new freebies: my Hexagon Babies all grown up (and taking over the world!)

...somehow it seems like that post tile demands a muahahaha
(mad scientist style).

new hex. papers...



old hex. papers...

So, you may recall that back in September 2011, I made some
hexagon papers that turned out to be a big flop:

(In other words, they ended up sized 72dpi and I just discovered
they were not printable, sorry & weep!)

(They seemed to work okay at this size
with vellum over them...

...and insane amounts of stitching)


But... my big old mistakes aside,
now my little hexagon babies are all grown
up and taking over the crafty world! ;0)


Hexagons filled with images & patterns
are showing up...

...here...

(Papers by Rhonna Farrer. Photo from Scrapbook update CHA picks, here).

...there...

(Photo from Scrapbook update CHA picks, here).

... & everywhere ...

(photo from Paper Craft Connection CHA post, here)


(images from write.click.scrapbook here).


Don't worry, I do know that I
didn't invent the hexagon ;o)
and that countless world-renowned designers have
fostered its popularity around the world for decades now......but I'm just so excited to have been ahead of the scrap trends, for once!
Well sort of ahead, if those papers would have worked at all). ;o)



So... maniacal obsession with hexagons aside,
I've learned my lesson about quality in a big way,
since there's no way I can fix those Halloween hex papers. (They
took hours of scanning hand-stitched spiderwebs and editing
but all that work is useless captured at 72dpi. UGH.)

On the bright side,
here are some high quality 3o0dpi hexagon papers
in patterns and colours that are a tad more trendy ...



These are the first two styles: Ledger & Map


(paper printables)

LEDGER

DARK Ledger Hexagon Paper PNG (12.5" x 12.5")
To save the PNG, click the following:
1) the image 2) File 3) Save Page As 4) Save


LIGHT Ledger Hexagon Paper PNG (12.5" x 12.5")
To save the PNG, click the following:
1) the image 2) File 3) Save Page As 4) Save


DARK Ledger Hexagon Paper JPEG (12.5" x 12.5")
To save the JPG, click the following:
1) the image 2) File 3) Save Page As 4) Save


LIGHT Ledger Hexagon Paper JPEG (12.5" x 12.5")
To save the JPG, click the following:
1) the image 2) File 3) Save Page As 4) Save




MAP

DARK Map Hexagon Paper PNG (12.5" x 12.5")
To save the PNG, click the following:
1) the image 2) File 3) Save Page As 4) Save


LIGHT Map Hexagon Paper PNG (12.5" x 12.5")
To save the PNG, click the following:
1) the image 2) File 3) Save Page As 4) Save





DARK Map Hexagon Paper JPEG (12.5" x 12.5")
To save the JPEG, click the following:
1) the image 2) File 3) Save Page As 4) Save


LIGHT Map Hexagon Paper JPEG (12.5" x 12.5")
To save the JPEG, click the following:
1) the image 2) File 3) Save Page As 4) Save



(These map papers are made, in part, with some maps shared by
the amazingly generous Karen who is also known as The Graphics Fairy).

I'm working on the rest of the gazillion sizes &
formats, and they'll be up here soon.

edited to add:
For more sizes (A2, 7"x7" & Standard)
please see this post.

Hope you can have some fun with these,

P.S. The nicest thing about these light papers is that they use very little ink,
so you can save money, and they're low contrast so they're easy to use in
a design.

P.P.S. If you feel like sharing any feedback, please do.
I'm grateful to hear what I need to improve

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new easier download method? (And heart patterned paper freebies)

Happy Valentine's Day!

This post is a little bit freebie
and a little bit housekeeping...
(a new download method experiment...
Fingers crossed that it all works)

Guess What?
I've started a new Freebie blog
(and the beauty of it is that you never
ever have to visit it!)

Say what?

What I mean to say is, that I am hosting free paper files on a new blog but
you don't have to worry about it...
You can click to download the PNG (and even PDF files) for
free papers right here on my usual blog...

...So that (assuming it works) downloading will be much easier
for you. No more visiting other sites like acrobat or flickr.





Instructions are below with the new paper downloads.
If this method works, I'll stay with it so you will
only have to learn this once. :0)

The problem: Blogger reduces files to 72dpi and makes them unprintable (even though I pay for extra space). Dear Blogger, I would pay more for quality image hosting. Just saying.

The solution (hopefully): a no-frills Wordpress blog where I will host free papers (in PDF, PNG, and JPG) and then I will link them here.

These are some free high resolution heart papers that I made:

• the A2 one is sized to fit an A2 card 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches (with a little trimming)
• the standard one is sized to print on a standard sheet of paper 8.5 x 11 inches
• the 12x12 one is actually 12.5 at 350dpi so that it can be used for digital scrapbooking or printing. I haven't tested the printing at that size yet, since my printer is smaller than 12x12 (for now) ;o)

They are all 350dpi

For the PDFs click the link. For the PNGs and JPGs click the images.

A2 size (for a card 4 1/4 inch x 51/2 inch)

Heart Paper JPG (A2)
To save the JPG, click the following:
1) the image 2) File 3) Save Page As 4) Save

Heart Paper PNG (A2)
To save the PNG, click the following:
1) the image 2) File 3) Save Page As 4) Save

Heart Paper PDF (A2)
To download the PDF, click the following:
1) this link:Click this link for the PDF: rainbow heart paper A2 size
2) File 3) Save Page As 4) Save

Standard (for a page 8-1/2 inch x 11 inch)

Heart Paper PNG (standard)
To save the PNG, click the following:
1) the image 2) File 3) Save Page As 4) Save

Heart Paper JPG (standard)
To save the JPG, click the following:
1) the image 2) File 3) Save Page As 4) Save

Heart Paper PDF (standard):
To download the PDF, click the following:
1) this link: PDF_rainbow_hearts_standard_size_melstampz
2) File 3) Save Page As 4) Save

12 x 12 (12-1/2 inch x 12-1/2 inch square)

Heart Paper PNG 12.5 x12.5:
To save the JPG, click the following:
1) the image 2) File 3) Save Page As 4) Save

Heart Paper JPG 12.5 x12.5:
To save the JPG, click the following:
1) the image 2) File 3) Save Page As 4) Save

Would you like more detailed instructions
on how to download these files?

Here it is...

(steps to Download )

(There is a quick reference to these 4 simple steps

above each of the images so you can refer to it easily)

Step 1) Click on the link for PDFs or the image for PNGs. (It may ask you if it's okay to leave the page; it is safe to do so. It's another blog of mine).

Step 2) Click the file tab. (Top left in your browser window).

Step 3) Choose Save Page as (or Save as in Explorer).

Step 4) Finally, choose your location and simply click Save.

(guidelines for use)

Feel free to sell any handmade items you make using these... or share digital things for free that you have made using it (with a link to this post, pretty please). You can change them however you like (the colour and so on).

Please link if you use these: melstampz.blogspot.com/

One stipulation: No digital re-sale of these, or sale of any kind at all, please. (They want to stay free as the wind). ;o)

P.S. Please let me know if this downloading works better for you
(or if it doesn't work). I'll try to keep at it until I have something good.

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Getting back into the swing of things - interactive card (and blog changes coming soon)

(Sorry couldn't resist that groaner!)



First, I just wanted to let you know that you may see
some changes around here, while I tweak the blog,
so please forgive any disorderliness.

In order to get back into the swing of things blog-wise...
...I've signed up for Sister Diane's online class
that starts on Feb. 13th

(Click the image if you'd like to check it out)

I'm a long-time fan of Diane's &
I'm so excited to be able to learn from her
& get some ideas on how to be a better blogger.

Hopefully,

Bit by bit, over the next year,
I hope to work on
these goals for the blog:

1) Make it easier for you to download papers or images, while keeping print quality (and avoiding ads or sign-up). Blogger does bad things with image quality, so this is trickier than it might seem.

2) Post much more often (by trying to cure my debilitating self-doubt & perfectionism) lol

3) Connect more with You & the community (learn to manage my time better, so I can respond more to comments and so on). I hope to learn how to make sense of the details of the subscription services like the ever-confuzzling feedblitz. :0)

4) Get the blog reconnected to support favourite bloggers, stores, & craft sites. Get their buttons & links back up (without the bad pop-up that made me delete everything)

5) Archive things so they are easier to find... the free templates, papers, images, techniques, round-ups, etc. etc.

6) Work on a more pleasing visual design.

7) And last but not least I hope to learn how to make video tutorials & post them (I bought a video camera for that purpose; I just need to buy more cords & thingamabobs and learn how to use it all).

Anything You'd like to see
added to the blog?

the card is for the SCS

(make your own stripes challenge TLC363)



This 5 and 1/2 inch square card is for the SplitcoastStampers TLC
(Technique Lovers' Challenge) TLC363 ~ Make Your Own Stripes brought to you by Joan.

The swing stamp is a fave from My Favorite Things:
Pure Innocence stamp - Start the Day with Whee!
(I drew the motion lines on & changed her mouth a tiny bit with a
fine permanent black pen, to make it look like she was smiling more).

The DIY stripes were so fun (such a clever idea, Thanks Joan!)
They are just random strips of paper...



(If you'd like the blue raspberry Vine digital paper,
you can find it free in my last post, here.)

The heart hangs off of the card:



The heart is only attached by baker's twine, so it swings when the recipient opens the card. It's so fun to play with that to make her go back and forth! (Yup, I'm 3 years old at heart) :0)

The heart shape is hand cut (just let me know if you'd like the heart shape; it's hand drawn so it's rough, but I'd be happy to share it).

The back of the heart has the sentiment on it:



Looks like it was trampled on in a school playground,
but I was going for a distressed blackboard look. :o)

• MFT Pure Innocence stamp - Start the Day with Whee!
• Hero Arts new Large Flower background cling stamp
  
• Archival black ink, clear embossing powder & a heat gun
• Paper Crate - Paper Heart 6x6 pack (for her dress)
  
• Copic markers, fine black permanent pen to draw motion lines
• Cream cardstock scored with raised stripes using a Scor-Pal tool
• Echo Park - For the Record 2 measuring tape border
  
• Flower button: K & Company Brenda Walton Flora & Fauna Typewriter key stickers (the edge is coloured red with a R35 Coral Copic marker) on white seam binding ribbon
  
• Baker's twine, Tim Holtz Trimmings Lavish Ribbon
  

Hope your day is going swingingly!
(ynuk ynuk)


P.S. Full Disclosure: This post is entirely unsolicited as usual, but K & Co did send me the lovely typewriter dimensional sticker for free and I also received the MFT Whee stamp for free (when I used to be on the design team).

P.P.S. The moving swing card image is an animated GIF made at gifninja. Disclaimer: They offer a nifty, easy-to-use service but I find their Gallery of GIFs sort of ick. I won't expound on the contents to spare you; just thought I'd mention in case your taste doesn't run along those lines. ;0)

P.P.P.S. Still working on the patterned papers, so more to come in that department.

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