Sale and Freebie

Wow - thanks to everyone who left comments and congrats on the baby girl announcement.

To those who had trouble downloading yesterday's freebie - I had a couple of people test it and the download is working fine. It seems I had an unusually high number of visitors yesterday and sometimes it overwhelmed the server. I'll leave it up for a week so hopefully everyone who wants them will get a chance to download.

I love doing freebies and being able to offer them as direct downloads, but if the problems continue, I'll looking into using one of the file sharing sites such as 4shared to see if it will help. Thanks so much for being patient.

SALE
It's Labor Day sale time at Scrapbook-Elements. All of my products are 20% off through Tuesday, September 4th (excepting professional use items).



FREEBIE
No longer available. This set of textured, slightly distressed frames coordinate with the journal strips from yesterday's post.

Announcement and Freebie

The radiologist agrees with Jamin (who as been insisting for months he is getting a 'baby siser'). It looks like we can expect a little girl this Christmas season. We are all very excited. Jamin has been practicing peek-a-boo and my husband has been brainstorming difficult questions for her first boyfriend.

FREE SAMPLE
No longer available. Here is a set of journal strips like the one shown above. Enjoy!

Free Quick Page

No longer available. Here is a quick page version of the Ice Cream Capers layout I shared earlier. Hopefully people still have some bright, summery photos to scrap.



If you are new to digital scrapping, quick pages are a great way to get started. If you use Photoshop or PSE, check out the Creating Your First Page in PSE for help getting started.

I used the technique described in the Text Fill tutorial to add the journaling in the ice cream page.

Layout: Good Book

I posted a small size of this page yesterday when I announced the quick page exchange, but thought I share the actual page as I think it is funny and for the benefit of my family who check my blog to see what Jamin has been up to.

Apparently, he has been reading my novels.

I saw Jamin grab his blanket and teddy bear and scurry into his favorite chair saying, "I read book." He has a shelf full of books he likes to play with so I didn't think anything of it. A few minutes later I looked over to see him pouring thoughtfully over a novel I'd left laying around. From the look of it, he's almost finished it


Credits: Shabby Sunroom and Battered Brown Alpha both by Misty Cato, SBE

New Releases, QP Exchange and Freebie

NEW RELEASES
Just released at SBE - Summer's End.



The element and paper packs are also available separately.





I also released a set of rub-on style flower brushes.



QUICK PAGE EXCHANGE
There were over 40 pages submitted for last week's Quick Page Exchange. Thanks to everyone who participated. We are at it again this week with Shabby Sunroom. You can read details and sign up in the SBE Forums.



Here is a preview of the page I will be contributing.


FREE SAMPLE
No longer available. Here is a little sampler from my new Summer's End page set.

Scrapping Tough Times Wrap-Up

Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their thoughts, perspectives and layouts in the Scrapping Tough Times Reader Sound-Off post. A couple of you opened up and shared your tough moments, how you handled them and how scrapping helped. I was touched by all your sharing and send blessing to all of you who are facing tough times at the moment.

Overall it seems people's approach to scrapping tough moments depended upon the purpose of their album. The majority who created albums with the intention of preserving and recording memories either chose to focus on the happy and everyday moments or tackled the tough times, but tried to frame them in a positive light (honoring one who has passed away, sharing a triumph over adversity, etc.).

Those who also use scrapping as an art journal or created personal memoir-type albums seemed more likely to reveal vulnerability and raw emotion as they scrapped about negative experiences. I admire those who are able to use scrapping as a way of working through emotion. Typically I have to 'process' my thoughts and feelings for awhile before I'm able to articulate them, let alone scrap them. If I should ever choose to scrap the really tough moments, it would probably be some time removed from the actual event.

Currently I scrap to record my son's life and growing up. The rest of us (me, my husband, grandparents) show up in the album, but pretty much only in relation to the roll we play in his life. I know someday my son will see these pages as records of his childhood, but he will also be aware that his mom made them - that is, the pages show him as his mom saw him. I definitely plan to scrap mishaps, misadventures and bumps along the road of growing up, but never in a way that focuses on his failings or weaknesses. I never want him to think that his mother thought he somehow didn't measure up to expectations. My faith teaches me that God choses to forget our sins. I don't want to memorialize the failings of my loved ones in a family album. I'd probably take a different approach if I was scrapping an album about myself or my personal life journey, but as long as the album is about my children, I will focus on the happy, the good times, funny moments and growth.

I have to say I was particularly inspired by this comment from an anonymous reader, "Misty- I definitely support scrapping the bad times. After all, it is a combination of the highs and lows that make us who we are. The lows provide a contrast that help us to appreciate the good in our lives. Hard times are just as much a part of our personal history as anything else. I have done a few pages for my scrapbook collection and I notice that my kids spend a little extra time reading those pages. Understanding others' trials and tribulations helps us all to learn how to compare our own situations and overcome adversity." Excellent point, someday I hope to spend more time going through photos of me and my husband from childhood to present. I'd love to put together a personal biography album and would cover some of the struggles. I think it is wonderful that you have preserved such memories for your children. Thanks so much for the inspiration.

Quick Goodie

I've been at a bit of a loss recently for things to write about, but I have really appreciated everyone's thoughts and perspectives on the scrapping negative experiences discussion. I'll wait one more day for people to chime in and wrap it up tomorrow.

No longer available. Meanwhile here is a free sample. You have to download them to see, but I'm really happy with the way the texture came out on these. I couldn't decide what color to make them in so I went with something neutral, but they recolor really nicely (somethings are much easier recolor than others). If you'd like quick intro to recoloring in PS/PSE check out the recoloring tutorial. Enjoy!

Reader Sound-Off: Scrapping Tough Times

Most scrapbook pages are full of happy moments, smiling faces and fond memories. Unfortunately life isn't always peaches-n-cream. I'd love to hear how my fellow scrappers handle tough times and negative experiences in your scrapping. Do you scrap them? How do you determine what events (good and bad) get scrapped and are preserved in your albums? Feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts. I'll include some reader comments along with my own thoughts in a follow-up wrap up post in a couple of days.

Just to alleviate any concerns out there - I'm not facing any personal hardship that has brought this topic to mind, it is just something I ponder every now and then.

Creating a Quick Page From a Layout in PSE

In light of the current Quick Page Exchange going on at Scrapbook-Elements, I've had several people ask me how to make quick pages. If you can create a layout in Photoshop Elements or Photoshop, you can create a quick page (it can be done in other programs, however I am not familiar enough with any of them to write a tutorial). If you are using the full version of Photoshop, I recommend the Creating a Quick Page from a Layout in PSCS2 tutorial. This tutorial uses screen shots from PSE4, but should work with any current version of PSE.

The easiest way to make a quick page is to construct a layout as you normally would and leave the completed page in layered form. Be sure to save your layout as you will be 'deconstructing' it to create the quick page.



Start by deleting any layers that contain layout specific items, such as the date, journaling, title, etc. You can delete layers by clicking on the layer in the layers palette and dragging it to the trash icon at the top of the layers palette.



In the layers palette, hold down the control key while clicking on each layer located below the lowest photo layer. Right click on any of those layers in the layers palette and select 'Merge Down' from the drop down menu.



Hold down the control key and click on the icon of the lowest photo layer in the layers palette. You should now have 'marching ants' around your photo.




Click on the now-merged layer below the photo layer in the layers palette and hit the delete key. Drag your photo layer to the trash icon at the top of the layers palette. You should have a empty space in the merge layers where your photo was.

If you are working with a single photo layout, skip to the last step.



If there are layers between the merged layer and the next lowest photo layer, hold down the control key while clicking on each layer located below the photo layer. Right click on any of those layers in the layers palette and select 'Merge Down' from the drop down menu.



As before, hold down the control key and click on the icon of the photo layer in the layers palette. You should now have 'marching ants' around your photo. Click on the now-merged layer below the photo layer in the layers palette and hit the delete key.

Repeat the merging and deleting until all photos have been replaced with transparent 'holes'.



Right click on any layer in the layers palette and select 'merge visible' to merge all remaining layers. Save the document as a .png file to preserve the transparency of the 'holes'.

New Releases, QP Exchange and Freebie

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. We spent it painting our dining and living room - one more step to settling in to our home. At this pace we might have everything in place by Thanksgiving.

NEW RELEASES
As usual Sunday marked the release of new items at Scrapbook-Elements. Real life is always inspiration for my designs and as I reflected on all my recent blessings (new home, baby on the way, etc.), Happy Thoughts was born. If nothing else, I hope it brings a smile to your face too.



I also released several alphas; some new and some re-releases of previously available alphas. Each one was designs to be versatile enough to work with a wide variety of themes and color schemes. Below is one such alpha, but you can see the other Everyday Alphas at SBE.



QUICK PAGE EXCHANGE
Last week blog readers and members of the scrapping community helped me select the kits to be featured in the Create It! Collect It! Quick Page Exchange at SBE. For the week of August 19-25 Ocean View will be featured. You can read details and sign up to participate in the forums at SBE.



Here is preview of the Quick Page I will be contributing to the exchange.


FREE SAMPLE
No longer available. Here is a sampler from the Happy Thoughts Page Set. Enjoy!

Sale at Scrapbook-Elements

Just a quick post to let everyone know selected items are on sale through Wednesday at Scrapbook-Elements, including all of my About a Boy products released to date. Happy Back-to-School shopping and have a wonderful weekend!

Responses to Your Comments

suntam wrote, I find when I see your layouts that I would like to buy those, especially when I am busy. Could you make your samples in Ocean View for sale in a page plopper format?

Thanks for the compliment. I do have my Ocean View layout in page plopper/quick page format and will be contributing it to the quick page exchange beginning at SBE on August 19th. You can read about the Quick Page Exchange in the forums (details about the Ocean View Challenge posted on Sunday). Once the Quick Page Exchange is done, I'll put it in the store for sale for anyone interested in purchasing it who wasn't able to take part in the quick page exchange.

In response to my Ice Cream Capers layout nwphotobug wrote, Beautiful layout... but I have to ask, how do you keep your lil guy so clean?

This comment made me laugh! While we've had our messy ice cream moment, Jamin is pretty fastidious about keeping himself clean. He usually uses a napkin to wipe his hands and face between bites of messy food. Sometimes he gets upset if he gets mud or sand on his hands. I don't have any advice as to how he developed such habits as neither Barron and I are neat-nicks and I wouldn't mind if Jamin wanted to play in mud-puddles, etc. Mind you his cleanliness only extends to him, not his surroundings as he doesn't mind one bit if he drops crumbs around the house and leaves his food wrappers and juice boxes everywhere but the trash.

About the Brushed Edge Effect Tutorial Lynn wrote, I have PSE5 and just use the brush as an eraser. Would you know if this would create a different look or would it look the same as the one you show? I realize erasing affects the actual photo, but since I always work with a copy, I'm not sure that makes a difference (or does it)? The one little issue with doing this is that when you use a brush as an eraser, you have to rotate the picture because the eraser-brush can't be rotated.

The process you describe would achieve a very similar effect. With Photoshop there are always at least half a dozen ways to accomplish the same thing. The advantage of using a mask over an eraser brush is that you can reveal parts of the photo as easy as you can erase them. The other advantage is the one you mentioned - using the variable settings in PS to build in angle, size and opacity jitter (variation) make the process go faster than if you need to rotate the photo and change the size and opacity of the brush manually.

Outdoor Play Layouts and Freebie

I haven't gotten around to photographing our new home, but I did take some shots of Jamin playing in the yard today. He still loves the yard and loves being able to go outside as he pleases. His favorite two things to do are push his 'big truck' around and play golf. The truck was a gift from his grandparents when we moved in. The goggles were his idea of a fashion accessory and he wore them around all day today.



Jamin has been imitating golfers on TV for a year now, so I couldn't resist the kiddie-sized golf set. He used to only be able to play with it when we went out to the park, but since we've moved in he has played with it daily. I'd say he swing is improving - watch out Tiger!


Credits: About a Boy 18 Months to 3 Years and Round in Circles Brushes, Misty Cato, Scrapbook-Elements

No longer available. Here is the alpha I made for the title in both pages (capital letters only). Enjoy!

Brushed Edge Effects in PSCS2

This tutorial will outline how to achieve a brushed edge effect like the one on the photo in the layout below using a layer mask and brushes in PSCS2.


Credits: Happy Thoughts Page Set available at SBE 8/19 and Flower Fun Brushes available at SBE 8/26 both by Misty Cato, Title font is Anhedonia

Start by placing your photo in a layer above your layout or background paper.



Click on the photo layer in the layers palette to set it as the active layer. Click on the layer mask icon at the base of a the layers palette to create a mask for the photo layer. The layer mask icon has a white circle on it.



Click on the brush icon in the tools palette. Select a brush tip from the drop down dialogue box at the top of the work space. I will be using the 'Oil Heavy Flow Dry Edges' brush from the default brush set. Use the diameter slider to increase the size to around 200 pixels.



Open your brush palette. If the brush palette is not already visible on your desktop, you can open it by going to Window->Brushes or keystroke F5. Click on the words "Shape Dynamics" on the left side of the brushes dialogue. Change the settings to the following:

Size Jitter: 75%
Control: Off
Minimum Diameter: 50%
Angle Jitter: 100%
Control: Off
Roundness Jitter: 50%
Control: Off
Minimum Roundness: 25%
Flip X Jitter and Flip Y Jitter: unchecked

Leave the remaining controls in the Brushes Palette in their default settings.



Set your foreground color to black and background color to white. Click once on the layer mask in the layers palette and then click repeatedly along the perimeter of the photo to remove portions of the photo and create a messy edge. If at any time you don't like what you've done, you can reverse your colors (set the foreground to white) and click to bring the photo back.

Note about Layers Masks: During this process you aren't really erasing the photo, but creating a mask that covers a portion of the photo. When you switch your foreground to white, you are removing a portion of the mask to reveal more of your photo.

Continue this process until you have created a messy edge around the perimeter of the photo.



When you are satisfied with the result, right click on the layer mask in the layers palette and select 'apply layer mask' to finalize the effect.



The brush chosen for this tutorial was selected because it is one of the default brushes that comes with the program. Feel free to play with this technique using various brushes and settings to create a variety of edge effects.

Ice Cream Layout and Quick Page Exchange Poll

Jamin's happy-go-lucky attitude helps him charm his way into all sorts of things. Case in point, this visit to the ice cream parlor with my parents. The journaling and photos tell the story.

Journaling reads, 'I’m not sure who had more fun at the ice cream parlor - Jamin or mom, Mamma, and Grandpa Willy as we watched his antics. Jamin got his usual order - a child size scoop of chocolate. After a couple of tastes he decided to try a sample of mom’s mint chip. Deciding the mint chip was better (not to mention bigger) he left his chocolate with mom and continued digging into the mint chip … until he saw Mamma’s milkshake. One sip of milkshake and the mint chip was forgotten. Jamin rushed off happily to the kiddie table with Mamma’s shake. We were all laughing so hard at Jamin smiling and charming his way into enjoying 3 ice cream treats that we couldn’t bring ourselves to take them back.'


Credits: Papers from Happy Thoughts by Misty Cato, coming Sunday to SBE, title uses Stamped Alpha by Kelly Shults, Scrapbook-Elements

Create It Collect It Quick Page Exchange
Each week there is a new Create It Collect It Quick Page Exchange at Scrapbook-Elements. Participants create a quick page with the same kit and send them in. Each participant submitting a quick page then receives the pages submitted by everyone else. You can read more details in the SBE forums.

My kits will be featured for the weeks of August 19th and 26th. I would like your help choosing the kits to use in the exchange. You can cast your vote in the forums through early Thursday morning. Thanks in advance!

New Release and Free Sample

It's Monday, which means new products and a new free sample. This week I released Old School at Scrapbook-Elements. I started this set with back to school in mind (particularly for the preschool/kindergarten/elementary age), but I also think it would work really well with older/heritage photos of children.



Here is a close up of a few of the elements.



FREE SAMPLE
No longer available. This alpha coordinates with the Old School kit. It will be available here for about a week. Enjoy!

Little Freebie

Happy Friday! No longer available. Here is a little freebie to head into the weekend. Have a great one.

Layout Inspiration: My Ball by Marnel

I thrive on layout ideas that are easy to implement, but add something new to my pages. When I came across My Ball by marnel in the SBE gallery I instantly bookmarked it for just such inspiration. Page curls and torn edges are a popular trend in digital scrapping and I like how marnel has paired two curled edges to created a 'peek-a-boo' style inset across the top portion of the page. I'm enjoying bright colors this summer, so I think I'll scraplift marnel's idea and fill my inset with bright flowers and such just as she has, but I could easily see insets filled with journaling, photo montage, ephemera and many other things.

I couldn't get my hands on a larger version of marnel's page in time for this post, so I've included a small version below. Clicking on the image will take you to the SBE gallery where you can see a larger version and drop her a comment.

Thanks for the inspiration marnel. Hopefully I'll have a scraplift to share soon.


Credits: Backgrounds, flowers and index tab from Shabby Sunroom, Misty Cato, SBE; Stitched Circles from Which Stitch Circles by Sue Jones, SBE; Swirl from Butterfly Wish by Ake Pangestuti, SBE; Tile Alpha from Curiosities by Kelly Shults, SBE; Black Alpha from Provence by Windgefluster; Michelle Pearson's B&W Alpha used on photo

My Comments on Your Comments

FuturaPP wrote, Hi! I'm totally new into photoshop and I'd like to know how to resize and rotate my photo. Sorry for the silly question, but I've tried to discover and couldn't make it. Thanks!

Not a silly questions at all - take a look at the Creating Your First Page in PSE Tutorial. It contains instructions for moving, resizing and rotating photos. The screen shots are PSE4, but photos are resized and rotated the same way in other versions of PSE and Photoshop.

lorigaud wrote, ... are you having a CT call anytime soon...?

The short answer is not for at least 6 months. The current team is doing great, but I'm afraid I've not been as able to be involved with them as I'd like, so until I figure out the best way to structure and run a larger CT, I won't be adding members. I do appreciate the interest and be assured, this will be the first place I post a call if and when I do expand the team.

Concerning my recent move, bianca wrote, Have you mentioned what neighborhood/city you're in now? I'm in the Seattle area and don't remember reading that.

We are in the Silver Firs area in south Everett, near Mill Creek. Our condo was in the Martha Lake section of Lynnwood, so we only moved 15 minutes north.

Also regarding our move, Nancy P wrote, "WELCOME HOME!! Did you tell us about this house? Give us some tid-bits.............?

The basics - two story house with living room, dining room, kitchen, laundry, family room (with fireplace) and half bath downstairs; three bedrooms and two baths upstairs; two car garage; good sized yard. Built in 1989 recently reroofed, new carpet and paint job. Completely move-in ready, but also plenty of opportunities to modernize and update as we are up to it. Lots of windows downstairs and the yard has tons of beautiful, well-established plants. Now we have to learn how to take care of them!

Its located on a quiet dead-end street in a residential area, but not too far from shopping, the freeway, etc.

It's just perfect for our needs. The kitchen opens up into the family room which now houses my desk, Jamin's train table and a bunch of his toys. There is a French door off the family room into the back yard. I am able to see into the backyard (fully fenced) from my desk and the kitchen. Jamin is enjoying his newfound freedom of being able to go outside whenever he wants and I like that I can keep track of him in the yard even while I'm working or making dinner.

Shannon wrote, Congrats on the move, but how did you find the time to create, pack, take care of the precious baby and move?

A combination of things, but mostly because I have a very, very, very supportive husband. I may be home with Jamin during the day, but he is an equal partner when it comes to raising Jamin and he is always willing to jump in and do housework, etc. Barron took care of most of the details surrounding our move. He has always been encouraging when it comes to my design work and tells me how proud he is of me. I'm so very blessed. If you are reading this Barron - I love you!

Someone asked about possibly reposting or selling the add-on for Classy (sorry I can't find the exact comment at the moment).

I incorporated most pieces from the Classy Add-On, including the alphabet into the full kit when I transferred it to Scrapbook-Elements. So if you purchase (or have purchased) Classy at SBE, you will have almost all of the add-on items.

Digi-Shopping for a Good Cause

If you aren't already a fan, I'd like to introduce you to Songbird Avenue, founded by Jan Crowley and Meredith Fenwick. Songbird Avenue is committed to producing beautiful digital scrapping products and contributing sales proceeds to charity. Each month Meredith and Jan work with a guest designer and template designer to put together an amazing kit. This month's guest designer is Robin Carlton and all proceeds (minus pay pal fees) are donated to the Make a Wish Foundation.

Each month I look forward to seeing the new Songbird Avenue kit and the August kit is full of bold, sunny items set off by a deep green that will allow the kit to be used well into fall.



Each product is only available for one month and then a new kit is released with proceeds going to a different charity, so be sure to check back each month.

We're Moved! (New Releases and Freebie too)

We are all moved in to our new place; not unpacked, but moved. We moved from a condo where Jamin’s outdoor toys were limited to the few I could fit into an over-sized tote bag dubbed our ‘park bag’. He is loving the yard and the new ‘big’ tractors grandma and grandpa made sure were waiting for him at the new house. He spent the afternoon yesterday and today running around the yard. I was worried he’d have trouble feeling at home in a new place, but he seems to have made the adjustment wonderfully and has been telling me he doesn’t want to go back to the ‘old house.’ So even though we still have unpacking, painting, and decorating ahead of us, I feel good here.

Thanks to all those who wished us well on our move. To those who warned me not to over exert myself - don't worry, thanks to my husband, father and a group of helping hands from our church my only job was chasing Jamin around making sure he didn't get himself packed in a box or anything.

NEW RELEASES
Lots of new stuff from me this week at Scrapbook-Elements. First my latest page set, Shabby Sunroom, available as the papers, elements or full page set.



Here's a closer view of some of the elements.



I also released a new set of templates. This set contains two sets of facing pages for two-page layouts.



Finally, I have released three sets of overlays for creating your own papers. These come with a professional use license for use in your own scrapbooking or design business.



FREE SAMPLE
No longer available. Here is a free sampler from my new Shabby Sunroom set. Enjoy!

Drive-By Freebie

It has been a crazy week, but we are all back to full health and packing like crazy to move into our new home Saturday. I'll be taking the weekend off to move and hope to have internet access back early next week when I'll be posting from our new house!

No longer available. Meanwhile, here is a fun little tag for your pages. Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend!

Layout and Creative Team Member Profile - Gislaine

LAYOUT - BEACH BREW

Hi everyone, I know it seems like I've been AWOL this week. I came down with some awful stomach virus Monday, which landed me in Urgent Care Monday night on IV fluids to get rehydrated. Then Tuesday, Barron came down with something similar. I'm feeling much better today, Barron is improving and thankfully it hasn't touched Jamin, so I'm hoping we are through the worst of it.

Here is a layout I finished recently, but hadn't gotten a chance to post. Everytime we visit my parents a trip to the beach is usually on the agenda. On this particular day, Jamin was making soup out of seawater, sand, pebbles, shells and seaweed - yummy!


Credits: Ocean View by Misty Cato, Scrapbook-Elements

CREATIVE TEAM MEMBER PROFILE - GISLAINE

Today I'd like to showcase another member of my creative team - Gislaine. Gislaine has been creating pages with my products as a member of the team for over a year. She is from Brazil and currently residing in Ireland (although she spends every Christmas back in Brazil with her family). She also serves as a creative team member for Bette Duganitz, Rina Kroes and Vickey Morrissey.

Gislaine credits her love of playing on computers and her love for children as her inspiration for scrapping. This passion shows in her personal favorite page, Once Upon a Time. I just love the sense of magic and imagination the page evokes.


Credits: Twilight Blends, Misty Cato Scrapbook-Elements

One thing I really appreciate about Gislaine's scrapping is that she never uses elements quite like I expect. She is always experimenting with creative uses for even the most ordinary of scrap supplies. My favorite unexpected twist in her scrapping is her use of Terry Maruca's Snow Globes as bubbles in this page.


Credits: Brown Bag Art, Misty Cato and Snow Globes Kit, Terry Maruca, both available at Scrapbook-Elements

I had a hard time chosing a favorite from Gislaine's extensive gallery, but had to go with this fun, flowery page. Placing all those flowers against a white backdrop make this page so sunny and cheerful.


Credits: Light of My Life, Kay Miller, Kay Miller Designs

Those butterflies are just the perfect touch. Gislaine does a wonderful job capturing the spirit of children. It is an honor to have her on the team. Thanks so much Gislaine!