Lynne-Marie designs

My word for 2012

2012-01-15T15:46:00.004-05:00

I've adopted a word for 2012... FOCUS. You see, I tend to be drawn to many different things at once. My husband is the complete opposite. He's single-minded and delves deep into 1 or 2 interests, while I skitter from one thing to another, often loosing interest along the way. Call it attention deficit if you like, but I just think there aren't enough hours in a day to soak in all that life has to offer! I don't think my ways are wrong... just counterproductive at times. So I've decided to limit my activities and stay focused on a few priorities for 2012. Hopefully I will not get distracted too much along the way and I'll accomplish a few projects I've been putting off. I've laid aside designing, but I still enjoy a couple of hours to art journal or scrap now and then. Here's a layout I did about my 2012 word using mostly the Journal Your Art Out series by Fiddlette designs and Nancie Rowe Janitz at CatScrap. I threw in a few other items from various other designers as well. For complete credits, click here.

Bye-bye 2011!

2011-12-31T12:17:00.001-05:00

2011 was a year for transitions in my life. I left my teaching job after 15 years at the International School of Greenfield Park, I turned 40 (new decade), we expanded our music school to 4 different locations, and now, at the close of the year, I've decided to set aside designing (once again) to concentrate on my songwriting and our recording projects. Although I will be keeping my shop open, I won't be adding anything new for an indefinite period of time. I know I will miss it, but sometimes you need to put aside something you love to make room for something you love more!

The past 4-5 years have been difficult. I overworked myself and pushed past my limits... staying awake all night to finish a design, then going to work then next day and doing my best to take care of the family afterwards. I had it all wrong. I was trying to be a superwoman, to live up to some undefined expectations that came from nowhere. Turning 40 has a lot to do with the decisions I've taken this year. Something was amiss and I just had to set it right! I've changed directions drastically, and with that comes a long trail of adjustments I need to make. I just can't wait to be settled in this new direction so I feel that I can move forward once again!

For now, I am taking extra care of my health... trying to catch up on my sleep, to eat well and soon I'll add exercise! I can hardly believe that I was a aerobics instructor in my early 20s... but that was half my life ago! Arghh!!! Where has the time gone?! My 30s raced by me at full speed. I hope to slow down a bit so I can enjoy my 40s! I've been taking more time to write, to think, to play with my kids, to fall in love with my husband, to breathe, to go for walks, to read books, to de-clutter my house, etc... I still feel the itching to busy myself with stuff to do. You can always find something to fill your time... or others will find it for you! I keep having to remind myself not to. At my church we will be starting a study group on the book "Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren. This is just what I need! Taking time to better define and focus on my purpose will lay the groundwork for the years to come!

I look forward to 2012!

IQ (Intelligence Quotient)

2011-12-19T10:59:00.000-05:00

Studio 68 and I have joined forces to bring you this awesome college-life inspired collab. IQ (Intelligence Quotient) is a school kit for older kids or anyone who is technically inclined! It has a wide variety of elements with a nice balance of clean and grungy papers. You'll love the add-ons we've created that are 50% off with purchase of the collab for all of December!!! The collab itself is 25% off too! Don't miss it!

FREE SAMPLER of the IQ kit:

(Click here to download)

CT inspiration

layout by Marion

layout by Sokee

layout by zotova

layout by KimJ

layout by Marnel

layout by ninigoesdigi

layout by KimJ

layout by liljatr

layout by anneofalamo

layout by stampin_rachel

layout by janamm

layout by tronesia

layout by Ana.Paula

layout by doodlebop

layout by Bethie

layout by editorialdragon

layout by twinsflormom

layout by MrsHobbes

layout by amandarescende

http://www.catscrap.com/shoppe/manufacturers.php?manufacturerid=7

"Unwritten" inspiration

2011-12-12T23:07:00.001-05:00

I'd like to share a few layouts created with "Unwritten":

layout by AnneofAlamo

layout by Mi Monteiro

layout by Cynthia

layout by Erika Zane

layout by Jonee

layout by Jana

layout by salamandre

layout by Flor

layout by salamandre

layout by Rachel

layout by Susanne

layout by Cheryl

layout by lilja

layout by Caroline

layout by ninigoesdigi

Thanks you all for lending your talent to my designs!

Unwritten

2011-12-05T05:00:00.000-05:00

We all have untold stories ... some from our past, and some yet to be experienced. Moments slip away to forgotten reaches if not retold or documented. Dreams can wither and die if not nourished.

"Unwritten" is a collection inspired by memories and possibilities. It is filled with both nostalgia and anticipation for the future. So take to your pens ... or keyboards... and write! Write about your dreams, stories you want to remember, your disappointments... or even some creative writing!

The entire "Unwritten" collection is available exclusively at CatScrap. The journaling templates and date banners are offered FREE with purchase. See details below.

Count Me Thankful

2011-11-22T13:50:00.001-05:00

Life is a collection of good and bad moments. Together they forge our characters and make us who we are. If we were to only be thankful for the good in our lives, we would be missing a deep treasure that is buried in sorrow and pain. How many sleepless nights come with the joy of holding a child? How many tears come with love? How many bills come with owning a home?

I will give thanks at all times and in every circumstance! I will bless the Lord all the days of my life!

credits: "Counted" by creashens and Erica Zane at CatScrap

Thankful 4 You

2011-11-15T21:47:00.001-05:00

** This is a copy of my post on the CatScrap blog**

What better way to count your blessings than to count your friends! This Thanksgiving, CatScap invites you to show your appreciation for all the wonderful people you have met because of digital scrapbooking! We've put together a free "Thankful 4 You" pack that you can share with your online digi-scrapping friends. The pack includes a card template and two quickcards that you can personalize with a heartfelt message of appreciation for your friend. We've also thrown in a useful coupon code, giving both you and your friend 4$ off your next purchase of 12$ or more in the CatScrap store!
**This offer expires November 24th. One time use per customer.

We asked the CatScrap team members to write about a friend they met through digital scrapbooking. Here is what a few of them had to say:

"When I first started digiscrapping, I had no idea there was a wonderful digiscrapping community out there just waiting for me to explore. I had no idea that I would meet so many wonderful ladies through digiscrapping and make so many new friendships. Coila, is my best digiscrapping friend. We've never met and yet I feel that I know her better than I know some of my friends that I see on a regular basis, We have so much in common, it's ridiculous! We met on a creative team more than a year ago and have been very close ever since."

♥ Leah ♥

"Digiscrapping has not only helped me to preserve memories, it has also helped me to make some great friends, from all around the world. As soon as I started digiscrapping, I joined an online community and this is where I met these wonderful ladies : Robin Cabana, Melinda Staley, Kim Jensen, Tanya Cardova Shaw, Amy Knepper, Tracy Blankenship, Cathy Richardson, Mish Gasser & Jenn Vogel. After a while, we started our own yahoo group to share digi-related information, like sales, freebies, etc and we would get CC on our layouts. Now a few from the group don't even scrap anymore, but we still talk about our life, happy events, sad happenings, achievements, struggles and of course, a little bit about scrapping"

♥ Raji ♥

"Ok, this is just a really short one but it seriously changed my life! I joined the My Digital Muse Creative Team as a hybrid designer. I knew just enough to be dangerous about digi scrapping (pretty much, still do!). Well, I was participating in a card template challenge and for the life of me, could not figure out how to get my papers to fit perfectly in the shapes. Cathy Pascual was on the team there too, and I got the nerve to send her this SILLY question. She told me about clipping masks and how to use them! Oh my gosh, it changed my life. I think about her often when I use templates and say a little silent thank you."

♥ Tracy ♥

"Digi-land has been so gracious with me, I have met tons of wonderful ladies, but between all of them there is my other half. She is quirky and a bit crazy just like me, I called her when I made the CatScrap team, because I knew she would understand ALL my excitement. She is who I call when I am all troubled or upset, she is my e-BFF. Thanks to digi-land for giving me 'my Suzy'."

♥ Dalis ♥

"We've talked about it so many times, but Alice Che and I can't remember when we first started chatting with each other. I know it was after a thread was posted in a big forum asking for Yahoo Messenger IDs, perhaps in 2009. Since then we would send each other occasional messages and have long chats. Alice just came to visit me--all the way in smoggy Manila--last week. It was amazing having someone to talk with face-to-face about one of my greatest passions in life, to personally see how she scraps (she's awesome!) and to get to know each other better beyond Photoshop and gallery comments. I loved that my family got to meet her and through her see how much I love scrapping--and vice versa as well: Alice got to see a slice of my life in the week she was here. I've dragged her through the crazy street markets of Manila and she's commuted using virtually every mode of public transport here, lol! I can't wait to scrap with the photos we've taken of each other. I'm so blessed we got to meet and hang out together and hope one day to return the favor and visit her in San Francisco! :)"

♥ Lex ♥

I was a store ct at another scrapsite in 2009, when I met Barbara by answering a technical question she had in the forum. Soon after I started designing and she became my first, best, and most of the time, my only creative team member. Two shops and almost three years later, we both are here at CatScrap. Hopefully one day we can meet in real life, and share a cup of tea!

♥ Christine Chodil ♥

" I have made many friends in the digi-scrap world, but one that I would particularly like to highlight is Sue White. Our friendship was birthed when she joined my CT, but it bloomed when we started sharing about our lives and struggles. Sue has been a source of encouragement and her words are faith-building! She is like a big sister to me… someone who is a few steps ahead of me on this path of life. I am thankful that our common hobby has brought us together when we most likely would have never met."

♥ Lynne-Marie ♥

Now it's your turn! Count your blessings... count your friends!

Some "Mellow" inspiration

2011-11-07T09:21:00.000-05:00

layout by Amandarescende

layout by liljatr

layout by Anne of Alamo

layout by JanettD

layout by twinsmomflor

layout by Mi Monteiro

layout by Sokee

layout by MarionM

layout by limoncello

layout by cherpea

layout by Jonee

layout by Erica Zane

layout by lingovise

layout by sucali

layout by stampin_rachel

layout by janamm

layout by cherpea

Thanks you all for sharing such wonderfully gorgeous layouts!!

SURPRISE 5hr SALE!! 1$ - 2$ Going on NOW!

2011-11-05T11:10:00.003-04:00

HURRY!!!

Mellow : Specially priced for iDSD!

2011-11-03T17:32:00.001-04:00

Mellow was inspired by my own search inward for my true calling and direction in life. It's about being grounded and taking the necessary time to find your true North. Available exclusively at CatScrap.

The kit includes 24 papers, over 35 elements and 2 alphas

While you're at it, why not pick up this coordinating set of photo overlays! They'll be 30% off on Friday and Saturday as well!

IDSD @ CatScrap

We'll have a store-wide sale

on Friday and Saturday - 30% off

*All orders over 10$ will earn you this gorgeous collab by the CatScrap designers.

*You won't want to miss the blog hop with coordinating quickpages.

*We'll have fabulous freebies will be giving out daily on our Facebook Fanpage.

*Plus, newsletter subscribers get additional exclusive freebies EVERY WEEK!

CatScrap BOOtique!

2011-10-21T15:34:00.006-04:00

We've got some great sales going on at CatScrap this week! You won't want to miss our CatScrap BOOtique, where all spooky items, old and new are 30% off!!! And to top it off, on October 31st you can come trick-or-treating to each of our shops to fill your bag with some yummy goodies! Huge discounts, freebies and coupons in store! So after (or before) the little ones get their fill of Halloween goodness, come get yours!

Fall 2011 CatWalk Blog Hop!!!

2011-10-14T14:01:00.003-04:00

I have two quickpages for you!!! Yeah!! Hope you enjoy them!

Quickpage 1

DOWNLOAD

Quickpage 2

DOWNLOAD

Next stop:

Dalis's blog

Don't miss the awesome new CatWalk collection!

Temporarily out of order...

2011-07-27T14:54:00.000-04:00

My computer's mother board fried, putting me out of commission for a few weeks, not to mention 900$ poorer... just as I was getting started up again!!! It's quite a blow and has made me question my decision to get back to designing, but after getting advice from some wonderful friends (thank-you!), I've realized that I need a creative outlet in my life, whether it be for income or not. My mistake is to try to keep up with the industry and make this my main activity. It can't be. I have too many other things going on. So yes, I will continue to design, though my creations may be sparse and sporadic.

I'd love to be more consistent and market my stuff better, but there's only so much one person can do! I've always been "all or nothing". I race on head first in a new adventure and then I panic when I realize that it's too much for me to handle! I want to please those around me, to live up to their expectations, but I need to learn to look beyond all that... to see the big picture.

So I've made this promise to myself... that I will create as much as my heart desires... and no more! I will do what I can when I can and enjoy the process! I may have a musically creative episode followed by spurts of colorful designs, and that's OK! I may take time to scrap for a while and catch up on my memory keeping, and I may have times when my family demands all of my attention.

That's life... unpredictable, and sometimes temporarily out of order! ;)

CT inspiration

2011-07-08T02:33:00.000-04:00

I am blessed to have such talented scrappers work with my designs! Here is what some of them have done with my Mother Goose collection:

by Ninigoesdigi

by Mellybird

by Jonee

Cat Scrap Blog Hop

2011-07-06T06:34:00.009-04:00

Hope you're enjoying the (s)hopping so far! I have this sweet quickpage for you! Enjoy!

my layout:

You can grab the qp here

Now off you go to the next hop - Julia aka Mullemaus

Thanks and have a great summer!!

Here's a guide if you get lost along the way:1. CS Blog
2. Tez
3. Claire
4. Elaine
5. Ferdy
6. Bethie
7. Melanie
8. Nicole
9. Leah
10. Debra
11. LM
12. Julia
13. Paula

All New Summer CatWalk!

2011-07-05T15:38:00.004-04:00

I'm so excited to present my new collection for the Summer CatWalk at CatScrap! I've been wanting to make a baby album for my 3 boys, the oldest of whom just tuned 10!!! I love vintage colors for babies, so when the color palette for the CatWalk was selected, I knew I had to jump on board and create a vintage baby kit. Mother Goose is a collection of old English nursery rhymes. They evoke memories from my own childhood and a sense of passing on a piece of heritage to my children. It was fitting to use this theme. For now, I have the main collection pieces ready, plus one set of printable bookplates. More printables will follow. Stay tuned for a quickpage baby book and template set (available in S4H formats as well), a baby shower set, a counting book, t-shirt transfers, and more!

I also have a bunch of stuff retiring at the end of the month... it's all 50% off until July 31st!

Grab it now before it's gone for good!

Check out the rest of the CatWalk collection here:

Out with the old and in with the new!

2011-06-25T16:51:00.006-04:00

I've done some cleaning in my shop and put aside a few things to retire. They will be available for the month of July at -50% off, but after that, they're gone for good! Now is the time to grab stuff from your wishlist at rock-bottom prices! I also have some great stuff in the Bargain Boutique (-30% off) and the Designer's Choice sale (also -50% off) ... too much to show here and too much to miss out on, so go take a look! :)

I finished the papers and part of the elements for my new kit. I still have the alphabet and some wordart/tags to finish up. I think I'll make some bookplates too, and maybe a hybrid project... oh and I'll have a quickpage album and template set to follow later in July or early August. I'm so excited about this kit! I spent hours drawing each character with my mouse and the pen tool because I STILL don't have a tablet! lol!

Anyways, here is the sneak peak I promised. It'll be in the shop on July 5th as part of the summer CatWalk collection! Trust me, you'll want to mark your calendars for this one... it's quite the collection!

Getting back into the swing of things

2011-06-17T13:09:00.002-04:00

As many of you know, I have been taking some time off from designing to focus on other stuff. However, now that the school year is coming to an end, and I've given my resignation to the School Board after 15 long years as a teacher, I should have more time to dedicate to my beloved craft! I am currently working on new kit that I KNOW you will love! It's vintagy, it's timeless, and very, very cute! I've been wanting to put together a baby album for my 3 boys, but never got around to it. That's what got me inspired to create "Mother Goose", which will be releasing early July. I'm struggling to make the CatWalk deadline, but I should be ok. I do hope I can learn to design faster over the next year.... :P

I'll be back in a few days with a sneak peak... stay tuned!

In the meantime, you should stop over at CatScrap and check out the awesome "Sunny Side Up!" collab that we all put together! It's chock full of digital goodness and 20% off right now, so don't wait!

Scrapping to my heart's content!

2011-05-07T08:22:00.002-04:00

I've been taking a break from designing to focus on other important stuff in my life, but every now and then I get a few hours to scrap! It's been fun! I love working with other people's stuff! It really opens the mind to a wider range of expression.

Here are my most recent layouts:

School Project

2010-11-02T15:45:00.002-04:00

I had promised my grade 4 students that I would post our school project for them. Last year my son had to make a book about animals. I thought it would be a fun thing to do with my students as well! For my son's project, we used digital templates and high resolution images from the net, with a few simple elements here and there. I took advantage of the project to teach him a few basic techniques in Photoshop! We had a lot of fun together!

We used Photoshop, but you can use whatever you have available for this project. You can even do everything by hand! Just as long as you are having fun with it and you love the results! ;)

So here's the finished book and a look at the inside pages:

The Daily Digi Spotlight!

2010-10-24T23:37:00.003-04:00

Today I am the featured designer at The Daily Digi! Check it out! Here is the kit I've contributed to the Digi Files this month. I was inspired by the woodgrain in my guitar! For all you hippies and hippies at heart, I made "Woodstock". You get this kit plus 6 others in the Digi Files for only 5$! But hurry, the deal ends Oct. 31st. After that, "Woodstock" will be in my CatScrap shop at regular price.

I also have a new set of Tattered Overlays that are available in both PU and CU versions! You can get them 20% off at CatScrap until Wednesday! Plus there is a 30% coupon in the Daily Digi post for my entire store! That makes the overlay 50% off! Don't miss it!

Here is some inspiration from the creative team:

layout by Jonee using Ecology and Circle of Friends alpha

plus the Tattered 4 overlays

layout by Valeriapiemonte using Ecology and Tattered 4 overlays

layout by sbaird with Woodstock

layout by zenobia with Woodstock

layout by nevache with Woodstock

layout by ninigoesdigi with Woodstock

layout by me with Woodstock

layout by cherryberry with Woodstock

layout by mrshobbes with Woodstock

layout by salamandre with Woodstock

What really counts in the end?

2010-10-13T22:58:00.002-04:00

After having spent some time with a friend of mine who is battling cancer, I can't help but stop and think about what really matters in my life. What will count in the end? Will it matter how many friends I had, or how I deepened the bonds with just a few? Will my children care if I had a successful career or will they have lasting memories of times we spent together? Will I be proud of how I spent my time and money or will I be ridden with regrets? Just a few short months ago, my friend was living the chaotic lifestyle that I've grown used to. Should she be given a new lease on life, what kind of changes will she make?

The truth is, we all face this life/death reality on a daily basis! We just don't think about it. Death can be swift and unexpected. Time cannot be undone. Our choices today will affect us tomorrow. My prayer is that I will learn early to submit my life to its greater purpose and not squander it on frivolousness.

Fall CatWalk is here!

2010-10-01T02:26:00.008-04:00

I LOVED working on this new kit for the fall CatWalk! It was inspired by a walk in the woods with my 3 sons. They were collecting all kinds of "treasures" and putting them in their pockets. Later we researched some of the plant and animal life from our discoveries. This is school IRL!

Hope you like it! You can pick it up for 20% off today at CatScrap!

Some inspiration....

by Salamandre

by mel1973

by Hutchie

By cherryberry

by nmartin1

by rebecca lovell

by Joan Stokes

by jassie71606

by valeriapiemonte

Summer 2010 CatWalk collection!!!

2010-06-25T15:10:00.011-04:00

Have you seen the summer 2010 CatWalk collection? It is beyond gorgeous!!! I was so inspired by this color palette that I actually created TWO kits! My ideas were racing in two different directions, so here's what I ended up with:

Sun Bleached

Bikini Season

And here are some fabulous layouts from the very talented CatScrap CT:

layout by MrsHobbes

layout by crystalbella77

layout by Helen

layout by Arctica

layout by crystalbella77

layout by me :)

layout by valeriapiemonte

layout by rsk

layout by JustJess

Now... you don't want to miss out on any of the CatWalk events!! Check out the CatScrap blog to keep up with what's going on!!!

Garden Mix

2010-05-28T02:42:00.012-04:00

I have a wonderful new set of doodled and water-colored flowers for you today called GARDEN MIX and it's 20% off until Sunday night! It's available as of now at Catscrap!

And if you haven't heard, CATSCRAP is having a really cool blog challenge! You can start on the Catscrap Blog and follow all the links to hunt for the hidden goodies. Then you make a layout with the goodies for a chance to win a 10$ certificate to the shop!

Click here to find my hidden goodie in the shop. It's one of the flowers from my new kit! Enjoy!

***expired***

Your next stop is:

creashens's blog!