Hi, everyone!  I’m excited to bring you another Project reNEWit challenge!  Anytime I come across something about to go in the trash that I think can be reused in a project, I save it.  My favorite thing to save?  Chipboard.  I love the dimension it adds to projects, and it’s amazing how much chipboard I come across everyday . . . from the back of used-up notepads, shipping packaging (especially in picture or scrapbook print orders), even cereal boxes provide a nice thin piece of chipboard.  Here are some of my recent saves:

The red one was part of the packaging in some IKEA DVD boxes I bought, and I think the brown one is part of a sheet that came in a scrapbook page order I received (used to keep the prints from bending).

I decided to make some hybrid cards with chipboard accents.  Here is what I came up with using Andilynn’s fabulous Night Music kit:

The card with the file folder also doubles as a gift card holder.  To make the buttons, I just punched circles out of the chipboard, covered, and punched 1/8″ holes.

Here’s another great project using recycled chipboard from Kari (karistamps):

Kari used a chipboard drink holder from Sonic to create this amazing gift!  I don’t think I would have ever thought to save a drink holder, but I will now!

Kim (tgmousechick) made this super cute card:

The tag is made from recycled chipboard and then covered.

So, for the May reNEWit challenge, we will be creating hybrid projects using recycled chipboard.  You can make any type of project you want (mini album, card, etc.), it just has to be hybrid and use recycled chipboard.  If you don’t like the natural look of the chipboard, feel free to print out some fun paper and cover it.

Just a little reminder: As part of the Matter of Scrap challenge system, you will receive one point for each completed, photographed project. Remember, you must post in both the subforum and in the gallery to receive credit. A random winner will be selected to receive an additional point just for participating.

I can’t wait to see your projects in the gallery and forum!

Hi everyone, Shari here filling in for Andrea. I was more than happy to help Andrea out with tallying our INSD contest entries and using Random.org to pick our winners. One lucky person has won a $25.00 gift code to spend in the ScrapMatters’ shop. Since we had so many participants Andrea (Andilynn Designs), Tater (Designs By Tater), Wendy (WM[Squared]Designs, and Mary (Plum Dumpling Designs) have generously donated a $5.50 gift code, to their stores, for four more lucky winners.  Okay, enough chatter from me, here are the lucky winners

$25.00 Store Gift Code goes to dznyscrapper
Andilynn’s Gift Code goes to cristina
Tater’s Gift Code goes to davsar
Mary’s Gift Code goes to krisi616
Wendy’s Gift Code goes to tuttle

There you have it, all our lucky winners. We want to thank all of you that participated in the many games, challenges and all the fun we had during our special INSD week. Thanks for being part of our ScrapMatters’ community.

Hello everyone Stacy here with a new Grand Theft LO challenge.  This week we are going to life Li14.  I love her LOs.  First off she takes the most amazing photos.  Also, I love her “sense of style”!    Her gallery is here!

I picked Silly:

Here’s my lift using Erica Zane’s Tropical Escape:

Here’s some more inspiration from the team at ScrapMatters. 

kimbytx used Juno Designs and TheresK These Moments to lift dreaming:

alamama used Traice Stroud’s Ooga Booga to lift kiss:

kv2av used Britt-ish Design’s bunny foo foo to lift Dog House

Remember as always:
1.  Link your LO here – please make sure to leave a link to the gallery as well as the picture of your LO.
2.  There is no double dipping.
3.  You will receive a point for completing the challenge.  Extra points are avaliable for use of a new product and for the winner chosen at the end of the challenge.
4.  You have until the last day of May to complete this challenge.
5.  HAVE FUN!!!

Ok, I can’t believe that the last time I published a Tuesday Template it was March.  Seriously?  The older I get the faster time slips away!! At any rate, Wendy here with a new Tuesday Template!

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!  I also need to add that this template was inspired by one of my personal CT members – Sarah (aka:  Davsar)!!  Isn’t it awesome?

Here is the template:

Here’s *MY* LO (using my new “Viva Fiesta” kit):

Here is some inspiration from the ScrapMatters CT/DT:

Layout By:  kimbytx

Credits: Jennifer Barrette’s “Totally BFF”

Layout By: emileem

Layout By:  tgmousechick

Credits:  GG Digital Designs – “Singing In The Rain”

Layout By:  SHARIng Creations

Credits:  Jennifer Barrette’s Masquerade 3, Erica Zane’s Tropical Escape collab with MKC and Erica Zane’s EZ Journals

Layout By:  The Werners

Credits:  WM[squared] Designs “Shabby Chic”

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.

Happy Scrapping!!

Brynn, one of our Queen of Scrap contestants here at SM, asked if we would be willing to help promote her walk for the March of Dimes. Her family has been chosen to be the Ambassador family for her community. Brynn has an inspirational, moving story that you can read about by clicking the layout below. If you would like to know more go check out her post in the SM forum and then follow the link and donate to support the March of Dimes and Brynn’s walk if you can. I know that the SM community is very big-hearted, so please help out if at all possible.

Thanks for your help and your time, Andrea

I’ll admit it … I like to organize things.  My childrens’ playroom is full of cubes that are labeled for the different types of toys they include – Polly Pockets, Barbies, GeoTrax, Blocks, etc.  I am the same way in my craft room (except I don’t have actual labels on most things … I just KNOW where things belong).  I have spent HOURS organizing my digital supplies and photos so that I could quickly and easily find what I needed to make my scrapping more productive.  I remember the first speed scrap I participated in here at SM and being so grateful that I had a system for knowing where things were!

Fast forward to a few months ago … hit with multiple computer problems we decided it was time to upgrade to a new computer *CHEER*  It ended up being a long and challenging process that included hours of research (that had been ongoing for over a year) and more than one purchase and return.  In the end (of a 2 month process), I had a computer that I absolutely ADORE (a 24″ iMac), an entirely different operating system, and photos and digital supplies that were no longer organized … UGH!!!  I know how much time I had invested in getting things organized before and the idea of having to do it again was/is horribly daunting.  I have, however, found how much I RELY on my system!  I have had a much more difficult time feeling “productive” in my creative work because I feel like I spend so much time searching – for the right photo, for a frame that will coordinate, for the perfect template to get me started.  This feeling of floundering is what has inspired me to begin the journey to getting my stash organized again.  I know it will take time, but I also know how much time it will SAVE me in the end.  I know it will be tedious, but no more tedious than blindly looking through folder after folder searching for what I need or the photos I want.  I know that once I get my system back in place that it will be easier to maintain and not seem so overwhelming.

I know (or at least hope) that many of you may be feeling what I feel.  Where do you start?  What system do you use?  Do you need software?  I believe that everyone has to find what works for them.  I’m sure my system would probably drive someone else crazy or seem too detailed while others might find it too simple.  I also know that it took me a while to decide how I wanted things organized.  One suggestion I received and think really helped me out was to think about the way you scrap … do you look for things by color?  pattern?  kit?  designer?  embellishment type?  Do you look for pictures by date?  event?  people?  For the purpose of this post I am going to look more at the organization of our digital supplies, but a lot of the same concepts apply to organizing our photos, too.

I started by deciding that I would use software to help me.  When I was on a PC I swore by ACDSee Photo Manager.  I loved this program!  I found a lot of great resources at digiscrapinfo.com and once I had established what my organizing categories would be I found it easy to keep up with.  It allowed me to view what I had all in one spot instead of having to go through folders.  Now that I am on a Mac I have purchased Shoebox.  It is different than what I am used to with ACDSee which is part of why my stash remains unorganized (for now) but the little I have used it helps me to see that it will also be an incredibly valuable tool for helping me get things reorganized again.  I know a lot of people who use the organizer that comes with Photoshop Elements or Bridge that comes with full version Photoshop, too.

Next I had to decide HOW I wanted to organize.  What things did I look for again and again?  Digiscrapinfo actually has a list of organizing styles from several different people listed right HERE on their site.  There is a huge variety from really long and detailed styles to ones that are far more simple.  I looked through those styles to get ideas for how I should organize and came up with what worked for me.  I have added and changed categories over time but for the most part have been happy with what I decided on.  If you are interested in knowing what categories I decided on personally, leave a comment and a way for me to contact you and I’ll get back to you … I hate to keep people reading a longer post than necessary

I know how important organization is for me when it comes to my photos and digital supplies … it helps me accomplish more.  I look forward to the challenge of getting my goodies organized again so I can get over this feeling of being “lost” or “stuck” when looking for what I want/need for a project.  Do any of you feel the same way?  How do you feel that your organization style (or lack thereof) plays a role in your scrapping?  What things have you found that help you get organized or stay organized?  I’d love to see you share your tips and/or tricks with us!  Have questions?  Post them here!  I know how much I have grown and learned by what others have shared here.  I hope you enjoy your Monday

Hello everyone!  Jeni here with your Saturday Special challenge for the day so let’s get to it!

For today’s challenge we’re going to add some blur to our photos.  I know, sounds weird but stick with me and you’ll see why.     Have you ever had a picture with a distracting background?  I have this picture of my daughter and I love how it captures her smile and the size of it is perfect, but that wrapped gift and Target bag in the background are really distracting.  I could crop them out but that would make my picture the wrong size for what I want to do.  The solution?  Blur out the distracting elements. 

(NOTE:  This tut was created in PSCS3 but will work in PSE.  You can probably adapt it to most other programs as well.)

First, using your rectangular marquee tool select the portion of your photo that you would like blurred.  Make sure that you zoom way in so that you can get right up to the edge of your photo.  You don’t want any extra spots where the background shows through in the selection – this is important because we are going to be saving this selection for future use.  Before we get to that let’s make a copy of that portion of our photo.  Hit Ctrl+J and another layer should show up in your palette. Next make sure you’ve still got those marching ants marching around your to be blurred piece (if they aren’t Ctrl+click on the thumbnail of that piece of your photo in your layers palette) and then go to Select>Save Selection.  In the new window that pops up choose a name for your selection and hit o.k.  Hit Ctrl+D (or Select>Deselect) to get rid of your marching ants now.

Next we’re going to blur that little piece.  Highlight that layer in your layers palette and go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur.  Enter the amount of blur that you like (mine was 30) and hit OK.

Now if you zoom in you’ll see that the edges of that little piece have been really blurred and are hanging over the edge of your original photo.  This is where that saved selection comes in!  Highlight that little piece in your layers palette and go to Select>Load Selection.  In the channel area hit the drop down menu button and choose the selection that you saved previously.  Here is the important part – tic the little box below it that says Invert.  (NOTE:  If you do not have this little invert box you can load the selection and then with those marching ants going click on Select>Inverse.  You’ll get the same results – it’s just a few more keystrokes.)
Now that we have loaded our selection and inverted it hit the DELETE button.  The blurry edges are gone and my distractions are all blurred out!

That’s pretty much it!  I added a ribbon to cover up the blurred edge connecting to my photo. I chose to put my title on the blurred background but it would also be great as a little journaling spot.  The possibilities are endless!  Here’s my finished page. 

Here are some more great examples from the SM Creative Team:

By alamama using WMsquared’s {Shabby Chic}

By kimbytx using Jennifer Barrette and Juno Designs {Extraordinary} and Sya’s Blueprints {Long N Skinny}

Now for the rules!  You have until May 31 to complete this challenge.  You must scrap your own page and post it in the Saturday Special Gallery here. Then link your page to this thread in the forum. Your page must be unique to this challenge – no double dipping!  : )  You’ll receive one point for your completed page, and you can earn an extra point by using a newly released design from the shop but you MUST mention this with your post in the forum.  You don’t have to use ScrapMatters products, but of course we love it if you do!  I can’t wait to see all your blurry pictures – LOL!!

Viva Fiesta by WM[squared] Designs:

Viva Fiesta Alpha by WM[squared] Designs:

My Grab Bag Reveal:
Shabby Chic by WM[squared] Designs:

Shabby Chic Alpha by WM[squared] Designs:

Sketchy Alpha by WM[squared] Designs:

Simply Dated V.2 by WM[squared] Designs:

Project 365 Essentials V1 by WM[squared] Designs:

”Capture This: Seasons” Photo Masks by Scrapmuss Designs

Turtle Island mini-kit by Scrapmuss Designs

Love Life Add On by Sahlin Studio

Love Life Full Kit by Sahlin Studio (includes add-on)

Loverly by Sahlin Studio

Haynay’s School’s Out for Summer, Alpha, Wordart

Haynay’s School’s Out for Summer Paper Packs: Elementary and Secondary

Haynay’s Project 365 Templates

Haynay’s PhotoBorders

Haynay’s Chip Off the Old Block Alpha

Haynay’s Chip Off the Old Block Frames

Haynay’s Chip Off the Old Block Word Art

Coined by Sya’s Blueprints

Gimme Some Space by Sya’s Blueprints

Long ‘n’ Skinny by Sya’s Blueprints

Stacked ‘n’ Layered Strips

“Word Circles” by Britt-ish Designs

“All Strung Out” by Britt-ish Designs

Britt-ish Designs NSD Grab Bag Revealed

“Yippee Skippee”

“Polkee-Dawt Alpha”

“Glam-o-Rama Gradients”

“Edge 2 Edge: Songs”

Welcome to Paradise

Messy Date Stamps by Jennifer Barrette Designs

Masquerade Vol3 by Jennifer Barrette Designs

Paper Pieces Template Set by Plum Dumpling Designs

The Real Thing: Frames by Chelle’s Creations

“Orange You Glad” by GG Digital Designs

“Burlap Paper Pack” by GG Digital Designs

“Doodley Doo Swirls” by GG Digital Designs

Hey all!  Cyndi here to give you a quick little photo tip today. 

I love to take pictures in natural light.  I love the colors and how wonderful they look in the sun.  But at times, depending on if my subject is in the shade or as was the case with this picture, the car… the photo can look a little dull.

Check out this cute pic of my little man, Dan (a good friend’s little boy).

We were in the car and he was hugging his chick and it was just so cute, I couldn’t resist taking a picture (can anyone relate?)  But we were in the car and although it was a bright day outside, the picture looks dull and gray.  Here are a few steps I take to add light and hopefully save the picture. 

Open your pic in your software program.  Mine is Adobe  Photoshop CS2.  Create a new adjustment layer by clicking on the little half white/half black circle.  Click on levels.

The levels tab will open.  Set a dark point by clicking on the black eye dropper and then clicking on the darkest spot of your picture.

Do the same with the white eye dropper and click on the lightest part of your pic (sometimes you have to click on a couple different light spots to find just the right look.)

On this pic I clicked on the light part of his finger, real close to his cuticle.  The program then brought light into the rest of the picture without blowing out that little spot.  (And now you can REALLY see all the dirt on his little chick!!)   These colors are truer to what my eyes saw when he was sitting in the back seat of the car.

Much better

It may not work for every picture but it doesn’t take a whole lot of time, so I think it’s worth a try.  This procedure has saved a few of my pics.  Hope it works for you.

Happy Friday!!

Happy hybrid Thursday!   I am so thrilled to present some serious hybrid eye candy that our members have been churning out.  I *heart* them all and have already archived them on my ever-growing ”to create” list.

shanscraps made this lovely purse  for a Mother’s Day gift using Grandmother’s Grace by Megan Turnidge:

We have a few {being facetious here} Disney fans at ScrapMatters, so it’s no surprise to see this cute Disney-themed autograph book by tgmousechick – she used Britt-ish Designs’ Dreams Do Come True,  Leave the World Behind, and Decadence kits: 

 ocmath hit a home run with this paper flowers  project.  She used Ginger Breeze, a retired kit by Tracie Stroud Designs:

littlehiccup made these adorable fortune cookies for the April Hybrid Exchange, also using A Grandmother’s Grace:

winkasheart wanted to send a personalized gift to her daughter and son-in-law who are in Iraq serving our country; I think this album will give them a good reminder of the love and support they have in their family.  She used the So Totally Teen  collab kit by Mickey B Designs and Designs by Tater:

And chia created these OMGoodness beautiful rosettes for her daughter’s room with wm[squared] Design’s Shabby Chic kit 

Recently, the Daily Digi  highlighted THREE of our SM members’ work – what an honor!  Just goes to show you that we have some serious talent here. 

Don’t forget to post your SM hybrid projects – who knows, it might be featured here next!