Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Cyber Week Sales

Did you miss Black Friday? Wish you could get more shopping done?

For those of you who don't know about Cyber Monday, many popular online stores like Amazon, Best Buy, Target and Walmart are all having a Black Friday after-party... All. Week. LONG! So here's the scoop in what you should look out for:

First things first, right off the bat you should know that Amazon.com is a leading competitor during Cyber Week. If you're looking for something, anything, in particular, (compare all you want but) Amazon is probably you're go-to for the best deals.


What We Love!


Go cheaper (and sleeeker): Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12.1 MP Digital Camera ($229.00 $172.00)
Compare: Amazon's Cyber Week in Camera, Photo and Video

Go cheaper: (Click 2 GB option) SanDisk Sansa Clip 2 GB MP3 Player ($39.99 $29.99)
Compare: I have one! Who needs an iPod? These are incredibly durable, compact, have an easy-to-use interface and are perfect for walking and/or jogging!.. all this for only half the price! You won't be disappointed.

Go cheaper: Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America by Firoozeh Dumas ($14.00 $10.99)
Compare: I enjoy a good memoir. Do you? Read a free excerpt from each book and find out!


What to Avoid...

Why?: I'll hand it to ya, this is one heck of a deal! But unless you have your own television show on Food Network, ditch the upscaled-version for what you really need, a standard mixer. Let's face it, you want something that gets the job done, without fusing your circuit breaker.
Try This: KitchenAid Classic Plus Tilt Head 4.5-Quart Stand Mixer ($199.00 $179.00)

Why?: Hold it right there. I thought we were looking for a Cyber Week sale.
Try This: GiGi Wax Warmer Model 0225 ($49.95 $24.99)

Why?: This does seem like a great gift for creative artists and photographers at first, but let's cut the fancy equipment and use Google Images, a free search engine, for inspiration instead!
Try This: Photojojo! Insanely Great Photo Projects and DIY Ideas by Amit Gupta ($21.99 $14.80)

      Monday, November 28, 2011

      All Aboard the Tag Train!

      I'm not one for chain letters but I came across this one post in Trixie Scraps and thought it might be fun and insightful to rekindle a take on the concept of 'Blog Tagging.' The purpose of blog tagging is to get to know your authors on a personal level, connect as a blogging community and perhaps learn something new on your blogging ventures. ..Come tag along and join us!


      Now, seven random things about me:
      1. 819 is my birthday (August 19), and it's also the time I was born (8:19am).
      2. My passion, aside from digiscrapping and photography, is comedy improv. I spent the last half of my high school wanting to be as quick witted and funny as our drama club improvers. Two years later in college, I finally had enough courage, and the knowledge to start my own team.
      3. If I had to choose one meal to eat for the rest of my life, it would be cereal. It's nutritious, tasty and a perfect combination of dry and wet foods so I can stay hydrated. nom nom nom...
      4. I don't know how, but grammar and spelling is somehow programmed into me. Give me a paper to edit and I will fill your margins like a computer! (*This doesn't always work on my own writing. I usually have to take a long breather before coming back to see what I did wrong.)
      5. Elephants are Awesome. True Story.
      6. The title No Ordinary Kinna is adapted from the TV series "No Ordinary Family," which to my great dismay got cancelled. :(
      7. Gandhi is my hero and mentor. Sometimes I wish I could have been alive during his strife for peace and justice. Just to talk to him, walk alongside him and understand him better.

      Alright, there you have it! Seven completely random facts about me. Did you think of a favorite food or quirk while reading about mine? Share em in the comments below!

      Seven Random (but mostly related) Blogs You Should Check Out:

      Saturday, November 26, 2011

      Classy Thanksgiving & A GIVEAWAY!

      Time's Up!

      The winner of the African Plains Elephant Collectible by Tusk is:

      #4 Laura

      Congratulations Laura! Please send an email with your full name and address at kinnasays@gmail.com to claim this giveaway! Have fun decorating!


      My blog is finally up and running and I'd like to celebrate with a giveaway!
      (There's no catch, I promise!)

      Today's giveaway is a limited edition collectible by Westland Giftware. It's a beautifully hand-crafted and hand-painted African Plains Elephant figurine from Tusk. It's great for urban home decor and collectors! Tusk recently decided to come out with a new line of quality designs, called "New Tusk". And so, you will find that this product is no longer in stock. I absolutely love their line of parade collectibles and the details on this piece are amazing. I am so excited for one of you guys to win it.



      Tusk African Plains Elephant Collectible Giveaway
      ($35-56 value)

      One No Ordinary Kinna follower will win a limited edition Tusk African Plains Elephant Figurine Collectible. Giveaway includes:

      • 4.5" Tusk African Plains Elephant Figurine


      How to Enter

      To be entered to win the Tusk African Plains Elephant Collectible Giveaway, all you have to do is follow this blog with an account (see: 'Accepting Followers' in the sidebar) and comment on this post, and you're entered.

      Restrictions: This giveaway is open to United States only.

      Contest ends Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 8pm PST. One entry per person, please. Winner will be chosen by Random.org, and notified by email (if linked to your account) and through this blog. Giveaway provided by Kiran Saeed.

      Good luck you guys!

      -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Onto our freebie! "Classy Thanksgiving" is a fun kit designed to scrap Thanksgiving, family gatherings and making dinner, but at least half of the pieces can be used for just about anything. As I mentioned earlier this week, this kit is a misnomer. I'm dedicating it to my family. We strive to create the perfect family gathering every Thanksgiving but never quite get it right. I love them. :) So, I apologize if this kit isn't coherent with my other work, but that's just how my family is! Classy and, well, awkwardly funny. :) Another reason that this kit is different from my other collections is because I didn't add an overlay to most of the pages; mainly, so you can select the material and mix it up however you like. If you Google-Image "overlay freebie", you should have plenty to choose from. :) I hope you enjoy it! Just click on the preview to download:


      Thank you for stopping by. :)

      Quick Update

      I've been working on No Ordinary Kinna blog's layout all day, trying to sort out a few bugs. I'm also temporarily caught up in a number of projects; but I want to let you know that the "Classy Thanksgiving" kit freebie should be up no later than Sunday. :)

      xoxo

      Friday, November 25, 2011

      Passport to Delhi

      My favorite aunt is pursuing a Master's in International Relations and hopes to work for the United Nations some day. She gave me a call a couple of days ago and told me about her most recent project. Her professor assigned the class to create a blog and log their 'travels' to a far off country. She asked if I could design her blog and I immediately accepted her offer with excitement. I did some research and quickly found myself captured by the world of travel blogging; there is so much rich history all around us. Every blogger's unique experiences and perspectives make each of their stories worth learning about. In fact, one of my favorite authors is National Geographic's Where's Andrew? Travel Blog. He has such a way of writing and his pictures photograph beautifully!

      Even though my aunt already had me at blog design, I practically fell head-over-heels when she decidedly told me that her blog theme would be set in India. Coming from India and Pakistan myself, this project just became personal. The first and last time I went to India with my family was nearly 10 years ago. I remember the flagrant, spicy foods and the beautifully crafted sites but most of all, I remember the dirt. There's a word for dirt in Hindi and Urdu that we call "mitthi," which translates to 'the soil of our motherland'. This might sound absurd but when I see India's land covered in dirt, I finally feel at home. Even more so, there's something about the warm scent that fills the air, the kind and hospitable people and the make-shift bazaars that make a trip to India special. It feels right; I feel comfortable. And so, since India is dear to my heart, I knew I would enjoy the design process of the blog that much more. I followed with discussing the color palette and layout with my aunt and jotting down important details. When brainstorming blog titles, I came up with "Passport to Delhi" and we ran with it. My experience with designing this travel blog was a joy and an honor. There are still some kinks to work out but here is the blog design that we decided on together:


      I was inspired to travel somewhere adventurous and earthy myself, so some friends and I are planning a road trip to one of California's forests. I can't wait! More on this soon. :)

      Wednesday, November 23, 2011

      Day 1 - Countdown to Thanksgiving

      Today marks the last day of my freebies during our Countdown to Thanksgiving.. but it's not over yet! To wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, I'm releasing a kit, called "Classy Thanksgiving". But wait just a second.. How classy, you say?

      The Office (Season 5, Episode 18) © NBC
      Perhaps this classy. Haha actually -- I hate to break it to you but it's kind of a misnomer. Like The Office, "Classy Thanksgiving" is nice, but also kind of awkwardly random. You'll love it; you might not be be a fan. I'll explain this better when it's posted, you'll see! Still, it's a nice little kit designed with the intent to scrap family gatherings and making dinner, but many of the pieces can be used for just about anything. It should be out by the end of the week. :)

      I made some basic edger masks a while back and thought it might be neat to share some new and fun, whimsical edgers as well. Not to worry, they're already in high resolution this time. :) Just click on the preview to download:

      Tuesday, November 22, 2011

      Day 2 - Countdown to Thanksgiving

      I have plans to save up for a new camera so that I can share more than scrapbooking materials with you. Who knows, I might be inspired to pull some colors, patterns or items in some of the pictures and make a kit to share! ;) I'll talk more about this and a fun project I have in mind later.

      As promised, here is today's freebie! It's a compilation of random but related things I chose to scrap as a super-mini kit for the month of November. Click the preview to download.


      I hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving break! Don't forget to stop by tomorrow for another freebie! :)

      Monday, November 21, 2011

      Day 3 - Countdown to Thanksgiving

      Thanksgiving is so close, I can smell the turkey. And since I can't taste it or even look at it yet, I figured that I can at least talk about it. Hence, I put together a handful of Thanksgiving word arts to share. I hope you will find them useful in your scrapbooking endeavors. I want to give a special shout-out to Kevin and Amanda Fonts for making their absolutely adorable font collection freely available to the public. I also want to give a special shout-out to Scrapbook.com for offering an organized list of quotes for us to incorporate in our layout designs. Simply click on the preview to download:

      Day 4 - Countdown to Thanksgiving

      My apologies, this post is a little overdue. I was experiencing some internet connection problems earlier. Now that it's back up again, I am thrilled to announce the release of my first mini kit! Anybody who is anybody knows that Twilight: Breaking Dawn (Part 1) has finally hit the screens. (Family-goers beware! It's better suited for mature audiences). To commemorate yet another chapter of the popular series, I chose to make a Twilight-themed mini kit for us to scrap premiere night pictures, movie nights, book clubs and/or fan pages. I hope you enjoy the kit! I really enjoyed making the pieces. :) Click the preview to download.


      My favorite embellishments out of this collection are the "vamples." They are a hybrid of the symbolic Twilight apple and.. you guessed it, vampires! Aren't they cute? I also have a few other ideas that I am thinking about designing.. I'll try to have them scrapped and posted as an Add-On to celebrate the next (and last) movie of the series.

      On a side note, I do not own the rights to the "Team Jacob" design in the above mini kit. I tried searching for a copyright but was unable to find the rightful designer. By default, I presume that I am permitted to incorporate this in my mini kit. Please, if you have any information on this, as well as any other copyright related issues in my past and future projects that you find have been handled incorrectly, email me at kinnasays (at) gmail.com . I do my research and try to make sure that my ideas are original and if they are (intentionally) not, then I want to make sure that they are credited properly.

      Saturday, November 19, 2011

      Day 5 - Countdown to Thanksgiving

      Thanksgiving is just around the corner and to show my appreciation for all of you, I've decided to post a daily freebie until the big day. That's a total of FIVE FREEBIES! I hope you enjoy them!!

      If you haven't heard, the Thankful Hearts Blog Train was released just earlier this week! Hop on over to Just For Fun Designs to pick up the kit featured below. Making quickpages from mini kits with unusual color palettes can be a challenge to scrap, so I've taken on the task to create my a quickpage and share it with my fellow bloggers. This layout was inspired by one of SSD's templates (our Featured Blog of the Month!). Click on the preview to download:

      Wednesday, November 16, 2011

      Featured Blog of the Month


      This month's featured blog is Sweet Shoppe Designs (SSD). Not only have the designers at SSD pulled together a scrumptious blog layout and continue to provide tasteful designs for their viewers, they are also humbly giving back to the community! In a pursuit to log 365 Days of Bliss, today's blog post inspires people of all ages to take the initiative to volunteer in the midst of America's difficult economic conditions. The charming story of a young daughter's mature decision to make a once dreaded, early-morning trip to the community shelter into an annual family event is uplifting and discerning. It has become more apparent than ever that the value of volunteerism should be beyond public debate.

      The girl from this month's featured story is a hero; if she can respond in our crucial time of need, then why can't we all? I encourage you to take a moment and imagine a world with a population of over six billion people, in which each capable person gives back to their national or local community once every 365 days. --Now imagine a similar occasion once every 30 days. What kind of atmosphere would we be developing for our community, ourselves and our children? It is time we stop thinking of community service as a burden; it is an opportunity to find work you enjoy and begin celebrating the ideals you want to live in.

      I applaud Sweet Shoppe Designs for helping readers realize their potential. Service hours are multi-faceted; by giving back we develop value and appreciation for our lifestyles, make a tangible difference in lives other than our own and invite those positive energies to return our way. To follow suit, SSD has suggested great service opportunities that appeal to adults and kids alike; including Generation On, an organization geared towards assisting families in making a difference together. SSD is a perfect example of what we should all set out to do. Before I sign-off, don't forget to check out their forum, fabulous design kits and freebies as well. In all aspects, they certainly have lived up to their 'sweet' expectations!

      Friday, November 11, 2011

      Paper Edger Masks Freebie!

      I remember a day when I came across paper edgers in kits and freebie clusters and then spent hours searching the entire web, looking for free masks to use on my own work. So, for those on the search.. Look no further! Here's four of them just for you :)


      Also, I'm currently in the construction phase of the blog, so please excuse the design process. Cheers!

      Wednesday, November 9, 2011

      Welcome to My Blog!

      Hi there digiscrappers! I'm Kiran, aka Kinna, and among many things, I love scrapbooking. Some of my favorite artists include Scraps by Andrea, Trixie Scraps, Growing Pains Scrapped, Connie Prince, Shabby Princess and Aimme Harrison. I've recently taken interest in digiscrap designing and am considering making a kit myself during my (much-needed) study breaks.

      Here's a quickpage I worked on earlier today. Just click on my page preview to head on over to Mommy Me Time Scrapper's blog post and pick up the QP.

      Kit: It's My Birthday
      Alpha: Happy Monsters (modified)

      I'm a flyers, posters and Facebook events kind of girl. Since I have little experience with creating digital scrapbooking paper, embellishments, etc. on my own, I'll be showcasing my progress as a digiscrap designer on this blog to receive feedback and improve. Essentially, I want to get a hang of the tools that will be necessary to build a kit of my own someday (soon, hopefully!). I'm starting small. Bare with me. :)

      No Ordinary Kinna - TOU

      TERMS OF USE - PERSONAL/ S4H TERMS
      No Ordinary Kinna by Kiran Saeed
      © 2012 No Ordinary Kinna
      Last Revised 07/20/2012

      Thank you so much for purchasing/downloading my graphics!
      By downloading files from any of my affiliated stores, or from my blog, you acknowledge receipt of a license to use the downloaded files for PERSONAL and LIMITED COMMERCIAL USE ONLY, but not the rights to the designs themselves. YOU MAY NOT SHARE OR REDISTRIBUTE MY FILES IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM. The graphic files contained in my downloads are the product of Kiran Saeed. I reserve the right to update my TOU at any time. While notification of changes to my TOU will be made, when possible, notification is not always guaranteed. By purchasing this product, you agree that you will remain aware of my current TOU found here on my site and agree to be bound to its terms AND future changes. It is your responsibility, as the end user, to be aware of changes to my TOU and to follow such changes accordingly.

      You May:
      * Use these files for personal use only, in exception of S4H.
      * Alter the files any way you want-resize them, recolor them, blend them together, you name it.
      * Submit layouts and other creations that you make with my products to online galleries, magazines etc. Please note, if you are sharing in an online gallery, on Facebook, or your personal blog, credit for my designs is always appreciated, but not required. If you are being "published" in either a print or online publication, please do ensure that I am credited for my designs.
      * Use my designs to decorate your own blog or website, as long as you are the person doing the work and no one is being paid to decorate your blog or website for you. When my designs are used on a blog/website, they must be right-click protected and credit must be given in the sidebar or other conspicuous area of the site, with a link back to my site at http://www.noordinarykinna.blogspot.com. If you do not know how to protect the graphics from right-clicking, or you are unwilling to provide credit for the graphics on your blog/website, please do not use my designs in this way.
      * Email me with comments, feedback or completed layouts at kinnasays@gmail.com

      * When a product is approved for Scrap4Hire/Scrap4Others, You MAY use my designs in your home based business AS LONG AS...
      1. The finished product is a FLATTENED JPG file or in PRINTED form.
      2. My original files are not redistributed in any way.
      3. You are selling a finished product complete with photos, to the end customer.
      * Please email me with any further questions.


      You MAY NOT:
      * You MAY NOT make any "quick pages" that you will redistribute or resell for other people to "complete" with their own photos, unless I explicitly state otherwise
      * You MAY NOT use my designs in any online graphic design business, including the design of other websites or blogs, without my prior permission. I offer a special license for blog/website designers who wish to use my graphics in their work and I evaluate each request on a case-by-case basis. There are special terms that must be followed and a separate license fee that must be paid. Please inquire about my licensing policy for further information.
      * You MAY NOT use my designs to create "freebies" that you offer for download on your blog.
      * You MAY NOT claim the images as your own work, whether it is altered or in it's original form.
      You MAY NOT distribute, redistribute, repackage, re-sell or in any other way share the designs.
      * You MAY NOT use these files for obscene, defamatory, or immoral works or any other purpose which is prohibited by law. You MAY NOT use my designs in "tagger" designs featuring scantily clad, half-dressed, or "revealing" figures. If you are in doubt that I would approve of the image, please email me for clarification OR do not use my designs at all.

      Limited Liability:
      The content is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. No Ordinary Kinna and/or Kiran Saeed shall not be liable for any incidental, indirect, or consequential damages of any kind, or any damages in connection with the use of the content.

      For any further questions, please e-mail kinnasays@gmail.com
      Thank you for your purchase and Happy Scrapping!
      Kiran Saeed
      No Ordinary Kinna


      *************************************************************************

      TERMS OF USE - COMMERCIAL USE TERMS
      No Ordinary Kinna by Kiran Saeed
      © 2012 Kiran Saeed
      Last Revised 07/20/2012

      Thank you so much for purchasing/downloading my graphics!

      By downloading my designs from any one of my affiliated stores, or from my blog, you acknowledge receipt of a license to use the designs for PERSONAL and LIMITED COMMERCIAL USE ONLY, but not the rights to the designs themselves. YOU MAY NOT SHARE OR REDISTRIBUTE THESE FILES IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM.

      The graphic files contained in my downloads are the product of Kiran Saeed. I reserve the right to update my TOU at any time. While notification of changes to my TOU will be made, when possible, notification is not always guaranteed. By purchasing this product, you agree that you will remain aware of my current TOU found here on my site and agree to be bound to its terms AND future changes. It is your responsibility, as the end user, to be aware of changes to my TOU and to follow such changes accordingly.

      You May:
      * Use these files for personal use and S4H (please observe the personal/s4H terms above). My commercial use products are also permitted for commercial use to create your own elements and papers for sale, provided those elements and papers are a finished, flattened JPG or PNG file. NO CREDIT IS REQUIRED when using my Commercial Use products to create your own designs, however, should you like to give me credit for the tools I've provided you, it is always appreciated.
      * Alter my CU tools for your own purpose. These CU files can and should be altered to create a NEW finished, flattened JPG or PNG product.
      * Submit layouts and other creations that you make with my products to online gallery, magazines etc. Please note, if you are sharing in an online gallery, on Facebook, or your personal blog, credit for my designs is always appreciated, but not required. If you are being "published" in either a print or online publication, please do ensure that I am credited for my designs.
      * Email me with comments, feedback or completed layouts at kinnasays@gmail.com

      You MAY NOT:
      * Recolor or otherwise alter my commercial use products and then sell them as your own CU product. You may NOT redistribute my CU products as your own CU product in any way, shape or form.
      * You MAY NOT recolor or otherwise alter my Photoshop styles and re-sell them as your own CU/PU product. All Photoshop style products are provided as a Commercial Use TOOL only, meaning you use them to create NEW elements, papers, alphabets for digital scrapbooking kits you plan to sell.
      * You MAY NOT use my commercial use products to create freebies to give away on your blog.
      * You MAY NOT claim the images as your own work, whether it is altered or in it's original form.
      * You MAY NOT distribute, redistribute, repackage, re-sell or in any other way share the designs.
      * Use these files for obscene, defamatory, or immoral works or any other purpose which is prohibited by law.


      Limited Liability:
      The content is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. No Ordinary Kinna and/or Kiran Saeed shall not be liable for any incidental, indirect, or consequential damages of any kind, or any damages in connection with the use of the content.


      For any further questions, please e-mail kinnasays@gmail.com

      Thank you for your purchase and Happy Scrapping!

      Kiran Saeed
      No Ordinary Kinna