IT’S OPEN!!! Jilbert’s Bits of Bytes CU Store is a Reality …
After months of work (and LOTS of questions), Jilbert’s Bits of Bytes Commercial Use store is open at theStudio. It’s actually a “soft” opening (I only have 10 items up in it right now) with the Grand Opening is scheduled for May 22nd (with a lot more “stuff”). All the products I currently have and any new ones (released this month) will be on sale for 40% off.
Starting tomorrow, I plan to start showing off my products and would LOVE to hear what you think of them. I also would like to hear any requests you might have (other than a date with the latest hunk and a million dollars) … so stay tuned!!!
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Log-in Problems???
I’ve gotten some reports that folks are having trouble logging in. If you are having this issue, please email me at admin [@] jilbert [dot] org (or try seeing if you can use the contact form). Be sure to give me your login name or let me know if you’ve never been able to log in.
Read MoreCelebrating iNSD with a Freebie Mini
I just couldn’t let the opportunity to give you folks a freebie pass me by … especially with it being iNSD weekend. Also, it’s been a while since I’ve put together one of my mini kits so I decided to make one for you and, to make things EVEN better, I used Mother’s Day as the theme. I came up with the name — A Mom’s Hug — while looking for some sayings to use for word art.
The kit has 5 papers and 21 unique elements and LOTS of bold colors in this (it’s been rather warm here the last few days and I was definitely thinking summer). There should be plenty of stuff for making a great layout; then all you have to do is add your favorite photo and you’ll have a perfect gift for Mom on Mother’s day!!!
You can download this kit by clicking on the preview … and remember you must be logged in to download it.
This is rather large download (72 MB), so if you have any trouble downloading it please let me know and I’ll break it into 2 files for you.
I don’t have a layout for you just yet, but I do have an add-on … more papers —
However, you can’t download them here; you need to download them from my Facebook page (yes, another gimmick to get you to “like” me). You’ll find the link to download this on my Fan Freebie tab.
I had SO much fun making this for you and I was able to use a lot of the commercial use products I’ve been busy creating. I can’t wait until my store opens so you can see them. I hope you enjoy this and be sure to share any layouts you make with it.
HUGS!!!
Read MoreNow what?
So, May 1st has basically come and gone and I still don’t have a store. Rather than whine, I will say that I understand the delay(s). The site that was (is) going to take a chance on me (a REAL newbie) is theStudio (http://www.digitalscrapbookingstudio.com). The owner (Toiny) typically only brings on experienced designers, which I’m definitely not. While I’ve gotten most of my accounts in order and have configured the 1st 10 products for my store, I’m once again delayed due to competing with NSD or iNSD. That’s O.K., I’m cool … I can wait … but I didn’t want to leave you all in suspense (as if).
No matter what happens, I’ve at least scheduled 2 kit collaborations; the first with my super-duper mentor Karen (Snickerdoodle Designs) and the second with my other designer bud Manu (Manu Scraps). Karen and I pretty much know what our theme will be … we’re just waiting for her to return from her amazing vacation. Manu and I are still in the planning stages.
I promise to keep you all updated AND to be better about posting. I already have an idea for a tutorial or two and definitely have ideas for some freebies (including all the products I’ve put together if my store doesn’t materialize … LOL!!!).
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Have you every had one of those days?
I’m sitting at my computer (actually, I guess I’m almost always sitting at my computer) when I hear my dear husband going through the house emptying the waste cans. I had heard him making “busy” noises earlier but it suddenly dawned on me what was going on about the time he came into my room to empty the waste can. Granted this isn’t unusual for him, but it’s Saturday and this activity is a Sunday activity (our garbage gets picked up on Mondays). I’m wondering if I’ve really lost track of time … is it really Saturday? I check my calendar … yep, it’s Saturday. I catch up with him about the time he’s finished the recycling and ask — “You do know it’s Saturday, right?” He’s going to be really bored tomorrow.
Things have been so strange/busy/crazy this month … birthdays, anniversaries, and horrible deaths. I hope my silly story puts a grin on your face … at least for a moment.
HUGS!!!
Jill
Read MoreWhere in the world is Jilbert???
How embarrassing … I only had 2 posts last month and I swore when I started this blog that I would post WAY more often than that. Same old excuse, I’ve been busy creating stuff for my new store … which is still in the works … just really slow actually getting it online. I actually took a picture of some of the things I’ve made and have yet to get photographed and extracted. I swear some of those items have mated and reproduced on their own … at least I’m trying to convince my husband they have (for some reason he doesn’t believe me).
The one thing I’ve been having a blast with is my Cameo (upper left corner). Being able to draw out an idea and have it cut out by someone (or something) other than me is nothing short of amazing. Those butterflies are my latest Cameo creations.
However, I did take some time out to make a couple of frame freebies for you. Just my way of saying thank you for not giving up on me. Just click on the preview to download.
Sunprints
It’s been way too long since I posted anything. Unfortunately, life has been a bit crazy around here. Things are stressful enough pulling together products for the commercial use store I’m working on, but then my father-in-law suddenly needed to have open heart surgery. The surgery was a week and a half ago and he’s now doing FANTASTIC. We’re hoping he’ll be back home in another day or two and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that things will settle down just a bit.
BUT, I did manage to find some time to play and play I did. I discovered a really fun way to “dye” fabrics and realized it would be a great way to make papers. It’s called sunprinting (or sun printing). Now I was familiar with the photographic process of doing sunprints where one uses specially treated paper to create images. While the process is somewhat similar, this is different in that it uses paint on fabric to create your images (like my daughter used to say “exactly the same only different”). I’ve always wanted to try my hand at either fabric painting or dying, but the thought of messing with all those dyes and the hazardous materials one needed to use kept me from actually doing it. I found the idea of using paint in place of dye much more attractive although it did get somewhat messy at times.
I did some shopping around and found one of the paints (dye-na-flow) at my local Jo-Ann’s where I also bought my 100% cotton fabric. I had gathered some ideas for what I would use for the “printing” … now all I needed was a sunny day. Luckily, we’ve been having some really wonderful weather. I can’t tell you how wonderful it was to be outside and NOT have to work in the yard. I’ve gotten some great and some not so great prints but I had a blast. Here are some photos of what I’ve made (so far).
I got such GREAT scans of these and have loved playing around with layering them on top of each other and tweaking the colors. In the process, I tried adding some of my patterned overlays on top and that, my friends, is the basis of this post … FREEBIES!!! I decided to share some of the papers that I made. All you need to do is click on the preview to download them.
If you’d like to try your hand at sunprinting, this is the link to the tutorial I used — http://www.bloombakecreate.com/2012/09/more-sun-printing-fabric-with-dye-na-flow/. You can also Google it using the term “sunprint with paints.” I would love to see what you make or have made … just post a link in your comment below. Plus, feel free to share any tips or tricks you might have. I’m definitely a beginner with this and would really love to learn more about the process.
Read MoreSouthwestern Venture redux
It’s come to my attention that I forgot to provide a download link for my Southwestern Venture kit. Thank you Donna for being so persistent and patient with me!! Click on the preview below to download and remember you must be logged in.
I’m now thinking I need to provide a single index to my kits … guess I need to put that on my todo list!
Read MoreSpring Bling Paper Add-on
As is typical with me, I have created an add-on to my Spring Bling kit. It’s a pack of 8 more papers which will give you a total of 16 papers. However, I’ve added a bit of a twist for this download … it can only be downloaded from my Facebook page. 
If you’ve never downloaded something from someone’s Facebook page, here’s how you do it. Go to my page — http://on.fb.me/XqCI2w — Click on the Fan Freebie tab — and, since you’ve never done this before, click on “Like” at the top right of the page. You’ll then see the preview above with the words “Just click the preview to download” — then do what it says … click the preview. Hopefully, your download will start … if it doesn’t, let me know by either posting on my Facebook page or adding a comment to this post.
Read MoreSpring Bling
It’s been WAY too long since I did anything “fun” and then given it away. Instead I’ve been busting my bum pulling together products for a commercial use store which is still in the works.
Yesterday, I made the decision to take a break from creating content that is under appreciated and decided to make something that I know will be appreciated … a freebie kit for you, my readers. I call it Spring Bling and bling it definitely has. Check out the preview …
It uses the color palette that I selected for Round 4 for the Designer Darling contest that I dropped out of. I just couldn’t let it go to waste and you all are the beneficiaries of my need to do something a bit more creative with my time. As I learned, I did a layout with it just to make sure it would be workable.
The picture I used is from my photo session at my friend’s mother’s house. This lady always has a bunch of something blooming at her house so I’ve learned to bring my camera with me whenever I visit. This time I was well rewarded … to the point that I ran out of juice in my camera batteries.
Back to your freebie. As always, you must be logged in to download the kit and you can download it by clicking on either preview or just clicking here. Be sure to keep an eye on me because you all know I’m not typically one to release a kit and not want to add to it. I’ll also try to do a better job of posting stuff … even if I don’t have any “good news.”
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