wetfish designs: September 2007

Sunday Photos

3 comments | Sunday, September 30, 2007

It was a beautiful, sunny Autumn day and I had the chance to get out and take some photos of my world---rural Pennsylvania. I had the rare treat of photographing some little Amish boys today. Since these boys have not been baptised yet, they allow pictures if you ask them and they say "yes." So I pulled the van over, put on my nicest smile and asked. I had a nice chat with them and they loved meeting my son, Sam, and showing him their horses, buggies and bikes. They also liked checking out my minivan (they wanted to meet my younger son, Henry, and he was asleep in the van) and seeing the pictures on the back of my camera that I took. The little girls nearby were too shy---perhaps next Sunday, as I promised "Calvin" I would come back and bring him a photograph that I took of him :)

Here are a few of my favorite photos from today:

posted by cbwetfish

at 5:41 PM Permalink

| 3 comments

Little Dude Elements

8 comments | Friday, September 28, 2007

Just a few to go with the paper pack. I had so many requests that I took some time out today to make up some frames, a foot and a hand. Hope you like them! Click on the image to download and you know the rest.....

Have a great weekend,

Cyndi

posted by cbwetfish

at 7:51 PM Permalink

| 8 comments

Little Dude Freebie Part Two

5 comments | Thursday, September 27, 2007

Happy almost Friday!!!!

Still working on some new designs and this week my collaborative Download A Day project at Divine Digital debuts---be on the lookout for an announcement about that. Each day that it is my turn for the Download A Day, I will also post freebies and coupon codes on my blog. I guess it is my version of a blog party. So keep that in mind as you enjoy "Harvest," a collaborative effort of Sharia Braxton, Amanda Coudriet and Wetfish Designs.

Lastly, here are the solids to go with the prints from Little Dude Part One that posted earlier this week. Click on the image to download and remember----personal use only, don't share my links send friends here and if you like it tell me and if you hate it tell me, too.

posted by cbwetfish

at 6:52 PM Permalink

| 5 comments

Finally a freebie!!!!

12 comments | Tuesday, September 25, 2007

The freebie for this week (part one today, part two Friday) requires some explanation and I guess a sort of announcement. I was entered in the Digital's designer competition and did well in the first round with my little "Equinox" mini-kit. However, I withdrew from the competition because I made the decision to go back to being an exclusive designer with Divine Digital. Here is why:

1. Each store I was in required different methods of uploading products, previewing products, etc. This took more time than I had originally thought. When it comes down to it, time is something I don't have a lot of and what extra time I have needs to be time with my family.

2. Divine Digital is like home to me. They were the first boutique to take me on and I've gotten so much support there I feel like just planting roots and watching things grow, especially now that they are doing a total site redo and a lot of great things are happening! I'm going to branch out a little and sell some stock photos, mainly nature and texture photos for designers. And as soon as all the tweeks have been worked out (I still can't upload anything in the galleries or add new products!) I'll be going full steam ahead starting with my participation in the October Download A Day free kit, "Harvest" that I did with Mandy and Sharia, two of my fellow designers at Divine. They were so great to work with and Sharia, well all I can say is that she is one organized woman! She introduced me to "wiki" and now I am hooked!

So, today's freebie is made up of the boy paperpack I had made for Round 2 of the Digitals designer competition and solids to go with the patterned papers. Also, I need to note here that I used some brushes from EERIE SILENCE @ Deviant Art (thanks EERIE these were great) on these papers and I want to give her credit. Since they were never intended for sale, just for my art/aka freebies, I used her brushes which I don't often get to use since they are not for commercial use.

Another exciting thing I have to announce is my new website with Creative Memories. I am really excited to be able to help people get digital with their CM's "StoryBook Creator Plus" software, which creates individual digital scrapbook pages and StoryBooks. While most of the people I have met and admire in the digital scrapbook world use Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro, as a designer I realize that there are so many people out there that are intimidated by these software programs and would probably scrap digitally if a user friendly software that was affordable hit the market. Well, this is it folks. I have it, I've used it and it is easy, straight forward and a perfect gift to give to someone you love who wants to digital scrap but is limited by software costs and/or confidence. With this software they can do it. Start with the free download which is just for making the StoryBooks so you can feel your way around the software and see how user friendly it is. Then, if you like it, and one to take it to the next level, purchase the "StoryBook Creator Plus Software" and the Memory Manager 2.0.

Here is my website if you want to check all the new digital stuff out---make sure you check out the new PicFolio Max 12x12 albums, perfect for your printed digital pages regardless of what software you use:

http://www.mycmsite.com/sites/cyndiwetmiller

Here is my code in case you download the free StoryBook software and want to give it a whirl:
CM ID: 73737835

And here is the link to the page where you can learn more about the software and download the free version. And sign up in the Creative Memories Photo Center and get twenty free prints when you enter my id upon registering!

I hope some of my blogging buddies take the time to check it out---think holiday gifts for teens who you don't want to share your precious Photoshop or PSP with for digital scrapping!

Okay, so I will be back Friday with part 2 of the "Little Dude" paper pack for you. For today's download, click on the image. Remember, personal use only, please don't share my download links--send them here, and if you like my stuff let me know, or if you hate my stuff let me know, too.

posted by cbwetfish

at 7:39 PM Permalink

| 12 comments

Still here, Still Scrapping and Still Sane!

3 comments | Sunday, September 23, 2007

Wow, I don't blog for a week or so and I get lots of people worrying about me---thanks, makes me feel wanted :)

Well, in short here is what I've been up to:

1. Being a mom (full time job, requires lots of energy, little pay and few if any breaks for scrapping, chatting or blogging!)

2. Designing---mainly commercial use textures from photos I've taken. Should be in the store at Divine Digital this week.

3. Scrapping--I am participating in the "Stand Up and Scrap" contest (I'm not allowed to disclose my contestant layouts or entry # so you'll just have to visit the gallery and figure it out for yourself!) Voting is done by judges so I'm not recruiting votes here! There are some truly amazing layouts in the gallery for the first challenge so do yourself a favor and go get inspired!

4. Taking photos---some portrait work and some just of my kids, capturing up on those fun moments we've been having lately with this wonderful fall weather.

5. Being sick---nasty ear infection!

6. Cleaning up the clutter that is called my office. I'm one of those people that clutter up my life. Clutter everywhere. It drives my husband insane. Anyway, I'm trying to clean up my cluttered life and my office is the first place I needed to declutter. So lots of boxes going to the dumpster next week!

7. Decluttering my mind. Trying to rid myself of the horrible experience of my involvement with Digital Distrubances---one of my CT members was the person behind that blog. I forgave her for what happened to me on that blog but wounds take time to heal and I'm still nursing some big ones. I find comfort in stepping back from my design work and concentrating on what counts in my life---my family. Here are a few quotes I came across in my email box this past week that have really hit home:

We're so engaged in doing things to achieve purposes of outer value that we forget the inner value, the rapture that is associated with being alive, is what it is all about. --Joseph Campbell

The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places. --Ernest Hemingway

Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Appreciate your friends. Continue to learn. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is. --Mary Ann Radmacher

Peace is not something you wish for; It's something you make, Something you do, Something you are, And something you give away. --Robert Fulghum

Loneliness

An island

The middle

A sea of people

--R.R. (age 11)

So I'm alive, sane and busy. I guess the way life is meant to be. I have a blog freebie for this week so make sure you stop on by mid-week. I'll leave you with some of the "art" I've been working on:

posted by cbwetfish

at 7:55 AM Permalink

| 3 comments

Friday Freebie and it is "Rough!"

15 comments | Friday, September 07, 2007

This has been a rough week. In every respect. So I created this set of papers for today's freebie. I hope you like it! It is not my normal style but I am trying to mix things up a bit. And I need some more boy stuff! It will only be downloadable this weekend and then it will go in my stores, so now is your chance! Click on the image to download and remember, personal use only and leave a comment if you download. If you hate it, send me an email or PM and tell my why and don't download it!

If you haven't been to Digital's design star gallery to vote, what are you waiting for? If you don't like my "Equinox" find a kit you like and help support my fellow designers as they compete. Here is the link and I'm not going to show another preview of my entry as you can see it in yesterday's post:
http://digitalscrapbookpages.com/galleria/showgallery.php/cat/1095

Note: You must register at Digital's to view, vote and download all the free mini-kits!

Divine Digital is having another awesome Grab Bag sale this weekend so go grab some goodies. I sat this one out (again) as I have my hands full designing next month's DAD kit with Sharia and Michelle. It will be a truly beautiful kit when done! I can't wait! It will be perfect for all your Thanksgiving layouts!

After I get my Divine DAD portion done, I have a few kits in the works that I aim to finish. And let me tell you I am so done with making fall/autumn kits! So look for some fresh designs soon to hit my shops.

Have a great weekend everyone,

Cyndi

posted by cbwetfish

at 8:50 AM Permalink

| 15 comments

4shared is down!

1 comments | Thursday, September 06, 2007

If any of you are trying to download my freebies on this blog or the "Equinox" mini-kit that I have in the Digital's competition, please know that as of 9:25 am EST 4shared, where I host my links, is down. Try later on as I'm sure enough people will complain and they'll get it back up!

Thanks to everyone who came to my chat last night. Sorry I had to leave so abruptly but my little one was SCREAMING and I couldn't stand hearing it anymore. DH was sleeping so soundly he didn't hear him and I had to go rescue to the teething baby from his misery and dose him with a bottle and tylenol.

Stop back Friday for a freebie,

Cyndi

posted by cbwetfish

at 9:24 AM Permalink

| 1 comments

Chat Tonight, First Round Mini-Kit Needs Your Vote Tomorrow!

2 comments | Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Well, what do you think? This is my first challenge for Digital's designer competition. The theme for the challenge was "seasons." Voting starts tomorrow, so check out the competition and vote (not neccessarily for me, but for the kit you like best)! Click on the image to get to the site to download and tomorrow, to vote. By the way, mostly all of this kit will work nicely with "Autumnal Blessings!"

I was very nervous as I created this mini-kit for the challenge given the insults thrown my way last week. Needless to say, I redid each part of this kit at least twice trying to get it as perfect as I could, keeping in mind some of the constructive things that were said about my designs. You see, I did learn a few things from the trolls and the people who gave thoughtful criticism. I didn't just take away anger from that experience. So I guess having my kit torn apart wasn't all for the bad. My sales went up, can you believe that? I want to say that what happened to one particular designer on that blog is just shameful and I feel deeply for her. I think having to shut down her blog because of some immature bloggers is awful. I doubt she even knows who I am but if she does and happens to read this I hope she knows I've been in her shoes---not quite as badly--but she deserves better. Well, enough about that topic.

I want to send sympathy and hugs to Selena who frequently posts links to my freebies. I guess her father passed away. Not sure how, when or why but there was a post on her blog that she lost her father and if any of you visit her site for freebie links, go on over and leave her a comment. I'm sure she could use a hug right now...

Tonight is my chat at Divine Digital to celebrate "Autumnal Blessings." I was going to chat tonight about all our favorite fall or autumn things, scrapping related and not scrapping related. I will probably still do that but I also want to "chat" about what my customers like and don't like about my kits and digital kits in general. So if you plan on coming, that is the agenda. And here is the link to the chat room...

Here is a preview of the freebie for tonight and I will give out the link at the chat so you have to come! It starts at 10:00 pm tonight and I hope you can make it!

If I don't see you tonight at the chat I'll be back Friday with a freebie.

Have a great rest of the week,

Cyndi

posted by cbwetfish

at 7:59 PM Permalink

| 2 comments

Thank You

4 comments | Sunday, September 02, 2007

Wow, I was overwhelmed with the support I received to yesterday's post. I really did not put it there to start a pity party! I was just mad and wanted my customers to know that I stand by my products. So this morning I am happy because I read all the nice things people had to say about me and my work. Thank you, it meant the world to me!

So, instead of designing in my free time yesterday when my sitter was here, I made some layouts since I hadn't scrapped my boys in a long time. Here are two layouts I liked:

And today we are cleaning and painting at my house so I won't have time to scrap :( I still have so many photos to scrap from the summer!

Have a great Labor Day and thanks again for the support,

Cyndi

posted by cbwetfish

at 8:57 AM Permalink

| 4 comments

What did I do to deserve this?

20 comments | Saturday, September 01, 2007

Okay, today I found out about the "evil" blog that is out to get me. I have to admit I cried today when I read the post that was about my "Gypsy Garden" kit. Some of the things said about me and my designs were so hurtful and angry---why me?

Here are some of the comments that just sent me over the edge that I was teetering on all week:

That is one crazy kit. Just because you can buy AC actions doesn't mean that you should use them... all.

What gets me about that designer is she is an excellent photographer and has done some killer LOs...why she can have such good taste in photography and design stuff like this is beyond me...

Yeah she takes excellent pictures, I was browsing her blog, and she has plenty of talent on that department.

OK that is hideous LOL... I am guessing she thinks quantity was a good thing here... she should have gone for quality though!! ICK!! What are all those MISC elements anyway... I want to know what elements are I am buying...

And that is just a few of the words I woke up to this morning. Well, I responded using my real name in a way that I thought was mature and respectful. But it still hurts and it still makes me question my abilities. I can't help it. I'm human. I'm a sensitive person.

The reason I am posting this trash on my blog is because I want people who buy my stuff and visit my blog for freebies, sales, etc. to know that:

1. If you buy something from me and don't like it please tell me. Send me an email or private message. Tell me why you don't like it and I'll give you back your money. Even if you don't tell me why you don't like it I'll give you your money back. Don't go trashing my work without letting me know!

2. I have varied tastes as far as color and theme. I like to mix things up. None of my kits are knock offs of each other. I get inspiration from a lot of places. So "Gypsy Garden" wasn't the best color scheme for some people. I liked it. I still do. I do use Atomic Cupcake actions on a lot of my elements because I like them and I honestly don't know how to do a lot of that stuff on my own. I'm still learning. I'm a newbie. I admit it.

3. If you think my stuff is crap, don't buy it or download it if it is free. I honestly don't want your business or your hit on 4shared or this blog.

Now I'm probably going to get blasted on that "evil" blog for putting this up here, but that is just the kind of person I am---I like to have the last word.

So if you share in the opinions of the "anonymous" comments on the evil blog, please have some respect and email me or tell me what you don't like about me or my designs privately.

posted by cbwetfish

at 3:31 PM Permalink

| 20 comments