Sunday, March 11, 2012

DHD Madness (All Good!)

Hi!  So, what could make me write a blog post, the first in a couple of weeks?  Mad March Memories, of course!  While DH sits in front of the television later today, looking at the NCAA basketball brackets, and hoping that the Michigan State Spartans do well ... I'll be busy scrapping and hopping on the blog train at Design House Digital (DHD).

DHD celebrated it's birthday in January ... then we had deals in the shop every day during February and a whole bunch of Superbowl and sport-related challenges (on top of the ones offered each and every month) ... and now it's March, and we're keeping the momentum going.  Yeah, I'm beginning to think that we're the "mad" ones just trying to keep up! LOL  But hey, there's an "up" side - and YOU get to benefit from it.  


See that?  A MONTH-long competition ... wowza!  Can you make it through all the rounds, to the final four?  (yeah, remember that reference to the NCAA basketball championship?! LOL)  You can get the details of the challenges, and how to get started from the DHD Blog. In addition to challenges, and some awesome prizes, I get to help you solve the puzzle.  What puzzle?  You know, the one that you read about on the DHD Blog!  Seriously.  Go read, then come back! LOL

Let's do a little game of our own, shall we?  Hands up who thinks digital scrapbooking is all about manipulating photos and "just" creating pages?  *** insert buzzer sound *** Nope, not necessarily.  If traditional scrapbookers can move into mixed media and things like art journal pages, with goops, paints, and such ... why can't we do the same, digitally?  I mean, there are great digital versions of paint splatters, textures, glitter ... Art journals are great free-form expressions of our thoughts, feelings, emotions.  They can be a little intimidating, but once you get past the whole idea of not wanting to open up, they are great fun - well, I find them fun (and quite cathartic).   Not sure about doing a WHOLE page?  How about something much smaller: an artist trading card or ATC.  These are meant to be traded (well, duh, artist trading card) or swapped.  Usually, ATCs are signed on the back by the artist, so they sort of become a calling card or business card.  I have a cat stamp that I put on mine, along with my signature (another duh moment - cat ... Kat ...).  The thing about ATCs is that they are SMALL - only 2.5" x 3.5" - so you need to think outside the box a bit; usually no photos or journaling, either (well, that's the way mine end up).  Just a few elements here and there ... and voila!  You're done.  You can print the cards, attach them to backing (I love pre-cut chipboard ATCs, myself), sign - and then give away. Okay, so I don't give mine away - I store them in baseball card sleeves in a three-ring binder.

Here's a few of the cards I've done over the past couple of months:


Ooooh, lookey there ... your clue for the blog hop.  You do see it, don't you? (HINT - look at the ATC display!) Off you go to the next blog to keep things moving along.  You know you want that kit from the DHD designers (they always rock the blog hop kits - AND it's free!) and you also want to get started on the first round of the challenges.  But, before you leave and head on over to Lori's blog to see what she has in store for you ... I've got a question for you: Have you ever done a digital ATC or art journal page? Post your answer here, and I'll enter your name into a drawing for a DHD gift certificate.  Now, to get you started on your ATC collection, here's an ATC from me to you.  I used the DHD Designer Blog Hop kit from the 2011 iNSD celebrations (yet another awesome collab kit!).  

So, on the blog train we go ... good luck on collecting all your letters to get this fabulous kit!




81 comments:

Yam said...

no, I don't see the letter! :(

Yam said...

No, I never did an ATC card!

Katherine said...

Hi Yam - first one here! Don't see the letter? Look at the ATC display ... *wink*

CBH said...

Thank you so much for this post. I want to let you know that I posted a link to your blog in CBH Digital Scrapbooking Freebies, under the Page 4 post on Mar. 11, 2012. Thanks again.

Mendie said...

I've never done one, but I'm just getting started!

Bíró Ágnes said...

Very clever, Kat! LOL

meagan43 said...

I have never tried to do an ATC before. Interesting concept though!
Thanks for the freebie and chance to win a gc to DHD

Katherine Bley said...

Yep. Both! =]

Katherine Bley said...

Yep. Both! =]

Deloris said...

Really not into ATC or art journals but thanks for the tips.

Sandy said...

I haven't attempted to do any digital art pages or ATCs. I have done it with real paint, etc. I think I will have to give it a try. I like the idea of keeping the size smaller so you start out less intimidated by the HUGE paper size. Thanks for the post!

Tammy said...

I have to admit I did not see the letter until you asked me if I saw it! Cute! I have not done an ATC card, but I have done digital art journaling. It is so much fun and I LOVE paint splatters! Thanks fo the chance to win!

LindaHAZ said...

I have done an ATC card. Had trouble downloading your freebie by the way.... Clever way to present your letter!

posted by LindaH

Beatricemi said...

Nope never did an ATC or an art journal page. I think I am too constrained. Thanks for the chance kat!

kiala said...

Thank you! I've never done an ATC card :)

kym said...

Very clever Kat! To answer your question, I've never done an ATC before. So sorry I missed your speed scrap last night, we went out to dinner. I was bummed.

Jen said...

No, I have never done either. Thanks for the chance to win!

Margie said...

I have never done an atc card, but I have made an art journal!

idahorhodes said...

I have not done either yet! I am hoping to make it a priority!

Becs said...

Newbie never done an ATC not even sure what they are for, eek. Thank you!!

judyinSD said...

I have done Art Joural pages but I'm just a beginner.

Melanie said...

I have not done a journal page or ATC page...I have too many pictures of my boys I want to scrap :)

JanFRN said...

Oh Kat... you're just too clever! I'm still chuckling. Yes, I've done an art journal page and you've seen it. I think I actually did a two-pager. I'll have to look. No ATC though.

treasureBachs said...

I have never done one but I love art journals!

treasureBachs said...

I have never done one but I love art journals!

Janet said...

I've never done an ATC or art journal. Interesting concept...may have to give it a try

sts2000 said...

I have not done an art journaling page - however with the explosion of "journaling cards" I've been thinking about trying ATC - with various techniques that are out of my comfort range....small space less stress to do it exactly - right? Thanks for the cute ATC.

Liz said...

Thanks for the ATC card! My first one! So, no, I've never done an ATC (nor had I ever received one until yours today), nor have I ever done an art journal page. Uh, oh. I think I know where this may be headed or what you might be thinking about a month from now. LOL By the way, I knew what your letter was going to be before I ever got here. ;)

MamaBug said...

Nope! I've never done an ATC or art journal. Thanks for the freebie and chance to win. :D

scrapinbabygal said...

You are too clever with how you did the letter!! You have me a little interested in ATC :) Thank you for the freebie!

Janneke said...

I have never done an ATC card. :) But cute examples!

RJMJ said...

Hi...

No I Haven't Done Either...

Thanks For the Chance!

Smiles,RJ

Pastor Daniel said...

I've never done either one

Pastor Daniel said...

I've never done either an art card or journal page

Janka said...

Jeez, it was tricky! I've just stared that ATC display for minutes :D

I've never created an ATC card or art journal page digitally. But I always wanted :)

lawyerlyn said...

i have tried it but it didn't look too nice.

thanks for the chance to win!

Rarole said...

Nope - never done it digitally. Somehow I never brought that part over into the digital world. Hmmm ya got me thinking though. Thanks for the ATC.

Em Stafrace said...

Thanks for sharing hun, love your hidden letter clever thing! P.S Wanna swap any non digi ATC's? I have a tonne of them!!! xo

Andrea B said...

I make ATC's all the time! Actually, I'm doing a project life type thing, but using 9 up baseball card sleeves and making ATC's instead of using the project life cards. Not all of them are that interesting, but some are!
Thanks for the freebie and the chance to win!

erin said...

I just started doing digi art journaling this year - always been a hands on person before - and I absolutely LOVE it! I still get out the goop from time to time, but with 2 small children digi is WAY better for me.

erin said...

I just started digi art journaling this year and I LOVE it!

Demetria said...

i have never created an ATC to trade or an art journal page.

Can we have a basic tutorial on how to get started

thanks for the chance
Demetria

Jan said...

I think I made an ATC card a few years back.

Bobbie said...

I have never made an ATC but sounds like fun, I will have to try some. Thanks for the letter :D

Bright Eyes said...

Had me going for a minute - until it jumped out at me. LOL

Have made several ATCs but really prefer the space in a large page. Thanks

Unknown said...

Never done a digital one but have done a few paper ones, and now you have me thinking! Thanks!

emelyn said...

Very clever!! I couldn't figure out what the letter was last night, but I figured it out this morning :)

I used to make ATCs years ago when I was scrapping day and night. I've slowed down a bit, but started up again, this time going digi!!

Else49 said...

I have never made a digital ATC something to try for sure.
Thank you so much for yours.

Rhadonda said...

Genius. ATC like a mini scrap page. Nice.

Mrs. Nancy G said...

Oh my goodness! Now that was clever!!!

No I haven't created an ATC as a digital design.

:-)

♥ Audrey ♥ said...

Yup, I've done art journal and luv it. Not into digital ATC at the moment!

Rosalie said...

Nope, I have never made either one.

Melissa L. said...

Cute!
No, I have never done an ATC card or layout such as this. Very creative!

stampgram said...

Love your ATCs...and yep, I have done hundreds of them (ATCs) both digitally and mixed media. They are a big favorite for swapping on my art group.

auntbeffy said...

No, I've never done an ATC or art journal digitally, but I did a couple art journals and one altered book with "real" materials. I'm thinking this'd be a great idea for a "play group" project for some of us who are just starting out learning photoshop. Maybe I'll recruit some people...

Tronesia said...

I have never done an ATC or Art Journal....working on getting the courage to do an Art Journal. A friend of mine been inspiring me with hers. :)

Debi said...

No ATC, not interested in doing those although they make great tags in a Layout. I have done artsy layouts now and again but usually stick with my photo and story pages instead.

Teresa said...

No, I have not tried either one.

Mary M. said...

I just started art journaling and love it. Clever way to share your letter. It took me a minute to see it.

Linh C. said...

no ATC here.

Kay S. said...

I haven't done either one yet, but I love the look of ATC's. Thanks for the freebie and the chance to win.

TNSCRAPPER said...

Never made an ATC.

Nessa In Texas! said...

Never made an ATC, and VERY clever way to give us our letter! LOL!

Thanks for the chance!

ScrapperSkiNTx@hotmail.com

Vanessa Austin

Anonymous said...

No, not done a digital ATC - I mostly make cards but I have made paper ATCs and have used some digital products - hybrid ATCs?? Thanks for the chance to win - best wishes

Unknown said...

I haven't done either one, but I am a newbie so I am sure that I will do both eventually. Thanks for the freebie!

Mel said...

I've never done an ATC, but I think I might try one now.

Ana Carbo said...

No, but i want to try

Ana Carbo said...

I dónt see your letter, can you tell me please

Melinda said...

I've never made an ATC card, but will definitely do it, sounds like fun! And pretty nifty with the letter! I had to look twice! :D

Unknown said...

I have done a couple art journaling-type pages, and plan to do many more this year, it's one of my 2012 resolutions!

Paula said...

Thanks for the chance to win a GC to DHD! :)

No, I haven't done either... I'm just starting in the digital world, lol!

tape said...

Yes, I've made a few digital ATCs... should get back into it!

Soco said...

I've never done one, but I like the idea! Thank you! :)

Heather D. said...

I've never done one... Cute way to show your letter :-)

Chalane said...

Sadly, no. NOT YET... I wanna do digi-art-journaling along with the other 1000 I-wanna-do's.

I appreciate the ATC you've made us. Thanks for sharing you talent and work.

Lindzie said...

I want to do a digital ATC. That would be awesome. I'm behind right now creatively. Got small kids to take care.

Tiffani said...

No, I haven't but I love ATC's! And art journals!

Arielle H Gordon said...

Super cute ATCs!!! Thanks for the freebie!

Claudia said...

I haven't ventured into Journal pages; still very new to digital scrapbooking. Thanks for the chance to win a GC!

Shay said...

Your ATCs are delightful! I have done hybrid ATCs, but never an entirely digital one.

NickyReviewsReads said...

LOL thank you for starting my day off with me chuckling at myself :) boy that took a good 5 minutes to figure out. Love the atc's i had a huge row with someone once who said my submitted atc in a swap wasnt an atc b/c it was digital!