Crisdam Designs

Yes, it may have been a quite six weeks on the ol' blog, but it was a busy time at home and in Photoshop. I was inspired by Crisdam Designs' kits to make these pages:

Books: An Interview with Myself

Project February Kit

Project February Bits & Pieces

Project February Cardstock

Project February Alphas

 This one came together pretty quickly, and was inspired by a challenge from the logbook from Log Your Memory. It was also noticed by the ladies at the Gallery Standouts blog, which blew me away. I don't know. I expect to see my pages on the designer's blogs, but when they are noticed elsewhere it gives me warm fuzzies.

Not A Puppy
Fluffy Kit

 I'll be honest. I have been waiting for this kit to be featured on Pixel Tuesdays pretty much since I started on Isabel's team. I have several other sets of pictures with John inside Stella's crate, and was just waiting for the chance to use this kit to show some of them off. I could easily make a righthand page to coordinate with all the photos I have!

Mama
Mom's Kitchen Kit

 This page was also inspired by a Log Your Memory challenge, to describe myself with one word. I took Isabel's retro kitchen kit, Mom's Kitchen, and made a very non-kitchen page with it. I think it is an important story to tell, and was reminded once again why I love this hobby so much, because these are the things I want to remember to share with my kids. Without my scrapbooks and the chance to record the memories as they come to me, I wouldn't remember the details (or the story at all, 'cuz let's face it, my memory is faulty!).

Waiting for Spring

Project May Kit

Project May Alphas

Project May Shabby Papers

 I love the look on John's face in this photo and the title says it all. Well, actually, if we could see through the window, he's watching Maggie and the dog play in the backyard...but he couldn't play because it was too cold.  So sure, he's waiting for Spring. Making the photo B&W against all that bright color really reinforced the longing to me. (And the color of his shirt just wasn't working.) These are my favorite colors, and I think the Project May kit is my favorite so far of the Project 2011 series.

Spring Ride
Spring Dream Kit
Spring Dream Alphas

Yes, the date on the photos is February, but it felt like a Spring Day. The weather has been so strange here this year that I could have a page called Winter Delight and the photos could be from May. But I had to take the chance to photograph Maggie doing what she loves, riding her bike, especially after a long winter without riding.

I *think* that catches me up on pages. I'm sure I'll find something missing in the coming days, but you get the idea of what went on creatively over the last 6 weeks.

I'll have a new post up later today directing you to my new side-blog-project-adventure-whoknowswhat. I took Jessica Sprague's Art of Digital Design class this Spring (also part of why I neglected my blog so badly), and some of my classmates put together a collab kit to raise money for the earthquake relief in Japan. Since we are all new designers, it took a little time to get the ball rolling and get pieces made (as evidenced by the fact that I didn't even have time to put anything together for it!), but it is now available in the store at jessicapsrague.com. There will be a blog hop starting tonight, and while I didn't contribute to the kit, I did get to make a quickpage from the pieces that were submitted. I will be hosting my portion of the hop at my new blog: www.foosamoon.blogspot.com. There is already some teaser information over there if you want to check it out.

As always, happy scrapping!

Deeper and deeper

Paper and feathers from class materials
Brushes: Destroyed Heraldry and Romantic Disasters from bittbox.com and a-a-m stains from diviantart.com

I am a learner.  It's just part of who I am.  There is a constant drive to learn more, whether it's about something I read, some part of my genealogy research, or how to use Photoshop more effectively (or creatively). Digi in Deeper started at JessicaSprague.com earlier this week.  I was so busy with work and family that I didn't really start the class until earlier today while Johnny napped.  All I can say is, I can't work fast enough.  I am loving it!  Working through Jessica's classes makes me fall in love all over again with aspects of Photoshop that I don't normally think of using.  They also teach great skills to give layouts that extra pop.

In the layout above, I made the starburst paper that is blended into the background.  I made that!  I've always seen papers like that and wondered how in the heck designers did that.  And now I know!  It's just a great feeling (and isn't as hard as I would have guessed).  I also think I'll be using these photos a few more times because I love 'em.  Love 'em, love 'em, love 'em.

Now I'm off to get through another layout.  This class is jam packed with goodness, and THREE lessons each week rather than the usual one.  One down, three to go, just to catch up for this first week!  It's a good thing all materials are available forever!

So much to say

It's a busy weekend over at Gotta Pixel!  Between Gotta Grab It new releases, and a super sale, it's crazy!

First off, GGI... All the designers use the same colors to create packs for $1 each...this month's colors are great spring colors, that REALLY make me wish for Spring!  Since I work with three designers at Gotta Pixel, it's a VERY busy weekend.

Papers and elements by Crisdam Designs

Isabel has a paper pack, matching elements, and alphas in the mix this weekend.  I made this page for the Week 6 challenge at Log Your Memory, about a special relationship.

Flea Market Word Art and Borders by Etc by Danyale

I suppose I could have also used this page for the same challenge.  Using the packs by Etc by Danyale, this page went together super fast.  I knew I wanted to make this page as soon as she started talking about what her general idea for the packs were, and I feel like this word art was made especially for me to use, because it fit my vision exactly!!  A few of her borders, a quick piece of word art, and the page was finished!  (And because I couldn't find paper like I was looking for at the time I was building this page, I made my own!)

Connie also has new packs in the store this weekend too, but I haven't had a chance to play with them yet.

And the sale!!

The designers are having a HUGE SALE.  The GGI packs are not part of this, but it's a great chance to stock up.

I am hoping to get some good scrapping time in this weekend.  Jessica Sprague's new Digi in Deeper class started this week, and so far I'm still on the first layout.  I put my sketch together, but haven't had the time to sit down and actually work through the lesson.  Suddenly I'm very behind!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  We spent all day yesterday traveling home, so I am beat. But there are lots of changes and new adventures coming up in the next few weeks.

Look for changes to my blog coming in the next week or so.  I am working through the Blog Design Basics class at JessicaSprague.com, and hope to have all the pieces in working order by the end of the week.  Before I figure all that out though, I will be loading a new background and header up.  I'm using a pre-made set that matches Connie Prince's kit "This One Life".  These are available exclusively at Gotta Pixel through the end of this month.

Speaking of Connie Prince, I will be adding Connie's team to my list of CT's!! (At least for the next three months.)  I won a guest spot on her CT at the GottaPixel chat on NYE night!  I'm super excited to play with her designs.

It's 2011, and with that comes a whole new set of challenges at Log Your Memory.  I have finished my first page (the Remember 2010 page I posted last time), and have one more ALMOST done...I just can't make the title look the way I want it to.

And one more finished page to wrap up today. This is what I made at Friday night's Speed Scrap, using Project 2011 Cardstock and Bits & Pieces from Isabel Mendez (Crisdam Designs).  I am loving the flexibility of these basic pieces, and can't wait to add each monthly add-on kit throughout the year. (I've already used the January pieces to make my desktop background for the month.

Ok, that was two pages.  I guess I need to work on my counting skills.  While I do that, enjoy the new year and all the hope that newness brings.

Free. WHAT?

It's been a while since my last post, but then I warned that might happen. Between moving and life, I've been squeezing my creative time into the wee hours of the night. I did get to spend a little time playing games this weekend, as it was Digi-Scrapbooking Day on Saturday and both My Life and Scrap and Gotta Pixel had loads of games and events going on.  I've done a little scrapping since my last post, but today I have a little something different.

Every six months or so, Jessica Sprague offers a new class. For free. That's right, free.  I've already signed up, as I have for even available free class for the last two years. This is how I was introduced to digital scrapbooking, and also the site I took ALL my classes to learn Photoshop, photo editing, and a few other new things. (I am not paid in any form by Jessica...in fact, I regularly SPEND my money here.) I consider this website and community my homebase, even if I don't get to check in every day.

Click this image to be taken to JessicaSprague.com and more information about the course.

This class should be fantastic. 10 days of inspiration and projects. There is very little photoshop knowledge required (as in, if you don't have the program, you should still be ok.  If you've never opened it, you'll also be fine).  Here is the description from her website:

In our 10-day class together, we'll cover five different paths to inspiration:

• Words
• Music
• Art
• Tools
• Play

For each of the themes we'll have a project to make, and different techniques to call your creative muse, no matter WHAT kind of art you make!

The other great thing about these classes is that even if life gets in the way and you can't finish (or start as the case may be) the class during the scheduled time, you still have access to all the materials FOREVER!  Makes it easy to not stress about life. (Or easy to procrastinate, as I have a habit of doing.) 

I'll be back later this week with the pages I've made for all my designers, but wanted to share this class as it should be fun!

Catchin' up on Photoshop Friday layouts

Every week at JessicaSprague.com, there is a quick tutorial for sale for $1 if you buy it between Wednesday and Friday. Each tutorial teaches one specific technique that can be used to enhance pages. So far, the techniques had been review of things taught in Jessica's photoshop class trio, but it is nice to have the refresher, and in some cases she teaches tricks that weren't in the classes (unless I just sped by them in the class). 

I have two more PSF layouts to do to catchup on. One is finished, I'm just trying to decide if I am using it for this week's weekly challenge or not, and the other I haven't even started on -- have to get some photo inspiration!

Templates for both layouts from Jessica Sprague Photoshop Friday series (Birthday = #3, Popsicle = #5). Papers for both layouts from ScrapMatter's collab kit "Life's Little Surprises."  Font on Birthday is Georgia. Font on Popsicle is Pea KT Polkie Dot.

A Story of Flowers

I saw a layout today about planting flowers in memory of the author's father.  It made me think about the flowers that I have left for my childhood neighbors, and led to this layout.  Thanks to that inspiration, I have a two-fold benefit -- this story has been told, and I am one layout closer to actually finishing the Type+Writer layouts from this Spring.  I just wish I had a picture of me with the Johnsons that I could use in the layout.  Flowers from my mom's garden will have to do for now though. :-)

I also used a kit from Deena Rutter that is free at persnicketyprints.com as part of a layout contest.  I am trying to decide if this will be the one I submit or if I will create something else with the kit.  I do love these colors!

Supplies:
Template from Type+Writer (Jessica Sprague)
Papers, flourishes, and felt flower from Heirloom kit (Scarbourough Fair add-on) at persnicketyprints.com (Deena Rutter)
Fonts: Century Gothic, MaSexy, Palatino Linotype.

Photoshop Fridays

Photoshop Friday tutorials have resumed at JessicaSprague.com, only they are available  on Wednesdays now!  Each week, a new tutorial is released as part of One Buck Wednesday, and is available at that great price until midnight (Eastern) on Friday, when it jumps to $3.99.  The first two PSF lessons have been fun. They are quick, simple tricks to help use more techniques in your digital scrapping.   Each tutorial comes with access to a video lesson, a template, the supplies needed to complete the layout, and a PDF instruction sheet that can be printed out for future reference.  The first technique is creating the interrupted outline frame around the photo block in the photo above.  The second technique is using a custom shape to mask a patterned paper. 

Supplies for "This Beautiful Girl": Paper: Jessica Sprague "In a Word". Template: Jessica Sprague. Fonts: MaSexy and Century Gothic.

Supplies for "The Next Generation Scrapper": Papers and template: Jessica Sprague. Fonts: Happy Daze and Georgia.