and here is a layout I made using the “bonus” stage curtains.  This layout is 8.5″ x 11″ and I had to reduce the size of the curtains and the lady a tad bit to allow them to fit on my page, giving you an idea how big the pieces are. The preview above shows the ladies reduced by 50%.

If you have an idea for a kit and would like to share it, please leave a comment. If I use your idea to make a new kit, you will receive the kit for free! So come on ladies, share some of those wishes with me!

Hi everyone,

Since i haven’t been on my blog for a little while, have a cup of tea and catch up with me and my amazing team.

First, LOVING being over at Deviant Scrap. If you haven’t checked out this terrific alternative site for scrapbook goodies and art journaling supplies, head on over there and check us OUT. Fun Fun FUN bunch of ladies with tons of challenges over there.

Second, I have a new collage fodder kit out today called the BODY FARM that has over 140 unique body parts (all g-rated) cut out and ready for you to use in your journals and layouts. Click on the pic to take you to my store.

And here’s a little inspiration from my amazing team:

After having the kit in the store today, I received a thought provoking question from a concerned customer. To save myself some typing, I’m just going to share the whole dang thang with you here:

Hi ….

I just saw the “Body Farm” magazine clippings and wondered whether there would be any issues around copyright using this. As far as I know, you can’t just take any picture and do with it as you please. Before I purchase, could you put my mind at rest that clearance was obtained from the original copyright holders to use their pictures/part of their pictures and sell them on to the digital scrapbooking market?

Thank you and best regards, Miss X

Hi Miss X,

I’ve done some research on copyright because, like you, I thought all images were completely protected. After having seen works of art for sale from multiple different collage artists and art journalers, I delved deeper into the copyright laws. Now this is from my own research and I’m certainly not a lawyer, but here is what I understand from what I have read:

Copyright does not prohibit all copying or replication. In the United States, the fair use doctrine permits copying and distribution without permission of the copyright holder or payment to same. The statute does not clearly define fair use, but instead gives four non-exclusive factors to consider in a fair use analysis. Those factors are: 

1. the purpose and character of the use;
2. the nature of the copyrighted work;
3. the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and
4. the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

 I believe my Body Farm kit is well within the four factors stated above for fair use. Especially since I use a very small portion of the original content and I am not intending for any of the original images to be identified and I am certainly not trying to affect the photographic works of the magazine market. However, I am not familiar with Switzerland’s copyright laws and whether or not your country provides a “fair use” statute.

 It is not my intention to abuse copyright laws in any way, shape, or form and if any of the images provided in this particular kit are identifiable as a copyright infringement, I will be more than happy to remove said images.

 Thanks so much for your thought provoking question.

 Sherrie Drummond

If anyone has any additional information or corrections on my understanding, please share with me. I too am an artist and certainly want to make sure I’m not doing anything I shouldn’t be doing!

Third, where the heck is the Altered Hearts Zine? Well, I’ll tell you. We are moving to a quarterly publication. Now, no throwing tomatoes. We were just killing ourselves with the monthly schedule and it just wasn’t FUN! So we’ve decided to take a step back and consider how we wanted to progress. We are working on some really creative NEW columns and standardizing some of our freebies and maybe a surprise or two.

When’s the next issue going to hit the stands? October 1! and it promises to be jam-packed full of goodness.

Wondering where you can get the additional back-issues? Well, I’ll tell you. RIGHT HERE. Free downloads right here until we crash my bandwidth or two weeks is up (September 13) . whichever comes first. Click on each issue to start the download. (oh, the first issue is retired. It is just too big to download. all freebies provided will be the lower-resolution issue.)

December 2009

January 2010

May/June 2010 – available at DeviantScrap

July 2010 – available at DeviantScrap

Until next time, ENJOY the process!

Hi Everyone!

Wow I can’t believe August 1st got here so quickly. I’ve been a busy bee trying to get all my products moved to my new home and to celebrate, I’ve placed everything in my store on sale! When checking out with my goodies, the shopping cart will automatically give you 25% off everything in my store. Oh! and make sure to check out the freebies section at DS for a couple of freebies from me ; )

be sure and click on the pic to check out my new home:

Hi Everyone!

just a quick post to let y’all know that I will be moving my shop on August 1. I’m really excited about where I’m headed and I can hardly wait to share the news on July 31st! But instead of moving ALL my products, I’ve decided to retire a few of them. All RETIRING products are on sale at ScrapArtist for just One Dollar each! Once I move they will be gone forever, so grab ‘em while you can. (click the pic to go to my store)

Hi everyone!

Our family had a trip of our lifetime and spent a total of five weeks in SanFrancisco. We drove from Atlanta GA to Redwood City, CA. I was worried at first about the long drive times and spending that much time “together” as a family. I need not have worried. The entire vacation was a dream come true. Over the next couple of weeks as I mull through the more than 4000 photos that I took on this trip, I will share some of my favorites. But not tonight. Too tired to sift through them tonight.

Tonight I want to give a shout out to my amazing team, that kept me afloat on the home front while I was away. First and foremost, Edeena, thank you so much for all the amazing alphas that you made and shared with the peeps. It was a genuinely thoughtful and wonderful thing for you to do. And then posting them on the blog. And then creating uploads for them so everyone can grab them. I can truly not thank you enough. I love you sweetie.

Second, to the zine team that struggled through last month’s issue and struggling through the August issue without me being at the helm. You all did an amazing job. As you always do. But it means so much to me the effort, and sweat, and tears, and heart that you all pour into each and every issue. I wish I had been more present for you the last 2 months and thank you so much for holding me up during my absense!

Third, to my “regular” CT, you continue to amaze me with your layouts and support. I haven’t caught up on everything yet, but I have looked at the ScrapArtist gallery and I am so proud to call you all my friends and team.

I love you all. and please forgive me for the slacker I’ve been. I promise to make it up to you REAL soon

Finally, for all my peeps out there, I thought you might this youTube video just a tad bit amusing.  i just discoverd it and it brought a smile to my face.

and if that one wasn’t funny enough, this is my all time fave:

Yes, everyone who was waiting anxiously for the Zine to hit the streets… it’s HERE and it’s ON SALE!

We were holding off to include a fantastic article by Patty Anne Henderson (justPattyAnne) but she was visiting with a friend in his final hours and you will all agree that being with a friend as they pass is far more important.

One of the other things we have trialled this month is putting the credits as a separate document.  Some of us use a lot of products for our pages and layouts and we didn’t want to cram them in and spoil the view.

Here is the Microsoft Word version -http://www.box.net/shared/sexfx1dymz

Here is the Adobe PDF version -http://www.box.net/shared/p4ofciqdtn

Remember – the Zine is currently on sale at ScrapArtist, so whip on over and grab it on sale!

Happy Scrapping!

Otherwise known as Tuesday!

Firstly, there are two new products in the store from Sherrie:

Take me to Sherrie’s store

Next we have some fantastic layouts from Sherrie’s Team:

Take me to those fabulous pieces of art

But wait – maybe you’re in the mood for a challenge?  Over at Scrap Artist, there are a couple of challenges going:

Challenge me, I dare you! (please note, you’ll need to be a registered member to check out the Altered Hearts forum, and you’ll have to log in before you can see them)

And finally, what we’ve all been waiting for, this week’s freebie alpha:

Sherrie & Edeena’s Personal Use Graffiti Vol.11 Alpha  (single download file)

Remember:  links are only valid one week. 

Happy Scrapping!!

It’s 20% off right now! Click on the Pic to take you to the zine. Otherwise, it won’t be available in the store until Tuesday. I know I say this every month, but each issue continues to get bigger and better. Our May/June issue is no exception. One of my fave Art Journalists, Mary Ann Moss, is featured in this issue, along with Holliewood Studios and Tumble Fish Studios. Well worth the tiny buckaroos for a ton of inspiration.

I have drawers full of junk. Metal junk, plastic junk, glass junk. Collected from here and there from decades of being a pack rat. Honestly, I try Try TRY to get rid of things, but then I think “but wouldn’t this be great if I made something with it someday?” or “as soon as I get rid of this, I’m going to want it for something.” So it all piles up. Horrifically piles up. Ok, maybe not in the extreme of that new “Hoarders” reality show on cable. I mean, I have limited the majority of my “collections” to my Art Room. You know, the room where I have to watch where I step, because I might step on something IMPORTANT.  BUT, I promise it is NOT stacked up to the ceiling. NOT yet anyways.

Why do I bring this embarrassing character flaw up to my entire circle of internet friends? Because I actually discovered long lost treasures while searching for glass and metal fodder for my latest wire wrapping obsession.  I came across a handful of brass Heart charms that have aged gracefully inside their plastic tomb a.k.a. drawer. There were even little brass cherubs hiding amongst the hearts. Of course this required an entirely new trip to the bead store so that I could buy “antique” brass wire. I mean, the wire just HAD to match the charms. Right? Which led to some new glass beads. Which led to some… well, you get the picture.  Oh, but the satisfaction of actually USING something from my hoard. I mean, junk. Uh, stuff. COLLECTABLES, dang it!

So does anyone besides me collect the “uncollectable”? What have you got hidden in your drawers? ROFL…

ALSO, I just received my sketchbook for the 2011 Sketchbook Project. If you are interested in participating, the sketchbooks are now on sale through the Art House Co-Op website. Click on the pic to check it out!ALSO, I just received my sketchbook for the 2011 Sketchbook Project. If you are interested in participating, the sketchbooks are now on sale through the Art House Co-Op website. Click on the pic to check it out!