Studio Pebbles

50 Shades of Ssshhh!

Let's talk, Ladies...

Don't you hate it when you're reading your paperback "Mommy Porn" at the pool or beach, and that super gossipy chick from your church totally busts you!

Or when you're on the bus or the subway trying to unwind after a hard day at work and some skeevy weirdo is leering at you after seeing that notorious book cover?

You're not alone.

Sometimes it might not be appropriate to fly your freak flag out in the open, especially in places like church, your in-laws house, or quiet reading time in the classroom. It can lead to embarrassment and unwanted advances or "Judgey-McJudgerson" getting all pious on you. Nobody wants that. 

Well, today is your lucky day!

Introducing the "50 Shades of Ssshhh!" designer book cover from Studio Pebbles:

 Go from, "OH NO SHE DIHN'T!" to "Oh, how nice!" in a matter of moments. 

For the low price of $0.00, you can download and print your very own!

Simply print the .pdf using legal size paper (8.5"x 14") or larger, on landscape and borderless setting (or take it to Kinko's or Staples and have them do it), be sure not to choose the Scale to Fit option. Then, trim along the outside edges and along the cutlines, fold and place on your book!

TA-DA!

You're days of being judged for being openly horny will be over, and if you run into your pastor in the waiting room at the doctor's office, you won't have to turn 50 Shades of Red with Shame while trying to stuff your book into your purse in warp speed!

The Ladies version comes in your choice of 4 Designer Prints, with the socially acceptable title of "Daily Spiritual Devotions: A Woman's Guide to Rejuvenating the Inner Goddess" By Anastasia Steele.

and Gentlemen, we didn't forget about you!

Why hide your copy inside the latest issue of The Economist, when you can slip on a "Fifty Shades of Ssshhh!" for Men, aptly titled "The New Guide to Contract Negotiation: 50 Unique Actions to Increase Results." by C. Grey.  In your choice of Shade of Grey, or Silver Tie.

Don't wait! Get yours today!

 

Download links: 

• Ladies Blue Straps 50 Shades of Ssshhh! book cover. (.pdf)
• Ladies Floral 50 Shades of Ssshhh! book cover. (.pdf)
• Ladies Soft Limits Chevron 50 Shades of Ssshhh! book cover. (.pdf)
• Ladies Orange Straps 50 Shades of Ssshhh! book cover. (.pdf)
• Gentlemens Shade of Grey 50 Shades of Ssshhh! book cover. (.pdf)
• Gentlemens Silver Tie 50 Shades of Ssshhh! book cover. (.pdf)

("50 Shades of Sssshhhh!" Designer Book Cover is property and copyright of Studio Pebbles 2012. All Rights Reserved. For Personal Use Only, not for Resale or Redistribution. Please direct all inquiries to jenniferpebbles AT gmail DOT com.)

ENJOY!

Getting Things Done

Tap, Tap, Tap...

Hello out there!! 

How is 2012 treating you so far? 

Mixed reviews from us at the Pebbles house. Q1 was filled with some smiles and some frustrations- worked on a rebrand for my friend Kelly's photography business, got snowed in and lost power for almost a week, then headed up to Canada for another wonderful trip to Whistler (of which I maybe have 4 photos), back for a week full of cleaning and reorganizing, and then our whole family was down with the flu. From about Valentines Day, until Maggie's birthday, we've all been varying degrees of sick. BLECH!!

March was a bit kinder to us, and April is looking up so far. 

We have a 2 year old now. If you have or have ever had a 2 year old, then you know of which I speak. Life is very, well, let's say...rich with experiences!  I love being a Mommy so much, and I remind myself 10x a day just to keep sane. :D 

When I can, I have been sneaking in some designing here and there...March had me working on a project for a friend, who is a member of the Junior League of Seattle. They are hosting an event in June called, "Touch-a-Truck," which is free to Seattle families and kids of all ages. There will be all kinds of construction trucks, service vehicles and emergency responder vehicles for kids to explore! I designed the branding for this years event, and produced some posters and information packets. 

Here is the sponsor packet: 

and the poster: 

It was a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. So glad I had the opportunity to volunteer! 

2012 has also included a lot of focus on living simpler and healthier lives...thwarted by weeks eating comfort food while fighting our flus...but everyday is a new day and for me, losing weight and finally healing my hormore issues is at the top of my list. I will go into more detail in a later post, but this week especially has been off to a good start. 

I have so much to share...(and it's funny, because before I sat down to write this post, I was thinking that life has been busy but unproductive lately...however, now that I think about it, it's actually been really productive. Amazingly productive in fact! So productive, I acutally have enough things to blog about that I am going to save them for the next post, or two or three!! YAY!!) 

• We re-did my office into a shared playroom/office.
• We had a little family birthday party for Maggie's 2nd Birthday.
• I got an iPhone.
• I've had Laser Hair Removal :)
• I've worked on some fun design projects.
• I took a Typography class.
• etc., etc., etc.... 

...Most importantly, we've added a day of daycare for Maggie so I can have a more productive schedule to get things done. And to keep my eye on the prize, as a reminder, I made this print for my wall:

Which you can download and print for your wall if you would like :
(personal use only please) 

I'm so glad I have the time to blog again, (well, at least the time today) because I have been away for a really long time and I miss it and feel guilty about not posting more often. I don't like it when things get left hanging, as most things do, in my life of many interruptions, so hopefully now I can be better about being consistent and offering something of value to my readers. I don't need to post everyday, or make them too long, or whatever I do that makes it too hard to keep up- simplify and get things done. That's my motto for 2012. 

Until next time...
Love + ((((hugs))) + World Peace! 

I make design graphics

So, years ago I started this long journey to figure out how to take my Fine Arts BA in Painting and turn it into something more suited for earning a living. There have been many bumps in the road, but I feel like I have reached a point in the journey where I can finally say I know more than I don't know when it comes to designing. I still have gaps in my education that I need to fill, since my path has been somewhat hampered by the arrival of baby, but I am still as passionate about the learning process as I was when I started. I just wish I had more hours in the day. 

I don't really share this part of my life on this blog very often, but I have recently completed some projects that I am proud of, so I thought today I would show you what I have been working on. 

I have made some logos recently:

 

 

Maggie's 6-month "annoucement" was on a scrapbook page I made awhile back, but here it is again up close:

and I made these when we moved:

(don't send any presents to that address because it's fake.)

And I have also made some posters: 

And last fall, I worked on the branding and graphics for the Preeclampsia Foundation's annual fund raising gala. The project included a series of large informational posters about current research, something totally new to me. I learned a lot about being a working designer through this project:

(these are the posters at the event, and this is one of the research doctors next to her poster. :D)

I will say there have been some negatives in not being able to do this in a school based environment. I don't have a mentor or peers to bounce ideas off of and I don't have a seasoned designer to give me constructive criticism or someone to help push me beyond my comfort zone as often as I would like. I can dream up a lot of  fake "school assignments" for myself, but I am missing that guiding hand and voice of experience. Going back to school would be a dream, but it is not, and has not, been even remotely financially possible. As challenging as all that is, I am glad it hasn't stopped me from accomplishing this transition.

I am really proud of how far I have come. It might not be the most stellar design work you have ever seen, but I am finally at a point where I can pretty much create a final product that looks like it did in my head as I envisioned it. That is a huge accomplishment for me. And I like this place in my "career." I like being excited about each final project and I love when my clients are happy. I enjoy doing freelance projects, but ultimately my goal is to be able to work on a freelance or "work-from-home" partnership with a firm or client on a regular basis with a steady income. 

So, that's that! In case you have wondered what I have been up to since I scaled back from the craft world, there it is. :) Thanks for letting me share. 

Maggie's Animal Parade 1st Birthday

 

On Saturday, we had a big party to celebrate Maggie's 1st Birthday! Of course, since this is the first time I have had a chance to throw a party for my child, and also since I have been on a party hiatus all these years of living in the shoe, I went a little crazy.

First, I claim minimal orginality in anything I did. I borrowed just about every idea from the internet, a blog or something I pinned on Pinterest. I am totally unashamed of this. I found it quite liberating, in fact.

The entire event was a huge labor of love. It took longer, and was more painful to put together than both a.) giving birth to Maggie and b.) her entire first year of life. In the spirit of blogging camaraderie, I am now going to share with you the full details of how I put it together, links and all.

(Click Here  to keep reading...)

December Daily

Howdy Strangers!!!

Welllll, it's been just over a month or so since our big move east to North Bend, the lovely town at the foot of Snoqualmie Pass. Our new house is gooood...not great...moving sucks, as I am sure you know. One of the first realized downfalls of our home is that it is really lacking closet/storage on the main floor. I don't have a place to put the vacuum or the mops, etc. and we don't have a place for coats and shoes either. There is one on the bottom floor, but when wrangling an infant, it is easier to get all ready to go on the main floor, and then just walk downstairs and out the door. Other than that, it's coming together, albeit slowly. I will share photos soon!

Today, however, I am posting to my blog because I decided to join the big group of people completing a December Daily photo album. I thought this would be a good jump back into scrapbooking and also a wonderful way to capture the memories of Maggie's first Christmas.

 

 It took me about a week to finally pull the trigger on a cover and foundation for the book, but I am finally "done" with that part and am now making the pages and filling the book. My layouts are half the size of a standard letter paper: 8.5"x 5.5", the cover is just a smidge larger. I made the cover out of scrap cardboard, covered both sides with pattern paper and punched two holes with my Crop-a-Dile for binder rings. I made the "Maggie's First Christmas" text block in Illustrator and added a KI Memories Softie, a glittery bird an a sprig of holly, also a KI softie.

 

This is the dedication page, with a photo I took of Maggie and I on December 1st. This is what it says:

This book is dedicated to my sweet daughter Maggie. It is a celebration of my love for you and the love I have for my life as your mother, and a glimpse into the memories of our first Christmas together. December 2010.

Aww. :)

 

Each page spread looks like this: Pattern paper on the left side, a vellum overlay with the number of the day (I hand embossed/traced the numbers from my big Massimo Vignelli calendar onto the vellum and went over it with a glitter Sakura pen. Very subtle, doesn't show up well in these photos.) and then the photos and journaling panel is printed onto cardstock on the left side.

 

I made these little journal/photo templates in Illustrator and Photoshop, very simple. I still need to add the actual journaling and any additional embellishments I might want to throw on there...I am journaling quick notes for each day in a little notebook so I don't forget what to write.

Here are the rest of the pages (through Dec. 5th):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Um...yeah.

That last picture set... That would be where we document Maggie's first big Owie. She is really into pulling herself up to standing, on just about anything she can use, including John's chest hair. :D Well, that day she decided to grab a TV tray table that my Mom was using. Quick as a flash, it came crashing down on top of her face and split her lip. It was a very scary moment for us new parents, especially when John picked her up and blood came bubbling out of her mouth. eeeeee. Of course, she was fine, we double and triple checked to make sure she didn't have any other bumps or bruises, and by that night she was ready to bundle up and go to see the tree lighting and watch a live Jazz band at a local restaurant! TROOPER!!! :D

Making this book is the best ever! I am really happy I decided to do it, even though it has been a lot to chew so far, I am hoping now that I am caught up, it will be faster moving forward! I will for sure keep sharing the pages as I finish them, especially when I have the journaling and embellishments.

The next page will be Maggie's first photo with SANTA!

 

LOL!

I told my Mom that she could buy an outfit for "her" Santa photo, and that John and I would take Maggie for our own picture later this month... A bright red corduroy jumper with applique is not something I would have ever picked, but it was her choice...so, there you have it. :D Doesn't Mags looked thrilled? ;)

And speaking of outfits and photos...I am sadly reporting that despite my very best intentions, I am not going to continue with the monthly photo series! I AM SAD but...I missed two months with the move and at that point, there isn't really a place to catch up. But I did get to 6 months, which is great! Small victories!! :D A few people did comment on liking the idea, so I might put the numbers up for download if I get some time one of these days...(famous last words.)

Alrighty, I think that's enough of my blabbering for one night, I hope you like what I have so far for the December Daily, and that you'll come back and check out the progress as I go. :D

Happy NSD + Free Download

 

Happy National Scrapbooking Day Everybody!!

KI Memories is giving away a Silhouette for NSD, make a layout using at least 50% KI Memories products and upload it to thier Flickr gallery (each layout gives you an entry to the giveaway), and leave a comment here on the KI Blog, and you could be the lucky winner!!

I love my Silhouette, and I love KI Memories, I already downloaded some of the new KI designs from the Silhouette store and can't wait to use them. I don't know if I will have much of a chance to scrapbook today, but am hoping to get some pages done tomorrow, if John will have some QT with baby. 

I did get a chance to make a few pages over the past couple of weeks, the one above is from Easter, and is part of the Round Robin the KI Memories DT did for NSD (you can see it here), and this one I made just because :D

 

All the stuff is new KI from the Confetti Collection, and I used my Silhouette to make the "love you" title.

Since it's NSD and I am feeling warm and fuzzy and full of hugs, I made this for you to download for free for use with your Silhouette and a .png file for you Digi Peeps:D

 

Enjoy!!

And, because I love to share photos of the Magsters, here is a few of our most recent favorties: We call this, "When a well intentioned baby gift goes wrong"...this hat was a gift and unfortunately was both too small and too big for Maggie, but provided at least 10 minutes of quality belly laughs and these precious photos:

It was so tight, she had little ridges in her forehead when we took it off :D

and here's another favorite: John said if all clothes made her look like a snuggly stuffed animal, I would have his permission to buy as many outfits as I wanted. (Don't tell him, but I do anyway :D )

 

Hope this added a little bit of extra cute to your day!! Hope you have a great one and get to enjoy NSD and good luck if you enter the KI Memories + Silhouette giveaway!! 

xoxo 

Birthday Wishes + Free Goodies

Guess what today is?

Today is my WONDERFUL husband's BIRTHDAY!!!  He is really the best hubby in the whole wide world and deserves nothing but happiness in his life. I hope he has a great day today! We are going to have our own little celebration tonight when he gets home from work, I am going to attempt to bake him his favorite cake (shhh...it's a surprise!) and make him something delicious for dinner and open a little gift to go with the big accidental gift he just got (a new 3G phone after putting his through the washing machine).

Tomorrow we're having a little impromptu dinner out on the town with some friends, something that is looooonnnnng overdue for John. I figure we better fit in all the adult events we can before the end of February! They are going to have to last us for a while.

Since we are in such the celebratory mood around here, I figure "What the heck, let's give some stuff away for free on this poorly neglected blog!"

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!

But first...some crafts:)
(I know, right? I made some stuff, can you frickin' believe it??? Hell must have frozen over.) 

 

Let me introduce you to my latest obsession. 

My mommy, who loves me very much, got me a Silhouette SD Digital Cutting Machinefor Christmas. I literally spent just about every day from January 1st until the 14th playing with this thing, learning as much as I could until I could do all the standard ops (download pre-designed shapes and "print + cut" projects) to the really custom stuff (like making my own custom designed cuts and "print + cut" files that not only I could use, but that I could pawn off on you too!!). So that's what I am planning to do around here from now on! It's a win-win situation really. I get to keep sharpening my design skills, and you get free goodies.

That thing up there, that was my first success at attempting to make my own custom "print + cut" file. It was a happy day!

But, I am getting way ahead of myself...before that, I made a ton of other stuff:

I made that little thingy with a phrase download from the Silhouette store, and an adorable bird from one of my favorite image fonts EVER: Paw Pack. I love the animals from Paw Pack so much...check this out:

Elephant!! Lovelovelove! Did I tell you the baby's "room" has Elephant love goin' on? I made a pillow with an applique of that Elephant up there. I can't wait until all that is finished (hopefully before the end of the weekend!) and I can finally take some pictures and share.

Since Paw Pack is a True Type Font, you can use it on the Silhouette or the Cricket or whichever machine you have. I modified the cut line in Illustrator so that the ear is a flap. I would recommend doing the same if you have Illustrator. (Here is a great beginning tutorial about using Illustrator with the Silhouette).

Going backwards again:), this was the first thing that I cut and assembled with my Silhouette:

I used Berries and a Phrase download from the Silhouette Storeand a chipboard word from a CK KOTM from forever ago! I bunched the berries together with a brad from Basic Grey.

Then I made this:

This is a simple card I made with a Vine Background and Label shape download from the store, and this was my first try at cutting out my own shape: the "hello." I added an A Muse notecard for the back and a little KI Memories Softie butterfly.

To glue my intricate pieces onto their backgrounds, I use either a Sakura Quickie Glue Pen (super fine ballpoint tip) or a Zig Glue Pen (Fine tip Felt tip) or a glue stick. Or a combo of all three and foam dots:D

Then I made this: 

This was using a Print + Cut download (the H) and a fun background downloaded from the store. This was my first time experimenting with the standard Print + Cut feature and made me really excited to start making my own! This was also one of my first custom shapes (bird on the branch), my own Illustrator art that I turned into a Silhouette cut! I tell ya, each new thing I learned spurred me on to learn the next...

Now we get to the fun freebies for today!

Since it's Birthday + Valentine's season for John and I, I made two different types of designs for both! The first is a set of "stencil" cut tags. They are designed so only the shadow is cut from the top tag, which you then layer on top of another tag of a contrasting color, so the word becomes legible:

You can download the .GSD files for use with the Silhouette/Robo Master software here.

The next item is a custom Print + Cut file...hopefully they work for you on your end! :D I don't have any official testers for these files, they are pretty time intensive to make right now because I am just learning how to get the cut lined up just right with the image, etc...but, it worked for me in my Robo Master software, so hopefully it will work for you too! I can't give you detailed instructions on using the files, I assume you are already familiar with your machine and how it works- but here is a link for an explanation on how the Print + Cut files work...if you need more instruction, there is a great tutorial section/how-to instructions over on the Silhouette site as well.

I made basically two versions of the same design to show you, a Happy Birthday to You banner and a Happy Valentines Day banner. I made cards, but you can also make a bigger size to use as a decoration on a gift or sign or whatever you think of!

I used the same berries as before, and attached a KI Memories Softie flower with a little Pebbles, Inc. Candy Dot to incorporate the blue from the ends of the banner.

You can download the .GSD file of these "Print + Cut" banners here: Birthday Banner or Valentines Banner. I also made a digital/printable version of both for my non-Silhouette using friends:D  You can get that file here. :)

Please remember that all these files are for personal non-commercial use only. Thanks!

So, do you think I am slowly making up for the lack of activity around here? It feels good to get my feet wet again! I have goals to do a bunch of scrapbook pages between now and the end of February too, so wish me luck with that. I am starting to feel bad that I haven't documented enough of my pregnancy, so that is on my immediate to do list as well.

You know, along with everything else!

I think that will wrap it up for today, if you've stuck with me this far, you've earned a break from the computer!! Also, if you feel inclined to leave a Happy Birthday note for John in the comments, I know he would be tickled!

I hope you like the freebies! I can't wait to share more!!

(((((hugs)))))