Boy was this a tough week!! I finally decided on Good Bye from 4noisyboys, because seriously, look at this layout! I love the placement of everything, the picture is so precious and I love the placement of the journaling. It broke my heart but it is such a great memory layout that it HAD to be picked!

Congrats 4noiseyboys!!  Head on over to the gallery or the forum and leave her some love!!

-Tanya (TanyaH666)

This week I was excited to interview one of our very own Scrapmatters Girls.  We get to know each other pretty well but there is alway something new to learn!

1. Your screen name? Your real name? whitneyt/Whitney
 
2. What is your main job/career? I’m a senior at the University of Northern Iowa and I graduate in December. I’m going to school for social studies education and middle level education. I do work part-time as a secretary at a non-profit organization while I’m in school though.
 
3. Are you married/children/pets? I live with my boyfriend of 6 years and our dog, Spud. No ring yet lol!
 
4. Where is home for you? The great state of Iowa!
 
5. What are your 3 favorite foods? Chicken anything, potatoes, & pickles.
 
6. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Watermelon from Schwans. It comes with little candy seeds and everything… absolutely delish.
 
7. Snacks…Salty or Sweet? Um, can fried be an option lol!
 
8. Beverage of choice? Dt. Cokeaholic
 
9. What’s your least favorite food? I’m not much of a BBQ anything fan.
 
10. PC or Mac? What program do you use? PC & CS4 to scrap! I love my computer!
 
11. How long have you been digi-scrapping? How did you get started? I’ve been DS since April 2009. One of my graphic design professors asked if I would help her scrapbook a wedding album for a friend. She gave me a list of all the freebie sites she always browsed and I kinda just started going from place to place, learning as I went. I have yet to finish that wedding album… HAHA!
 
12. What was your 1st LO about? My first LO was of my brother and the girl who asked him to prom. I am pretty proud of it being my first LOs, I have others that are much worse lol! 

 
13. Do you have any other hobbies besides digi-scrapping (are there other hobbies)? Not really.. but that’s fine with me because that would mean less time scrapping lol! I would like to find time to sit down and read a good book now and then, but I have other priorities (meaning LOs that need to be scrapped!)
 
14. What is the most challenging part of scrapbooking for you? Journaling and coming up with titles!
 
15. What would you like to learn to do (or do better) not related to scrapbooking? I would love to learn how to make pies, I know that’s random. I love to bake but I’m scared to try hard things like that! I’m also determined to learn how to quilt- but that may be many, many years in the future!
 
16. What are your favorite movies/TV shows? My favorite movies are Jumanji and The Hangover. I watch a lot of TV when I’m not scrapping: Biggest Loser, Intervention, Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, Criminal Minds, Cold Case, Unwrapped… I could go on and on and on lol!
 
17. Describe your “scrapping” environment. Music? TV in the background? Drinks? Snacks? Where? I sit in the same spot, the TV is always on but I’m never watching it and I ALWAYS have a Dt. Coke within reach. Usually, my darling boyfriend sits across the room from me on the couch and does his own thing, usually playing Call of Duty or Madden.
 
18. If you only had 2 elements to use on a LO, what would they be? Buttons and stitches.
 
19. Would you like to share a little known fact about you…? I’m related to Albert Einstein! No joke.
 
20. Can you tell us a little about your scrappin’ style? I like to use a lotta layers, pictures and a cluster or two somewhere! I also love to use templates!
 
21. Favorite LOs that you have done? 
 This is one of my all time favorite LOs! The kit just worked perfectly with the colors in the pictures. I love all the clusters and scatters too!

 
I just adore this LO! I was so proud of it when I was done! I love the scattered flowers and the few colors used throughout. But the best part is that it includes a picture of my family!

 
Here are some other favorites:
 

 

 
22. What is your favorite part of being a member of the Scraps Matter Girls? Oh man. There are a lot of great things, but the best is leaving love. I know how much it means to get feedback on a layout, and it makes me happy that it makes other people happy! I also love to chit chat with my fellow SMG!

Thanks so much for letting us get to know you better Whit!! Check out her awesome gallery here!

-Tanya (TanyaH666)

Happy Saturday Everyone!! Today I am going to talk about something I do all the time and it is fairly simple!  We are going to hang something on our layout that wasn’t meant to be hung.  So the first thing you need to do is “punch” a hole in it so the string can go through it. 

Once you choose what you are going to hang (I choose my part of my title (an Alpha).)  Position your element over the string in a way that looks appropriate and then reduce the opacity so you can see the string underneath.  Then use your elipitical tool to draw a small circle in a layer above the element you want to punch.  Use the string underneath as a guide for how big you want your hole to be. 

Simplify your shape and make sure your shape layer is highlighted.  Then using the magic wand tool and click on the shape.  You will get the marching ants around your shape.  Then select the element layer and cut (control -X).  Bring the opacity up on your element.  Now you can move your shape out of the way and see the hole has been punched. 

Now we need to “hang” it.  Select the string layer and use your magic wand to get the marching ants around the it.  (You can also select the whole string by selecting the magic wand tool and contol clicking on the string layer)  Select the layer of the element you are hanging.  Using the eraser tool, erase part of the element so it looks like it is hanging.  Now you might notice that the shadows look pretty funky…

To fix this first duplicate the string layer and drag it above the element layer.  Select the element layer again and use the magic wand to get the marching ants around it.  Then erase the part of the string that is under the element. (After you finish with the part of the string on top of the element,  deselect and make sure to erase the rest of the string except the part that is overlapping your hanging element so the shadow is not duplicated.)

Just to give you an idea of what this looks like, here is a screen shot before I erased any of the string and had selected the element.

Ta-da!! Your element is hung!  You can now delete your circle shape (or hole punch..lol).  A few pointers for hanging more than one thing (like a title).  Keep the same shape to punch each hole.  That makes it look more realistic.  And just to make it easier on yourself, “hang” all your elements first and then duplicate your string to fix the shadow problem.
Here is my Final LO using Jenn Barrettes NEW Happy Go Lucky, and Date Swirls and Get Real Shadow Styles, Chelle Creations NEW Lucky Me alpha and Sahilin Studios Sorbet Stamped Alpha clipped to Brittish Designs Glamorama Papers. 

Fun and easy!! I can’t wait to see what you hang!!

Here is some more awesome inspiration from our CT:
TanyaH666 used Connie Prince and Bella Gypsy’s I Wuff You.

Becca1976 used Jenn Barrettes NEW Happy go Lucky. (Great minds think alike..lol)

Alansrock used March 2010 templatepalooza by Connie Prince & BellaGypsy and Spring has sprung kit by Jeni Hopewell & MickeyB Designs

Kim21673 used Enjoy by GG Digital Designs and Just Call Me Niki Templates by Stolen Moments

And now for some rules.  No double dipping on challenges. You will not be able to use the same LO for multiple challenges.  You can earn one additional bonus point per challenge when you use a newly released (within the first week/7 days of release) ScrapMatters product. In order to receive the extra point you MUST indicate in your credits that the item you used was a new release.   You will have until the end of March to post your LO and  at the end of the month I will pick a winner and they will get an extra point! 

Have fun using your hole punch!! 

-Amanda (panders77)

I have not hosted a non-hybrid challenge since August! My style tends to lean to the simplistic side of the spectrum. I also either tend to use just one photo (don’t like to waste space) or lots of photos (to help tell the whole story – afterall I took the photo for a reason – didn’t I ).

Today we are going on a simple journey, I hope you will join me! Simply follow the 8 steps to a fabulous page.

1. Use only new items that you have not scrapped with before.
2. Use 3 peices of paper – one of which should be patterned.
3. Add at least one row of stitches.
4. Use no more than 2 pictures (you can cut the pictures up as much as you want though – but remember we are taking a simplistic journey today).
5. Include an element of nature. You can use as many other elements on your page as you want but remember to keep it simple.
6. Be sure to tell the story. Have at least 3 lines of journaling.
7. Title your page in an unusual way, date if you like.
8. Add fabulous shadows and your finishing touches.

This is what I came up with following my directions. Love the final destination. This uses:
Dandilion Wishes from Jenn Barrette
Get Real – Realistic Drop Shadow Styles from Jenn Barrette
Fonts: Pea Paula Pepin and Pea Kiley

And here is what some of our CT has come up with… Fabulous stuff!!!

From Tanja:
This Is How I Roll by Wimpychompers Creations

from Sara
Forever Treasured: Bundle by WM[squared] & Sya’s Blueprints

From Melissa
 Spunky Monkey by Designs by Srah Bennett
Fonts- Pea Prochazka and Pea Stacy Fancy

From Bonnie
History Lessons, Chelle’s Creations (black paper & stitching); Black, White & Red All Over, Britt-ish Designs (starry paper & ribbon)
Elements: A Halloween Nightmare Add-On, Britt-ish Designs (owl); Date Stamped, Britt-ish Designs
Alpha: Tell Me More Kit, Chelle’s Creations (& ric rac)
Font: Amy, Jeni Hopewell
Template: EZ Templates 9, Erica Zane

From Amy:
Love Blooms by Jennifer Barrette
Get Real – Realistic Drop Shadow Styles by Jennifer Barrette

From Lori -
Stolen Moments/Jessica Edwards – 10 Tiny Toes “Angel”

From Becca:
Connie’s Mouthwash Mambo pack, and Connie’s Full of Grace kit

Here are the rules:

*You have until the end of March to post your entry. Be sure to post it to the “Roadmap to Scrap” gallery and link it back to the thread in the forum.

*No double-dipping! This challenge CANNOT be combined with any other ScrapMatters challenge or Speed Scrap. Your layout must be unique to this challenge.

*You can earn an extra point for using any new Scrap Matters product during the first week of its release. Be sure to note the new product in your layout description and your post in the thread on the forum. In order to get your bonus point, it does need to be noted on your forum post.

*You don’t have to use Scrap Matters products, but we love it when you do!

*I will draw one random person for an extra point, at the end of the month.

Krisi

Hello Henriette here with this months photochallenge and we will be talking about “camera shake” and “out of focus”.

From an article by Elizabeth Halford

There are may ways an image can be made unsuitable. Camera shake and poor focus are two of them. How does it happen? How can you prevent it? And what if you don’t even have one of those ‘fancy schmancy’ cameras?
This article is about how to prevent them from happening.

{Camera Shake}
Camera shake and the resulting motion blur are a result of the camera moving during the time of exposure. Which means that there is movement while the shutter is open and the sensor is gathering information. For particularly long exposures (like evening landscapes or trying to capture a waterfall in soft, beautiful motion), a tripod will be necessary. But even the movement caused by putting your finger on the shutter button can cause blur so you can use a remote control or set the self timer and take your hands off.
If you use a point-and-shoot, camera shake and blur could be a problem if you’re not operating in the appropriate mode. For instance, trying to capture running children in portrait mode will probably result in motion blur. Try sports mode.

For the DSLR users, the heavier the camera, the more stable it will be and less likely to be moving about due to hand tremor. Research proper camera holding and stance for maximum stability.
Some lenses have IS (image stabilisation) options which help to reduce camera shake (and battery life!)
Camera shake becomes less and less a problem the faster your shutter speed and the more light is available. If you’re in low light, opening your aperture to let in more light will allow you to quicken your shutter speed, but then you might have to battle poor focussing.

{Out of Focus}
My pet peeve is improper focus. I’m sure the majority of photographers operate in auto focus mode, unless they’re photographing still life. This means that we allow the camera to focus for us and it does it in a variety of ways.

If you use a point-and-shoot, the solution is pretty simple. You hold down the shutter button halfway until focus is achieved and then push it the rest of the way down. The only reason you’d be likely to end up with poor focus is, as I said before, you’re shooting in an improper mode. For example, you’re shooting a landscape in macro mode.
For us DSLR users, focus becomes another monster all together. Consult your camera’s manual and familiarise yourself with the focus modes and the focus areas because both of these factors result in proper focusing.

Ok and the challenge this week is: show one of your photo’s go wrong by camera shake or out of focus and maybe the reason why that happened!

Here is my not so sharp picture, in this case it was camera shake. My youngest wouldn’t stand still for a picture so I just took a snap very quickly and it shows !

Please read the posting rules too, especially about posting in the right gallery, thank you!!

1. Upload your photo (and LO if you have one) to the appropriate gallery, then please link it back to the challenge in the forum
2. Just one entry per person will be eligible for a point, one extra point can be earned for doing a LO with the picture and if you win the challenge you also gain one extra point
3. The pictures must be especially made for this months challenge
4. No double dipping with other challenges please

And here are the examples on how not to, from:

TanyaH666
Here is why this happened: I have to slow down my shutter speed ALOT to get enough light, to take pictures in my house without a flash. So if i move even a little bit while taking a picture i get blur. So that along with the fact that she wouldn’t stay still resulted in this picture:

even in blur her puppy looks cute!

And another one from:

hoo-rah
I think this blurry shot is the result of both a camera shake and improper focus. First, my daughter was in a fit of giggles when I was trying to take this, so she wouldn’t stop moving (happens a lot). Second, the auto focus and auto flash on my point and click had been adjusted (anonymously), and there was not enough natural light in the shot to get proper focus….hence, the blur.

And doesn’t her daughter still looks very sweet in that picture?

.

Happy March everyone!  Can you believe it’s March already??

I don’t know about you but I hate having plain old boring things around me.   I *LOVE* adding personality to the things that I look at and use every day.  Today, we’re going to be creating new covers for those inexpensive 2 year planners like this one:

yeah, it’s cute, but it lacks personality!!!

Planners like these can be picked up in the $1 spot at Target, Michaels, various party stores, and most $1 stores. I’ve even picked them up 2/$1!  I usually pick up a few of these to keep on hand – esp. in the fall for the following years.

If you can’t find any for $1, the big retail store that rhymes with Mal-wart has them for about $3.  Still a bargain for a quick and inexpensive gift!  Keep these in mind when you are looking for last minute teacher’s gifts for Christmas!! 

Here’s the challenge:
Create a new cover for a store purchased planner.

If you can create a layout, then you can participate in this month’s Getting Hybrid challenge.  add on a technique or two from the Hybrid Bootcamp and you’re well on your way to completing this challenge!

Here’s my new planner cover – isn’t it much cuter than the one with the star?

Supply list:

• purse planner
• digital kit of choice
• printer
• Epson Presentation paper (or paper of your choice – refer back to the Hybrid Bootcamp – Know thy Printer lesson for tips on printing on different papers)
• Scissors
• ruler or tape measure
• ribbon, ink, etc – your choice of supplies
• adhesive to apply any elements (ribbon, etc.)
• Stapler – one that reaches from the side of your planner to the middle so that you can re-staple your cover onto your calendar pages – *I have a cheap Swingline Stapler from Mal-wart

And here’s how I made mine:

1.  GENTLY remove your planner from the plastic cover.  Be very careful not to tear the pocket that the cover slides into.

2.  Remove the center staples from your planner.  be careful not stick yourself! :giggle:

3.  Set the calendar pages of your planner off to the side.  Keep the cover in front of you.

4.  Measure your planner – length and width.   Open your favorite editing program.  Create a new blank canvas the size of the measurements of the cover you removed from the planner.

5.  Create the new cover for your planner – keep in mind as you look at your screen that the right side of your blank canvas will be the front of your planner.  I used one of Jeni Hopewell’s Scrap It Quick Templates, II and The Design Girl’s Girly Girl to create my planner cover.

6.  To create a cover using the template, use the template as if you were making a layout.  Make sure you add your shadows.  Once it’s done, hide the background papers of the template.   Merge all layers visible, and then copy and paste your “layout” onto your blank canvas.  Add in background papers of your choice and resize the grouped elements to your liking.

7.  Once your cover is created, print it using your printer’s best print options – see the Hybrid Bootcamp 2/1- Know Thy Printer for printing tips and techniques.

8.  Cut around the edge of your new cover – add any additional hybrid elements of your choice.   maybe a little ribbon strip?  Would distressing the edges add a little personality to your cover?  How about adding in a bow or some faux stitching?  I really like how the faux white stitching around the edges really gives it spunk!

*note:  whatever you decide, keep the layers and extras to a minimum or your cover will be too thick to put back into the cover*

9.  Fold your planner in half like a book and crease – open it back up and position calendar pages inside new cover.  Holding everything in place, turn the cover and pages over and from the outside, re-staple the planner back together so that the staple lines up with the center fold of your planner.

10.  Carefully, and patiently! reinsert your newly covered planner back into the plastic protective cover and admire your work!

I can tell you that these make GREAT Teacher’s gifts, Sunday School Teacher’s gifts, stocking stuffers, exchange gifts, and even gifts for teens!

Here are some planners from the team:

Jennifer’s using Captured Romance-SM Collab and Get Real – Realistic Drop Shadow Styles by Jennifer Barrette

One from Melissa using Stolen Moments- Just Call Me Yolanda Templates and GG Digital Designs- Sick Of Winter:

As always, here are the guidelines for the challenges at Scrap Matters:
- Entries must be posted in the appropriate challenge gallery (hybrid projects), and in the corresponding thread in the forum (this one)
- You will have until the end of the month (March) to complete your project
- You’ll get 1 point for designing, printing and putting together a new planner, and then posting the photo of it in the gallery. If you want some pointers about photographing your hybrid projects, see this thread here. You will get a bonus point if you used a new release within one week of it’s release to complete your project but you have to let me know. Plus, I’ll select one entry at random for a bonus challenge point.

So, go forth and get Planning….. :giggle:

Hello! Melissa (Yzerbear19) here with this week’s Grand Theft Layout challenge! The subject for this week’s Grand Theft Layout is going to be the fabulous, Princess of Scrap, QuiltyMom. Her gallery is chock-full of awesome and amazing layouts! Check out her gallery here.

Here is the layout I lifted:

Here is my layout:

Credits: “A Magical Place” by Connie Prince

Check out the awesome lifts by the Creative team:

Wendy lifted this layout:

Her layout:

Credits:Template: “Free Sample Template 1″ by Denise Beatty / “Fly Free” by Jennifer Barrette / “In The City Alpha” (recolored) by Sahlin Studios Font: PeaHart

Jami lifted:

Her layout:

Credits: “Penalty Box” by Chelle’s Creations

Stephanie lifted:

Her layout:

Lori lifted:

Her layout:

Credits: “Vibrant Memories” by Pri Rocha

Aren’t they fabulous? Thank you Jan for being our inspiration! So stop by Jan’s gallery and be inspired!

Some important reminders:
-You have until the end of March to post your entry. Be sure to post it to the “Grand Theft Layout” gallery and link it back to the thread in the forum.
-No double-dipping! This challenge CANNOT be combined with any other ScrapMatters challenge or Speed Scrap. Your layout must be unique to this challenge.
-You can earn an extra point for using any new ScrapMatters product during the first week of its release. Be sure to note the new product in your layout description and your post in the thread on the forum. In order to get your bonus point, it does need to be noted on your forum post.
-At the end of February I will select my favorite layout and the scrapper will get a bonus point for their next month’s total.
-You don’t have to use ScrapMatters products, but we like it when you do.

Happy Tuesday, scrappers! Are you excited for another edition of your favorite MOS challenge? {wink, wink} Here’s your template for this week, and the only rule is to honor the month of St. Patrick by including something GREEN in your layout.

**NEW** Fly Free by Jennifer Barrette, Get Real Shadow Styles by Jennifer Barrette, Font: sf_Lily

by Wendy – WM[squared]

“Alice” by Brittish Designs, “Just the Basics: Cardstock” by WM[squared] Designs *new 2-26-10*, font: DJB Gimme Space

by Courtney {cnscrap}

Glass Pebble Alpha, Scratched Notes, Est. Date, So Grateful – all by Sahlin Studio, A Knight’s Tale by Britt-ish Designs & Man in the Moon Designs

by Jenn {abcmomof4}

Britt’s Miss Kitty Add-On and Faith Trust and Pixie Dust 2, WM [Squared]‘s Shabby Chic Alpha and Teen Grunge Stitches, Sahlin Studio’s Enjoy the Moment

by Stephanie {nanienamou}

Frosted Jubilee By Becca

by Gi Cristina

365 days of love by Gwenipooh Designs, Slim metal alpha by Gwenipooh Designs, Stitch Me Up by Chelle’s Creations

by Sweeet

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow by Plum Dumpling Designs

by Jenn {jennamy82}

Already your Mother by Page Frocks

Now all you have to do is stop by the forum to download the template and post your layout.  You have till the end of the month to play.. Have fun!  I can’t wait to see what you come up with!