… I’m still making freebies!

First of all, thank you to all of you who sent me wonderful messages when I retired from designing, I’m sorry I couldn’t respond to them all… it was a very emotional decision for me. I’m glad to say though that my grandpa is on a better path with Parkinson’s now — he got to connect with a specialist at Johns Hopkins, and we hopefully have a better treatment plan now! The last five months have been very hard for him because he started experiencing stronger PD symptoms, but the specialist is confident that the new treatment plan will help tame those symptoms.

Also, Real Life Scrapped is growing! We’re hopefully going to have a new gallery system running soon. I just need to gather a group of about 20 people to help me test it out, and then we’ll be able to roll it out!!! We’ve also started a new series called “Get Real Challenges“… which brings me to back my main reason for checking in again!!!

I’m still making freebies!

You can find these templates over on the Real Life Scrapped FB fan page…

… and these templates over on my Our Misadventures page!

In the past few months I’ve released some other freebies, but they’ve all expired now. So make sure you’re following both Real Life Scrapped and Our Misadventures, because I have three more template sets in the wings waiting for their turns as freebies!

Thanks again for all your amazing support over the years, especially with my decision to retire. It was tough but all your wonderful messages made me feel so much better!

It’s with a heavy heart that today I announce that I am retiring from designing.  In November there was a death in my family, and then a series of events that caused me to be unable to work for three weeks. Being that far behind caused me to reevaluate what’s important in my life, and I realized my heart isn’t into designing like it used to be.  I still love to design, but it isn’t a priority in my life like other things are.

For example, I really want to grow Real Life Scrapped and make it a one-stop place for everyone in scrapbooking world to connect, learn, and share. With everything that happened in November, I wasn’t even able to check the RLS site or my RLS email daily — which really upset me that problems could be unattended or spammers could be attacking the site. I still have a lot of work to do on RLS to make it the site I dream it can be.

Also, as some of you know, my grandpa has Parkinson’s Disease and being his advocate is a major part of my life.  PD has always been a part of my life, because before my grandpa — his mother had it, and I was close to her as well. I’m now helping lead our PD support group, and am an ambassador for the Michael J Fox Foundation. Helping people with PD and raising money for the cure is incredibly important to me now.

Why am I sharing all of this? Because I feel terrible that I’m ending something that has been a part of our lives for the last two years. As my followers, you also have invested your time in me and Ocean Wide Designs. I hate disappointing you! Who knows, I might be back for an occasional collab or guest spot… but I definitely need a break before I consider those options. I definitely will be releasing occasional freebies at Real Life Scrapped and Our Misadventures. I miss scrapping like I used to and would love to CT for other designers again.

My entire shop is on sale through the end of the year, PU/S4H is 60% off and CU is 50% off. I’ve also made three special bundles where you can buy all the PU/S4H, templates, or CU.

Thank you everyone for your support these last two years!! I look forward to seeing you around the digiworld

{purchase the PU/S4H bundle}

{purchase the templates bundle}

{purchase the CU bundle}

Happy iDSD! This year I’m beginning to think we should start calling it International Digital Scrapbooking Week instead of Day! There is so much going on this year!

It’s my first iDSD at GingerScraps — holy cow! They really know how to throw a celebration! The entire shop is 50% off with ALL Buffet items for only $1!!! The “Buffet” at GingerScraps is a build your own collab kit — much like the Zig Zag Lines were at ZZS!

I’ve made seven packs for November’s Buffet — Attitude of Gratitude! Four paper packs, 1 element pack, 1 template pack, and 1 set of glitters!

{head on over to my shop to check them out!}

Also going on at GingerScraps are chats all weekend long — I’ll be doing the 10pm ET Friday night chat! — giveaways, games, and more!! One thing that I’ve never seen before is the Cake Walk! The more you buy in the shop, the more you can win! Check out this graphic for the info:

Are you ready for the inspiration from my amazing Creative Team?? I LOVE what they’ve done with the Attitude of Gratitude items! There’s so many layouts that I’m going to have to direct you to the facebook fan page to see all of them! Here’s a few of my favorites!

Now what are you doing still scrolling?? Hurry on over to GingerScraps and start shopping!!!! The sale has been extended through November 9th so those who have been struck by Sandy wont miss their chance to shop!!!

Happy Friday everyone! I hope the week has been good to you! I’ve been working like the busy bee that I am But I’ve also been doing the Week In My Life project — documenting my everyday, incredibly boring, life! If that actually interests you, I’m posting over at Our Misadventures Onto what you’re here for — new digiscrap goodies!!!

Holy cow! Over 100 entries for the Sea Charts Vol. 12 giveaway!!!  Time to announce the winners!  Congrats Robin and Nicole! Check your email soon for instructions on retrieving your prize!

I also decided to select a third winner for Sea Charts Vol. 11 — which are being rereleased along with Vol. 12 — Congrats Faith! Check your email as well!

Onto the new release

Sea Charts Vol. 12 is another set of four templates — but for scrapping square photos!!! I’m a total Instagram & Hipstamatic junkie… so I needed some more square photo templates in my stash! As always, the templates come in PSD, TIFF, PNGs, and Page files!

{purchase Sea Charts Vol. 12}

Newsletter subscribers & facebook fans — keep your eyes peeled for your 50% off discount on these templates!! No need to wait until iDSD to grab them

Ready for some awesome inspiration from my CT?

Don’t forget the Sea Charts Vol. 11 re-release!

I’m slowly adding stuff from the August Zig Zag Lines to my GingerScraps store! Sea Charts Vol. 11 will be on sale again through the weekend for 25% off!

{purchase Sea Charts Vol. 11}

Stay tuned to grab a peek of next week’s TONS of new releases and iDSD fun!!!

I’m on a roll this week! Not only is there a giveaway going on for my new templates, but I have a new freebie for you all!

I’ve been feeling a bit bummed about our weather — it was 100°F yesterday!!! In LATE OCTOBER! We had a “taste” of fall last week with a few cool days… but not anymore

So, last night I decided to turn my angst against our weather into a new mini-kit!  ”A Taste Of Fall” is available for free to Ocean Wide Designs Facebook Fans. Just “Like” the page and head on over to the Fan Goodies tab!

Now that I’ve settled into my new home at GingerScraps – it’s time for a new product sneak peek and giveaway!!  The move took A LOT of time, but it’s safe to say I’m back to work in Photoshop, making lots of goodies for you all!

Coming next week is Sea Charts Vol. 12! This template set is PERFECT for all of my fellow instagram & hipstamatic addicts — the templates are all about square photos!

Want to win a set?? I’m giving away TWO! Just use the RaffleCopter tool below to enter the giveaway! Remember to submit each step, otherwise your entry wont be counted. Be sure to come back each day to submit more entries — there’s some entries that can be completed multiple times!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

… another one opens!

As many of you have probably heard by now, Zig Zag Scrap will be closing it’s doors on October 15th.  ZZS was the first shop where I actually felt at home as a person and designer, the last year and a half has been amazing thanks to Rita & Mirjam giving me a home there.  But life happens, and it’s time to close. Be sure to use all your points at ZZS up before the closure, and download and unzip everything to make sure there aren’t any problems.

Fortunately, I’ve found another home! I’m still pinching myself about the perfect timing of my guest spot & falling in love with everyone at GingerScraps. Like Sarah said in the shop newsletter, it really was the community that made the decision for me. After hosting my chats I had so many wonderful PMs from you all, saying that you hoped I would stay… I couldn’t say no!

So I hope you’ll be joining me for my Grand Opening Sale! Everything is 25%-35% off!  Keep an eye on the facebook page – I might give away a few extra discounts throughout the week

Newsflash! There’s a new release at GingerScraps, and I’m having a chat this weekend!!!  I have a LOT of fun at the Night Owls chats led by Terra of Sugar Kissed Designs, I hope you’ll all show up while I attempt my chat the next day! I already have lots planned, including a freebie for showing up + coupons to give away!  Now onto the new release…

Happiness is… a puppy! Fall’s arrival! Cheesecake! Family! Speed Scraps!  Happiness is a lot of different things for a lot of people, and I designed a kit just for scrapping about what makes you happy!  For me it’s fall arriving… and a cheesecake with a nice and thick graham cracker crust… mmm!

“Happiness Is…” is exclusive to GingerScraps for the rest of the month. It includes 20 papers, 55 elements… and there’s an add-on!  The team and I have had a lot of fun with this kit, I can’t wait to finish my own page!! Since I’m late sending out the news on this release, use the coupon code “OWD_h4ppy” to get the kit & add-on for 35% off through Friday!

{purchase the kit} {purchase the paper pack}

Here’s the add-on! A set of 8 Sparkly Splotches!

{purchase the add-on}

Remember, use the coupon code “OWD_h4ppy” to get the kit & add-on for 35% off through Friday! You may of noticed the Ocean Wide Designs website was down, along with Real Life Scrapped… the server crashed over last weekend and I’ve been playing catch up ever since – which is why I’m just now posting this new release.

Here’s some Creative Team inspiration! Jen has been posting even more inspiration to the facebook page – be sure to check it out!

Some of you probably did a double take when you received GingerScrap’s September newsletter – yep! That’s my face you saw! And Ocean Wide Designs products!

I’m guesting for the month of September at GingerScraps, and I’m LOVING it! If you’re a GS fan, you’ve probably already seen me hanging around there for the Friday Night Owl Scrap & Chats with Terra… Guess what! I get to host a chat this month too! I’m super excited, I always have a ton of fun with the ladies at GS. I’ll have more news on my chat soon!

First up – a new kit! Exclusive to GS! Through the Storms was a request from my dear friend, fellow designer, and CT member Tammy.  She needed a masculine kit for her son’s engagement photos, something with blues and greens with neutrals like brown and gray.  Sounds easy enough, right? Nope! It was a hard kit for me to design… because as you probably know, I’m a sucker for feminine colors and FLOWERS!

But I’m happy to say – the kit turned out awesome! It includes 22 papers and 50 elements (I really couldn’t help myself once the ball got rolling!) All of my products at GS will be 25% off through this weekend – including Through the Storms!

{purchase the kit} {purchase the paper pack}

I have some CT inspiration for you – you can catch more inspiration on the fan page!

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the goodies in my guest shop!  I look forward to seeing you all at GS!

The Zig Zag Lines are here again! This August we have a lot of new products! I myself have a mega kit (also separated into packs,) template pack, page edge pack, vellum pockets, glitter styles… and  a giant bundle of everything at 59% off!!!

My team and I had a ton of fun with these products, I can’t wait to play some more with them! I think “Beautifully Imperfect” is my favorite kit yet!

{click here to head to my shop!}

Everything is 30% off through the weekend! Check out the rest of the August Zig Zag Line products from other designers:

Check out inspiration from my creative team! Keep your eye on the facebook fan page for even more layouts!