My Very First CT Call!!

I've finally realized that I need a Creative Team! I really should have known better right from the start because I have such precious little computer time as it is that there was NO WAY I'd be able to do everything on my own! C'mon, Nicole! Try to be a little realistic about this! With only 2 to 3-1/2 hours per day (depending on how tired I want to be the following day!) to do ALL my computer duties, which includes designing, advertising (which I've done practically NOTHING with so far!), my own CT layouts (for DF), posting to forums, freebie assignments, collab kits, "research", not to mention trying to scrap my personal pages and return personal e-mail....well, you can imagine how much I would appreciate a Creative Team helping me out a little!

So, if you read this blog, or were directed here by one of my CT call ads, here's the scoop. Requirements would be at least 2 layouts completed from each kit/alpha, paper or element pack that you're assigned or choose posted to at least 4 different online galleries (one of which would be DST for sure). I'm not a very prolific designer--at least I won't be until I figure myself out and find my designer's legs so to speak!--so the work shouldn't be too difficult! This is perfect for those of you who want to be on a CT, but don't have a lot of time on your hands either. The demands definitely will not be great (except maybe at the start when I would like a bunch of stuff done to start getting it out there!) I'd also love for my CT to do quality checks, offer suggestions for improvement, point out problems, give ideas for new products, etc. I'd also love to have someone do my previews for me. All 3 of my stores require different preview formats and it eats up A LOT of my time, as you can well imagine!

So what do you get out of this? Well, you'll get the kits that you work with for free, of course! And I'll give out store coupons that can be used for any of my stuff you don't use. I also plan to offer Thank You freebies from time to time that won't be issued in my stores. I would also love to form a deal with another designer (who has yet to be approached or even found, truth be told!) where their CT gets coupons to my products and my CT gets coupons to theirs! How cool would that be?

So, a little about the gal you would be working for....I already told you that I have very little time to design, so I don't have a lot of stuff out there right now. That's not to say that I don't have a billion ideas written down! I just don't have a lot of time to create them, unfortunately! I don't think I have a "style" yet, I'm still too new to really find my digi niche. I try hard to come up with new ideas while still trying to provide trendy items. I have a fabulous sense of humor (if I do say so myself!), I'm lots of fun, very easy-going, and I don't make a lot of demands!

So, please help out a newbie! Short of getting on my knees and begging, I don't know what else to say. Don't make me look pathetic and needy! (even if it IS kinda how I feel in regards to trying to sell my products!) Send me an e-mail to greenelephantdesigns @ yahoo dot com with a little about yourself, a link to your most up-to-date online gallery, along with any CTs you're currently on. I look forward to hearing from lots of you. I'm going to start by carrying this to April 19th to see what kind of response I get by then. All e-mails will be responded to!

Thanks everyone!

New Kit Coming Soon!

Wondering what I've been up to? Well, I found my desigining mojo--briefly--but enough to finish an entire kit, complete with alpha, in only 2 days! OK...the alpha took another day, but that's still REALLY good for me! Since then, my mojo has been a little down due to family and work issues, but I feel it stirring deep inside, ready to awaken and send me into another designing frenzy, so I'm going to try to complete all the collaboration kits, freebie obligations, sales flyers, donation kits, CT assignments, etc that I have lurking around so I can get to work on the billion and one design ideas I have finally gotten written down on paper (before I forget them) and get those puppies into my stores!

Back to the issue at hand! I'm really proud of this kit, which I'm naming Black Tie Affair...not only because I was able to finish it so quickly and still produce what I think, at least, is beautiful work, but also because I have created something simple yet elegant, sophisticated yet fun. It was a blast to create, and I was really challenged trying to stick to a black and white color scheme and still produce something interesting that really "works". You know what I mean??

I'll be selling it as a complete kit, a paper pack, an element pack and an alpha pack. With the complete kit, you'll receive 2 solid papers, 10 patterned papers (all with a light satiny texture), 2 glittery border overlays, 2 glitter swirls, a bookplate, 2 half-knot bows, 2 full bows, 3 cufflink brads, 1 closed envelope, 2 pieces to make an open envelope, 1 invitation with a cut-out design, 1 eyelet, 3 flowers, 1 oval frame, 1 square wrapped frame, 2 decorative journaling tags, 1 silver key, 4 photo corners, 2 prongs, 2 wide ribbons, 1 thin ribbon, 1 ribbon wrap, a complete alpha with upper and lowercase, numerals and some symbols! Wow! I think that's everything.

Here are some previews. First the Complete Kit:

Here's the Alpha Pack:
And now for the Element Pack:

And lastly, the Paper Pack:

I'll post again once I get it into my stores. I hope to finish the previews and get it uploaded this week. Please check back so you know when t go buy it! LOL And here's a little insider info just because you're kind enough to read my blog...I already have plans for a companion kit to this! It's one that can stand alone--like BLack Tie Affair--or it can be combined with this to create countless beautiful pages. More on that later (as I actually get something other than IDEAS down for you to see!).

Thanks y'all and good night!

Challenges #11 & #12

Well, I'm posting the last two layouts for the Amazing Digi Scrap Race. I can't believe it's over already! It went very quickly. Part of me is gald because I can now focus on other things (designing and something I almost forgot about--my "real" life! I need to get back on a regular schedule), but part of me is sad too. It will feel as if I'm forgetting to do something! LOL Anyway, here's #11:

The only requirement was to use wings. This is a pic of my granmother as a babe. Cute, huh?

#12 was for both partners. Since my partner was unable to complete her layouts and was disqualified, I had to find another. Luckily, one came to my rescue. One of us had to provide pic(s) and journaling and the other did the layout. So, I did the journaling and found a pic (the theme was "A Great Moment In My Life") and sent it to my new partner (whose name is also Tanya!) and she did the page. Here's the result:

The journaling reads: Meeting my future husband was the catalyst for a major accomplishment in my life--growing up! Before Thomas, I was stuck in a life of parties. I had no direction, no goals. Relationship after relationship was with the wrong man, the wrong friends. Most of my friends wanted to do nothing more than drink and party. My boyfriends were either losers, users, beaters or cheaters. Meeting Thom changed all that. He didn't put up with my temper tantrums, my attempts at picking fights. He told me that when I was feeling adult enough to talk, I would know where to find him. He taught me how to control my temper and deal with our problems in a calm and collected manner. He explained that my low self-esteem was what was unattractive--not me. He taught me how to find my self-worth. He was an example of someone who could do for himself and didn't need to rely on others for a good time. He showed me that I could stand on my own two feet. He taught me the meaning of trust--a hard lesson for me to learn.Meeting Thomas brought me direction, it set me moving forward. At the same time, it brought me stability, a safe haven. Meeting Thomas was the cornerstone of my change from an immature youth to a promising young woman!

Well, that's all folks! The next post should be back to designing! (And maybe a little freebie, if I can get my act together!)