Once in a while you stumble across something so incredibly awesome, it would be almost sinful to not share the joy and the thrill of the discovery.
And so from my piano-loving home to yours (is there anyone who does not love music?), here’s a seriously awesome work of magic.
If my silence around here has been any indication, it’s been an insane past couple of weeks, what with the Great Rains from the tropical storm that wasn’t really a storm (except it caused a Great Flood which was an eerily reminiscent of the Ondoy Disaster of 2009), helping out those who suffered most from the flood-caused devastation, deadlines, work, more deadlines, and generally everything else that falls under the heading called Real Life: Urgent To-Do List.
But every once in a while, despite the barrage of responsibilities and an ever-growing to-do list, you come upon a serendipitous discovery that’s just too good to just keep to yourself. So you stop for a few seconds and steal a few minutes of your time because this is just way too special to not share.
And so I am doing just that right now. Stopping the world’s quick-spin for a few moments so I can share this with you (and thank you, dear friend of mine—you know who you are—for piquing my curiosity which led to this exact discovery just this morning).
( I must mention this here: in a world where ads can be found everywhere, and not all of them great, the fact that today’s discovery is a great ad with a great message adds to the happy surprise!)
And so, my dear friends, I invite you to get off your speeding trains for just a moment and check this out:
My favorite line:
… to spend your precious time on the small things
because your time is your life
and the less of it you waste,
the more of it you live.
Never mind that it’s an ad for a phone. It’s nevertheless one with a great message for each one of us. One that I suspect we can all relate to. One with a lot of heart. A simple but profound invitation to Live More. Powerful, isn’t it?
And so, as we climb back on our speeding trains or our rushing boats or our spinning carriages on this quick merry-go-round of daily routines, I wish you many opportunities to find precious time to spend on the little things. Because, as Marian Wright Edelman said,
We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences.
Here’s to our living more! 🙂
I think Yoda would agree. 😆
If you love the look of textures on your photos, you’ll love playing with my Photo Play Texture Pack, which happens to be on sale for just a buck today (till midnight of Wednesday Pacific time)!
{Click on the image above to grab this texture pack for just a buck!}
Here’s a sample of how these textures can bring that oomph and bang to your photos:
You can combine different textures to get totally different looks each time…
Or you can use one particular texture and play with blending modes, which is what I did here:
Original (Unedited) Photo:
I used Photo Play Texture 6P on the photo and came up with this:
(I used a layer mask and with a low brush opacity, I erased a bit of the texture from the little girl so that the texture was retained but did not overpower the subject).
I used Photo Play Bonus Texture #2 and this is what I came up with:
Here’s the recipe I used above, in case you’re interested (though the textures work differently depending on your images… and that’s a wonderful thing, because it means that you can play and experiment with different textures, different blending modes, different opacities, and the possibilities are just mind-boggling!)
As always, you can click on the images to view them at larger sizes. 🙂
I also have this wonderful element pack at half the regular price today (again, till midnight Pacific time)… and these are perfect not just for taping photos or elements or tags, but also for adding realism and texture to your creations (you can even put text on them!). These are real tapes that I have painstakingly and lovingly extracted for you so that all their rough, torn edges and crumpled areas have been preserved. Yummy, right? 🙂
{Click on the image above to grab this at 50%-off}
You knew I’d be sharing some fabulous layouts with you, right?
This one was created by Sarah:
This one was created by Margje:
This one was created by Reeta:
And here’s another one that Reeta created:
Ever wanted to learn Photoshop? Want to learn it in the most wonderful way, with video instruction and with the most supportive community plus the sweetest, funniest, most awesome instructor holding your hand (virtually) as she guides you through the Top 5 Photoshop Techniques that everyone should know?
You’re in luck because my dear friend Jessica (yeah, she of JessicaSprague.com 😉 ) is giving a FREE online class which is open to everyone!
Click on the image above to find out which specific techniques will be covered and how to get yourself enlisted for the Online Class which starts next week (but you can totally do it on your own time… as long as you register and sign up for the class, it’s yours forever. Yeah, you read that right. All our classes at JessicaSprague.com that you sign up for (free and purchased) are and have always been yours forever so that any time 5 or 10 years from now you want a refresher, it’ll still be right there waiting for you :D).
Alrighty then! Go have a most wonderful Wednesday, my dearies, and I’ll see you soon! xoxo
The designers, creative team members, and admin at JessicaSprague.com have all been working hard in our digital labs, cooking up something these past weeks to celebrate 4 fabulous years of growing our skills and telling our stories and cultivating friendships on our Spraground…
And tonight is the night we’re throwing confetti and blowing trumpets and and welcoming one and all to this seriously awesome PARTY! We’ve got 47 goodie bags (actually, there’s a little surprise at the end too! 😉 ) to give each one of you!
Be sure you unzip your goodie bags as soon as you pass through each blog so that you can collect the quote strips tucked inside each one. When you’ve gathered all 47 quote strips, arrange them in the correct order then send the completed “quote” to my dear friend Tori (her email addy is on the flyer below), and all those who complete the quote correctly have an additional chance to win the raffle for a sur-PRIZE from us! How awesome is that! 😀
Remember, though, that you need to grab all your goodie bags (and send that completed quote to Tori) between NOW and 10PM EST Sunday (June 26th), which is when our party winds down (and then we get to wipe the traces of chocolate cupcake off our faces and lie down on the grass and smile contentedly at the stars, thanking the heavens for a wonderful weekend-long party 🙂 ).
So while you put on your virtual running shoes and get ready for our 47-stop bloghop, here’s a bit of info to let you know how we’re playing this entire weekend!
In case you’ve arrived here directly, you’ll want to click on the image below to get to the start of the bloghop 🙂
And now… open your arms wide so I can give you a great big (((squeeze))) and this goodie-bag that I’ve created for you!
CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE to grab your freebie 🙂 (And while you’re downloading, you might want to leave a little love on my blog via the COMMENTS box at the bottom? 😉 I just *love* hearing from you! )
Sorry, the download link has expired. Thank you so much for dropping by!
Included in my mini kit are:
All my elements come in simple and pre-shadowed versions! 🙂
(PS. For those who live in the US, the colors of my 4EVER Mini Kit are sure to work perfectly for your Fourth-of-July holiday that’s right around the corner! Isn’t 4 such a fabulous number? 😀 )
NEXT STOP on the bloghop is… hang on… let me first remind you (*naughty smiles):
We have discounts on every class and product in our store through Sunday, June 26! Be sure to stock up on your favorite digi supplies as well as enroll in the classes you’ve been wanting to take!
And if you’ve missed any of the 27 episodes of Jessica’s amazing Photoshop Friday tutorials and our Hybrid Project Friday tutorials, now’s your chance to grab them for just $1 each before they’re retired forever on June 26th.
BLOG STOP NO. 3 – which is the home of the goddess of all things kitschy, Danielle’s blog!
Have fun, and thanks so much for dropping by! Don’t be a stranger … come back often cos I just love sitting on my blog porch, sipping on iced tea (or hot chocolate :D), and swapping stories with you! (Go ahead and sign up for email subscription on the right top side of this page 😉 ).
See you soon! BIG BIG ((((hugs))))!
Okay, I am guilty of being totally remiss in sitting on my blog porch with you, dearest friends, and I am so sorry about that. I could tell you all about the past months spent running after speeding trains, but let me not bore you with that, and instead simply promise to rectify that. In fact, I will begin rectifying today! 🙂 Because today is a good day! Because today I have news too great to share that I just had to rush here and tell you all about it!
Do you know when “mayday” is a good thing?
Why, when it refers to 7 Days in May, the annual scrapaganza over at jessicasprague.com, where you get a smorgasboard of daily challenges for an entire week… the perfect chance to keep growing your skills, put your fabulous photos on wonderful layouts, preserve the precious memories that go with them, and grab some awesome freebies all at the same time! What treat could be better than that?
So if you haven’t scrapped in ages, or if you just scrapped an hour ago, or if you haven’t scrapped at all in your entire life: this is for YOU! Come and join us this entire week, beginning today. Just click on the flyer below and find the first of seven daily challenges at the top (sticky) portion of our General Forum!
I’m leading today’s challenge (and Kari and Linda, my two awesome – and awesomely-creative – friends, will be leading some of this week’s challenges as well). Here’s a sneak peek of the inspiration behind today’s challenge (teehee!)
So… shall I see you on the Spraground? I hope so! Be there or be… THERE! 😉
And now… let the wild rumpus begin! 😀
Ever have days when you feel like you’re running after speeding trains that just won’t slow down long enough to allow you to hop on? 😆
That’s kind of what my life has been like these past weeks!
But I’m halting the chase for a bit right now because… I’m the featured designer on the first-ever Friday Favorites celebration at digilovely.com this weekend!
If you’ve to digilovely.com already, you’ll know that it’s chock-full of inspiration and lovely layouts by the super-talented ladies of our JessicaSprague.com Creative Team!
There’s a special reason why you should rush over there right now (like: RIGHT NOW 😉 ) … because I know I’m kinda running late coming here to let you know (~wince! I’m sorry! Did I say life has been crazy hectic?~). But don’tcha worry, I’m not *too* late, because you still have till 11:59pm (Eastern Standard Time) today to grab the chance to get your favorite liv.edesigns product for free! That’s right, for free! Isn’t that awesome? 😀
All you have to do is take a trip to digilovely.com (that’s right, go ahead and click on that link 😉 ) to get the chance to grab that element pack, that paper pack, or that kit that you’ve had your eye on lately. 😉 (Everything in my shop is included in this freebie-raffle, with the exception only of my albums and template bundles. This means single template are okay, but not the bundles :D). While you’re there, you’ll love checking out all the awesome layouts by our uber-amazing creative team members!
So … do you like free? I like! I hope you like too, and if you do, here’s what you need to know!
There are 2 ways to win your favorite liv.edesigns product this weekend:
1. Hop on to digilovely.com and leave a comment stating which your favorite product is (that’s what you’ll win if your name gets drawn!).
OR
2. Go to our jessicasprague.com on Facebook and click LIKE (you need to “Like” it to leave a comment) and then tell us what your favorite product is. While you’re there, go to my liv.edesigns Facebook page too and click LIKE (and I will love you forever! :D)
If you’re not familiar with Facebook, here’s a quick and easy way to LIKE!
You can do both and increase the chances that your name will be drawn as winner! Kari, the digilovely boss, will be in charge of drawing the winners after the draw closes tonight. She’ll be picking 5 winners from the digilovely.com commenters, and 5 winners from our Facebook commenters.
If you haven’t gone to my shop lately, why don’t you take a stroll and check out the stuff that’s up for grabs? Click right HERE or on the image below to get to my shop. 🙂
I wish you the best of luck, and THANK YOU so much for being awesome!
Have a wonderful Sunday! ((((hugs))))
Wednesdays at the Spraground (aka jessicasprague.com) are always huge party-days when designers put up some really choice items for … wait for it… nothing more than a buck! Can you imagine the amazing chance to preserve your precious memories with awesome made-with-love schtuff that costs less today than a hotdog?
Yup. Awesome. Totally. 🙂
Just wanted to let you know that I have my {Swirly Words} Stamps & Brush Set on One-Buck Wednesday!
Perfect for adding movement and energy and a touch of whimsy to your layouts, there are 14 super-fun and super-swirly words in this element pack. They come as stamps (in .png format) so that you can use them with any program, and as a brush set (in .abr format) so that you can resize them and color them as you wish.
You’ll get a mix of brush sizes, and a good number of them are large enough to fit a 12×12 layout horizontally and vertically. Use them to add color and a dash of playfulness to your creations!
Click HERE or on the image below to get them for a buck at our JessicaSprague.com shop!
Check out these awesome layouts created by our JessicaSprague.com Creative Team!
Love the fresh sweetness of Miki’s layout!
Oooh, all that swirly wispy movement that mimics the flight of kites on Chris’ layout!
And yet another deliciously juicy layout from the awesome Miki!
Check out our JessicaSprague.com homepage for more One-Buck Wednesday goodness from my designer-sistas!
So… what’cha waitin’ for? Just say yes! 😀
Age does not diminish the extreme disappointment of having a scoop of ice cream fall from the cone. ~Jim Fiebig
Nor does it diminish the extreme joy of creating an album to hold your most precious memories!
We have three new exciting classes that are opening today at jessicasprague.com! And like a scrumptious banana-split festival, there are three flavors, perfect for the young, the once-young, and the in-beTWEENs among us!
First off, we have the newest instructor-led class (with no less than the awesome Jessica Sprague at the helm), the Family History Album Class!
Record the stories of your ancestry; tell the funny, touching, and unforgettable stories of your parents, grandparents, and the other branches of your family tree! I can think of no better way to get this all-important job of memory-keeping done than to create a 20-page heritage album (and even get it printed when you’re done, if you so desire!)
Classes begin on October 11th (that’s next Monday).
Click on the image below to learn more about the class! And when (not if 😉 ) you decide that this is *just* what you’ve been dreaming of, clicking on this image will also bring you to the very place where you can sign up!
And for all those who are 8 – 18 years of age (or feeling 8 to 18 😉 ), you now have the chance to create your own Awesome Album! Whether this will be your first time to create a digital scrapbook album, or your nth time, you’ll love this opportunity to create your own 20-page album about yourself! Got homework and will be busy on some days? No worries! The class is self-paced, so you can go as quickly or as slowly as you wish!
You’ll get an awesome kit designed exclusively for the class by my beloved cereal-munching great friend Nisa, and (get our your bullhorns and announce this to the world), you’ll be led in the class by the Great Jessica Sprague! When you complete your album you’ll be able to share it with all your friends and loved ones in two different ways! Intrigued yet? Read all about it by clicking on the images below!
The Tween Album Class (featuring loads of doodles and bright colors and sweetness all over):
The Teen Album Class (featuring coolness in the form of paint swashes, rockstar titles, and stereos!):
Well? Whatchawaiting for? Go run and sign up and give yourself (and your friends) this gift of a class and album rolled into one!
Gotta get started now on my design work, so I’ll see you soon!
PS. Have you clicked on the images above yet? Don’t be shy: go right ahead and CLICK. 😉
Oooh! Two delightful discoveries in one day: could anything be cooler? 😀
TheFunTheory.com believes that fun is a great motivator; carry this theory further and then come up with the thesis that the easiest way to change people’s behavior for the better (i.e., get them to make the better, wiser choice) is simply to make it fun. Oooh. My kind of theory. My kind of people!
Now if only we could let world leaders in on this secret, and therefore get them to go about their business of effecting GOOD change in a fun way, that would be completely awesome now, wouldn’t it?
I love surfing the net. You never know when you’ll get hit by something totally cool. Like this:
Now how cool was that slow-mo lego bullet zinging through the air, right? 😀
liv.e simply 