My Comments on Your Comments

I scrapped another page today. I'm on a roll. The journaling is all about cute things Jamin does - singing along to the background music in the supermarket (2 year old style...aaaah...ohhhh), rocking out during worship at church, hitting his head on the couch cushions intentionally and then saying 'ouchie' just so someone will give him cuddles... It goes on and I didn't even cover half of the cute little things I want to remember. Perhaps this should be a two page spread.



Credits: Background from Hors d’oeuvres 1 by Trish Jones, SBB, Newspaper Swirls by Faith True, The DigiShoppe, white note paper and some cardboard pieces from Pam, Scrappers Little Basics set, other cardboard pieces by Rina Kroes, Scrapper’s Toolbox, notepaper, clip, tag, and label all from Scrappers Toolbox by the SBE designers (not currently for sale), Staples by Jenn Patrick, The DigiShoppe, Journaling Highlight Brushes by Amy Wolffe, The Lily Pad, Font – Pea Elizabeth, Stencil

MY COMMENTS ON YOUR COMMENTS

Nancy P wrote, Tell us where you work - what is it like in there - lovely picture window looking out to calm setting kind of place? Just curious where the creative mind thrives!

Ahhh a little artist nook with an oversized picture window overlooking the ocean. It sounds wonderful Nancy.

Here's the reality:


Credits: Background from Sandrine by Tracy Rivera, SBB, words strips and flowers from Serendipity also by Tracy Rivera, SBB, On the Edge Frames by Nancy Comelab, My Digital Muse

The four of us (my husband, son, dog and I) live in a small 3 bedroom condo. The third bedroom functions as small rec room/office. The 'office' consists of an IKEA computer station, 2-drawer filing cabinet and a paper shredder. The rest of the room is full of a book shelf and an eggplant colored captain's chair (I love this chair, its where Jamin and I have story time). Of course it is always littered with Jamin's toys and more often than not a basket full of laundry to be folded.

LOL, I've got to sell a lot more digital scrapping booking products to purchase that beachside studio Nancy. Any patrons of the digital arts out there want to donate to such a cause? No? oh well...

Nancy P also wrote, an I ask another one, too? Could you tell us how you made the beautiful background for this page? I guess you can tell I am rather new to PSE4 and digi scrappin, so if there is a tutorial you can send me to if you don't want to tell us on your blog I would appreciate it.

Sure Nancy - here are the how-to's. This technique is very similar to the texture technique I wrote about yesterday.

Start by opening your background paper or layout and the photograph you want to use.



Use your move tool to drag your photograph onto the background paper. Rotate and resize the photograph so that it is approximately where you want the image (you will be able to adjust it later).



Desaturate the photo; in PS go to Image ->Adjustments -> Desaturate; in PSE go to Enhance -> Adjust Color -> Remove Color.



With your photo layer active, click on the small down arrow to the right of the word 'normal' in the layer palette. Select 'Overlay'.



Choose your eraser tool from the tools palette and then use the options toolbar at the top of your workspace to select a large soft brush tip.



Click and drag with your eraser on the canvas to erase the portions of the photo you don't want.



You can now use your move tool to adjust a resize the photo further if desired.



You can further adjust your image using the brightness/constrast settings.

In Photoshop go to Image->Adjustments->Brightness/Contrast. In PSE go Enhance->Adjust Lighting->Brightness/Contrast. Adjust the slider to desired effect.



You can also adjust the visibility of the image using the opacity slider in the layers palette.

And viola!



BTW, thanks to everyone who sent congrats on my layout of the day pick. It was pretty excited about it.

About the Sweet Dreams layout Rebecca wrote, I had just purchased Melanie's star elements (so sad she's retiring) and I had an unfinished LO that I had returned to sitting in Photoshop waiting for me... and I didn't quite know how to finish it off... until I saw your LO that is!

Yes I agree about Melany Violette retiring. I'd heard of her here and there, but never really checked out her work until recently. She's got some really unique items. In case other readers are interested in checking out her designs, you can find them at Simply Clean DigiScraps. Everything is 50% off and there are several free items too. I recommend the Boy Elements (I'm sure the girl ones are nice too, but I didn't pick them up; alas no girls 'round here). Definately check out the lift a flap templates. They are so original. I picked up a couple of sets and can't wait to find the perfect use for them.

Chere wrote, I too would love to know how you did your layout - both the face as a background, and the picture that you cropped into three - both look so cool!

I will definately put together a little tutorial on how I divided the photo into three parts. I ran out of time today, but look for it in tomorrow's post.

To those of you who left a note that you've purchased one of my products and everyone who's picked up any of my designs. Thank you so much. I am honored to have your business.

Happy Scrapping!