Time to Rhyme Kit

I had so much fun playing with this new kit by Amanda Creation called Time to Rhyme and I know you will too. The theme centered on reading. I know that we all have pictures of our little ones reading, or at least chewing on a book. I know that I will use this kit over and over again. Here are the layouts that I made using the kit. You can pick up the kit HERE.

Sketch Challenge and Template Freebies

Kerri is currently hosting a sketch challenge on her blog Precious Pixels. If you want to participate in the sketch challenge, head over to her blog here. Here are the pages that I created loosely based off of her sketch using the kit Stars & Stripes by Amanda Creation. You can pick up this kit from Amanda's store here.

Here are your free templates created from these layouts. Direct Download

Bouncy House kit & Template Freebies

Amanda just released a new kit called Bouncy House and I absolutely love it. This kit is so versatile. I just kept finding pictures that would go perfect with it. You can pick up the kit for only a $1.50 from her store by clicking here.

Here are the pages that I made using it.

I have also made three of them into free templates for you. Here are what the templates look like.

Here is the direct download link for you: Click to Download

Free Template

Here is a layout I did for a challenge over at Stuff to Scrap.

And here is your free template. Click here to download

Stars & Stripes by Amanda Creation

Just in time for all of those 4th of July pictures is a new kit by Amanda Creation named Stars & Stripes. This kit is full of really great fireworks splatters as well as some other great extras such as a sub that you won't find in a typical red, white, and blue kit. You can pick up the kit directly from her new store here.

Here are my layouts using this kit.

I have also made these into free templates for you. Pick up your freebies by direct download.

Direct Download

Template Freebie

As promised here is a free template. If you do not know how to use templates in PSE, check out my tutorial. I used this template to make this layout with a kit called Sisters by Just So Scrappy.

And here is the free template. Click here for direct download.

Nuthouse Scraps Contest - Free Mini Kits

Here is the link to the Week 3 Designer Contest over at Nuthouse Scraps. There was a few really cute ones this week so you may want to check it out. The link goes directly to the gallery this time, because the forum link was a little messy.

Week 3 Submissions

I plan on getting some free templates posted this week so check back to make sure that you do not miss them.

Amanda Creation Store - Grand Opening

I am so excited that Amanda gave me the opportunity to be a part of her CT team. Her "Sweet Monkey" kit (the same one that she let me use to design my blog) was the first digital kit that I ever purchased... from anyone. It is still one of my favorites til this day.

Up until now she has sold her kits directly from her blog and then she emails the links out shortly after purchase. Starting today, she now has her own store with immediate direct downloads. And this weekend only, she is offering a Grand Opening 50% off sale. How awesome is that. So head on over to the store Here and check it out.

Nut House Scraps Free Mini Kits

I recently discovered a digital scrapbook store called Nut House Scraps. They currently having a 4 week designer contest. What does that mean for you? Free mini kits from all of the designers in the contest. You can download these kits by going to the Nut House Scraps Forum under the "Design For Me" Category. I have also included the links for Week 1 and 2 Below.

Nut House Week 1 Submissions

Nut House Week 2 Submissions

Template Freebie

I signed up for a challenge over at Stuff to Scrap and almost missed the submission deadline last night because I have been so busy lately. Thankfully, I remembered in time and I made it to Round 2. Yah! Here was my layout.

I used the kit Snappy by AmyDane Designs. This is a really great kit with nice colors and textures. In case anyone would like the template based on the layout I have included it here. We were given a template to start with but I modified it so much that I do not think anyone would mind if I share it with you. You can pick up the original template for free at the Stuff to Scrap forum.

Download Here

Glad You're My Dad Kit

A-Manda Creation released a new kit yesterday that is perfect for all of those daddy pictures, but it is also great for other moments. In my two coordinating pages below, I used it for both a daddy page and a baby page. While I didn't use them in my layouts, this kit has some really cool tools in it so if you are searching for that then this kit is perfect. I'm really looking forward to using these in the future. You can pick up this kit from Amanda Here.

Speed Scrap & Fresh Kit

I just finished a Speed Scrap over at Stuff to Scrap. The first layout below is from that. The participation prize was a free kit from MDK Scraps out of the store. A Speed Scrap is where the instructor (MDK Scraps in this instance) provides 7 instructions in 1 hour and then you have an additional hour to finish your layout and upload to the gallery and forum. You then receive the designated participation prize. I have received several really nice free full kits this way. I highly recommend it.

I used the kit "Fresh" by Delicious Scraps for this layout. And since I usually make coordinating pages, I went ahead and made page 2 as well. The third page is one I already previously had done. I liked this kit so much that I researched where I picked it up at and lucky for you, it is still free from Delicious Scraps right now. You can pick it up Here for Free from her Store.

Bunny Business & Template Freebies

I just made a few new layouts using a kit called Bunny Business by A-Manda Creation. You can pick this kit up Here for only $1.50. Hard to beat that deal.

While my first impulse was to use this kit for Easter pictures, unfortunately I already have all of my Easter layouts finished. But, thankfully, I had some pictures from back in October that I had not finished yet and were perfect for this kit. I love when I can find ways to use kits other than the obvious ways. I really love the bright colors.

I also made the first two pages into free templates for you. Pick up your freebies Here.

Above & Below Tutorial

Sometimes you want an object to be both above (on top of) and below another object. While this seems impossible, there really is an easy solution. For this tutorial, Object A will be the object that you want in the middle while Object B will be the object that you want to be both on top and below Object A. In the screenshot example, Object A is the rectangle while Object B is the string.

Open both Object A & B. Place Object B on top in your layers palette. Now position it where you want it on your canvas. Duplicate Object B and place the copy below Object A in the layers palette. Now you should have in order from top to bottom: Object B, Object A, and copy of Object B. Activate the top layer (Obj. B). Using your eraser tool, you can now erase the portion that you want to be only below Object A. I recommend that you zoom in and erase the edges that cross over the square first as precisely as possible. Next, you can enlarge the eraser brush to erase the larger portion.

Before:

After:

That is it. Now you have an object both below and above another object.

Hope you enjoy.

Lemonade Stand Kit & Template Freebie

From the first time that I saw this kit, I could not wait til I got to play with it. It is called Lemonade Stand by A-manda Creation and you can find it Here.

This kit is great for all summer time pictures even those not dealing directly with lemonade. I can picture this kit being used for those hot summer festivals, backyard play, splish splash pool play, and of course any lemonade moments. Personally, its been a while (relative term) since I had a little mini photo shoot with my sweet girl, so I mixed up a batch of lemonade and took some cute pics. There were so many cute ones that it was hard deciding which ones to use for the layouts.

I have also made a template of the second page for you to use with your own pictures. It looks like this

Note: This template is 11.95x11.95 inches. If your printing dimensions vary slightly from this, you can simply adjust your canvas size.

To download click Here.

How to Use Templates in PSE Tutorial and a Free Template

We will be using the template that I used to make this layout for this tutorial. I used the kit "Love Birds" by Just so Scrappy in my layout.

 

Here is the template.

To download this template and a copy of this tutorial click Here.

Note: All my templates are 11.95 x 11.95 because this is the print size for the printer vendor that I use. If your print size varies, you can resize the canvas by going to: Image – Resize – Canvas Size.

Using templates in digital scrapbooking is a great time saver while preserving your creative freedom. Think of a template as a jump start. The template has shapes placed on the page as suggestions where to place photos, papers, and sometimes even elements. The key word is “suggestions”. You are not locked down to the current placements, and are free to move them around, resize, or delete any of the shapes at your smallest whim. Once these are all in place, you can then proceed to the fun part of “decorating” your page with all of your fun elements.

This tutorial will walk you through this simple process. If you have not already read my tutorial on Using Clipping Masks in PSE, I would do that now before you get started here.

Open your template file (the PSD file type) in PSE. You will notice in your Layer Box that each layer has a shape, and if the template creator is nice, each layer will have a label of its suggested purpose (ex. Photo, paper, etc).

Now, open the pictures and papers that you would like to use. Move them one at a time into your main working canvas by dragging and dropping (remember in some versions of PSE, you can’t drag from the “bin”, but must double click on the object in the “bin” to bring it up in the work area and then drag from one canvas to the other.

In this example, I picked the paper that will be the largest angled paper background. It will save you some time if you go ahead and click on the shape in the Layer Box that you will be clipping it to, so that when you bring your object, in this case paper, into the working canvas, it will automatically be immediately above the shape. Now position the paper where it is completely covering the shape in the window screen (working canvas). 

Make sure your paper is the active layer in the Layer box and press Ctrl G. (You can also press Alt, hover between the paper and shape in the layer box until your cursor turns into a little wing object and then click, but Ctrl G seems so much easier to me). I go for simple. You can adjust the position and size using the corner brackets (just like normal).

Now repeat this process for every layer. 

Once you have all layers clipped, I recommend linking each set (shape and linked object) so that if you want to move the around, then you can move them together. You can always unlink, if you want to modify just one.

Now, the fun part. Open any additional elements that you wish to use to decorate your page. You can move them between the layers depending on if you would like them “on top” or “below” particular layers. It is usually best to have some of both.

Hope you enjoy.

June Blog Trains

I know there are some of you out there that are trying to decide if you want to make the leap into digital scrapbooking. Lucky for you there are a good many resources for free that you can use before you commit fully to it and decide to start buying kits. One of those opportunities are blog trains. Basically, a blog train is where a group of designers have joined forces, decided on a blog theme, and each blog designer creates a few elements, papers, or other freebies for that theme and color pallette. So if you go to each blog participating, you can download a freebie that will then coordinate with all of the other freebies you collect from the other blogs. At the end, you end with a free mega kit, and throughout the way you can see blogs that may have other items of interest that you may decide to follow/subscribe or bookmark. A couple blog trains that I follow started today (some put there stuff up yesterday so you may have to scroll down on their blog to find it).

Stuff to Scrap (STS) Blog Train: The theme is "Bouncin' Beach Balls". Here is a link to one of the girls in the train. From her blog you can find a list of each of the other blogs participating. Just click on each and start snagging your goodies.

STS Blog Train


The other one is The Blog Train. The theme is "Monkeys".

The Blog Train

Hope you enjoy finding all your goodies!

Using PSE Clipping Masks Tutorial

Clipping masks are very useful and can make your pages more appealing and your time more efficient. Photoshop Elements (PSE) does not officially have a clipping mask tool. However, there is a way to get the same basic effect as the clipping tool in the full Photoshop software.

A clipping mask is used when you want to cut the shape of one object into another object. I find that clipping my pictures is more advantageous than cropping, simply because you don’t lose any of your picture. It is still there, just hidden. Therefore, if you decide you want to change the shape of the picture, you can. Clipping masks are also very useful to for making decorative paper strips and circles, picture mats, borders, and a host of other objects. You can even use this method to cut text into paper.

Clipping an object is really quite simple. Simply bring the object that you want to clip in your main working canvas in PSE (we will call this object A). Then click on the “Shape” tool. You can select whatever shape you would like (rounded corner rectangle, rectangle, circle, etc). 

Now make the shape that you want to cut the first object to and move it below object A on the canvas. Also, make sure that the shape layer is directly below object A in the Layers Box.

Click on the object A layer to make it the active layer. Press CTRL G. That’s it. You have just “clipped” object A to the shape.

 Now you can zoom in or out on object A just like normal (make sure that object A layer is active) and only the portion that is within the shape will be visible. Once you are satisfied, I would recommend linking the object A layer with the shape, so when you move it around the screen they move together. You can also modify the size of the two together (make them larger or smaller) by having them linked. If you wish to modify the size of just one, then make sure that they are not linked, and that you are active only on a single layer.

As always, I hope this tutorial is helpful and please feel free to leave comments and/or subscribe to my blog to make sure you don’t miss out on future tutorials and freebies.

PSE Basic Navigation Tutorial

This tutorial covers the basics for beginners working in Photoshop Elements and how to navigate within the software. Please look for future tutorials where I will cover slightly more advanced topics including using clipping masks, using layout templates, resizing your image (for online gallery upload), using dropshadows, adjusting color and hue, using the magic wand tool and marquee tool, and other topics that are handy when creating your digital scrapbook layouts.


Note: I am using Photoshop Elements (PSE) Version 6. These steps will be based off of this version. Processes may vary slightly in other versions. If you are using a different version, and note a difference, please leave a comment describing the difference to help other viewers as they may be using your same version.

How to Create a New File:
File -> New -> Blank File. Select the size that you would like your canvas (page). I print my books through Shutterfly so I set my page size to 11.95 x 11.95 per their template (you can find Shutterfly size templates http://www.shutterfly.com/digitalscrapbook/scrapbook-design-specs.jsp). Usually, I just open their base template with all page settings already selected, and then drag my layout template from a separate file or start designing using the template as my base.

How to Open a File:
There are several options. I usually find the picture or object that I wish to open using Windows Explorer/My Computer and then right click “Open With” – “Photoshop Elements”. You can also from within PSE, select File – Open and then browse your computer. If you use the second method from within PSE, you can open multiple items at once. However, I usually use the first option, because I have already navigated to the file that I want to open in a separate window, so I do not want to have to go find it again by going through the PSE Open File process. You can also “Place” (File -> Place) an object on a current layer. I rarely use this option.

How to Save a File:
To save a file go to File -> Save As. You will want to save a PSE file (to make future changes) as well as a JPEG copy.

How to Move an Object into your Main PSE Canvas (Working Canvas):
In my version of PSE (I believe this varies depending on the version), if I drag a picture from my “Bin” along the bottom of my screen into my working canvas, then it limits the functionality of this layer. Therefore, I always double click on the object from my Bin which I wish to move, it pops up into the main view area (minimize the layer so that you can see that object and your main working canvas). Now simply click on the object you wish to move and drag it into your main working canvas. Note: The new object will appear depending on which layer you were on in the working canvas before you added the new object. Therefore, if you wish for the new object to be on top, make sure you are clicked on the top layer before dragging the new object over.

How to Positioning an Object on Canvas:
If you wish to MOVE AN OBJECT on the canvas, simply click on that object and drag it to its desired location. If you cannot see an option, because there are other objects on top of it, you have a couple options. You can either, select it in the layer box and move the layer upwards until it is on top of the objects blocking it or you can click the “eyeball” in the Layers box for all of the items on top of it so you can “see” through them. This simply makes a layer invisible so you can see what is below it.

How to Work with Layers:
Each object you add to your working canvas will have its own layer. The order that they are in under the Layers Box (bottom right side of your PSE screen) determines the order that they are in on your canvas. This means that the top layer will show on top on your working canvas as if it is sitting on top of all other layers. You can rearrange this simply by clicking on a layer and dragging it up or down. To SELECT MULTIPLE LAYERS, hold down CTRL as you select each layer. To SELECT A BLOCK OF LAYERS, select the top layer in the block then hold SHIFT and select the bottom layer. This will select those two layers and all layers in between. You can also reverse this (select bottom layer and then Shift top layer). To LINK LAYERS, select the desired layers, and then click the icon at the top of the Layers Box that looks like two chains connected. By linking layers, when you move any object on the working canvas that is in the linked set, all of the linked layers will move together. For example, if you have a frame and a picture, you might want to link these so that if you move it from the top left corner to the bottom right corner, you can drag them together. To INSERT A NEW LAYER, click on the icon at the top of the Layers box that looks like a page is turning. To LOCK A LAYER so that it cannot be moved accidently, click on the lock icon.

How to Copy/Duplicate an Object:
To DUPLICATE AN OJBECT, you can either right click the layer in the Layers box and select “duplicate layer” or you can press ALT, click the object in the working canvas, and and drag the object. This is especially handy if you want to have the same object several times on your page.

How to Resize an Object:
To resize an object, click on it in the main working canvas. If you wish to select multiple items, simply hold down the SHIFT key before click on each object in the Working canvas (or if you have the layers already linked in the Layers box then you can skip that step). Now you will see the dotted line and positioning corners as you would normally see in any other program. To keep the object’s scale, always drag from the corners. There are some circumstances, where it is necessary to using the side and top positioners, but especially for pictures I would not use these. To rotate the object, hover in the corner till you see the two arrows pointing in a semi-circle, click and move your mouse to rotate the object.

I hope this tutorial is helpful. Please feel free to leave comments and do not forget to subscribe to my blog so that you do not miss any future tutorials and freebies.

Boo Boo & Bandaids & Template Freebie

I am very excited to be on the CT Team for A-Manda Creation. She has really amazing kits that are full of amazing goodies at very reasonable prices. I have used several of her kits in my own scrapbook designs, and I have always loved how they have turned out. She has recently released a new kit called "Boo Boo and Bandaids" and it is perfect, of course, for all of those scratches, falls, bruises, hospital visits, and sick days that all kids will inevitably have, but as you will see with my layouts, it is also a very versatile kit that can be used for happy hospital visits. I used the kit to design my daughter's Ada Jane new baby hospital pictures. You can pick up this kit at Amanda's blog Here. Below are my layouts using this kit.

I have also created two freebie templates based off of my layouts that you can download for your personal use. If you do not know how to use templates, stay tuned because I will be posting a tutorial in a few day of how to use templates and how they can save you time in your designs without limiting your creative freedom. Download links include a copy of the JPEG image below as well as a fully layered PSE file.

Download

Download

I hope you enjoy these. If you use one of these templates, I would love to see your finished layout. Feel free to link it in a comment.