Hi it’s Sharon here with a new Saturday Special Challenge for you and I have decided to see what wordart we can make using our digital supplies. Wordart is all the rage these days and adds so much appeal to a layout, whether it’s subtle in the background or boldly taking centreplace on your page. You can use so many things to go into your wordart such as alphas, fonts, brushes and other images.

I made up this layout using WM[Squared]‘s SHABBY CHIC kit and a template from Denise Beatty Originals SPREAD THE WEALTH and you’ll see my wordart in the background with a few different phrases relating to my title. I also added a bit of grunge with some brushwork in behind the text to make it stand out a little more. This wordart didn’t take very long at all but it added a little ‘pop’ to my layout from Denise’s template. Try playing with the opacity, colour and blend modes of your brushes and/or text as I didn’t mean to end up with the green brushwork behind my text until I changed the blend modes and really liked the effect it gave!

Christy (aka The Werners) also made up a layout for this challenge and her wordart is boldly standing out across the bottom of her page. Love how Christy fitted it nicely into an angled section of her page.

So off you go and play! There is no theme to adhere to – just be creative and come up with a little bit of wordart that adds to your project.

RULES (click HERE for an overview):

There’s no double dipping. Your layout must be unique to this challenge (QOS is the only exception).

Everyone who completes the challenge will get a point in the Matter of Scrap Challenge System.

You do not need to use ScrapMatters products, however, if you use something new from the ScrapMatters store (within the first seven days of a product’s release), you get an extra point.

And, I will choose my favorite layout to get one more point at the end of the challenge.

Don’t forget to upload your layout to the Saturday Special Gallery , and then visit our Forum thread HERE to link us up with your layout.

Because this challenge is on the last day of May, you have until the end of June to complete your entry.

Happy Friday, everyone! Linz here with today’s photography tip. Actually, it’s more of a photog/scrapping tip! Have you ever spent hours searching for the perfect kit to match your favorite photo of the moment? Of course you have! It can be so tough to find one that’s “just right” for photo. For me personally, I like my photos to match the kit — in more ways than one! Certainly I want the theme to mesh well, if there is one. In lieu of a theme, I try to choose a kit that goes well with the feeling or mood of the photo. I mean, it just wouldn’t look right to scrap one of my typical photos of my little man being his wild little self if I decided to go with a calm, serene  type of kit, right? So that’s another way we can “match” things. Finally, I absolutely LOVE when the colors in my photo also appear in the papers and/or elements within the kit. Maybe you’ve never paid much attention to whether or not this is true for your pages. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work out that way, but there are definitely ways around it. Let me give you an example!

I loooved my son’s expression in this photo! The whole vibe just went so well with the grunge and metal in Off Tha Chain by Tracie Stroud & Krystal Hartley. There was just one problem! This photo was taken outdoors on a lovely spring day.  Blue skies, bright sunshine and green grass just weren’t jiving with this page at all!  So I chose to crop it close (eliminating the view of our backyard) and turn it black & white.  Another quick tip — branch out here too! Sure, the desaturate feature is quick and will remove the color from your photo, but it often leaves it looking drab and dull. Play with blending modes, curves, levels, etc OR there are plenty of free actions and/or scripts that will do the work for you!  Once you’ve compared the results, you’ll never go back to the old way.

One more example…

This is one of the first photos taken of my newborn son (3½ yrs ago) and also one of my favorites. I was working with Baby Jackson by Mickey B Designs, a gorgeous kit full of unique, realistic elements. It’s a calm, peaceful photo so it was a great match in that sense. However — here I go again with my color obsession — his hospital blanket had bright pinks, purples and blues. I found the pattern and colors very distracting! They really took away from the beauty of the photo. So I once again got to work, using an action as well as several layers of different blending modes. The result is much better suited for the page, don’t you think?

I hope I’ve given you all some things to think about today. This is just one more way to improve the quality of your pages or even just scrap a little outside your comfort zone. We’d love to see what you can do. Feel free to link us up if you’ve decided to play with these techniques. We all enjoy spreading the love!

Have a great weekend!

Ready for another decor challenge?  Whether you are wanting to change your decor for a new season, a holiday, a birthday, or other celebration, a banner can be a fun and easy way to add the extra “WOW” that we are often looking for!  I’ve seen several different ideas for banners out there in cyberspace, and all of them are unique and add a personal touch.  Your Dazzling Decor challenge for this month is to create a banner of your own!  Here are a list of ideas that might help you get started:

- Create a banner for an upcoming holiday or season
- Add some style to a new baby’s nursery by creating a banner with their name
- Hosting a shower?  Think baby, wedding, graduation party ….
- Everyone has a birthday – make a Happy Birthday banner that you can hang every time your family celebrates their special days
- Congratulations are often in order (new job, promotion, award, baby, wedding, graduation, etc)
- Welcome home a friend or family member who is returning from a trip

I created my sample using chipboard circles but don’t feel limited – try using triangles, rectangles, squares, ovals … the sky’s the limit!

Here’s another sample that Jaime (ocmath) created for Halloween:

I had a great time making my banner and see myself making several more for myself and others.  I can’t wait to see what you come up with

As always, here are the guidelines for the challenges at Scrap Matters:
- Entries must be posted in the appropriate challenge gallery, and in the corresponding thread in the forum
- Since this challenge begins during the last week of the month, entries must be posted before the end of the following month (June 30) to be counted toward that month’s point total
- You’ll get 1 point for completing your banner and posting it. Plus, I’ll select one entry at random for a bonus challenge point.

Hey all! Heather (haynay) here for another Grand Theft Layout! I’ve recently found that I have tons of judet’s LOs in my favorites folder! I think you will be able to find many LOs that will inspire you! Go to Judet’s gallery and have fun!

Judet did this sweet and simple page:

Here is my page using Megan Turnbridge’s Funky Love and Erica Zane’s Tropical Escape:

And here is what some of the CT did with it:

Sharon scraplifted Dandy-lime

Here is her take on it using Jen Barrette’s collab kit with Lauren Grier LADY BUGGA and Tater’s WORN POLKA DOTS alpha!

Christine lifted Snow.

She used Tracie Stroud’s *Harmony*, *Mod Boy*, *Ooga Booga*, & Brittish Design’s *We’re Just Dating*

And, Stefanie lifted My Girl:

Here is her LO

How fabulous are these!!! Amazing!

Here are the Matter of Scrap Challenge Rules:
You have all month (and since it’s the end of May) all of June to complete your layout! Upload it to the gallery and leave BOTH the image and a link in the challenge forum!

You will receive one point for completing the challenge. You can earn an additional point for using a NEW product from the SM store! (Please indicate that you used something new with your LO/link  in the forum.) And, one  lucky winner (random) will receive one ADDITIONAL point!

Remember no double dipping…your layout must be unique to this challenge! Can’t wait to see your lifts!

Hello, everyone!  I hope anyone celebrating Memorial Day has recovered from their barbeques and parties.  It’s time for this week’s Tuesday Template!

Here’s the link

There are no rules for this week- other than to find the perfect photo to put in that big photo spot!

Here’s the page that I made to inspire the template.  It’s using a fabulous kit by one of brand new designers here at ScrapMatters, Sahlin Studios, called “So This Is Love“:

Gallery link here

If you need some more inspiration, here are some great examples made by our Creative Team!  Here’s one by littlehiccup, using the Rose Cottage Collaboration that’s available to contestants in the Queen of Scrap competition:

And one by iisusieii.  I love how she flipped it and used that big block to fit even more photos!  Susie used “Enjoy the Journey” by WM [squared] Designs and Dirty Feet Designs:

Here’s another one from kimbytx.  She used “April Showers” by Megan Turnidge and Tracie Stroud:

Finally, here’s a fun one by Christy (The Werners).  She used “All Things New” by Tracie Stroud:

As always, I’m looking forward to seeing what you come up with!  This is one of those end of the month challenges, so you have a little extra time to work with it.  You can only earn one challenge point, but if you post the layout by the 31st, it will count towards May totals.  Otherwise, you have all of June to post a page and earn a point for June totals.

A Reminder of the other Matter of Scrap Challenge rules:

Upload your layout to the gallery, and leave BOTH the image and a link in the challenge forum–> found 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 – I will be doing a random draw!)

If you post a layout for this template challenge, you cannot use the same layout to complete another challenge.  The one exception to this is the Queen Of Scrap contest- a layout posted for this challenge does count for Queen of Scrap page totals.

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Did you know that today is Memorial Day here in the United States?  I’m sure you did…how could you not with a three day weekend, barbeques, etc…!  Memorial Day is a time for us to honor those who have given their lives in service to our country.  As you’re reading this, I am hopefully doing just that while visiting Gettysburg…

Here’s an international twist to Memorial Day I found at usmemorialday.org.

In 1915, inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields,” Moina Michael replied with her own poem:

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

She then conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need. Later a Madam Guerin from France was visiting the United States and learned of this new custom started by Ms.Michael and when she returned to France, made artificial red poppies to raise money for war orphaned children and widowed women. This tradition spread to other countries. In 1921, the Franco-American Children’s League sold poppies nationally to benefit war orphans of France and Belgium. The League disbanded a year later and Madam Guerin approached the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) for help. Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922 the VFW became the first veterans’ organization to nationally sell poppies. Two years later their “Buddy” Poppy program was selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans. In 1948 the US Post Office honored Ms Michael for her role in founding the National Poppy movement by issuing a red 3 cent postage stamp with her likeness on it.

I hope you’ll take some time today and reflect on those who have given so much for your country.

And some scrapbooking inspiration…

A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. Joseph Campbell

Bravery never goes out of fashion.  William Makepeace Thackeray

A hero is one who knows how to hang on one minute longer.  Novalis

It is surmounting difficulties that makes heroes.  Louis Pasteur

True bravery is shown by performing without witness what one might be capable of doing before all the world.
François de la Rochefoucauld

When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say,
For Their Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today
The Kohima Epitaph

Hi scrappers, Emilee (emileem) here! I hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend so far.  I’m excited to bring you an awesome design tutorial from Britt of Britt-ish Designs.  She has agreed to let me ‘reprint’ a tutorial she wrote last year as follows:

This week I want to focus on LINE. Whether you mean to or not, almost every scrapper uses line to express emotion and feeling in their work. What separates the outstanding layouts from the average ones are those that use line to its full advantage!

What is “line”, you ask? Well, in design, “line” refers to how the viewer’s eye movement can be controlled by the arrangement of the work. Eye movement is unconsciously influenced by the way things fit or flow together, both on the horizontal and vertical planes.

Different lines subconsciously give different emotions or feeling to our layouts.

When you use horizontal lines in your layouts, (i.e. lines going from left to right across straight across the page) give feelings of peace, calm, quiet, and joyful serentiy.

Possibly we relate horizontal lines to the peace of a rising or setting sun on the horizon, lying down to sleep, or the calm sea. Whatever the reason, utilize horizontal lines in your layout design with horizontally arranged photos, long lines of type or journaling, or panoramic shaped photos and frames when you want the viewer to feel tranquil and serene.

Like this example from Cyndi (Cyndi146) using Tale As Old As Time and Faith, Trust & Pixie Dust by Britt and Paper Pieces Template by Plum Dumpling Designs–

Vertical lines (i.e. lines going up and down on the page) suggest potential for movement. Verticals stripes, stacked photos, even tall lettering or alphas all create vertical lines.

Like this example from Stacy (shutch) using Sahlin Studio’s Enjoy the Moment–

And another example from Andrea (chia) using Sahlin Studios Enjoy the Moments and Snippettes: Enjoy the Moments–

With the potential for movement, comes a feeling of anticipation, hope, and optimism. Perhaps our minds relate vertical lines with ladders leading upward and onward. Use vertical photo-booth strips, vertically striped papers, or ribbons running down the page to create a happy and expectant feeling in your layout design.

And lastly, diagonal lines (i.e. lines on a tilt, not parallel with the edges of the page create movement. They give the viewer feelings of vitality and energy.

Like this LO by Britt herself–

By tilting photos, running elements from corner to corner across the LO, not lining up photo mats and elements symmetrically, or using a diagonal striped paper, we give our page liveliness and excitement! Clustering and using that “messy” look you’ve seen in layouts, creates contrasting diagonal lines, and adds even more life and more energy.

Look through your existing layouts. I guarantee you will find that these line rules apply to many of your pages, even if you didn’t know it at the time you scrapped it! These rules are unintentional. We don’t feel certain ways about lines because we are told to; it’s subliminal. And these rules of line aren’t hard fast. They are theory. You’ll find that some layouts may not follow these rules at all!

However, by being conscious of line and utilizing the influence of line to express emotion, your layouts will become even more effective. And when you look back at your memories years from now, you will be able to feel the emotions of each page, as powerfully as you did the day you scrapped it. And isn’t that “what matters most”?

Okay, me again…Isn’t Britt fabulous?  I think taking a second look at your line composition will really enhance your LO’s.  Your challenge is to complete a LO using Britt’s tutorial regarding line before the end of May.   I have one example of my own, using Happy Scrap Girl’s Wild.  I used vertical line to capture the movement of the elephants–and toddlers:

Remember our standard challenge rules:

There’s no double dipping. Your layout must be unique to this challenge (QOS is the only exception).

Everyone who completes the challenge will get a point in the Matter of Scrap Challenge System.

You do not need to use ScrapMatters products, however, if you use something new from the ScrapMatters store (within the first seven days of a product’s release), you get an extra point.

And, I will choose my favorite layout to get one more point at the end of the challenge.

Don’t forget to upload to the Saturday Gallery here , and link back to the forum with your layout image and link.

You have until the end of May to complete this challenge.  I can’t wait to see what you create!

Hello all, Wendy here for another Tuesday Template – are you sick of me yet?  Hopefully not!!

There is no specific theme or set of rules for today’s template, just have fun!! Use the template as is, or switch it up…it’s all up to you! As with last weeks template, this week’s template was inspired by another one of my AWESOME CT members – Heidi!!!  My CT is seriously the best!!  I hope you love it as much as I do!

Here is the template:

Here is some inspiration from the ScrapMatters CT/DT:

Layout By: chia

Credits: WM[squared] Designs’ “Viva Fiesta”

Layout By: alamama

Credits: Jeni Hopewell’s “How Does Your Garden Grow” Alpha, And Tracie Stroud’s “Ginger Breeze, May Flowers, Harmony”

Layout By: kimbytx

Credits: Megan Turnridge “Party Girl”,  “Ribbon Blooms” and “Ribbony Sweet Treats” Britt-ish Designs “Stacked Buttons” and “In Stitches: Basics”

Layout By: kv2av

Credits: Sya’s and Dirty Feet Designs’ “Love Life Nature” collab

Download the template –> HERE!

I’ve included both the .psd and .png files for you!

And a recap of the Matter of Scrap Challenge rules:

You have all month to complete the 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 – I will be doing a random draw!

Remember, no double dipping…your layout must be unique to this challenge.  The only exception being you QOS ladies!  You can use them for the QOS contest too!

Happy Scrapping!!

Hi All! Christy here with this week’s installment of “What Matters Monday.” The more I scrap and the more I share my layouts with my family in friends, I realize that it’s the little “everyday life moments” that I capture in my pages that seem to matter most to everyone. Don’t get me wrong… I love to scrap the big stuff too… holidays, birthdays, graduations… it’s all good.  But the kids (and even my hubby) seem to LOVE looking through our scrapbooks and being reminded of little moments that may have otherwise been forgotten…. So don’t forget the little things… they are sure to offer up big memories for years to come. I browsed the gallery and picked out a few fun layouts about “little things.” Check them out for some inspiration!! And make sure the check out Britt’s Everyday Magic Matter of Scrap Challenges — they will REALLY get you motivated!! :)

Game Time by TheWerners

Gray… the New Black by neeceebee

If We Build It by lovegoofy

Saturday Breakfast by inhisgrip

Start Your Engines by alamama

Happy Scrapping!!!!

Hi everyone.

Denise here with another Saturday Special. Today we are going to talk about “cutting” ribbon.

Have you seen layouts that have ribbon with edges that are diagonally cut or V cut? This is a pretty easy thing to do in real life…and when you know how, it’s super easy digitally too…but until I learned the technique, I felt like I was missing out on some deep, dark digi-know how!

The technique I choose is a pretty simple one, but MAN, I wish I had known about it sooner!

So, maybe you know this one already, and you get a pretty easy point this month, or if you don’t, I know you’ll be glad you do!

So, first off, start creating your layout. (I am using PSE 6.)

Get a couple of ribbons on there and then select the lasso tool. The lasso tool lets you select parts of your layout, by simply clicking and using your mouse.

When you right click on the lasso tool, it will show a drop-down menu.

Choose the polygonal lasso tool. This tool will allow you to select certain parts of your layout, but all the lines you create will be straight.

Click on one of your ribbon layers in the layers palette (it will turn “gray” or some other similar shade to indicate that it is the active layer).

You are going to “cut” a piece out of your ribbon. Using your mouse you will form a little triangle to indicate where you want the ribbon cut.

So click once near your ribbon (at the edge you want to cut), then again ON your ribbon (where you want the V to start), and then double click off your ribbon again, closing the triangle.

Then, simply hit delete, and it will cut away the section of ribbon you selected.

Pretty easy, huh? You can also cut ribbon at an angle, or an off center v, or pretty much any edge you can think of. You can also use this technique to cut paper, or pretty much any object you want.

Here’s my finished layout:

As you can see, I cut the ends of the blue ribbon, the pink ribbon, and the striped ribbon.

So, your challenge is to use this technique to create a layout. Make sure to have at least a couple of ribbons, so we can see you in action.

And, for a little inspiration, here are a few layouts from the creative team:

from emilee:

from Christine:

from Melanie:

and Christy:

And, here’s  a few housekeeping details:

There’s no double dipping. Your layout must be unique to this challenge (QOS is the only exception).

Everyone who completes the challenge will get a point in the Matter of Scrap Challenge System.

You do not need to use ScrapMatters products, however, if you use something new from the ScrapMatters store (within the first seven days of a product’s release), you get an extra point.

And, I will choose my favorite layout to get one more point at the end of the challenge.

Don’t forget to upload to the Saturday Gallery here , and link back to this thread with your layout image and link.

You have until the end of May to complete this challenge.

Happy scrapping!