I’ve been working on samples for my new ABC Class at Jessica Sprague.  I sent off my ABC Books last week, and I was so happy when they arrived yesterday. The samples turned out really cute and now I’m off to see what else I can make out of these templates!

I am now going to hijack my own post. Yesterday, I went to the gym and so happened to see this video (below) on TV (KSL’s morning show at 11am). It is Utah’s Studio 5’s segment on Mom’s going back to school. Digital classes anyone?

Today is release day. I have a couple of new releases today (30% off today only), but my favorite is my Americana, which I made in honor of Independence Day.

If you’ve been looking for a digital scrapbooking sale from me, here it is!  My designer sale going on this weekend at DHD. There will be a free kit (You’ll want to jump on and download it!), and two $1 kits. All of Daisy Jane and Informed with be 25% off on Saturday and Sunday ONLY.

I also have a special code for my blog readers! This coupon code is for 25% off the FRESH PICKED MEGA COLLECTION on Saturday and Sunday only! Your code at check out is: BLOGLOVECG

And finally, come join me for a chat in the DHD Scrap Room at 9am MST on Saturday, June 26th. If you’ve ever wanted to see the pure mayhem of chatting through a forum for 1 hour, you should come join in for it!

Here’s a few Baby Safari layouts to inspire you!

Layout by Candice Palmer.

Layout by Susan Haglund

Layout by Candice Palmer

Layout by Candice Palmer.

Layout by Mindy Hanson.

Layout by Joyce McCall.

I recently started a Facebook page so that you can keep up with blog posts, sales, and freebies. So here’s one of them! Once we hit 500 people, I’m going to give away my new Pretty Posy digital scrapbooking kit to everyone who joins! Once we hit 500, this kit will go on sale at Design House Digital. So take advantage of getting it free now!

Here’s a cute little layout I did of my friend’s daughter, Isn’t she adorable?

I’ve been putting out Fresh Picked for a couple of weeks now and after seeing the spring and summer collection, you had to know that autumn and winter were going to follow, right? So tomorrow, you can check out those collection at Design House Digital along with the mega kit that includes all 16 kits.

What’s the big deal about the Mega Fresh Picked Kit (try saying that 3 times fast!)? Well, all these kits alone would cost you $63.84, but the mega kit is only $39.99.  Add the 30% off for release day (Thursday only) and that whole jumbo kit is only $27.99. It’s pretty much a steal.

What do I like about Fresh Picked? Well, other than the solids (I like having a huge stack…I mean, I tried 3 green backgrounds on this layout before I settled on the correct one!), I like that it’s a collection I can use for any season.

Also wanted to mention my new little Facebook page. Yes, I’d love you to join; Yes, I feel silly about having one; and Yes, I will have a Facebook freebie on there soon (I just couldn’t think of any “no’s.” If you don’t want to join now, just look over on the sidebar for the link. I’m hoping that this page will make it easier for you to hear about sales, blog posts, and design news coming from my little corner of the world.

Products used in the above layouts all created by Carina Gardner | Green Layout: Fresh Picked Summer Borders, Spring Solids, Spring Stamps, Summer Solids, Summer Florals, and Autumn Stamps

Blue Layout: Fresh Picked Winter Papers, Winter Stamps, Winter Titles, Autumn Tickets, and Design 365 Color Kit 1

I just got back from a lovely weekend retreat with Design House Digital designers in Midway, Utah. We laughed, listened to Glee, worked, and chit chat. Who was there? Jen Allyson, Deena Rutter, Melissa Esplin, Mary Shaw, Gennifer Bursett, and Spencer Nugent (who showed up at Hi Mountain Drug in Camas at the end of the retreat). It was wonderful hanging out and getting to know these awesome girls a little better!

Here’s a run down of what we were up to:

Thanks ladies for all the fun!!!! I’m excited to get to know you all better and steal your headbands (um, thanks Melissa!), decorate with the new birdie plate (I love you Jen!) and force you to help me pick out shoes (everyone had to at least LISTEN to that).

I’ve been working on this new hybrid ABC Book for a couple of days now. It’s a little present for my mother-in-law for Mother’s Day…shhhhh! Don’t tell! She even gave me a little time to work on it while she hauled my kids to the aquarium for a little “grammy” time yesterday. I had to share because I made this little book from MeadowLark™ and my new ABC Templates that will be out tomorrow at DHD. The mini illustrations are so sweet! Think Mother’s Day (or in my case, Grandma’s Day). The bonus? It’s pretty easy to make.

The templates all fit on a 4 in x 4 in photo (I get 4″x6″ photos printed at Costco and leave the extra space blank). All I did was take my “ABC photos” and dropped the templates on top (the digital kit comes with both white and black versions-52 files in all).

Once they are printed, you only have the fun part left! This little book is 5 in. x 5 in. You could make your book any size though. When I make my photos 4″ x 6″, I tend to make a 5 in” x 7 in” book. I was loving the black and white papers because it made the photos really pop. I added red ink to all the paper edges as an accent and some fun MME rub on letters to the cover (the other elements on the cover come from the MeadowLark™ die cut accessory sheets).  Oh ya, and my favorite way to get things bound? A quick trip to OfficeMax to let them spiral bind it for me. I’m okay with the hand off on this part of it!

If this is the first post that you are hitting for the DHD Designer Blog hop, then you are in for a treat! If you’ve hit this blog from one of the other designer’s blog, then WELCOME! I’m happy to give you one more piece of the DHD Designer Blog Hop Freebie!

So what is the DHD Designer Blog Hop? It’s an opportunity for you to check out each of the Design House Digital designer blogs and get to know your favorite designers! And what better way to do it than by giving you a little freebie to boot? Well, little is maybe a bit of an understatement, heehe. To get the entire kit above (can you believe how big it is?) simply click on the icons below with the designer’s name and hop from blog to blog, downloading as you go! (Hint, if you just click on the right hand icons you’ll hit every designer going one way, if you click on the left hand icons, you’ll hit each designer going the other way!)

Download my 6 digital papers from this gorgeous kit by clicking on the icon below. I’m totally loving the colors (spring is calling to me!)! Enjoy!

While, I’m here, I ought to mention that I’ve made a few changes to the blog and studio sites. A little easier navigation system (if you want to see designs in fabric, paper, digital, and courses, all you have to do is click on DESIGNS & RELEASES now.) It’s also easier to find the free downloads and the newest releases (under DESIGNS & RELEASES). Check it out up top! And my final little bit of news is that the ladies over at My Mind’s Eye’s blog have been doing some FABULOUS stuff with my new Meadowlark™ line, so check it out if you get a chance!

Okay, ready pick up the rest of this delicious kit? Check out these designer’s blogs:

Ahhhhh! I love a good project day! I’m off the computer designing for a day (after finishing up my new collection Daisy Jane™ for DHD last night) and getting paint on my face! I found a steal of a deal at Tai Pan the other day, and it’s been waiting for me to give it a fresh coat of paint. Of course, Felicity helped as only a toddler can (that’s her little hand painting in the photo!). I’m also hoping to get out those new MeadowLark™ papers to work on a little project. That’s this afternoon (with the girls…they love a good art project as much as I do).

Speaking of projects, I have to show off these amazing projects by one of DHD’s new Hybrid Decorators: Jane Beljo (click on her name to see more). These cards use the Baby Mine kit (proceeds go to a good cause—see the post below!). You can see her helpful hints for making her cards at Design House Digital (her first post is here).

Oh ya, and I’ve been meaning to give a little shout out to Hi Mountain Drug Store in Kamas, Utah. Our little family stopped by to see DHD’s Digi guru Gennifer Bursett on our way back from a spring break vacation last week. It’s no wonder that the burger joint there has won so many awards! I inhaled that delectable philly burger with the refreshing limeade in a ridiculous amount of time. Yes, my mouth is salivating just thinking of it. Gen, watch out…I may be back sooner than you’d like!

Okay, backing away from the computer now .

I’d like to start with the good cause because, well, it’s the most exciting for me! My little sister SuiKim (pronounced “Sweet-Kim” without the “t”) and her husband Steve found out a couple of weeks ago that they have been chosen to adopt a little baby boy! I’m especially happy for SuiKim and Steve, who are just about the nicest, kindest couple of people around. They have spent most of their marriage wanting to have a child, and haven’t been as fortunate as many of us. If you’ve gone through this process, you know how heartbreaking and difficult it is. I’m so grateful that this opportunity has come  for them and wanted to share my joy with you.

Without going into my family history, I’ll just tell you that my family as suffered a bit of heartache the last few years (a story for another time). Because of this SuiKim and Steve don’t have many financial resources. I wanted to help the best way I know how. So the digital kit above, BABY MINE, will go on sale on Thursday, April 8th, at Design House Digital with all the proceeds going to help pay for the adoption. Thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity in helping me get this new little family started. I’ll be sure to post pictures of the little one when he arrives (camera will be waiting in hand!). (BTW, the pic on the side is my sister Yanni (right), SuiKim (center holding Yanni’s son Tad), and me).

If you don’t digital scrapbook, or just want to help, I’ve included a donation box here for you to send money to them.

Thanks again for all your help in this effort! I’m excited to see this little family get their first baby!

Okay, on to the next thing! A giveway. Yes, I know you like giveaways and I do too! Due to hit Design House Digital on Thursday is a new Color Kit. I’ve been getting emails about this, and FINALLY I got to it! Want to win it? All you have to do is leave me a little message in this post about your favorite hobby—Are you scrapbooker? Quilter? Avid crafter? Obsessive organizer? I love hearing about others’ obsessive need to create! I’m right there with you.

Here’s little peek at Color Kit 3. I’ll post the winner Thursday morning, bright and early so leave me some love sometime on Wednesday.

And finally, a little freebie for you! It’s a little party card download made from the Baby Mine kit. Use it for a birthday, baby shower, baby housewarming party, or (in my case) “Baby’s Here!” party. If you aren’t a “digital person,” no worries! This card is already positioned on an 8.5″ x 11″ paper so all you have to do is download and print. You may get a download window, or the image may appear in a new screen (if this happens just right click on it and SAVE IMAGE). It’s a high quality jpg that will print beautifully for you! Enjoy!