Friday, February 25, 2011

Fuss Free: Photo Collage at ScrapMatters

This template set features photo collages to help you document with multiple photos.  They are perfect to highlight a series of photos without overwhelming your layout design.  On sale at ScrapMatters for a limited time ~ image is linked to the SM Shop.


Here's some inspiration from my Creative Team:

{ C a r r i e A n n }


{ C h e l }


{ I r e n e }


{ J a c k i e A n n }


{ J e n n i f e r }



{ M e l a n i e }


{ M i c h e l e }


{ P a m i e }

Fuss Free: Like Mother Like Daughter Set 3 and Storewide Sale at The Digichick

I've teamed up with my daughter Olivia (aka LivyBug) to bring you a third set of templates in the "Like Mother, Like Daughter" series. This set includes two (2) templates designed by me and two (2) templates designed by Olivia. As with my other template packs, you can rotate, flip, minimize or maximize elements to make these templates suit your needs.  Image is linked to the TDC Shop.

There's a store-wide quarterly sale going on at The Digichick right now, so you'll find this new set of templates as well as all the other templates in my shop on sale for 30%.  Sale is from Feb 24th to the 27th.



These are the layouts that inspired this set:


And some inspiration from my Creative Team:

{ C h e l }


{ I r e n e }


{ J a c k i e A n n }



{ L y n n }


{ P a m i e }


 

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Reach For The Sun Mega Charity Collab Kit ~ Sneak Peek

I was asked to participate in a mega charity collab kit coming Friday the 25th (this Friday) to 9th&Bloom! Here is a little sneak peek for you.


I'm one of forty-one designers who signed on to help Vicky.  The kit is jam packed with 120 papers, 200 elements, 8 templates, 1 font, 2 photo actions and more!  The colors are bright and happy and will help you while you're scrapping your Spring and Summer pictures.



To learn more about Vicky, take a look at the website her mother has created ~ HELP VICKY.  Please consider purchasing this collection to help this little girl.

Stay tuned to 9th&Bloom in the For Charity section of the shop here:  9th&Bloom For Charity!

Sunday, February 20, 2011

How To Use a Fiddle-Dee-Dee Layered Template

If you’ve ever paper scrapped, you’ve probably followed a sketch of a layout in order to create your own layout.  In digital scrapbooking, these sketches are called templates.  A digital scrapbooking template is made up of layers of different shapes that give you suggestions for placement of your papers, elements and photos ~ similar to a puzzle.

In this tutorial, I’m going to give you some instructions for using a Fiddle-Dee-Dee Designs layered template in Photoshop Elements 5.0.  You’ll need to start by choosing one of my templates from a template pack of your choice.


First, open the template in PSE.  Go to File > Save As (Shift+Ctrl+S) and save the template with a new file name.  Your original template will be safe from any changes you make so you can use it again and again!


When I use templates, sometimes I start with photo placement, and other times I start with the background paper or an element.  It really does not matter where you start using the template.  For purposes of this tutorial, I'm going to be starting with the bottom layer, the background paper layer.  On the right side of your screen in PSE, you'll see your layers palette and each individual layer will be named.  Select the one labeled "background paper."  Once you select it, in the main screen you will see the canvas has a dotted line around it with squares at each corner.


Choose your background paper and open it in PSE.


Drag your paper onto your template canvas right above the layer labeled "background paper."


With the paper as your active layer, use Ctrl+G to clip your paper to the background paper layer.


Then use Ctrl+E to merge the photo and template layer.


Now move the next layer above the one labeled "background paper." This layer is labeled "paper rings."  At this point, you can choose another paper and follow the steps above to clip and merge the paper of your choice the paper rings shape.  However, I'm using this template as a guide and I'm going to choose an element from my kit to place here.  You'll see the the paper rings layer is highlighted in the layers palette on the right.


 Here you'll see that I've brought in the element of my choice into PSE.


As before, I'll drag this element onto the template canvas.  It will be right above the layer labeled "paper rings."


When I drag the element in, it is placed in the center of the template canvas.  I'm going to move it down so that it is placed above the paper rings image.


Since I'm now done with the paper rings layer, I'm going to make sure it is selected and then I'm going to delete it.



I'm going to continue working my way up the template, using each layer as a guide for element placement.  Again, you can choose to clip paper to any of these shapes, but it's my personal preference not to use the shapes and instead use elements from the kit I've chosen.

The next layer is labeled "flowers."  I've picked a couple of flower elements to place above this layer and once I've pulled the flowers in above my "flowers" layer and moved then over the flower shapes, I've deleted that layer.


 The next layer is the one labeled "paper mat."  For this element, I do want to clip paper to it, so following the steps above, I've picked my paper, pulled it into PSE and onto my template canvas and then used Ctrl+G/Ctrl+E to clip and merge my paper to the paper mat.


The next two layers up are labeled "string."  Now, in the particular kit I'm using, there aren't any strings.  That's OK.  I'm going to choose a curled ribbon element instead to place above those layers.  Remember that the layers are suggestions of what you should place on your layout.  They aren't meant to limit your choices, but help you start thinking about what elements might look good placed in that particular location.  Below you'll see where I've added the ribbons and deleted the string layers.


The next layer is labeled "paper ring."  I'm choosing to place a cool ornate frame there instead of clipping paper to the shape.  Again, this is my choice.  Feel free to clip paper to the shape (Ctrl+G/Ctrl+E) and use the ring. Below you'll see where I've placed the element and deleted the "paper ring" layer.


Now I'm just going to give you a series of screen shots showing you each element as I pull it into the template canvas.






I've added a journaling element that was not part of the template design because I have a little something I want to say about this photo.


And I'm finished.  No.  Wait, I'm not.  I want to add something else.  And that is perfect, because even though I've used a template, I can choose to add or remove elements to make the layout fit my style.  I've picked a couple of branches to add around my flowers.


 Now I'm finished!

Here's the original template (freebie no longer available):



And my completed layout:


I hope this tutorial was of use to you and help you enjoy using templates even more!

Friday, February 18, 2011

Fuss Free: Stuck In The Middle (With You) & Fuss Free: Square Dance @ ScrapMatters

I have two new products for you that release today in my shop at ScrapMatters.  Both are on sale 20% off through the weekend!

Of all the layout compositions available, a centered design is my favorite. While each template in Fuss Free:  Stuck In The Middle (With You)  has a centered composition, each one varies in the photo shape and size as well as the types of paper blocks and elements used to enhance the design.  Image is linked to the ScrapMatters Shop


Here's some inspiration from my Creative Team as well as the ScrapMatters Creative Team:

{ C h e l }


{ D a g m a r}


{ H o l l y }


{ I r e n e }


{ J a c k i e A n n }


{ J e n n  ~ SM CT }


{ J o a n n e }



{ K a t ~ SM CT }


{ M i c h e l e }


{ N a t a l i e }



{ P a m i e }


{ T r o n e s i a }


The paper squares in Fuss Free:  Square Dance are the perfect beginning for any layout. Designed to appear as if they have been hand cut, these squares showcase papers beautifully without overwhelming your page design. Use them singly or in pairs, or stack all of them on your layout.  Image is linked to the ScrapMatters Shop.


Here are some layouts from my Creative Team to inspire you!

{ C h e l }


{ J a c k i e A n n }



{ N a t a l i e }

I hope you enjoy these templates make your scrapping experience fun and enjoyable!  Have a great weekend!