Home Scrapbooking

Venture Brothers Paintings – The Monarch & Dr. Mrs. The Monarch

Posted in Miscellaneous , on September 26, 2010 ,

Hiya!

I know, I know. It’s been awhile since I’ve posted, but I’ve been busy! (Excuses, excuses.) After Gen Con I started a brand new, amazing job right away, and then Lucas and I just moved closer to my work last weekend. Between the new job (which used to have a long daily commute), continuing to create huge amounts of soap to fulfill customer orders, and our recent move, I’ve not had as much time to create other things or update. Now that we’re finally settled, I’m excited about how inspired I am to get crafty again to create new works of art to decorate our new home.

I LOVE the fact that all of the art on our walls are original prints and artwork by friends and geeky artists, or something I’ve painted myself. My latest creations are acrylic paintings of my favorite animated couple in one of my favorite TV shows of all time, The Venture Brothers. Introducing… The Monarch and Dr. Mrs. The Monarch! (Note: I have yet to do the solid magenta backgrounds on these that I’m planning, so stay tuned to see them 100% completed and on the wall in our office in a future post!)

I based my paintings on images I found online of the pair, which came from screen captures taken from the show. You can see the images I used on the floor in front of each painting in the first photo. The Dr. Mrs. The Monarch was originally going to be done à la Dr. Girlfriend, but as I worked on her I decided to modify the design to transform her into the Queen Butterfly instead. It seemed fitting; the paintings will soon be hanging above Lucas and I’s matching computer desks next to each other in the new office, and the color scheme of the two together will be more consistent.

It’s been awhile since I’ve painted; I was so tickled with how well these turned out that I may just have to do a few other pieces for the new place. Besides painting, I’m also excited about some digital art I created for our guest bathroom, which I am using to display some geeky-themed soap of mine and @KyleeLane‘s. I envisioned this Andy Warhol-esque design of my Game Cartridge soap and Kylee’s NES Controller soap. I wanted the colors used to match the four colors of the shower curtain and accompanying accessories to tie everything together between the curtain, the walls, and the soap on display. These will be printed at 12″ x 12″ and I created them in Photoshop using photographs I took of our soap. Not bad, hey? I can’t wait to see them up!

In digital scrapbooking news, I’ve even found time to FINALLY update our Family Life 2010 digital scrapbook. Even though it’s been months since I’ve updated, My Memories Suite is always so user friendly and fun that I found myself getting back into the zone and creating new pages quickly to share some of the things that has happened in my family’s life this year. And wow, has 2010 been our year! It’s only September, and already the Family Life 2010 album looks to be on course to surpass last year’s album in length. Which makes sense since there has just been so much good stuff in 2010 and so much that we want to share and remember. :)

So while soap orders still keep pouring in and there are some exciting things for GEEKSOAP on the horizon (Like being approached for an upcoming feature on an NBC TV segment!), I’ve managed to find time to revisit some of my other crafty passions like painting and scrapbooking, too, and I’m loving this inspirational and creative energy flowing through me right now.  And now that it’s fall, I’ve got people wanting to purchase my Cthulhu toques again, so I’ve been craving a little knit and crochet time. I’ve got the toques AND some new Cthulhu accessories coming very soon to their own storefront; look for that in the near future! (Like next week.)

So much good stuff going on in my life right now, it’s hard not to be ecstatic and want to shout it from the rooftops. I am truly blessed with an amazing husband and some amazing friends, family, and customers who just really inspire me with their love and support to keep on creating in all facets of my life. Thank you. I hope you’ll like what you see coming from me in the near future! <3


Get 10% Off My Memories Suite Software

Posted in Scrapbooking , on February 19, 2010 ,

You all know how much I love My Memories Suite digital scrapbooking software. (Read my review here!) Recently I blogged about the fantastic new Version 2 that has been released, and now I’m proud to share a discount with you so that you can get your hands on the newest version of My Memories Suite a little more easily.

Readers of the Pink Toque Craft Blog can receive a 10% discount off of the very popular (and fabulous) Version 2 of My Memories Suite software just by clicking here!

Remember that Version 2 of MMS comes with 1500 new background papers, 1300 new embellishments and 20 new layouts. Not to mention all of the awesome new features such as zooming in, WordArt Creator, being able to click and manually rotate your embellishments and photos right on the page, having text follow a shape, and so much more! Be sure to check out all of the great new features of Version 2 that I blogged about a few months back (which includes a video walkthrough!). You’re going to love the facelift that My Memories Suite received with V2!

If you’ve been holding back and waiting for a rainy day to purchase My Memories Suite Version 2, now is definitely the time to pick it up at a discount. :) And don’t forget… I’ve created 5 tutorials for My Memories Suite (including the latest one that showcases the new additions with V2) available to help you get started, and I’m always available to answer any questions you have along the way. So what are you waiting for?

Paper Backgrounds for V2


My Memories Suite Halloween Deal!

Posted in Scrapbooking , on October 16, 2009 ,

Hey readers!

You all know how much I love Polariod’s My Memories Suite digital scrapbooking software. I just wanted to let you know about their great deal for Halloween; check it out!

Save your Halloween Moments with My Memories Suite

If you’ve been waiting to purchase My Memories Suite, now is the time to grab it at a fantastic price just in time to scrap those precious Halloween memories. Need some guidance along the way?

  • Get even more support from the Facebook Fan Page for My Memories Suite where they share ideas and show off scrapbooking pages and have contests!

Don’t wait! Check out My Memories Suite today; I know you’ll love scrapping memories with it as much as I do :) Happy Halloween!


Holiday Baking Freebie

Posted in Freebies, Scrapbooking , on December 19, 2008 ,

Holiday Baking Freebie by pinktoque

Today marks the last day before Christmas/winter holiday break for a lot of people, including teachers and students!  Today was the last day of guest teaching for me and I was lucky to have my most favourite of all grade 1 class as my last day.  Now it’s the last day before holidays, but it’s also my last day of guest teaching because I was given a full time kindergarten teaching contract that starts up on January 5th after the break.  YAY!  It’s about time, eh?  It’s a small private school in downtown Calgary and I am really excited.

So for the freebie this week I wanted to present you with a set I made a little while back that I absolutely love.  With holiday baking being a very important part of the holiday season, I thought you would all enjoy a holiday baking set.  This personal use freebie includes a cookie sheet and three different shapes of sugar cookies — bell, star and tree — that come in four different decorated versions — plain, flour powdered, frosted and sprinkled with sugar — to grace your baking scrap pages this season.  That’s 12 different cookies + a bonus gingerbread man I added, too.  There’s even a piece of waxed paper and a freebie paper included of a countertop (our countertop, lol) so you’ll have all you need to create a beautiful baked good layout this Christmas.

Download my Holiday Baking freebie HERE!  Don’t forget to read the personal TOU included.

I hope everyone has a very merry holiday season!  Things will probably slow down around here for awhile as I get adjusted with the new job and such.  Happy New Year and best wishes!


Glass Mosaic Tiles Freebie

Posted in Freebies, Scrapbooking , on December 13, 2008 ,
Glass Mosaic Tiles Freebie

Glass Mosaic Tiles Freebie

As I’m sure most of you are experiencing, December is a very busy time of the year.  I’m having a hard time keeping up around here mostly because I’m working so hard to get my Christmas gifts made (just one project left to go now, woo!) along with doing Christmas cards, the usual holiday baking, etc. etc. etc.  How is it that December seems to sneak up out of nowhere and suddenly it’s Christmas?

I have a little freebie for you today; I wanted to have something birthday-related because tomorrow I turn the big 2-9 (*wince*) but I haven’t had time to devote to creating new digital scrapbooking goodies so I’ve resorted to putting up something I made a month or so ago and have had sitting in my “ready to release” folder.  These glass mosaic tiles are just some extra frills for you to use on your pages: there’s 12 different colours and three different styles of tile… full square, half squares (triangles) and smaller rectangular tiles.  That’s 36 tiles for you to arrange however you’d like to create a neat mosaic design in your scrapbook!

Download my Glass Mosaic Tiles HERE! (and don’t forget to read the personal use TOU included.)

I don’t know what the weather is like where you are, but we’ve been pummeled lately with snow.  Last week we received a little over a half foot, and then this weekend the temperature dropped to a high of -20 (not including windchill) and we’ve received around a foot of snow with more coming tomorrow supposedly.  It’s so cold!  We managed to dig out the car and go out for sushi at our favourite place close to home this evening for my birthday dinner, but we don’t plan to leave the house tomorrow if we can help it.  It’s kinda nice feeling snowed in, but at the same time I can’t help but think about the drive to work on Monday morning.  Ugh!

I hope to update shortly with a bunch of my finished projects.  I handmade something for everyone in my family this year and on top of that, Lucas and I made special handmade keepsakes for our family and close friends that attended our Las Vegas wedding back in June.  I can’t wait to give them to their recipients!  Once I do you’ll be sure to see what all we made right here on the blog :)  Enjoy the freebie and your weekend :)


Messy Desk QP Freebie

Posted in Freebies, Scrapbooking , on December 5, 2008 ,

Messy Desk QP Freebie

Messy Desk QP Freebie

Yay it’s Freebie Friday!  And look! I managed to remember this week :)

This week’s freebie is a quick page that I call “Messy Desk.”  It’s an ode to my own messy desk right now as I realize Christmas is just around the corner and all of my Christmas gift crafts are not yet finished. I haven’t even begun to think about Christmas cards yet, and if I don’t get mailing soon… my gifts and cards won’t arrive on time.  Ack!  So I’ve been busy and crafty and thought this quick page would be the perfect touch for this week.

Download my “Messy Desk” Quick Page freebie HERE!

Can YOU believe that Christmas is just a few weeks away?  I sure can’t.  Is anyone out there done with everything? Done shopping and Christmas cards finished or nearly finished? If so, I don’t want to hear it!  Haha, just kidding – that’s great, and I wish I had your energy to burn to get through my stuff in time!  Good luck prepping for the holidays and enjoy the freebie :)


Autumn Romance Cluster Frame Freebie

Posted in Freebies, Scrapbooking , on December 2, 2008 ,
Autumn Romance Cluster Frame

Autumn Romance Cluster Frame

To coordinate with my Autumn Romance Quick Page given away late Sunday/early Monday I have for you the cluster frame portion of the quick page, in case you just want the frame to use on your own layouts and backgrounds.  All you have to do is design the background and plop this frame onto your page and stick a photo behind it and you’re done!  I had a lot of fun designing this frame, which was why I wanted to give it away separately from the quick page as well. It could be used in so many other autumn layouts!

Download my Autumn Romance Cluster Frame HERE!

The background papers you see in the preview here are just there for show.  All that comes in this package is the frame itself.  Be sure to check out yesterday’s Autumn Romance Quick Page if you’re looking for those background papers :)

Hope you like it :)


Late again!

Posted in Freebies, Scrapbooking , on November 30, 2008 ,
Autumn Romance QP

Autumn Romance QP

I missed Freebie Friday again!  Let me apologize, it’s been a busy weekend!  Friday I worked all day and then had to hurry home to clean up a bit so that someone from the company that built our home could come by for their scheduled 1 year walkthrough inspection/check up.  Then I had to bake several dozen cookies for a cookie exchange I went to on Saturday with my friends Michelle, Kim and Kirsten.  WOW was I ever experiencing a sugar hangover this morning!  So here I am late on a Sunday night trying to make up for missing Freebie Friday.  Oops!

The freebie I have for you today is a fall layout that I designed a bit ago that I call Autumn Romance.  Today I have the quick page for you and tomorrow I’ll have another little goodie that goes along with it. I made this one to showcase a really good photo (I think) of Lucas and I when we took a little fall rollerblading trip around downtown Calgary a few weeks back.  It was the perfect fall day!  I know winter is just around the corner, but you can savor fall for just a little longer with my Autumn Romance quick page. :)

Download my Autumn Romance quick page HERE!

I hope you like it :) Be sure to check back tomorrow for a coordinating piece you might also enjoy.  Sorry for being late!  Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.


Cool Stuff to Share!

Posted in Featured, Scrapbooking , on November 25, 2008 ,
Lauren's Fall Festival Layout

Lauren's Fall Festival Layout

So I’ve got some really cool stuff to share with you today. Not a freebie, but something even better — a page created by a reader of the pink toque craft blog using a lot of my past freebie giveaways, and another blog award!  How exciting, huh? :D

First of all, Lauren created this beautiful page for her son’s Fall Festival.  Isn’t it absolutely gorgeous?  She used my chalk alpha, pinktoque dots font, the chalkboard background paper and some elements from my Asparagus freebie, too!  You may even notice some of my freebie crayons and one of my notepaper tags, too!  The awesome notebook that Lauren used was created by Pamela of DigiTreats.  SO cool!  I love this page and love that Lauren took the time to share it with me AND give me permission to share it here with all of you :)  Thanks, Lauren!  It’s absolutely stunning.

Also this week I received another blog award.  This one is the Fabulous award, given to me by the very sweet and talented Knit Purl Gurl over at Scrap Paper Scissors! How lucky am I?  It’s been such a wonderful week.  Thank you so much for the award, KPG! :D  And I don’t know about you, but WOW isn’t her blog design FABULOUS?!  It looks so professional!  I love her blog; you should totally check her out!

The instructions for the award are that I need to list 5 addictions and pass the award on to 5 deserving bloggers.  So here goes!

My 5 addictions (at the moment):
1. World of Warcraft
2. crochet
3. digital scrapbooking
4. coffee
5. Cadbury 100 calorie almond bars

5 deserving bloggers (in no particular order):
1. The Chronicles of Nani
2. Treeparty
3. How I Pinch a Penny
4. Mrs. Multicraft
5. Hey, Knit Happens!

Congrats, award recipients!  Hope you’re having a great week :)


Belated Freebie Friday: CU Crochet Paper Overlays

Posted in Freebies, Knit & Crochet, Scrapbooking , on November 22, 2008 ,

CU Crochet Paper Freebie

CU Crochet Paper Freebie

Happy Belated Freebie Friday! Sorry I missed getting this posted yesterday. It’s just a quickie freebie, and this time it’s even commercial use friendly! Today’s download includes a set of CU crochet paper overlays. Add them on top of colours or embellishment/paper shapes or layer colours on top of them and play with the various blending modes to achieve the crochet paper look that suits your fancy :)

Four overlays included, photographed by moi. Please don’t forget to read the CU TOU included with the download. Enjoy! I’d love to see some crochet papers you create with this one. This week’s set was inspired by my recent crochet projects as I try to get gifts done in time for the holidays.

Download my CU Crochet Paper Overlays HERE!

My husband Lucas turned 30 a few weeks back and his birthday wish was for me to make him a matching toque and scarf. I finished the toque on time but just recently finished the scarf over last weekend’s disappointing Chicago Bears loss to the Packers. (*grumbles*). He loves the set so much that he even blogged about it. I’m so happy that I’ve made something he really enjoys and uses daily now that our Canadian weather is getting colder. It’s nothing fancy, but he loves it and that’s all that matters!

Lucas modeling his matching toque and scarf set

Lucas modeling his matching toque and scarf set

Have a fabulous weekend :)