It’s time again for your weekly dose of scraplifting!!! And this week we will be focusing on the gallery of jennamy82. You can find her gallery here.

I loved this layout of hers titled Jennifer using Sunshine in my Soul by Britt-ish Designs…

And here is my layout using Urban Jungle and Kraft Paper Alpha by Designs by Tater and Mr. and Mrs. Brown by Scrapmuss Designs…

The Creative Team at ScrapMatters has been working hard and they’ve got the ball rolling on this weeks Grand Theft Layout…

emileem lifted J.

Flower Girl by Megan Turnridge and Angie Kovacs

monsu lifted Lucky Me.

Maternal Instinct Collab by Megan Turnidge and MickeyB. Designs, Where the Heart Grows by GG Digital Designs, You Say It’s Your Birthday Scrapmatters Collab, and Simply Dated by WM[squared] Designs

TheWerners lifted I Love You.

You Say It’s Your Birthday (SM Design Team Collab) and Paper Shapers by Britt-ish Designs

kimbytx lifted Don’t Mess With Me.

SO Totally Teen by MickeyB Designs and Designs by Tater

This challenge will run until the end of March. You will receive 1 point for completing the challenge and my favorite layout will receive an additional point. Also, don’t forget that if you use a new kit during it’s first week of release you can earn another point (just let me know when you post in the forum here).

I can’t wait to see what you come up with!!

Linz here with a new template challenge for you! I created this template based on a LO I made this past week and I really hope you all like it.

Link to download in .psd format – http://www.box.net/shared/idt2pu0tn2

Link to download  .png files – http://www.box.net/shared/nxggvtnq1v

So, here are the “rules” for this week. There is no set theme, however I would LOVE to see you use at least 10 elements on your page. For some, this will just be second nature while others will have to go against their usual simplistic style. The good news is I have some awesome inspiration to share with you from our site CT! They have assured me that they had no trouble with the element requirement — and yes, a few of them prefer a more simple style with very few elements. Honestly, I don’t even think you can pick out the simplistic scrappers when looking at these pages (and no, I’m not telling who they are!). So if they can do it, you can too!

Here is my LO on which this template is based. I used Lucky Charm by GG Digital Designs.

Stefanie used Honeydew by WM [squared] Designs.

Andrea used Britt-ish Designs’ String Theory and Love Bytes, as well as Tracie Stroud’s Clearly Spotted alpha.

This layout by Kim features Britt-ish Designs’ Mermaid Lagoon and String Theory.

Next up is Sharon’s page which uses Urban Boy and Itty Bitty Alpha Chips by Designs By Tater as well as Justin by Dirty Feet Designs.

Christy used Megan Turnidge’s i.Bot and Bead Alpha.

Finally, Monique used Let’s Get Cozy and Butterfly Kisses, both by Alma’s Scraphabit Designs.

I’m excited to see your layouts! You have all month to complete this challenge. Please upload your LO to the Tuesday Template Challenge gallery, as well as linking it in the forum thread to get your point. You can also earn an additional point by using any product released in the past 7 days in the SM shop. Just make sure you mention which new product you used when uploading your page. At the end of the challenge, I’ll be choosing one random winner who will earn an extra point towards their April total as well!

You don’t have to use ScrapMatters products to participate in this challenge, but we love it when you do! Remember, no double dipping. Each LO must be created for one challenge only. Can’t wait to see your pages!

Hi Everyone.

Denise here to talk about what matters.

I have been thinking a lot about our scrapbooks and the memories that we want to capture…and we have discussed scrapping ourselves, and our families, and all the details of our lives, big and small.

And, today, I wanted to talk about another aspect that I think it’s important to capture–scrapping the hard stuff.

It’s the rare life that has no tragedy…in fact, I don’t know anyone that lives life without some kind of hardship. And, when we look back on our lives I have to think that the sweet things in our lives will be that much sweeter because of the difficult things we have experienced.

So, I wanted to take a minute today and encourage you to start thinking about how you are going to incorporate those things into your scrapbook.

I know that up to this point, I haven’t scrapped the more difficult things in my life…but I really want to. I have spent a long time thinking about how much I want to put out there, how much detail to include, how much people will want to know. And, I have come to conclusion that I want to include it all…the hard stuff, the details, the feelings that made those things hard, and what I learned from it all.

Now, I realize that some of these hard things may be too sensitive for you to feel comfortable to post it in the gallery, and, in fact, it may even be too sensitive for you to put into the scrapbooks you have on display in your home…but it’s important to preserve these memories–I promise, there will be people in your life who will want to know, and be really grateful that you told the story.

If you aren’t yet ready to start scrapping these things, then at least write it down, find the photos, preserve the memory, so that when the time is right, and you are ready — it will be there for you to scrap.

I know that this might be difficult, but I know that it will be equally rewarding.

Good luck!

Denise

Special Announcement!!!

The March Quick Page Exchange starts today! We are featuring Haynay’s NEW Hoop It Up kit for a little March Madness fun. Check out the details in the forum and then head on over to the shop to pick up Hoop It Up while it is 30% off!!!

Hoop It Up by Haynay Designs

Good Morning! Mary (littlehiccup) here to bring you today’s Saturday Special challenge. This tutorial is going to demonstrate how you can create a Warhol inspired LO in just a few easy steps. I use PSE 5, so these instructions will be suited for that program. You may have to adjust the directions a little for whatever program you are using.

1. Open your photo (be sure to duplicate your photo so that you are not working on your original)

2. Select/extract the subject in your photo using your favorite method – I usually use the Lasso Tool first and then clean it up with the Eraser Tool.

3. Copy your selection onto a new layer and set the background to transparent.

4. Create an adjustment layer (in PSE, I click on the half black/half white circle) and choose Threshold.

5. Move the slider until you have a black and white image.

6. Duplicate this layer and name it “Black Sketch Layer” or something else that makes sense to you! Ultimately, your layers palette should look something like this…

Top layer: Black Sketch Layer

Middle Layer: White Inside Layer

Bottom Layer: Background

7. Use your Magic Wand tool to select the white areas of the subject on the “Black Sketch Layer.” Click delete. When all the other layers are turned off, you should see something like this…

8. To make sure that my Black Sketch Layer is completely black, I will use the Shape Tool to create a black clipping mask or use my Hue/Saturation sliders to darken it totally.

9. Be sure these layers are now visible: Background Layer, White Inside Layer and Black Sketch Layer.

10. Now is the fun part – adding colors! I recommend checking out some color scheme websites to find a combination that you like. Some to check out are: http://kuler.adobe.com, http://www.colourlovers.com/, or http://www.colorschemer.com/schemes/.   I find this much easier than coming up with my own.

11. When you have your colors picked out, use the paint bucket to change the colors of the white inside layer and the background layer and add the photos to your LO. Repeat this step as many times as necessary.  (Sorry I don’t have a screen shot – I didn’t save. Oops!)

Here’s my finished LO using a few Warhol inspired pics - I used Leave the World Behind by Britt-ish Designs, alpha from Electric Pop by Britt-ish Designs, EZ Masks by Erica Zane

and a few more from our very talented CT…

From Monique (monsu) – Using Berry Crush by Erica Zane, Keepsakes template 18 by Digi Keepsakes by Monica, and the Chic color palette from colourlovers.com

from Denise (neeceebee/Denise Beatty Originals)

And one more from Emilee (emileem) using: Wide ruled Paper Pack by Haynay, Plastickle Me Alpha & Hang in There by Britt-ish Designs

Aren’t they fantastic! Well, what are you waiting for? Have fun, be creative and show off!

Be sure to post your LO in the Saturday Special Gallery and link back here to the forum.

The Fine Print:

-You’ll receive 1 point for completing this challenge if you post it in the “Saturday Special” gallery, as well as linking it back to the forum.
-You’ll receive a bonus point if you use a new release (within 1 week of release) from SM.
-At the end of the month, I’ll choose a random scrapper who completed the challenge, and they will get 1 bonus point on their April tally!
-Your LO must be a NEW LO specifically created for this challenge.
-You have until the end of March to get this challenge done!

Hello Henriëtte here with another A Matter Of Snap challenge.

Thanks to everyone who participated in last months hearts challenge, I can’t believe how creative you all were to make a not red and/or plastic heart. The hearts made out food and candy looked so yummy and I loved the hearts made out of cars and children too.
But this very cleverly staged photo from Li won the challenge:

I love the details of the word love, the symbol the ring stands for and the quality of the picture. Just great!

Congrats Li14 on winning!!

On to this months challenge: taking memorable photo’s of children

Children are a favorite subject for many photographers. Advertisers know a photo of an adorable child will grab people’s attention. Fundraisers know an image of a sick, wounded, or sad child will bring in donations. And parents cannot imagine a better subject than their child. Parents take cameras to sporting events, school functions, and parties. It seems like every moment of a child’s life is documented either in a still photograph or in a video. But how many photos of children are truly memorable?

Here are some tips on getting shots that draw total strangers into your photographs of children.

If you’re taking photos of your own child, you already know your child’s personality traits, his/her habits, his/her facial expressions. Capture those instead of (or in addition to) a posed in-front-of-the-camera smile. But if you are going to take photos of a child you are unfamiliar with then:
 
Take Time to Get to Know the Child
Most children let you into their world quickly. Before you start taking a picture, spend at least 10 minutes talking to the child. Ask questions about things that interest the child. Good openers include:

“Do you like bugs?”
“Would you rather be a giraffe or a butterfly?”
“What’s your favorite game?

Pay attention to how the child responds. Does he/she make eye contact? Capture that confidence when you take his/her picture. Does the child laugh at the questions or seriously contemplate them? Look for that sense of whimsy or pensive side when you take the picture. Does the child doodle when he/she responds? Then look for ways to show the child is creative. Does the child twist her hair while she’s thinking? Great. Include that in a photo.

Observe, Observe, Observe
After you talk to the child, explain you’re going to get your camera ready and back away. The child will soon lose interest in you, giving you a chance to observe the child relating to the world. Inquisitive? Intent? Distracted? Capture that in your images.

If you’re taking photos of your own child, try observing your child as if you don’t know him/her at all. You’ll probably see some things you haven’t noticed before.

Be Unobtrusive
Use a telephoto lens. The best photographs of children are those when a kid is acting like a kid. To capture that and all the emotions that go with it, you need to be an unobtrusive as possible. Use a telephoto lens so you can have some real distance between you and the child. This will help the child tune you out and do whatever he or she does best, whether it’s play, dream, run around, make up stories. Capture that.

Alternately, move in close to the child to capture a curve of the cheek, curls tumbling down a forehead, eyes deep in thought.

Show the Child’s Environment
Try to take your photographs in a place that means something to the child. A bedroom, playroom, playground, field – all of these say something about how the child relates to the world. Does the child run freely across the open field or sit quietly reading a book? Does the child see how high he or she can climb a tree or does he/she prefer to lean against it and pet his/her dog? Is the child’s room spotless, showing the child’s organizational bent, or is it a wild jumble of clothes and toys?

Look for the Extraordinary in the Ordinary
Take photos of the child doing everyday things like eating breakfast, elbows on the table, hair not yet combed; sleeping, curled up with a favorite animals or spread eagle, blankets off, bold even in sleep; doing homework, scowling over a difficult problem or with one eye on the TV. These say a whole lot about who the child is, which is way more moving than a posed photo with perfectly combed hair and a brand new outfit.

Try Shooting in Black and White
This really adds drama. Check it out. You can have black and white prints made from color negatives. You can also turn digital prints into black and white either in your camera (depending on which camera you use) or in a photo software program.

Above all, respect the child’s world. It is complex, compelling, and very, very deep.

Based on an article by Nancy Hill (photography.com)

Here are my tries:
first a photo turned into black & white from Meike who is dressed up in her princess gown and staring at something.
I love her expression, the lightfall and the shadow of her face on the door behind her.

second a picture of Joris and Gemmy. Joris is playing a game on his Nintendo and Gemmy is happy watching.
Joris looks very concentrated on the game and Gemmy has such a sweet hint of a smile on her face.

And here is Mary’s (littlehiccup) adorable entry:

And the most gorgeous LO she made with it:

And Emilee’s (emileem) photo of her sweet DD with her daddy:

along with this beautiful LO she created:

Can’t wait to see your photos in the gallery!

Henriëtte

Hello friends, Heather (hedderlee) here. I want to let you in on a fun little project that some of the ScrapMatters creative team members and designers were involved in recently. 20 of us participated in a worldwide Valentine’s Day Swap! From Malaysia to Australia, to all corners of the United States, we exchanged personalized hybrid gifts with a secret pal. As Valentine’s Day approached, each of us anxiously checked our mailboxes to see who our secret pal was, and what goodies she had sent. And every time a gift arrived at one home, photos were gleefully posted for the rest of us to marvel at. We really became more connected to one another through this act of friendship.

Mailboxes and love notebooks were the most popular gifts, as well as an overabundance of chocolate. Who can do without chocolate? Certainly not this group! There were also magnet sets, an address Rolodex, a Countdown to Valentine’s Day calendar, shirts, you name it! Take a peek at the amazing goodies – inspiration oozes from each lovingly created project.

This personal touch to gift giving is what I enjoy most about hybrid scrapping. Once paper meets pixel in your life, you may never be the same again.

Be sure to upload your hybrid projects to the ScrapMatters Gallery – who knows, it may be highlighted here soon!

Hi all, it’s Monique again, bringing you this weeks’ scraplifting challenge!

Today’s target is Maria, aka Scrapmuss. She’s not only a very talented designer here @ ScrapMatters, but I also love her gallery full of wonderful layouts! Her style is one I admire, usually clean and simple, with some meaningful journaling. Your challenge (or privilege) this week is to pick one of your favourite layouts and create your own version of it! Post it in the Grand Theft Layout gallery and link your entry to the Grand Theft Layout Thread in the forum. You will receive a point for completing the challenge, one more for using a newly released item from the store and maybe one more if I choose your page as my favourite by the end of the month! You have until the end of March to post your layout. Your entry has to be unique to this challenge to qualify for points. You don’t have to use ScrapMatters products, but of course we love it when you do!

Now, prepare for lots of images as I show you some CT inspiration!

I chose Mr. Handsome from Maria’s gallery:

And created this page, using Mr. and Mrs. Brown by Scrapmuss Designs, and The Retro Spring Collab.

Christine (alamama) picked this page:

And this is her version, using the NEW Lucky Girl by WM[squared] Designs:

Sya (syapotter) lifted this 100% Pure Love page by Maria:

And created this, using Celebrate With Me by Simply Sweet Designs & EZ Masks by Erica Zane:

Kim (kimbytx) chose Driver by Maria as her inspiration:

And used Erica Zane’s Tickle Me Happy and EZ Masks and Jeni Hopewell’s Charmed I’m Sure for her page:

And last but not least Christy (TheWerners) picked this page:

And created her version, using Boy on Wheels by Digikeepsakes by Monica:

I hope you’ll find Maria’s gallery just as inspirational as we did! Have fun scraplifting, see you in the forum and the gallery!

Hi Everyone.

Denise here to bring you another edition of the Tuesday Template challenge.

Here’s the template for this week:

Download here.

So, here’s your challenge.

Take the template, and create something fabulous. The only rule is that it CANNOT be a winter layout. I am so ready for some warm weather, a little sun, a little grass…anything that would get us out of this cold winter chill we have had for what seems like forever! So, since I can’t have that, I will take your beautiful spring or summer layouts instead…Just make it WARM!!!

Here’s a little inspiration from the CT to get you started.

Kate (kateypie)

Anna

Kelly (kkklatt)

Krista (sahlink)

Kim (kimbytx)

And, here’s a reminder to the Matter of Scrap Challenge rules:

You have all month to complete this layout. Upload it to the gallery, and leave BOTH the image and a link in the challenge forum here.

You will receive one point for completing the challenge. You can earn an additional point for using a new product from the ScrapMatters store (PLEASE indicate you have used something new when you leave us the link in the forum), and one lucky winner will receive one more point at the end of the month for creating my favorite layout.

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

That’s it.

Have fun. I can’t wait to see what you come up with.

Happy Scrapping!