Aquarium Life

Here's this week's Nuts About Sketches Sketch. This was a great layout to capture 9 photos on one spread and I had the perfect set of photos.

The sketch really made me challenge myself. I didn't want to add too many patterns since the pictures would make the layout busy enough as it was and since it left little room for embellishments I really had to think through this. Here's my layout. BTW, I have no idea why there are white tigers at the aquarium.

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Since I was focusing on our recent trip to the Downtown Houston Aquarium and I didn't want to make the layout too busy I decided to make waves.  This gave me a chance to use all that vellum I had stashed away that I never use anymore.  I used 3 different colors of vellum. I cut the waves out of the darkest color first, then I cut another set of waves to overlap in the empty spaces of the first set of waves and then I repeated with the 3rd piece of vellum.  To make it look like an ocean wave I drew white lines and dots on the edges and sporatically placed "whitecaps" at the top of some of the waves and on the dots of the i's, made of tiny irredescent pearly bits that were strung together like pearls. I also added them to other elements of the layout.

Click to Enlarge to See the Doodling & Beads

Lastly, I used two sets of ribbon as a border to the bottom photos.  I wanted to make the ribbon look like a wave so I ran the top ribbon like a loop, placing it down with a glue dot, then running it over my finger to make the loop and adhering it back down on another glue dot and repeated that many, many times. 

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Photoshop Effects: Poster Edges & Opacity - Tutorial

This week I'm going to show you how to add some Photoshop effects to your photos. I had two beautiful photos that were almost the exact same. I could have scrapped them together but I really wanted to do something outside of my usual box with them. Here's what I did.

First I opened the image I wanted to manipulate in Photoshop. 

Original Image (photo permission by Allison Avenue Photography)

Then I added a Filter.  To do this I clicked Filter --> Artistic --> Poster Edges.  I adjusted it until I got the look I liked and clicked OK.

Double click the Background Layer in the Layers panel (if its not already displayed on the right hand side of Photoshop, you'll find it under the Windows menu).

Adjust the Opacity in the Layers window that opens. You may see a checkerboard effect. I adjusted the opacity on this image by 60%.

Got to Layers --> Flatten Image to see the result.

Here's the final result. Undo it and adjust Opacity if its not to your liking. Click to enlarge so you can see the poster edges along with the opacity.

Image with Poster Edges and 60% transparency

Original Image

Save picture under a new name so that you preserve your original photo.  If you make a mistake and save over the original you can remove the layers in photoshop but I highly discourage overwriting original files.

Check back soon to see how I use this in my traditional scrapbooking. Let me know if you try this and post a link in the comments section. Oh, if you need a great photographer with great prices in the Houston or Dallas area, contact Allison and tell her you found her on Heather Leopard's blog).

Snobby Walrus His & Hers Giveaway Part2: HERS

Check out this super cute collection of girly scrapbooking goodies Snobby Walrus is giving away. I would SOOOO love to win this collection. It's so cute for all the projects I have on tap for my girls.

Bottoms Up

Here's a cute and simple layout I recently did.  Reese loves to look at the world from a different view.  I was able to capture that in this adorable little way.  In this layout I wanted to tie in the polka dots from her shirt in a small way.  I found some fabric that was perfect so I made some circles out of cardstock then cut smaller circles from the fabric and then cut some tulle.  I layered them all on each other and added some buttons and clear elements to give them a polka dot flowery-ish effect.  For the word "UP" I took some plain chipboard, inked it in chocolate to match the fabric and then I added pearls to the top to once again tie into the polka dots.  I strategically placed both the flower-ish peices and the polks dots in a triangle to give it a tied together look. 

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Click to Enlarge and See Details

Click to Enlarge and See Details

Click to Enlarge and See Details

Meet the Teacher

Here's this week's Nuts About Sketches Layout.  I really wanted to capture the Kindergarten/Teacher stereotype in this layout so I found a way to incorporate "Apples for the Teacher" and Rheagan's handwriting.

Click to Enlarge and See Details

I made some scrap candy out of k.i.memories apple dashing lace cardstock.  I cut it out and strategically determined where I wanted it on the layout.  Once I knew where I wanted to place them, I made the candy.  Check out last Friday's Funky, Fresh post to see how I made the candy out of Liquid Glass and crushed velvet flock.

Click to Enlarge and See Details

The 2nd thing I did was make a file folder out of paper that looked like it was lined for handwriting (Imaginisce "(No) Passing Notes" and Paper Studio "Rulers"). As I was looking for the perfect alphas to make the title I realized it would be great to feature my daughter's actual handwriting. In addition to giving journaling a more personal touch, we always talk about preserving our handwriting for future generations to see. I think this is a great way to preserve our kids' handwriting. I LOVE how this turned out - so imperfectly perfect! Not only does it make THE perfect font for this page but now I have her handwriting preserved on a layout (in addition to all her school papers we've been collecting).

For the journalling I used CTMH Comments acrylic stamp set to have it look like ruled paper. I folded and stitched the ribbon on the layout (DCWV Adhesive Ribbon). I do have to say that stiching on adhesive ribbon is very difficult because it makes the needle gooey and my thread broke several times.  I advise against it.

Click to Enlarge and See Details

Liquid Glass/Velvet Flock - Funky Fresh Friday

Today's Funky Fresh post is going to feature a couple of ideas I'm using on next Monday's Nuts About Sketches layout. It's all about making items on your layout standout. There are a lot of ways to do this but today I'll focus on 2 types of what I am calling scrap candy.

First, I used CTMH Liquid Glass to give a few of the elements a raised, shiny, epoxy-like look and feel. Here's how I did it.

     Step 1. I cut the apples from k.i. memories Lace Cardstock called apples dashing. I applied them to my layout first since they were so dainty.  I just didn't want then to curl while the Liquid Glass was drying. Be careful not to get the LG on the cardstock though.

     Step 2. Apply LG as thin or thick as you'd like.  Although LG takes a while to dry, it will gel up pretty fast so make sure to apply it evenly all at once. It's very difficult to go back in to fill in spots once it starts to gel.

Click to Enlarge and See Details

Step 3. The LG may appear cloudy as you apply it (see below) but rest assured it will dry clear. Set it aside to dry. Drying time will vary according to the amount of LG you applied, ranging from 15 minutes to one hour.

Secondly, I wanted to make the stems and leaves for the apples I didn't apply LG to stand out. For this I used Doodlebug Design's Crushed Velvet Flock.

     Step 1. You can use any adhesive as the base to glue the flock to.  The white leaf below is the glue waiting to get flocked with green.

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Step 2. Apply Flock by pouring it over the glue.  If you are flocking multiple colors make sure to let the other flocking dry before you apply the 2nd color.

Click to Enlarge and See Details

     Step 3. Set aside to dry. Tap off excess flock.

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And here's one I applied both Liquid Glass and Flock.  Check back Monday when I post the Nuts About Sketches DT layout to see how I used them in my layout.

If you try this yourself, please post a link so I can see what you did!

Masking - Funky Fresh Friday Fun!

I know it's Tuesday but I wanted to announce that I am starting a weekly series of tips, tricks, techniques, projects and anything that might fit into the Funky Fresh Friday theme!  To give you a taste of what you might expect to see on Funky Fresh Fridays, I'm going to show you the Masking Technique.  I was working on my Nuts About Sketches DT layout and none of my papers were doing it for me.  I walked away for a bit and then it hit me, what I needed to do.  I wanted to emulate the horses from my daughter's shirt and tights but I didn't want to use matchy matchy paper, which I'm sure I never would have found anyway.  I went to the Internet and found the Gymboree line of clothes she was wearing and was able to find an image of the horse.  I'm sure I could have just copied it from her shirt, too. 

Step 1. I made it the size I wanted and then cut out several copies.

Click the image to enlarge.

Step 2. I adhered them to the paper with just enough adhesive so it would stick down but not rip my paper when I pulled it off.  This is important.  Otherwise, the paper will curl up when it gets moist and it may smear. This is not as critical if you are using chipboard or something that isn't likely to curl. Another tip is to make sure you have any areas you want masked off all masked off before you spray; otherwise you WILL get mist in that area.  You'll notice below I cut out enough horses to line across the top of one page. Don't try to cover an area with something other than the mask design because it WILL show (I know first hand). For instance, if you cover that area with a sheet of paper, you  will see a line when you attempt to spray in that area.

Click the image to enlarge.

Step 3. I like to use a Mister with a CTMH re-inker / water mix or Glimmer Mist but you could also use ink, paint, glue/glitter, all sorts of things. The re-inker combo is cool (and fun) because you can mix it to whatever shade of color you desire and you can even add some gimmer powder to it to give it added shine.  I hold it approximately 4 - 5 inches above the area and spray until I feel it's covered. I do not attempt to even the color out. Thinner paper tends to wrinkle a little so I try to keep it from getting too wet. Sorry, no picture.

Step 4. Let dry and remove the masked image. Use a adhesive remover if necessary. Voila! Here is the final result.

Click the image to enlarge.

Here is the Nuts About Sketches sketch and the layout. If you look close you will notice that I used the masked images in the layout. They were already misted so it just made sense to incorporate them in the layout. I also included a larger horse as part of the title.

Click the image to enlarge.

Not only did I achieve the look I wanted of the pink horse on brown background but I added a really cool texture to the paper with all the residual spray. 

Let me know if you have any additional masking tips and if you try this at home, I want to see how it turns out for you.

Check back Friday for more Funky Fresh ideas!

So Much To Do ...

and so little time!  I have all these projects and photos to scrap and all these ideas in my head that I just can't wait to get out.  Sure, work and family keep me busy but I always reserve time every night to sit down at my scrappin' desk.  Now that I have it all organized I'm itching to whip up all these projects.  The problem is time because I need more than 24 hours in a day but since I can't change that I have to figure out how to whittle down my project list.  I seem to do better when I have a deadline and someone else is counting on me so I'm thinking about venturing out and submitting for another Design Team (if they'll have me).  I am specifically going to search out one that offers a monthly kit or goodies to play with.  I am thoroughly enjoying using up the hundreds of papers and embellies I have in my stash but I just ordered a kit from Noel Mignon (see kit below) and it was like Christmas when I opened it.  I loved the feeling of uncertainty and all the oohs and ahhs I was saying.  I would love to have that every month!  So I guess I'm off to find a new DT call.  And tonight I'll be finishing up some layouts I have in progress because I am dying to play with this new kit.

Noel Mignon Playdate Kit

What in the World

have I been up to?  I haven't posted in over a month but that doesn't mean I haven't been scrappin'.  Let's see, since my last post I headed to the West Coast for a business trip, then to the East Coast for a mini vacation to Disney World, I went on a scrapbooking weekend getawat, then I've dealt with the added stress of trying to sell our house, launch 3 huge projects at work and a very sick grandma and last but NEVER, ever least is quality time with my family.  So now that I've explained my posting absence, here's a couple of projects I've been working on.  I have more that I will post soon (once I take pictures of them).

Nuts About Sketches - Week 105 Sketch & Layout

The picture does not do this layout justice.  I handstamped the butterflies to look like the one painted on Rheagan's face.  First I stamped it in Bubblegum Pink, then I inked the outer edge of the stamp in Amethyst Purple and then I went back and added White Daisy in to the middle.  After that was dry I added bling on the body of the butterflies to represent the glitter on the butterflies.  Lastly, I hand drew and hand embroidered the antennaes and flying path.  I am confident that I will go back and sew along the edges of the tilted paper and when I do I will post the results.

Sweet Cheeks 

This is based on a PageMaps sketch from January 2010.  This was a random "moment" photo I took of Daddy & Reese.  I ripped the edges of the black paper.  I handcut the felt strip (as you can tell).  I made a small flower that I used as a guide to cut out each of the flowers, by hand.  I then needed to find a frame for the bottom photo.  Nothing I found fit or looked right so what did I do?  If you read one of my posts below, then you should know what I did ... I made one myself.  I drew the frame, cut it, stamped it, inked it and popped it up above the photo.  I really like how this one turned out.  

 

As I said above, I have a couple more layouts to post so check back later this week.  And come back again next Monday to see the next Nuts About Sketches sketch.  Here's a teaser for it.