SnickerdoodleDesignsbyKaren

Thank you for stopping by today! What better way to explain what I want to share with you today, than by using the words of the person I am here to celebrate with today:

From Toiny, the owner of theStudio:

Hello all!

Three years ago an email came across my desk, Julie O. (original owner of our site) was stepping down and needed a replacement. I thought “I can do this! Pick me!” And pick me she did.

This April marks my three-year anniversary as owner of theStudio. I cannot begin to describe the joy this little company has brought me. My first year was filled with struggle and learning, so incredibly much learning. Until I took the reins in hand, I had no idea the work behind a site the size of theStudio. I’m so grateful to all my mentors, their patience especially, as I learned the different softwares behind each portion of the site and the terminology needed to ask for help. Who knew asking for help could be so hard if you don’t know the right words?

My second year I worked hard to increase our SEO and instituted a Quality Control team . My third year saw big growth, two server upgrades and multiple improvements in all areas of the site. Now, at the start of year four even more improvements and upgrades are in store. I have found my groove and I am excited to bring a better, stronger, comprehensive site to all of you!

I am even more excited to kick off year four with a big Celebration. All April we are dedicating ourselves to bringing extra fun, extra excitement, extra challenges and extra sales. For the first time, we will have 50% Off Sundays starting now. We will continue to have Deal of the Day at 70% Off, and our site will be 33% Off, both Personal and Commercial¸ all of April.

A huge part of our success in the last three years is because of you. You have stuck with us through site outages, downtime, upgrades and changes. I have received countless emails of encouragement, support, praise and, yes, even criticism. All of your efforts and continued patronage are what makes theStudio so wonderful. As a thank you, the Design Team has put together a fabulous Blog Hop filled with coordinating mini kits. You can start the Hop HERE, opens officially on April 1st, and work your way to collecting an awesome, free, mega kit by days end. Please give all our Designers through Sunday to get their mini’s up. (Please scroll to the end of this post for the complete list of your Blog Stops!)

Be sure to visit our 3-Year Anniversary Celebration forum for lots of fun, challenges and prizes, and please join us in another Scrap-A-Thon (in our Chat room)on Sunday, April 1 starting at 1:30 pm EST:

1:30 – 2:30 – Amber Shaw Designs
2:30 – 3:30 – Toiny
3:30 – 4:30 – SnickerdoodleDesigns by Karen
4:30 – 5:30 – Digilicious Designs
5:30 – 6:30 – Aimee Harrison
6:30 – 7:30 – ScrappyCocoa

The complete Blog Post list is as follows:

Piggy Scraps – http://piggyscraps.blogspot.com/
Aimee Harrison – http://girlboheme.com/gbstudios/
Deli Scraps by Min – http://www.deliscraps.blogspot.de/
Scrapbrat Designs – http://scrapbrats.blogspot.com/
EqrAveziur – http://www.aveziur.com/
Nibbles Skribbles – http://www.nibblesskribbles.com/
Snickerdoodle Designs – http://SnickerdoodleDesignsByKaren.com  You are here!
Shelly Marie Scraps – http://shellymariescraps.blogspot.com/
Scrappy Cocoa – http://scrappycocoa.blogspot.com/
Digilicious Designs – http://digilicious.typepad.com/digi_licious_designs/
Amber Shaw – http://designsbyambershaw.blogspot.com/
Let Me Scrapbook – http://letmescrapbook.blogspot.com/
Julie C Designs – http://www.scrappinhappens.blogspot.com.au/
Kimberkatt Scraps – http://kimberkattscraps.wordpress.com/
Jen C Designs – http://www.jen-c-designs.com/blog
Janet B Designs – http://janetb-designs.blogspot.com/
SKrapper Digitals- http://www.skrapperdigitals.blogspot.com/
The Studio Blog – http://www.digitalscrapbookingstudio.com/blog/

And here is a preview of my contribution! Just click on the link on the preview below to down load my gift! (I”m sorry. This link has expired).

Enjoy!

Karen Schulz
SnickerdoodleDesigns

Hey everyone!  Toiny, over at theStudio has just completed her very first video tutorial and has posted it on the store blog for all of us!  It is on “How to Add a Photo to Stacked Paper.” She also has a Quick Recap of super handy shortcuts and an explanation of how to add a wonderful drop-shadow!  Toiny has created a Style with 2 drop-shadows as a FREE gift for you, and I created a PSE User-friendly Strip for the Style (included in Toiny’s download), so all of you PSE users can take advantage of this gift as well!  Head on over and have a look!

You’re going to want to bookmark theStudio’s blog because there are MORE tutorials coming!  Watch for my week long tutorial the first week in March on “PSE – Just the Basics.”

 I hope you enjoy this great tut!

Karen Schulz
SnickerdoodleDesigns

Second Chances.

Who hasn’t wanted one, given one, or been thankful for one?

This is the premise behind my 2nd Chances kit, which I have updated and re-released.  While 2nd Chances was designed around Noah’s ark and animals (What better example of a 2nd chance?), it is a kit full of extremely versatile papers and elements, perfect for scrapbook pages, birth announcements, invitations, thank you notes, and a multiple other projects!

You can currently find 2nd Chances at SnickerdoodleDesigns, theStudio, and Digital Scrap Designs. You can  pick up individual products for 25% off or the entire Collection for a savings of 50%.

Digi Eye Scraps has created an adorable free cluster gift for you using 2nd Chances.  You can pick it up HERE.  (I’m sorry.  This link has expired).

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen Schulz
SnickerdoodleDesigns

Well, I did get some gifts wrapped today. How about you?  But the highlight of my day was when I found this note that my 8 year old granddaughter had written.

“Dear Santa,
Can you get me a puppy? If you cannot do that, I do have a backup plan and that would be a Princess Peach Stuffed Toy.  (Am I naughty or nice?)
From: Emily
(P.S. Are you real?)

The anticipation, the belief… the plans… of children during this season, is just so precious to see!

Okay… to business!

* Don’t forget – theStudio Blog Train is active until December 27th, so if you missed it, you can find out about it HERE (I’m sorry. This link has expired), as well as pick up my contribution.

* If you like FUN Challenges, click HERE to visit my Surprise Me! Challenge and the Christmas Forum Fun Challenges at theStudio.

* The Den is hosting a Countdown to Christmas on their Blog. You will find your daily gift HERE. 

*Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter and/or facebook page in order to be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift certificate to my store.

* theStudio is having a Storewide 40% off Sale from now until December 24th. So if you’ve had your eye on anything of either mine or another designer’s, head on over and take a look around! You will find some great values! Here is the link to my Studio store.

* So who likes Photoshop Styles?  I have some Cookie Styles that I just love!  They are not currently in my store at theStudio, but you can find them at SnickerdoodleDesigns or the Den.  They are on sale for just $1.50 in both stores. All of my PS styles come with an easy-to-understand tutorial, and you will be up and running within 5 minutes!  You can use Styles on text, elements, shapes, just anything you can imagine!  Why not make a cookie alphabet to match those cookie-baking photos you are taking this season?

Tonight I have 3 sample cookies for you, which were all made with these Cookie Styles.  You can download them HERE.  (I’m sorry.  This link has expired).

Happy baking – whether in your kitchen or at your computer!

Karen Schulz
SnickerdoodleDesigns

Just a quick note to remind you that all new products are on sale at Scrapbook-Elements for 25% off on Sunday and Monday.

This week I am releasing my Color Splash Styles at SBE.  These are really one of my favorites!  They offer a soft watercolor background, edged in a delicate gold rim.  To show you just one way you can use these styles, I have made a pack of Color Splash Frames for you!  Be sure to check them out in my store at SBE!

Thanks for looking!

Karen Schulz
SnickerdoodleDesigns