Monday, April 30, 2012

A Day At The Park

And just like that I'm back with another digital layout.  I know, I know, I promise I am NOT abandoning my paper.  I've just been itching for something new and well, this fits the bill.  I have big plans for some paper projects coming soon, but until then, PhotoShop Elements and I are becoming fast friends.  

I wish I could take credit for this design, but no, it was a template that came with the digital kit I picked up from The Sweet Shoppe.  It's called Desert Canyon and I lurve it.  Probally because it's full of my favorite colors, purple, blues, oranges and browns.  Sigh.  Okay, here it is.  Again, I can't get enough of drop shadows.  I think I may be a junkie.


It prints as beautifully as it looks.  My wide format printer is getting a workout!  Again, I'm really happy that I'm finally learning my way around Photoshop Elements.  I feel like I'm flexing my creative wings in a new way and I've been needing that lately.  I hope you all enjoy this page as much as I do!

Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Grow with Me - My First Digital Scrapbook Page

I made my first 100% digital scrapbooking page today!  I didn't set out to do this, I just started playing around with a few free digital kits that I found at the The Sweet Shoppe this afternoon.  What you see is the amalgamation of elements from several different kits.  I am certainly still a novice at this.  I recently discovered the power of the drop shadow and I can't seem to get enough of those!  I actually haven't take any classes yet, I have just watched some video by Ali Edwards and Cathy Zielske, among a few others.  So it's basic, but it was fun!  It only took me two and a half hours and I didn't have to move from the kitchen table until I loaded the photo paper to print it out.  SAWEET!  I hope you like it as much as I do.




Sorry about the small photos - They are actually snippets from the original jpeg.  I am going to have to figure out a way of doing this without distorting the quality of the photo.  There is so much to learn!  But I'm thrilled that I've come this far in such a short period of time.

Recipe:
Digital Kits from the Sweet Shoppe:  Libby Pritchett - Go Your Own Way; Kristin Barrow - Sweet As Honey; Sweet Shoppe - The Little Things
Software:  PhotoShop Elements 10

Thanks as always for stopping by!

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Congratulations Graduate! A card for CASual Fridays No. 49

My nephew is graduating from college in a few weeks.  I needed to come up with something cute but at the same time masculine.  This week's CAS-ual Friday challenge gave me the perfect sketch.  This is a new challenge for me, although I've been a fan of this blog for some time now.  I am also continuing my love affair with negative space.





Very clean and simple!  With a little bit of dimension because I'm me and I can't help myself!
Recipe:
Paper:  Bazzil basics
Silhouette:  2012, graduate, labels, tag

Thanks for stopping by today!

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Thank You Card Box Gift Set

Today I decided to do something random.  I wanted to make something with no specific purpose in mind just because.  I purchased several Silhouette files some time ago that I have really been wanting to  play with and today was the day.  I have been salivating over this stationary box for some time.  I combined it with the beautiful image of the peonies bouquet that was one of this week's new images.  This whole project is basically a print & cut.  From the paper to the images, I did this all with my Cameo.  The paper is from a digital set I picked up some time ago - Echo Park's Orchard Lane. 



This is the back of the stationary box.


Here are the matching Thank You cards I made to go inside.


I used the Silhouette Studio's subtract (weld) feature to create the negative space on this label as the card's focal point.  


I really like finishing the inside of my cards.  It takes a bit more time, but it doesn't really feel done to me unless there are mats on the inside of the cards as well.  On the inside of these cards the same image is displayed, but as a print and on the same style label.  I like mixing and matching the negative images on one side and then using the full image on the other.  One more thing that I adore about my Cameo is that I can manipulate patterns.  The mat on the inside of the card has the same pattern as the label - it's just panned out 200%.  It's like creating a new piece of pattern paper from the same base pattern.  Yet another reason why I adore my Cameo!   




I think this thank you card box set would be a great gift for a teacher or a friend.  I don't know what I'm going to use them for but I am happy to be back to creating just for the sake of it.  I hope you like this project as well!

Recipe:
Paper:  Echo Park - Orchard Lane
Silhouette:  All paper, images and mats

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Sunshiny Days

I apologize for the late post this Sunday morning.  I endeavor to have my Bugbytes guest designer posts up on time but occasionally I get a bit behind schedule.  With that said, I am excited to show you the first two page layout I have done since, well, I think Christmas!  It's based on a sketch from another new sketch site that I've sound - Sketch Support with Allison Davis.  There are more pictures here than I think I have ever used!  I spent a good bit of time in PhotoShop Elements 10 to re-size all of them and then I printed them using my Epson Artisan printer.  Have I mentioned how much I love this printer?  I really love this printer.  Because of the size of the number of pictures I stayed pretty true to the sketch and all of the elements.  I'm trying to do less with more.  Enough jabbering.  Here is the finished page.









All of the die-cuts were cut using my Silhouette Cameo.  I did something a little different though - I actually used the stickers on one of the eighty-five thousand stickers I own.  I was reading on a blog somewhere (wish I could remember where, sorry) that a good way to use these elements is to put them on cardstock and cut around them.  The flowers you see are from the Jillybean Soup's Chicken soup collection and the kite is from Echo Park's A Walk in the Park.  Sometimes I think it can be easier doing this than finding an image, picking out paper, then spicing it up with some other embellishment.  I seem to be in the mood for quick, quick, quick, lately and this certainly fits the bill.  

Recipe:
Paper:  My Mind's Eye Lyme Twist, Jillybean Soup:  Tomato Sauce, Dutch Mustard, Apple cheddar, Chicken Soup, Ehco Park A Walk In The Park
Silhouette:  Die cuts & title
Bling:  Imaginisce
Other elements:  October Afternoon labels & rub ons, Heidi Grace Epoxy Stickers, Daily Doodles flowers

Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Project Life - Weeks Eleven Through Fifteen

I haven't posted any Project Life updates lately.  I got a little bit behind schedule and then I really had to sit down and force myself to get back on track during Spring Break.  I am going to just post my title cards and some highlights because there are a TON of pictures here.



I'm not sure how I managed to capture this in flight photo of my son at soccer practice (on my IPhone no less) but it was worthy of a bigger picture size than the standard 4 x 6.  It's actually 6 x 8 and I trimmed it to fit into 2 4 x 6 pockets.  This is a Design G page protector that I just cut down.  The other side has pictures from our trip to the science museum that weekend.



Every so often I get the urge to include an instagram photo.  I know it's really big with a lot of project lifers but I often find them to be more work than their are worth.  That said, lunch with my Dad and sisters was spectacular and I had my IPhone handy so Instagram it was.   





And 8 1/2 x 11 insert for some memorabilia from Grandparents Day at my son's school.







Holy rotated photo batman!  Sorry about this!  This is a self-portrait I took while we were at the cabin and I printed it in a 6 x 12 photo with my Wide Format Printer.  Love it!  I am also experimenting with a bit of digital scrapbooking.  I added a few elements from the This Full Life kit by Kara Dudley.  


The back of the self-portrait is a 6 x 12 collage that I put together using a Cathy Zielske pre-done frame.  I see myself moving more and more toward digital scrapbook which is unusual because I never thought I would like it.  But I love putting together things like this and the odd and out of the ordinary size photos I can create.  And I am getting more and more comfortable designing on my laptop.


There are two inserts on this week.  The second is is a Design G insert and I love it.  I am really enjoying including larger photos in this album.  Don't you just love this waterfall?  Who knew we lived so close to such fabulous sites!



My first Picture In picture in Photoshop Elements.  This is our loaf of gluten caisein free bread that my MIL baked for me and my kids.  It turned out so well.  So finally - sandwiches that everyone can enjoy!


Recipe:  
Paper:  Echo Park's Note To Self
Silhouette:  Print & Cut title & journal cards using Silhouette images & Kerri Bradford images
Pictures:  Printed using my Epson Artisan 1430 and also my Canon Selphy, digital brushes by Ali Edwards
Miscellaneous embellishments:  Amy Tan, The Girls Paperie, Heidi Grace Epoxy Stickers, miscelleanous titles from my stash

Thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

More Money Books

I got a little carried away this past weekend, I'll admit it.  My sister's co-workers are head over heels in love with the money books.  So I made a few more.  Only six!  One in particular is for Erica, two more for my sister, and the rest, well, they are for whoever wants them.  I tweaked the design a bit to make them sturdier - less perforation, more score lines.













Recipe:
Paper:  DCWV The Blossom Butterflies & Alphabet Stacks, K & Company's Citronella, K & Company's Designer Paper
Silhouette:  All shapes, vinyl

Thanks for stopping by!


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