ScrapMatters' New Year, New Goals Sale!

Hey everyone, Happy New Year’s Eve,  Andrea here popping in to tell you about our plans for the New Year.  ScrapMatters is happy and excited to spend the New Year with you.  We like to have fun and party as much as the next digital scrapbooker.  To celebrate we are having a sale starting when the clock strikes 12 on New Years Day to help you digiscrap your NYE moments and help you set your goals for 2010 in motion.  ScrapMatters is starting a new Project 365 challenge this year. Please join us it should be a ton of fun.  We also have some kits on sale to help you reach your goals.  The SM forum wants your input on how we can make ScrapMatters even better.  If you want to give your two cents click here.  Happy New Year’s Eve Everyone!!!

Hi everyone. Stefanie here to host the last challenge of 2009. Wow can you believe it? Where did 2009 go? For this GTL I chose to lift AbAllen. I love her layouts, lots of clean lines and white space which I love. You can check out her gallery here.   I chose to lift Snow Fun

and I came up with:

and here is some awesome inspiration from the CT:

Jami:

and here layout:

From Jenny:

and her layout:

Jen:

and her layout:

Becca:

and her layout:

Lori:

and her layout:

Jen:

and her layout:

and the rules…you have until the end of January to complete this challenge. Upload your layout to the Grand Theft Layout gallery and come back here and link us up. You will receive one point for completing the challenge . You don’t have to use ScrapMatters products-but we sure love it when you do! You can earn an additional point for using any NEWLY RELEASED 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 an ADDITIONAL point at the end of the month!

Remember no double dipping…your layout must be unique to this challenge. Can’t wait to see what you come up with.

It’s Tuesday Template time! Wendy here with another template! It’s practically 2010, which seems completely crazy to me!! 

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!

Here is the template:

Here’s *MY* LO :

Credits:

“1st & Park Way” by Pressed Petals
“In The City” by Sahlin Studios

Here is some inspiration from the ScrapMatters CT/DT:

Layout By: JenDavey

Credits:

Vintage Christmas by WM[squared] Designs
Vintage Christmas Bonus Alpha by WM[squared] Designs
Simply Dated v.5 by WM[squared] Designs
Doodle Borders by Britt-ish Designs (recolored)
JH_Amy Font by Jeni Hopewell

Layout By: jami

Credits:

Resolutions kit by AnnaBV Designs (new on 1/1)

Layout By: Becca

Credits:

Sahlin Studio’s Season of Giving

Erica Zane’s Border Dates

Layout By: Jill

Credits:

Innovation by Sahlin Studio

Layout By: Natasha

Credits:

Feel Free by Juno

Feel inspired? Good! Now go download the template –>> HERE! and lemme see what ya got! I’ve included both the .psd and .png files for you!

The “Fine Print” aka the Matter of Scrap Challenge rules:

You have the rest of December to complete the layout, and all of January as well, since this challenge starts the last week of December! 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!!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to YOU! Emilee (emileem) here to bring you an easy tutorial. I think we all need something simple this time of year–don’t you? I’m going to talk about editing a scatter to better suit your needs.

I love when a designer includes a fun scatter in a kit–basically I love anything that makes my life easier–but sometimes the scatter needs a little tweaking to conform with my LO.  Let me give you an example using Andilynn & Haynay Designs Visions of Sugarplums Kit that includes a few great scatters.

Here is the LO I’m working on; I’ve decided I need a scatter under my title so I add a fun scatter, but it’s not long enough to emphasize my whole title.  First, I duplicate the whole scatter and drag it to the opposite side of the title, but then I have a blank space in the middle.  Next, I click on my lasso tool and highlight a portion of the scatter I would like to duplicate:

Then I duplicated (CTRL J with PSE) that section and moved it to an appropriate spot.

Next, I decide to move the first scatter so it is above my title, but it is a bit busy–so I take my lasso tool again and highlight a few sequins and delete them from the scatter:

Now I have a great scatter for my LO:

See how easy that was? Always remember you can edit elements by changing the size, color, shape, etc.

Here some more examples from the ScrapMatters CT to help get your creative juices flowing:
from Cyndi (Cyndi146):

from Nancy (kathleena):

Your challenge is to create a LO using this simple tutorial–edit a scatter to better conform to your LO–then add your LO to the Saturday Special Gallery and Forum.  Remember you can receive ONE point for your LO and TWO points in the Matter of Scrap Challenge system if you use a kit that has been released in the last seven days.  This challenge will continue through January 31.  Post your LO in December to receive points in December; post in January to earn points in January.

Emilee

For this week’s installment of the Grand Theft Layout – I’ve selected one of our awesome hybrid designers here at ScrapMatters-Sharon-aka skyezak.  You can sneek a peak into her amazing gallery HERE!  As you can see-she does SO many cool hybrid creations-and her digital pages are always totally fabulous too-so I am sure you’ll have no trouble finding the perfect work of art to lift!

Here’s what I chose to lift:
Let it Rain

And here’s my take using Erica Zane’s Winter Crush kit:
Let it Snow

Here are some more terrific lifts by the ScrapMatters Creative Team:

Amber (sm_amber) lifted Cherish

to create this stunning LO Blessed using Softly Spoken by Pressed Petals and Blessed
 & Metal Photo Holders by Sahlin Studio

Emilee (emileem) chose First Day of School

and was inspired by her blending to create this gorgeous Christmas Memories LO
 with GG Digital Designs Pinecones and Holly Berries Kit

Jenn (jennamy82) lifted Sharon’s LO titled Life’s Blessings

to create the totally fabulous & bright LO Key to My Heart using Nocturne De Fleur by ScrapMuss Designs & Die Cut Vellum Alpha by Britt-ish Designs

Now for the details- you have until the rest of the month of December to complete the challenge. Upload it to the Grand Theft Layout Gallery and leave your LO image and link in the Grand Theft Layout thread HERE in the forum.  Please indicate what you lifted from Sharon’s Gallery.
You will receive one point for completing the challenge.  You don’t have to use ScrapMatters products-but we sure love it when you do!  You can earn an additional point for using any NEWLY RELEASED 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 an ADDITIONAL point at the end of the month!

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

Hey there everyone! It’s Erica here with this week’s Tuesday Template! I’ll keep things nice and simple for you this week so you can focus on your family during the Christmas festivities! That means there’s no theme to follow this week, just grab the template, scrap it up, and enjoy!

Here’s the LO I based my template off of, using Erica Zane’s A Touch of Winter:

And, here are some great LO’s from our fabulous CT!

alamama made this LO using Sahlin Studios Innovation:

Stefanie created this using Old Time Christmas using Designs by Sarah Bennett

SylviaB used Cotton Candy Christmas by Stolen Moments, font is JH Suzanne by Jeni  Hopewell, Circle Stitches by Sahlin Studio, Border Dates by Erica Zane to make this LO

And finally, alansrock made this cute LO made with the December newsletter kit made by Purple Tulip Designs and wm squared:

Just a reminder of the challenge rules:- You have until the end of December to upload your finished LO to the Tuesday Template Gallery and in the thread in the forum as well. If you do, you will receive 1 point for the Challenge.
- You are not required to use ScrapMatters products, but we love it if you do!
- If you use a new release in your LO (within 7 days of release), please note that both in your credits in the gallery as well as your post in the forum.
- At then end of December I will pick my favorite LO and that person will receive a point towards their total in January.

I can’t wait to see what you come up with! Enjoy it! And Merry Christmas!

Hello All… this is Cyndi and I am here to challenge you with a new technique for our Saturday Special.  Today we are going to revisit an oldie but a goodie.  Shadowing transparent objects.

Let me start by saying, there are soooo many ways to do this.  And probably much easier ways than I’m about to show you.  But I started digi-scrapping in Photoshop Elements and was so frustrated that Elements didn’t have all the fancy flexibility as some of the other programs.  Let me tell ya… this method works in Photoshop Elements.  I hope it works in other programs too.

Also, a lot of designers these days are shadowing their elements just to make it easier on us.  But let’s say you want a darker shadow than what’s provided.  We’ll assume that’s the case.

Let’s start by opening the transparent elements you want to shadow.  Now drag them onto your layout.  I’m using Krista’s gorgeous alpha from her new kit So Grateful and just a colored background so you can easily see the results.

Duplicate your element layer from the flyout menu on the layers palette or just click Ctrl-J.  Now click on the lower layer.  Shadow your lower layer as you prefer.  (Settings that work well with acrylic are Distance 5-8, Size 5-8 and Opacity 60-70%)

With your lower layer still active, go to Edit > Fill layer.  Fill the layer with Black and make sure the Preserve Transparency box is checked.  Use the bucket tool to completely fill in the element with black.  Hide your top acrylic layer and make sure your “filled” layer is solid black.  You may need to touch up some spots with your brush tool.  Just be sure not to go outside the lines

Now go to the top of the layers palette and set your blending mode to Difference.  Your black fill should be gone with just the shadow showing.

Now click on your top acrylic layer to bring it back and you should have a wonderfully shadowed acrylic element.

Your challenge is to scrap a layout using at least one transparent element (acrylic, vellum, glass, etc.) and be sure to shadow them.

Here’s my LO

using So Grateful by Sahlin Studio and Sugarplum Paperie; Fabulously Negative Template v.3 and Simply Dated v.2 by WM[squared]; Edge 2 Edge Word Art & See Right Through You by Britt-ish Designs

And some from your CT and DT…

from Amber
using Innovation and Lots O’ Photo Templates by Sahlin Studio

using Sarah Bennett’s Tough Boy and Clearly Funky alpha

using Haynay’s new Playtime Petshop, Sahlin Studios and Sugarplum Paperie’s So Grateful, and Brittish Designs We’re Just Dating V3 and Doodlie- Doos Page Borders

and from Liz

using Chocolate Frosted Snowflakes, All Bundled Up, Icy Alpha, Clearly Seen Elements and In Stitches: Wonky and A Story of Friendship and template by Cindy Schneider

Please upload your LO to the SATURDAY SPECIAL GALLERY and link back to THIS THREAD so we know you are playing along. 

This challenge will run through December 31.  No double-dipping… your LO must be unique to this challenge.  Everyone who participates will receive one point.  You’ll also get an additional point if you use a NEW ScrapMatters Product (released within the last week.)  Please let us know in the forum that you’ve used a new product.  Also, one special LO will be awarded another point.  That’s 3 possible points for an easy peasy challenge. 
Can’t wait to see your beautiful shadows!

Are you ready for the final calendar challenge this year?  I have seen some amazing calendar pages go up in the gallery each month this year.  I’m so excited to see everyone’s finished calendars!  Your challenge for this month is to finish your calendar and take a photo of the finished, printed calendar!  Here are a couple of samples for inspiration:

I chose to do a desktop calendar.  I created it 3″x8″ and after I printed, I made a stand out of cardstock then used my Bind-it-All to bind it together.  Here are some pages from it:

Supplies: 2010 Desktop Calendar Templatesby Simply J Studio, Do Me a Solid by Britt-ish Designs, Distressed Frames 2 by Dirty Feet Designs

Here is Cristina’s:

And some from Emilee:

Whether you choose to print your own calendar or have it printed somewhere (Vistaprint and ArtsCow are a couple of options), to get the challenge point this month you need to take a picture of your finished calendar and post it in the gallery and in the challenge thread in the forum.

The standard Matter of Scrap Terms and Conditions apply:

• Pages containing new products (released within the week you post) earn an extra point- don’t forget to mention in the challenge thread in the forum that you’re using new product
• Pages posted for this challenge cannot earn points for another challenge
• Pages need to be posted before 12/31 at midnight PST to qualify

Hi everyone!  Jeni here for another installment of GTL.  This time around we’re going to be lifting Sarah8914. 

Check out her awesome gallery:
http://scrapmatters.com/gallery3/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=656

I chose this LO to lift:

and here’s mine:

using Chelle’s Creations {Tell Me More} – (kit included in her Journaling Class)

Here are some more inspiring pages from the fabulous ScrapMatters CT:

cnscrap lifted:
and created “The Liberty Bell”:

Using {History Lessons} by Chelle’s Creations
{Oh My Stars Alpha Red} by Chelle’s Creations
{Innovation} by Sahlin Studios
{Play Add-on} by Sahlin Studios and DeCrow Designs
{Cha Cha Cha Chia Template Pack} by Denise Beatty Originals

Jennamy82 lifted:
and created this layout:
   using Jennifer Barrette’s {Baked Goods}

Li14 lifted:
and created this page using Erica Zane’s {Winter Crush}:

becca372 lifted:

and created Imagine, using Sahlin Studio’s {Innovation} kit

OK – now for the rules!
- You will have until December 31 to complete this challenge. Please upload it to the GTL gallery and leave your LO image and Sarah’s LO image (both linked) in the GTL 12.16.09 thread.
- 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.)
- I will choose one lucky winner who will receive an ADDITIONAL point.
- You don’t have to use SM products in this challenge, but we LOVE it when you do!
- Remember no double dipping…your layout must be UNIQUE to this challenge.
I can’t wait to see what you choose to lift.  Have fun!

Hello, this is Liz (mommy22girls) and I am bringing you this week’s Tuesday Template.  This is my only 2nd time ever creating template, so I hope you guys enjoy it.  There are no specific rules for the theme of this template, just have fun!  Here is the template, which includes both .psd files and png files.

Click here to download

And here is my take on the template:

I used Golden Girl Designs Tinsel Town, Chelle’s Gingerbread, Simply Dated v.1 by WM Squared Designs and Sahlin Studios Circle Stitches

And here are some of the lovely LOs for the CT ladies here:

From Jami:

Using Christmas Memories kit by Page Frock and Christmas Dipped Alpha by Plum Dumpling Designs

From Jill:

Using Honeydew and Simply Dated, vol. 4 by WM[squared] Designs

By Jen:

Using Feeling Fall, Gypsy Girl, and Simply Dated v.2 by WM[squared] Designs and Circle Stitches by Sahlin Studio

By Sylvia

Using All Bundled Up – collab by Man in the Moon Design and MickeyB Design, Circle Stitches by Sahlin Studio, Necessary Randomness by Erica Zane, and JH Suzanne by Jeni Hopewell

By Jenn:

Using Santa Baby by WM Squared and Circle Stitching by Sahlin Studio

By Juno:

Using These Moments by Juno Designs and Say it… with metal vol.1 by Sahlin Studio

Just a reminder of the challenge rules:
- You have until the end of December to upload your finished LO to the Tuesday Template Gallery and in the thread in the forum as well.  If you do, you will receive 1 point for the Challenge.
- You are not required to use ScrapMatters products, but we love it if you do!
- If you use a new release in your LO (within 7 days of release), please note that both in your credits in the gallery as well as your post in the forum.
- At then end of December I will pick my favorite LO and that person will receive a point towards their total in January.

Have fun and I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with!