Volume 1, Issue 10

 

 

 

 

 



Newsletter

Welcome to the July 2004 edition of the Simply Digital Newsletter by CottageArts.net! 

  • Layouts by Michelle Shefveland using the new downloadable Americana Page Pak and this month's coordinating free download: torn burned mat, torn burned monument vellum, and two beaded safety pins

  • Announcement of our new release, Simply Stated, along with a special offer to newsletter subscribers

  • Site Happenings

  • Simply Sketches by Beth Ervin

  • Digital Scrapbooking Classes and Resources

  • Design team layouts celebrating Freedom

  • Poetry penned by Thena Smith that you are free to use in your personal scrapbooking, provided credit is given to her

  • This month's special coupon code

We're excited to be able to announce Simply Stated in this issue, containing more than 480 artistic images.  We hope you enjoy our most collage rich CD yet.  Also, watch our site for much more downloadable content in the coming days and weeks.

Happy Summer!

The Team at CottageArts.net  

"Majestic Monument," created by Michelle with the Americana Page Pak and this month's free download. Read on...

"Honoring America," created by Michelle with the Americana Page Pak  Read on...


 

 Simply Stated CD
Sampling of fully-layered templates (includes Christmas and Valentines Day themes,
heritage, boy, girl, nature)

    

    

 

Simply Stated CD
View Contents and Special Offer Now!

Introductory price of only $31.95
 
Plus FREE Page Pak download available to newsletter subscribers
 Shipping CD by July 31st.  Offer expires July 31st.

Simply Stated is an eclectic graphic collection from CottageArts.net featuring layout templates and backgrounds of soft-edged pastels, retros, painterly countrysides, and rustic metals dappled with word art. Rich, textured embellishments range from retro flower charms, grungy rolled edge mats, dirty washer pebbles to soft painted tulip tags. Sentiment Tags and Simply Sentiments (word art) are new offerings on the CD, including a collection of thought provoking, insightful, and witty poetry from Thena Smith. Two coordinating AlphaSets complete this jam-packed, artistic medley of over 480 images (300 dpi). Also includes our new printable image catalog in PDF format.


This month's sketch and layout were provided by Beth Ervin.  It is a one-page 8.5" x 11" or 12" x 12" sketch, featuring a design layout for one large focal photo, easy to create in image editing software. See an enlarged version of how Beth interpreted the sketch and created her whimsical piece.  Read on...

CottageArts.net Site Happenings

See the brand new free downloads on our samples page!

New Downloads: We will now be focusing on building our download inventory for all of you anxious for immediate gratification. Keep watching the site for new additions, with sample artwork in our gallery under a new category: Downloadable Page Paks and AlphaSets.  Enjoy! And, let us know of any specific kit requests...

Michelle's floral photography and tips are featured in the Creating Keepsakes' August issue.  Look for more floral photography and digital artwork in September's issue, as well.

Design team member, Roseanne Miske, will be teaching "Getting Started with Digital Scrapbooking (using Adobe Photoshop/Elements)." She will also be demonstrating the Simply Digital product line from CottageArts.net.  Following are details about the classes:

  • Denver-Colorado Springs Area (training in Monument, CO)
  • Intro Class 3+ hours is $30, includes training booklet full of resources
  • Saturday, July 24, 1-4 pm OR Sunday, July 25,  2-5 pm
  • Contact ramiske@yahoo.com for more info or to register.
  • Hurry!  Seating is limited.

Michelle's art and CottageArts.net were featured on the front page of the San Diego Union Tribune's business section this past week.  Thanks to Kathryn Balint for a wonderful article. 

Stay tuned on our website for more classes
 around the country taught by our design team!

Thena's new book, "Where's Thena?" is a collection of her poetry and will be available for purchase worldwide soon!

Digital Scrapbooking Resources and Classes

Midwest Scrapbook Convention, St. Paul, MN,
Friday, August 6, 8 - 9 AM

Come have fun bright and early with Michelle Shefveland as she introduces you to the exciting world of digital scrapbooking!  Due to her brother's wedding, she is only able to teach early Friday morning. Using her new book as a guide, Michelle will show you photo editing tricks and digital scrapbooking basics, as well as offer some of her design secrets to making digital look so real you won't know it's digital (unless you touch the printed layout)!  Both Paint Shop Pro and Photoshop Elements will be demonstrated. She'll be giving away one her books, as well as a handful of her CDs. Each participant will leave with a CD sampler of CottageArts.net graphics, along with a trial version of Paint Shop Pro and Paint Shop Photo Album! Michelle will be signing books after class at the Scrapbooks Ltd. booth, where her book and CDs will be available for sale. Register now until July 21st at www.scrapbookconvention.com.

Archiver's Mall of America Scrapbook Festival, September 10-12
Michelle Shefveland is thrilled to be teaching for three days at the largest scrapbook festival in America!  Using her new book, Scrapbooking the Digital Way, Michelle will show you photo editing tricks and digital scrapbooking basics, as well as offer some of her design secrets to making digital look so real you won't know it's digital (unless you touch the printed layout)!  Each participant will leave with a CD sampler to take home! Products available for purchase at Archiver's. Register now at www.archiversonline.com.

Scrapbooking the Digital Way - a 300 page full-color book by Michelle Shefveland, Scrapbooking the Digital Way, published by Jasc Software.                                                              Customer Comments

View a full chapter, table of contents, order information

Memory Makers Computer Scrapbooking special issue
This educational and inspirational resource includes three articles written by Michelle, plus her artwork. Design team member, Doris Castle, also has art featured. Available at most newsstands now!


Thena's Thoughts

"Celebrating Freedom" by our Design Team
Note: each design team member uses an image editor of choice with our products to create their custom layouts.  See our product overview for software compatibility.

Sound of Freedom

Stop for just a moment
And take a look around
Listen to the voice of freedom
What an awesome sound! 

I hear it in the silence
I see it in each face
Oh how glorious is our freedom 
Let us revel in its embrace! 

I hear it in the noise
Of the city's roar
I hear it in the mountains
And I feel it on the shore! 

Oh what an awesome feeling
To be strong and brave and free
And know that every morning
We awake in Liberty! 

Let us not take it for granted
Or treat it with disdain
Let us treasure our country
And bring honor to its name! 

Let us never let the enemy
Destroy what we hold dear
Let us never be overtaken
By complacency or fear! 

If you love our nation 
Then dear friends be aware
And keep our country
Forever lifted up in prayer! 

More of Thena's Sentiments

 

 

 

"God Bless America", created by Beth Ervin using the Americana Page Pak with intricate traditional paper piecing techniques (Beth prints our papers and embellishments from Paint Shop Pro and hand cuts them - now that's patience!).

Read on...

"FREEDOM", created by Beth Ervin traditionally using the Americana Page Pak.

 Read on...

 

"Welcome Home James", created by Cindi Atkins using the American Page Pak.

 Read on...

 

"Celebrate Freedom" created by Sharon Hammond using the Americana Page Pak and our new Americana Quick Page free sample.

 Read on...


Free Download of the Month

Michelle created this month's freedom collection of 300 dpi PNG formatted images, including torn burned monument vellum, torn burned mat and two safety pins. Simply download, unzip, open in your image editor, and drag onto an open layout. add photos and journaling, and print or post to the web!

"Land that I Love," created by Michelle with the Americana Page Pak and this month's free download.
Read on...


Karla's Tips and Tricks

This month Leila is taking a sabbatical as she moves across the country. Karla teaches us about photo effects using Adobe Photoshop Elements and some of Michelle's photographs.  Read on...

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