Digital Scrapbooking Designs by Kerr

Welcome to my blog!

2010-11-29T21:03:00.000-05:00

Hello and welcome to Kerrdesignz!
This blog is a place where you can find digital scrapbooking freebies, photography help, tutorials, cooking stuff, recipes, and much more!
Sit back and relax with your Starbucks (send me a venti white chocolate mocha or a egg nog latte with a shot of vanilla please!) and click some links up above to find the content your looking for!
As always, please leave me comments in the cbox over there -----> if you like.

I am going to be adding a few things to the store over the next few days/weeks.

This is going to be a test run because I am unaware if paypal will allow you to do an instant download. I want you to be able to have your items immediately and dont want you to wait so I am hoping that is the case with them. If its not I will figure out other means to provide you with instant download and great service on your purchases.

They will be BUY ONE GET ONE FREE! So hurry and grab your stuff. I will update regularly and tell you in advance when BOGO if going to end.

Have fun!

Kerr

Bed-blogging…its the new thing

2010-01-28T15:51:00.001-05:00

Yes, bed-blogging I tell yah. I am convinced its the new thing.

Bed-blogging is appropriate for all and rather comfy. That is when you don’t have a 65 year old bed that hasn’t been turned in about 34.5 years, and has lovely indentations where we (the hubby and I) sleep.

Ha! Take that you new space-age foam, pillow top making mattress companies. I didn’t need to spend $4,362.11 to have a sweet arse memory foam, body conforming mattress, mine has done it all on its own….after 26 years of sleeping on the same side.

There’s just one problem. If I want to lay in another spot or position I'm screwed. Seems my body doesn’t take to kindly to being laid on the hilly planes that are the middle of my bed. Never mind you that surrounding those hilly planes are mountainous craters that I am positive I have lost at least one small dog in once, well at least I think that's where my other retro psychedelic fuzzy slipper went off too never to return from the depths that house my legs like the confines of a one-size-to-small bra.

Now before all of you start on me being all like,

“dude ur gross, ur mattress is 65 years old? like double eww.”

and I'm like,

“um hello, I have three kids, one husband, two dogs, and a jolly rancher addiction, like, where did you think I was going to get the money to buy a new one?”

and your all like,

“seriously, your supposed to vacuum and flip your mattress at least every 6 months, duh.”

and I'm like,

“uh, my momma never taught me that. She was too busy teaching me to eat just the green m&m’s, how to make a fruit basket, and how to dye my hair so when I say something dumb I can use the ‘blonde moment’ excuse.”

“and hey, its worked every time!”

“I like my momma, she's good people.”

and your all like,

“dude, have you never heard of Martha Stewart, she's like, famous. She could help you with that.”

and I'm all like,

“dudette, seriously, I have been in jolly rancher rehab, looking for a long lost dog and slipper, and trying to wake the left side of my butt cheek up for 10 years after sleeping in my bed, so like, there!”

I win

love,

Krazay with a sick kid

Have I mentioned…part 1

2010-01-28T15:01:00.001-05:00

That I want to homeschool? And yes, this is part one of three. Seriously, I talk way too much.

Yes I know, some of you are oddly staring at your screen wondering what sort of drug I consumed today that would make me want to do such a thing that would literally make you claw the eyes out of your best friends cat, but please know, I am not crazy nor is this a drug induced post. There are no drugs in my house, extremely potent cough syrup maybe, but no drugs. I don't condone drugs, don't do em, never have, never will. I assure you my elevator goes all the way up (most days) and my happy meal is complete with fries and all thank you very much.

I do, I want to homeschool my kiddos. Let me explain a few things first so we are on the same page.

My kids are 10, 8, and 3.

Lets start with the 10 yr old boy.

First born, only son, and has been diagnosed ADHD by several peds since he was roughly 5-6 yrs old. Quick stint on meds (after much soul searching on my part) proved that meds were NOT going to help child #1. NO meds on board since…yes some days I need them (I often self-medicate with jolly ranchers) to deal with his exponential amount of ticks, twitches, outbursts, and overall hyper speed walking/stomping he does through my home.

He struggles. Always has. He needs a space where he can learn in HIS WAY. I think child #1 would benefit greatly from HS. He is very unorganized (gee I wonder where he gets that) but that boy can out read a 6th grader. Math is by far his most difficult subject with science being his favorite subject.

Lemme tell you something else, I have not seen one iota of homework for science this year. This bums me out. He loves science. I have only been hammered (well he has) by a huge packet of math and timelines etc. for homework. I would love to explore this more with him. Rocks, minerals, planets, solar systems, and space really interest him. He is all ears and asks 50 questions during any Discovery channel program we watch. I want to do science more with my son and see him explore that more than feel like I have to constantly bombard him with a subject that he finds so frustrating and self esteem killing. We try with math but there is only so much you can do in a public school system, either they keep up or they have to take “special” classes for kids that aren't right there in line with the others in his class.

He often feels singled out for this reason. I feel for him I really do. He begs me to be homeschooled. That in turn does something to my womb. Then I cry and pout to his father (who doesn’t agree with HS at this point), then I stampede into the kitchen like one of Pioneer Womens cows, and instantly start sifting for some watermelon jolly ranchers. If that aint self-medicating I don't know what is.

Up next…child #2. She is all fun and games lemme tell yah.

Love,

The Jolly Rancher Queen

DSD Course Outline – and music

2010-01-28T14:43:00.001-05:00

Those of you that read my blog will know that I have been working on getting a “learn to become a digital scrapbook designer course” together.

Just wanted to share a bit more information on what to expect in the course so that you can see what things will be touched on within the course.

Here is a brief outline about the course. Please note: This is not finished so things may be changed during the process of making the course.

1. Backgrounds

solid colors
patterned
grunge
dotted
collaged

2. Elements

brads
ribbons bows
journal papers
paper strips for journaling
hanging items
pinned down items
folded corners
torn edges
shapes
hand drawn look
frames
bling bling

3. Word Art

regular text
text on a path
quotes
fancy
miscellaneous

4. Picking a Color Scheme

how many colors?
how to choose coordinating colors
breaking the rules with color!

5. Working within Photoshop

your workspace
the move tool
the rectangular marquee tool
lasso tool
magic wand tool
the crop tool
the brush tool
clone stamp tool
pattern stamp tool
eraser tool
paint bucket and gradient tool
blur tool
sharpen tool
smudge tool
dodge tool
burn tool
pen tool – in detail – multiple lessons on using it
text tool
path and direct selection tool
shape tool
eyedropper tool
zoom tool
working with swatches tool
quick mask mode
screen modes
working with filters – multiple filters – each with its own lesson
liquify tool – how mastering it takes time and an overview
liquify tool – how its unmatched in its ability to make your elements look real
overview of the menus – file, edit, image, layer, select, view, window
quick overview of using bridge with Photoshop
using the different palettes - paths, history, actions, channels etc.

6. Working with your kit

the process and workflow of designing
where to start and how I setup my workspace to begin designing
how to file your kits
what you need to design
saving our backgrounds
saving your elements
making actions to increase your workflow and save time
working with layers

7. What is my style?

Finding your design style
working outside of that comfort zone of styles

8. Marketing yourself

I'm a designer now what?
starting a blog
give it away and they will come
joining top sites
being consistent

9. Joining Forces

finding a position
what to expect when you apply

10. Your done, now what?

keep designing!
how long till i am there?
what's the secret?
where do i go from here?

Ok well, that wraps up the course outline so far. Whew that was a mountain to type LOL. Hope you find some of this stuff interesting enough to catch a lesson or two!

Always grateful for any feedback or suggestions.

Oh, and please note, sometimes I have some awesome background music from the 3 yr old.

She is highly advanced in percussion instruments (banging my wooden spoons on my table and chair while I am recording), as well as highly adept at singing (if you consider being serenaded with twinkle twinkle wittle star, often off key, to be singing. Hey I do…its my midget. Kapeeesh?) and often times she comes to me wanting to eat something! The nerve!

Hellllo, I am working here midget.

I hope you can forgive the sometimes in the background additions she provides, I do my best to make these videos as high quality as possible but sometimes all my efforts don't pay off and then I overdose on watermelon jolly ranchers and instantly I feel better about the world.

That’s it. The end. I am dead tired. Goodnight.

hmmm…speaking of jolly ranchers……

New Free Video Class coming soon!

2010-01-22T13:27:00.001-05:00

I have been steadily working on getting through the course outline for the new Video Classes on how to become a digital scrapbook designer. Wow is it going to take a while to get this course complete.

Let me break it down for ya:

The amount of coke zero consumed while at my keyboard should equal a part ownership of the company. Well, they could at least give me some free stock.

When this is all said and done my dr bills are going to be high due the multiple carpel tunnel surgeries I will have to endure given the 82,368 words per day I am typing.

I'm going to need major Botox to get rid of the nice number 11 between my eyebrows from constantly frowning at the computer.

The dentist will love my bill because 693,563 jolly ranchers (I only eat watermelon, apple, and cherry. When I am desperate blue raspberry somehow finds its way to my mouth. Grape never gets near me unless I am in a state of panic) I will have consumed during the writing of this course will likely rot all the teeth I have right outta my head.

Macaroni and cheese has never sounded so good.

Hotdogs have found their way onto the menu.

my hair need a dye job.

I have FBS = Flat butt syndrome from sitting in this chair for way too many hours.

I need the laundry fairy.

Ponytails have taken the place of my flat iron.

Yoga pants and t-shirts are currently what I live in.

See what I do for you cuz I wanna help you? Not to mention that a lot of the video lessons are going to be free.

Someone please send a jolly rancher deprived, no makeup wearing, non-laundry doing women something will yah?

Just kidding. Just show me some love on my blog by leaving a comment or suggestion for a lesson. And please become a follower as random followers will be given some goodies!

And no, I didn't forget about the announcement of a new course. I am not suffering from jolly rancher depravity that bad yet. The new lesson will be on how to make a paper clip realistically clip together your items of choice. In this lesson I am using two papers to digitally clip together but it will work for any purpose. Coursework materials will be downloadable when I post the lesson.

Happy learning

Love,

jolly rancher momma

Free Video Tutorial – Realistic Drop Shadows

2010-01-21T09:58:00.001-05:00

Whew….its finally done!

Earlier in the week I mentioned that I am currently working on putting together a Designer Course that is chalk full of video classes and corresponding coursework to teach those of you wanting to become a digital scrapbook designer but just don't know where to start. This class is going to be huge I have now realized and will definitely take longer than I anticipated to complete. So to give you a taste of what's to come I have decided to put one of the classes up here for free! This lesson in the course focused on making a realistic drop shadow by introducing you to the warp mode and create layer technique so that you can manipulate your shadow on its own layer giving you much more control how it looks without disrupting your element.

Please give me some feedback and if you have any other lessons you would like to see, let me know and I will do my best to add them to the course and add them up for free.

So without further ado check out how to make a quick realistic shadow in Photoshop cs3.

Please note: I am still working out the kinks on how to get the full size video up here without having to change my blog layout again.

Digital Scrapbook Designer Course :: In this lesson: Realistic Drop Shadows

Homeschooling vs. public…just sayin

2010-01-15T19:41:00.001-05:00

Thought this was interesting for those of you who are wondering about socialization with homeschoolers. Pretty interesting stats.

Socialization: Homeschooling vs. Schools

By Michael F. Haverluck

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Many homeschoolers share this sentiment when it comes to public schools, believing that the moral relativism, violence, peer pressure, drugs and promiscuity found inside their gates provide an inadequate setting to properly socialize their children.

Yet 92 percent of superintendents believe that home learners are emotionally unstable, deprived of proper social development and too judgmental of the world around them, according to a California study by researcher Dr. Brian Ray .

What makes homeschool socialization such a hot topic?

With approximately 4 million children currently being homeschooled in the U.S., along with a 15- to 20-percent yearly growth rate, many professional educators and school boards are concerned that this exodus will keep funds from entering the public education system.

Many teachers also believe that successful home instruction by uncredentialed parents undermines their expertise and jeopardizes their jobs.

Questions about inadequate socialization are often brought up as a means to disqualify homeschooling as a viable alternative form of education, but are the arguments valid?

A look at the research on this socialization debate shines further light on the issue.

There's no place like home

Why is there such a dichotomy in the socialization experienced between homeschoolers and conventional students? It all has to do with the learning environment.

The National Home Education Research Institute disclosed that the 36 to 54 hours that students spend in school-related weekly activities make peers and adults outside of the home the primary influences in children's lives - not the parents.

Realizing the harm that this constant exposure can produce, especially if it's not countered by involved parenting, most homeschoolers are well aware of their children's need for close one-to-one contact throughout the education process.

Jesus understood the importance of continual intimate contact with His students, as He ate, slept and fellowshipped with His disciples 24 hours a day. It is unlikely that Jesus would have entrusted their training to strangers.

So how do these different settings affect children? Dr. Thomas Smedley believes that homeschoolers have superior socialization skills, and his research supports this claim. He conducted a study in which he administered the Vineyard Adaptive Behavior Scales test to identify mature and well-adapted behaviors in children. Home learners ranked in the 84th percentile, compared to publicly schooled students, who were drastically lower in the 23rd.

Welcome to the real world

Many school socialization advocates argue that homeschooling precludes children from experiencing real life.

Instead of being locked behind school gates in what some would consider an artificial setting characterized by bells, forced silence and age-segregation, homeschoolers frequently extend their everyday classroom to fire departments, hospitals, museums, repair shops, city halls, national parks, churches and colleges, where real community interaction and contacts are made.

Dismantling the stereotype that home learners spend their days isolated from society at kitchen tables with workbooks in hand, NHERI reports that they actually participate in approximately five different social activities outside the home on a regular basis.

Furthermore, researcher Dr. Linda Montgomery found that 78 percent of high school home learners were employed with paying jobs, while a majority engaged in volunteering and community service.

Research presented at the National Christian Home Educators Leadership Conference divulged that homeschool graduates far exceeded their public and private school counterparts in college by ranking the highest in 42 of 63 indicators of collegiate success. They were also ranked as being superior in four out of five achievement categories, including socialization, as they were assessed as being the most charismatic and influential.

Biblical or worldly socialization?

When most home educators and school administrators speak of successful socialization, are they referring to the same thing?

Education researcher Dr. Michael Mitchell found that being popular, aggressively competitive, materialistically driven and self-confident are traits promoted in conventional schools.

His study shows that these campus ideals are discouraged by Christian home educators in favor of building their children's character and dismantling selfish ambitions. Integrity, responsibility, respect for others, trust in God, biblical soundness and an amiable disposition topped the ideal social qualities they desired their youth to embody.

Many Christians who homeschool believe that the greatest socialization their children can have is to be trained to emulate Jesus, who is a servant of man. Home educators examined by Mitchell strive to dismantle any selfish ambitions and self-aggrandizement seen in their children, as opposed to cultivating them.

Getting ahead of one's peers is not consistent with Jesus' urging in Matthew 20:25b-28, which calls for Christians to seek a lowly and servile role to those around them. However, this does not mean that Christians are called to underachieve, as Colossians 3:23 exhorts readers to push for peak performance in every endeavor, but for the glory of God rather than for selfish ambition.

Pride is also promoted in the public schools. It is often repackaged as self-esteem in programs such as "Here's Looking at You, 2000," in which education researcher Dr. Amy Binder reports that students are instructed to believe that they are "the most important person in the world."

Many Christian home educators assert that the kind of pride being taught in the schools is discouraged throughout Scripture by Jesus and Paul, who preach against lifting oneself up or putting oneself first in favor of assuming a lowly position among others, as seen in Luke 14:10-11 and Romans 12:3.

They often contend that traditional students are driven to achieve high marks in order to attain lucrative and prestigious jobs that can lead to lives of self-indulgence, while the Bible calls man not to be overcome by material concerns.

Even though God enjoys prospering His children, He also warns us in 1 Timothy 6:10 that "the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

Negative socialization

The mass socialization conducted within schools has brought about a proliferation of delinquent behavior within this nation's youth, reports education researcher, Dr. Michael Slavinski. He notes that student bodies are increasingly riddled with violence, drugs, promiscuity, emotional disorders, crime, contempt for authority, desperate behavior, illiteracy and peer dependency - just to name a few.

Today, parents are not as surprised to see reports of fifth-graders having sex in class; hear about school shootings; find drugs or condoms in backpacks; receive phone calls from the police and principals; or witness defiant, apathetic and unrecognizable tones in their children's voices.

"Live and let learn," say many parents. Most home educators are fine with this, as long as their children's learning comes from mature, seasoned and embracing adults who have the children's best interests at heart - above political or economic agendas. They believe that such training shouldn't come from peers either, which amounts to the blind leading the blind.

When the Direct Observation Form of the Child Behavior Checklist was administered by education researcher Dr. Larry Shyers to identify 97 problematic behaviors in two groups of children, traditionally schooled students exuded eight times as many antisocial traits than their homeschooled counterparts. This lies in direct contrast to claims by public school advocates that exposure to campus life leads to proper socialization.

Light of the world

Many Christian parents are concerned that homeschooling would not allow their children to fulfill the great commission of sharing the gospel with non-believers. They often site Matthew 5:14-16 about being the light of the world.

Some Christian homeschool parents argue that even though young believers are to reach out to the lost, they are not called to immerse themselves daily in a hostile setting that constantly works to influence them in the ways of the world. They recognize that those with strong Christian upbringings are still vulnerable to the ungodly climate of the schools.

In Proverbs 4:11-15, King Solomon realized the vulnerability of his son, proclaiming his responsibility to train him in godly teachings and keep him from stumbling over the vices of this world.

Just as parents know that children are not prepared for war, many Christians believe that youth are not equipped to fend for themselves in the spiritual warfare taking place within schools.

A nationwide survey conducted by The Barna Group shows that 80 percent of Christian families send their children to public schools where their faith is attacked. Based on the study's findings, it appears that their kids are the ones being "evangelized" by the religion of secular humanism. More than half of their Christian teens believe Jesus actually sinned and only nine percent hold to moral absolutes, while 83 percent of children from committed Christian families attending public schools adopt a Marxist-Socialist worldview, reports the group.

For more statistics on Christians in education, click on The Barna Group.

Consistent with these figures, Christian producer and occult expert Caryl Matrisciana reports that 75 percent of public-schooled American youth brought up in Christian households disown their Christian faith by the first year of college. NHERI finds that this is only true for less than four percent of homeschooled youth.

Most home educators would not trade the blessings that homeschooling brings their families and society for the world.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, The Barna Group, NHERI, Dr. Michael Slavinski, Dr. Brian Ray, Dr. Thomas C. Smedley, Dr. Larry E. Shyers, Dr. Michael Mitchell, Dr. Linda Montgomery, Dr. Rhonda A. Galloway, Dr. Amy Binder

Digital Scrapbook Designer Course!

2010-01-13T16:24:00.001-05:00

Coming soon! I am putting together a list of subjects and classes that I feel will benefit anyone wanting to become a digi scrap designer. I went through the ranks learning as I went and getting alot of help and now looking back on it I wish that there had been a course that walked me through the process that a designer uses to make a complete kit, how the process of getting hired works, how to market my skills and how about getting a blog?

There are many many things that are asked but never answered in the designing world when it comes to digital scrapbooking so here it is!

The first ever ( I think….I hope!) complete course that takes you from wondering how on earth to make a realistic ribbon to setting up your blog and marketing yourself and getting a job!

Any input or skills/classes you all would like to see be a part of the course please scream it at me while I get this thing together. Its going to be huge ( I don't mean like I'm going to be a millionaire huge I mean the course is going to be very big with alot of information) with pdf files, word files, design files, freebies to get you started, tips, tricks and most exciting each major component will be covered in a step-by-step VIDEO tutorial!!!!

I am excited I hope you all are too!!!!!

love,

slaving away with carpel tunnel from writing this course LOL

What I am working on

2009-12-07T11:30:00.001-05:00

Well its been a long weekend. We almost finished one bathroom and fixed the toilet in the other. I still have to sand and paint the guest bathroom. Then I will be done except for a few out of the way things. Happy days!

I do have to finish painting trim in my daughters room. I got it all painted last night. We painted it pink. PINK PINK….I am talking Piiiinnnnnkkkkkk! It will be very cute though when I am done. I have to paint her door too. The 3 yr old decided her door was a great canvas and expertly used markers to adorn it. Fun, for her, not so much for me.

So while I have been up since about 5:30 am, my motivation has been left in bed for the time being where I do believe I shall find myself momentarily. I wiped, tired, been running a low grade fever for a few days, and need to catch up on some much needed rest. Hopefully waking Mini up early means she too will slumber with me for a while and allow me some much needed zzzzzzz’s.

I will be updating more probably later in the day but there is a new freebie up and I will likely be adding some tutorials, photographs, and maybe a new recipe.

Oh and if I spelled anything wrong please forgive me…I'm fresh outta toothpicks and my eyelids are going on vacation to the south without my consent. Darn things have a mind of their own.

sleepily,

Kerr

Crazy Change Freebie #4

2009-12-07T11:20:00.001-05:00

Here it is. Another freebie as promised! Remember, there are four all together so be sure and snag them before they are gone. If you missed any of them just click the freebie link above and it will show you all the freebies on the blog.

Download the groupie HERE

Have fun and be sure to check out the kit if you haven't yet. It is chock full of great backgrounds and elements!

Love,

Desperate for a nap

My wee lil friend

2009-12-06T15:27:00.001-05:00

I found this lil guy hopping around outside my front porch. I was taken by him because he was soooo small. Cute as he could be, he would just sit there looking at me. I couldnt pass on the moment so I grabbed my Canon and starting taking so many shots. These are all SOOC (straight out of camera) so no photoshop magic was worked on them. I thought they were great as is cuz he was such a cute lil dude.

We all remember our lil froggy guy from summer. Oh, and just so you dont sick peta on me…we found him a gorgeous lil spot over by the fountain in our front yard where he happily continued his day after his famous photo shoot.

I love frogs. Little ones, big ones, short ones, fat ones, bumpy ones, and smooth one. I think they are just too cute.

Crazy Change freebie 3

2009-12-06T10:53:00.001-05:00

Here is number three. Have fun…!

Download the groupie HERE

Ok gotta run…! Be back with more later and tomorrow! Don't forget these will expire so get them for free while you can!

My Niece and Nephew

2009-12-06T10:32:00.001-05:00

I love my sister. It goes without saying. She has always been one of the most amazing mainstays in my life. There are so many stories from back in the day when I was young and just wanted to hang out at her house. She was my idol. Always tan. Perfect skin. Perfect nails. Perfect hair. Yeah well, when don't you think your idol is perfect?

Its been a few years (I refuse to out my age dang it all) and now she is happily the mom of four great kids that I am lucky enough to call my niece and nephews.

I was so excited when they, the youngest of the four, came to my house over summer break where we built a bonfire, roasted smores, slept in a huge 12 person tent, watched movies on the laptop, and had an overall blast. They consumed more food in 3 days than we consume in a week, but I just had a freaking blast and always look forward to having them here. My nephew is a true charmer. That boy is the epitome of a gentlemen, funny as a kid could ever be, and just an over all amazing boy. My niece, the only girl, is a force of nature. She is gorgeous, tan all the time, blonde hair, and truly unique. I adore them both and enjoy every minute they are here. I miss them….dear sista….please send your children to my house soon.

We had a quick photo shoot in my house and this was one pic of them that I love.

I will update this post with more pictures soon. Right now…I have to get going with other things because we are still finishing the bathrooms and carpeting my stairs. Oh, and now I am going to paint the middle child's room pink.

What….I say “What” have I gotten myself into?

love,

aunt (ka-ra-zay) Kerr

Digital Scrapbooking Layout

2009-12-05T18:41:00.001-05:00

Here is another layout of my baby during a time in the tub when I couldn't really work my DSLR ( its a Canon Rebel XTi – Lens: 18-200 IS) so I did break out the Photoshop wand and cleaned them up a bit.

As I said in the other post all the products are from DSP. I don't remember which cd its from but you can find the stuff in their store.

That's my baby girl.

All Girl Digital Scrapbook Layout

2009-12-05T08:59:00.001-05:00

Its been a while since I have scrapped anything. You know life gets in the way, you get overwhelmed, or you flat out just dont have the time. Well after surfing through my computer this mornin I decided I wanted to revisit some of these and decided I would share them. I have quite a few more that are resting in my external hard drive but I will be posting a few today before getting up to finish remodeling the bathrooms today.

Here is my baby Selene Brooklyn, aka Mini. I absolutely adore this picture and this layout. None of these products are mine.

I used to work over at DSP and you can find these products in their store. Feel free to get ideas, copy the layout, switch it up a bit or whatever you want. I would love to see some of the layouts you fab-u-lous digi-scrappers have done.

Feel free to comment and put up a link to one of your favorite layouts. I am going to be picking one and showcasing a new layout every couple of weeks.

Enjoy!

Crazy Change Freebie 2

2009-12-05T08:44:00.001-05:00

Here is the second groupie in the set. These are quick and easy items that you can plop on a digital scrapbook page and make quick work of your layout. They are definitely time savers!

You can download them HERE

As always if you like em, please leave me some freebie love in the comments or cbox. I love to get comments :)

Kerr

Crazy Change Freebie

2009-12-04T14:14:00.001-05:00

Since I just put the Crazy Change Page Kit in my store I figured I would give you a taste of the kit by giving away a free groupie a day. Every day for the next four days (including today) I will upload a new free groupie for you to download.

Be sure and download them as the link will expire in 7 days! After that they will be available for purchase in the store for 99 cents for the set of four.

Download the Groupie HERE

As always, please leave me a comment if you like em, love em, or leave em!

Crazy Change Page Kit

2009-12-04T13:40:00.001-05:00

This kit has a very old world and well worn feel to it. Its wonderful bright yet muted tones will work well with lots of pictures both old and new.

Details:

300 ppi
4 crackle backgrounds
8 unique elements
File Size 17.2 MB

$1.99

Antiquated Autumn Page Kit

2009-12-04T11:58:00.001-05:00

This wonderful page kit is neutral with unique textured elements. Traditional and simply shabby chic, this kit is a fun must have for multiple styles of digital layouts.

300 ppi
3 backgrounds
9 elements

$1.99

Tag Your it …Freebie!

2009-12-03T09:43:00.001-05:00

Quickly here is a freebie to help you get going today. Its a cute tag set with a hanger that has a front and back to it so that you can use it realistically.

I hope you enjoy. And as always, if you use please link back or put a comment in the cbox so I can go check it out. I love to see how others use my work.

You can download it HERE. Happy Thursday!

Kerr

Pecan Pie Recipe

2009-12-01T19:21:00.000-05:00

We live for pecan pie in our house. If we make two they are gone in less than 48 hrs. One pie alone is reserved for me (and dont you forget that husband and children…) or at least I usually claim as much.
This year they didn't turn out as pretty as usual because we didn’t have our DELUXE recipe that we usually use but, alas, they still ‘boasted’ about putting 12 lbs on me in 24 hrs (I have a love / hate relationship with pecan pie…I love to eat it and then hate myself for doing something so dumb as to sit and eat a half of pie in one sitting. What…? I am just being honest here)
So anywho….when I get the DEEEEluxe version of the recipe I shall update accordingly but here is the recipe we used for our Thanksgiving feast.

Now grab all your ingredients: Whole pecans, sugar, dark and light caro syrup (you can sub with just one or the other but we always split them between both), butter, eggs, vanilla extract, and deep dish pie shells.

Now grab a large bowl and whisk your eggs

Grab your caro syrup, measure, and pour it in.

Make sure you get all that good stuff in there!

Now add your sugar. Is it weird that I love this picture? Yes, apparently I get excited by pouring sugar and getting a good picture of it.

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh baby loooook at that sugggah!

Grab the butter and pop it in the microwave for about 15-30 seconds until its warm but not boiling. I had to let mine cool….oops!

*Note to self: 30 seconds is toooo long in your microwave*
Pour in your vanilla

Oh baby here is my one true food love in the world in its base form

Mix it all up with your mixer on medium. Warning…I am only using one beater cuz well….thats a whole nother blog post. Lets just say it has something to do with a three year old and her love of singing into my beaters….nuff said!
Hey, that’s how we roll round here. Feel free to use two :)

Now pour your butter in making sure that you are still mixing. Remember we only want the butter melted not boiling…

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH…..if your a batter lover (what? why did everyone look at me?) this stuff is heaven in a bowl.

WARNING: I do not condone eating raw eggs in batter….consume at your own risk.

***Public service announcement over***

Oh lordy, pour all that amazing goodness into the pie shell.

Please be sure you don't leave any of this goodness behind in the bowl.

I do condone licking the bowl clean. Just be sure no one is around to witness your temporary insanity.

Break out those bad boy pecans and grab yerself a handful. Now, I know there are many ways to skin a cat (please don’t try and prove that theory) but this is how we roll around here. We hand place our pecans delicately after pouring in the batter.

However you want to do it feel free. I am just showing you my way of doing it.

disclaimer: those are not my hands. I cannot take pictures while holding pecans in one hand and placing pecans with the other. If that were the case then I would actually be able to walk, chew gum, and talk on the phone all at the same time. One can dream…

Carefully place your pecans around the pie starting at the edge as shown.

uh huh…..

second row…

wow thats looking good…

mmmmmm…..

last pecan! Now grab some tinfoil and pull it out about 2 inches. Tear off two pieces roughly the same size. This isnt crucial as far as size goes but it is crucial to make for a nice crust while these babies cook.

Here we are all wrapped up and ‘ready, ready, ready to rrruuuunnnnn’ . Thats my best impression of the Dixie Chicks. Now, don’t actually run to your oven but place this bad boy in there to get reaaaaalllllly happpy.

Here it is. But, its not quite done yet. We still need about 12 minutes left before the center is no longer wiggling like a weeble-wobble. You know its done when it doesn’t jiggle and wiggle. Its usually around 55 minutes you will start noticing it getting firm. It can sometimes take as long as 65-70 minutes (especially if you have a dorky electric stove and two pies involved) to completely cook.

Here is the finished product. Not our most beautiful pie but that sure wont be stopping me from devouring it within hours of stuffing myself full of turkey dinner.

Printable PDF Pecan Pie Recipe

Pecan Pie Recipe
1 bag whole pecans
½ cup of dark caro syrup
½ cup of light caro syrup
3 eggs slightly beaten
1 c sugar
2 tb real butter – melted but not boiling
1 ts vanilla extract
Preheat 350 degrees
Cook 55-65 minutes
Cover crust with foil for the duration of cooking time
Tip: Don’t get your foil into your mixture or when you pull it off it will pull up your pie and possibly the pecans with it.

Updates

2009-11-29T21:00:00.001-05:00

With the new look and all the work going on to update the blog I will be making it so it acts as a website and not a blog.

If you have any issues please just let me know but from now on the start page will be the beginning page and you can use all the links up top and the labels on the side to find the posts your looking for.

If you subscribe in reader all the new posts will show up in reader (or at least they should). I hope this all works and thanks for understanding all the craziness that is my blog lately I am just trying to make life easier for me so I can update everyday and bring you new things more quickly and easily.

Kerr

Happy Turkey Day!!!

2009-11-26T09:55:00.002-05:00

Well, I must say im slaaaaaaaacking today. Im a bit tired but hey…got most of the prep work done yesterday. The MOM is here and she took over and did the early early morning chores (thanks MOM your a dream…err maybe that was a dream anyway). So now fresh pumpkin pie spices, sweet potatoes (candied yams), and pecan pies are filling my house with the most incredible smell ever.
Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate it and pictures will be up later showcasing our feast that I plan on needing a serious trainer to work off those calories.
By the way, is it even legal to want to consume 32,000 calories in like two days? You tell me!

Gobble Gobble….my lil turkey dude wants to get a tan so I am going to help him with that.

Kerr

Turkey Brine Solution

2009-11-25T19:35:00.000-05:00

Ok so you have never brined a turkey right? Or anything for that matter. Well guess what, this is one of those things your going to wonder why on earth you never tried it before. Its easy, doesn’t take as long as you think, and with little preparation you will have a heck of a delicious turkey that people will be bowing down and kissing your lil toes for the luxury of a great thanksgiving.

Now you must forgive me, I was busy in the kitchen today taking mad pictures and cooking multiple turkey day items and realized when all was said and done I hadnt gotten any prep photos of my brine or during it so…one picture is all you get but mostly its just throwing a bunch of spices and seasonings in water so your good trust me!

1 cup of kosher/coarse salt
1/2 cup of light brown sugar – packed
5 large bay leaves
2 tb of black pepper corns
1 tb of powdered garlic
1 tb of dried rosemary
1 tb of rubbed sage
1 tb crushed coriander

Bring 2 quarts of cold water to a boil in a large stock pot.

Add all of your ingredients to your pot. Stir until dissolved completely. Remove from the heat. Add 2 more quarts of cold water. Stir. Let sit to cool. Put in the fridge or add ice to completely cool down the brine. We dont want no stinking warm brine trying to cook our lil birdie.

Now…get yourself a huge brining bag or a huge plastic bag for say sweaters and put ur lil guy in the plastic bag. Put your bag (turkey dude in tow) into a new stock pot or can or something that will hold your turkey but fit in your fridge. Now pour all your brine over the dude and then seal him shut. Put him in the fridge so he sleeps in a blissfully happy brine bath till your ready to cook him. Be sure to rinse him very very well before cooking him and pat him dry. Cooking that lil guy is next!

Where’s the picture you say??? Well here is a quick look at my brine in my stock pot. Nothing special but man it can work some serious magic on our lil dude. He be one way happy dude tomorrow!

Free Page Kit - Black Ice

2009-11-23T18:31:00.000-05:00

Well I told you I would be coming up with some cooool freebies and here is one of many to come.

This gorgeous kit is elegant and perfectly timed for gorgeous holiday photos but will work well for all year and can be dressed up or dressed down for a fabulous layout any time of year. Enjoy.

Download the page kit HERE

Oh, please leave me a comment here on my blog if you like this kit.

Hey you never know...I might get all sentimental on you and pick some lucky gal to win a special lil somethin' somethin'. Yup, that's how I roll.

'Kerr'