YAY…My first challenge as a ScrapMatters Girl, and of course it’s one of my favorites!! It’s time for the Tuesday Template Challenge and I have created a template from a LO I did a while back for a SS. There is no special theme or set of rules, so use it as is, flip it or make it your own…just be sure to have fun!

The “Fine Print” aka the Matter of Scrap Challenge rules:[/
You have all this month (September) to complete the layout. Upload it to the gallery, and leave BOTH the image and a link as a reply to this post!

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!!

Here's the template

Download template -----http://www.4shared.com/file/127734553/736e378b/Tuesday_Template_9109.html">HERE

And here's my LO that inspired the template. I used the Sisters For Life collab kit by Britt-ish Designs and Sya's Blueprints.

And here are some inspiration LOs that the amazing SM CT and DT created with the template...

by Courtney (cnscrap):

by Melissa (rxdawg97):

by Wendy (wm[squared]):

by Stephanie (HapEScrapr):

by Melissa (Yzerbear19):

Thank you ladies for the amazing inspiration and can’t wait to see what ALL of YOU create with it!!!!!

This week’s LOTW is SF Circa 2009 by cursivesmile. I love the beautiful blended picture of the Golden Gate Bridge and the faint word art along the right side of the picture. Plus her journaling is awesome and the framed SF is great! Congrats cursivesmile! Make sure you leave her some love in the forum!

And now …

1.   Your screen name? Your real name?

I usually go by nockosh around the forums and galleries and my real name is Kaye Winiecki

 2.   What is your main job/career?

Firstly a mother and then I am graphic designer and scrapbook designer which I am lucky enough to do from home

 3.   Are you married/children/pets?

I am married and have 2 gorgeous children, 1 dog and 3 goldfish

 4.   Where is home for you?

I live in Australia just outside of Melbourne

 5.   What are your 3 favorite foods?

Chocolate, Mexican and thai green curry

 6.   What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

Cookie dough

 7.   Snacks…Salty or Sweet?

Mainly go for sweet, but occasionally crave salty

 8.   Beverage of choice?

Hot chocolate or diet coke

 9.   What’s your least favorite food?

Brussel sprouts, blah!

 10.  PC or Mac? What program do you use?

PC, photoshop, illustrator

 11.  How long have you been digi-scrapping? How did you get started?

I started digiscrapping in 2006 after a friend introduced me to it, but once I googled it and discovered the great big wide world of digi I was totally hooked!

 12.  What was your 1st LO about?

My very first layout (which I cringe at now, it’s so bad! LOL) was about the nicknames we had for our little boy.

 13.  Do you have any other hobbies besides digi-scrapping (are there other hobbies)?

I also enjoy reading and drawing but I don’t do much of either of those now that I scrap.

 14.  What is the most challenging part of scrapbooking for you?

I really struggle doing layouts of holidays or things like Wiggle concerts etc where I have loads of photos. I really want to scrap them but I just get overwhelmed by it all

 15.  What would you like to learn to do (or do better) not related to scrapbooking?

I would love to learn ikebana, some of those arrangements are stunning.

 16.  What are your favorite movies/TV shows?

I’m not really into movies but I do enjoy a good chick flick every now and then. The tv shows I tend to watch are Cold Case and CSI

 17.  Describe your “scrapping” environment.  Music? TV in the background? Drinks? Snacks? Where?

My ultimate scrapping environment is when DH is out playing in the band, kids are in bed, M&M’s are on my desk next to my hot chocolate and the house is really quiet! My usual scrapping environment is DH is asleep on the couch with the tv going and the kids are in bed.

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

Paint and flowers

 19.  Would you like to share a little known fact about you…?

It’s not very exciting but when I finished school I went off to university to study librarianship because I didn’t have the confidence to do a graphic design course. I only completed one year of the librarian course and went on to do graphic design.

 20.  Can you tell us a little about your scrappin’ style?

I’m not really sure what my style is, I do like negative space and I like to cluster elements around my photos.

 21.  Favorite LOs that you have done?

These ones are some of my current favourites

 22. How long have you been a member at ScrapMatters? How did you find us?

I discovered ScrapMatters when I joined Sahlin Studio’s creative team back in May this year. I have mainly been active in the gallery and quietly lurking in the forums

 23. Do you have any suggestions for kits you’d like to see in the SM store?

No not really, it looks like there is already a great choice of goodies

Thanks Kaye for letting us get to know you! Check out her gallery HERE!

When I am scrapbooking I love to “wrap” ribbons around pictures. Today I am going to show you how you can take a straight ribbon and “wrap” it around a photo.

To start with- place your ribbon on your layout where you want it.

Next- using your selection tools, select the part of the ribbon you want to delete. I like to leave a little bit of the ribbon hanging past the frame. This is the part that is “wrapping” around the frame.

Next select your Burn tool. It is in the same place as your dodge tool, but it has the little hand icon. Then at the top where you can adjust your tool settings, lower the exposure (kinda like the opacity). I also like to start by darkening the midtones first. I always start with a low exposure first and then build it up. If you need to you can go back and darken the shadows and highlights as needed.

Lastly before you start you want to change your brush. It’s best to work with a brush that is about the same width as your ribbon and that has soft edges.

Make sure you have your ribbon layer selected, and now “paint” down the side edge of your ribbon, with part of your brush hanging off the side of the ribbon. I start on the outside and then do more vertical brush strokes as I work my way in towards the photo. Adjust your exposure as needed- and remember that less is more! Finally don’t forget to add a shadow to your ribbon and you’re done!

And here’s my final layout I created using the Jingle All the Way kit by GG Digital Designs and the template from It’s Hip to be Square by Denise Beatty Originals.

Here is an example done by Heather using the new kit Bliss by Andilynn Designs. She wrapped the lavender lace around the stems of the flowers.

And lastly here is an example by Jen using the new kit Explore.Learn.Grow by Shalin Studios and the EZ Date Labels by Erika Zane

Your challenge is to create a layout that has a ribbon “wrapped” around something. You’ll get one point for posting your competed layout in both the gallery and in the challenge forum thread.

Here are some quick reminders about the Matter of Scrap Challenges:

*You can get one extra point if you use a new release product within one week of it’s release (be sure to note in the forum thread that you used a new release product).

*Remember there is no double dipping between challenges- each layout must be unique to each challenge.

*You can use whatever supplies you want- they don’t have to be from ScrapMatters.

*Since this challenge is at the end of the month you also have ALL of September to complete it. (If you finish it in August though, you’ll get your point as part of your August total.)

That’s it- go have some fun!

Back To School: Stamps by WM[squared] Designs:

Back To School by WM[squared] Designs:

Back To School Bundle by WM[squared] Designs:

Bliss by Andilynn Designs

Words Matter: Bliss by Andilynn Designs

Mats & Masks: Bliss by Andilynn Designs

Bundle of Bliss by Andilynn Designs

Defined: Wedded Bliss by Andilynn Designs

“More Fish Friends” by Britt-ish Designs

2010 Calendar Grid Overlays by Geeky Diva Designs

Chinese Take-Out Box Hybrid Template by Geeky Diva Designs

Never Give Up Word Art by Geeky Diva Designs

The More The Merrier Page Templates by Geeky Diva Designs

Explore. Learn. Grow. by Sahlin Studio:

Learning: Journaling Bits by Sahlin Studio:

Snipettes:Explore. Learn. Grow. by Sahlin Studio:

Explore. Learn. Grow. – BUNDLE by Sahlin Studio:

JH_Stefanie Font by Jeni Hopewell

JH_Princess.Erica Font by Jeni Hopewell

JH_With a Marker Font by Jeni Hopewell

BLISS Badge Album by Sharon Dale

Tag – You’re It! Sahlin Studio by iKari Designs:

Hot August Night Quick Page Album by Andilynn Designs and Friends

http://scrapmatters.com/shop/images/cache/76a73b54073b31e3f57ac55e3c19563f.jpg

Lil’ Mr. Fix-it Bonus Alpha by Designs by Tater

You Define Me by Chelle’s Creations

You Define Me: Love by Chelle’s Creations

You Define Me Combo by Chelle’s Creations

Hello everyone,

I’m very excited to be bringing you our very first hybrid tutorial and product review here on the ScrapMatters blog!  Whoo hoo!  Hybrid can be a whole new world to some scrappers, but once you realise what you can do with your digitial supplies and a few other basic tools, you’ll never know what hit you!  Really, it’s not that hard to make a start into the world of hybrid and to expand your creativity at the same time, so we’re hoping our tutorials and product reviews will help you newbies along somewhat and for those already hybrid scrapping, you may just learn a tip or two!  I’ll also be posting this tutorial in our Hybrid Is Hot forum if you want to come and follow the discussion.

Today I’m going to be decorating a paper gift bag for a 5 year old girl and I’ll show you how easy it is to grunge up your projects with a bit of distressing.  I can’t live without my inks pads and I love to distress all of the goodies I make.  And with a little paper tearing and paper curling, you can add to the worn and tattered look of your project.

The birthday girl will have her very own personalised bag that I can pop her present into.  I picked up a bundle of these large bags from my local party supply store.  For the digital portion of this bag, I have used Jennifer Barrette’s fab SCHOOL GIRL ROCK kit. I also found a piece of 12×12 inch scalloped Bazzill in my paper stash.

Next I created the digital portion of the kit to be adhered to the front of the bag.  I wanted a layered effect, so I firstly printed off a sheet of Jen’s houndstooth paper, then my digitally created page including the personalised birthday greeting.

Next up, I got my favourite distress inks out by Tim Holtz.  I have used Black Soot for this project but my favourite colours are Walnut Stain and Vintage Photo.  I use these on just about all of my projects to add some depth and age where needed.  Your projects will have so much more warmth and dimension to them with a little ink added around the edges.  I applied my ink to this project directly with the ink pad, but you can use a soft sponge which gives you a more softer look.  You can always add more then but when applying the ink directly with the ink pad, you immediately have it on thick and dark, depending on how moist your ink pad is.

I then took my houndstooth paper and started to tear it up to fit within the boundaries of my scalloped cardstock.  I just love to tear my papers freehand and then you just take the edges and roll them and scrunch them up for an even more grungier look.  After I finished curling the edges, I swiped some more black in around the edges.

And now that all my inking was complete, I used double-sided tape to adhere the cardstock and houndstooth paper to the bag.  For the digital layout, I used 3D foam tape to give it a little lift from the rest of the bag, again adding depth and dimension.

Once I purchase the birthday gift, I’ll add it to the bag and tie it up with some matching ribbons and add a hanging card or a tag from Jen’s kit.  It’s just gone midnight here and I wanted to post this before I went to bed, so once I complete the other little additions, I’ll update my post in the Hybrid Is Hot thread.

This was a very inexpensive way to jazz up your wrapping of a gift and I hope our little friend thinks it’s pretty cool too!

Hi everyone!

I’m so excited to be hosting my very first Grand Theft Layout challenge here at ScrapMatters! For this week’s challenge I chose to lift Lori aka loribear’s gallery. Her gallery is just filled with amazing layouts and I’m sure you’ll find something in there to inspire you! Cant wait to see what you all come up with!

My layout using Bon Voyage by August guest designer Mira Designs:

Lifting:

AlliJ2008’s layout using Jennifer Barrette’s Dare To Dream:

She lifted:

QuiltyMom’s layout using Beach Bum and Simply Dates V2 by Wm[squared];
Tuesday Template 4/28/09 by Designs by Stefanie :

She lifted:

kimbytx’s layout using Motor Mania by Britt-ish Designs and Tuesday Template 6/16/09 by Linz:

She lifted:

abcmomof4’s layout using Enjoy The Moment by Sahlin Studio:

She lifted:

And here’s a little reminder of our Matter of Scrap Challenge rules:

• You have all month to complete this challenge 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 this month to be counted.

• At the end of the month I will choose my favourite for an extra point!

• 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 one challenge only.

Happy scrapping!

Jill

Hi everyone…Stefanie here to host another Tuesday Template challenge.  There are no rules this week, I just want to see you make the template your own.  Here is the template…

Download the template here

Here is the layout I did using Mira Designs Bon Voyage kit and date tags…

and here is some awesome inspiration from the site CT!!!

From VirginiaJen using Haynay’s A Stone’s Throw, Mira Designs’ Messy Machine, Erica Zane’s EZ Date Labels and
Sahlin Studio’s Sweet Sayings

From Monsu using Blessings by Sahlin Studio and Bon Voyage date tags by Mira Designs

From QuiltyMom using Ride ‘em Cowboy by GG Digital Designs

From CanadianMommy using Haynay’s new Pebbles and Butterflies

From Sarahtawisha using Erica Zane’s Tortuga (SS prize), Leafy Treetops and Border Dates.

and from Neetdesigner using Incredi-Boy by Britt-ish Designs and Golden Girls Digital Designs

OMG!  Aren’t all the layouts awesome!  Can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with.

You have until the end of September to complete your layout. Please upload it to the Tuesday Template Gallery and leave BOTH the image and a link as a reply to this post 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 that when uploading your page. At the end of the challenge, I’ll be choosing one random winner for an extra point 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.

It’s just another Manic Monday at ScrapMatters!!! Don’t miss out on your chance to get products at extra reduced prices…. Sales will last for one day ONLY…. Make Monday your FUN DAY!!!!! Check the ScrapMatters Shop for more details!! *Manic Monday sales go into the shop early Monday morning and will “disappear” around midnight! So don’t wait!!!*

It’s Cyndi here with some awesome photo tips for you from a very trusted source… Kodak!  I don’t know about you but I’m always looking for ways to make my pictures better… aside from buying that really expensive lens I want right now   When I stumbled onto these tips, I knew I had to share.  Enjoy!

TOP 10 TIPS FOR GREAT PICTURES

1.  Look your subject in the eye

Direct eye contact can be as engaging in a picture as it is in real life. When taking a picture of someone, hold the camera at the person’s eye level to unleash the power of those magnetic gazes and mesmerizing smiles. For children, that means stooping to their level. And your subject need not always stare at the camera. All by itself that eye level angle will create a personal and inviting feeling that pulls you into the picture.

2.  Use a plain background

A plain background shows off the subject you are photographing. When you look through the camera viewfinder, force yourself to study the area surrounding your subject. Make sure no poles grow from the head of your favorite niece and that no cars seem to dangle from her ears.

3.  Use flash outdoors

4.  Move in close

5.  Move it from the middle

6.  Lock the focus

7.  Know your flash’s range

8.  Watch the light

9.  Take some vertical pictures

10.  Be a picture director

For more insight and further tips, visit http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=38/13915/39/317/10032&pq-locale=en_US#wg03_1_title_1

Happy snapping!