Scrapbook Max

I had a comment asking 'what is Scrapbook Max?' Since I don't have an e-mail address for that lady I'll answer the question here. Scrapbook Max is scrapbook software. You can purchase scrapbook kits dedicated to this format or you can use any 'regular' scrapbook kit as long as the elements are jpg or png format. It is easy to use with the built in scrapbook kits. Everytime you buy something in the SBM format it automatically downloads into the program files after unzipping the files. It just takes a few extra clicks if you want to use outside kits. The only drawback is you can not save a QP in the png format and have it be useable in another program. Basically you have to create your layout in Scrapbook Max then use another program such as Gimp or in my case Microsoft Digital Image 2006 to make any adjustments. Over all I like the program and it is only about $50.00 which I think is a decent price. You can also get a free trial download to try the software out first. I hope this answered the question without too much extra jabbering from me.

I made some more freebie papers

I thought I'd play around with my Scrapbook Max program. I just know the basics of it. While playing I went ahead and made some more papers. I hope you can use them. The first set is called Curved and it has four papers.

                                            http://www.box.net/shared/n4z0bi0hal2ka1nhnelm


My second set is called Just Doodles and has more of a nature theme. The set has six papers.

                                          http://www.box.net/shared/1ysmhutcmyco25r7db3j

I hope you enjoy them as much as I did making them.

Links

I'm really sorry I didn't realise some of my links weren't click able. Not sure how that happened but I've fixed them all so you don't have to manually put them in a browser.

Again please give me some feed back on my freebies. Thank you!

Sale at 4 My Babies Scraps

As you know I'm a guest CT member at 4 My Babies Scraps. There is a huge sale going on.

here is the link: http://www.just4ourbabies.com/

Daddy kit by Winsor Digi Designs & Freebies

The other day I posted a layout that I did from the Daddy kit I bought from Winsor Digi Designs. Well my friend, Chelsea (the designer) said if I wanted to offer it as a QP then I could do so. This week she is having a sale so if you like this QP why don't you check out her store. Here is my layout again.

Here is a link to her blog: http://winsordigidesigns.blogspot.com/

Now I've made two QP's one is a .png format and the other one is for Scrapbook Max.

Download link for PNG: Link is expired

Download link for SBM: Link is expired

These links will only be valid for 3 days.

One Little Monkey Digital Crafts Freebies

As I stated in the last posting I'm trying my hand at designing and I've started off with some papers. If you could please leave a comment if you download so I can get some feedback as I have no way of knowing how many people actually download. Thank you!

My first offering is a set of three papers I'm calling Retro as they remind me of the 50/60's funky theme. Here is the preview then I'll have the download link.

http://www.box.net/shared/x8qu6qe59z8m5zzrae3r

My second set is five papers called Paint. I think you can get the idea for that.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/27524073/paint.zip

What is a name?

When I first starting dabbling in digital scrapbooking I used the name AngelDevilDog which I still use in some forums. Then I started using Monkey Toes Too as my google name and on some digital sites. Finally, I've decided to confuse everyone that much more by making a design name. I didn't want a name with Angel in it as there is already a designer who goes by Angel Baby Scraps. So I thought about Monkey but Monkey Toes didn't sound right either. I did like having a name with Monkey in it though so I googled names to make sure I wasn't going to grab anyone else's name. In the end I came up with "One Little Monkey Digital Crafts". I can't draw so my designing will be limited to just papers for right now.

Bunny Hop

Earlier this week I showed you a layout I made with a kit I bought from 4 My Babies Scraps called Bunny Hop. Well, I decided to make that layout along with two others into free QP's. Here is another look at the kit.

Here is a link to buy the kit: http://www.just4ourbabies.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=12_30&products_id=270

Here are the layouts I made.

#1

#2

#3

Now for what you were waiting for the download links.

#1 - No longer valid

#2 - No longer valid

#3 - No longer valid

These links will be valid until July 24, 2011

Hummie's World Challenge

Hello! Hummie's World is having a Use It All Challenge. It however is slightly different as you don't actually have to use the whole mini kit just five or more items. I wasn't able to post my layout in the forum yet so I'm posting it here first. The kit name is Remember When. Since I don't have a lot of pictures scanned into my computer I used my Dad's baby picture. The pictures I have of him while I was growing up (not that many) just didn't have the right tone and I couldn't bring myself to use any of him taken in the few years before he died because he was fighting leukemia and that isn't how I want to remember him.

Daddy kit

My friend, Chelsea has a new kit on sale for 25 cents for the next few days. Right now she has one matching QP posted for free. Please visit her blog here if you would like to get the kit.  http://winsordigidesigns.blogspot.com/

 

Here is a lay out I made with the kit.

Bunny Business kit

I made a layout using the Bunny Business kit from A-Manda Creation. You could almost mix and match the two kits. I made a companion layout to my one from Bunny hop. Here is a preview of the kit and my layout. I adore both the bunnies and the ducks.

Bunny Hop kit

I bought this kit from 4 My Babies Scraps before I became a guest CT. At this point I don't know if I'll be offering this as a QP or not. It rather depends on a few things. I really haven't scrapped our Easter pictures from this year and I bought some really great kits so it was hard making a decision. Here is a picture of the kit then my layout. I loved the variety of elements in this kit.

Fun Fair part 2

Another stop along the CraftyScrap blog train was Farmer Lisa's blog. Her kit is pretty cool with lots of clown elements. She even had some pop corn kernels. Monkey loves popcorn!
Since I haven't been able to sleep due to my pain level being really high and having to change chairs alot I needed to change things up a little. Now as long as my hand numbness doesn't get to far gone I'll stay sane. While I'm in the recliner I'm trying to knit a little bit on my aunts scarf. When that doesn't work I'm trying to work on some digital scrapping. I'm supposed to be making a book for my hubby and I need to get it done in just a few days but I've hit the mental block. So I made a simple layout using Lisa's kit. If you would like to check out her blog please visit her here: http://farmerlisa.blogspot.com/

Fun Fair

While visiting some blogs/websites on Sunday I stumbled across ScrapN2Nspire. This website is 100% free. Karen is part of CraftyScraps Fun Fair blog train. Last year Monkey went to his first church festival and had a blast. The kit I picked up at ScrapN2Nspire had just what I needed to make a cute layout. Karen is also having a contest to win a custom made font of your handwriting from Darcy Baldwin Fontography. That would be really cool to have a custom made font of my handwriting. Maybe then I'd do more journalling. lol

Here is the link for the contest: http://www.scrapn2nspire.com/archives/8456

Emily's scarf

Well after asking my hubby for a second opinion on Emily's scarf I made the following changes. I added a section of Velcro and a button to the front. I really wanted a colorful patch but couldn't find anything I liked. I did however find these cute plastic flower shaped buttons. I got a pkg of 5 for less than $2. Which worked out just fine as Freyja's scarf was done in grape. Here is a picture of Emily's showing both the Velcro tab and the button and just a folded up shot of Freyja's. Freyja's pattern differs from Emily's as the whole back side of Freyja's was done in the garter stitch. I like them equally as well. Next up is a complete garter stitched scarf for my aunt made with a lovely shade of lavender called Orchid.

MelonHeadz Illustrating

I was going to mention this blog a few weeks ago but forgot while I was so excited to be joing the guest CT spot.
Nikki hand draws all the clip art/digital stamps. She has tons of free items along with some for sale work. Nikki has amazing talent. Here is a link to her blog along with a card I made with her lady bug stamp.

http://melonheadzillustrating.blogspot.com/

Calder's Dairy Farm

Wow, what a day!
Monkey passed out on the sofa really early last night and woke up about 2AM this morning. It took me two hours to get him back asleep. I was still awake going on 5AM. My husband woke us up at 8:30AM. There was no way I was ready to start the day. I sent the boys off to Home Depot for the kids workshop. Monkey goes to make the project and visit with his girlfriend, Kitty. Today they made a mini tool box for Father's Day. Monkey was so nice that when he got home he said I could have it to hold my craft pliers. I said isn't it for Dad and he replied no Daddy said you could use it. Here is what they built.

They also brought home breakfast from McDonald's. We don't normally eat fast food so it was nice not to cook. Picked up Aunt Sue and headed off to the farm. We had to make a couple of stops along the way. My husband had to see his cardiologist were he had an EKG and we made plans for him to go into the hospital. My husband has heart problems. He'll go into the hospital for some tests on July 1st then if all goes well he'll have more surgery over the Labor Day weekend. Finally, we are off to the farm. Monkey wanted chicken for his picnic so we stopped off at KFC for lunch.

Got to the picnic spot where I promptly spilled my beverage all over the ground. Luckily for me my husband was willing to share his drink. Ate our lunch under a pavilion which we shared with a beautiful male peacock. He of course left us by the time I got my camera out. After eating our lunch Monte and Monkey went to feed the Canadian Geese and ducks. We brought dry dog food along for the catfish in the pond as well. Didn't see to many fish but we did see a goose that was shot with an arrow. Luckily the bird was able to function with the arrow sticking thru it. Monte watched it fly so that was a relief but just seeing the bird broke my heart.

Aunt Sue wandered off on us as she was making friends with a cow. Monkey and his best buddy, a CPK baby named Drew, had to check out the mini dairy truck. Drew goes on a lot of trips with us. Monkey takes his job as Daddy very seriously.

From here we went and visited the donkeys and sheep. Then it was off to feed the calf's. Monkey got to feed one and boy was he excited. Aunt Sue got licked by an adult cow and man the look on her face as she never saw it coming. Next we had to visit the steer. They have a couple of long horns so that was nice. Inside one of the barns was a trio of rooster greeting Monkey with full vocals. Monkey started looking at this pile of hay off to one area by the horses. We didn't think much of it but he found a nest of four large eggs. We didn't see a momma hanging around so we have no idea what kind of animal they belong to but he was really excited to have found them. We then toured the birthing area. They had two brand new babies and three mommas waiting to deliver. Since it was a nice day in the upper 70's with the sun shinning and a breeze blowing it was perfect for some fresh made ice cream. We timed it just right because no sooner had we bought our ice cream the cows were lined up for milking. We sat in a viewing area watching the cows get milked and eating some nice creamy delicious chocolate ice cream. Monkey wanted to stay and watch all the cows get milked but since there was a couple hundred we weren't going to stay that long. Monkey also got a new t-shirt before we left.

I'm so glad that we had this belated birthday picnic for both my husband and Monkey. Just the joy on Monkey's face was worth all the pain I dealt with in walking today. That little boy makes everything worthwhile.

Mint Chocolate

I became a guest CT member for 4 My Babies Scraps earlier in the month. I found a lovely kit in the 'Just 4 Our Babies' store. That kit is called Mint Chocolate. This is one of the designers older works but none the less a delight to work with. Here is a preview of the kit along with a link to the store. Currently the kit is on sale for 50% off.

 http://www.just4ourbabies.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_2&products_id=7



I hope you enjoy working with this kit as much as I did. Here are a few layouts I made with the kit.

#1

#2

#3

#4

If you would like copies of the pages I made just click on the following links. The QP's are in a png form.

All links have expired

These links will only be valid until July 14, 2011.

I was given this kit in return for making the layouts and quick pages.

Emily's scarf

I finished my first scarf in a few years . This one is for Emily. She is the oldest of all my step-granddaughters. I didn't like the way my pattern was rolling and then I made it too long. Since I was making the pattern up as I went along no problem. I folded the scarf in half lengthwise and used a yarn needle to stitch it together. Now this shortened it up to a nice length and the warmth factor will be excellent but not quite pretty enough. Monkey was kind enough to model the scarf for me as pink really isn't his color. This weekend I'll pick up a cute patch or something to embellish it and add a velcro tab to keep it closed. Maybe I'll just leave it as is because it does have a different pattern on the other side. Sorry for the quality of my photos. I don't have the best light in this room.

Gotta Pixel

Gotta Pixel has a challenge going on till June 30th. It is called Show Me The Mini. This is another form of a use it all type challenge. This month we used a Disney themed mini. Since we have never been to a Disney Park I just used a picture of my darling Monkey just being himself. I saw a template at Precious Pixels that I thought would work really well. I don't have the software to use the free templates so I just modeled it after the sketch. I'm very happy on how this turned out.

Happy Birthday, Monte!

I meant to write this a few hours ago however life got in the way. What I mean is Monkey needed me more than this posting.

June 13, 1950. Sixty one years ago my husband was born. Life has taken him all over the USA. He has driven through nearly every state for his job as a truck driver. He played college football on a scholarship until a knee injury wiped out his career in his senior year. He went on to work in a bank, as a car salesman, working in the family business until finally he found his calling - a truck driver. He loves driving and seeing the country. He was married and divorced. He has two adult children - a son and a daughter. They mean the world to him.

Fate works in strange ways. If you would have asked me fifteen years ago where I saw my life I would have told you working and helping to raise my sister's kids - two boys and a girl. I couldn't see myself married with kids. Then one day a little over thirteen years ago I met someone new at work. I was covering someone else's desk. Even though I had a full plate at home with the kids and a Dad dying from Leukemia I still could do favors for other people. My co-workers needed me to change my shift for a short while. Difficult yes with having to take Dad back and forth to the hospital and seeing the kids off to school but not impossible. One day I glance up and meet this man who is so easy to joke around with and could make me laugh. He was quite a bit older than I but that made no difference. We had so much in common. About four months later my Dad died and Monte is my rock. A year after that I get diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and again he is my rock. I'm dealing with tons of pain and finding life hard to deal with yet here he is. My sister has problems and I take her kids in full time. For close to three years my life is almost world war three every day because the kids can't cope with their lives. Yet he stays. The kids finally return to their Mom and my health starts to decline and he doesn't walk away. I give him an out and tell him what my life could get to. I might become wheelchair bound. He tears up and says he isn't going anywhere. We decide because of all my health issues not to have a child. One dream I wanted and never thought I'd get was gone. Then in steps Fate again.

Fate decides that I need that child and we are blessed with our now five year old son. Monte's oldest granddaughter is older than our son but he doesn't care. This baby is his joy. I think he wanted another girl but he loves his son. Things are sweet. He moves in full time about 18 months later so we can be a proper family. What happens then. Just as we are cruising along another speed bump hits. I can no longer work due to my health issues. Now Monte is shouldering all the responsibilities for our family while I stay home and do the best I can to raise our son. A few months later another speed bump. Monte has a massive heart attack. Thank GOD it happened while we were in the ER and the nurse went and checked on his gut feeling. I almost lost my rock that day. He recovered and life went on. Fast forward a few months and it is Christmas. Santa leaves me a gift. Poor Monte because Santa wrote his name on the tag not Monte's so Santa was going to be a bigamist. Luckily, I figured out the mistake and told the right man yes. A few months later we get married in a courthouse with just a few family members. Not what we wanted but what we could afford.

One year later and we have been happily together now for over thirteen years. Life is not easy and you never know when it is going to end. He gave me a scare last night with chest pains and stubbornness. He doesn't listen and I'm a pain but here we are.

Saying Happy Birthday and I love you just doesn't seem to be enough. He is my best friend, my rock, my sounding board, the father of my child and my everything. I tell him all the time that he is lucky to have me. Well, I'm lucky too because I have a husband who loves me very much.

Happy Birthday, Baby. I LOVE you more than you'll ever know.

Postponed

Monkey is very disappointed that his trip to the farm has been postponed. We were supposed to go on Saturday but due to some other plans we are waiting till the following weekend. This Saturday Daddy will take Monkey to Lowe's for their kids workshop. They will ba making a goofy mini golf project. I loathe taking Monkey to Lowe's for the workshop. Now I love taking him to the Home Depot kids workshop in part because I can visit with Monkey's girlfriend, Kitty. Kitty is decades older than Monkey but he doesn't care she is his girl and he'll tell you that too. Kitty is a lovely girl who works full time and goes to school full time so what more could a mother ask for?

Here is a Christmas layout of Monkey and Kitty.

I used Let Me Scrapbook's Santa Claus is Coming to Town mini kit.

Heat wave

Here in southeastern Michigan it has been hot and humid the past couple of days. I say thank heavens for central air. However, I have the ever wonderful Monkey who is only 5 and he doesn't want to stay in the house. Totally understandable - he got a new bike for his birthday and it begs to be ridden. Yesterday I promised him that he could play out in the front yard under our huge tree with his sprinkler ball. I let him have all the fun he could handle for about 45 minutes then my thriftiness kicked in and I figured we wasted enough water.

I know we watered the lawn and flowers to but with my husband's job I try not to waste any money. He doesn't mind if I water the lawn, let our son play in his pool or the sprinkler. It's me. I guess it is from my years as being a single parent trying to stretch my paycheck - first with raising my sisters three kids then having our son. I've gotten off the subject here - sorry.

Monkey had a blast playing in the sprinkler. I just had to capture the moment on film. Monkey decided he wanted the girl on the layout too. I added the shades for coolness.

New blog design

How do you like my blog background? My friend, Chelsea who designs under Winsor Digi Designs used her new kit Zoo Fun to make it. Chelsea has the kit on sale for 50% for a limited time. Here is a preview.

http://winsordigidesigns.blogspot.com/

The Studio Clutter It Challenge

This is the second month I've done the clutter it challenge. I have to play the game a little different as most people. My software doesn't like the format the original download is in. However, I work around that. I think this layout turned out well. Please excuse the same photos of monkey but I'm trying to use the most current pictures in my layouts. Good night!

DigiDesignResort Use It All Challenge

DDR has their June challenges posted. I just did the Use It All. Normally I do both the Use It All and the Progressive Challenges there. What fun. I used part of the Stuff To Scrap Speed Challenge instructions in this layout because I liked the circle elements. Hope you like it as well.

The Studio Featured Designer Challenge

The Studio has a few of the June challenges posted. I really enjoyed doing the designer challenge last month so I decided to go for it again this month. I decided to use one of my wedding photos for this challenge. Since I don't feel traditional wedding kits fit. We were married at a courthouse. My husband decided that we would get married just a couple of days before it happened. We got engaged on Christmas Day and couldn't decide on a date. I really wanted to marry on St. Patty's day as it was the 12th anniversary of our 1st date. Monte didn't want a weekday wedding but he also didn't want a fancy wedding. This is his second wedding and my first. Ultimately, I decided it didn't matter if it was large or small, fancy or plain so we decided to drive to another state and get married. Our wedding meal was breakfast at a resturant on the way back home. Cool thing was my aunt and niece got the waitress to bring us a blueberry muffin to stand in as the wedding cake. We split one muffin five ways.  The woman in the picture with us is my aunt. My niece took the picture. She isn't greatest picture taker so I'm lucky I got the ones I did get.

Sarah-Jane's Little Musings

Last year I stumbled upon a blog by a wonderfully talented lady named Sarah-Jane or just SJ. SJ draws the most delightful pictures. I ordered a picture of my family. All downloads are sent in the digital form. She used to offer freebies every Friday but that has been reduced due to the fact that she just hasn't the time for that part of it anymore. SJ's work has been transformed into rubber stamps. First they were picked up by QVC in the UK now they are sold in some of the craft stores in the UK. You can also order directly from her. SJ's prices are very reasonable and well worth the money. The link to her blog is posted on the right. Here is the picture she did for me.

and here is the picture she worked from. The dogs were added in from other pictures.

CraftyScraps Layout Challenge

CraftyScraps is having at layout challenge at her forum this month. I decided to give it a go. This challenge is like a use it all challenge except you don't use all the papers in the mini. You do however have to use all the elements. I haven't been able to figure out how to post my layout there. I was able to leave a message stating it was done just not the picture. So I'm posting my layout here for everyone to see.

Christmas gifts

Yes, I know it is over 90 degrees here in Sunny Michigan and we are sweating our butts off. That is exactly why I'm thinking about winter and Christmas gifts. Since I haven't been able to work for nearly 2 1/2 years now and can't do the things I LOVE to do such as gardening, mowing the lawn, working at a job interacting with people on a daily basis, just going for a walk or even sleeping in a bed. We all take these things for granted. Eleven and half years ago I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Not fun but I was able to function with the help of prescription medications. I also have alot of other ailments which include the spine. Then I got the surprise of my life. I was pregnant. My son was not planned and he amazed everyone with the fact he turned out healthy. I was a nervous wreck the whole time I was pregnant and it was a very difficult pregnancy. So difficult that I knew I couldn't do it again. Fast forward 2 1/2 years and my medical condition went sharply downhill rapidly. Simple things like vacuuming a 4 x 6 foot area rug was no longer possible, cooking a simple meal can cause extreme pain and sleeping in a bed is out of the question. Crafts I enjoyed like paper scrapbooking and other crafts that require lots of time spent on them and that have to be spread out no longer work for me since I can only work on stuff a few mintues at a time. Digital scrapbooking allows me to work on things for a few mintues at a time without making a mess but of course you know that. Another craft that doesn't take up much space and can be done a few minutes at a time is knitting. Now I don't proclaim to be a wizard at knitting however I know the basics. So this year for Christmas I have decided to make two of my step-granddaughters a scarf. Since their moms' don't read my blog there is nothing to worry about as to surprises. I found this really soft and silky yarn at Walmart's and bought a new set of needles. I'm making up my simple pattern as I go. Chose two colors of yarn. One is a lovely shade of pink called watermelon and the other is a purple called grape. I will have to adjust my pattern for the second scarf as the first one is rolling more than I would like. Here is a picture of my project. I'm halfway done with the knitting then I just have to decide if I want to fringe it.