Learning to print the alphabet was hard work.  Repeating each letter over and over, making sure the letters were correctly spaced, in the right sequence, and proper pencil grip were tough lessons that had to be learned.  Remember when the teacher also used a visual example for each letter?  A for apple, B for bunny, and so on?  And just when the printing had been memorized, it was time to learn how to write those same letters!  Maybe it's a good idea I have a keyboard to spell out my words because I'm afraid that the writing just isn't what it used to be.

- chameleon

Chameleon -- she's beautiful!  Did you post her in the Gallery -- I haven't been over to look, yet.

Thanks for the compliment, Aunt Bobby.  She was such a beautiful little girl and I was often drawn to her but couldn't figure out just what I could do with the image as a digital rework.  I think sometimes the simpler the artwork, the better the design.  There's a saying that seems to fit this one:  "Less is more."  The image is posted in the Digital Challenge Gallery http://artellacafe.com/photos/artella_digital_challenge_gallery/picture6840.aspx.  Happy New Year!

- chameleon

She is a beautiful little girl, the frame is perfect for the age of the photo too. Nice Job!  I am pretty new to the site, just since early November 2007, where does everyone get the original images to be able to enter these challenges? (the bird, the umbrella, etc) I can't seem to locate them to join the fun. I have been participating in the weekly/Monthly kit challenges but would love to participate in the digital ones also.

 Thanks Everyone!

 annamarie

Hi Annamarie!

Happy New Year! I was just glancing at the posts on the Cafe home page and wanted to drop you a quick note. I don't know if your only lookig for digital images or any image at all. A couple of things came to mind right away. I get a news letter from an on-line retailer of digital scrapbooking everyday and once a week (scrapgirls.com). When you sign up for their newsletters, they give away a digital freebie in each newsletter and these freebies do add up after awhile. There is another place I get one freebie a month and that's from the Vintage Worshop (thevintageworkshop.com). If you sign up for their newletter you'll get one freebie a month. I have also done some on-line surfing on digital scrapbooking and run into tons of freebies - you might want to check that out. I just got a Christmas package from:  Free Digital Scrapbooking <marie@freedigitalscrapbooking.com>, also try NewsFlash Creating Keepsakes <creatingkeepsakes@mailings.ckmedia.com> andSimple Scrapbooks Times <simplescrapbooks@mailings.ckmedia.com>Paper Crafts <papercrafts@scrapbooking.email.primedia.com>. You can also get stuff right here at Artella. When you sign into the Membership, click on the Clip Art Gallery Square and you will find tons of images that you can download. You can also find freebies on the Cafe home page if you look on the right hand side you see a list called Quick Cafe Links. If you click Downloads, you'll find lots of freebies here too. In the Daily Muse paper don't forget the Calmics section has cool clip art. The Artella Shoppes also have a lot of digital stuff for very nominal fees. You can also opt to get the Artella Studio Kit every month or pick and choose which one you want in the Artella Shoppes. And last but not least, and most importantly, ithere is Marney.Marney is always giving away freebies (OMG, she is so generous).Marney always has surprise freebies for Artella folks when you enter contests, go on the cruises, go to parties, play group games, vote in the challenges, and the list goes on and on. I hope I provided some good resources and tips for you and you have lots of fun exploring them and all that Artella has to offer. About a year ago, I joined Artella because I thought it would be a good source for clip art and I got SOOOOOOO much more than I could have possibly imaginged within a world full of warm, caring, sharing, nurturing and creative and artistic people.

              Hugs,                  Julie

Wow Julie, thank you for responding and for the WEALTH of information. I definately with check EVERYTHING out. When I looked at what people were submitting in the digital entries, I figured I needed to use items that came directly from Artella so I was trying to locate that exact bird and umbrella to do my impression of them, I hope that makes sense.

I do get the studio kit each month and have started entering the contests. I'll go check out the downloads area now to see if I can find those items.

 THANK YOU JULIE for being so generous with your knowledge and ideas. I'm a newbie here and really appreciate it! I just submitted my request for a blog and gallery so I can share my style too.

 Thank you again Julie for being awesome!

Hi Annamarie!

I'm glad you liked the info I sent you. If I think of any more or find any more I'll try to keep you in mind. But I'm sure you'll be finding some really cool places yourself. There's another site I didn't mention that I am uncertain about. I get their e-mails and newletters but I can't recall if I got freebies from them. I also found them on a wild surf ride. These are the two sites that I have for them: info@digitalscrapbookingart.com <info@digitalscrapbookingart.com> (I don't know why the address printed twice)  and http://www.MangelsDesigns.com  I think the reason I'm not certain about them is I think that they have a one time initial up front fee. I believe it's only $20, but I haven't decided to commit yet. ScrapGirls is having some technical problems the last couple of days and their staff has been on holiday, but their newsletter resumes tomorrow. Also, there is some bartering going on in one of the forums and people are swapping supplies. I look forward to seeing lots of your artwork in the challenges, the Musepaper and all around Artella real soon. One of the things I find so interesting for both the challenges and the Monthly Kits is that their are so many different interpretations. Usually, with the challenges we choose our own media and create with a specific idea in mind that is put to us as a part of the challange. But with the Kit of the Month, we all get exactly the same package and I marvel at the uniqueness of every entry.     

        (I wish they had a girl smiley artist)

Hi Julie and Annamarie!

I visited the Vintage Workshop site and was so thrilled with all the images that I signed up for their email newsletter.  I love vintage images (as you've probably noticed in alot of my artworks) so I look forward to being able to add more to my saved images.  Thanks for the hot tip, Julie!

Julie has done such a wonderful job of giving you all kinds of ideas and wanted to add that the Digital Challenge Gallery is the place to find the Bird image and Umbrella as well as five other great digital rework challenges.  It's at: http://artellacafe.com/photos/artella_digital_challenge_gallery/default.aspx.  Also, there is a Creative Sparks Gallery where you can post your images at: http://artellacafe.com/photos/creative_sparks/default.aspx.  Welcome, Annamarie, and look forward to seeing your artwork.

- chameleon

Thank you both for being so kind and generous with your information, helping a newbie. I'm still trying to just find my way around the site, yikes! I think it would be helpful to maybe have a welcoming to the site kit, thanks for joining. It could be really quick, 1 or 2 pages, with direct links to places that are important to find, setting up your gallery or blog, the link to questions already answered, etc., etc. It's a mystery finding things when you are new. (just a suggestion, if you know the right people to suggest this to.)

 I will check out all links and both of your galleries, I can't wait to start submitting to mine too, I just applied for mine today. I did recently enter the weekly challenges, I received 2nd place on the #8 weekly christmas card contest (Nativity - the world's a better place because of him) and last time I checked I was in the 1st spot in the current Studio Kit #2 contest (Holy Night).  Check them out if you have time. I like that there is such variety here, digital, mixed media, writers, painters, so many to learn from.

 Thank you chameleon for the link to the photos that everyone else is submitting with, I'd like to try my hand at them as well.

 Have a great evening ladies and THANK YOU!

Congrats, Annamarie, on winning second place in Creativity Challenge #8 and the Studio Kit 2 contest.  Have you seen the artwork of all the entries in Challenge #8?  You'll see your artwork in the piece and it's posted in the Weekly Challenge Gallery at: http://artellacafe.com/photos/weekly_creativity_contests/picture6753.aspx

- chameleon

<I think it would be helpful to maybe have a welcoming to the site kit, thanks for joining. It could be really quick, 1 or 2 pages, with direct links to places that are important to find, setting up your gallery or blog, the link to questions already answered, etc., etc. It's a mystery finding things when you are new. (just a suggestion, if you know the right people to suggest this to.) >

Hi Anne Marie!

A couple of things you might find helpful, in terms of "Welcome to Artella" information:

1. The "Artella Land Passport" page is designed to contain the most useful links for newbies:

http://artellaland.com/passport.html

2. Here in the Cafe, the collection of Cafe Tips and FAQs covers the frequently asked questions from users here in the Cafe:

http://artellacafe.com/forums/54.aspx

Hope that helps!  Enjoy yourself! 

Hi Annamarie!

One more source for the day and I promise I'll let it rest. Sign up to get a monthly Sampler from Dover Pubications at doverpublications.com. They will send you ane e-mail chocked full of freebies every month and most of them will not be copyright proctected.

Hugs, Julie

Chameleon -- I moved your little ABC girl into the "little girl" album with the rest of her friends.  OK?

Warmly, Aunt Bobby

Thanks again, Aunt Bobby.  I really must pay better attention!

- chameleon