Updated 1/28! Digital Scrapbooking 101-3 Intermediate Techniques in post 107!

[MissBianca]

Looking for the first tutorial? Try this post! (http://tagrel.com/forum/showpost.php?p=325490&postcount=40)

And the second tutorial? It's Here! (http://tagrel.com/forum/showpost.php?p=343126&postcount=79)

How about the third one? Wild times ahead! (http://tagrel.com/forum/showpost.php?p=352532&postcount=107)

===================

I've gotten some interest in providing a few digital scrapbooking lessons, not too fast, maybe monthly. So here's the first installment. Please feel free to post or PM any questions you have. I am not the best at explaining things slowly sometimes--but I'm so addicted to this hobby that I really want to spread the word.

Lesson 1: Getting ready for your first digital scrapbooking page. It's just like getting ready for a paper page, really!

1. Find a photo you want to scrap.

This has to be a high resolution digital file. Photos sized for the Internet look good on your screen but they won't look good on a digital page. What comes out of a digital camera (not a camera phone) will be good.

2. Get your tools ready.

You need a graphics program that supports layering. I will be doing all the examples for this in Photoshop Elements 5.0, which is available for a free trial from Adobe. Photoshop Elements is the most widely-used program for digital scrapbooking because it is full-featured and not expensive. Other tools which will work include: Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, and Fireworks. GIMP is free and may work. All of the things we will do can be done in these programs, but there will be differences in how to do them in each tool and I can't answer questions about all of them.

Get your chosen program and install it. Advantage: no extra glue, scissors, cute punches, glitter, etc. needed. It's all included. Disadvantage: not getting to play with glue, scissors, cute punches, etc.

3. Gather your supplies.

For this tutorial you will need some cool digital scrapbooking supplies:
3 pieces of digital paper
1 digital embellishment or cluster of embellishments
1 long skinny digtal element like a ribbon, border, strip, etc.
Optional: one digital alphaHow do you get these? Well, every day dozens of avid digital scrapbook designers offer goodies you can download for free! Some of them are really wonderful, too. Some are horrible and will make you feel really good about your own abilities.

Here is where I suggest you go: Ikea Goddess's blog (http://ikeagoddess.blogspot.com/). Pretty much daily she creates a list of links to a few nice digital scrapbooking freebies, all illustrated there. Probably you will be able to find a kit that you like within a few days that will have everything we need for this. If you have any trouble finding something you like or want, or if you have trouble downloading and opening stuff, let us know.

And if you find something you think is especially nice let us all know :D

4. Get ready to share your work.

You could get a gallery at one of the digital scrapbooking sites. Great for sharing finished pages, but not a place generally to share things in progress. What I suggest is you each get a digital photo album somewhere. I use Photobucket (http://photobucket.com/); it's easy but not the fullest featured and not the most free space.

5. Share with us when you're ready. Your photo, your tool, and what scrapbook kit or goodies you found.

6. If you want to start ahead, there's a really nice tutorial for doing a first page on one of my favorite designer's blogs. (http://mistycatodesigns.blogspot.com/2007/05/creating-your-first-page-in-pse.html)

I hope a few people will join me here! :)

[FLSharon]

Thanks Miss B... i'll def give it a whirl. This is something that's been on my back burner for along time. I'll be back to reread the directions here.. and to check out those links. :bounce:

[Joe]

Hey there MissB, this is something that has interested me for a while. In fact, I just purchased some Digital Scrapbooking software from TLC at a trade show a couple of weeks ago. Just have to get moving on it (it's that finding the time thing...). Look forward to your tips and advice.
Joe

[MissBianca]

Welcome aboard, Sharon and Joe!

[Ursulinda]

Ok. The instructions will be written so I can read them as many times as I need to without them getting impatient. I'm ready to try again.

[Frogman]

The best part is that after practice you can get paid to do this. Whenenver I want a new kit I just work it into something and pass the fee along to the customer. Cheap yes. Stupid. No. :lol:

The boy scouts paid for my last two sets!

[kathleena]

I'm in! I've already got everything and ready to go. And I like taking it slowly, although I'm not sure if one a month is too slow because I have CMS and I may lose everything in between! :D

Oh, and I also already found the sites where you need to pay to get some of the goodies. I already got a few of those too! :D

Loved those Disney ones you referenced before MissB, I think I may need to get some of those.

[MissBianca]

And welcome aboard Linda and Nancy!

Yes, everything will be written with you in mind Linda.

Watch out Nancy, it's a slippery slope, I have over 100 GB of free and pay kits! Would love to see what you got! This (http://ztampf.com/ZtampfShop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=589) was my most recent purchase. I am going to use it for Christmas gifts!

[kathleena]

Watch out Nancy, it's a slippery slope, I have over 100 GB of free and pay kits! Would love to see what you got! This (http://ztampf.com/ZtampfShop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=589) was my most recent purchase. I am going to use it for Christmas gifts!

That calendar is really cool!

I really like the Bren Boone stuff you pointed out before and her blog has led me over to ScrapbookGraphics. I love so much I see there, I'm afraid to go anywhere else! There's a couple of designers that I really like, so I've picked up a few things. Well, more than a few......Meredith, Doris and Maya will send me to the poorhouse I'm sure! My Wish List is huge!

Here's a few on the Wish List

http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=16673&quantity=1

http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=16772&quantity=1

http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=16808&quantity=1

[kathleena]

Here's another wish list item. I just love her florals.

http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=17699&quantity=1

[MissBianca]

Here's another wish list item. I just love her florals.

http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=17699&quantity=1

Ah, Le Jardin! That is my favorite Doris Castle kit ever. The Studio Girls site is one of the "elite" ones with very high standards. Meredith Fenwick and other great designers also cooperate monthly on a charity kit on Songbird Avenue (http://www.songbirdavenue.com/).

[kathleena]

Ah, Le Jardin! That is my favorite Doris Castle kit ever. The Studio Girls site is one of the "elite" ones with very high standards. Meredith Fenwick and other great designers also cooperate monthly on a charity kit on Songbird Avenue (http://www.songbirdavenue.com/).

Funny, I just came back in to mention I got to Songbird Ave and bought the Sept sapphire kit!

[MissBianca]

I have all 4 kits Songbird Avenue have done--they cost more than I'd usually spend but the causes have been really good ones.

Anatomy of a digital scrapbook page:

I made a page I did last night to see how quickly I could do a digital page. Usually I take at least 2 hours per page, often longer. So anyway, yesterday I bought some frame clusters from one of my very favorite designers (http://www.ztampf.com) and I decided to see what I could do. This for me is a 15 minute page--it has one paper, one element (the comb), one frame cluster, the photo, and two bits of text (one font, 2 sizes, two colors).

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b78/snowleopard55/scraps/sb_erikasfirst_k1_p.jpg

Of those 15 minutes, half was spent picking the paper, frame and finally the element when I needed some balance. The next hardest thing was to properly size and crop the photo. Choosing the font is always a fun challenge, this time I wanted something with a hand drawn look as opposed to handwriting.

Cut and print--I'm really happy and I have an example of how fast this can be :D

[kathleena]

Must.......stop.......clicking...........Miss..... ......B's............links.........

[FLSharon]

:yikes::yikes:I am totally shocked at how many sites there are on this topic.. I truly had not a clue!!! And it's starting to look confusing rather than the other way around. I downloaded alot of free stuff, but not sure i have anything I really like. :confused: I'll go look again..:woot:

[MissBianca]

Must.......stop.......clicking...........Miss..... ......B's............links.........

:lol: At least we both have good taste ;)

:yikes::yikes:I am totally shocked at how many sites there are on this topic.. I truly had not a clue!!! And it's starting to look confusing rather than the other way around. I downloaded alot of free stuff, but not sure i have anything I really like. :confused: I'll go look again..:woot:

We'll unconfuse you Sharon. I'm pretty sure the digiscrapping online community is larger than the adult-fans-of-WDW online community--if they can figure it out, you can figure it out.

Are you looking for any particular scheme? Here (http://www.digitalscrapbookingfreebies.com/monthlykit.html) is a really nice free kit in light colors.

[Cinderella]

Miss B
LOVE all those sites. No real time now to get into digital scrapping but am following along and will start soon. So much fun.

cinderella

[FLSharon]

We'll unconfuse you Sharon. I'm pretty sure the digiscrapping online community is larger than the adult-fans-of-WDW online community--if they can figure it out, you can figure it out.

Are you looking for any particular scheme? Here (http://www.digitalscrapbookingfreebies.com/monthlykit.html) is a really nice free kit in light colors.

thanks so much..I'm sure I can find something here I like. If you run onto a kit that has a real tropical feel that includes palm trees... pls advise... now I'm going to go open these..i just downloaded them.

I just noticed in the list of supplies.... digital alpha????? What's this???:confused:

And I'm assuming I can use a ribbon from one kit and paper from another... right??

[MissBianca]

Yes you can use things from different kits--see you're being sophisticated already. Hmmm, a tropical kit. I know there have been some, let's see what I can find that's still out there!

A digital alphabet is where the letters have been crafted individually--fancier than a font, scaled for scrapbooking, etc. Okay, so you have to make your words one letter at a time with them but they are so much fun.

Now I'll scare Kathleena with a link to an alpha that I like very much. This FREE kit by Shabby Princess (http://www.shabbyprincess.com/SweetSerenity.asp) has a very nice basic one.

[MissBianca]

Now it's time for "Freebies du jour" the two things I'd get today if I were only getting two things (no, honest, I don't have a problem; I can stop any time).

Free kit du jour: Little Rascal by Danielle Corbitt (kit:%20http://atexaschickie.blogspot.com/2007/09/freebie.html)

Useful item du jour: Little charm frames by Janice (http://newbiescrapper.blogspot.com/2007/09/oh-what-day.html)

[kathleena]

:lol: At least we both have good taste ;)
Are you looking for any particular scheme? Here (http://www.digitalscrapbookingfreebies.com/monthlykit.html) is a really nice free kit in light colors.

Now I'll scare Kathleena with a link to an alpha that I like very much. This FREE kit by Shabby Princess (http://www.shabbyprincess.com/SweetSerenity.asp) has a very nice basic one.


Free kit du jour: Little Rascal by Danielle Corbitt (kit:%20http://atexaschickie.blogspot.com/2007/09/freebie.html)

Useful item du jour: Little charm frames by Janice (http://newbiescrapper.blogspot.com/2007/09/oh-what-day.html)

:yowsa: :yowsa: :yowsa: :yowsa: :yowsa: :yikes: :yikes: :yikes: :yikes: :yikes: Man, just when I'm tryin' to cut back!!!! :lol: :lol:

I love your taste MissB and that IS the problem! I think we have the same taste!

BTW, that free kit in light colors isn't free anymore......not that I tried to get it or anything........;)

[MissBianca]

BTW, that free kit in light colors isn't free anymore......not that I tried to get it or anything........;)

Just keep telling yourself that and don't pay any attention to the download links at the bottom of the page. :lol: There is a non-free add-on available to match. :yes:

And the Freebies du Jour

Kit: A Day to Remember by Merkeley Designs (https://www.oscraps.com/shop/product.php?productid=17874&cat=0&page=2) at OScraps (requires site registration)

Useful stuff: 3 coordinated fall color alphabets by "FlorescentJellybeans" (http://florescentjellybeans.blogspot.com/2007/09/pumpkin-plaid-its-collab.html)

[MissBianca]

And the freebies for Thursday:

Kit: The All Torn Up Collection (http://www.digitalscrapbookingfreebies.com/) -- be sure to get all the parts!

Useful item. It was a slow day. My pick is this frame and two French knot stars. (http://www.amyhutchinsondesigns.com/shoppe/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6&products_id=1) Site registration required.

[kathleena]

Obviously - I'm gonna need more hard drive!!!!!!!

:lol: :lol: For every freebie you post, I look around the site and find 6-7 more!!!!

[MissBianca]

I have over 200 GB of purchased kits and freebies :oops: And, really, I've gotten much pickier--I purged about half my freebies not too long ago.

Share with us a layout, Nancy? Or are you waiting for the lessons to begin?

Today's freebies (if Moley is reading this, she should be proud of my ability to bump this thread with possibly useful information--I learned from the master):

Something too cute to pass up: ribbon with stars (http://dreamscrapping.blogspot.com/)
A kit with potential (no real standout kits today): Lynn's Friendship (http://lynns-scrap-attic.blogspot.com/)
Usable item: blue and beige papers (http://www.digitalscrapbooking.co.za/blog/)

[kathleena]

I'm waiting for lessons! I have my stuff collected, or at least stuff I think I will use. Like working with paper etc, I figure you don't know until you start putting it together if you will change your mind. I actually want to do a two page layout with 5-7 photos.

Are you planning on having multiple threads in here? Like maybe a thread that just has instuctions steps (one set for each post) and then maybe a FAQ thread. I have questions like - how do you organize these things so you can find stuff, and do you unzip everything and delete the zip files or keep them or ????. SOmetimes there are FAQ threads where all the FAQ are kept on the first post and makes them easy to read and find answers.

I'm just thinkin'.......OK, so maybe bursting with questions! :lol: :woot: :blink:

[MissBianca]

I'm waiting for lessons! I have my stuff collected, or at least stuff I think I will use. Like working with paper etc, I figure you don't know until you start putting it together if you will change your mind. I actually want to do a two page layout with 5-7 photos.

I change things all the time while I'm working on a page. I will be sure and cover multi-photo layouts.

Are you planning on having multiple threads in here? Like maybe a thread that just has instuctions steps (one set for each post) and then maybe a FAQ thread. I have questions like - how do you organize these things so you can find stuff, and do you unzip everything and delete the zip files or keep them or ????. SOmetimes there are FAQ threads where all the FAQ are kept on the first post and makes them easy to read and find answers.

I was thinking of sticking to this one thread, but having some of the info in the first post is a great idea. I was also going to provide each lesson after the first as a .pdf file because that could be printed and also because there will be lots of pictures and I don't want to make the thread so slow to open that nobody does.

Organization--how obsessive are you? I bought ACDSee photo manager (now available as part of this bundle with exclusive scrapbook kits (http://www.acdsee.com/offers/fourseasons/index)by a veritable who's who of digital scrapbook designers) to help me out and I adore it. It's a database and I easily got it to the point where I can select "ribbon" and see every one in my collection. If anyone decides to go that route, I can give some tutorial links.

However I still sort into folders too. For my purchases, I have a top-level folder and a folder for each designer. For my freebies, I have two top-level folders, one for blogs (folder for each designer under that) and one for sites where I have sub-folders for each site. In all of these my kits are in separate folders.

.zip files--I toss 'em. If I had it to do over again, I might have burned the ones for my purchased kits onto DVD as a backup.

I'm just thinkin'.......OK, so maybe bursting with questions! :lol: :woot: :blink:

And I'm loving them!

[MissBianca]

Two freebies today from well-established designers.

Useful bit: Fall Leaves by Ida, (http://catscrap.com/blog/?p=144#comment-951) who really is the queen of doodles. This is the first doodle freebie I've ever seen from her and I adore her work.

Kit: This is the last part of a kit by a designer who loves to recolor--but it's definitely a worthwhile bit all by itself. Fall Circles part 7. (http://thescrappinggarden.blogspot.com/)

[MissBianca]

Today's freebies (sorry for missing yesterday but the downloads were sorry anyway, lol)

Kit--it's bright but nicely made. http://www.gottapixel.net/mega_mall.php

Useful thingy--a stamp frame cluster http://lindsayjanedesigns.blogspot.com/

[MissBianca]

Two kit freebies today.

A fall one from the USA: Autumn Beauty by krista (http://heyitsjustme-krista.blogspot.com/2007/09/happy-fall-yall-well-it-sure-doesnt.html)

And a spring one from Brasil: Kit Spring by Carla (http://carla-meuscraps.blogspot.com/2007/09/freebies-kit-spring.html)

I love the international flavor of the scrapbooking community--some of the countries even have their own style! I've gotten freebies from Brasil, the Czech Republic, New Zealand, Germany, France, Australia and more!

[kathleena]

Thanks for the newest links. When I click on that second link I get an error from the Tagrel site. I guess I'll have to get the first one another time, the download site says the usage is full! And I would love that kit, very pretty!

Here's template from Brazil, but it's a Disney one, scroll down a bit to find it.

http://bonecadepapelscraps.blogspot.com/

[MissBianca]

Thanks for the heads up, Nancy--I have fixed the link. Dunno how I did that. :rolleyes:

[kathleena]

Oh, that's a nice spring kit. She had another one on her home page and a couple of other interesting things in her archives.....

Not that I'm downloading anything ;)

[MissBianca]

Okay, folks, Monday is a new month and that means Lesson number 2! So please try to get together your stuffies.

Some freebies today that I liked:

If you are into fall colors, check out the 7-part Supa Mega kit for the month from ScrappinDigiKreations (http://www.scrappindigikreations.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=11). Registration is required to get it. Some of the parts are better than others. :lol:

I thought this ABC block alphabet (http://lemonaidlucydesigns.blogspot.com/)was nicely done by LemonadeLucy.

There are two sales today that interest me...talk me out of spending money. It's not too late!

Sharon, I have been completely unsuccessful at finding a freebie with palm trees. Partly the problem is that it's just the wrong time of the year. I did find an older kit with some island colors (http://www.scrapbook-bytes.com/chat/local_links.php?catid=26)that isn't too bad. You will have to register at this site (it's a good one) to see it.

[MissBianca]

I see that Adobe is about to come out with Photoshop Elements 6. I have no idea what will change.

As I was going around investigating the new kits of the month, I realized that I had not yet recommended Miss Mint (http://www.peppermintcreative.com/index.php?main_page=downloads) who has one of the best free kits each month.

Some sites are doing "Scrap Pink" in support of breast cancer cure activities. Here's (http://www.designerdigitals.com/ddgallery/showphoto.php?photo=40815) a nice pink freebie by Katie Pertiet, a designer who I really like but whose kits are always overpriced IMHO.

This kit (http://scraps4u.kulando.de/post/2007/09/26/unser_traumkit_ist_fertig_freebie_time) from a team in Germany is a bit wild, but has some nice bits.

Divine Digital's October Daily Download (http://www.divinedigital.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4114) kit has an interesting color scheme. They have the best daily downloads at the moment, I think.

Calling FLSharon! How about the ScrapGirls Refresh freebie? (http://store.scrapgirls.com/product.php?id=4606&cat=21) No palm trees but definite tropical feel with a tropical drink and sunglasses and flip flops and good colors.

[kathleena]

Hi MissB!!!!! :D WHen do you think we might have that lesson for October? Just wondering cuz I'm getting ready for vacation and don't want to miss all the fun! :D You can tell I'm so ready to start :D

[FLSharon]

Calling FLSharon! How about the ScrapGirls Refresh freebie? (http://store.scrapgirls.com/product.php?id=4606&cat=21) No palm trees but definite tropical feel with a tropical drink and sunglasses and flip flops and good colors.

thanks Miss B!! I'll go take a look there..it sounds great!! Spring will be here soon tho and those palm trees will emerge at some time...meanwhile there's plenty of stuff with which to play!!:bounce:

[MissBianca]

Lesson should be coming this week, Nancy--I've had so many great projects I'm doing that I didn't get to this one. But believe me, we'll make sure you're in on all the fun! :D

[MissBianca]

Great Disney Scrapbook page by an excellent designer. (http://www.myscrapbookart.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=10019&cat=500) (finished page, not a freebie) Her little boy is so cute in his Mickey costume.

I tried to talk Gina into joining Tagrel while she was planning her vacation, she's so nice. I hope she scraps her daughter's visit to Bibbiddi Bobbiddi Boutique soon.

Next digital scrapbooking lesson will be out later today! I know, just in time for everyone to go away. But there will be time eventually. As a preview, here's the page I create during the lesson:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b78/snowleopard55/TagrelStuff/ds101-smilegirls2.jpg

[MissBianca]

Finally! Here is the link to your first tutorial. Digiscrapping 101-1 Your First Layout. (http://www.4shared.com/file/26881457/f08ad7c1/tds101-1_first_layout_tut.html)

Please also download the associated Sketch. (http://www.4shared.com/file/26982797/87905adf/ds101-1-sketch.html)

It's long, but that's only because I'm lousy at tutorials. It's pretty complete for a first tutorial. Translation, it's way too wordy. Feel free to throw things at me like questions, money, darts, and small rocks. :tomato:

Let me know when you start and if you can follow it. I realize nobody has any time but at least it's out there!

[Ursulinda]

Uh. Miss B? How do I down load the thing - all I seem to get when I mouseover is ads! Apparently I'm majorly computer challenged . . .

[Cinderella]

Same thing happens to me. I must be "digitally challenged"!!

cinderella

[ChrisR]

Same thing happens to me. I must be "digitally challenged"!!

cinderella


Scroll to the bottom of the page. You will see Download inside a box, click on that hyperlink. Thanks, Miss B! :mickey:

[MissBianca]

Thanks, Chris! I forget that there are ads there :oops: because I have an ad blocker on Firefox. If there are any offensive ones, let me know. I'll find another place.

[MissBianca]

I forgot the sketch file. Please download this one too! Sketch (http://www.4shared.com/file/26982797/87905adf/ds101-1-sketch.html)

[Linnie]

Wow MissB, somehow I missed all this. What an amazing amount of info you have gathered. I have never tried digital scrapbooking, but I have to admit I like the idea of not having all these totes of supplies setting around. I am off the next two days and think I am going to have to try to play around with this a little bit. Thanks so much!

Linnie

[MissBianca]

Welcome aboard Linnie! Most digital scrapbookers are people just like you who found that messless scrapping could be very creative and satisfying! I hope you'll share what you do!

[ChrisR]

While this isn't my first digilayout, here is my layout after using the sketch Miss B gave. All the elements are free from www.scrapbookflair.com (http://www.scrapbookflair.com) The backround paper, ribbon, and wire with beads are from the colorful collections set and the green and blue patterned papers are from the sporty stripes set. I added the black block behind the journaling to make it easier to read.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l69/chrisr_01/Disney%20Photos/yumleft.gif

[MissBianca]

I love the contrast of the stripes and the green mat! Scottie is such a cutie pie too. Did you read the tutorial? You'd be an excellent person to check me on it!

:clap: Chris :clap:

[ChrisR]

Yep, I read it. You did a great job. As you know, it is possible to get the same result multiple ways on PSE. It was interesting to see how we do some tasks the same and others different. For example, I tend to crop the papers first then add it to my layout. I would never have thought about using the marquee then inverse.

I am looking foward to future tutorials (and sketches), esp one about brushes. I haven't figured those out yet. :confused:

ETA: or how I see on some layouts that the pictures seem to fade into the backround

[Frogman]

I looked at it but admit I didn't follow the steps or make a page. Just looked over it. I'll check back when they get a little more advanced. :yes:

[MissBianca]

Yep, I read it. You did a great job. As you know, it is possible to get the same result multiple ways on PSE. It was interesting to see how we do some tasks the same and others different. For example, I tend to crop the papers first then add it to my layout. I would never have thought about using the marquee then inverse.

I am looking foward to future tutorials (and sketches), esp one about brushes. I haven't figured those out yet. :confused:

ETA: or how I see on some layouts that the pictures seem to fade into the backround

Thanks Chris! There are so many ways to do things, I change all the time. And I still don't use many shortcut keys :lol: I tend to do things that I can change easily. "Select, crop, look, nope, needs to be a little bigger, undo, select, crop, looks good needs to move over here a tad..." That's the kind of stuff you can do with digi easily but can't really do with paper.

Thanks so much for the ideas for tutorials! There are some very cool pages out there which use brushes and fades. I'll make sure that's on the list. If you have any ideas for future "lessons" I would appreciate suggestions. That goes for you, too, Brian--you're a much better teacher than I.

[kathleena]

Thanks for the lesson MissB! Hopefully I will get to it next weekend, I'll be a little "tied up" this week :lol: as I explained in my PM to you.

If I could make a suggestion, can you refer to the post number (#40) rather than the page number? You are actually on my page 2, as I have set my options to so many more posts than your option. Where we can all set the option as we choose, there may be others that are different. If this thread gets longer and longer, I'll never find anything! :lol: Thanks!

[MissBianca]

I didn't know that about the pages! I will certainly do that from now on (and change the title here).

[FLSharon]

After being on the road for awhile, shortly after arriving home, my laptop got really, really sick. I won't have it back for at least another week ..maybe longer. I think it so stinks to pay out the wazoo for a warrantly then they keep it almost until the warranty almost runs out..:mad:

Anyhow, this slow poke i'm on won't do at all for this so.. i'll be back after i get some speed.


Thanks again Miss B for doing this..

[kathleena]

Hi Miss B I'm sorry I haven't posted anything. I found the folder where I put my pictures but I can't find the list of the files I was going to use! I made the list when you first posted the instructions back in Sept and now where are they????

I will have to go thru and find the things I was going to use again - start over!

[Ursulinda]

Thanks for the lesson MissB! Hopefully I will get to it next weekend, I'll be a little "tied up" this week :lol: as I explained in my PM to you.

If I could make a suggestion, can you refer to the post number (#40) rather than the page number? You are actually on my page 2, as I have set my options to so many more posts than your option. Where we can all set the option as we choose, there may be others that are different. If this thread gets longer and longer, I'll never find anything! :lol: Thanks!


What did she say? and how do you do what she said?

[MissBianca]

Hi Miss B I'm sorry I haven't posted anything. I found the folder where I put my pictures but I can't find the list of the files I was going to use! I made the list when you first posted the instructions back in Sept and now where are they????

I will have to go thru and find the things I was going to use again - start over!

Great to see you back, Nancy! What a bummer to misplace things. If there's any way I can help, let me know.

What did she say? and how do you do what she said?

The hand surgery thing that Nancy mentioned elsewhere on the forum has been slowing her up.

And to link to a particular post, click on the tiny little number to the far right of the post header. If you just want to find a particular post, that's where to look.

[Frogman]

I think Linda literally means how do you change that setting, not find the numbered post. I think, but who can be sure. :lol:

In the blue bar up top hit "User CP". After that opens hit "Edit Options" on the left. Scroll down to "Thread Display Options" and in the drop down menu select how many to display per page. 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 are your options.

:D

[MissBianca]

I think Linda literally means how do you change that setting, not find the numbered post. I think, but who can be sure. :lol:

In the blue bar up top hit "User CP". After that opens hit "Edit Options" on the left. Scroll down to "Thread Display Options" and in the drop down menu select how many to display per page. 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 are your options.

:D

:lol: I bet you're right. For one thing, it's not even 7:30 am here and my coffee is still to hot to drink.

And I even thought of a third interpretation, too, which is "how do you change the title of the post". :lol: Edit and go advanced. Yep, we be techies.

[kathleena]

I went searchin' for my stuff and finally found them!!!!! I didn't find what I had written down, so I had to figure out where they were. I looked in so many folders, I had to take a break for most of the day because I thought I had split a stitch in my thumb!!! ROFL!!!! Thumb overuse!!!! It's tough being a Mouse Potato!!!!!

Anyway - here is my very first Digi Page!!!!!!! :minnie:

ETA>>>>>>>>>>Just some notes on what I did......I resized the flower and the ribbon. I did add the drop shadows, although not sure I like it on the flower....... I did a custom color on the font so it would match the rest of the purple.

The background paper, flower and purple paper are from Scrapbook Graphics, Dana Franz, joie de vivre (just a coincidence it was French!), the font is Scriptina (my all time favorite font), the ribbon is Design by AnnieV, Nacre Elements and I've lost the name on the photo mat already.

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q28/nkathleena/DisneylandParis/DigiPages/DLRP_CastleLeft.jpg

[MissBianca]

Great job Nancy! I love the colors with the colors of the castle. In some ways I think that's the coolest of the Disney park castles and I long to have the chance to see it up close!
You did an excellent job with the sketch and your first composition, too--I hope you enjoyed the tutorial :D I think my favorite design bit is how you put the journaling right on the ribbon. That's something that would be very hard with paper scrapping. As you've done it, it really shows off the beautiful ascenders and descenders in the font which I think is Scriptina.

"Mouse Potato" is a great phrase for an unfortunate condition.

[kathleena]

Hi MissB! Thanks for the compliments! I actually just came back again as I forgot to leave you some kudos for your tutorial. Very complete! There were somethings that I knew because of using photoshop for photos, but all of the layering stuff I never understood how to use it. I fooled around a bit with it this am just to get the hang of it and then came back tonight and hardly looked at the tutorial again (I tend to just jump in after being given a good jump start). So for me - the fact that just a quick read and then a test drive gets me working on my own, means the instructions are very complete and understandable. I think all the extra stuff you put in there is great for anyone who is brand-y new to it and someone like me can just skip over it easily!

Thanks for all of your hard work.

Oh, by they way. I do want to change one thing on my layout, but since it's past midnight, I just ended it. On the title, I wanted to try to position it partly on the pink and partly on the purple and have the color split also. I figured I could do that with two titles (one pink, one purple) and then somehow adjust the layers so the purple shows on the pink background paper and the pink shows on the purple. Do you think I can do that? My mind will explode if I try to figure it out tonight!

[MissBianca]

ETA>>>>>>>>>>Just some notes on what I did......I resized the flower and the ribbon. I did add the drop shadows, although not sure I like it on the flower....... I did a custom color on the font so it would match the rest of the purple.

I agree that the drop shadow does not look quite right on that flower. That could be for one of two reasons. If the flower was semi-transparent, drop shadows are quite tricky (makes note for a future tutorial). But what it looks like to me is that the artist either put on her own shadow or left a sort of white rim outside the flower itself which is throwing off the appearance of your shadow.



Oh, by they way. I do want to change one thing on my layout, but since it's past midnight, I just ended it. On the title, I wanted to try to position it partly on the pink and partly on the purple and have the color split also. I figured I could do that with two titles (one pink, one purple) and then somehow adjust the layers so the purple shows on the pink background paper and the pink shows on the purple. Do you think I can do that? My mind will explode if I try to figure it out tonight!

Yes, you can do that. It's very straightforward if you're wanting to just move whole pieces of text around. If you're visualizing the text itself being split horizontally into two colors, the key will be to duplicate the text layer, change the text on top to the other color, then "simplify" that layer which will make the text just bits, not editable. You can then use all your other tools on it--like select part and cut it away. There are other ways, but that is the one I think is simplest.

[ChrisR]

Kathleen, that is a gorgeous layout. I love how the colors match up. Since I have some similar pictures, I may scraplift this one. :cool:

[kathleena]

Thanks Chris! That's a nice compliment coming from someone whose work I already admire!

I am a fairly straight forward scrapbooker. I like clean lines, not too much stuff. Every once in a while I will create a fully loaded or mostly loaded page, but the simple ones are the ones I love best.

I am also OCD on color. Has to match!!!!! Love the monochromatic look.

It took me at least two hrs to make the page but a lot of that was trying to figure out how to do it and fiddling around with different looks. I'm sure that will change with time and after I get more digi files organized and categories (I'm planning a separate hard drive for them) then I would get faster?

I have six more castle pics that I want to put on a second page to go with this one. We'll see what this weekend brings! I will use the same paper, but will definitely have to create a layout style.

[kathleena]

I finished my second page - I found a mini kit and a challenge so I decided I would try. It took me way longer than it should have, but I had fun trying. I even took the tag and did a bit of erasing to have it under the bow and I drew a string. I was too lazy to look for a second flower to use and didn't know how to change the color a bit to lighten it up (hoping MissB will cover some of these things in the future......right MissB?)

So how'd I do? (be gentle......)

ETA - just noticed a made a mistake on the string, so will fix it in my version to upload to the challenge website.......
ETA Again - OK, so I fixed it up I may replace this image too. So now I learned how nice it is to really enlarge the image!

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q28/nkathleena/Scrapbook%20Challenges/WDWDVCMeetDec05copyforweb.jpg

[MissBianca]

I was replying already once--and my cat came and stood on the off button on my laptop. Do you think he wants some attention?

That looks great Nancy! I love how the colors you've used make the photo pop out. And how the shape of the bow echoes the shape of Mickey's bow tie. And how you've arranged the flowers so just some of the pretty gold centers show and highlight your smiling face in that corner. Super layout!

You should leave a gallery link so I can go give you some love there--I'll bet I'm already a member at the forum.

You might try making a soft drop shadow on the photo--but only because the flowers are so 3-D that I notice the contrast with the lack of shadow on the photo. That's my only suggestion for improvement. Super job on that tag, it looks perfect being attached to the bow like that.

[kathleena]

You might try making a soft drop shadow on the photo--but only because the flowers are so 3-D that I notice the contrast with the lack of shadow on the photo. That's my only suggestion for improvement. Super job on that tag, it looks perfect being attached to the bow like that.

I was just coming back to post that link!

Oh gosh, I thought I did do the photo when I was doing the flowers. I will go back in and do it again. It's hard for me to even see the shadows, I'm sure I will notice more with time.

I never thought of the bow and the bow tie! I was thinking of the green/green.

I fooled with those flowers, trying three and moving them all around. And then I reviewed your instructions again and notices about resizing with the shift key, so made a few sizes (and learned about duplicate layer). Did a lot of lock/unlock......etc etc etc and finally got what I like for a combination.

Glad you like it. Here's the link. I chose a forum that looked like beginners. Some of them are just too much for me right now, I would feel out of place. I'll wait until I get better and faster.......I'm going to do just the color challenge every month here until I learn how do it well. I know I can take some stuff and recolor it, but don't know how yet!

http://digibydesign.com/mall/galleryPP/showphoto.php?photo=4184&cat=505

[MissBianca]

That's just what I did--picked a forum where people weren't intimidatingly good and jumped in on challenges. I like sketch challenges too.

That challenge has a beautiful posting gift add-on, doesn't it?

I'm so inspired! I'll have to do a page with the pictures of our tree!

[MissBianca]

Oh gosh, I thought I did do the photo when I was doing the flowers. I will go back in and do it again. It's hard for me to even see the shadows, I'm sure I will notice more with time.

You did a great job with those shadows on the flowers and the bow--I thought they had been included on the elements by the designer, they match so well with the depth of the flowers themselves. :mrgreen:

[ChrisR]

Kathleen, that is wonderful layout. I really like the colors and the layering that you did. :mickeyXmas:

[ChrisR]

All of the elements for this layout is from my new favorite kit from Club Scrap. The name of the kit is Sparkle. This is the first time I am using feathering and brushes. I used the brushes included in the kit to add some bling to the word DREAMS.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l69/chrisr_01/cslayouts/castleleft.gif

[kathleena]

Very nice Chris! I haven't figured out what do to with those types of kits yet.......

I found a Tagalong kit!

http://www.digitalscrapgarden.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_dnld_info&cPath=1&products_id=89&zenid=57f4f7e85a94d19bd8675c8f03f0669a

[kathleena]

You did a great job with those shadows on the flowers and the bow--I thought they had been included on the elements by the designer, they match so well with the depth of the flowers themselves. :mrgreen:

Ummm, eerrrrr, all I did was click on a button and the shadow was added Can I control the size of the shadow somewhere? Can I control where it goes?

As you can see, I may not be all that clever! :oops:

[ChrisR]

I am not sure about the size, but you can change the direction of the shadow. In your list of layers you will see a star/sun icon when you have used a style for that layer. Click on that icon. You will see what looks like a sundial. Simply move the "hand" of the dial to change the direction the shadow is falling.

ETA: There is an option there to change the size and distance of the shadow as well.

[ChrisR]

I did this layout for a challenge at www.scrapbookflair.com (http://www.scrapbookflair.com) This is from the Serengeti kit from Club Scrap.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l69/chrisr_01/cslayouts/AKLoct2007.gif

[MissBianca]

Wow, Chris! I really love the castle layout! That's a wonderful job you did and a superb picture! The AKL one is cool, too--it's fun to have a subject like WDW where we can use some of the more different kit designs.

Nancy, I found a penguin kit myself and selfishly kept it all to myself until I'd gotten all the holiday cards and stuff that I made with it out of the way.

http://kaymillerdesigns.com/shoppe/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=136

Here's the tag I made from it to use at my graphics forum:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b78/snowleopard55/Avatars%20and%20Sigs/pvp_--b_pengie_post.png

[MissBianca]

Well, here it is, the long awaited second tutorial on using a template and other topics. (http://www.4shared.com/file/33454656/a217e8f8/tds101-2_templates_and_elements.html)

In it, I create the following layout, discuss scraplifting, describe my scrapping style, recolor an element, and other stuff.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b78/snowleopard55/TagrelStuff/ds101-2_mickeychristmas.jpg


Happy New Year to all! We will be out of town until late on Wednesday and I am not taking my computer. :D

[Ursulinda]

MissB! Got the holiday card the other day and the first thing I thought was - she scrapped that - and sure enough! There it is your tag! I MUST start learning to do this when I get back from Marathon.

Chris, all I get is the dreaded red x instead of the photos of your beautiful pages.

Nancy, that castle page is - flat - out - WONDERFUL!

I think Linda literally means how do you change that setting, not find the numbered post. I think, but who can be sure. :lol:

In the blue bar up top hit "User CP". After that opens hit "Edit Options" on the left. Scroll down to "Thread Display Options" and in the drop down menu select how many to display per page. 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 are your options.

Yes, Froggy, that's exactly what I meant - I couldn't sort out quite what she said enough to phrase an intelligent question!

[kathleena]

Oh, I didn't see this the other day. Will get it printed out at work and take a look.

Thanks Linda, for the compliment. I want to do a second page to go with it with a collage of six other photos.

Chris - love the AKL page! I loved meeting your family in Dec, albeit very short at the Dole Whip meet. I barely caught glimpses of you after that! Your sons are just darling!

[Ursulinda]

NOw I see Chris's photos - Wow! Love the fireworks castle page - somehow the castle and the background 'paper' seem related.

[ChrisR]

Thank you for the comments ladies. Miss B, as soon as I recover from my dad and stepmom from visiting next week, I will play with the new tutorial.

[ChrisR]

Well, since I have a head cold tonight, I decided to play rather than clean house. Here is a double layout featuring Scott. The first page is using Miss B's template. Thanks so much for the tutorial. I didn't quite get what the benefit to templates were, plus now I understand the whole masking thing.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l69/chrisr_01/kidspix/baptgiftleft.gif


http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l69/chrisr_01/kidspix/baptgiftright.gif

[MissBianca]

Wow, Chris!!! That just looks super! Love the colors and I can't take my eyes off of that adorable son of yours.

I'm glad you enjoyed learning about masking and templates! There's lots more about masking, it's a very powerful technique. If anyone ever wants to make a whole album of matching pages in a day (it can be done!) templates are the way to go!

[MissBianca]

Hi, all. Didn't know where to post this news, so I thought I'd bump this thread. :lol:

Anyone who is interested in digital scrapbooking or in using digital stuff in their other scrapbooking work needs to check out the newest site: PrimaHybrid (http://www.primahybrid.com/shoppe/home.php). They are being run by the company that makes the popular fabric flowers and are going all-out to be the top site for combining digital and physical products to create scrapbook pages and altered art.

The list of digital designers setting up shop there reads like a "Who's Who" of the digital scrapbooking world. I mean some HUGE names. Really worth checking out if you enjoy the shabby style or a slightly vintage look.

They have a grand opening collaborative kit which is really wonderful if it is in your style. I'm still deciding if it's in mine; not quite the pink I reach for. :lol: I do love collabs though--it always seems like the designers inspire one another or perhaps go all out to try to have the best paper and elements in the kit.

[Aimfred]

Okay, so I'm a little behind the rest of the group, but I finally had some time today (thanks to the winter weather) to play with Photoshop Elements 6.

Miss B - I used your first tutorial, and I found it very easy to follow and a good refresher on my skills, as I am not a complete beginner, but haven't had time to play digital scrapping in more than 5 months! Yikes!

Anyway, I was inspired by all of this year's marathon memories and decided to make a page with a picture of my DH & I at the finish of last year's half. Here is the finished product:

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj234/aimfred/marathon-page.jpg

Hopefully I will have some time this week to complete the second tutorial and make a page with the rest of the pictures from that trip.

Thanks for your work on this, Miss B, and hopefully I will be able to keep up with the rest of the class as you move on. :lol:

Amy

[ChrisR]

Amy, I love your layout! The colors in the photo go perfectly with the element you chose.
:clap:

[MissBianca]

What a great page Amy! The colors go so well with the photo and it really does commemorate something wonderful. Makes me feel all gooshy inside :lol:

[Aimfred]

Thanks for the complements on the first layout :)

Today, I knocked out the next tutorial. It really helped me understand how to use a template, which I had not quite figured out before. Miss B., I really enjoyed working on these, and I hope you find the time to produce some more tutorials (or point me in the direction of any good ones you recommend on the web). I find most tutorials to be too bland and boring, or too restrictive in what they are teaching - but these were so fun!

Here is my second marathon page. I tilted the whole template on its side, because it worked better for the pictures I had :

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj234/aimfred/marathon-page-2.jpg

Now I'm in the scrapping grove! Sadly, I cannot neglect my school studies, and must get back to that before I play anymore (but maybe I can find time next weekend)! :lol:

[MissBianca]

Amy, you just made my day with your words about my tutorials being more "fun" than most. I also get bored with tutorials and did try to put more in than "Do this. Do this Do this. You're done." And I'm always thinking why that that that? :D :D

That is another super, colorful page. I really love those papers (who made them?). And the template works really well on its side! Goes fast when you know how to use templates, doesn't it? Great for getting stuff done.

I just did a challenge (http://www.snapandscrap.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3825&limit=recent) on this site (http://www.snapandscrap.net/index.php?categoryid=1) where they provided a sketch (http://www.snapandscrap.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3538&cat=519&limit=recent). I am the only one so far who flopped the sketch over, also so it would work with my photos. And I rotated one element 90 deg after that because, frankly, I liked it that way. I feel like the black sheep! :shrug:

[Aimfred]

The papers from the second layout were mostly from a freebie kit called Tart & Tangy by DenaC -something I downloaded ages ago. The red Mickey paper at the bottom is from Seebies Freebies. I almost never buy stuff - there are just so many free kits available, plus I like to make some of my own backgrounds so that the colors match my photos.

I really like using a template. Most of my layouts have multiple photos on each page, and it seems like a template would make that easier. I guess now I just need to find some good templates to buy (a good investment since they can be reused with different results each time!).

I don't tend to hang out much on the scrapping sites because I find my self being influenced by other peoples styles, and my own style gets lost - I like my pages to be really simple, and focus on the photos. But when I have time I do pop around to hunt for freebies and get some fresh ideas here and there. I, too, am a little bit of a black sheep, style wise. I don't like using tons of elements and embellishments, and in general I don't care for patterened paper in my layouts. Weird, huh? :lol:

[Flash]

You guys are awesome. I just spent 10 minutes trying to figure out what MissB meant by the changes in her challenge. I finally put them side by side to figure it out. I'm just getting started with paper scrapbooking, and I'm not so computer savvy (don't know if I want to be:confused:). Anyway, I'm really impressed with the pages you all put out. You inspire!

[MissBianca]

Amy, I think I know just the templates for you! Check out Misty Cato's templates at Scrapbook-Elements. (http://store.scrapbook-elements.com/index.php?cPath=117_196&sort=20a&main_page=index&filter_id=82)

Misty is one of my favorite designers and she has a very clean style in her own work which she translates into her templates.

[WDWNJ]

HELP! How do I get the "ribbon" to show up just as a ribbon??? I'm following the 1st layout tutoral and when i drag the ribbon into my project it shows up inside a large grey box. How do you get the gray box NOT to show up.

[MissBianca]

John, you can't get the gray box not to show up--that indicates that you've opened a separate file. You have to next drag the ribbon out of the box and onto your layout.

If that's not it, what tool are you using? Tools which are not compatible with transparent .png files can have that behavior.

The other possibility is that the ribbon you're opening has a gray background, but that's not too likely. Who made it?

[WDWNJ]

John, you can't get the gray box not to show up--that indicates that you've opened a separate file. You have to next drag the ribbon out of the box and onto your layout.

If that's not it, what tool are you using? Tools which are not compatible with transparent .png files can have that behavior.

The other possibility is that the ribbon you're opening has a gray background, but that's not too likely. Who made it?

I'm using PS Elements 6.0 - got it for Christmas and just stated playing.... this is all very new to me, so.....

I grabbed a sample from Shabby Princess from a site you posted...

I put all the "elements"? in my project bin and I'm dragging and dropping into my layout...

The elements like ribbon and buttons are little pictures with gray and white square backgrounds - when I drag and drop these, they show up in the layout with all gray background

[MissBianca]

Oh, that's a good description and sounds like bad news! Try copy and paste instead of drag and drop.

Gray and white square backgrounds just indicate where a background is transparent. Somewhere in your drag and drop, that transparency isn't being respected. I'll Google around and see if there's another workaround for this.

[WDWNJ]

I got it!!! I did a copy and paste out of the "seperate file" you spoke of earlier.... That did it.

[WDWNJ]

OK - here is my first digital project - ever... ;) Thanks for the help Miss B!!!

Very basic, but I'm happy. I need to go back and add those shadow thingies. I'm not good at book learning, so it takes me a while...

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa286/wdwnj/scrapbook/test1.jpg

[MissBianca]

That looks great, John! I love the photo and the way you did the ribbons is really creative!

Sorry I ducked out on you, we had to do the weekly grocery shopping. But when I got back, I found that you are not the only one to have encountered this problem. This user (http://www.designerdigitals.com/ddmsb/showthread.php?t=6350)at Designer Digitals also had exactly your problem.

[WDWNJ]

No Prob Miss B, I just kept playing which is alot more fun to me than reading... :lol:

I figured out the drop shadow thingies and I added my own text. The Happy Holidays in the original was from the kit I downloaded. Here's the latest test... Thanks again for starting all this. I can tell I will have alot of fun with it.

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa286/wdwnj/scrapbook/test5.jpg

[Aimfred]

John - your page looks great! I, too, have had some problems with the gray box appearing in PSE Ver. 6. I found that just always doing copy/paste, rather than drag and drop saves time over all and gives better results. Must be a bug in the new version, as I never had that problem when I was using Ver. 4.

Miss B - thanks for the links to the templates. I do like her style, and will probably pick some of those up!

[WDWNJ]

John - your page looks great! I, too, have had some problems with the gray box appearing in PSE Ver. 6. I found that just always doing copy/paste, rather than drag and drop saves time over all and gives better results. Must be a bug in the new version, as I never had that problem when I was using Ver. 4.

Miss B - thanks for the links to the templates. I do like her style, and will probably pick some of those up!

Thanks - and glad to hear that it's not me! :D

[kathleena]

Great pages John, Aimfred and Chris!

MissB - now that I have the SnS challenges done, I'll get to work on that template. Sometime......soon......maybe next week......:)

[ChrisR]

No Prob Miss B, I just kept playing which is alot more fun to me than reading... :lol:

I figured out the drop shadow thingies and I added my own text. The Happy Holidays in the original was from the kit I downloaded. Here's the latest test... Thanks again for starting all this. I can tell I will have alot of fun with it.

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa286/wdwnj/scrapbook/test5.jpg


John, that is a GREAT layout! Be sure to post more when you have them!

[MissBianca]

I think the advanced students here are ready for a bigger challenge! Now this layout may not look fancy, but wait until you read my third DS101 tutorial (http://www.4shared.com/file/36250090/e84f259e/tds101-3_techniques.html)and find out what went into it! Among other techniques, I explore selection, recoloring, and creating custom shadows.

I hope to see some more layouts soon! :D

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b78/snowleopard55/TagrelStuff/ds101-3_minniebelle-example_p.jpg

[kathleena]

Thanks for the new tut MissB. About all I will get to before I get back from my trips (Feb 17th) will be to read it. Unless we take the laptop on the vacation and I have some time, that is.

[ChrisR]

Here is a layout very similar in layout as MissB's in the third tutorial. I didn't manage to fit all the techniques in. The only ones I left out were: Remove color cast tool, using the brush tool to stamp image, and the polygonal tool. I have used the brush tool before, but not the other tools. MissB a million thanks on how to get rid of those errant pixels on the clip art! I was wondering how you got your clip art to look better than the original. I had been slowly erasing each individual pixel with the eraser tool. This way is SO much faster. :mickey::mickey: I may make some changes to the title, but otherwise I am pleased with the result.

The papers used are all from the Spooktastic kit at www.scrapflair.com (http://www.scrapflair.com). The bow is from Study in Red from www.clubscrap.com (http://www.clubscrap.com) (originally the bow was red). Tigger clipart from www.disneyclips.com (http://www.disneyclips.com) (copywright Disney), the photo corners are from Farmer's Market kit from www.clubscrap.com (http://www.clubscrap.com). The ribbon is from a template from www.scrapgirls.com (http://www.scrapgirls.com)


http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l69/chrisr_01/Mousefest07/tiggerxmas07.jpg

[MissBianca]

Great job, Chris! I just adore where you've used the Tigger clip art--it really pulls the whole page together and leaves ya smiling. I see the shadow, and the wrapped ribbon too--they really help make the page look like you want to touch it to see if it's "real". Of course, I can't tell what you've recolored so that means--great job!

[ChrisR]

Thanks MissB! I recolored 3 things: the striped backround paper (black stripes were purple and blue stripes were a lighter shade of blue originally), the bow (was red), and the green in the Tigger wreathe (was a different shade of green). I recently learned about the adjust color menu. I recolored the same bow blue in the Stitch layout posted at the other thread. That took me much longer. The steps you gave made it much faster for me. I had used the burn tool before, but had completely forgotten about it. The dodge tool was new for me. I bought the ribbon template that you used and I am going to play around with that some more. I love your tutorials. It is like you are sitting next to me telling me what to click.

[Aimfred]

Here's my attempt at creating a layout with the new tutorial. The picture is of my little one, Gwen, on Halloween:

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj234/aimfred/gwen-halloween-2007.jpg

While I didn't manage to fit all the techniques into this layout, I did use a few of them. I recolored the ribbon, which was originally pink, and I used the steps Miss B outlined to clean up the Snow White clip art a bit (I could use more practice on that - it still doesn't look great). I also used a brush to create the torn edge effect on the black matte under the photo.

I played with the steps for creating a fancy shadow and recoloring paper, but did not find a way to incorporate them into this particular layout. Also, I am really lazy and found I liked the way the layout looked without too much work, so I left it alone!

Thanks for another great tutorial, Miss B! I learned a lot on this one, and plan on making some other pages to practice some of the things I did not use in this layout.

Credits:
All background papers are by Melody Violette, from either her "Halloween Treats" or "Summer Beginnings" kits, both available as freebies on her site. The bow is by Leah Hoddinott, from her "Checkerberry Corner" freebie mini kit. The photocorners are "Sparkle" from "SeebiesFreebies" blog. Snow White is from www.disneyclips.com (http://www.disneyclips.com), copyright Disney. Font used is "Storybook". The only thing I purchased in this whole layout is the torn edge brush I used - it is from Christina Barthlomew's "Decorative Scissor Edges" brush set available at www.ScrapbookElements.com (http://www.ScrapbookElements.com). It's a great set if you are fond of fancy edges on your papers, as I am.


Amy

[Flash]

That's really cute, Amy. Nice job!

[MissBianca]

Super job, Amy! I love the photo and the layout really brings together Halloween and Disney.

Thanks for telling us what brush you used--that one looks like something I need to look into. Particularly since they've got a store-wide sale this weekend! :D I love the corner you chose, too. And Melody Violette was an excellent designer and I was quite sad when she retired. So glad to hear some of her freebies are still available!


Also, I am really lazy and found I liked the way the layout looked without too much work, so I left it alone!


That is not laziness! That is what it's really about! Finding what you like and going with it.

I may make a little composite page with all of these because the Disney pics and cornered layouts all seem to go together so well. :D When I did mine, I didn't expect everyone to use it as the sketch but it has turned out very well for everyone. :peri:

[WDWNJ]

OK - I know I'm just being goofy, but please excuse my while I'm learning and having fun...

Gary (Cruiser) started a thread about playing with photoshop and he "featured" me in some shots, so I was looking to "repay" the compliment. I started messing with clipart and was not happy at all with the results. AND THEN MissB :wuv: publishes her next tutorial that speaks to cleaning up clipart :clap2:! How very conveniant!!!

So, I did not make a new scrapbook page, but I did use your lesson to clean up the edges of the clipart as well as recolor Minnies face to try and match skintone AND I recolored Minnies bow just for fun and practice.

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa286/wdwnj/stuff/image0137.jpg

[ChrisR]

Amy, love your layout. Snow White came out looking great. I really love (and am jealous) of how well your ribbon came out.

John, :lol:, love the photo!

[Aimfred]

Thanks for the compliments, guys! I am really having a ball working on these pages, and it's providing some much needed stress relief from everyday life & nursing school!

John, great work on the photo!

[Flash]

Amy,

Everytime I look at that page, I see a budding Cinderella with her coloring. It just cracks me up that she is Snow White. Is Snow White her favorite? or does she just like the dress?

[WDWNJ]

Here's my next Mousefest page. It only incorporates a couple tips from lesson 3, but I'm still having fun learning what PhotoShop can do....

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa286/wdwnj/scrapbook/MFAK2.jpg

[MissBianca]

Love that photo of you two, John! And isn't that a great lion ornament! I bet this looks just super next to your first page. Please don't apologize for marching to the beat of your own drum. Heaven knows I learned 75% of what I know about Photoshop by playing around. For me, tutorials are best for leading me to new things to play with.

But oh, one pet peeve of mine--get out the tomatoes to throw at me! :tomato: :tomato: The Mickey is resized funny--remember to hold down that shift key when you resize.

[WDWNJ]

But oh, one pet peeve of mine--get out the tomatoes to throw at me! :tomato: :tomato: The Mickey is resized funny--remember to hold down that shift key when you resize.

No need for tomatoes, I appreciate the feedback! I'll go back and play with holding down the shift key. Didn't know about that. Thanks!

[WDWNJ]

I'm gonna need more instruction on that shift key resizing thing. I can't figure it out. When do you use shift key? I resize by just click, hold and drag on the little squares around the pictures when they are highlighted. I re-did the page enlarging Mickey with just the corner squares. I think this helped keep him in porportion, right? Using the top, bottom and side squares stretch him out. Is that what you didn't like, the stretched out look?

Anyway - if you can give me a quick tip on when and how to use your shift key trick, I would appreciate it :).

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa286/wdwnj/scrapbook/MFAK3.jpg

[Joe]

John, you hold down the shift key as you are dragging any of the boxes to resize. That resizes the image in all direction at the same time and keep the proportions even. Your page looks great! I'm having a bit of a difficulty with my LifeTimez software, waiting for tech support to get back to me. And I did want to do some work this weekend. Oh well, there's lots of winter left and plenty of time before I can get the bike out :biker:.
HTH
Joe

[WDWNJ]

Thanks Joe, but I'm still not getting it. I tried again and when I click/drag to resize using the top, bottom or side squares, while holding down shift, it still just stretches the pic. Using the corner squares seems to enlarge while keeping things in porportion... :confused:

[MissBianca]

Right, John, hold the shift and use the corner to keep things in proportion. There are times when you want to resize things disproportionately, but usually only with things where you can't tell or where the stretched look is the point. In fact, if I want the stretched look, I always exaggerate it so people can tell I really meant it!

I can always tell when people have not resized their photos or their clip art proportionately--and it becomes a distraction to me.

I may do a tutorial on resizing things like frames so that you can have good proportions at different aspect ratios.

[Aimfred]

Amy,

Everytime I look at that page, I see a budding Cinderella with her coloring. It just cracks me up that she is Snow White. Is Snow White her favorite? or does she just like the dress?

Kathy,
While Gwen does love Cinderella, her big sister (who also has blonde hair and blue eyes) already "claimed" Cindy as "her" favorite princess. Gwen is very fond of Snow White, I think because Ms. White has been so sweet to her on our trips to WDW. But to tell the truth, Aurora is actually Gwen's favorite princess. She asked for either Snow White or Aurora for her Halloween costume, and being the ever thrifty person I am, I found the Snow White costume at a consignment sale in perfect condition for $5 last fall - so, that is how she ended up being a blonde Snow White for Halloween! I have promised her I will look for an Aurora costume for this coming year, and hopefully I will again be able to find a consignment sale bargain. I just can't bring myself to pay full price for those dresses! :lol:

[ChrisR]

I'm gonna need more instruction on that shift key resizing thing. I can't figure it out. When do you use shift key? I resize by just click, hold and drag on the little squares around the pictures when they are highlighted. I re-did the page enlarging Mickey with just the corner squares. I think this helped keep him in porportion, right? Using the top, bottom and side squares stretch him out. Is that what you didn't like, the stretched out look?

Anyway - if you can give me a quick tip on when and how to use your shift key trick, I would appreciate it :).

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa286/wdwnj/scrapbook/MFAK3.jpg


Nice layout, John! It is really great to see a guy cross over to the dark side of scrapbooking!

[WDWNJ]

Thanks Chris - hey if Rosie Grier can crochet.... why not scrapbook? :D

I am having fun with it.

[kathleena]

I just read the last two tutorials so I'm all set to start when I get back from school and vacation. (I'm at school, notice that I'm studying....:whistle: 55 years old and still not a studyier, some things never change.)

Not sure about that bow thingy though, probably more work than I want to do right now! :D

[MissBianca]

Just try recoloring anything that's grayscale--doesn't have to be that fancy bow. If you need a pointer to something to use, I'm sure I can find a freebie :D

[ChrisR]

I am currently participating in a series of challenges at a Scrapping forum I visit. Here are the disney layouts I have done for the challenge. This weeks' bonus points are being given out for team color layouts (I am on Team Brown), that is why so much brown, :D

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l69/chrisr_01/cslayouts/infinityandbeyond.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l69/chrisr_01/cslayouts/dreamsquadbob.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l69/chrisr_01/cslayouts/mmick0703a.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l69/chrisr_01/cslayouts/mmick0703b.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l69/chrisr_01/cslayouts/bear2001a.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l69/chrisr_01/cslayouts/bear2001b.jpg

[MissBianca]

You've got a great album going!

I think that Buzz page is my favorite of all you've shared here! Such great color matches, a super photo, and I really love the "techy" paper.

What forum are you doing challenges at? Would love to read about them!

[ChrisR]

The forum is for members of Club Scrap at www.clubscrapchat.com (http://www.clubscrapchat.com). I get 99% of my nondigiscraping stuff from them, and 90% of my digiscrapping from them as well. I think my team is in 3rd place right now. All of the elements for the Buzz LO is from the Wheel and Sprocket kit from them. I altered the color of the tags grey from black, added the clipart, and bit the bullet and bought the font for the title.The green and the purple were a perfect match already.