1.31.08 Surprise! February Desktop!

You thought that I forgot didn't you?? Not a chance! Taking a one day break from our Butterfly Brag Book, just to get you the February Desktop!

This time I've included the PC version (pictures on the right side) and the Mac Version (pictures on the left side) in the same file, so simply use the one you want and discard the one you don't!

So for those of you keeping track of Cari's trip to Hawaii and all of our antics... We went to the "swap meet" today. It's a huge flea market of sorts that surrounds Aloha Stadium and has some pretty good shopping at REALLY good prices and it is THE place to go on Wed and Sat mornings for souveniers and gifts when you're on Oahu...then we were off to the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor - although it was literally my 17th trip to this amazing monument to our fallen soldiers on the USS Arizona, it always leaves me somber and thankful for those brave men and women willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for our country. After the Arizona, we went for a "local style" lunch at L&L Drive In (mmmm.... orange chicken, sticky rice, chicken fried noodles and crispy won ton) and then off to Haliewa, a GREAT little town on Oahu's North Shore for a little shopping and lastly a stop at my favorite "little known" spot on Oahu...it's a little cove just past Haliewa called Laniakea or "lani's" - if you ever get a chance to visit Hawaii, you simply MUST visit here! (click on the link to see why!) My kids love this beach and beg to come here often! All in all it was a pretty darn good day!

So here is your desktop and I'll see you tomorrow with more brag book pages!!

Aloha!

Shauna

Click HERE to download your February Desktop!

p.s. It's another early night, so I've left the link for yesterday's brag book page up for a bit longer...get it while you can!!

1.30.08 Butterfly Garden Brag Book Page 8

So, no wonderful traditional Hawaiian story to tell you ladies today, Cari and I headed down to Waikiki today to shop and have lunch (still another great day in paradise though! LOL

Here is page 8 of the brag book - as always, thank you for your comments and words of thanks and appreciation...they mean sooo much!!

Heading to bed a bit early tonight, so I'll leave page 7 up until morning...Hawaii time that is...download it while you can!

Aloha and Enjoy!

Newcomers - Please read on regarding this brag book and a really good cause!!

So I've been wanting to give back some, as I've been so blessed since starting this blog, and I can't think of a better charity to donate to than the FISHER HOUSE PROGRAM(Click on name for more info). This worthy foundation supports military families worldwide when they most need it, providing housing to families of wounded soldiers and those with family members who need medical help unavailable to them wherever they are stationed.

Recently, while my DH was serving 15 months in Iraq, a dear friend of ours was nearly killed when a rocket attack hit their FOB (Forward Operating Base) our friend was not expected to live, as the rocket hit so closely to him. Miraculously though, with the quick actions of fellow soldiers and great medical care, he did survive. My dear friend had two small children (under the age of 4) and needed desperately to be near her husband until he recovered enough to be transferred back here to Hawaii. Thanks to Fisher House, she and her boys not only had a place to live, but every time they came home from the hospital, they were greeted with snacks, drinks and meals. "A lifesaver" is what she called the program.

The Fisher House Program offers many other benefits to military families, but this one service touched me dearly. Soooo... in the spirit of giving back I will be offering a Fisher House Brag Book (4x6, 300 dpi, .png file format) made from my popular Butterfly Garden Kit. Each day I will post 1 page as a freebie and the link will only be good for 24 hours. When all of the freebies have been given out, I will offer the brag book for sale at Digital Candy, the proceeds of which (my personal proceeds that is) will be given as a direct donation to the Fisher House Program. In addition, for those of you who may catch all of the pages for free on my blog I will accept donations via PayPal for the Fisher House (simply put FISHER HOUSE DONATION in the subject line of your paypal payment and I will add those funds to any funds raised by the sale of the brag book). If you would prefer to simply donate directly to the Fisher House Program, please feel free to do that as well! Simply click HERE for their secure online donation form.

Please note that only 2.5% of your donation goes to administration costs for this foundation, which means that over 97% of what you give goes directly to help a soldier and his or her family members!

AGAIN - the links for each page will only be available for 24 hours beginning at approximately midnight Hawaii Standard Time (5:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time) I know that I have many readers from all over the world with different time zones, which is why the link for this this first COVER PAGE for the brag book will be active for 48 hours. This way, everyone will have a chance to read this post and ensure that they come back daily for all the pages.

Remember, if you plan on sharing any of my files, PLEASE simply send a link to my blog so that friends and family members can download the files themselves? This way I have a record of downloads and visitors and they too will have the opportunity to donate!

Please consider donating to this worthy cause and enjoy your brag book!

This post has been edited to remove this link

Click HERE to visit me at Digital Candy

Click on the DONATE button to your left to contribute to Pineapple Plantation Designs OR to the Fisher House Program!

1.29.08 Butterfly Garden Brag Book Page 7

So today took Cari and I towards the north shore of Oahu, we spent some time at Kukaniloko otherwise known as "The Birthing Rocks" in Wahiawa, Hawaii. It's one of the most sacred sites on Oahu, and it seems as almost no one knows about it. It's where ancient Hawaiian women traveled to from all over the state (including the neighbor islands) while in labor in order to give birth to the ali'i or royal children of Hawaii. What most articles don't mention is that just beyond the grove of coconut palms surrounding the ancient stones is a view of a mountain range containing the profile of a pregnant woman (see picture below). It's always amazing to me to stand in or on an historic site, this is a special one to me - I hope that someday you all can experience this amazingly sacred and peaceful place!



On to the freebie!!

Enjoy!

This post has been edited to remove the link for this page. Please consider purchasing the entire brag book to help support a good cause when all the freebies are finished!

Click HERE to visit me at Digital Candy

Click on the DONATE button to your left to contribute to Pineapple Plantation Designs OR to the Fisher House Program!

1.28.08 Butterfly Garden Brag Book Page 6

So, back from our weekend in Maui, day three was wonderful, we went on a Pacific Whale Foundation Eco Adventure Tour out to the Island of Lanai - the whales were EVERYWHERE! You could barely turn your head, but for another one in your eyesight! The snorkeling was fantastic, crystal clear blue waters and tons of fish - on the way back to Maui, we encountered two juvenile male humpback whales that swam right up to our boat, then dove and swam right beneath us, came up on the other side of the boat and hung out...it was amazing!! Cari didn't fare so well as the seas were choppy and her New Jersey legs were not "seasoned for the sea" shall we say...she's far less green now that we're back on dry land and in Oahu!! Ladies and Gentlemen, NEVER forget to take your sea sickness medicine before getting on a pacific whale watching tour! LOL it was choppy out there today and MANY of the guests (NOT including myself, thank you) were a bit green around their gills!!

So, on to today's freebie -this is one of my favorite pages thus far... I don't know if it's the colors or the big flowers, not sure but I sure do like it! I hope that I'm making this Brag Book as gender-neutral and age-neutral as possible. It's hard creating something that EVERYONE will be able to use (hopefully) so keep your fingers crossed for me! Any suggestions (as always) are welcome!!

Aloha -

Shauna

This post has been edited to remove the link. Please consider purchasing the brag book in it's entirety when all of the freebie posts have finished at DigitalCandy.ca

Click HERE to visit me at Digital Candy

Click on the DONATE button to your left to contribute to Pineapple Plantation Designs OR to the Fisher House Program!

1.27.08 Butterfly Garden Brag Book Page 5

The Hana Highway was spectacular today! A bit rainy in the beginning, but sunny the rest of the day! We swam in the pool at Wailua Falls, we hiked the 7 sacred pools and did a bit of "spelunking" in a fabulous underground lava tube! We were drenched by the water spray at beautiful blow hole and walked the black sandy beaches of Wainapanapa Park... The Hana Highway has dozens of one way bridges and over 600 switchbacks and sharp "blind" curves to drive, but it was ALL worth it! Great day, hope yours was as good!

As you can tell, I posted a bit early last night (as I am tonight) and because of this, I left the link for page 3 open so that I didn't close it down before someone had the chance to get it. I'll be doing the same tonight, so if you missed yesterday's post, get page 4 now while you can!

Tomorrow we are off to whale watch off the coast of Lanai (a small private island just across the channel from Maui, we're swimming with dolphins and snorkeling with some turtles... just another day in paradise!! LOL

Thanks for all of your continued support of my little fundraiser for Fisher House - keep those donations coming, I have a GREAT SURPRISE for those of you who do! hint hint hint

Enjoy page 5 and I'll see you tomorrow!


This post has been edited to remove the link. Please consider purchasing the brag book in it's entirety when all of the freebie posts have finished at DigitalCandy.ca

Click HERE to visit me at Digital Candy

Click on the DONATE button to your left to contribute to Pineapple Plantation Designs OR to the Fisher House Program!

1.26.08 Butterfly Garden Brag Book Page 4

Posting from Maui! Lahaina is GORGEOUS at night and the food is fantastic! If you haven't been to Hawaii then you simply MUST start saving your pennies and take a trip...truly spectacular!!

It's a quick one today ladies - off to bed so that we can get up early and enjoy another day in paradise!!



So sorry! This post has been edited to remove this link. Please consider donating to a worthy cause by purchasing the entire brag book at DigitalCandy.ca when the freebies are done!

Click HERE to visit me at Digital Candy!

Click on the DONATE button to your left to contribute to Pineapple Plantation Designs OR to the Fisher House Program!

1.25.08 Butterfly Garden Brag Book Page 3

QUICK UPDATE!! Because of quite a few requests, I am extending my open Creative Team Call for a few more days! Please refer to my post regarding my CT Call for all the instructions on applying, and REMEMBER! If you are selected, you have access to EVERYTHING in my store for FREE!!! Woo Hoo!! It's not to late to apply and it will take only a minute or two!! Hope to hear from you all!!

Page 3!! This is kind of fun actually! I'm excited to finish this book and print it out with my pictures in it. I think I'll probably punch holes through the top of the corners of the pics and then reinforce them with cute reinforcers (I have NO idea what the little circle sticker thingies are actually called! LOL) then put a binder ring through them and send them as gifts to friends and family to flip through...

So tonight I'm heading to Maui and enjoying time with Cari so I won't be around as much for posts and questions... just send any questions to me via email and I can answer them on my blackberry if need be!!

Aloha!!

NEWCOMERS: PLEASE CONTINUE READING!!!

So I've been wanting to give back some, as I've been so blessed since starting this blog, and I can't think of a better charity to donate to than the FISHER HOUSE PROGRAM(Click on name for more info). This worthy foundation supports military families worldwide when they most need it, providing housing to families of wounded soldiers and those with family members who need medical help unavailable to them wherever they are stationed.

Recently, while my DH was serving 15 months in Iraq, a dear friend of ours was nearly killed when a rocket attack hit their FOB (Forward Operating Base) our friend was not expected to live, as the rocket hit so closely to him. Miraculously though, with the quick actions of fellow soldiers and great medical care, he did survive. My dear friend had two small children (under the age of 4) and needed desperately to be near her husband until he recovered enough to be transfered back here to Hawaii. Thanks to Fisher House, she and her boys not only had a place to live, but every time they came home from the hospital, they were greeted with snacks, drinks and meals. "A lifesaver" is what she called the program.

The Fisher House Program offers many other benefits to military families, but this one service touched me dearly. Soooo... in the spirit of giving back I will be offering a Fisher House Brag Book (4x6, 300 dpi, .png file format) made from my popular Butterfly Garden Kit. Each day I will post 1 page as a freebie and the link will only be good for 24 hours. When all of the freebies have been given out, I will offer the brag book for sale at Digital Candy, the proceeds of which (my personal proceeds that is) will be given as a direct donation to the Fisher House Program. In addition, for those of you who may catch all of the pages for free on my blog I will accept donations via PayPal for the Fisher House (simply put FISHER HOUSE DONATION in the subject line of your paypal payment and I will add those funds to any funds raised by the sale of the brag book). If you would prefer to simply donate directly to the Fisher House Program, please feel free to do that as well! Simply click HERE for their secure online donation form.

Please note that only 2.5% of your donation goes to administration costs for this foundation, which means that over 97% of what you give goes directly to help a soldier and his or her family members!

AGAIN - the links for each page will only be available for 24 hours beginning at approximately midnight Hawaii Standard Time (5:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time) I know that I have many readers from all over the world with different time zones, which is why the link for this this first COVER PAGE for the brag book will be active for 48 hours. This way, everyone will have a chance to read this post and ensure that they come back daily for all the pages.

Remember, if you plan on sharing any of my files, PLEASE simply send a link to my blog so that friends and family members can download the files themselves? This way I have a record of downloads and visitors and they too will have the opportunity to donate!

Please consider donating to this worthy cause and enjoy your brag book!

This post has been edited to remove this link! Please consider donating to a worthy cause and purchase the entire brag book at Digital Candy when the freebies are done!

Click HERE to purchase the full Butterfly Garden Kit

Click on the DONATE button to your left to contribute to Pineapple Plantation Designs OR to the Fisher House Program!

1.24.08 Butterfly Garden Brag Book Page 2

Here it is! Page 2 of the book! I hope you guys are looking forward to downloading these pages everyday even HALF as much as I look forward to seeing your response on my blog!

This little project of mine is perfect timing really since my dearest friend from college is coming to Hawaii to visit me this week, and I won't have too much time to spend on my freebies! (Thank you AGAIN Chrissy for your FABULOUS templates! It makes making the pages SOOOOO much quicker!) My friend's name is Cari and she lives in New Jersey...perfect right since I'm moving there in a few months!!? It will be her first trip to Hawaii and I'm looking forward to showing her around. We'll be heading to Maui for a "girl's weekend" Friday night after she arrives so I'm HOPING that we'll have internet access for me to post my blogs (otherwise I'm going to have to figure out how to do that via email and my blackberry, or worse yet have to pre-write them and talk my husband through posting them every night! THAT would not be fun! he he he!)
We're going to head to Molokai for a day to lay on the beach and to perhaps visit Father Damien's Church at the leper colony (amazing history here - I'm reading a book right now called The Colony all about Hawaii's historic leper colony on Molokai) and then spend a day or so driving up Hana Highway, visiting my FAVORITE town in Hawaii, Lahaina and then we're heading up to the Haleakala Crater to see all that we can see from there! Wish you could all join us!! (no worries, I'll be thinking of you all as we lay on the beach and drink mai tais!!

Ok, enough links about Hawaii! lol

This post has been edited to remove the link for this page. You can find the full quick page brag book on DigitalCandy.ca when all of the freebies are done!

Click HERE to purchase the full Butterfly Garden Kit

Click on the DONATE button to your left to contribute to Pineapple Plantation Designs OR to the Fisher House Program!

1.23.08 Butterfly Garden Brag Book Page 1

So here is page 1 of my Butterfly Garden Brag Book to help support the Fisher House Program! I'll re-post the "freebie" offer each day at the bottom of my posts for those of you who may be joining us late!

Thank you for your kind comments and emails of support! I'm so glad that you all agree that the Fisher House Program is a worthy cause!

To make my brag book as quick and easy as possible I am using fellow Digital Candy Designer Chrissy W's brag book templates for this project! Chrissy has not only graciously allowed me to use her templates here as freebies, but has also generously decided that her portion of any proceeds from the sale of this joint venture will be donated to Fisher House as well!! Thank you SO much Chrissy! You have changed my mind FOREVER about templates! LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM! And Chrissy has some great ones! To see her templates for this brag book as well as others, please click HERE to visit her at Digital Candy!

Just a quick note,REMEMBER Today is the last day that you can get the COVER PAGE AND PAGE ONE! After today, the link for both will be removed!

See you tomorrow with Page 2!


Please consider donating to this worthy cause and enjoy your brag book!

Sorry! This post has been edited to remove this link - the brag book and ALL of it's pages will be available for purchase at Digital Candy when the freebies are finished - proceeds to go to the FISHER HOUSE PROGRAM!

Click HERE to purchase the full Butterfly Garden Kit

Click on the DONATE button to your left to contribute to Pineapple Plantation Designs OR to the Fisher House Program!

1.22.08 Butterfly Garden Brag Book Cover Page- IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ THIS POST!!

So I've been wanting to give back some, as I've been so blessed since starting this blog, and I can't think of a better charity to donate to than the FISHER HOUSE PROGRAM(Click on name for more info). This worthy foundation supports military families worldwide when they most need it, providing housing to families of wounded soldiers and those with family members who need medical help unavailable to them wherever they are stationed.

Recently, while my DH was serving 15 months in Iraq, a dear friend of ours was nearly killed when a rocket attack hit their FOB (Forward Operating Base) our friend was not expected to live, as the rocket hit so closely to him. Miraculously though, with the quick actions of fellow soldiers and great medical care, he did survive. My dear friend had two small children (under the age of 4) and needed desperately to be near her husband until he recovered enough to be transfered back here to Hawaii. Thanks to Fisher House, she and her boys not only had a place to live, but every time they came home from the hospital, they were greeted with snacks, drinks and meals. "A lifesaver" is what she called the program.

The Fisher House Program offers many other benefits to military families, but this one service touched me dearly. Soooo... in the spirit of giving back I will be offering a Fisher House Brag Book (4x6, 300 dpi, .png file format) made from my popular Butterfly Garden Kit. Each day I will post 1 page as a freebie and the link will only be good for 24 hours. When all of the freebies have been given out, I will offer the brag book for sale at Digital Candy, the proceeds of which (my personal proceeds that is) will be given as a direct donation to the Fisher House Program. In addition, for those of you who may catch all of the pages for free on my blog I will accept donations via PayPal for the Fisher House (simply put FISHER HOUSE DONATION in the subject line of your paypal payment and I will add those funds to any funds raised by the sale of the brag book). If you would prefer to simply donate directly to the Fisher House Program, please feel free to do that as well! Simply click HERE for their secure online donation form.

Please note that only 2.5% of your donation goes to administration costs for this foundation, which means that over 97% of what you give goes directly to help a soldier and his or her family members!

AGAIN - the links for each page will only be available for 24 hours beginning at approximately midnight Hawaii Standard Time (5:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time) I know that I have many readers from all over the world with different time zones, which is why the link for this this first COVER PAGE for the brag book will be active for 48 hours. This way, everyone will have a chance to read this post and ensure that they come back daily for all the pages.

Remember, if you plan on sharing any of my files, PLEASE simply send a link to my blog so that friends and family members can download the files themselves? This way I have a record of downloads and visitors and they too will have the opportunity to donate!

Please consider donating to this worthy cause and enjoy your brag book!

Sorry! This post has been edited to remove this link - the brag book and ALL of it's pages will be available for purchase at Digital Candy when the freebies are finished - proceeds to go to the FISHER HOUSE PROGRAM!

Click HERE to purchase the full Butterfly Garden Kit

Click on the DONATE button to your left to contribute to Pineapple Plantation Designs OR to the Fisher House Program!

1.21.08 Napa Valley Mini Kit

First of all, thank you thank you for those of you who have sent donations via paypal! It truly touches my heart and lets me know that you all really do appreciate what I do. I am a bit overwhelmed right now with home and design commitments, but I am keeping your email addresses and you WILL receive a RAK from me!!

Quick post tonight all - I'm working on this kit for the store, thought I'd give my loyal readers a sneak peek so that you can let me know what you think! Please, if you want to share your work with me, post it at the gallery over at Digital Candy so that we all can see! I worked on expanding my little blog a bit today (as I was SEVERELY depressed over the last minute loss of my dear Green Bay Packers...sob sob) I re-wrote the HTML a bit to give me an extra column...I'm hoping to add a list of links to gallery posts made with my kits and freebies, so if you post, please let me know!!

As always,

Aloha -

Shauna

Click HERE to download the mini kit

Click HERE to visit me at Digital Candy

Click on the DONATE link to the left to help support Pineapple Plantation Designs!

1.20.08 Printable Valentines!

First of all, the "un-named mini kit?" It was nearly unanimous! Spirograph!! That's what almost all of you said when you mentioned the kit. So there you go, I couldn't use the trademarked name, so it became Spiro-Graffiti! I've submitted it to the store and it should be up in no time!! (picture to the left).

NOW TODAY'S FREEBIE: So it's that time of year... take the kids, go to Wal-Mart, Hallmark, Longs Drugs etc. find the box of valentines they want, then sit down with the tortuous task of having my 8 year old write each and every last valentine, as he slowly decides if THAT one is to "girly" or if that one might make that girl think that he likes her, does he really have to give "that guy" a valentine? SIGH So this year I'm making ours, putting in pictures and having them printed at Costco for pennies a valentine! We'll tape a sucker to the back and poof! We're done! PLUS I get to email the out of state valentines and not mail them!

So in the spirit of sharing the wealth...I have made a few extras to share with you! Just add whatever touches you'd like, add your name or your child's name, a message etc. They're 4 x 6 format made from my TOUGH LOVE kit, so just put a pic under them, save them and upload them to your favorite photo printing site!

To those of you who have donated to help with the upkeep of the site, bless you! I don't know how many of you know what a RAK is, but in the crafting world it's a Random Act of Kindness in the form of a "goodie" as a Stampin' Up Demonstrator it meant that I would send a card or a scrapbook page, NOW it means that I'll send a "digital goodie!" For anyone who donates, I will certainly be sending RAKs! As well as anyone who "steals" any of my blinkies an puts them on their website or blog! Just send me a link! Thank you again from the bottom of my heart!!

Enjoy the valentines!

GO PACKERS! BEAT THE GIANTS!!

Aloha -

Shauna

Click HERE to download your Valentines!

Click HERE to visit me at Digital Candy!

To support Pineapple Plantation Designs and Keep your Daily Downloads Free - Click the Donate button to your left!

1.19.08 -I FIGURED IT OUT!! (I think) & A Conundrum

OK... so I'm a fairly new Mac user (love my MacBook Pro....LOVE it..) BUT - I have had the hardest time with uploads, downloads, zip files, sending links etc. since I got it! I'd like to think that I'm a fairly tech-savvy person and I have felt like a complete idiot some days, but I THINK that I have finally figured it out!! SOMETHING in my computer (haven't figured THAT out yet) causes additional spaces to magically appear sometimes when I type (I said that I considered MYSELF pretty tech-savvy, not that OTHER people did!)

Sooooo when people told me that they were having similar problems downloading and opening yesterday's freebies as they did with my Mother's Love QP I was determined to figure it out....I DID IT!! (I'm pretty sure I did it....) they were the only two files in my 4Shared account that had an extra space in the name of the zip file... SO, I am re-posting my Mother's Love QP today and I have corrected the file for yesterday's freebie as well!

Despite the time difference, I'm going to try and check the blog often today, if ANYONE has a problem with these two files, please let me know?? '(Cause then I'm going to hang up my blogging gloves in frustration, and quit designing all together!! he he he)

ALSO - you may have noticed that I added a PayPal Donate button to my site tonight. I really did NOT begin this blog or designing for that matter, to make money - I did it simply to share some simple designs (VERY simple...have you SEEN my first few posts??? Scary) with my classmates in a digital scrapbooking class I took at Big Picture Scrapbooking and it seemed to take off from there! BUT my husband says that I shouldn't be OUT money either! LOL

We had this discussion while talking about me making some "upgrades" for my blogging...(I'm running out of space on my 4Shared account and either need to put a time limit on my downloads, remove certain ones permanently as I have been doing, or upgrade to a bigger account. I need to upgrade my ftp software and my zipping software, buy another external hard drive...yada yada yada) A blogging friend of mine told me I should offer a monthly download subscription thingy, or charge like .99 per download (uhhhh...not a freebie then right?) so...that's my conundrum. BUT it's important to me to do everything I can to keep this blog free free free....so, short story long... I need to keep my DH happy regarding cutting costs and I'm going to try and do that by adding a Support Pineapple Plantation Designs - Donate Here button for PayPal on the site. (ok, now go back and read that out loud all in one breath...that's what it's SUPPOSED to sound like...k? LOL)

Donate WHAT you can WHEN you can IF you can, and if you can't, then don't give it another thought, you need it more than I do - and then download baby download!

Thanks my dear blogging friends, for you comments - your support and for reading my ramblings...(someone IS still reading this AREN'T they???)

Enjoy the Mother's Love QP (FINALLY) I think I might make this one a full kit too....!

Aloha!

Shauna

Click HERE to download the QP

1.18.08 - Sorry...once again!! LOL

I seem to be "challenged" when it comes to zipping and uploading my files here lately ladies! I have corrected the zip problem and edited the file with 4Shared... (no hate mail PLEASE? LOL)

Please forgive and download the mini kit again (link at the bottom of the original post)!

Shauna

1.18.08 - Freebie, Challenge, Contest...Big Day!!

Ok - it's late (as usual)and I've been working all night on your freebie (which AGAIN, I'm really liking and think I'll make a full kit - let's see how you guys like it first though...LOL) BUT, I have too much to write! LOL

So, first things first...THE FREEBIE - the kit doesn't have a name yet (just didn't come to me yet, perhaps some suggestions??) but I was inspired by the colors and went from there!

Second - the challenge. Part of my responsibility at Digital Candy is to take a bigger part in the forums and galleries etc. and what I'd really like to do is make a weekly challenge where I give you guys a mini kit and you have to use everything in the kit, adding only small embellishments (stitches, brads etc.) and then you post your layouts in the challenge gallery at DC (I simply do NOT have the time to keep up a gallery of my own, so we'll post them there). PLUS Digital Candy has a great program where the more you post on the site, the more points you get, and once your points reach a certain total you receive a gift certificate to the store! (more on that when I get all the details) So, head's up...I plan on using this mini kit...hint hint hint... come on...won't you play?? (you don't want me to get fired do you??? he he he)

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly PLEASE READ!! there is a HUGE contest going on over at Digital Candy (hereinafter known as DC 'cause it's shorter and faster to type!) called the Masquerade and while I can't take part (sob) YOU guys can, and the winning prize is A MONTH OF FREE DOWNLOADS FROM THE STORE uhhh...yeah...FREE DOWNLOADS FOR A MONTH!... it sounds like a ton of fun click HERE for the official rules, and I would LOVE LOVE LOVE for one of my bloggers to win!! There is A HUGE COLLABORATION KIT from all of the designers at DC and the proceeds of the kit will go entirely to the Animal Rescue Foundation ! This is just a HINT of what is in this huge kit!



Please please please in lieu of leaving a comment or a thank you today, just check out the kit for charity and the contest and see if it might interest you?? that would be thanks enough!!

I'll post more about the challenge for today's freebie tomorrow!

Much aloha my friends!

Shauna

Click HERE to check out the Have a Heart Masquerade Kit

Click HERE to download today's (yet un-named) mini kit!

and... Click HERE if you're really really bored... (no link...just wanted to make you giggle)

1.17.08 Butterfly Garden Quick Page

So I did it! I loved the mini kit so much from yesterday, that I spent some time today making a full kit! (Look to the right for a sneak peek of the kit, it should be up in the store today or tomorrow!)

I played around with the kit a bit today and made this layout for a pic of my DD Emily (below), so of course I had to share!



Enjoy the QP!!

Aloha -

Shauna

Download the QP HERE

Visit me and check on Butterfly Garden for yourself by clicking HERE

1.16.08 Butterfly Garden Mini Kit

I want to first THANK all of you who took the time to wish my little one a happy birthday...I have to tell you that when Ethan got home from school we sat down and read all of the comments, emails and messages that people from literally all over the world sent him and he absolutely beamed!!

My first instinct was to try and take a picture of him sitting with my laptop reading the comments so that I could scrapbook the moment and to post the picture here, but I held back. Too many times in life I find myself absolutely stressing about "getting the shot" and taking the picture, only to find that somehow, while I managed to document the moment for eternity...I have also managed to not really be in the moment and experience it myself - right then, right there. And although it sounds corny, it really meant SO much to Ethan that everyone wished him a happy birthday, (so excited in fact that we had to read them all twice!) So in the end, I didn't take the picture with my camera, but I had such a WONDERFUL time sitting there, and soaking up all the love and well wishes for him today, and I so loved being IN the moment, and not worrying about capturing the moment anywhere other than in my heart. Thank you all SO very much!

p.s. on the lighter side, while putting Ethan to bed, we talked about his day and he told his dad about everyone wishing him happy birthday, Ethan's told me, and I quote "mom, everyone at school tomorrow is going to think that I'm a ROCK STAR"! He is my rock star...rock on little man...rock on!

So, today's freebie.... I'm usually not much of a "butterfly" kind of gal, but well, I was messing around with some swirls and these colors and the name "butterfly garden" kept popping up in my head...so here it is! I think that I like it so much that I might just do a full kit for it for Digital Candy... let me know what you think? I know that butterflies tend to be kind of "girly" but the colors and the quote reminded me of Ethan...I think I might try and do a layout with this freebie with some pictures of him and see how it goes...

Enjoy your freebie and thank you thank you thank you again!

Much aloha my friends,

Shauna

Download Butterfly Garden Mini Kit HERE

Visit me at Digital Candy HERE

1.15.08 Snow was meant for... QP

Another quickie today ladies! It is past midnight, I still have cupcakes to bake for my little one's birthday tomorrow and goodie bags to fill...my touch of the flu is passed finally but I'm feeling kind of yucky still! LOL

Here is a VERY quick "quick page" that I made for you from my Old Man Winter kit, I just wish I had some great snow pictures to put in it for myself! Oh well...next year I guess! (although it fell below 70 degrees Ferenheit in Hawaii today and my son Ethan (whose Birthday it is TODAY!!) was shivering cold and insisted on wearing long sleaves, a jacket, socks and shoes to school (instead of his flip flops or "slippers" as we call them in Hawaii...so if that's any indication, I'm not sure how many snow pictures I'll have next year either! LOL

Enjoy the QP and if you like what I do and want to leave a little love, would you do me a HUGE favor and in the comments, leave the state or country you are from and leave some "luv" for my son Ethan? He thinks he's famous when he sees his name or his picture on my blog...(he he he) it would be a GREAT gift to have him come home from school and see Birthday wishes from all over the world just for him! And THAT would make my day!

Thank you so much!

Aloha!

Shauna

Download your QP HERE

1.14.08 Hearts Galore!

Ok ladies - this one is late... a touch of the stomach flu has left me a bit under the weather and I fell asleep with the little one early yesterday... sorry!

I did manage to get together a little freebie for you - some different hearts for all of your Valentines Day layouts (and others I hope!! And I didn't forget about the contest either!

The winner is.... drum roll please...Beth Brecheisen!!



I loved how Beth used the grey paper and a picture to create the background and took the simple tools I gave her and added some elements of her own to make a really neat layout! It was a hard decision, as I had so many really wonderful submissions to choose from! Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to submit a layout! - let me know in your comments if this is something that you would be interested in doing again!

Congratulations Beth! Email me with your Mini Kit theme request and I'll get going on it!!

In the meantime, enjoy your hearts and I'll see you tomorrow!

Aloha -

Shauna

Download the hearts freebie HERE

Visit me at Digital Candy HERE

1.13.08 Funky Flower Freebie

Another quickie today! My DD, came back to Hawaii tonight from a trip to the mainland to visit family during her winter break... we were up late talking "girl talk" catching up and re-connecting...great night, but not too much time left for the freebie. BUT at the last minute I whipped up this quick kit... The colors are bright and fun...they remind me of DD!

It's girlie, I know...but again, (surprisingly as she WAS my tomboy) so is she! (hello...she came home with a bag full of Mac makeup!!) Anyway...enjoy the freebie and who knows...maybe a qp to follow!!

Aloha!

Shauna

p.s. GO PACKERS GO!!!

Download the freebie HERE

1.12.08 Winter Template Freeebie ( PSD and PNG) & TUTORIAL

Ok, Don't laugh, it's my first attempt at a template. I see them all over the digital scrapbooking sites, and they always look so plain, basic, blah... that's what I thought until I saw actual layouts done from templates and I was amazed!! I think it's pretty neat that you can "scraplift" a layout, but still have most of the creativity left to you!

So, I thought I would give it a shot and this is what I came up with! The template is above, and the LO that I did with it is here:


So, I had a couple of questions regarding how to use templates (which is what brought me to looking at them in the first place) so here goes: remember although the downloads come in PSD (photoshop format) and .png format, this tutorial is for PS and PSE users.

When you open your .psd file, you will see all of the layers for your template there. Using the template is so easy from here. Simply drag the file that you want to use to "clip" to the template onto a layer ABOVE the layer you want to clip it to as shown here:



Now that you have your background paper in your layer's pallet, above the layer holding the element you wish to "clip" it to you can apply your clipping mask. To do this, simply OPTION+CLICK (mac) or ALT+CLICK (pc) on the TINY little line between the to layers you want to join as shown here:



You will see the top layer indent a bit and your image will clip itself to the template below. TIP: the best part of this is that you can still "move" the paper, or picture or whatever you are clipping, around on the template so that you get exactly what you want to appear. With the indented layer selected simply click on the image in your main workspace and drag it around until you have it the way you would like it. Once you have it just so, you can MERGE THE LAYERS either by selecting the topmost layer you want to merge and then Command/Ctrl + E it will merge your layers up one level, or you can highlight both (or all layers you want to merge) and then clicking LAYER>MERGE LAYERS.

Simple as that! Now you'll continue doing this same process for each of the template elements that you wish to use in your layout. As you can see in my layout, I chose to use a different font and style for my title, so I simply turned off visibility of the title layer (click the little eye to the left of the layer thumbnail in the layers pallet) and then added my own! Another great thing about templates!!

LASTLY - if any of you are still reading... wonder where I got the papers and elements that I used in my layout?? It's another sneak peek of a new kit that I should have in the store by the end of the weekend, beginning of next week, called Old Man Winter!

Have fun with the template! If the downloads are high, I'll take that as a sign that you guys want more!!

Aloha!

Shauna

Download the .PSD file HERE

Download the .PNG files HERE

1.11.08 Ribbon Buckles & Ornaments

Another quick post!! (I promise to try and get a quick tutorial soon! - It would help if you guys let me know some of the things that you want to learn about! Post a comment and let me know!)

Today's freebie is a quick one too! LOL Some little ribbon buckles/slides and some ornaments to put on them (or not!)

Thanks for all of the emails regarding my Creative Team positions...please keep them coming!!

Shauna

Download my freebie HERE
Visit me at Digital Candy HERE

1.10.08 CT Call and QUICK PAGE FREEBIE

The picture is self explanatory! I can't wait to hear from all of you talented scrappers!!



By the way, the freebie is the quick page that I used for my CT Call!! It is also part of my 2008 Calendar Page 2 kit that you can find HERE!

Enjoy!!

Shauna







Download today's Freebie Quick Page HERE
Take a look at my complete Quick Page Scrapbook Kit that goes with this freebie HERE

1.09.08 January Desktop Freebie (better late than never right?)

Ok, so I had started making these desktop wallpapers for a new kit at Digital Candy but they turned out so darn cute that I wanted to share them with my bloggers instead!! LOl Here is January's, I made it with my Cold & Cozy Kit -I promise to have February's to you BEFORE the month begins!! LOL

BY THE WAY.... having installed my first one on my own computer, I realized that we Mac users (I'm very new one, but die hard...I'll never go back to a PC again!) have been getting the short end of this stick! LOL Mac has all of their desktop icons on the RIGHT side of the desktop (PC on the left) so most scrapbooking desktop wallpapers are covered up for us! WELL NOT AT PINEAPPLE PLANTATION DESIGNS! LOL I have TWO downloads for you guys, one for PC users and one for MAC users. Keep in mind, they are both .png files, both safe for either computer, it's just that one has the frames on the right, one on the left!

To use the wallpaper: use it just like a quick page, but it's tiny, so your photos will definitely have to be resized...just use your move tool to shrink them down considerably put them in the frames of the quick page and save as a .jpg just like you would a regular scrapbook page. Then use your computer display settings to set that "picture" as your wallpaper!

Lastly for today, thank you so much for all of your support and kind words on my new little venture! I hope to have more up in the store soon, and I'll post previews of my kits and items on the blog so that you get a sneak peek! (see my barcode tag kit there on the left?)

Aloha!

Shauna

Download the MAC wallpaper HERE

Download the PC wallpaper HERE

Check out my stuff at Digital Candy HERE

1.08.08 SUCH BIG NEWS!! Tough Love Mini Kit Freebie

Yeah! Yippee! WooHoo! After what seems like FOREVER working on 16 different new kits, my little store inside of DIGITAL CANDY is open for business! I only have 5 kits completely finished at the moment (3 are up in the store and 2 more will be up ASAP!)

The two kits that are being added to the shop today (hopefully) are a full size 12x12 Calendar Kit with a calendar template and instructions on how to use the pages both as a calendar and as a full-page month in review page layout! The other kit is another 12 quick pages that are the companion pages to the first kit. They can be purchased to create both the second page of the calendar AND the second page of a two page "month in review" layout. If both kits are purchased you can have a complete 2 page 12 month calendar AND a full 24 page "year in review" scrapbook that will only takes minutes to create! I also have the calendar in CD Jewel Case size (perfect for your desk at home or at work OR to give as a gift!) The 12 other kits (nearly complete...) are full kits for each month of the calendars, you can purchase them and use them with the quick page calendars, or they can easily be purchased and used completely separately of the calendars! January (Cold & Cozy) is up in the store now, as is "Tough Love" the kit that I used to make the February calendar pages. The other 10 months are coming shortly, I'll let you know when they are there!

Click HERE to see what's in my little part of the store now!

Today's freebie is a little add-on kit to my "Tough Love" kit, I can't wait to see what you do with it! I also included a PS/PSE Gradient preset that I used for the kit in with the freebie - hold on to it as I want to teach you guys about gradients later this week if you don't already know...they give your projects a really professional and smooth look!

Also, thank you to all of you who have submitted layouts for the Lumberjack Plaid contest, they are SO cute!! I've put them in slideshow format and you can see them by clicking on the link to the left - keep them coming, I can't wait to see more!

Lastly I want to say a great big thank you to all of my loyal blog readers from literally all over the world. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! I've had such a great time creating for you all...I can hardly wait to see what we create together in the future. PLEASE check out Digital Candy...they are a great group of ladies (and some FABULOUS designers) I know that you'll love their stuff...

Until tomorrow!

Shauna

Click HERE for today's freebie
Click HERE to visit me at Digital Candy

1.07.08 Lumberjack Plaid Mini Kit + Plaid Pattern & CONTEST!

Well today I had a request from a reader for teaching her how to re-color or re-create plaid patterns and paper. As I sat down to write out a tutorial for her (I'm still working on it Tami - it's coming I promise!) I ended up creating a plaid that SO reminded me of my little boy (not that he would be caught dead in plaid - I can hear him now... "so not cool mom") but it's boyish and rough and it made me think, just like clothes in the stores, there is NOT enough stuff out there for little boys (in the scrapbooking world I mean...) so, I made a mini kit that can be used for some of your boy (and tomboy) layouts.

I included a tag and index card with plaid elements as well as a couple of grungy little boy .png stamps, I wanted to make some papers with them, but ran out of time. I also included a little file that you can use to recreate this plaid yourself (non-grunge...LOL). If you need help defining or using this pattern in PS or PSE check out my tutorial that you can find HERE It's a .jpg file so other programs may be able to use it as well, not sure...

I'd like to start a new little "thing" on my blog with contests/challenges. I'm not sure yet just how big it will get (I'd love for it to be HUGE! lol) and I'm creating a gallery for those who use my freebies (and stuff from Digital Candy soon!) I think that I'll start out with this:

CONTEST:
Complete a layout using my Lumberjack Plaid Mini Kit (as well as whatever else you'd like to use) and send me either the layout, or a link to your layout that I can download, copy and paste or link to my gallery, along with your email and name, and I will choose a favorite by next Sunday night. The winner will be posted on my blog Monday morning and as a thank you gift from me, get a Mini Kit designed just for you (you choose the theme, etc.). Maybe if it catches on I'll make it a regular thing! Don't forget, I'll also be looking for a creative team VERY shortly, so please send the layouts?? LOL Ok, so have the layouts to me by Saturday at midnight my time (I'm 5 hours behind EST) ... I'm SO excited!!

p.s. a special gift to the first 5 layouts that are submitted!!!

Can't wait to see your stuff ladies!!

Aloha -

Shauna

Download the Mini Kit HERE

1.06.08 Phototurns, brads & my DD!

EXAMPLE OF PHOTOTURNS



Hello!

Quick post today as I am a busy busy lady! LOL First of all THANK YOU to everyone who emailed or left comments of support and thanks, you have NO idea how they lifted my spirits! I too, am often guilty of a blog "hit and run" as I call them... quick click on a link, download and leave... but if I'm any indication of other designers, I read each and every comment that is left on a daily post and I cherish every one. Knowing that others enjoy my freebies and are grateful enough to leave a thank you makes it all worth while! Thank you again!

Today's freebie! (you know that's why you're here!! LOL) I love phototurns in my traditional scrapbooking, so I wanted to create some for you as well. But when I mentioned them to a fellow digital scrapper tonight, she had no idea what I was talking about, so I've added a small example of how I use them. The picture is of my beautiful 13 year old dd Emily this past thanksgiving at one of our favorite beaches!

I also included some brads (hello...you can't use phototurns without using brads! LOL) I made them in a wintery color scheme that I love (I'm so addicted to color!) Here's a little Photoshop Tip and Tuton how to scraplift cute color schemes (like my brads! LOL): Simply use your EYEDROPPER (looks just like an eyedropper on your tool bar just press I (as in igloo) on your keyboard) then click on the color that you like, it will then appear in your foreground color box, now click inside of that little box and your COLOR PICKER will appear, now click on ADD TO SWATCHES and you have the option of naming your swatch (PPD Winter White, PPD Winter Blue) whatever you like. Now click OK and you're done! OOOPS! Didn't want to add that color?? No worries, just click on the color box (the very last color on the bottom) inside of your swatches pallet (WINDOW>SWATCHES if you don't see it) your eyedropper will turn into a little fist and now drag it to the TEENY TINY little garbage can just below it...poof! It's gone! Continue adding the colors until your pallet is compete!

Enjoy!

Shauna

Download the freebie HERE

1.05.08 Push Pins, Post-it Notes and an Apology/Rant?

(this is the apology part) I am SO SORRY! I had a few notes today that yesterday's freebie quick page was difficult (if not impossible) to open and I've tried to fix it twice now. Here's hoping that this last fix did the job, if not I'll contact 4-shared to see if they can help. Here's hoping that today's freebie is good-to-go. If you have NO problems downloading and opening it, would you please post a message saying so? Thanks!

(here comes the rant...!) For those of you who sent kind emails and comments letting me know of the troubles, THANK YOU so much for taking the time to try and help, I truly appreciate your kindness! For those of you who were nasty and rude... well, I'm a lady so I won't say what I wanted to say earlier as my little one was still feeling ill, I was taking down all of the Christmas decorations (finally) working on my kits for Digital Candy, making dinner, doing laundry, giving the dog flea medicine and on the phone with a soldier's wife whose husband is having difficulty transitioning back from war and whose marriage is tragically falling apart - I'll just say I'M SORRY that downloading your FREEBIE was difficult for you, I hope that you can find it in your heart to FORGIVE me, and if not, well fine... feel free to check out other blogs... For those of you who simply understood and (hopefully) have come back to try and re-download it, thank you for your patience and for understanding that I too, am not perfect and do have a life outside of this laptop! LOL

WHEW!! I FEEL BETTER NOW!! he he he

Now here comes today's freebie!

Ok A.J. here you go! I told myself that the first person to ask for something would get it! (whew! I'm sure glad that it wasn't you Sharon! LOL I would have lost my mind making 50 US Sates mini kits by tonight! LOL) I made a few different colored thumbtacks (this is what you wanted when you asked for "push pins" right?? But the poor things looked lonely, so here are some post it notes for you too! (I know, I know... you don't NEED thumbtacks if you're using post it notes, but whatever! LOL) I included some "handwritten" notes for your post its, (as separate files) and also, turned the tacks around so that you can use them in either position easily!

I hope you enjoy and have NO problems with the download (I'm sure I'll hear about it if not! LOL)

Much aloha my friends!

Shauna

Download (hopefully?) your freebie HERE

1.04.08 A Mother's Love Quick Page and Layout

So I loved last yesterday's mini kit, but after I posted it I wasn't sure whether or not it was really "useable" so I made a layout with it today and was so pleased with it I wanted to share it with you! I had a fun time "weaving" the ribbon through the background of the paper (you want to know how I did that don't you??? LOL no worries, we'll get to that in a bit). I've posted a picture of the QP and of my layout, the picture is of my grandmother and my mother as a baby. It was the only photo my grandfather had of my mom during WWII. She was born while he was gone and they didn't meet until she was 3 years old. It certainly makes me so incredibly grateful that although I've sent my husband (a US Army Infantry First Sergeant) off to war twice now, we've been able to talk on the phone (most of the time) email one another (some of the time) and the longest that he's been gone is 15 months. I can't imagine how my grandmother did it, not hearing from her husband for months at a time... I digress - but to you fellow military wives... especially those whose dh's are deployed... my heart is with you, stay strong!

Now, for the tutorial... creating that woven background was actually easy, if a tiny bit time consuming... I created my layout just as I wanted it and then duplicated the layer with the background paper on it, making the copy the top most layer. I used the marquee tool to "delete" large portions of the layer, but you can use your eraser tool or whatever you are most comfortable with. Delete as much of the background copy as you can leaving ONLY what you want to show. In this case I left the swirls at the bottom of the frame and around the ribbon. The crazy thing about erasing on a duplicate layer is that you can't really see what you're doing since as you erase, the exact same image is showing through, making it look like it's not working. This makes it hard to see exactly what you're erasing. There are two ways that I use to make it easier. If you're erasing over something (like a frame or a ribbon) that can be "selected" as it sits on own layer then your job is an easy one. Say I want to weave the ribbon over and under the frame. I would load the selection of the frame (click HERE for how to load a selection) and then erase the part of the ribbon that is directly over the selection. VERY EASY! (now it appears like that portion of the ribbon is underneath the frame and all the other portions would be on top!)

Now, for an item that cannot be selected (like the swirls on the background paper If I tried to load the selection, it would simply load the entire page and it would be of no use). In this case I duplicate the layer, putting it on top and then changing the blending mode (little drop down menu at the top of your layers pallet that says "Normal") of that top layer to Overlay (or soft light if you can see that better) on MOST colors you will be able to see through the layer that you are erasing and get a better idea of what you need to erase. In this case I simply erased all around the swirls that I wanted to show above my ribbon, frame and photo. Those swirls became a layer of their own, and because they are on top you can see them above certain portions of ribbon, giving the illusion that the ribbon is woven! Make sense?? Play with this technique a little bit and you'll get the hang of it. It will give your layouts an amazing look!

Enjoy your QP, and thank you again for all of your kind words, it looks like I might have missed the bug this time (now I've probably gone and jinxed myself! LOL) and thank you for your kit and element requests!! For you military wives and moms out there, no worries! I'm working on military kits (for all branches) as we speak, it might be some time before they're completed as I want to do them justice, but you will be the first to know when they're ready! As for the others, well I'll see what I can do! I have already completed ONE request and it's tomorrow's freebie!! Sorry, you'll have to come back to find out what it is!

Katie, Leslie or Lonna, if you're reading this stop it...call me and let's go for lunch!!!

Much aloha -

Shauna

Download the Quick Page HERE
PLEASE NOTE THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE HAVING DIFFICULTIES OPENING THIS FILE. I'M LEAVING THE LINK ACTIVE WHILE TRYING TO CONTACT MY SERVER TECH PEOPLE TO HAVE THIS LINK FIXED IN CASE SOME PEOPLE ARE SUCCESSFULLY DOWNLOADING THE QUICK PAGE. AS SOON AS I CAN RESOLVE THE ISSUE I WILL POST A MESSAGE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE!

p.s. the cute strip of paper that I used for the journaling is Katie Pertiet's Freebie this week at Designer Digitals! So it is NOT on the QP - I used it and posted the layout on their gallery!