New Years' Resolution...Take a Photo a Day

My New Years' resolution for 2008 is to participate in my own version of "Project 365." It's a fun and creative project where you take a photo a day and see your life in a whole new way.

Taking a photo a day is a big commitment but it has big payoffs...especially for a digiscrapper. Time moves so fast and I usually have trouble remembering what I did just yesterday or even last night, let alone a whole year ago! With this project I will be able to look back at any day of the year and recall things like

* what I did
* who I met
* where I went
* what I learned

Participating in Project 365 might even make me a better photographer. Using my camera every day will help me learn its limits and get more practice at composing shots. I'll definitely be forced to get more creative with my photography when I have to come up with something new every single day!

An alternative project would be to take a photo of yourself every week (I think daily would be a bit much...LOL!) and see how much you change. This would be especially helpful if one of your other resolutions was to lose weight. Or, why not use a child, pet, or even a cool tree as your subject.

Some people post them to their blog and some post them to a photo sharing web site. I think I'll just save them on my computer in a special folder. Want to play along? Click here to find out more.

31 December - Hogmanay - New Year’s Eve!

Hogmanay is when Scotland becomes one huge party where everyone is related to everyone else, and everyone is welcome!

In Scotland, New Year's Eve is called Hogmanay, where the birth of the new year is welcomed with wassail and good wishes. It is a celebration that dates from pre-Christian times and is more important, even today, than Christmas.

The roots of Hogmanay reach back to the celebration of the winter solstice among the Norse, as well as incorporating customs from the Gaelic celebration of Samhain. The Vikings celebrated Yule, which later contributed to the Twelve Days of Christmas or the Daft Days as they were sometimes called in Scotland.

The origin of the word hogmanay, is lost in time but scholars suggest that it most likely came from the French homme est né [man is born]. From other languages come these possibilities:

• hoggo-nott [the feast preceding Yule] - Scandinavian
• hoog min dag [great love day] - Flemish
• haleg monath [holy month] - Anglo-Saxon
• oge maiden [new morning] - Gaelic

As with all things Scottish, there is a lot of tradition designed to ensure good luck and involved in celebrating the end of the old and the beginning of the new year. What happened during Hogmanay was a portent of what the rest of the year would bring. This is why such importance was attached to the First Foot.

The First Foot is the first person to cross the threshold after the last stroke of midnight, embodying the spirit of someone bringing food and comfort to the house and good luck for the coming year. According to tradition, the best person to have come calling as a First Foot is a tall, dark haired man because fair-haired people were considered to be unlucky (were these the Norse invaders of old?). First Footing is the practice of going from house to house with little gifts and a bottle of whisky or wine. The host is given a token gift and a drink from your bottle and, in turn, gives you a drink from his.

The traditional handsel, or gift, brought by the First Foot is to ensure prosperity to the house being visited. To visit a house empty handed for the first time in the New Year signifies poverty will come upon the household. Each of the gifts a First Foot brings has a special meaning. A piece of coal, peat, or a small log symbolizes warmth, a coin symbolizes wealth, and whiskey symbolizes prosperity. An oatcake, piece of shortbread, or slice of black bun (a traditional spiced cake) symbolizes health.

Happy Hogmanay!

Here’s a wee freebie for your celebrations. Click on the image or click here to download it. Remember, it’s polite to send your friends here to get it rather than just share it around. How will they ever learn about Hogmanay?

Slainte! {Gaelic for Cheers!}

Merry Christmas! Nollaig Chridheil!

I hope you all have a very, very Merry Christmas!
Here's a wee word art giftie from me to you!
Click on the preview image to begin your download.


[By the way, Nollaig Chridheil is Scottish Gaelic for Merry Christmas!]

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!

Happy Birthday to ME!

Here's a wee freebie for YOU!

Please do not share files...just send your friends to this page to get their own copy. By the way, now all my kits and freebies are Scrap-4-Hire (S4H) friendly!

Slainte! [Gaelic for "Cheers!"]

Random Artistic Inspiration

Have you lost your muse...can't seem to get any good ideas? Visit this random word generator designed for artists! The words, randomly generated from a database that visitors can even add to, will inspire tons of new ideas. If the word doesn't inspire you, you can generate another and another until you find one that clicks. You can also choose between different types of words: Actions, Colors, Emotions, Eras, Genres, Objects, People, Qualities, or Styles.

Not sure what a word means or want to find out more about it? Each word can easily be searched by Google or defined by Dictionary.com from a link on the right side of the page.

Try out this great tool brought to you by Valerie C...you'll be inspired again!

Happy Turkey Day!

(I can't take credit for this bouncy little bird...it was sent to me in an e-mail!)

Learn More About Five Highland Clans

Earlier this year, the BBC aired a series called The Highland Clans. It took a look at the history of five of Scotland's most famous clans: MacGregor (that's mine!), MacDonald, MacLeod, Campbell, and Fraser. I had heard that it was a terrific series but those of us not actually in the UK couldn't see it. Perhaps BBC America would air it or maybe PBS but we'd probably have to wait YEARS...accckkk!

Not anymore! Thanks to the internet and our love of sharing, The Highland Clans series is available to download free from multiple web sites. Some download sites say there are 6 parts but there are only five 30-minute segments according to the BBC website. Here's a link where you can download all five from the three different sites (reviewed below):
http://popperslist.blogspot.com/2007/08/highland-clans-macgregor.html

• Guba has hi-res (and BIG) files that can be watched on your
  handheld multimedia player (like my Zen Vision - love it!) or
  enlarged full size on your computer screen.
• Stage6 needs a DivX web player that is ActiveX, but will prompt
  you to install it if you don't already have it. It also offers hi-res
  files.
• Google Video has low-res files that are great to watch on your
  computer in the wee box your media player (like Quicktime)
  presents but are grainy if you enlarge them.

Happy viewing!

Autumn Freebie for You!

This is a cozy time of year with lovely warm colors everywhere. It's also my birthday month so I'm going to work on giving YOU some presents! The first one is this great Fall word art. It's a transparent png so it will go with any of your fall layouts.

Get your cozy Fall freebie here.

Please do not share files...just send your friends to this page to get their own copy. By the way, now all my kits and freebies are Scrap-4-Hire (S4H) friendly!

Slainte! [Gaelic for "Cheers!"]

Need a Virtual Assistant - in Scotland?

Have you ever wanted to do something in Scotland, but were unable to do it because you don't actually live in Scotland? Or, maybe you live in Scotland and want something done, but you simply don't have the time to do it. Now you CAN get those things done, with the help of this brand new wee service company.

Anything We Can Do For You In Scotland is based in Perthshire, the center of Scotland, making it ideally placed for them to travel throughout Scotland and accomplish any task for you. Their most popular service is the laying of wreaths or flowers on family and/or ancestors' graves. They will also provide photos and/or video footage and can arrange for a piper, drummer, or other musical accompaniment. Some other services are taking photographs of ancestral areas, hand-delivering gifts to family and friends, and sourcing and sending a specific gift to your home.

These "virtual assistants" offer a very personal and discreet service, tailored to your specific needs. If you give them a try, be sure to leave a note here telling us about your experience.

Create a Word Cloud T-Shirt

Here's a cool idea...a "word cloud" t-shirt! A "word cloud" is similar to a "tag cloud" but uses frequently used words instead of tags. What's a "tag cloud?" A tag cloud (or weighted list in visual design) is a visual depiction of the content tags or topics used on a website or blog. Topics are typically listed alphabetically and their frequency is shown with font size or color. This makes finding a topic really easy because they are usually hyperlinked to a collection of items associated with that topic.

You may have seen them on other blogs or websites...they look like this one I generated from my blog.

Snap Shirts creates a custom "word cloud" design made from any website or blog out there! They also let you decide which words to include and which ones to ignore, choose from three fonts, and multiple text colors. Click on my "word cloud" and give it a try...it's fun!

Oh, were you waiting for this?

In the past few months it seemed that I never had time to do my own digi-scrapping and I was getting a wee bit frustrated. Then my schedule got busy with work and home responsibilities so I took a leave from selling my designs. After a while, I finally started participating a couple of challenges at Scrapbook Graphics and a couple hosted by Betsy Tuma at Plain Digital Wrapper. I finally got my 'muse' back and completed a bragbook and a few layouts! Yay!

Speaking of getting my 'muse' back...I hope you all liked my special freebies for all those "Survivor Girls" out there. I will be expanding it to a full kit that will be available soon at...

Plain Digital Wrapper!

There you go - that's my secret! LOL! My designs will be available starting on DSD - Digital Scrapbooking Day - coming up on 3 November! To celebrate this first annual 'holiday,' PDW is having a great sale starting today! Here's the ad...

Happy Samhain!

Samhain (pronounced sow-in) is the word for November in the Gaelic languages. The Scottish Gaelic spelling is Samhainn or Samhuinn (for the feast), or an t-Samhain (for the month). The fire festival of Samhain is a celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture, and is generally regarded as the Celtic New Year.

The Celtic year was divided into two seasons: the light and the dark, celebrating the light at Beltane on 1 May and the dark at Samhain on 1 November. Therefore, the feast of Samhain marks one of the two great doorways of the Celtic year. Some believe that Samhain was the more important festival, since it marked the beginning of a new dark-light cycle. The Celts observed time as proceeding from darkness to light because they understood that in dark silence comes whisperings of new beginnings, the stirring of the seed below the ground.

The night of Samhain [in Irish, Oíche Shamhna and Scots Gaelic, Oidhche Shamhna] is one of the principal festivals of the Celtic calendar, falling on 31 October - Halloween. It represents the final harvest. According to Celtic lore, Samhain is a time when the boundaries between the world of the living and the world of the dead become thinner, at times even fading away completely, allowing spirits and other supernatural entities to pass between the worlds to socialize with humans. It is the time of the year when ancestors and other departed souls are especially honored. It is still the custom, in some areas, to set a place for the dead at the Samhain feast and to tell tales of the ancestors on that night. (Perhaps this is where 'ghost' stories came from.)

Bonfires played a large part in the festivities celebrated down through the last several centuries, and up through the present day in some rural areas. With the bonfire ablaze, the villagers extinguished all other fires. Each family then solemnly re-lit their hearth from the common flame, thus bonding the families of the village together. Often two bonfires would be built side by side, and the people would walk between the fires as a ritual of purification. Sometimes the cattle and other livestock would be driven between the fires, as well.

With Christianization, the Samhain festival became All Hallows' Day on 1 November by All Souls' Day on 2 November. Over time, the night of 31 October and the remnants of the festival dedicated to the dead came to be called All Hallow's Eve which was eventually shortened to Hallowe'en (Hallow's Evening) and then Halloween.

Samhain is one of the eight annual holidays (Sabbats) observed as part of the Wiccan Wheel of the Year. It is considered by most Wiccans to be the most important of the four greater Sabbats. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is generally observed on 31 October starting at sundown. Samhain is considered by most Wiccans as a celebration of death and of the dead and often involves paying respect to ancestors, family members, elders of the faith, friends, pets, and other loved ones who have died. In some rituals the spirits of the departed are invited to attend the festivities in a similar way to some of the modern Celtic practices.

A year of beauty. A year of plenty.
A year of planting. A year of harvest.
A year of forests. A year of healing.
A year of vision. A year of passion.
A year of rebirth. A year of rebirth.
This year may we renew the earth.
~Samhain chant

Tomorrow is the big reveal!

What can it be?And finally, here's part six of Survivor Girl: The sign for a true super hero, a great title, and a wee colorchip! Get it here.

Remember, tomorrow is the big reveal!

Please do not share files...just send your friends to this page to get their own copy.

Slainte! [Gaelic for "Cheers!"]

A day later - but worth it!

Here's part five of Survivor Girl: a lovely torn tag fit for a princess - it even has a glittery gold crown! Get it here.

Remember, each day until the big reveal on 1 November, I will give you a wee piece of a special kit for all those "Survivor Girls" out there. No, not the TV show - breast cancer survivors! You girls are way tougher!

Please do not share files...just send your friends to this page to get their own copy.

Slainte! [Gaelic for "Cheers!"]

Just 'Screw' It!

Here's part four of Survivor Girl: a wee metal Phillips-style screw for attaching stuff to other stuff! Get it here! (link updated!)

Remember, each day until the big reveal on 1 November, I will give you a wee piece of a special kit for all those "Survivor Girls" out there. No, not the TV show - breast cancer survivors! You girls are way tougher!

Please do not share files...just send your friends to this page to get their own copy.

Slainte! [Gaelic for "Cheers!"]

Now For Something Completely Different...

Spam, spam, spam, spam... This afternoon, we went to see Spamalot for the second time...NEE! The first time we saw it was in Las Vegas at the Wynn hotel this past April. So fun! Then we found out it was coming to Seattle this October so we just HAD to see it again to see if they adapted it for a different city. They did a few different things but it was basically the same...FUNNY!!! If you get a chance, and you're a Monty Python fan, go see it - you won't be sorry, you silly ka-nigit!

Here's part three of Survivor Girl: a 12x12 white moiré paper! Get it here.

Remember, each day until the big reveal on 1 November, I will give you a wee piece of a special kit for all those "Survivor Girls" out there. No, not the TV show - breast cancer survivors! You girls are way tougher!

Please do not share files...just send your friends to this page to get their own copy.

Slainte! [Gaelic for "Cheers!"]

Day Two of Survivor Girl

Did you think I forgot today's freebie? Nope...we were just out and about at two Halloween parties - one in the afternoon and one in the evening!

Here's part two of Survivor Girl: a 17" knotted shoelace fit for a princess! Get it here.

Remember, each day until the big reveal on 1 November, I will give you a wee piece of a special kit for all those "Survivor Girls" out there. No, not the TV show - breast cancer survivors! You girls are way tougher!

Please do not share files...just send your friends to this page to get their own copy.

Slainte! [Gaelic for "Cheers!"]

Something free for you while you wait...

Ok, ok...I'll take pity on you. You're waiting so patiently! Riiiiggghhhtt!

Each day until the big reveal on 1 November, I will give you a wee piece of a special kit for all those "Survivor Girls" out there. No, not the TV show - breast cancer survivors! You girls are way tougher!

Here's part one of Survivor Girl: a piece of pink camo paper! Get it here.

Remember, do not share files...just send your friends to this page to get their own copy.

Slainte! [Gaelic for "Cheers!"]

San Diego Fire Update

Thanks for all your good thoughts and well-wishes for the victims of the fires. My family is all safe and luckily, none of them had to evacuate. Now that the immense fires are starting to be contained, they, and all the other people in the Southern California area, are dealing with all the nasty chemicals in the air and cleaning up the ash that fell on them like snow.

This tragedy is similar to that of Hurricane Katrina, but happily with less lives lost. One Red Cross worker was quoted as saying, "I've seen floods and I went through Katrina and all that stuff, but this is probably ten times bigger than that." I urge all of you to donate to the American Red Cross to help all those that lost their homes and possessions.

Beware of disaster relief scam attempts. It's ridiculous how some people try to take advantage of those who are suffering. The San Diego county district attorney's office advises residents to be aware of potential scams that may involve offers to clear debris, collections for charity, water testing, and contracting. Contractors should have a pocket license and photo identification and cannot collect more than 10 percent or $1,000 (whichever is less) in advance.
I would add another tip, if you want to donate and you're not comfortable with donating online, many recognized charities have set up special accounts at banks where you can donate safely. Here, in the Pacific Northwest, you can make a donation at any USBank branch in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Be sure to tell the bank your donation is for Northwest Response. The special fund was set up through the American Red Cross with all of the donations earmarked for fire victims. Check with your employer to see if they have a dollar-matching program for donations like this...everything helps!

Slainte!

Something BIG is brewing...

Everyone else does it, so I will, too!
What's that? Why tease you, of course!

Seriously (that's for all you Grey's fans!), I've been working on something to be unveiled on Samhain - 1 November!

Stay tuned!

Firestorm '07 and a new Freebie

I have relatives in the San Diego firestorm area. Luckily, they are among the few that have not had to evacuate - yet. If you have friends and family in San Diego, too, there's a great Google map showing where the fires are and all the latest evacuation news. I've also been watching a live news feed from a local Fox television station featuring in-depth and up-to-the-minute news and photos.

Probably as therapy while I waited for news, I created a mini kit for those hundreds of thousands of folks affected so, when they are ready, they can scrap these hard memories. It's also for anyone who has ever had a fire in their life.


But, I included some other fun word art titles so you can use it for layouts of a "Fire Sale," or someone you think is "Hot Stuff," or even a "Firefighter" in your family. [link disabled]

Remember, do not share files...just send your friends to this page to get their own copy.

Slainte! [Gaelic for "Cheers!"]

Digital Scrapbooking Day Shirts

These cute shirts are available from Martini Sweeties. They come in white, brown, black, and gray. And best of all, the profits will be donated to Susan G Komen for the Cure.

What a great way to support your favorite 'sport' and a good cause. I ordered mine!

Digital Scrapbooking Day is Coming 3 November!

A new "holiday" is coming next month: Digital Scrapbooking Day! This inaugural event, launched by the makers of FxFoto Creative photo organization and digital scrapbooking software, will celebrate all that today's technology does to help preserve our precious memories. They want to encourage scrapbookers, photographers, crafters, and genealogists to set aside some time to preserve, document, and archive their memories digitally.

Susan White, Director of Marketing for Triscape says, "While we get excited about all the fun digital kits and techniques, we also know that digital scrapbooking isn't just about creating digital layouts. Digital scrapbooking also means sorting and organizing digital photos, scanning and restoring heirloom photos and memorabilia, creating a keepsake recipe album, learning new editing techniques, and experimenting with new graphics software (such as FxFoto Creative). We want Digital Scrapbooking Day to be an annual reminder to make sure your memories are documented and archived safely, creatively, and more efficiently."
Read more about it here.

Aye, matey! It's Talk Like A Pirate Day!

I dug up some FREE booty for all you landlubbers! Yarrr!

You might recognize me treasures...they were offered as freebies a while back. Now, I've complied them all into one big treasure chest fer ye! So grab yer mouse and click to find me goodies...remember, X marks the spot!

I don't want to see any of you swingin' from me yardarm...so no piracy from ye...ARRR!
Just give yer mates a map to me treasure so they can dig for it themselves, aye?

Slainte,
Cap'n Cat

Clans, Pipe Bands, Highland Dancers, Athletes! Come one, come all!!

If you ever considered visiting Scotland, NOW is the time!!!
[I'll be there!]

Some of you may have already heard of The Gathering in Edinburgh 2009. It is planned as a massive international gathering of the clans and the largest Highland Games EVER held in Scotland. The dates are set for Saturday and Sunday 25-26 July, 2009.

The Gathering will be one of the key events of Homecoming Scotland. This spectacular event will be made even more unique with a special clan parade on the Royal Mile culminating in a commemorative pageant on the magnificent esplanade of Edinburgh Castle. Many Clans and Scottish associations will attend this celebration of Scotland's rich history and cultural traditions.

Contact info:
The Gathering 2009 Ltd
27 Queen Charlotte Street
Edinburgh EH6 6AX
Phone: +44 (0) 131 561 1323
Email: info@thegathering2009.com
Web: www.thegathering2009.com

Evil Trojan E-mails

Tattoo the phrase above on the back of your hand where you will see it every time you open an email!

I have been getting a lot of spam e-mails wanting me to click on things to "confirm" a subscription or "view" a greeting card. Now there's another one out there using the popularity of YouTube videos.

Security pros are warning that spammers are distributing the Storm Trojan via e-mails supposedly coming from friends and containing a false link to a YouTube video.

Contained in e-mails with subject lines such as "sheesh man what are you thinking," the malicious link claims to go to YouTube.com, but actually goes to a URL harboring exploit code. The e-mail has a variety of subjects and body text but always contains a hidden link to a Web site infected with the Storm Trojan.

Clicking on the attachment associated with this particular attack will infect your machine and it creates a back door that the virus creators can exploit anytime they want...usually looking for your personal identity and banking information.

This same evil group is also the one responsible for all the emails saying you've received a greeting card, those referencing a major storm in Europe or a nuclear act of terrorism, and some appear to come from a legitimate organization and offer you a temporary login confirmation details for a Web site. The spam uses text such as "for security purposes, please login and change the temporary Login ID and Password" and includes a link to an IP address that is actually a Web site infected with the Storm Trojan.

Here's a link to the alert and a link to the article in eWEEK magazine.

Stay safe,
Catriona

The pipes are calling...

Whew! July is ALWAYS my busiest month...camping trips, family visits, and the biggest Highland Games in the area where I am a volunteer. I may not be able to post much so here's a few bagpipe jokes to tide you over...

Q: Why do bagpipers walk when they play?
A: To get away from the noise.

Q: What's the only thing worse than a bagpiper?
A: Good question. We're still trying to find out too.

I understand the inventor of the bagpipes was inspired when he saw a man carrying an indignant, asthmatic pig under his arm. Unfortunately, the man-made object never equaled the purity of sound achieved by the pig.
~ Alfred Hitchcock

Q. How do you get two bagpipes to play a perfect unison?
A. Shoot one.

Q. What's the difference between a bagpipe and an onion?
A. No one cries when you chop up an bagpipe.

Frankly, I love the music of the pipes! Stay cool this month!

The end of the Pirate trail...for now!

Aye, ye scurvy bilge rats! Tis true...this be the last of the Pirate freebies...for now! All the other treasures have been stowed but will be available in my store as soon as we make port.



Don't forget to post your thoughts on the Grab Bag post below and visit my shop for the complete Here there be PIRATES! kit.

Get your transparent wordart sheet and lovely hair ribbon here.

Please, no file sharing...that's digital piracy. Arrr!
Send your friends to this blog so they can get their own pirate treasure!

Slainte! {Gaelic for Cheers!}

Bag, lady?

Digiscrap grab bags - do you love 'em or hate 'em? Grab bags have hit the digi world with a bang and the artists promise they are full of quality items that are well worth more than the small amount they cost. I have even bought a few, myself, from commercial use to those that support charities, and I can honestly answer my own question with...it depends!

I know that's a cop-out, but it does. Just like a grab bag from a gift shop or your favorite second-hand shop, it might be filled with old outdated toys or a diamond ring. Ya pays yer money and takes yer chances (oops, a little pirate language creeping in there! Arrr!).

Recently, it seems to me that a lot of artists in many digi shops are "bagging" up their products every month. Is that a good thing? Frankly, I prefer the exciting, once or twice a year variety. Having them every month takes all the mystique out them.

Tell me what YOU "like" and "dislike" about them.

• Are they just a fad or here to stay?
• How often do you buy them?
• Did you get fabulous gems or stuff you'll never use?
• Will you keep buying them?
• Why or why not?
• Recently, one of my favorite digi-designers asked her readers questions like these and, as a result, is now offering a do-it-yourself grab bag where you can choose what you want (from a select list) to go in it. Would you like to be able to pick and choose or do you like to be surprised?

Have fun with this and be honest!

Slainte! {Gaelic for Cheers!}

Pirate gold is better than regular gold...

Due to the overwhelming popularity of my 'DSO Blog War' Pirate freebies this month, here's the FULL KIT at last!!!

(Warning: if you haven't grabbed the coordinating freebies yet...they'll be gone soon!*)

When asked, 9 out of 10 people prefer Pirate gold over regular gold. I think it’s the packaging.

Not convinced?

Take a look at regular gold...

Now, take a look at Pirate gold...


Get the picture?

Now, here’s some real Pirate gold to add to your treasure chest of freebies you've been collecting from our DSO Freebie War!

Here there be Pirates! The Kit!

Real gold and silver doubloons, a historically accurate pirate flag paper, a real pirate names and fun pirate phrases paper, red wax seal alphabet with numbers and special symbols, fabulous gemstones and a never before seen parchment wordart!

For a limited time, get it in my shop at DSO for 20% off the regular low price of only 5 Doubloons! (that’s “dollars” to you landlubbers!)

There's more treasures where these came from, me hearties, so keep a weather eye out!!

Cap'n Cat

(* Shiver me timbers! If you forgot to grab the blog freebies, they'll be going on sale in the shop in July!)

Look what I dredged up...

Download no longer available.

And, in honor of all the pirate
fun we've been having...
here's a sneak peek of my new kit!

Yes, you guessed it...
Here there be PIRATES!

Plenty of pirate gold and treasures
for your Pirate parties, ocean journeys,
vacations in Disneyland, and
International Talk Like A Pirate Day
celebrations!

It will be available soon, me hearties!

Please, no file sharing...that's digital piracy. Send your friends to this blog so they can get their own pirate treasure and participate in our fun little blog war!

Slainte! {Gaelic for Cheers!}

How Dare She???

That PIRATE wench, Lexi, called me out! She thinks HER pirate stuff is "all that" but mine is waaaaayyyy better! Snap!

How about this for word art? And I'm raising you a red wax seal! Ha!
Download no longer available.

Take that, Lexi! I'm getting my plank all shiny and waxed and ready for you to walk it...Arrrr!

What do you guys think? Do I have the best free pirate elements or what? What's that? Speak up now, you don't want to walk the plank, too, do you? LOL!

Don't forget to visit me hearties' blogs to grab their freebies, too.
Bunny, Lexi, Heather, Kim, Mel, Lani, Lynn, Dorothy, Teriann, Joy, Cheryl, Darlene

Please, no file sharing...that's digital piracy. Send your friends to this blog so they can get their own copy and participate in our fun little blog war!

Slainte! {Gaelic for Cheers!}

Uh, huh! It's still WAR - the freebie war that is!

The DSO gang is still firing freebies at ya and all in good fun!

Download no longer available.

Visit me hearties' blogs to grab their booty (freebies, that is...not the other kind of 'booty' - LOL!).

Bunny, Lexi, Heather, Kim, Mel, Lani,
Lynn, Dorothy, Teriann, Joy, Cheryl,
Darlene

Please, no file sharing...that's digital piracy. Send your friends to this blog so they can get their own copy and participate in our fun little blog war!

Slainte! {Gaelic for Cheers!}

Sing it with me..."War, huh, what is it good for?"

Absolutely everything if it's a Digi Blog FREEBIE war with the designers at DSO! No live ammo, no bloodshed, we're just tossin' freebies at ya and all in good fun!



Download no longer available.

Visit me hearties' blogs to grab their booty (freebies, that is...not the other kind of 'booty' - LOL!).

Bunny, Lexi, Heather, Kim, Mel, Lani,
Lynn, Dorothy, Teriann, Joy, Cheryl

Please, no file sharing...that's digital piracy. Send your friends to this blog so they can get their own copy and participate in our fun little blog war!

Slainte! {Gaelic for Cheers!}

Get My New Celtic Seasons Kit FREE - Part 2!

Here's a preview of part 2 of my Celtic Seasons kit - Lughnasadh (pronounced 'loonasa').

What's that? You forgot how to get it for FREE? Go to Divine Digital's forum (you may have to sign up but it's FREE). Then go to the June 2007 DLAD link and download the available parts of the free kit. Bookmark the page or subscribe to the topic so you remember to visit every day!

Next, create a LO using the DLAD and post it in your favorite gallery. Yes, you can use images from other kits, but try to use the DLADs as much as possible. Finally, send me a link [catrionamacg @ gmail.com] and I'll send you part of Celtic Seasons!

Every week during the month of June there will be another piece of the kit up for grabs - for a total of four: Beltane, Lughnasadh, Samhain, and Imbolc. Here are the posting dates:

* 1-7 June - part 1 [view the preview]
* 8-14 June - part 2
* 15-21 June - part 3
* 22-30 June - part 4
* 30 June is catch up day! If you missed a piece of the Celtic Seasons kit, this is the day to post a last minute LO and let me know which ONE you need. You only get to pick one piece, so plan accordingly!

Don't worry, if you miss a part it will go on sale in my shops at DD and DSO on 1 July.

Remember, sharing files is a form of digital piracy - even free ones. Please send your friends to my blog so they can participate in this challenge and get their own free kit. It's not that hard!

If you want to learn more about digital piracy and how you can help prevent it, click on the "Stop Digital Piracy" link on the left.

Slainte! {Gaelic for Cheers!}

Make a MiniDigiBook for your Dad in 10 Easy Steps

Other than the annual new tie, Dad's just LOVE things you make yourself.

This little book can be made with any digi kit or you can make up your own graphics. I'm going to make mine with the June Divine Digital free download-a-day kit along with some of my JIT 6x4 bragbook templates.

1. Decide on the size: 6x4 bragbook, 5x7, 6x6, or 8x8 are easiest.
2. Pick a title like the sample image on the left: “Just Me and My Dad” (remember, this is a MINI book...not a full blown album!).
3. Write a dedication page: "This little book was created especially for...." Make sure to hand write your signature at the bottom.
4. Use the title to create a cover page and add the date.
5. On the following pages, include a bunch of photos from the time you were little through now.
6. Write a poem for your dad and add it somewhere in between the photo pages. Can't think of what to write? Check out http://quotations.about.com/cs/specialdays/tp/10_fathers_day.htm or http://www.quotegarden.com/dad-day.html for a suitable quote to use on this page.
7. Add a page or two featuring your dad's favorite hobbies or leisure time activities like fishing, playing a sport, traveling, or even just being a couch potato! Does your dad like to cook or BBQ? Add his favorite recipe. If you also have a picture of him cooking - add that, too!
8. Ask other family members and relatives to give you a list of the things they love and admire about your dad. Sprinkle these thoughts and quotes throughout the book.
9. On the next to the last page, write the "Top 10 Reasons You're the Best Dad!"
10. On the last page, include a favorite picture of you and your dad together.

Did you like this project? Well don't stop now...make one for your Mom or Brother or Sister or Kid or Cat or Dog or Friend or Mail Carrier or anyone you can think of!

Now for the fun part...if you post a few pictures of your book or layouts you did for it in your favorite galley and then post a comment to this article with a link to it, I'll send you a free goodie!

Any man can be a FATHER, but it takes someone special to be a DAD.

Here's a simple and fun idea your whole family can make for dad on Father's Day. Decorate and hand write the phrases like “I Love You,” “You’re the Greatest,” or “Best Dad” on little slips of paper. Leave these “little pieces of love” all over the place: in the car, the dresser drawer, on his tooth-brush, in his briefcase, in his shoe, and on and on. I'm sure you can think of many out-of-the-ordinary places to put them! He will be sure to smile as he discovers each one on his special day. Even if he doesn't find them all, he'll really have a laugh when they finally come to light!
(many thanks to Sandra Magsamen for this idea!)

Magical Postage Stamps for Muggles!

In celebration of an illustrious British author and a true global publishing phenomenon, the Royal Mail will issue a collection of Harry Potter stamps on 17 July. They are reproductions of the UK release book covers. The stamp set will be issued just ahead of the release of the seventh and final Harry Potter book by JK Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows™.

What? You don't live in the UK? No problem...you will be able to order a set for your collection online!

While you're waiting, why not get the gorgeous country definitives, celebrating the unique heritage and history of each of the four countries of the United Kingdom: Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England. Even if you can't use them to post a letter, they'll look great on your traditional paper projects, in your travel journals, or even in your stamp collection!

Get My New Celtic Seasons Kit FREE!

But wait...there's a catch! (you knew that didn't you?)

It's time for another Download-a-Day (DLAD) challenge! The June DLAD at Divine Digital is 'The Spirit of Dad' by featured designers Michelle Powell, Julie Kelley, and Connie Prince. The challenge is to do a layout using the DLAD kit!

What do you get for completing the challenge? How about my brand new Celtic Seasons kit? Woo hoo! Well, not the whole kit...not right away anyway...you're gonna have to work for it!

The first thing you have to do is sign up in Divine Digital's forum - it's free. Then go to the June 2007 DLAD link. Bookmark the page or subscribe to the topic so you remember to visit every day! Visit the forum each day in June to get a portion of the DLAD kit.

Next, create a LO using the DLAD and post it in your favorite gallery. Yes, you can use images from other kits, but try to use the DLADs as much as possible. Finally, send me a link [catrionamag @ gmail.com] and I'll send you part of Celtic Seasons!

Every week during the month of June there will be another piece of the kit up for grabs - for a total of four: Beltane, Lughnasadh, Samhain, and Imbolc.

Here are the posting dates:

* 1-7 June - part 1
* 8-14 June - part 2
* 15-21 June - part 3
* 22-30 June - part 4
* 30 June is catch up day! If you missed a piece of the Celtic Seasons kit, this is the day to post a last minute LO and let me know which ONE you need. You only get to pick one piece, so plan accordingly!

Don't worry, if you miss a part it will go on sale in my shops at DD and DSO on 1 July.

Here's a preview of Beltane, the first part of my new Celtic Seasons kit and your first posting prize.

Remember, sharing files is a form of digital piracy - even free ones. Please send your friends to my blog so they can participate in this challenge and get their own free kit. It's not that hard!

If you want to learn more about digital piracy and how you can help prevent it, click on the "Stop Digital Piracy" link on the left.

Slainte! {Gaelic for Cheers!}

The Costume Detective: How to Date Old Photographs

Do you have a box of heritage photos and no way to tell when they were taken? This website can help!

By using costume history, you can date your vintage photos by analyzing the fashions, hats, and jewelry worn by your ancestors. You will also find helpful tips, hints, and examples assist you with dating your photos within +/- 5 years. In many cases, this can help you narrow your search for supporting documents and records which may pinpoint the exact date of the photo.

Visit the Costume Detective to learn more.

[Many thanks to designer Kay Eflin for this tip posted on her blog.]