This 5 Minutes

Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans

I've spent more than half my childhood and college years on the Gulf of Mexico. First in St. Petersburg and then in New Orleans. And there is just something so special about that body of water. So it was so depressing to see the oil seeping out and knowing how awful a disaster is like that.

So when Sara Gleason asked me to be a part of promoting a Charity Collab designed to support the efforts in cleaning up the Gulf, there were tears in my eyes.

And then I went to download the kit...and holy crumoly smackaroly!! This is literally the largest download of goodies that I have ever had the pleasure to download. Wow oh wow. I made 3 layouts (which by the way I have never done with a kit) and literally could make at least 3 more.

So for those two gigantic reasons I would sooooo recommend to anyone that they should run on over to After5 and pick it up. Definitely a win for the scrapper and win for the environment too.

And in case I did not convince you, here is the press release:



For more than 90 days, oil gushed into the Gulf of Mexico before the leak was finally "capped" in late July. It is estimated that approximately 4.9 million barrels (or 205.8 million gallons) of oil spilled into the waters. It has been one of the biggest environmental disasters in decades. Hundreds of miles of beaches, wetlands, and estuaries along the northern Gulf Coast have been impacted. The spill, though temporarily "capped", continues to cause extensive damage to marine and wildlife habitats as well as the Gulf's fishing and tourism industries. Families are without work and marine and land animals continue to suffer. And there are still many unknowns about the long term effects of the oil and of chemical disbursements used in attempts to curtail the flow and impact upon the regional coastline and waters.

Forty-five designers across the digital scrapbooking community have united with one shared cause: to raise awareness and to support recovery efforts for the environment and those impacted by this tragic disaster.

Participating designers include: Aja Abney, Amy Martin, Biograffiti, Boutique Cute Dolls, Createwings Designs, Deena Rutter, Designs by Cindy Schneider, Designs by Crystal Livesay, Dido Designs, Dunia Designs, Emily Merritt Designs, Fiddle Dee Dee Designs, Fizzy Pop Designs, FruitLoOp Sally Designs, Laurie Ann (Heaven's Gate Designs), Holliewood Studios, Holly Designs, Holly Spring Designs, Jazzmin Designs, Jennifer Barrette Designs, Jacque Larsen, Juliana Kneipp Designs, Kay Miller Designs, Kaye Winiecki, Kitty Designs, Kristin Aagard Designs, Lauren Grier, Leora Sanford, Loreta Labarca, Micheline Martin, Nikki Beaudreau, Paislee Press, One Little Bird Designs, Sabrina Dupre, Sahlin Studio, Sarah Cornish of My 4 Hens Photography, Shabby Miss Jenn, Studio Basic Designs, Sugarplum Paperie, Tickled Pink Studios, Tiny Toes Designs, Tracie Stroud, Vera Lim, Vinnie Pearce, and zinnias and swallowtails.

Hands Across the Gulf is our heartsong for this cause. This gorgeous kit representing the varied styles of the scrapping community, is positively overflowing with beautiful papers, unique elements, templates and Photoshop actions. All told, designers have contributed more than 100 papers and 200 elements, 2 full alphas, 18 templates, and 4 PS actions to Hands Across the Gulf.

Available for sale for one month only, 100% of the proceeds from this kit will be donated to the National Wildlife Federation and to the United Way's Gulf Recovery Fund.

Hands Across the Gulf arrives Sunday 15 August 2010 at After Five Designs.

So now maybe a little eye candy from me:






























Yes I do miss New Orleans. There is something magical about that place and it makes me so sad to see them go through so much! (By the way the photo is not mine so here is the TOU stuffs - Copywrite 2010 Roy Tennant Freelargephotos.com.)



































I have to say this is like one of my fav. templates ever. And that is saying alot since I have access to the best in the business!

Hey why are you still here...go now...click on the link now...