MellowButterfly Team Blog

As we watch nature around us changing hues, we are reminded of the life cycle. What a perfect time to reflect on those things for which we are thankful - our loved ones, our homes and health and of course during these difficult times we are thankful for our jobs.

This paper pack was inspired by those reflections on life and I hope they inspire you to create gorgeous layouts and projects to capture those things for which YOU are thankful!

These papers will also be available for purchase in my store here at MellowButterfly as well as at my store at FaithSisters.com tomorrow - THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9!

And hey, don’t forget to head over to the Happy Place at Digishoptalk.com as ‘Fly Girl Renilicious will be hosting a giveaway this weekend where you could win a $5 gift card to my shoppe!

And now for some layouts from the team to get you inspired!

After a bit of a break - we are back with the second installment of the Getting to Know the ‘Fly Girls Interviews!

Cindy’s Blog: MyThoughts, My Opinions, My Life
Cindy’s MellowButterfly Gallery: Scribler

What is the story behind your username?

It was nick I picked up in college from some friends in my apartment complex. It’s a play on my maiden name, which people seemed to think was hard to pronounce and spell. When I got online for the first time right after college and needed a nick, I decided to go ahead and use scribler.

Who is that handsome guy you feature in your layouts, and does your husband know about him??? In all seriousness, how did you and your husband meet?

Nah, he’s a big secret, so don’t tell him. Just kidding. :O) My sweetie and I actually met online in a chatroom for members of our faith. It wasn’t a dating chatroom. I was watching the 2000 National Conventions and discussing them with another friend in the chatroom when my now dh sent me a private message. He didn’t actually realize I was female, gender neutral nick, but was interested in discussing the conventions with me. Then he realized I was female, so double bonus. Lol We had our first official date on October 13, 2000, when he flew to Texas. We were married on August 18, 2001, so we just celebrated seven wonderful years together.

Your layouts have a traditional paper scrapping style, were you a paper scrapper before you started doing digital layouts? How long have you been digiscrapping?

I was a paper scrapper for almost 10 years before I took up digiscrapping. I’ve been digiscrapping for a little over two years now and I love it.

Cheddar or Mozzarella?

Cheddar (and it must be sharp)

What is that one thing you must have on your layouts or else it feels incomplete?

I love to include buttons on my layouts (a leftover from paper scrapping days). I also really like may layouts to have either swirls or sparklies.

On average, how much time do you spend designing a layout?

Probably, two hours. Sometimes a whole lot more. Rarely less, but two hours is probably a good estimate for most layouts.

Of all the layouts that you have created, which are your favorites and why?

This is such a hard question for me. I think because the layout I’m in love with this week may not be the layout I am in love with two months from now. However, here are a couple of my favorites.

This first one is a favorite of mine, because when I was done I felt like I had really created a great layout. And it features my sweetie, which is always a plus.

This second layout I love, because it was a lot of work for me, but I was so happy with the result. It actually turned out how I imagined it and that is so rare for me.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out in digital scrapbooking?

I have two pieces of advice. First, download some freebies until you learn what you like, but don’t “pig out” on them. You’ll eventually find you have tons of freebies that don’t fit the style you develop. Two, don’t let everyone convince you that you have to have the latest version of Photoshop Elements or Paint Shop Pro. Gimp is every bit as good as either of those programs, if not better, and the price can’t be beat (it’s free). If you find that you want to move on to PSE or PSP later, because you want to use actions, then that’s great. But don’t let anyone convince you that you have to spend a $100 to get a good scrapping program. You don’t.

Other than scrapping, what hobbies do you enjoy?

What?? I’m supposed to do something other than scrapping? LOL Actually, when I am not scrapping I love to read, watch Japanese Anime and play with my Wii.

And the most important question of the day, what color is your car?

Red, which is my favorite color. We’re not talking burgundy here, but bright red. :O0

Anything else you’d like to share about yourself?

Well, I have to take a moment to mention my babies. No, I don’t have children yet, but I have three dogs, a cat, six parrots, a lizard and a foster turtle. If my sweetie is not in my layouts, there is a good chance they are the focus. They add lots of love and happiness to my life.

Yes, that’s right, I am one of the guests at the Authentic Block Party going on all month long over at Christina Renee Designs! Lots of super fantastic designers there so be sure to head over and check it out!

This week I am selling a paper pack called October Nights - dark, broody colors colliding with grungy, vintage looking papers - perfect for autumn, Halloween and vintage layouts! Click the image to buy it at Christina Renee Designs’ store!

And of course, here is a bit of inspiration for you in the form of layouts from my CT gals - aren’t these fabulous?

Kookaburra by Cathi

Grow Up by Laura

Whitby Abbey by Chookie

Boo by Jane

Boo! by Michelle Batton

New Years Eve 2007 by Scribler

The Faith Sisters have out done themselves this time - we contributed so many designs to the collab that it has been broken into TWO kits!

Here’s an up close look at my portion of the collab (it’s included in Part 2 of the Collab):

The kit will be available starting October 1st over at the Faith Sisters store. My team and I are going to be on the lookout for layouts that YOU have made that include at least ONE item from MY portion of the collab to feature here on our blog - of course, you can always help us out by leaving a comment with a link to your layout! Who knows, there may be a gift involved…..And of course, for your enjoyment, here are the layouts that my CT - The ‘Fly Girls - made with my part of the collab:

Fall Ride by Laura

Autumn's Child by Renilicious

Little Lady by Chookie

Waiting by Cathi

Autumn Bliss by Jane

Caught! by Jenepooh

Florida Fall by Scribler

Sorry for the huge delay in announcing the winner of the $5 Gift Certificate from the Sisterly Love Collab Challenge I posted - but nonetheless, our winner is Angel Urquhart with her layout, I Hope You Dance!

Congratulations Angel - I’ll be emailing you shortly!

And for those of you who missed the blog freebie - you can purchase the entire Sisterly Love Collab for $10 in the Faith Sisters store - all proceeds from the sale of this kit are being donated to the Faith Sister’s World Vision sponsor child, Geneis and her family!

RODNEY “ROD” T. STILWELL
Of Waukesha, died very unexpectedly on Monday, September 22, 2008 at Waukesha Memorial Hospital at the age of 76. Rod was born on November 9, 1931 in Cameron, WI the son of Edward E. and Tunnie M. (Botts) Stilwell. Rod married Barbara Stocks on August 5, 1950. He worked for over 40 years at A.M. Gigous & Sons as an operating engineer and was also actively involved with the Town of Waukesha Fire Department. Rod served the Town of Waukesha on the Fire Department from 1968-1976, Fire Chief 1976-1986, Town Supervisor 1989-1995, Town Chairman 1995-1997 & 1999-2007. Rod was very passionate and proud of his accomplishments while serving the Town of Waukesha, calling it was his “second” career. He was a member of the Fire Chief’s Assoc., Retired Fire Chief’s Assoc. and First Baptist Church of Waukesha. His family was extremely important to him. He loved to spend time with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, even going to his son and grandson’s drag races. Rod had a love for the outdoors, camping where he was a member of the Wagabonds Camping Club, deer hunting, and animals. He also enjoyed antique collecting, and was an accomplished wood worker, instilling that love in his son Jeff.

Rod will be deeply missed by his loving wife of 58 years , Barb of Waukesha; children, Karen (John) Marx of Racine, Craig (Marybeth) Stilwell of Waukesha, Kristy (Brett) Meyer of Waukesha, Jeffry (Sara) Stilwell of North Prairie; 11 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; brother, Edward (Patricia) Stilwell of California; sisters, Earlene (Burt) Pfeifer of Waukesha, Imogene Koebler of Maryland. Rod is additionally survived by nieces, nephews, other family, friends and his buddy, a big black cat “Lucky”. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Tunnie Stilwell and a sister, Yvonne Gigous. Brothers-in-law, Dean Gigous and Roger Koebler.

The funeral service for Rodney will be held on Thursday, September 25, 2008 at 7:00 PM at Cesarz, Charapata & Zinnecker Funeral Home, 237 N. Moreland Blvd., Waukesha, WI 53188 with Rev. Ron Kral officiating. The visitation for Rod will be held on Thursday, September 25th from 3:00 PM until the 7:00 PM service at the funeral home. A private family burial will take place.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Rodney’s name are appreciated to Town of Waukesha Fire Department, W250 S3567 Center Rd Waukesha, WI 53189-7364 or to H.A.W.S., 701 Northview Rd., Waukesha, WI 53187

The family wishes to express their thanks and gratitude to Rod’s doctors and the staff at Waukesha Memorial Hospital, 4th floor, for their compassion and care.

Cesarz, Charapata & Zinnecker Funeral Home, Cremation and Preplanning Services is serving the family. For further information, please call 542-6609, or for directions, an online obituary or to leave a condolence, please visit www.waukeshasfuneralhome.com.

Today the Faith Sisters are celebrating all of the new designers (including ME, Michelle Batton!) with a blog train collab kit entitled Sisterly Love.

DOWNLOAD EXPIRED

If you make a layout using at least 3 of the items in MY freebie, be sure to come back by September 21 and leave a comment on this blog post with a link to your layout for a chance to win a $5.00 gift certificate to my shoppe here at MellowButterfly!

And be sure to stop by all the other participating designer’s blogs for the other parts of this collaborative kit - but don’t wait, it’s only available for a few days!
Amy Sumrall
Kreative Karma
Lifesong Kreations
Boyersville Scraps
Audra’s Little Scraps
Meredith Cardall
Willro & Co Designs
Julie’s Scraps
Gretchen Tripp
Journeys with Jamie
Eyelet’s Scraps Designs
Debra Ballance
DigiScrapalicious
Eva
Isyndra
Lori Irmel

Look everyone, Cheryl (AKA gonewiththewind) has made the Gallery Standouts over at the finger pointing blog AGAIN! I’m starting to think we’ve got someone famous on the team here lol

Check it out!

Been peeking around and spotted some more layouts using my products that I thought I’d share with you! Enjoy!

6th Birthday by tnchick

River Cross My Heart by gonewiththewind

Brie by cruisengoddess

You are 3 by EmmasMommy

Who Me? by mighttyjomomma

Brady's 1st Birthday by nanasdinky