Hey! Grab my handy, free app to direct you to all my links & things. Test it out!

Download your October 2020 Wallpaper/Calendar

Oct 1, 2020

Hurray! Your October 2020 Wallpaper/Calendar is here!

I know a lot of people who state that their favorite season of the year is fall. While I’ve never particularly shared that sentiment personally, the closer we’ve gotten to October this year, the more I’ve started admitting to feeling somewhat different about autumn this year. In fact, I’ve been feeling that perhaps we’ll finally be able to turn a page on this kinda-less-than-awesome 2020.

(Of course, then I got up this morning and found that yet another stress-inducing national event has occurred, but that’s at least how I was feeling yesterday, and what I’d *intended* to write here, lol.)

So let’s just stare at and enjoy some of Mother Nature’s beauty for a bit. At least that’s a constant we can count on!

My monthly desktop wallpaper & calendar offers you a pretty seasonal picture to brighten your computer monitor. But that’s not all. It also includes a handy monthly calendar and serves as a cheat-sheet reference to PDF’s and websites you may want to know about and access. And it’s even FREE to download, so please don’t hesitate to share this page with your friends and family.

How to download & install your October 2020 Wallpaper/Calendar

Note: You’ll probably want to consult your own computer operating system’s installation instructions, but installing the background image on my Windows 10 system takes just 3 quick steps – and less than a minute. It’s super-duper easy-peasy!

Here’s how you can (probably) do it, too.

1. Start by left-clicking right here and this month’s image should pop up or open in a new tab. Then right-click on the image and save it to your hard drive.
2. Once the file has been downloaded, named, and saved, click on your saved image to open it.
3. Once open, right-click on the image and select “Set as” > “Set as Background”….. then right-click again and select “Set as” > “Set as Lock screen”. And poof! That’s all there is to it! (For convenience, I recommend you install this on both your desktop system and your laptop. Assuming you still have such things these days, of course!)

Tips for other operating systems:

And in case you may have an operating system OTHER than Windows 10, you may find these installation tips helpful:

Windows 10, 8.1 or 7: http://www.digitalcitizen.life/how-customize-desktop-background-windows
Apple Mac: http://www.wikihow.com/Change-the-Desktop-Background-on-an-Apple-Macintosh-Computer

Finally, please keep in mind that the format of my monthly picture is designed for most modern-day 16:9 monitors (a common format for monitors and HD TV’s since about 2009), oriented in landscape format. (Typically 1920 x 1080 pixels.) If you’re working with an older monitor (and/or one that is more square-ish in format), or your monitor is set up in portrait format or some other variation, the picture may not work for you.

Shucks! And I’m real sorry about that!

Download your September 2020 Wallpaper/Calendar

Sep 2, 2020

Hurray! Your September 2020 Wallpaper/Calendar is here!

Is there anything happier than the face of a sunflower smiling into the sun? Well, I hope you’ll smile, too, every time you glance at this image on your desktop or laptop monitor! Happy September!

How to download & install your September 2020 Wallpaper/Calendar

Here’s how you can (probably) do it, too.

1. Start by left-clicking right here and the full-resolution image should pop up or open in a new tab. Then right-click on the image and save it to your hard drive.
2. Once the file has been downloaded, named, and saved, click on your saved image to open it.
3. Once open, right-click on the image and select “Set as” > “Set as Background”….. then right-click again and select “Set as” > “Set as Lock screen”. And poof! That’s all there is to it! (For convenience, I recommend you install this on both your desktop system and your laptop. Assuming you still have such things these days, of course!)

Tips for other operating systems:

And in case you may have an operating system OTHER than Windows 10, you may find these installation tips helpful:

Windows 10, 8.1 or 7: http://www.digitalcitizen.life/how-customize-desktop-background-windows
Apple Mac: http://www.wikihow.com/Change-the-Desktop-Background-on-an-Apple-Macintosh-Computer

Shucks! And I’m real sorry about that!

Download your August 2020 Wallpaper/Calendar

Aug 1, 2020

Hurray! Your August 2020 Wallpaper/Calendar is here!

When I began my search for this month’s wallpaper image I knew I needed “calm”. It was at the end of a long, tough, and incredibly hot week. And I was mentally spent and miserably hot (and a bit grumpy on account of it all). So I went in search of an visual antidote (please excuse the unfortunate pun, given the crazy world we’re coping with right now). And without too much searching, this is what turned up. Now, truth is I’d really rather BE there about now, than just look at it on my computer screen… but indeed it does speak “calm” into my soul.

How to download & install your August 2020 Wallpaper/Calendar

Here’s how you can (probably) do it, too.

1. Start by left-clicking right here and the full-resolution image should pop up or open in a new tab. Then right click on the image and save it to your hard drive.
2. Once the file has been downloaded, named, and saved, click on your saved image to open it.
3. Once open, right-click on the image and select “Set as” > “Set as Background”….. then right-click again and select “Set as” > “Set as Lock screen”. And poof! That’s all there is to it! (For convenience, I recommend you install this on both your desktop system and your laptop. Assuming you still have such things these days, of course!)

Tips for other operating systems:

And in case you may have an operating system OTHER than Windows 10, you may find these installation tips helpful:

Windows 10, 8.1 or 7: http://www.digitalcitizen.life/how-customize-desktop-background-windows
Apple Mac: http://www.wikihow.com/Change-the-Desktop-Background-on-an-Apple-Macintosh-Computer

Shucks! And I’m real sorry about that!

“Painted Poppies” Valentine Cards

Feb 14, 2020

Today I’ve got some serious monochromatic pink for you, in the form of “Painted Poppies” Valentine Cards. ‘Cuz what says “Happy Valentine’s Day” better than hearts and flowers, right?

Both of these cards feature Melon Mambo and Whisper White, along with some of what I consider the most basic dies that we should probably all have in our collections. And, of course, my current favorite stamp set, “Painted Poppies”.

Can you find all the places I've used "Painted Poppies"?

This card features not only the Painted Poppies Bundle (stamp set + dies) along with the Stitched Be Mine and Stitched Nested Labels dies, but also the Coastal Weave 3D Embossing Folder, from the Spring (January – June) 2020 Catalog.

And this card is basically the same, except the Whisper White and Melon Mambo of the large heart are reversed, and the inner heart is then stamped with an additional image from the “Painted Poppies” stamp set.

Want more details about these cards? Be sure to order your Painted Poppies stamp set (or bundle) by Saturday, Feb. 15 (that’s tomorrow, btw), in order to receive the package of tutorials I’ll be sending out after that! Contact me to place your order for you, or submit it yourself at store.YourPaperDreams.com. (Current host code is always at hostcode.YourPaperDreams.com)

Report your counts for World Card-Sending Week

Oct 11, 2019

So last weekend my online friends and I marked World Card-Making Day with our 6th Annual WCMD Virtual Retreat. 48 hours of online card-making fun, including theme challenges, learning new layout ideas, and getting to know each other a little more. And then THIS week has been the brand-new concept (that I sure hope will become an annual event), “World Card-Sending Week”! Sponsored by Stampin’ Up!®, WCSW has been all about encouragement to SEND all those newly-made cards and let someone know you’re thinking of them!

And participation in World Card-Sending Week is not only open to demonstrators, but to all of our card-sending friends, as well. (Of course!) So here’s how YOU can play along and add YOUR cards-sent tally to the global count, which has a goal of hitting 50,000 cards sent between Oct. 6 and Oct. 12!

Here's how to play with us!

If you’re already a card-maker you probably already have a pile of cards somewhere that you haven’t gotten around to sending to anyone yet. So grab that pile of cards and address them to friends, family, or anyone else who’s been on your mind. Enclose a little personal note if you’re inspired to do so, and send them on their way.

But don’t forget to record a tally of each card you’ve sent this week, and then report your total number of cards on this form right here!

I will accept your totals up thru Tuesday, Oct. 15 (this upcoming week), and then I’ll combine your totals with my own, and report the entire amount to Stampin’ Up!, where the *worldwide* count will be tallied and maintained. Wouldn’t it be fun if our Paper Dreaming peeps could report 100 or more cards as a group? And in the meantime, I’ll update how we’re doing towards that 100-cards goal. Keep your eye on my Facebook page for those updates over the next several days.

But let’s be careful to help keep the worldwide totals accurate, and not accidentally double-report the same cards. That means that each card sent must ultimately only be reported to Stampin’ Up! ONE time.

So if you’re a current demonstrator, you should report your card count directly through Stampin’ Up!’s reporting system. (Link found in the Oct. 8 updates.)

If you’re NOT a demonstrator, but are a friend, family member, customer or follower of mine, you can report your cards on my custom tally form… as long as you don’t report those same cards elsewhere, too. I will ensure that your total will be included in the Paper Dreamers group total that I will report directly to Stampin’ Up! on Oct. 16 (next week).

"World Card-Sending Week" - in review

Oct. 6 – Oct. 12 – Send as many cards as you can during World Card-Sending Week.
Oct. 12 – Oct. 15 – Report the number of cards you sent
- Demonstrators – report your counts directly via Stampin’ Up!’s system (by Oct. 16)
- All others (friends, customers, followers, family, etc.) – report either through me or another demonstrator who is actively participating in this campaign, and who will ensure that your count will be included in the total he or she reports to Stampin’ Up! by Oct. 16.

A real big thank-you to everyone who participated in our WCMD Virtual Retreat last weekend and/or will be sending cards during World Card-Sending Week, too! Do you think the total numbers of cards will have enough impact to make the USPS wonder what just happened?!?

SEND your cards, then REPORT your numbers for World Card-Sending Week!

April’s Wallpaper/Calendar is ready to download

Apr 1, 2019

Download this complimentary wallpaper/calendar for your own computer monitor! See instructions below.

The sun has FINALLY arrived, and for a little while this afternoon I actually had my sliding door open for the first time this season! Even dumped a little water on the poor bedraggled potted plants in hopes that something might have survived the incredible winter that just concluded. It’ll be a while before I know for sure, but I figured a little water wouldn’t hurt them. And yes, I’m even starting to get the “planting” itch.

My monthly desktop wallpaper background offers you a pretty seasonal picture to brighten your computer monitor. But that’s not all; it also includes a handy monthly calendar and serves as a cheat sheet reference to websites you may want to know about and visit. And it’s even FREE, so please don’t hesitate to share this page with your friends and family.

Download April’s wallpaper to your own computer:

Click HERE to download your FREE background & calendar.
You’ll probably want to consult your own computer operating system’s installation instructions, but installing the background image on my Windows 10 system takes just 3 quick steps – and less than a minute. It’s super-duper easy-peasy!

Download and save the image to your computer – from the link just above that starts with “Click HERE”. (NOT from the picture that appears with this post!) TIP: To “download” the full-resolution image once it’s open (from Google Drive where it’s stored), click on the downward-pointing arrow. THAT is what actually begins the download process to your computer.
Once the file has been downloaded, named and saved to your computer’s hard drive, open the image.
Once open, right-click on the image and select “Set as” > “Set as Background”….. then right-click again and select “Set as” > “Set as Lock screen”. And poof! That’s all there is to it! (For convenience, I recommend you install this on both your desktop system as well as your laptop.)

Tips for other operating systems:

And in case you may have an operating system OTHER than Windows 10, you may find these installation tips helpful:

Windows 10, 8.1 or 7: http://www.digitalcitizen.life/how-customize-desktop-background-windows
Apple Mac: http://www.wikihow.com/Change-the-Desktop-Background-on-an-Apple-Macintosh-Computer

Finally, please keep in mind that the format of my monthly picture is designed for most modern-day 16:9 monitors (a common format for monitors and HD TV’s since about 2009), oriented in landscape format. (1920 x 1080 pixels.) If you’re working with an older monitor (one that is more square-ish in format), or your monitor is set up in portrait format, the picture will probably not work for you. Sorry ’bout that.

Sale-a-Bration (SAB) – Perk #2 – Hosts & “I Deserve It” orders get extra Stampin’ Rewards!

Jan 17, 2019

Welcome to the 2nd in my series of 3 posts detailing the perks of Stampin’ Up!’s “Sale-a-Bration 2019”! (Yes, that’s another example showcasing the Botanical Butterfly Designer Series Papers, which are available as a freebie choice with an order of $50, along with the super-popular Butterfly Duet Punch).

In my last post I discussed the Sale-a-Bration perk that everyone seems to be most familiar with: getting to choose a free product with each $50 you order. But the perk we’ll refer to in THIS post is pretty doggone sweet, too!

So, you probably know (or at least I HOPE you know) that Stampin’ Up! offers a rewards program for those who gather a few friends together and host a group stampin’ event. (Call it a party, call it a class or call it something else, Stampin’ Rewards will be part of it if there are sufficient qualifying sales.) Typically, when combined orders from such an event reach $150 in product sales, those rewards (called “Stampin’ Rewards”) kick in for the host.

At $150 in total product sales, the host can select most any product of her choice equal to 10% of the sales (which would be exactly $15, if the total product sales were $150, for instance). And as the total product sales increase, the percentage levels of Stampin’ Rewards increase too, until they ultimately reach 16% of the total product sales. In addition, when sales cross the $450 line, the host can also get any one item of her choice for half-price! (Big Shot, Color Family of ink pads, or Stamparatus, anyone?)

But Stampin’ Rewards are enhanced during Sale-a-Bration…

…making it a perfect time to host an event – or else submit what some like to call an “I Deserve It” order (of $150 or more for one’s own self). “I Deserve It” orders are a great way to maximize your purchasing dollars, and the bigger your order, the more freebie goodies you can choose!

So not only is it a smart plan to group your personal orders into batches that qualify for Stampin’ Rewards (starting at $150 in product sales), but it’s particularly clever to do so during Sale-a-Bration! That’s because in addition to your usual Stampin’ Rewards (see the Party Sales chart in any of our catalogs – sometimes near the back; sometimes near the front), you may also qualify for ADDITIONAL Stampin’ Rewards!

Which brings us to… SALE-A-BRATION PERK #2:

Sale-a-Bration Perk #2 offers an enhancement to the usual Stampin’ Rewards plan! During Sale-a-Bration, whenever your total product order reaches $250, Stampin’ Up! throws in an additional $25-worth of credit you can apply towards your freebie product as a “host” – over and above what a $250 sales volume would ordinarily qualify for! So here’s an example of how that would work in real life:

Let’s say your “party” total (regardless of source) reaches $250 in product sales. Under the usual, year-round plan, your Stampin’ Rewards would be figured at 10% of $250, which would equal $25 credit towards additional product of your choice. But during Sale-a-Bration, Stampin’ Up! will kick in that additional $25 in Stampin’ Rewards credit for any “party” of $250 or more! So that means if you reach the $250 level exactly, you’d get the usual $25 in Stampin’ Rewards credit, PLUS the additional $25, for a total credit of $50 you can apply towards any current additional product!

Oh, but wait!!! If your $250 order was actually all YOUR order, then each $50 segment would *also* qualify for one of the free SAB items in the SAB 2019 brochure!

Yes indeedy, we DO love to let you double-dip in the Stampin’ Up! perks whenever possible! 🙂

So should you find yourself staring at a particularly long wish-list at this time of year, give that clever concept a bit of thought. Qualifying for Stampin’ Rewards with your order is nothing to sneeze at!

And stay tuned for the final installment of this 3-part series – explaining how to get what might be the absolute BEST deal of ALL with Stampin’ Up! during Sale-a-Bration! We’ll call that PERK #3……. and I’ll show you some extra, totally-legit, double-dipping ideas tossed in for added fun!

December 2018 Wallpaper/Calendar is ready to download!

Dec 1, 2018

Yep! It's really here. December. And personally, I'm feeling pretty excited! Truth is, if you've been following me for a while you'll probably understand why it's been four years since I've had space in my life to participate in the festivities of the season. But although I'm still approaching this year's decorating season with a generous buffer of caution, I am at least thinking about putting up a tree this year, and even stringing some outside lights! It's been a long time since I've been able to even *contemplate* that kind of stuff, but I admit to feeling a bit hopeful that this – Just. Might. Be. The Year!

Oh! And would you be surprised to learn that the colors in this month's image are the colors I decorate with? I adore my fantasy sugarplum theme – on a white tree. Pure happiness! 🙂

My monthly desktop wallpaper background not only offers you a pretty seasonal picture to brighten your computer monitor, but also includes a handy monthly calendar and serves as a cheat sheet reference to websites you may want to know about and visit. And it's even FREE to download and install, so please don't hesitate to share this page with your friends and family.

Click HERE to download your FREE background & calendar.

You'll probably want to consult your own computer operating system's installation instructions, but installing the background image on my Windows 10 system takes just 3 quick steps – and less than a minute. It's super-duper easy-peasy!

I download and save the image to my computer - from the link just above that starts with "Click HERE". (NOT from the picture that appears at the top of this post!) TIP: To "download" the full-resolution image once it's open (from Google Drive where it's stored), I click on the downward-pointing arrow. THAT is what actually begins the download process to my computer.
Once the file has been downloaded, named and saved to my computer's hard drive, I open it.
Then I right-click on the image and select "Set as" > "Set as Background"….. then right-click again and select "Set as" > "Set as Lock screen". And poof! That's all there is to it! (For convenience, I install this on both my desktop system as well as my laptop.)

And in case you may have an operating system OTHER than Windows 10, these tips may help with installation:

Windows 10, 8.1 or 7: http://www.digitalcitizen.life/how-customize-desktop-background-windows
Apple Mac: http://www.wikihow.com/Change-the-Desktop-Background-on-an-Apple-Macintosh-Computer

Finally, please keep in mind that the format of my monthly picture is designed for most modern-day 16:9 monitors (a common format for monitors and HD TV's since about 2009), oriented in landscape format. (1920 x 1080 pixels.) If you're working with an older monitor (one that is more square-ish in format), or your monitor is set up in portrait format, the picture will probably not work for you. Sorry 'bout that.

Snowflake Showcase – Last call

Nov 30, 2018

November's exclusive "Snowflake Showcase" has certainly been an amazing collection, hasn't it? So many beautiful snowflakes and versatile images – in both stamp sets and dies; I'm super-sad to see it coming to an end. But yep, today's its last day of availability; the curtain falls in just a few more hours.

In the meantime however, I thought I'd share some of the thank you cards I've been sending out recently. Featuring… well, what else, lol?!? Not only some of my favorite winter-time images, but some of my very favorite winter colors, too!

Besides the "Snow is Glistening" and "Kindness & Compassion" stamp sets, these cards feature "Layering Ovals" dies; Highland Heather, Gorgeous Grape and Coastal Cabana inks; Frost White Shimmer Paint; Clear Rhinestone Jewels; and Highland Heather, Gorgeous Grape, and Whisper White cardstocks (WW in both regular and thick). And of course, the Stamparatus helped place that "Thank you" image exactly where I wanted it… nice and bright!

There are still a few remaining hours to claim all or part of this collection for yourself. If you're still debating, let me help. The answer is "Yes!" – because snowflakes of this classic art style will never look dated, they can be used solo or in conjunction with other images on almost any winter project, and look fabulous in pretty much any color. (Well, maybe not so much Real Red or Cajun Craze, come to think of it….. but YOU know what I mean, lol!)

See what's still available from the Snowflake Showcase here!

Strategies with Stamps, Ink & Paper to help the "I'm not creative"s among us feel like artists

Tag Archives: CDA

Download your October 2020 Wallpaper/Calendar

How to download & install your October 2020 Wallpaper/Calendar

Tips for other operating systems:

Download your September 2020 Wallpaper/Calendar

How to download & install your September 2020 Wallpaper/Calendar

Tips for other operating systems:

Download your August 2020 Wallpaper/Calendar

How to download & install your August 2020 Wallpaper/Calendar

Tips for other operating systems:

“Painted Poppies” Valentine Cards

Can you find all the places I've used "Painted Poppies"?

Report your counts for World Card-Sending Week

Here's how to play with us!

"World Card-Sending Week" - in review

April’s Wallpaper/Calendar is ready to download

Download April’s wallpaper to your own computer:

Tips for other operating systems:

Sale-a-Bration (SAB) – Perk #2 – Hosts & “I Deserve It” orders get extra Stampin’ Rewards!

But Stampin’ Rewards are enhanced during Sale-a-Bration…

Which brings us to… SALE-A-BRATION PERK #2:

December 2018 Wallpaper/Calendar is ready to download!

Snowflake Showcase – Last call