Happy Saturday everyone!! Are you recovering from Thanksgiving and Black Friday yet? We’re having a great time here at SM with our sale, grab bags, and now the Saturday Special! I hope you’re all having fun with us!!

Well – I decided that for this Saturday Special we’d try our hand at a DOUBLE PAGE LO.

You probably recall we recently had an AWESOME article from Cyndi all about how she creates her 2-pager and how to make them flow! You might want to re-read it and refresh your memory. You’ll find that article HERE.

Today I’ll walk you through step by step on how I create and divide my 2-pagers. I, like Cyndi, create my double page LOs as one big 12×24 document. I use a Guide at the center to help me keep in mind not to cut off any faces or journaling at the division of the 2 pages. (All of my tutorials here are in Photoshop CS3, but I’m pretty sure similar methods are available in other programs).

To add a guide to your document, make sure you can see your rulers around the edges. (View > Show Rulers or command+R will make your rulers appear). Then, with the move tool on the left side ruler, click and drag your cursor onto the page. You should be dragging a teal Guide line. You can place this line anywhere on the page. Its an invisible line that will not show up on your actual page (View > Show Guides or Control+; will hide or show the Guides). I place a Guide line at the dead center of my 12×24 page.

(click to enlarge)

After scrapping your page, you can “save for web” this full 12×24″ LO. I make a 600 pixel wide version of my full LO to add to my credits, just so people can see what it looks like all together (keep reading and I’ll explain how I do that). But I also want two separate 600×600 LOs to post in the gallery so people can see the pages better. Not to mention I, of course, want two high res 12×12 images to print! So . . . what to do?

This is what I do.

Go to Image > Duplicate Image to create a copy of your page. This way we won’t mess up our original 12×24 layered document.

After you create your duplicate, save and close your original.

With the copy, flatten all layers by going to Layers > Merge Visible (Shift+Control+E).

Make sure your flattened layer isn’t locked (no little padlock on the layer in the layer palette, if there is, drag the padlock into the trash). Next I go to Image > Canvas Size and change my Canvas Size to 12×12. Click ok on the next box that pops up. Then drag your image all the way to the right so that only the left side of your 2-pager is showing. Zoom in close and make sure your exact edge is flush with the left edge of the canvas.

Then go to File > Save As and save this as a high resolution jpg (highest quality level possible).

Then drag the image the opposite direction and save the right side. You can also create those 600×600 web size jpgs during these steps if you so choose.

And that’s it!! Now you’ve got your fabulous 2-pager divided up just right!!!

One last trick. When I want my 600 pixel wide full 2-pager to show up in my credits, I upload it to my photobucket account and then type this code above my list of credits:

This is how the full 2-pager looks:
[IMG]http://URL OF HOSTED PHOTO HERE[/IMG]

I’m happy to answer ANY questions you have about dividing or posting 2-pagers. Just PM me from the forum. My username is “britt”.

- Your challenge for the Saturday Special is to just try your hand at a 2-pager. Maybe you scrap these all the time, maybe you’re out of practice, maybe its your first 2-pager ever! No matter what the circumstances, just try a 2-pager.

- Post each one of the 2 separate 600×600 sides in the gallery so we can see all the details.

- After you post to the gallery, link us up to both sides of your 2-pager in this thread in the forum. That’s it!!

The technical stuff:
- You’ll receive 1 point for completing this challenge if you post it in the “Saturday Special” gallery, as well as linking it back up in this forum.
- This challenge can be counted for either November or December. If you post before the end of November, it will count towards November. Any posted during December will count towards your December points. But you can only do it once! Not one for each month.
- You can receive 1 bonus point for using a new release (within 1 week of release) from SM in your LO. If you use a new release, make sure to say so in your post and credits so we don’t miss your bonus point.
- And at the end of the December, I’ll be choosing my favorite entry and that scrapper will get 1 bonus point on their January tally!
- Your LO must be a NEW LO specifically created for this challenge. And you may not combine this challenge with any other SM challenge or speed scrap.

Here’s mine!!

(click here for credits)

And here is one from our awesome CTM Mary (littlehiccup) (click each side to enlarge):

(using an alpha from Designs by Tater’s Grab Bag, a kit from Mickey B’s Grab Bag, and “Hang in There” by Britt-ish Designs)

Have fun with this challenge! Can’t wait to see all the 2-pagers roll in!

Hi Andrea here and welcome to our Black Friday Extravaganza.

There is indeed a huge blog train getting ready to roll, just look at the list below!  Along the ride you’ll find quick pages, Christmas photo cards, tags and easy gift ideas.  First stop is at my blog here.

Here is a list of all of the stops on the train just in case you get lost or sidetracked along the way.  All of these goodies will be available through the weekend, so snatch them up while you can.

1. Andrea  http://andilynn.wordpress.com
2. Britt  http://brittishdesigns.blogspot.com/
3. Heather  www.joyrevisited.blogspot.com
4. Sharon  http://www.digitalcreations.typepad.com
5. Jaime  http://jaimeward.blogspot.com
6. Wendy  http://wendys-craftycreations.blogspot.com/
7. Dacia  www.fluffybunnyfeet.blogspot.com
8. Erica  http://zane-escraps.blogspot.com/
9. Mary  http://plumdumplingdesigns.blogspot.com
10. Natasha  http://bcnatty.blogspot.com
11. Dawn  http://winkasheartscraps.blogspot.com
12. Kim  http://kimbytx.blogspot.com/
13. Bree http://scrapitbybreeza.blogspot.com
14. Tater  http://taterscraps.blogspot.com
15. Kari  http://karistamps.blogspot.com
16. Cyndi  http://cyndi146.blogspot.com
17. Maria  http://scrapmuss.blogspot.com/
18. Haynay www.haynay.blogspot.com
19. Sya http://scrap-stuff.blogspot.com
20. Scrappy Kate http://scrappykate.blogspot.com/
21. Denise  www.neeceebeedesigns.blogspot.com
22. Jeni http://www.jeniscraftyblog.blogspot.com
23. Michelle http://mickeybdesigns.blogspot.com
24. Lina http://ldragdesigns.blogspot.com/
25. Kim http://www.simplysweetdesigns.blogspot.com/
26. Leslie http://ggdigitaldesigns.blogspot.com
27. Fliffy http://funwithfliffy.blogspot.com
28. Monica  http://digikeepsakesbymonica.blogspot.com
29. Melanie http://melanie3boys.blogspot.com
30. Christy http://thewerners.wordpress.com/
31. Kim S.  http://geekydiva.wordpress.com
32. Alma http://almadesigns.blogspot.com/
33. Jenn http://www.jenlindesigns.wordpress.com

Morning all! (scrappy)Kate here with this weeks taste of hybrid magic!  Today I want to share a great product with you from our shop, that is a PERFECT hybrid gift for your loved ones this holiday season!  It is a set of Calendar toppers called; Top Up: 2009 Calendar Set.  Use these gorgeous templates from Sya’s Blueprints to create a gift that you can re-create over and over!  Once the templates have been filled with your favourite photos and digi products, the sky’s the limit!!   Print them out and give one to everyone in your family!  I think I might!  This is the beauty of digital/hybrid scrapbooking!

Click on the image see this item in the shop!  As a side note, don’t forget the shop has a great sale for Black Friday… get this great set of templates at 40% (& most of the other products in store) off tomorrow!  Or if you’re late, you can get 30% off on Saturday & Sunday and 20% off on Monday!  So go grab a bargain

Here is fellow ScrapMatters Hybrid Artist; Kim’s (tgmousechick) take on these great templates by Sya…

All the images are clickable for you to go and leave her love!  I love how Kim used the index card dividers and bound the calendar with binder rings (which are available at most office supplies stores) horizontally, it works so well.  Great work Kim!

Don’t forget to give that little bit of extra special goodness, add some “real” elements to your completed pages… ribbons, buttons, rub-ons, or anything that works with the kits you choose.  I love seeing the texture in hybrid gifts.  It gives something printed, some extra depth and realism… making it truly hybrid

Have a great thanksgiving to all our US readers!
Kate
(from a land downunder!)

Who’s ready for the next road trip version of a speed scrap!!?? I’ve given you 8 stops to help you get from Point A to Point B. Every step must be completed, but use your creativity and interpret them as you’d like.

1. Any number of photos–arranged in a row
2. One solid piece of paper
3. One strip of paper
4. One ribbon, used as many times as you’d like
5. Ten of the same kind of element
6. Journaling
7. Word art as your title
8. Cluster around your title

Because this challenge falls during the last week of November, you have until the end of December to complete it. You will receive 1 point for completing the challenge. If you use a newly released kit, you will earn an additional point (just mention this when you post in the forum). And I will choose one random layout to receive an extra point!

Remember–no double dipping on challenges and after you post your layout in the gallery under “Roadmap to Scrap” don’t forget o post it in the forum here.

Here are a few layouts to give you some ideas…

From me, chia–Enchantment by Britt-ish Designs

From monsu–Very Merry by Britt-ish Designs and DeCrow Designs, Wordart by Dirty Feet Designs, WaterColour Paint Stroke Brushes by Happy Scrap Girl

From melanie3boys–Erica Zane’s Woodland Fantasy, Falling Dusk, Naturally Happy & Heritage Happy and Home Sweet Home by GG Digital Designs & Jeni Hopewell.

From TheWerners–Ferntree Fairies by Scrap It Designs and Paper Shapers by Britt.

Enjoy your journey!

Hello all! Heather (haynay) here for today’s Template Tuesday challenge! Since this week is Thanksgiving here in the US (and because I am doing a blessing a day each day of this month), I want to focus on a blessing in your life! I don’t care what you focus on, just make your LO about something or someone you are thankful for! Other than that, there are no rules. **I did not put a title on this template, but you can add one if you want! Take the template and run!!!

Here is the template:

Download here!

And here is my inspiration for the template:

Here are some examples the CT put together!

Jaime put this adorable LO together!

And Christy made this one with GG Digitals’ Autumn Time:

I’m excited to see what you come up with! Since this is the end of the month , you have and option: complete it this week or next month, and once you post your LO in the gallery and this thread in the forum, you will receive one point. If you use a newly released product from the Scrap Matters store on your challenge layout, you earn an additional point!! But make sure you indicate in your credits that the item you used was a new release. Your LO must be posted before the end of November to count toward this month’s points or by the end of December to be counted toward that month’s point total.

You don’t have to use SM products to participate in this challenge, but we love it when you do! Remember, no double dipping. Each LO must be created for 1 challenge only.

Go forth and be blessed!

Hi Everyone!

Denise here, and I am so excited to be the one to tell you THIS: 

It is going to be awesome…and the free kit with a purchase is so cute (as you can see from the ad!).

So, remember, shop early and SAVE MORE…and stop back here on Friday for the start of a MASSIVE blog train that includes over 30 stops and freebies at every location!

Happy shopping!

I love doing these Monday Matters posts! It lets me sit back and think about what matters most to me and what I think matters most to you too. Well, here in the United States we celebrate Thanksgiving this Thursday. It is a day to celebrate sharing, unity and counting your many blessings. Of course we have made it a big affair with a symbolic feast, commemorative of the ones the Pilgrims and Indians shared long ago. So, I look forward to this day not just for the food, but for the reminder it gives me to count my many blessings.

As life continues to get busy and rushed I hope we can take a moment to stop and realize the abundance we have around us. There is always something to be grateful for: our family, friends, home, experiences, temporal items and the far deeper richness of life. We certainly all scrap about it…our wonderful gallery is full of layouts celebrating life and enjoying the simple and complex facets of it. I typed in “blessings” in the gallery search engine and found these beautiful layouts, though there are many more. I am sorry this post isn’t too informative or inspiring, but I want you to take a moment to really think about your blessings.

I have a fun activity I do with my family every Thanksgiving morning, but whether you celebrate Thanksgiving or not, it is an activity you can do any day. Sit down with a pen and paper (or blog it) and make a numbered list of everything you are grateful for. It may take a while, but try to think of everything. It may sound silly writing down “I am thankful for my shoes,” or “I am so glad I can drive my car to the store.” There are many out there that don’t have even those luxuries. You will be surprised I think to see how many blessing you really have.

It is a wonderful activity to practice with children too. Gratitude is a learned attitude and the better they learn to recognize the blessings around them, the happier they will be. You can’t see the glass half empty if you’re grateful the glass has something in it at all. My children remind me of the simpler things in life to be grateful for too. My daughter last year had a short list, but a profound one. I am thankful for God. For my blanket. For my family. For the sun. For playing. For everything. Take some time this week and write them down – count your blessings! Scrap the list…save it – put it somewhere to cherish all year!

Hello! Melissa here from the ScrapMatters Gang. Today I am interviewing a truly talented scrapper, Paige! She always does the most amazing, awesome two page layouts! Be sure to check out her fabulous gallery.

1. Your screen name? Your real name? My screen name is Paige, my real name is Paige, I know it’s very original, huh?

2. What is your main job/career? I am a Stay at home mom for one daughter, age 2 and a half. I am also my husband’s personal assistant (at least he thinks so)

3. Are you married/children/pets? My next anniversary will be to celebrate 7 years and you already know about my daughter. I also have 2 cats, they are 4 years old and we have had them their whole life (although my husband wishes otherwise, haha).

4. Where is home for you? Home is at my house, with my cats, my family and my stuff. I am originally from Michigan and have lived all over, Spain, New York City, Chicago and Texas. Now I live in Texas. Yee-Haw!

5. What are your 3 favorite foods? I love a good turkey sandwich loaded with mayo, mustard, cheese and avocado. I guess I would also say these chocolate/coconut/pecan/heath bar desserts I make. And geez, how can I just pick one more? I would say chocolate of any kind. Or pumpkin pie. Oh, I don’t know.

6. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Ben and Jerry’s Half Baked (for those of you missing out it’s half brownie batter and half chocolate chip cookie dough. YUMMY!)

7. Snacks…Salty or Sweet? Both, I love those chocolate covered pretzels, it’s like a 2 for 1…salty AND sweet!

8. Beverage of choice? Diet Cherry Coke Zero

9. What’s your least favorite food? Food that is TOO spicy

10. PC or Mac? What program do you use? PC and I use Photoshop Elements 5

11. How long have you been digi-scrapping? How did you get started? I started scrapbooking when I was in college, maybe 10 years ago and then a friend of mine told me all about digital scrapbooking and I totally didn’t want to do it. I already had a HUGE stash of paper and scissors and stamps, etc. Then last winter my daughter began to stand up and she would grab all my supplies off of the table so I decided in the summer of 2007 to give it a try. Since then I have made abour 175 double page LOs. I would NEVER go back, in fact, it’s really hard for me to paper scrap now. There are just too many options with digital and you don’t have to get any pictures developed. I tell my husband I am saving us a fortune on paper and photo developing. Not that the middle of the night shopping sprees online for digi-supplies doesn’t do me in.

12. What was your 1st LO about? My first LO was a summary page of my daughter’s first year, highlighting a picture of her from each month. I almost finished the whole thing when my old computer crashed and I had to start from scratch. It’s a miracle I kept scrapping.

Image:

Credits

13. Do you have any other hobbies besides digi-scrapping (are there other hobbies)? Well, I am kind of an addict and it drives my husband NUTS. Other than digi-scrapping I love to be social with my friends and I also play tennis (although not very regularly) and I love to do paper crafts and other crafty things and make gift baskets for friends.

14. What is the most challenging part of scrapbooking for you? Figuring out how to arrange the pictures. I sometimes get in a rut so I use a lot of templates. I don’t think I really work faster with the templates, but they help me figure out how to arrange things. You still have to be pretty creative with a template to make it your own (at least that’s my story, so don’t tell me otherwise).

15. What would you like to learn to do (or do better) not related to scrapbooking? I would love to take better pics (ok, so that’s scrapbook related). Really, I would love to learn to be a better cook. I just don’t have that gene. I love to bake, but I’m so afraid of setting fire to the house I refuse to do a lot of normal things in the kitchen. I am just getting better about taking hot food out of the oven. I know I am SO pathetic. We eat out A LOT!

16. What are your favorite movies/TV shows? At the moment, I am addicted to The Office, Grey’s Anatomy, Heroes, True Blood and Entourage on HBO. My husband watches WAY more TV than I do. I don’t have a TV near my computer so it’s either scrap or watch TV. Scrapping wins every time.

17. Describe your “scrapping” environment. Music? TV in the background? Drinks? Snacks? Where? We just moved into a house and it has a little built in office room with shelves, etc. Anyway, one would normally think that the person who works outside the home might need a home office, but in our case it was much more important to have an office for my scrapbooking. So I have a little oasis called the “nook” and it’s off of my living room and it’s only for me. I don’t listen to any music, because the room is also accross the hall from my daughter’s bedroom and since she is usually sleeping or trying to sleep while I scrapbook I usually try to be quiet. Sometimes I have the TV on in the other room for some noise. I usually eat a lot of chocolate while I am scrapbooking, way too much, and I stay up way to late doing it! One of my cats refuses to be away from me while I scrap so I have to leave the shelf above my monitor clear. He lays up there the whole time
and snores like crazy.

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

19. Would you like to share a little known fact about you…? Geez, that’s a tough one. I don’t know…..I speak Spanish. Not such an interesting fact, but that’s all I have.

20. Can you tell us a little about your scrappin’ style? I think I have a clean style (although it takes a while for each page to look that way) and I try not to have too many items. I like my pictures to be the main interest of the page. Oh and you probably notice that I am pretty much strictly a double page scrapper. I think I’ve done maybe 3 or 4 single LOs. I just like the way they look in a book after I print them out.

21. Favorite LOs that you have done?
I love this LO. I did it for a speed scrap a while back.  (Bubble LO)

Credits

Credits

Credits

Actually, every LO I do is my favorite until I complete the next one. I usually don’t stop working on a LO until I’m totally satisfied.

22. Your favorite holiday tradition? I always get my daughter’s pictures taken for Halloween. And as for Christmas I really love buying a special ornament for the year. I buy two of the same special ornaments and I put one away for my daughter to have when she has a tree of her own (yes, I know that’s years away). That way she grows up knowing the story behind our special ornaments and then I don’t have to give her mine, I can give her a set of her own. Also, I love wrapping presents and opening presents at Christmas. It’s always fun to give and to watch people open their gifts. I’m so excited I think I’m going to have a “present wrapping” party this year for my girlfriends. I already have a title for the scrapbook page brewing in my head. Sometimes I wish I could get scrapping out of my brain, but it’s just too much fun!

Thank you Paige! Be sure to check out her gallery.

Hi Everyone.

Denise here to bring you another Saturday Special.

Today’s topic is shadows.

This is sort of a 101 on shadows, but hopefully, you will still find it helpful.

This tutorial is done in Photoshop Elements, but I think what I will show you applies to other programs as well.

I am by no means a shadow expert, but here’s what I do.

First, select the element that you want to shadow and apply the shadow. (I did not include a screen shot of this.)

Then, you will want to play with it.

This screen shots shows you the little “fx” icon on the layer which indicates that there is a style on this layer (in other versions of PSE the icon may be something else – in PSE5 it is a sun).

Double click this icon.

This window will open.

The first thing that I do is change the angle of the light source.

I know there is a lot of debate on what angle is best, and some people use different angles for different layouts.

The default angle is 120 degrees. I like -43.

I have picked up a lot of tips from different people and this angle tip came from the designer Flergs.

Okay, the next thing is to change the color of the shadow.

You do that by clicking once on the little black box circled in red in the next screen shot.

This window will open.

I then change my shadow color to dark brown. I like code 322512, which you can just type in. (Again, this color suggestion comes from Flergs.)

You can try different colors for different layouts. I use dark brown for almost everything, although I do play with it some when I am working on black (or very dark) colored paper.

The last thing I do is play with the size, distance, and opacity of the shadow.

I try to have different shadow levels on different parts of my layout. Depending on what I am working with I will have anywhere from one to four different shadows on one layout.

For example.

On this layout:

( Autumn Begins , Dirty Feet Designs; White Vellum Alpha , Designs by Tater)

I have three different shadow levels.

The leaves attached to the string are “floating” and the settings are: Size 21, Distance 40, and Opacity 65.

The photo itself, the rest of the leaves, and the string are set to Size 30, Distance 18, and Opacity 75.

The staple, the initial, and the photo mat are set to: Size 15, Distance 10, and Opacity 75.

And when I have stitches, glitter, or some other element that I want very close to the page, I use: Size 8, Distance 5, Opacity 65.

I use the middle two levels the most…it just depends on what looks good with my layout.

Different elements shadow differently, and it is important to play around with it until it looks right.

The most important part about shadows is realism, and really seeing your layout in three dimensions.

The better you get at shadows, the better your layouts will be.

Remember, you have until the end of the month to complete your layout.

Then, upload it to the Satruday Special Gallery, and here to the forum.

Your completed layout will earn you one point in the Matter of Scrap Challenge System.

In addition, you can earn another point by using a newly released product (you must scrap and upload your layout within the first 7 days of the product’s release – and remember, you MUST indicate in the forum, that you used a new release).

And, no double dipping…your layout must be unique to this challenge.

So, take some time, work on your shadows, and show us what you’ve got.

And if you need a little inspiration, here’s some from the CT.

{LO by chia}

(Beautiful Blessings, Haynay)

{LO by alamama}

(Boho Bliss, WM Squared)

{LO by theWerners}

(Woodland Fantasy, Erica Zane; Razzle Dazzle Alpha, Britt-ish Designs)

{LO by melanie3boys}

(Hot August Nights, Andilynn Designs; White Vellum Alpha, Designs by Tater; Dynamic Duo Set 3 Template, Sya’s Blueprints)

Happy Scrapping!

Denise

Happy Photo Phriday everyone!!

Maria aka Muss here!  Today we will save and scrap unscrappable photos! LOL 

So here is the picture I took when my DS had his first day at school.

It is not perfect, LOL but I still love that cutest profile!  So I decided to use it anyway…

First, I extracted it using tips from this thread in SM forum.

And here’s some magic!  When you duplicate layer (ctrl J in Photoshop) and set the blending mode to “difference”, you get a perfect profile!  

Save it as a png file (it preserves transparency) and it’s ready to use in your layouts.  You can use it for vintage and heritage pages, as well as for hybrid projects and postcards.

Here’s what I came up with. I used Sya’s Blueprints Get boxy template, Mr. Brown kit freebie by Scrapmuss Designs (me), Where the Heart Blooms kit by Erica Zane and alpha from Reach for the Stars kit by Simply Sweet Designs.

One more hint: to make your profile picture easy to extract, try to shoot against the light.

Happy shooting and happy scrapping!

Hugs,

Maria.