Happy Wednesday, everyone! I hope you are having a great week, and scrapping a lot! Becca372 here to bring you this week’s Grand Theft Layout inspiration! I am a huge fan of Jenn Barrette’s designs, but I am just as big of a fan of her scrapping! She has a great eye, awesome photo editing skills, I could go on and on. I look at pretty much all of her layouts, and think, “I wanna scrap like her”…so this week, we’re going to give it a try! Check out Jenn’s gallery here to pick one of her wonderful creations to lift!

I l.o.v.e. this layout by Jenn,

and I created this:

using Jenn’s A Day Like Today collab kit w/Lauren Grier

LeeAndra lifted this:

and created:

using Connie Prince’s Ain’t Life Grand Kit

misfitinmin lifted this one:

and came up with this:

using Just Imagine by Connie Prince & Everyday Elegance by Stolen Moments

scrappurple lifted this layout:

and created this:

using “Some Summer Night” by Bella Gypsy & Frames and Staples from Inspirations from Day

jennamy82 lifted:

and ended up with this layout:

She used Saffron Blues by Bella Gypsy and Trixie Scraps

TanyaH666 lifted:

and created this:

she used So This Is Love Kit & Word Art by Sahlin Studio

anrobe lifted this layout:

and came up with this one:

using the Grunge Bundle by Sahlin Studio

Whew, the team went crazy for this challenge, huh? Hope you do too!

Here’s the rules:

*Pick one of Jenn’s layouts, and lift it! Feel free to twist, turn, etc. Post your layout into the Grand Theft Layout Gallery AND to the GTL post in the forum to get one point for completing this challenge!
*You can get an additional point for using a NEW ScrapMatters product on your lift.
*At the end of August, I will select one lucky layout as the winner of this challenge, and that person will get an extra point for the month.
* Your layout MUST be unique to this challenge, no double-dipping!
*You do not have to use ScrapMatters products, but we certainly love it when you do!
and, last but not least,
*You will have until the end of AUGUST to complete this challenge. Lucky you!

Enjoy, and I hope you are as inspired by Jenn’s amazing gallery as I am! (I think I might just go lift another layout soon…)

Hello gals!!  Wendy here with the last Tuesday Template of July!  Its hard to believe that it’s almost fall!!  One more month!

As always, 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!

The template:

Here’s *MY* LO:

Credits: Make A Wish by Sahlin Studios & Valorie Wibbons, Birthday WA by Sahlin Studios

Here is some inspiration from the ScrapMatters CT/DT & Admin Teams:

Layout By:  Amanda

Credits: Stitch me up by Chelle’s Creations and Work it Collab (and add on) by Trixie Scraps and GG Digital Designs

Layout By:  Dawn

Credits: Faith by LawTeeDaw

Layout By:  Jenna

Credits: Little Boy Express, Haynay Designs, Cut It Out Alpha, Denise Beatty Originals

Layout By:  Annissa

Credits: LYLAS, Kinda Glassy 2, Sister Sue, and My Buddy – all by Sarah Bennett

Layout By:  Jenn

Credits: Sprinkler Party by Man in the Moon and MickeyB, In Stitches: Basics by Britt-ish Designs

Layout By:  Amy

Credits: Growth Spurt by Jennifer Barrette

Layout By:  Jen D

Credits: BBQ Weather and Extras by WM[squared] Designs

Layout By:  Amber

Credits: Trixie Scraps by Nature Girl

Layout By:  Heidi

Credits: Faith by LawTeeDaw

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 July *AND* all of August 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!!

Wendy

So once again we got a little behind in choosing the LOTW!  I think summer is getting in the way of computer time!  LOL!  But we don’t want to leave any week behind so I have a double post for you today!  First up is our winner for July 18th.  I picked The Gift By Davita!  I loved her composition, how she used the doodles and really everything about it!  It is so creative!  She managed to make a grungy page sweet!

The image is linked so be sure to leave her love in the gallery or the forum!

And now on to the LOTW for this week!!! I picked Making Waves by Arumrose!  The layering is fantastic!  I love that she managed to make it stand out from the patterned background!

Great job, Arumrose!! Be sure to stop by the gallery or the forum to congratulate her!

Thanks for letting me post two beautiful LOs today! 

-Amanda (panders77)

This week I was so excited to learn more about Bcnatty (Natasha) who has been a member of the CT for quite some time!

1.Your screen name? Your real name?  My screen name everywhere in digiland is bcnatty. My real name is Natasha.

2. What is your main job/career? I am a licensed physiotherapist in the US, and am currently waiting verification to take my licensing exam in Canada.

3. Are you married/children/pets?  I am currently going through a separation, but have 3 wonderful kiddos, who are the subjects of the vast majority of my LOs. Logan is 8 ½, Tanner is 7 and Payton is 5 ½. We have 2 cats, Simba and Kiara.

4. Where is home for you? I recently moved back to my hometown of Prince George, British Columbia after living in California for 15 years. It’s so good to be back home with my family and friends.

5. What are your 3 favorite foods? My 3 favorite foods would have to be sushi, my Mama’s Chinese Noodles and Dim Sum…mmmm, I can eat those any time!!

6. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? My favorite flavor is definitely Maple Walnut…something that I missed terribly while I lived in the states!! But if need be, I can go for any flavor with nuts in it.

7. Snacks…Salty or Sweet? I would have to say that I have a definite sweet tooth…but I also like sour snacks (Sour Patch Kids, Sour Soothers, Cherry Blasters), but I guess those eventually turn sweet.

8. Beverage of choice? Canadian Iced Tea (it’s sweetened up here!!)

9. What’s your least favorite food? I have 2 foods that I absolutely cannot eat in anything…eggplant and liver. My mom would always try to hide it in her stews, but you just can’t hide those two foods!!

10. PC or Mac? What program do you use? I’m a PC girl, but have major Mac envy! I use Adobe Photoshop CS3.

11. How long have you been digi-scrapping? How did you get started? I have been digi-scrapping for about 5 years now, but was a paper scrapper for 4 years before that. I decided to go digital because we moved in to a tiny 2 bedroom apartment when I relocated to go to PT school. Not only was the home tiny with no room for supplies, but what little supplies I had out my 3 kiddos (who were all under the age of 5) got in to them all the time. So I decided to try my hand out at digital to keep their hands out of my supplies…and I haven’t looked back since!! I used to have to print out so many pictures because I would want to change their size, or make them B&W, or use an action on them…now I can do that with just the click of a button!!

 12. What was your 1st LO about? 
Wow…really? Okay…but I have to warn everyone that it’s not my best. I’d like to think that I’ve come a long way since this LO

 13. Do you have any other hobbies besides digi-scrapping (are there other hobbies)? I love playing sports!! I am a basketball, volleyball, soccer…and soon to be, softball playing girl!! I also love being outdoors, which is so easy, now that I’m living up in beautiful British Columbia. I love hiking, camping, fishing…anything out in the wilderness calls my name!!

14. What is the most challenging part of scrapbooking for you? I would have to say that the most challenging part of scrapbooking for me is to actually decide when a LO is actually finished. I can sit there for hours, looking, adding, removing, rearranging or resizing elements…and usually I just end up with the same LO I started with before I tried to tweak things.

15. What would you like to learn to do (or do better) not related to scrapbooking? There are so many things that I want to do, other than scrapbooking…I actually made a LO about it, you can check it out here:

16. What are your favorite movies/TV shows?
I love all types of movies, it just depends what type of mood I’m in. I have to go see any Disney cartoon…that’s a must! I say that I have to take my kiddos, but really, I would see them even if I didn’t have any.  As for TV shows, I love suspense and drama…and the odd comedy. Some of my favorites are Fringe, Friday Night Lights, Lie To Me, Bones…and of course GLEE!!

17. Describe your “scrapping” environment. Music? TV in the background? Drinks? Snacks? Where?
I don’t really have a “scrapping environment”. It could be anywhere, any time of day, with or without music…that’s what I love about digital scrapping…I can pull up my laptop anywhere!! Although, I don’t really like having the TV on in the background, because I usually end up watching more that scrapping!

18. If you only had 2 elements to use on a LO, what would they be? Wow, this one is tough…it really depends on the type of LO or mood I’m trying to create. But for the most part, I would have to say a great BG paper and probably flowers, or maybe brushes.

19. Would you like to share a little known fact about you…? As I said before, I love playing sports…and it actually got me somewhere!! I went to California on a full-ride basketball scholarship. And I plan on going to Italy in 2013 with my sisters to play in the World Master games!!

20. Can you tell us a little about your scrappin’ style? I would have to say that my scrapping style changes. I find with the amazing kits that I can play with at ScrapMatters that there’s so much in the kit that I want to use on my pages…but I find myself always coming back to my more simplistic style after a while. I love just focusing on the pictures and stories…after all, that’s why I started scrapping!! I feel that when I add too many elements,
it detracts from what I’m trying to say.

21. Favorite LOs that you have done?
Here are some of my favorite LOs.

22. What is your favorite part of being on the Scrap Matter’s Creative Team? Wow…there are so many things that I love about being a part of this amazing team. Everyone is so friendly, and always there to help each other out. We have so much talent on this team, every time I open the gallery I am so inspired and amazed. We also have the best designers to work for…seriously amazing stuff!! And last, but not least, I just love being a part of the ScrapMatters community…it totally feels like home to me!!

24. What is your favorite childhood memory? If you scrapped it, can we take a peek?
I actually haven’t scrapped too many childhood memories…I didn’t have great access to my childhood pictures while I was living in the states. But I’m ready to start scanning and reminiscing now that I’m so close to my family!! One childhood memory I did scrap about was about going Christmas Tree hunting. Back home in BC, about a week before Christmas we would all pile in to our van, drive out to the forest and go in search of the “perfect” Christmas tree. We would spend hours out there traipsing through the snow until we spotted it, then we would cut it down and drag it back home where our mom would be waiting with hot chocolate for us. I’m excited to carrying on that tradition with my kiddos now!!

It was so awesome getting to know a little bit about you!!! I wish you the best in 2013 in the World Master Games!! How exciting!!

-Terin (Scrappyfrog)

PRIVET everyone!
This is Maria with this week’s Saturday Special. I have a couple of little tips for you when working with masks, especially resizing using short cut keys in Photoshop CS3.
Hope it’s useful for you!
Here’s what we are going to do:
- clip a photo to a mask (template shape)
- resize and rotate photo (paper)
- resize and rotate mask (template shape)

First of all open up your photo and drag it to you page.

Find a mask you want to use and drag it to your page too, be sure that mask layer is under your photo layer. Now you are ready to clip a photo to a mask. Shortcut in CS3 to do that is CTRL ALT G. You can try to move your photo and only one part of it will show up to you – repeating the mask shape.

Now to resizing. I will start with resizing of the mask, since it’s size of the mask is what matters on the page. Make sure that mask layer is active and hit CTRL T (free transform tool). To save the mask from distortion, hold down SHIFT key when resizing. Or you can push ‘constrain proportions’ button in the upper menu bar (this button looks like a paperclip in PS7). You can also type in the percentage of difference you want as compared to the original.

OK, now I think I have the right size of the mask (you can always adjust it again using the steps above). Now you see that the photo looks too big. Before you start to change it’s size, make sure the photo layer is active.

Don’t forget to hold down SHIFT key to maintain the original proportions! With the free transform tool you can also rotate your photo to fit your mask perfectly. You can also move the photo to find the perfect crop.

Now, if you want to resize both photo and your mask you should make sure you have both layers active. Just click on layers icons in layers menu holding CRTL key. You can also link those layers together. Don’t forget about proportions while resizing and now you can also move the photo and the mask to place it where you want it on your page.

OK, now I’m finished with resizing and will continue to make a page. If you need more adjustments with photo or mask only, remember to unlink the layers. Here’s my final page.

Don’t forget that you can use this tips when working with templates.Hope you’ve learned something new today!
I used Carry My Heart collab by Graham Like the Cracker and Stolen Moments.
I used some wordings from tuts on ehow.com

Here are some examples from ScrapMatters fabulous CT:
This one is by Heidi, she used a template and shrunk the paper down to 6×6 to clip to the template shapes, so the pattern in the paper shows. She used “Making Waves” by Jenn Barrette and Graham like the Cracker and Bella Gypsy’s “Double Dibbed” Template.

Here’s one by Amanda, using a bunch of products by Britt-ish Designs. She clipped her pics to custom shapes and the paper to scallops:

This one is by LeeAndra using Happy To Be kit by Scrapmuss Designs and Masquerade Vol. I by Jenn Barrette.

And another one by Jaime, using Splish Splash by The Design Girl.She clipped her photo to the mask and then added a stroke to give it a “bubble” effect.

Here are the official rules:
You have until the end of the July to complete this challenge.
You will earn 1 point for your LO and a bonus point if you use a new release (within 7 days of release – be sure to mention this in the forum and in your credits).
You don’t have to use ScrapMatters products, but we love it when you do!
No double dipping, your LO must be unique to this challenge.
At the end I will pick a random LO as the winner to receive an extra bonus point.

Happy Thursday, Everyone! Tgmousechick Kim (aka Geeky Diva Designs) is here to bring another card template to get your hybrid on! Without any further ado:

This is a super easy block template! This will be a simple way to try hybrid paper crafting, but there’s enough flexibility with the template that you can jazz it up if you are not a hybrid novice. Here is the sample I made with the template. I used the lovely collab from By Becca and Graham Like the Cracker, “Drift Away”

I let all of the lovely papers do the work for me, and then just added a couple of sugar-coated brads by Doodlebug.

What can you do with the template? You have until the end of the month to show me, and pick up a point or two from the Matter of Scrap Challenge system. Just remember to post your card in the gallery and in the matching thread in the ScrapMatters forums. Remember, using a new product (a product being released the week that you post your card to the gallery) and mentioning it earns you an extra point. Don’t forget that you can only use your card once for a Matter of Scrap point (you can’t earn a point using the same card for a different Matter of Scrap challenge topic), and you need to post before midnight PDT on July 31st. Have fun!

Here are some great cards to inspired you from the fabulous ScrapMatters CT!

From ScrappyCath, using the Life’s Little Surprises collab:

And another from Abhall, using Celebrate Independence by WM [squared] Designs:

Have a great day!

This week we are getting our lifting inspiration from Kim (aka kim21673)! You can find her gallery here ! Kim has some fabulous boy pages, and since I am a mommy to twin boys her gallery was just what the doctor ordered!

I lifted this page:

And I whipped up this fun boy page using Junior: The Boy kit by Graham Like the Cracker and Karen Lewis Designz:

More inspiration from the rest of the team….

Becca lifted this page:

And came up with this super “sweet” page using Family Tree by Bella Gypsy:

Lori lifted this page:

And came up with this precious story time page using StoryTime by Sarah Bennet & Stacy’s Backdoor Designs and Lil Bits by Jude:

Dawn lifted this page:

And came up with this adventurous page about her trip to Battle Creek using Dandelion Wishes and Ice Ice Baby Alpha Brushes by Jennifer Barrette :

Becca lifted this page:

And came up with this pretty in pink page using Girls Just Wanna Have Fun kit, Graph Schmaph Alpha, and It’s 5 o’clock Somewhere template by Bella Gypsy:

Challenge reminders:
-You will receive one point for posting your layout in this thread & in the Grand Theft Layout gallery. You can receive an additional point for using new Scrap Matters products; please make a note of new products in your post. And at the end of the month I will choose one layout at random for a bonus point!

-You have until the end of July to complete your layout.

-Remember no double dipping…your layout must be unique to this challenge.

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

-Have fun!

I look forward to seeing how Kim inspires you!
–Jami

Hey everybody! It’s Kathleen here to bring you your weekly installment of the Tue Template challenge. I hope you like the template I whipped up for you!!

You can download it here: Download Template

Here’s the layout I created with it, using Sailor Boy by Britt-ish Designs:

Becca made this lovely page, using WM[squared] Designs Month by Month and Month by Month: Pregnancy bundles and Just the Basics: Vellum alpha:

Lori used Softly Spoken by Pressed Petals to come up with this page:

Heidi made this LO with In this Life by The Design girl with Jen Fox:

and finally, Jenn used Happy Scrap Girls Berry-licious to create this page:

Some important reminders:
-You have until the end of July to post your entry. Be sure to post it to the “Tuesday Template” 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 July I will randomly select a winner to receive a bonus point for their next month’s total.
-You don’t have to use ScrapMatters products, but we like it when you do.

Have fun!!! I can’t wait to see how you all use this template!

When I first asked for this spot several weeks ago I had all kinds of plans on what to post. Early last week we had a family emergency (which is why this post is a bit late) and that made up my mind on what I should talk about. Please forgive my rambling it’s been a long week.

Everyone knows what a hard economy we are living in right now. We are having to tighten our belts to deal with the rising cost of this or that. Loads of people are succumbing to foreclosures and losing jobs because the companies can no longer stay afloat. What I didn’t get much thought to before last week is how much harder it is on the elderly and disabled.  My mother, who is only in her 50′s, is disabled. She hasn’t been able to work for almost 4 years now, but has somehow managed with her disablement check up until the last few months. Before her last surgery she was VP of a company, had just bought a new house, a newer car and planned to settle in for the rest of her years. Last month her house was foreclosed on. Last Monday the Sheriff appeared and gave her 3 days to get out of the house. We barely managed to get out of there with 1/3 of her stuff, her dogs and her car before he showed up again to lock the doors. She asked for and was denied more time even with her disability. The incredible thing is that she is still holding her head high through the pain of loss. Yes some of it was just stuff, but it was also passed down family heirlooms, things her dad had given her before he died and her house.

What was the point of this post? What am I trying to tell you that matters? Your attitude in tough times. No matter what life throws your way don’t let it get you down. Stand up and fight as hard as you can for what you believe in. Also to the elderly and disabled (and well anyone really) reading this I can only hope you never have to leave your home behind, but if you do stand tall and plan well (trust me waiting until the last minute to make plans is no good).

Thank you for listening to my a bit off the wall rambling. Hopefully the ladies in charge of the blog won’t kick me off forever for writing such a strange post.

Written by one of the ScrapMatters Designers.

Hello everyone!  Today I am going to talk about another photo trick I use constantly (especially since I am trying to shoot in manual these days..lol!)  I often will load all my pictures onto the computer and discover that some of my favorites are way too dark to be “useable”.  But fear not!  Really the more I learn the more I realize that as long as you have an image recorded somewhere it is fixable!

So lets get to it, shall we?  Here is my original picture:

First I go to Enhance>adjust lighting and select shadows and highlights.  Here is what that does:

Then I play with the color curves a bit.  To do this I go to Enhance>Adjust Color>Adjust Color Curves.   I have Photoshop Elements so the screenshot I am going to show is from that program.  I know big girl photoshop is a little more complicated and Mickey B talked about curves here if you need to read about it.  In PSE, I just select increase midtones. 

Now you want to duplicate the photo twice (control J) and then change one layer to screen and the top layer to soft light.  Adjust the opacity of the layers until you the photo looks right to you.   And of course if you have a prefered way to brighten your pics feel free to do it that way!!

Here is a close after all of these edits..notice something?  It looks really pixelated right?  This is called noise and happens when the picture is underexposed.

[IMG]http://i634.photobucket.com/albums/uu69/amandamsheehan/noisy_pic.png[/IMG]
So how can we fix this?  We need some kind of noise reducer.  I use Noiseware Community Edition which can be found here.  Just scroll all the way to the bottom and find the stand alone community edition.  I like it because it is free(always nice) and has many different options on how to reduce the noise in your photos.  It is outside of PSE so I have to save my image and reopen it in the Noiseware program.  If you want to pay you can have it installed directly in PSE or PS.  It is pretty magical.  (Unfortunately if you use a Mac this program is not free.  I have yet to find an easy free program out there for the Mac.  But if you know of one, please let me know in this thread!)
Here is the image after I ran the noiseware. (I like full supression the best)

All fixed!  Here are the two side by side to you can see the difference.

And here is my LO using Jenn Barrette’s Frolic (in full disclosure once I got the edited pic on my LO I noticed there was too much yellow so I adjusted the Hue/Saturation a bit too..):

And now for some inspiration from our CT!
Check out the difference on Canadianmommy’s photos!

And her awesome LO using Lakeside by WM Squared and Stolen Moments, and Elements Included V.3 by WM Squared..

Kimbytx brightened her photo and turned it black and white:

She used Brittish Designs I’m a Dreamer and I’m a Dreamer Revisited.

Scrapurple used LDrag Designs  to scrap this magical photo!

And finally Becca lightened and brightened her pic for the adorable LO using Bella Gypsy’s new At the Dropoff kit!

Here are the official rules:
You have until the end of the month to complete this challenge.

Please post your LO here in the forum and in the Saturday Special gallery here.

You will earn 1 point for your LO and a bonus point if you use a new release (within 7 days of release – be sure to mention this in the forum and in your credits).

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

No double dipping, your LO must be unique to this challenge.

At the end I will pick a random LO as the winner to receive an extra bonus point.

So go dig up some photos you thought you couldn’t use and scrap ‘em!  I am so excited to see what everyone does with their photos!   See you in the forum!

-Amanda (panders77)

Hi everyone

It’s Sylvia here with the Hybrid Highlights for July!
I’m sure, you already knew that we have a lot of super talented hybrid artists around at ScrapMatters and they really create some amazing cards and projects!

It was a tough decision which ones to choose and showcase here, because there are lot more gorgeous creations in the hybrid gallery, so don’t forget to check out the whole gallery and leave all the talented ladies some love

But without further ado, here are the Highlights of our Hybrid Gallery for July:

Look at these fun and beautiful pinwheels Sandy (SandyPie) created:

Or these amazing mailboxes LuAnn (wildblueeyez) created as baby shower favors. How cool and creative is that?!

This altered photo tray by Cathy (Scrappycath) really caught my attention in the gallery! Isn’t it adorable?

Awww, look at this super duper cute doorhanger by majula76. I’m sure every kid would be over the moon to have something like this hanging on it’s door

And last but not least here are some super cute and fun party hats that hobbes30 created:

Wow, I’m truly impressed by all the creativity and talent I can see in the gallery! What a great pleasure to browse through it and look at all the gorgeousness.

If you want to start hybrid yourself, we have some great products to help you get started!

Party Hat templates by Krisi’s Creations

Pillow Box Doorhanger by Krisi’s Creations

Boxy Bag Template by SimplyJ Studio

Foldover Bag Templates by Geeky Diva Designs

I hope you are as impressed as I am and I am curious to see if YOUR work will be in the Hybrid Highlights next month!

Have fun hybrid creating!