Designiversary Sale, Freebie Blogtrain and 2 Amazing Contests!

Hold on to your hats... Lot's of great stuff to share with you

Feel like a scavenger hunt?
Want a chance to win two full kits?
Want a chance to win $50 in my personal use store?
Want to save $$ on everything?

30% off Anniversary Sale 

New Commercial Use Goodies

Two Contests you won't want to miss

and a FREEBIE blogtrain!

Hard to believe, it was exactly one year ago I opened up shop at Mscraps. Two or three years ago I would never have imagined I would be doing this, but I am. To thank you for being loyal customers and keeping the dream alive, I am offering a chance for you to win $50 to spend in my Personal Use store. If you are a constant customer, the good news for you is that the coupon for the winner will be good through the end of the year, if you decide to hold on to it for a while.

Contest #1

Pretty simple actually...Starting now, (until 11:59 pm EST on Nov. 6) everything you purchase in my PU shop over that period is added up. For example if you had two transactions that added up to $8.25, you would get 8 points or entries. On Nov 8, I will announce the winner. It will either be by a randomizer or video (if I can figure out how to do that...LOL)

Contest #2

With a great sale of 30% off everything in my store from Oct. 24 thru Oct. 31 you can get stuff you wished for but are missing.

Not sure which kits to choose? My CT is going to help you there. They each chose their favorite kit to showcase. Follow their blog train and pick up one piece and one letter to a puzzle which leads to our 2nd contest!

1. You will start the hop ---link is at the end of this post.
2. You will end up with 11 letters (along with your elements)
3. You unscramble those 11 letters
4. You find the matching papers in my shop and use that code you deciphered to get them FREE.

All the details below!

This contest will end on Thursday, November 6. I will check the download records for names and randomly draw one person who will win two kits of their choice! No matter what, it means everybody wins...if you follow the whole train for the elements and successfully de-code the papers, you will end up with a free mini kit.

Now for the goodies you came for... I have made a sweet little mini kit that you can get completely free when you follow the facebook/blog hop. In the end you will have this in entirety.

When you get each zip, open it right away and look for something like this. Collect all 11 letters. Unscramble them to come up with your coupon code.

This code should be entered lowercasewithoutspaces (<--just like that) in my store on this product

the Papers

Now go get those elements and clues! 

YOUR FIRST STOP IS SUSAN 

Here is the list in case you get lost:
 Susan -http://gluepaperglitter.wordpress.com/ 

Teresa - http://tinyurl.com/pumz52k

Melissa -http://tinyurl.com/ppdvv3q
Lisa- http://lmtroch.blogspot.be/
Jill - http://hamommyscrappythings.blogspot.com/
Anita - http://321happyscrappin.blogspot.com/
Rae - https://www.facebook.com/scrappinrae
Sharon - http://spudtasticdesigns.blogspot.co.uk/
Kat - https://www.facebook.com/scrap.kat.3
Catherine - http://thisnthatbycat.blogspot.com/
Sanie - http://angels-layouts.blogspot.de/

Because of time zones the hop will start at different times. Check back later if you get stuck.

Have fun and good luck!

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On the Commercial Use side of things, I have two new sets, each at 30% off..better than the usual introductory prices.

Tutorial- The easiest way to go "gray"

There are many tutorials on making better grayscale photos utilizing many complex steps, but I always do this simple method first and if lucky, I may not have to correct much further. Here is the starting color photo.

  

 
Next- the results of just changing color mode to grayscale.
Image; Mode; Grayscale
Not so great, is it?

1. A better way is to use lab mode. Open the color original. Bring the Channels Palette to the front.
2. Then go: Image; Mode; Lab.

   

3. Now you'll see Lab, Lightness, A & B channels. Drag A or B to the little trash can below (or right click and choose Delete Channel) It doesn't matter which one you delete.
4. Now you see: Alpha 1 and Alpha 2.
5. Delete Alpha 2
6. Important step. Go back to MODE and change it back to grayscale at this point.
Additional optional step: I also applied: Image; Adjustments; Auto Contrast.

 

Your photo is greatly improved. You can tweak the levels or the brightness/contrast, or any other methods you are comfortable with. This method gets you closer to a better end result quickly.
7. Most important step: SAVE AS and give it a different name so you won't save over the color original.



Results! Grayscale only on left; using lab method on the right. I loved it so much I made an action of it. Making your own actions will be covered in a post very soon!

Finally! Welcoming my new Creative Team Members (+ a way to win $10)

Want to know how you could win $10 to my store? You know I can never pass up a fun way to win something from my store.

Click and read on...http://www.mscraps.com/forum/showthread.php?p=351281#post351281

NEW: She's All That, some Freebies and more!

Hey guys!
I gotta admit...it's been hard waiting to share this next one. I teamed up with Tami Miller Designs to bring this fabulous bundle to you. Our creative teams went bonkers making some gorgeous pages. I can't fit them all...when you click the store link you will see why.
http://www.mscraps.com/shop/She-s-All-That-Bundle/

It's 20% off until Monday and there is a secret to saving more at the end of this post.

You can purchase just the kit or any of the individual add-ons, but the bundle is the best deal!



While the 20% off discount lasts, you can get any of these 5 pieces for $1.99 each.


Here are some layouts from our creative team members.

Ok...We have some freebies for you too!

There is a sweet quick page over on Tami's blog:

...my CTM Lisa also made something pretty to give to you. Head over to her blog to get the download. 

...and finally,  I made a mini add-on~ you can get it here:

The secret to save more? Find a coupon inside the download of my mini add-on ^^ up there ^^...so go grab it and visit Tami and Lisa for the other freebies!