout the week over at DST.



I wasn't able to participate this year, but I will be sure to next year!

EHD disaster report...

Nada...no data left...6 years of photos gone...thousands of digital graphics gone...and who knows what else...gone...irrecoverable.

The hard drive doctor said:

We are sorry to inform you that your hard drive data is not recoverable. After careful analysis, our clean room engineers reported that they were unable to get a sufficiently clean data stream from the drive to recover any of the drive data because the drive had a combination of physical surface head crashes and significant misalignment of the read/write heads that irreparably corrupted the data surfaces.

Crap.

In the meantime, here's what I am doing to try to recover my peace and sanity:

1. Purchase a new domain name, catriona-macgregor.com, with a web host that will give me 1,500GB of file space on their servers. [Yes - that's 1 1/2 TERAbytes! Woo hoo!] And all for $6.95 per month if I choose a 2 year subscription...no brainer there! Check it out!
   
2. Redesign my existing design portfolio website and upload it to the new site.
3. Develop folders on the site where I will be storing my backup files. (might as well start out somewhat organized!)
4. Send out an e-mail to my friends and family to try to gather photos from shared events. We frequently would make disks to share so at least I'll get some things back so I can scrap them!
5. Go through my saved e-mails for digiscrap purchases and make a list so I can contact the store owners and see if they will be so kind as to let me download them again. I know some kits have been permanently retired but maybe they have a backup...LOL!
6. Resurrect my first two months of Project 365 by copying the [very reduced] images from my blog. Thank goodness I posted them weekly!
7. Develop a weekly schedule for backing up all other internal and external drives.
8. Retrieve my poor dead EHD from the 'morgue' and send it in for a replacement while it's still under warranty.
   

Please, BACK UP YOUR FILES! NOW!

It WILL happen to you...and without warning.

A note about emerging data storage technology...
Solid state drives (SSDs) have been around for a long time but with limited storage capacity and slower speeds than traditional hard drives. However, what IS new is that they are being re-engineered to jump into the laptop and external drive market because...they do not crash! No moving parts! Huzzah!

• StorageSearch.com has a whole bunch of information on their site - go check it out.
• Another company developing SSDs is Crucial. They are making drives that are pretty small...32gb is NOT enough for any digi scrapper's storage needs!

I went to Fry's today, to investigate, but they do not have any SSDs in yet...they're too new! There are two on their website but they're way expensive and Remember, as demand increases, the price will go down and the capacity and speed will go up.

Today is International Women's Day!

March is Women's History month and today, 8 March, is International Women's Day (IWD), commemorating women's rights and peace. In some form or other, International Women's Day has been celebrated for over 95 years!

Women and Color - we love it!
Many women's groups around the world use the color purple to represent them, especially the suffragettes. In the UK in 1908, the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) chose these three colors: purple, green, and white. They were then adopted as the official colors for IWD.

- white for purity* in public as well as private life
- purple for justice, dignity, self-reverence, and self-respect
- green for hope and new life

In recent years, the color gold has been added, representing 'a new dawn' and commonly used to represent the second wave of feminism.

* Remember, this was developed in 1908! In recent years, the use of the color white has fallen out of favor because the concept of 'purity' is a controversial issue and international meanings differ greatly.

The United Nations' theme for International Women's Day in 2008 is "Shaping Progress."
Learn more about it here.

To help us all celebrate...here's a wee bit of word art for you...You GO girl!

Click on the image to get it. Please share this blog posting with all your women friends so they can come get a copy, too!

Disaster can strike anyone - anytime...

The dreaded external hard drive (EHD) crash has hit without warning. Of course, I didn't have a backup. Of course, it's the one with my photos (for the past 6 years!) on it. Of course, it's also the one with my digiscrapping purchases and freebie downloads on it...over 10,000 files...nicely categorized by artist. Over 200 gb of my life...clicking away and 'drive not recognized'. Crap.

The only wee light at the end of the tunnel is that it happened while I was transferring my own digi designs and kits in process to a new EHD and I got almost all of them. ;-)

So here's the story of my journey to EHD recovery...

1. Reboot laptop...maybe it's just overworked...no luck.
2. Take to work and see if it works on my laptop there...no luck.
3. Give to geek friend to have it evaluated (without opening the case)...no luck.
4. Check warranty...still covered but they don't get your files back - just new hardware.
5. Take to local professional shop to try recovery software (without opening the case)...no luck. $90. They recommend taking it to a local recovery pro shop with a cleanroom who will open it up and try to save the data.
6. Call pros and make appt for next week. $100. Recovery not guaranteed but if they can, it may cost over $1000. Ouch.
7. Buy new 500gb EHD for recovered files...positive thinking. $179.
8. Start researching online storage options for backups. I have a web site with lots of space on it...I never thought to backup my files there until a design buddy mentioned it! Doh!
9. Back up all other internal and external drives...immediately.

Are my files worth it...yes. Are my fingers and toes crossed...yes.
Stay tuned...and learn from my misfortune: BACK UP YOUR FILES! NOW!

It's Good Karma Friday - Get Yours Here!

Kirsty Wiseman is a well known UK scrapper, freelance paper and digi designer, and a serious photographer. Seriously! She is also one half of the photo-challenge blog: Her Space-My Space. Her 12 year old daughter, Ellie, has had serious medical issues (still undiagnosed!) since the age of 3 months.

After exhausting all the options in the UK over the past decade and more, Ellie and her parents have been invited to see doctors in the US. People around the world are pitching in to help raise £5,000 (a bit over $10,000 US) for investigation and subsequent treatment by some generous doctors in Nevada this coming Spring. See this touching video featuring sweet Belle, herself.



Ruth Denton and her husband, Dr. Scott Denton, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Nevada School of Medicine, have arranged visits with various physicians and clinics in the Las Vegas area to try and identify Ellie's ailment(s) and treat them effectively.

Ellie's story has also hit the news bigtime with a feature in the Daily Mail and on Fox News. Read more about Ellie and her family on Kirsty's blog and on the Ellie's Trust web site.

Doing my part...
All the proceeds from the sale of my new kit, Red, Red Rose, during both February and March will be donated to Ellie's Trust fund. The kit is almost done so watch for it soon. I'm just finishing up the packaging and previews now - almost as time consuming as creating the whole kit!

Doing your part...
Please visit Ellie's site and donate to this worthy cause. Then, come back here in a few days when my new kit will be available to purchase. Every penny helps and Kirsty pledges that any extra will be donated to approriate causes and/or charities.

Announcing - The Digital Celt DigiScrap Blog Shop!

I have been a busy girl! In addition to selling at Plain Digital Wrapper, I've just opened up my own wee blog shop! What's the big deal about a blog shop? You can shop without having to register! Shop - Point - Click - BUY!

The link is just above my picture on the top left of this blog....

The Digital Celt

DigiScrap Shop

I don't have a lot in the shop yet but I will be adding goodies almost daily so stop in often!