Hello Everyone and Happy Sunday!

Krista (sahlink) here with another opportunity to meet someone amazing in the ScrapMatters community. I was so excited to interview her because I think her work is truly amazing!

Who are we meeting today?
Kim (or kimmik6) of Simply Sweet Designs, a design apprentice here at ScrapMatters. Check out what she has in the shop here

Here are some things that I learn about Kim:
Your screen name? Your real name?
In the forums/gallery I am known as kimmik6. My designer name is Simply Sweet Designs, but most people just call me Kim.

What is your main job/career?
My full time job and dream job is raising four beautiful children and being wife to my BFF. Yes, I am a SAHM of four and that IS a job!
I love it…Mommy by day, scrapper chick by night!

Are you married/children/pets?
Yes, yes and yes…married (10 years in three more months!!!) with four kids and a cat!

Where is home for you?
Beautiful Wasatch Mountains in Utah.

What are your 3 favorite foods?
oohhh..chocolate, chocolate and um…CHOCOLATE!
(I like seafood and Mexican too

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
I don’t really like ice cream…I know, I know.

Snacks…Salty or Sweet?
Definitely sweet!

Beverage of choice?
I know people will think I am silly – but water!

What’s your least favorite food?
Brussel sprouts, squash and anything moving or look like it could move.

PC or Mac? What program do you use?
PC. And I think I am a lone fish in the sea when it comes to designers and scrappers alike…I use Microsoft Digital Image Pro (DIP). Great program, limited, but I have learned how to do so much with it anyway.

How long have you been digi-scrapping? How did you get started?
I have paper-scrapped for nine years and digi-scrapped for two. Though I kick myself that I didn’t start doing digital sooner…when my kiddos started getting into all my paper materials and spreading them all over the house!

What was your 1st LO about?
Oh my goodness, it took me hours to do too! It was so flat and basic – it was about my two daughters beautiful curly hair.

Do you have any other hobbies besides digi-scrapping (are there other hobbies)?
I teach fitness classes and also love taking pictures. I am a huge sports fan and love college football season (yeah!). And, is sleeping a hobby? It should be…I never get to do that though! LOL!

What is the most challenging part of scrapbooking for you?
Finding the time!!! Now that I am designing as well, I feel like time is such an issue. I am constantly going in and out of little ruts. I love completing a LO though and the satisfaction of having another one down (only a hundred more to go!)

What would you like to learn to do (or do better) not related to scrapbooking?
I think I could be better at just playing with my kids on their level. Whoa! I know a little deep, but you know what I mean…your little two year old wants you to race cars around the house with him…(I often think I am too old to be doing that). The whole point is the time spent and the fact that it is important to him that you did something he likes to do…trust me – the house will always be there – - sadly, kids grow up and aren’t. I could do better and being a kid sometimes and really playing with them on their level.

What are your favorite movies/TV shows?
I really like reality type shows: Survivor, American Idol, Amazing Race and I also like 24 and Lost (though I don’t know why I keep watching it!) I love old hollywood movies with Audrey Hepburn and the likes…one of my favs is “My Fair Lady”.

Describe your “scrapping” environment.
Music? TV? Drinks? Snacks? Where?
Late at night, mostly dark (I am gonna be blind someday), a glass of cold water, quiet at my big desk with my cat curled up around my feet.

If you only had 2 elements to use on a LO, what would they be?
I love the little things. I really like stitches and does journaling count as an element? I think the story behind the picture is so important. I am also a sucker for buttons…I just like to throw them around.

Would you like to share a little known fact about you…?
I am a military brat. Go Airforce! I have only lived in the USA now for 15 years and I am almost 32. So about half my life was spent overseas. I am the oldest of six though and it made my family so close!

When did you start designing?
What is your favorite product that you’ve designed?
I started designing about four months ago as a way to explore that side of my creativity and it quickly became addicting and fun! I think my favorite kit so far was my intro one for SM, “Carpe Diem” (I like the colors)…but I love all the cute little critters in “My Big Backyard” too.

Carpe Diem by Simply Sweet Designs

Here’s a LO created by ezane using Carpe Diem

.

My Big Backyard by Simply Sweet Designs

Here’s a LO created by linz using My Big Backyard

How would you describe your design style?
I guess I go for more of the handmade paper looking stuff… I like to make things out of paper and with shapes. I am maturing though as a designer and trying new techniques and styles…so I hope to continue to grow and change.

Where do you get your inspiration/motivation?
LOL! My hubby thinks I am so weird because everywhere we go I am always looking at what kids are wearing and looking at things “for their design worth”. I get inspired from so many things!

Which of your kits showcases you style the most?
Probably “My Big Backyard” kit, but like I said, I am hoping to continue to learn and grow while being here among all the extremely talented designers and CT members.

What is your favorite color scheme to design with?
I have three girls and a boy…I make kits for things I need LO’s for…I need to branch out and start making some boy ones though… our family scrapbook is pink, pink, pink, blue and then more girly colors. I really love black too…it can be so many things in a kit…bold, sassy, elegant, mysterious, simple…

Thanks so much for spending some time with us on a Sunday morning.
Check out Simply Sweet Designs shop here and her beautiful blog here

Thanks for letting us get to know you better Kim!

Krista

Hello All,

Cyndi here, with my very first Saturday Special Challenge… he he!!

This week our challenge will focus on seasons.  I find that by the end of one season, I am so ready for the next.  I am so fortunate to live in a state where we experience all the seasons.  I can find something I love about each and every one.   Here in California, the weather’s cooling, the leaves are beginning to turn, the air is even smelling different.

My challenge to you is to scrap something you love about a specific season.  I chose Autumn because that is the next season I’ll experience… and I am soooo ready for fall.  You can choose your favorite season, or your next season, or any season you want.  Or you can follow the example of our brilliant CT Members and make up your own!!  Just scrap something you love about it.  There are many things I love about fall, but I chose to scrap about my love for pumpkins.  I love the way they look, the way they taste, I even love the way they smell.

Here is my LO:

I used Tater’s brand new “Wrapped In Autumn” kit available in the store.

Here’s some very beautiful and diverse inspiration from our wonderful Creative Team -

Fall Season by Kim:

Sweatshirt Season by Mary:

Baseball Season by Christine:

Pumpkin Spiced Latte Season (another of my personal favorites) by Stefanie:

And Spring Season by Krista:

How’s that for inspiration!!  I love them all!  So get scrapping… be creative… think outside the box!  I can’t wait to see what you come up with.

You have until Midnight Friday, September 26th to post in the gallery and link back to the forum  HERE so I know you are playing along.

Everyone who submits a LO will receive this awesome participation prize “Sunflower Garden”by Haynay Designs  (perfect for your favorite Spring Season LOs, wouldn’t you say??)

Have a great weekend and I can’t wait to see your LOs!!

Hi Andrea here.  Just wanted to announce that we have some new designers at ScrapMatters.

Not sure if you’ve noticed that we have some new apprentice designers.  They are fabulous and amazingly talented. Despite the short time they’ve been designing their work looks like they’ve been designing for years.  They recently dazzled the scrapping community with their daily download kit, soon to be in the shop!

Our fabulous apprentices are: Heather (HayNay Designs), Kim (Simply Sweet Designs), Lina (LDrag Designs), Maria (Scrapmuss Designs), Sandy (Inspiration’s Creations), Stacy (Designs by Tater) and Wendy (WM [squared] Designs).  Go stop by their shops and be impressed!

We also have another fantastic designer joining the SM team.  Jenn of JenLin Designs, is an accomplished designer and we are so happy she decided to set up shop here.  Visit her shop by clicking on the image.

Jenn has two new kits, Flim Flam and Kenzie, that she created specifically for her shop at ScrapMatters.

I hope you will join me in welcoming all of the new members of the ScrapMatters design team.

Hello all!  Wendy here for another installment of “Words For Wednesday”!

Ever attend an event and forgot your camera?  Ever go through something significant and need to get it down on paper, but don’t have any “pictures” to accompany that journaling?  Well….for today’s challenge, its ok!  I am guilty of putting together a LO and not attach much journaling to it.  On traditional pages, its easy to hide journaling or a long story, and with digi, I feel like my hands are tied, even though I know they aren’t.

For today, your challenge is this:  Whip up a LO with journaling only.  No pictures.  You may use all the elements you want, just no pictures!

To help {bribe} I mean, motivate you – everyone who posts your LO here in the forum –> here will get a participation prize!  You have until Tuesday, September 23rd to submit your LO’s.

What’s the prize you ask?  THIS:

Can’t wait to see your layouts!

Hi all, it’s Monica here with another Tuesday Template for you. Just to make it even easier than usual, I’ve chosen no theme for this week. So use this template however you want to and post your layout in our Tuesday Template Forum. You can find the thread here.

Now here is your template:

You just complete your layout. There is no theme so it’s Scrapper’s Choice. Have Fun with it. Here is a better look at my layout:

The ladies of the ScrapMatters Design and Creative Teams have also helped me out by creating some layouts. Maybe these will give you some inspiration.

By Kimbytx:

By Kim:

By Maria:

By Wendy:

By Brittney:

And by Krista:

And now for the goodie. For all of you who complete this Tuesday Template Challenge and post your layout in the forum will receive this Alpha.

Can’t wait to see your layouts!

I can hardly believe how quickly this summer has past. Now that we are headed back into fall, my family schedule has gotten a bit more complicated. My oldest daugher has just started back to preschool. My youngest and I are joining a mom & me playgroup. Both girls will be taking a dance class. My dear husband always keeps a crazy schedule with his sports and volunteer activities. My scheduled activities are the least in our family -but, like most moms, I’m responsible for getting everyone back and forth, fed and dressed.

All of these changes have left me struggling to figure out how to keep it all together, make sure our house is clean and make sure there is time for fun in-between all the running & cleaning! I’m really not the most organized person I know, so it’s been a bit of a struggle for me. Sometimes while I’m trying to figure it all out, I find myself thinking that I’d much rather be scrapping than sweeping up the kitchen (for the 3rd time that day!).

Scrapping rather than sweeping??? Yes, I have a problem, LOL! BUT, I’m not interested in looking for a 12-step program just yet. Instead, I’ve decided to put my scrapping skills to good use. I can scrap some projects to help me get organized and stay organized. Not only that, but I can think of some ways to get my family involved too (insert evil laugh here – ha-ha-ha-ha)!!!!

I figured that the first thing I needed to do was to figure out who needs to be where and when. Now, I do have a calender already, but those little boxes drive me nuts, and we have a lot of activities that get repeated on certain days. Not only that, but dates regularly get changed and I end out crossing out (or using white-out) frequently. So, all those little boxes are a mess, and I’ve got to re-write all re-occuring activites each month.

Are you ready?? Here’s the part where we put those scrapping skills to good use!

I found some great calendar templates from Sya’s Blueprints – that come with both the top (picture/ LO portion) and bottom (dates portion). I opened up this months template and grabbed my current calendar. (Okay – the templates are for 2009, so I had to swap a month name to get the corresponding dates because I need organization right now, LOL!) I then opened a 4×6 file and typed out all of the re-occuring events – school days, sports, etc. I’ll laminate this later and hang it next to my calendar as a key. I used my new Watercolor Doodle Brushes & Ellie Lash’s “Fly Free” kit to make this key.

Then I used the brushes to mark the events on the correct days on the calendar grid. (HERE’s THE TIME SAVER…) I made sure that they were on their own layer so that I could easily drag them onto next months calendar template. Then I just filled in all the other single day events.

Now I can print it and save it. Any new events can be hand written in, or I can go back and add it to the template and reprint it!

Now that I know when all the scheduled events happen, it’s time to fit in some other organization. A great way to get my kids to help out with the chores (ie keeping their rooms neat and organized) was to make them a chore chart. Both of my DD’s really enjoyed scrapping on mommy’s computer (I let them help – so don’t judge their scrap styles too hard, LOL!). Here is DD2′s chart – she picked Tiny Cowgirl by Britt-ish Designs

The charts hang in their rooms, and at the end of each day, they get a sticker for each chore they completed. Any chores they don’t complete each day can be made up with extra chores, like wiping down the fronts of appliances, or changing wastebasket trash bags (they are still little, so we keep the chores simple). At the end of the week, mommy has had a lot less argueing with them, and they get to earn some special time with mom or dad, or maybe some money for their piggy banks.

I’ve actually used this chart over an over, for potty training, chores, etc. I thought I’d share it with you. (Click the pic for the download – the password is happy )

So maybe getting organized isn’t what matters most, but getting organized gives you time to do what matters most – making more memories with your loved ones!

I have some more ideas on how to get better organized by scrapping but would love to hear any things that you have done (feel free to share some pics too!). I’ve started a thread in our forum – stop over and get – or give us some great organizing tips!

First things first, our presentation of LOTW for the week of 9/1-9/7.

Congratulations to Kimpson, with this wonderful LO! Can you believe she did this for a Speed Scrap? Amazing!!! Click the image to go leave her some love!!

Back to the Spotlight!!

Happy Sunday scrappers! Emilee (emileem) here to spotlight one of SM’s newest CT members—Christine (alamama)

1. Your screen name? Your real name? Screen Name, like an actress? Alamama. As for my real name it is Christine.

2. What is your main job/career? My job, simply put is a wife and mother.

3. Are you married/children/pets? I am married to a wonderfully patient man of almost 17 years. We have two quickly growing children. As far as pets go, we have three box turtles that we found and four very small frogs/toads that my dear son brought home one day. Heehee.

4. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Wow! That is a tough question. However, I’d have to say my old standby, one that is always good after any meal Mint Chocolate Chip.

5. Snacks…Salty or Sweet? Caught me! I’m just eating a few Dark Chocolate chips!

6. Beverage of choice? I usually have a bottle of water with me. Though, I do need my morning tea and my afternoon iced coffee.

7. How long have you been digi-scrapping? How did you get started? I have been digi-scrapping since Feb. of this year. I have this friend who kept showing me what she did. She finally convinced me to try it and here I am today!

8. What was your 1st LO about? My first LO was actually for a template challenge that Happy Scrap Girl had to walk me through the whole way, was “Drool”. Click image for credits.

9. Do you have any other hobbies besides digi-scrapping (are there other hobbies)? THIS is my hobby!! Ok, I don’t know if these are all hobbies. I homeschool our kids. I play the bass in a church “punk” band with my Hubby. I love to bake–though I’ve cut back since I love to eat too! I try to stay active.

10. What is the most challenging part of scrapbooking for you? Not scrapping everyday! Hahaha! No, really I’d have to say using more than two pictures. Placing them on the page is hard for me.

11. What would you like to learn to do (or do better) not related to scrapbooking? To hold my tongue.

12. Describe your “scrapping” environment. I scrap in our office which is part of the garage. The previous owners had twin boys and built two rooms in the garage for them. Usually there are kid noises, kid interruptions in the background. If I do listen to anything, it will be a Red Sox game.

13. If you only had 2 elements to use on a LO, what would they be? Flowers and stitches.

14. Would you like to share a little known fact about you…? I don’t tan for anything. Go figure. Born in Cali, even lived in Huntington Beach for a time. So living here in the desert can be a challenge with my milk white skin! Haha!

Christine is a very talented scrapper. Check out her gallery here and check out some of her favorite LO’s below:

White Sands

I Will Remember

Hello girls this Saturday will be really special!

September is the month of my wedding aniversary! Seven years married! Can’t believe it! It seems like ages ago!!! So, I have decided to make my wedding album starting with this challenge!!

So, your task for this challenge will be your wedding!!! I want you to make a layout where there will be one picture at least of the day of your wedding! Also, I would like you to remember to include the  date and to have some journalling about your feelings that day!!! Or to include some journalling of something that you will never forget about that day! For, example the way you felt, how was your hubby looking or whatever  else you like!!!

Now, for all those of you that are not married  yet!!! You can give us the wedding picture of somebody or someones you care a lot! It can be your parents’, your brother’s, your sister’s  or your best friend’s wedding!

This is you task! Can’t wait to see your wedding pictures girls!!! I just loved the wedding album that Stacy had made very recently! So, take this as an opportunity to start making your own wedding album!

Remember that you must link your LO to this thread in the forums if you want to leave you some love and get your participation prize!!! Oh and yes there is a participation prize by me!

Here is the preview!

I know that we are in the middle of September and Autumn is here but it’s my worst season!! That’s why I decided to bring some spring in autumn and I made this mini so that I will feel that spring is near! Hope you like it, too!!

Ok you have until Friday 19 September  12:00 pm to submit your LO and receive your participation prize!
Now if you want some inspiration of what to make here’s my LO of my wedding!!

I used Serenity Now kit and alpha(recolored) from Heritage Happy kit all by Erica Zane

And here is what our amazing NEW creative team has come up with!!!

by Monique (aka monsu)

She used Cool Change kit and Rouge Noir Script Brushed by Scrap’ It Designs by Bree and

bracket mat from paper shapers by Britt-ish Designs

by Mary (aka littlehiccup)

She used Ellie Lashs’s Kissed off and Girly Girl alpha and template by Britt-ish Designs

by Andrea (aka Chia)

She used Forever in Love – Winter by GG Digital Designs

by Krista (aka sahlink)

She used Crazy Thing Called Love,  Scratchy solids paper and Black, White and Red all over everything by Britt-sh Designs

by Sharon (aka skyezak)

She used Dulcet kit by Ellie Lash

by Lisa

She used  Waimeia and Barely Sliding from Date Sliders by Ellie Lash and Going in Circles set 1 templates by Sya’s Blueprints

by Stephanie

She used Forever in Love -Winter by GG Digital Designs and One-derful template by Britt-ish Designs

by Kim (aka kimbytx)

She used Enchantment kit by Britt-ish Designs and Triple Threat 2 template by Sya’s Blueprints

and by Stephanie (aka hallstephr)

She used Cool as a Cucumber by Suzie Belle Designs

Can’t wait to see all those wedding pictures in the gallery!!!

Huggs

Hello everyone! Today we’ll be talking about POP! How to get that cool POP factor to your photos (Leslie mentioned it briefly last week with the B&W photos, but I thought we’d talk it over in a bit more detail!).

Ok, there are many different ways to do it (including using actions that do it for you!) but this is my favorite way! Now, I use Photoshop CS and it’s really the only program I know, so hopefully you can adapt this process to work with yours…if not, then brightness, contrast & saturation are your friends!

First-get your photo pulled up. Now duplicate your photo layer (press ctl+j or drag your layer onto the icon that looks like a piece of paper or go to layer>duplicate layer). Change the blending mode to Screen. Adjust the opacity of the layer to your liking. If your photo is really dark, you may need to duplicate the Screen layer one more time & then adjust the opacity on the second one. After your photo is as light as you want it, then duplicate the layer one more time and change the blending mode to Overlay, again adjust the opacity til you like it. Ta-Da! It’s as EZ as that! Here’s a sample–

#1 = original phto

#2 = original + screen layer (I used 60% opacity) –> brightens it nicely but still lacking the POP

#3 = original + screen layer (I used 60% opacity) + overlay layer (i used 67% opacity) –> now I think THAT is better!

Now the opacities will always be different depending on your photo. So you have to just tweak each photo to make it look the best and play around with the different blending modes & saturation too!

Here’s a screen shot if that helps–it may sound confusing, but it’s super easy!

Play with that & see what you come up with! When you are ready to tackle more-try these tips too or just play around on your own! You can get some fab results!

Now let’s see how to adapt that to get a cool old-timey faded kind of look–

#1 = original photo

#2 = original + screen layer (51% this time) + overlay layer (100% this time)

#3 = same as #2 except after i made the 2 duplicated layers I changed the bottom layer to B&W (shift+ctl+u or image>adjust>desaturate) then tweaked the opacities of the top layers a little (this time I used 45% on my screen layer and 89% on my overlay layer–see screen shot below).

And just one more to show how great it is on B&W too–

#1 = original

#2 = original layer desaturated (shift+ctl+u or image>adjust>desaturate) + screen layer (dulpicate of the b&w layer) I used 65% this time + overlay layer (another dulpicate of the b&w layer) I used 69%.

#3 = same as #2 except I had an extra overlay layer on top that was still in full color ( so I had a B&W bottom layer + B&W screen layer set to 88% + B&W overlay layer set to 39% + original color layer on top set to overlay at 54%, see screen shot below)

Have fun, hope this is useful to you!

hugs- ez

Hello Everyone!

Kim here for my very first post and I am so excited to be here!  Before I get on to today’s post though, I hoped you all looked at the date and took a minute to think about what it means to you.  Do you have memories of that day or maybe you even scrapped something?  I didn’t scrap anything, but I did record some of my thoughts in my journal.  I just want to say thank you to all those who help us and sacrifice so much and the families who support them.  Thanks for letting me take the moment to remember.  Okay, on to today’s fun hybrid project!

I am always looking for something fun for my four kids to do during times I need them to sit still (church, car rides, doctor appointments…) and recently started making these 4×6 activity books.  These are super fast and super inexpensive!  My kids are at all different age levels, but that’s okay because you can make many different kinds of these books.  I have a word recognition and spelling one for my seven year old, an easy math and alphabet recognition one for my five year old, a color and shape one for my two year old, and my baby has a fun black and white silhouettes book.  Let your imagination go wild with these!!!  All you need is your computer, a collection of fun kits and pictures, a printer (or place to print) and a plastic 4×6 bragbook.  You can purchase these books at Dollar Stores, craft stores, or any place that sells photo albums.   The steps are below with pictures:

1.  Gather your supplies: your plastic bragbook, printed 4×6 photos (I print them at Costco), and scissors if you need to trim anything.

2.  This is the easy part…just slide the pictures in to the slots.

3.  You’re done!  Wasn’t that easy!  If you want to get really fancy, you can even design a personalized cover for the front.  Here is what the inside looks like:

Are you excited to make some of these now?  Well, I have a freebie for you to do just that!  Here is a shape book.  It includes the shape pages as seen in the preview below and also some blank shape ones for you to place pictures of things around your house or to personalize how you wish!  I am placing my color book (from the example above) in the store soon and have others on the way!  Have fun!

Available for purchase here