Thursday, October 20, 2011

Digital Scrap Page for Family History

We already know scrapbookers keep a family history by sharing memories. Most people are telling stories about their immediate family.

Lately I have been doing genealogy research and have been wanting to start designing creative pages with the pictures and data I have found to better tell my ancestor's story.

The Daily Digi tweeted a great link yesterday that I found inspiring, it led me to listen to a panel discussion featuring, Jessica Sprague, Ana Cabrera, Nancy Nally and Noell Hyman at Paper Clipping. It's pretty great so give it a listen. It inspired me to start creatively digi scrappin my family history. It's something I have been meaning to get to for a while. The paper and elements I used I designed my self and plan to release a full kit in November called Mustard Sky.

So here is my first page.



Meet Walter James Dockrill my Great Great Grandpa born around 1868. This photo was taken in the 40s. He was an upholsterer and cabinet maker with his father. A family upholstery shop existed for a many generations in his birthplace of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Very simple layout, just his picture and name. The next few pages I will tell more about his upholstery shop and family. I can't wait to print this at Persnickety Prints today.

What do you think?

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Pretty Papers Preview for Digital Scrapbooking

Check out this preview of papers I am working on. They are inspired by my fine art and softened a bit.
I love to use ghosted textures and color to build depth. These will be great with some simple layered accents and photos. More to come soon. What do you think?

Sprightly Striped

Desert Flower

Want to see more of my fine art, go here.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Let the Good Stuff Out, Free Digital Scrapbooking Paper



"We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. 
The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over 
and let the beautiful stuff out."


That is one of my favorite quotes is by Ray Bradbury. I like the idea of reminding our self to let the good stuff out. For some maybe the good stuff is bottled up and needs to be set free?


(please dont use this image without permission thanks)

Some times it is hard to figure out how to let the good stuff out. I think as we practice, we begin to learn more about what the good stuff is and how to do that. For me the good stuff, is making art and creating things. For my husband it is capturing moments in time with his camera. Sometimes it's serving someone else, or sharing something we feel deeply about with a friend. It can even  be as simple as a child's laughter. What is it for you?

To encourage letting the good stuff out, I want to open this up to a few picture submissions that would go along with this idea and layout.

If you have a cute picture of a kid laughing their head off or having a good time please share. If you have picture that features another way that you think captured, letting the good stuff out by all means share a link in the comments or shoot me an email (jesselpetersen@gmail.com).

The first 5 picture submissions will get this design as a free download for their digital scrap booking and be featured here on the blog.



Tuesday, October 11, 2011

St. Vincent = Awesome

I had never seen St. Vincent live. My husband and I went up to Salt Lake's Urban Lounge and stood in the drizzly cold rain to get in last night. I was a little scared that the delicate sounds of Annie's music would get lost at a show. My fear was washed away as soon as she started playing her opening song, Cruel. I don't usually expect a song from an album to sound the same on stage, but what she did was better. The band put in so much emotion into their playing. She sang like a song bird, and thrashed her guitar so magnificently. The crowd picked up that energy and I was glad I was there to experience it.

Robbie took some pictures, here are a few that he took, that I absolutely love...







She was featured on NPR's World Cafe. (She talks about how she makes her gear work in a live show.)

You can listen to some of her music, order a white LP and get MP3 download here.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Yard Sale Fundraiser in Springville

If you live in Utah, here is a poster for a yard sale I made you gotta check out.






It's not just any yard sale, it's a fundraising event.
All proceeds to go to help 5 month old twin boys, Brent & Brooke, each are deaf in one ear and have heart murmurs. They need 2 hearing aids by the end of October, which cost around $5000. 
Every little bit helps, so if you can swing by do it.

Choose from household items, clothes, furniture and fresh bake goods. 

RAFFLE TICKETS available for a gun safe, gift baskets from hair
salons and gift certificates from local restaurants.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Native Americana Digi Scrap Kit:Tribal West

Native Americana is a trend we are seeing in fashion these days, and I thought why not make a fun Tribal West digital scrapbook kit? I was inspired by this lady.


This vintage screen printed portrait of a Native American Blackfoot woman was submitted to the Antique Helper. I just love the detail in the patterns and beadwork.

Here is a great example of the fashion trend, a wool dress by Lauren Moffat.

Who can't resist warm mocassins?

Here is the kit! What do you think? 


Right now, it is available on my Etsy shop, it will be available there until the grand opening of my online store in November. More details about the store coming soon.








Thursday, October 6, 2011

Halloween gift tag freebie


It's fall ya'll. Well right now in Provo, UT  it is grey and raining. But, Halloween is just around the corner and I thought I should make a fun Halloween gift tag for treats to share with you. You could even use it in a Halloween digital scrapbook layout.
 Just click on the image to make it larger and download. 
I found that really cute witch at the Graphic Fairy's page.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Summer Saved


Canning tomatoes was fun. It is awesome that you can save the flavor of summer tomatoes and savor them during winter in sauces for  pasta and whatever else you can think of.

 If you want to learn how to do it, Colorado State University has a great fact sheet. More tips at BHG.com. I ended up using Better Homes and Garden pint size jars from Wal-mart. They came with cute red checkered lids and white rings.



Since these have patterned glass I resized my previous labels to fit the space provided on these jars. 
I think they turned out pretty great!