Out and About in the DigiWorld

Seems there are lots of interesting things happening in the digiworld, so I thought I'd put together a little highlights post. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list of all sales, challenge, etc. going on out there, just the stuff that has caught my attention over the last week or so.

Prima Hybrid will be having their Grand Opening tomorrow, Jan. 31st. Everything will 25% off. I've got my eye on IODs Rue 88 papers.

Tomorrow is also the last day to enter the Digital Scrap Connection's Digital Deal Giveaway for your chance to win a $65 Gift Certificate to Heritage Makers. Entering only takes a couple of minutes. You follow a link to the Heritage Makers site and then leave a comment on the DSC blog about what you would buy with the $65.

Little Dreamer Designs has announced the Designer Apprentice Program will be getting off the ground in February. It sounds like a great way further your designing skills. I'm always looking for ways to jump start my inspiration and am tempted to jump in on this one.

A farewell to Eve Recinella who is hanging up her designing hat after 2 and a half years in the industry. Tomorrow is the last day to pick up her stuff at Sweet Shoppe Designs.

Christina Renee ran a really innovative Art Gallery Challenge on her blog. The challenge deadline has passed, but the freebies are still available and the post itself is worth checking out just to see all the amazing pages her team put together.

Like every week, tons of great new products were released. Kathryn Balint continues to roll out additions to her Little Jake Collection. Those who love whimsy and fairy tales should check out Gisela's Children's Dreams at Hotspot Scraps. Also on the soft and pretty line, but more versatile, Kaye Winiecki's Aura Papers are beautiful. I don't usually use cartoonish doodles on my pages (I think they are great, they just never look right on my layouts), but I think Katie Hadfield's new Animal Pal Doodles are are adorable. I can see using them on a Valentine for my little guy.

Out and about in the Cato house is not nearly as exciting, but still fun. Here is a recent photo of Jamin "helping" me unload the dishwasher. The journaling reads, "Jamin likes to help me unload the dishwasher. Of course having a young helper results in the occasional broken dish. Often pots and bowls become hats and drums and end up getting loaded right back in the dishwasher for the next run. It would probably be much more efficient to unload the dishwasher by myself... but it wouldn't be nearly as fun."


Credits: Boy Zone and Autumn Potporri Alpha by Jeann Jeann G, Hotspot Scraps, Twine Things from Sophia Sarducci, Little Messies Stitching from Gina Miller, Chipboard Flowers and Cut Canvas Phrases from Misty Cato (not yet released)

Finally here is a little sneak peak at what I have coming out next week. These are brag book pages I made with You & Me. The page set, quick pages and brag book will all be available this Sunday at Scrapbook-Elements.

Loading and Using Layer Styles in PSE

Layer styles are a combination of effects such as bevels, shadows, patterns and strokes that can be applied to an object in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements. This tutorial covers loading and using them in PSE. Those using the full version of Photoshop should refer to this layer styles tutorial.

To start this tutorial have the layer style you want to use downloaded and unzipped. Save a copy of the layer style to the presets fold in you PSE Program Files. In my case the applicable directory would be C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 4.0\Presets\Styles. Also have PSE open with the item to which you want to apply the layer style already in place on your page.

1) If your styles palette is not already visible, go to Window >Styles and Effect. The styles palette should now be visible on your workspace.



2) Click on the first small downward arrow in the Styles and Effect palette and select Layer Styles from the drop down menu.



3) Click on the second downward arrow and select your desired layer styles.



4) Your new style(s) should now appear as options at the bottom of the styles palette. Make sure the layer to which you want to apply the style is the active layer and click on the layer style in the styles palette to apply the style to the object.



5) If necessary, you can adjust the scale of the style effects, by going to Layer>Layer Style>Scale Effects.



6) Adjust the scale of the style using the slider. Click ‘OK’ when done.



You’ve now successfully applied the style to your object.

Weathered Decor, a Reminder and More

I'll just say this once, because we've all heard it before - back-up your stuff. Yes I had heard it too, but gambled too long and earlier this week my external hard drive crashed. I ended up paying a nice man a good chunk of change to recover my precious data. The good news is I ended up getting everything back.

Otherwise everything continues to move along smoothly in the Cato household. I've received several requests for more photos of the kids, particularly little Mya. I have tons of pics, but haven't had much time to scrap them. Hopefully I'll have some to show later in the week. Meanwhile here is page of photos my parents took when Jamin stayed with them while Barron and I were in the hospital having Mya.


Credits: Weathered Decor, Framed! 3, Rustic Page Mats, Note Paper Alpha, Month Labels, all by Misty Cato, Scrapbook-Elements

Here are the new releases for this week. First, Weathered Decor, a shabby, country inspired and very versatile page set.



The papers and elements are also available separately.





The quick pages are available separately or bundled with the page set (best value).



There is also a 12 page 4x6 inch brag book album available.



I released a new set of PS layer styles - this one for adding white textured effects. There is a tutorial for loading and using layer style here. A couple of people have asked if these will work in PSE. These styles should work in PSE 3.0 and above, although they are loaded a little differently than shown in the PS tutorial. I hope to get a PSE tutorial up tomorrow.

These style come with a professional use license. These can be used in digital designs, Scrap-for-Hire or other printable craft businesses with no credit required. Feel free to drop me a note at mistycato (at) mistycato (dot) com if you have questions about the permissible uses of this product.



You can see the textures a little close up in this preview.



The talented Mrs. Wresh created this set of Mint Tin Album pages with my Sweetie page set. These small are sized to fit into a standard mint time (such as Altoids). I think this would make a great little gift or carry-along album.



FREE SAMPLE
No longer available. Here is a set of frames cut from the papers in the Weathered Decor page set. These are not included in the page set, so grab them even if you plan on purchasing the set.

Layout Inspiration: Boo-Boo by athenagwis

I love finding clever little tricks to help tell a story or emphasize a point. It is every better when the trick and visual interest to the page. Athenagwis did both in her page Book-Boo when she used a black border to frame her journaling as well as draw attention to her boy's boo-boo. The arrow overlapping both the photo and the journaling pull the whole configuration together in a nice cluster with that beautiful eye and poor ouchie as the center of attention. Thanks for the inspiration athenagwis.


Credits: Aki Zen by Paisley Blues, Glitter by Vickie Stegall, overlay by Lime Green Boogie Girl

FREE SAMPLE
No longer available. Here is a set of hearts and stars with glitter edges.

Answered Prayer and Hugs All Around

When I was pregnant with Mya I worried about how Jamin would react to a new baby in the house. During this time I came across this layout in the DST gallery and prayed that someday, I'd have an equally loving photo of Jamin and his sister. I wrote about it here on the blog.

My prayers were answer as Jamin has adored his sister from the moment we brought her home. She was just home from the hospital when this photo was taken and to this day, he continues to smother her with hugs and kisses.

So naturally, I had to scraplift mollyatc's beautiful layout in honor of my answered prayer.


Credits: Treasures Ones and Starting in Style Word Strips both by Misty Cato, Scrapbook-Elements.

NATIONAL HUG DAY
While I didn't know it when I scrapped the layout above, apparently it is a timely theme as Jan. 27th is National Hug Day. Alice Koh is having a cute little contest on her blog. All you need to do is scrap a photo of a hug using any products. Three winners will receive gift certificates for her store. If you have any hug photos laying around now is the time to dig them out a scrap them in honor of National Hug Day and don't forget to give a few extra hugs to that special someone in your life!

New Releases, Layout and Freebie

NEW RELEASES

My new releases this week include this set of Wood Stained Frames; 4 styles of frame each in 8 colors.



Here is a close-up of the detailing on the frames.



A new product type for me - Layer Styles. Layer styles can be applied to any object/shape in Photoshop. They are great for creating your own frames, alpha, tags, etc. If you aren't familiar with style layers, check out the Loading and Using Layer Styles tutorial below. This set allow you to create a variety of worn paper and chipboard effects.

This product comes with a license for commercial/professional use for digital designers, scrap for hire and other printable crafts. No credit required. If you have questions about the approved professional uses of this product, please email mistycato (at) mistycatodesigns (dot) com.



The month labels below were created using the chipboard layer style above. They were previously available in the December SBE Newsletter and are now available for sale in my shop.



Kim Wresh and I released this set of Ocean View Quick Pages. Also if you missed the quick page I created with this set for the quick page exchange, it is available with this set of quick pages (not shown in the preview, but included as a bonus).



LAYOUT - The View from My Heart

Here is a page I did of Jamin. His favorite playground is small pea-gravel play area down by the beach in Oak Harbor where my parents live. This is him in the middle of December during his stay with them while Barron and I were in the hospital having Mya.

The journaling is a description of the personality of this little man who has stolen my heart.


Credits: Sanded Solids, Fabric Curls - Neutrals, Wood Stained Frames, Starting in Style Papers, Battered Brown Alpha

FREE SAMPLE

No longer available. Here is a sample of my Wood Stained Frames. Enjoy!

Loading and Using Layer Styles in PS

Layer styles are a combination of effects such as bevels, shadows, patterns and strokes that can be applied to an object in Photoshop. To start this tutorial have the layer style you want to use downloaded, unzipped and saved and Photoshop open with the item to which you want to apply the layer style already in place on your page.

If you need help downloading and unzipping files, refer to the Tips and Tricks section at Scrapbook-Elements where you will find a couple of tutorials on the topic.

1) If your styles palette is not already open, go to Window >Styles. The styles palette should now be visible on your workspace.

2) Click on the small arrow in the upper right corner of the style palette. Select ‘Load Styles’ from the pop-up menu.

3) Browse to the layer styles you want to use and click ‘Load’ in the open browser.

4) Your new style(s) should now appear as options at the bottom of the styles palette. Make sure the layer to which you want to apply the style is the active layer and click on the layer style in the styles palette to apply the style to the object.

5) If necessary, you can adjust the scale of the style effects, by going to
Layer>Layer Style>Scale Effects.

6) Adjust the scale of the style using the slider. Click ‘OK’ when done.

You’ve now successfully applied the style to your object.

Page Mats, Sitting Pretty and Free Sample

I hope everyone is having a great weekend. We've had a good one despite the Seahawks losing yesterday :(. We went over to a friend's place to watch the game and Jamin got to spend the afternoon playing with his best little buddy, Eli. I watched the two of them running around, playing cars, occasionally stopping by the TV to cheer for the Seahawks and finally, exhausted collapsing on Eli's little couch to watch the movie Cars. I kept asking myself when my little baby became this rowdy (and yet very charming) boy. Sweet Mya is growing fast too. She no longer has that 'newborn' look and I know in a blink of an eye, she'll be up and running after the boys. In the meanwhile, I spend as much time snuggling with her as possible.

On to the new stuff - Sitting Pretty is my latest page set. The papers and elements are also available separately.



I also released three sets of page mats. These are all approximately 11x11 inches and are great for matting and framing entire pages, or resize them for matting photos.







If you missed the Pink Glitter Alpha last week, it is now available in my store. This alpha coordinates with the Promise of Mya page set.



Also, as requested, the Year in Review Quick Page and Template is available for purchase.



FREE SAMPLE
No longer available. Here is a sample of the page mats. These are just under 4x6 inches; sized to mat brag book size pages or photos. Enjoy!

New Releases, Reader Questions

Another week, another 'catch up' blog post. I hope everyone had a wonderful New Year. We spent last week at my parent's place where I got a chance to catch up on some sleep with lots of people around to help with Mya and Jamin. My parents even watched the kids for an evening so Barron and I got an evening out.

Let's start with a couple of readers questions.

In response to the release of my Brave Soldier set Ramie wrote,
Any chances of you making a Navy kit similar to this? My DH is Navy and we have tons of pics to scrap.....but he's only in camoflauge colors about 2 times a year! Keep me posted if you do create one!

I received this request from several customers. My dad is a career Navy man, so Navy would definitely be the next Armed Forces branch I'd tackle. I'll add it to my list of ideas and hopefully when I get back to designing new stuff (sometime in February or March), I'll be able to come up with something fitting for scrapping Navy photos.

In response to the Year In Review Template mention in this post Jeanne wrote, I missed the one day deal for this template and was wondering if you are going to offer it for sale at some point?

I'm glad you liked it. In response the requests I received for this template it will be available for purchase at Scrapbook-Elements on 1/13/08.

NEW RELEASES
I just released a new element set of encouraging words for that special man or boy in your life. Consider these for any special layouts you may be doing for Valentines Day to honor a special someone.



Also new to the store, Sanded Solids, a set of 18 sanded papers.



Kim and I released a new set of quick pages created from my Happy Thoughts Page Set.



LAYOUT - PARTY GIRL

Here is Mya, ringing in the New Year - my kind of party :)


Credits: The Promise of Mya Page Set, Glitter Page Mats (coming to SBE 1/13/08), Pink Glitter Alpha all by Misty Cato