This week I was honored to interview Cheryl of Fiddle-Dee-Dee Designs!  She is such an amazing layout artist and her templates help you scrap just like her!

1.  Is there a meaning behind the name, Fiddle-Dee-Dee Designs? I chose the name because I’m a huge fan of Gone With The Wind and my favorite character, Scarlett O’Hara, says “fiddle-dee-dee!” when she’s pushing away worries to think about another time. So all those “Fuss Free” templates are designed to help you get around any worry that you might have about making layered pages.

2.    What prompted you to create your beautiful templates? I had been making templates for different challenges, and a designer had encouraged me to sell them.  It was one of those times when circumstance meets opportunity.  I was offered a guest position that led to a permanent one.  I was very blessed!

3.    How long have you been designing templates? Since February 2010.

4.    Do you design any other product(s) such as alphas, kits, etc? No, I’m a templates only designer.

5.    How long have you been selling with ScrapMatters? Since October 2010.

6.     Do you remember your first template set you ever created? Yes!  I was so nervous!  I wasn’t sure what layouts I should convert and I seriously wondered if anyone would buy them!  Fuss Free:  Set One came into being when I finally just chose four of my most recent layouts that I loved.  I then crossed my fingers and hoped for the best.

7.    What is your favorite template set that you have created? I think they are all my favorites, but I love

8.    Why is that your favorite template set? I love the use of frames as an anchor for the pictures to float out in front rather than the frame covering up part of the photo.

9.    Where do you get your source of inspiration? My layouts are my inspiration, since most of my templates are based on my own layout creations.

10.     If your layouts are a source of your inspiration, how long have you been digital scrapbooking? I started digital scrapbooking in August 2007 after paper scrapping for ten years.

11.    What got you into digital scrapbooking? I started following some tutorials in a magazine for adding text to pictures before printing and for making photo collages.  I downloaded a trial version of Photoshop Elements and then stumbled on a digital scrapbooking site and was hooked!

12.     Do you do any paper, hybrid or are you exclusive to digital? I rarely do any paper layouts these days.  I have done some art for my home using digital scrapbooking (that’s as close to hybrid as I get).

13.     Have any of your layouts been published? I have been published in Digital Artist Magazine, Digi Shop Talk’s The Insider, Digi Scrap Addicts’ The Enabler, The Artisan Notebook and The Daily Scrapper.

14.     If so, are you able to link us up with your layouts that were published?
Here are a couple of them:

15.    What is your favorite thing about designing? Seeing a scrapper take one of my templates and make something beautiful for their own scrapbooks.  I love to see family memories being captured, and I’m really honored when a scrapper chooses one of my templates to help them do that.

16.    Do you have a teaser about your newest product coming to the ScrapMatters store? I’m not really a tease.  Just ask my family.  If I have a gift for someone, it’s highly likely I’ll share it with them before the special day!  I’ll just say that I’m planning on continuing my line of P365 and P52 templates, and if you follow my blog where I highlight my layouts, you can expect to see some of those showing up in the store very soon!

17.    Do you have a blog that our readers can add to their blog roll and keep current on your products?
Yes!  Here you go: www.fiddle-dee-deedesigns.com

18.    Do you have a “Fan of blinkie” that our readers can sport?
Here it is!  Just click to grab it!

Thanks Cheryl!  Check out the rest of her awesome store here!

-Wendy (Neverlandscraps)

If you have ever looked through my gallery you may have noticed the credits list on many of my layouts is usually quite long.  That is because I love mixing and matching my kits to scrap my pages. The reason for this may go back to my paper scrapping days. It was a necessity for me to mix and match all the different paper lines because my local scrapbook store didn’t carry a company’s entire line of products. So in order for me to scrap with more than just a few items on my page, I had to learn how to match up what I had. The first thing I usually do is complete the majority of my page using the kit I have chosen. I then go through my stash and look for what I think my layout is still needing. If you have your scrap supplies tagged, this step is pretty painless. If you don’t, it may make this a bit more challenging.  Since I’m working on a PC (and don’t have my stash completely tagged), I go to the folder with all my digital scrap supplies and do a search for whatever it is I’m looking for. As I find the items I want, I open them in my Photoshop Elements. One of the great things about digital scrapping is it doesn’t matter what color the items are because you can recolor them if you need to. Once I think I have found everything else I need, I go back to my layout and finish it, recoloring items as needed. My challenge for you is to step out of your kit and use at least 3 different products (kits, element pack, alphas, etc.) to create your page.

Here is my page using Jolly Holly Day by Chelle’s Creations, Jolly Holly Day Glitter Paper by Chelle’s Creations, Believe by WM Squared & Graham Like the Cracker, Mini Glitzy Alpha by Plum Dumpling Designs, Candy Coated Christmas by Stolen Moments and Dates go Round by Stolen Moments.

Here is what our great creative team came up with

Day used Winter Holiday by Inspirations from day, Joyeux Noel by Stolen Moments and by Becca, and tiny alpha by Inspirations from Day.

Heidi used A Girl’s Perfect Birthday by Jay Day Studios,  Double Page Set 5 by Armina Designs, Metal Chic Alpha by Jay Day Studios and EZ Date Strips by EZ.

Fran used Be Inspired – Becca v2 templates by WM[squared]Designs, Happy Easter Bundle by WM[squared] Designs, Family Matters by WM[squared] Designs and Graham Like the Cracker.

Emilee used Black Belt by Chelle’s  Creations, Dream a Little Dream by geniaBeana, Date Borders by Erica Zane, Aviator  by Stolen Moments.

Bonnie used Frosty by WM[squared] Designs, A Touch Of Winter by Erica Zane, Borderlines: Winter by Chelle’s Creations, Feelin’ Flakey by Trixie Scraps & Be Inspired: Jen D., Vol. 2 by WM[squared] Designs.

Challenge reminders:

-You will receive one point for posting in this thread & in the Saturday Special 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 you’ll be entered into a random drawing that could earn you some bonus points!

-You have until the end of January to complete this challenge to earn MOS points.

-Remember no double dipping…your photo and/or layout must be unique to this challenge.

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

Look What’s New at ScrapMatters.com 01/21/2011!!

A Boy’s Perfect Birthday by Jady Day Studio
A Boy’s Perfect Birthday Add-on by Jady Day Studio
A Boy’s Perfect Birthday Add-on Word Art by Jady Day Studio
Write on My Cake Alpha by Jady Day Studio
A Boy’s Perfect Birthday Bundle by Jady Day Studio
A Boy’s Perfect Birthday Hybrid Add-on by Jady Day Studio

A Girl’s Perfect Birthday by Jady Day Studio
A Girl’s Perfect Birthday Add-on by Jady Day Studio
A Girl’s Perfect Birthday Add-on Word Art by Jady Day Studio
A Girl’s Perfect Birthday Bundle by Jady Day Studio
A Girl’s Perfect Birthday Hybrid Add-on by Jady Day Studio

For the Love of Boys by Stolen Moments & Jady Day Studio
For the Love of Girls by Stolen Moments & Jady Day Studio
For the Love of Boys & Girls Bundle by Stolen Moments & Jady Day Studio

The Grandpa Collection Paper Pack by Jeanine DeOre

So Transparent Alpha by LDrag Designs

Adored by Simply J Studio

All Stitched Together by Wimpychompers

Wimpychompers will be opening “the vault” on January 28th

Be Inspired – Becca – V.2 – Templates by WM squared Designs:

Lovey Dovey Overlays – V.1 by WM squared Designs:

Wintry Mix – CU by WM squared Designs:

So Silly, by Amy Stoffel

Michael, by Amy Stoffel

I am Amazing element pack, by Amy Stoffel

Toe Picks & Figure Eights Mini by Chelle’s Creations

Black Belt Mini by Chelle’s Creations

CU Bottlecap Toolkit by Chelle’s Creations

Love Happens by Erica Zane

Love Happens {add-on} by Erica Zane

Wild About You by geniaBeana Scraps

Wild About You: Cardstocks by geniaBeana Scraps

Page Edgers Vol 3 by Happy Scrap Girl Designs

Page Edgers Bundle by Happy Scrap Girl Designs – Includeds Vol. 1, 2 & 3 for a SWEET DEAL!!

Page Edgers Vol 3 Freebie by Happy Scrap Girl Designs

CU Shabby Paper Flowers

CU Accordian Flowers

CU Clear Styles

Hello, Cathy here with today’s Hybrid Corner.  It’s a New Year and that means a fresh start.  In my house I’ve been cleaning out, donating unused items and trashing the junk.  What’s left is being re-organized and straightened up!  So today I thought I would share with you how to alter a wooden container.  This way when you get organized, you can put things away in attractive containers.

For this project I used a round wooden chipwood box with a lid.  I found a set of 3 nesting ones at my craft store.  I’m going to use my box to store hot cocoa packets, so the digital kit I used for this is Frosty by WM [squared] Designs. Aren’t the colors great? And those elements are so cute!

This is my finished project

Other items you will need:

• wooden container
• lite sandpaper
• adhesive/sealer
• trimmer, scissors, craft knife
• ink, paint (if desired)
• glitter (if desired)
• edge punch (if desired)
• ribbon (if desired)

Let me start out by apologizing for the messy craft table in the background of my photos. Let’s just say my clean-up efforts have not yet gotten to that area of the house!  OK, Start by lightly sanding and cleaning the surface of the box.  I painted my box with acrylic paint in a light beige shade and allowed it to dry.

Next I applied crackle paint medium.  This stuff is kind of gooey and thick.  The thicker you apply it, the bigger the cracks you get.  I didn’t want too much texture to my surface so I went with a moderate coat.  As it dries, you’ll see the surface start to crack.

When the cracks start to appear, you can hasten the process using your heat embossing tool or a hair dryer.  It’s really cool to watch the cracks form.  Here’s a closer picture of the cracks:

Once the crackle paint was dry, I rubbed some distressing ink into the surface and gave it time to dry.

While it was drying, I created my design in Photoshop. I wanted a nice wintry scene with rolling hills.  I used Bend in the Road Curved Templates by Stolen Moments to create the hills. I printed this out and cut out the shapes.

To add some sparkle to the snowy hills, I painted on a bit of Glossy Accents and coated them with fine glitter.  I also applied the glitter to the snowflakes, snowman and penguin that I cut out.

I used Mod Podge paper adhesive to adhere the scene and snowflakes to the box. Once that was dry, I used Mod Podge Hard Coat to seal the project.  I like to use the hard coat as it dries non-tacky and will eventually become water-resistant. This is really nice for projects that you will want to be able to wipe with a damp cloth to clean.  I apply several coats of the sealant (4 to 5).  Allow plenty of time for drying and sand lightly between coats.

For the lid, I created a decorative edge using an edge punch, then covered the lid in papers.  I then applied the sealant coats of Mod Podge. Then I trimmed it with some ribbon. I used my ATG gun to adhere the ribbon.

Now I’ve got this really darling container for storing our hot cocoa packets.  Hope this inspires you to alter a container for your self or as a gift.  For me, I’d best be getting back to my clean-up!

Hello!  Jan (QuiltyMom) here with this week’s Home Matters.

I must admit that I’m a pretty crafty person, yet I really never think of doing hybrid when crafting.  So when I volunteered to host today’s blog post I needed to find something to do, something that I could actually use.

After a panicked plea for help with ideas to our resident Hybrid CT Goddesses, I chose a light switch plate as my project.  It was perfect because we had just repainted our powder room and we needed a replacement for the ugly beige plastic one that was there.  I chose to repurpose the old switch plate cover, which posed a problem since it has these crazy ridges in it, ruling out decoupage.   I decided the only way to go was to cover my digi-design with contact paper before securing it to the plate.

I scanned the switch plate and make a template of it.  After decorating the paper I printed out the project page and template separately, marked the hole spots on the back of the paper, trimmed it and adhered it to the clear contact paper (make sure to use regular contact paper, not the repositional kind).  Then it was time to put it on the switch plate.  Using double-stick tape on the edges of the plate, I started with the corners, then secured the edges.   After the paper was on, I used an x-acto knife to cut the centers of the holes diagionally from the corners and on the curves to fold them back.  And then it was done!   I’m rather happy with the way it turned out.  (I used Stolen Moment’s Into the Night.)

So the next time you want something fun to do, why don’t you experiment with some hybrid craftiness.  You’ll never know what you can come up with unless you try!

I am going to interrupt the regularly scheduled post to put in a plug for the Quickpage Exchange for this month!  I am a little late in posting and I am so sorry!  I am coming back from maternity leave and have had some trouble getting back in the swing of things! That lack of sleep causes me to forget everything!!

This month we are scrapping with a fabulous love inspired kit. Our kit sponsor this month, “With You” by Jennifer Labre is perfect for scrapping all of your upcoming February moments. It is full of beautiful colors and amazingly unique elements that will give you lots of options for scrapping all types of events. So, complete one 12×12 page and get back a whole book of amazingly versatile quickpages! The kit will be 30% off beginning January 10th through the end of the month. Check out the forum for more details! Come and join in the fun!

Check out this fabulous and unique kit!

So run over to the store and grab this fab kit!  I can’t wait to see your quickpages!

-Amanda (panders77)

This week I was excited to interview one of my fellow ScrapMatters Girls, Melanie, aka Scrappymelly!

1. Your screen name? Your real name? My screen name is scrappymelly, but in “real life” I’m better known as Melanie

2. What is your main job/career? Right now I’m a stay home mom

3. Are you married/children/pets? I’m married to my awesome hubby Nick and have three kids – Tori, almost 9, Mason, 21 months, and Bailey 6 days! We also have a kitty-daughter, Gracie and a fishy-son, Beta-Man

4. Where is home for you? currently we’re in Bullhead City, AZ

5. What are your 3 favorite foods? Italian, Chinese and sometimes Mexican

6. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? plain chocolate or Ben & Jerry’s Coffee Heath Crunch

7. Snacks…Salty or Sweet? a mix of the two is best

8. Beverage of choice? Most of the time water. Sometimes a Coke Zero is nice too though

9. What’s your least favorite food? peppers of any kind

10. PC or Mac? What program do you use? PC with PhotoShop CS3 extended

11. How long have you been digi-scrapping? How did you get started? I got started in 2007 when my sister in law mentioned something about it on her blog. So I guess almost 4 years now.

12. What was your 1st LO about? I don’t remember anymore. Right after I got started my HD crashed and I lost everything I had. I took a break after that, so when I started up again I went straight to ScrapMatters and did a Grand Theft Layout challenge. The layout is about Mason coming out of surgery when he was only 4 months old.


13. Do you have any other hobbies besides digi-scrapping (are there other hobbies)? I’ve heard there other things people do… Actually, yeah I have a few other hobbies, though I would have to say they get quite neglected. I enjoy reading, watching movies and baking.

14. What is the most challenging part of scrapbooking for you? Completing a book. I’ve started several books, only to get sidetracked with other ideas and never go back. I’ve never even printed a page I’ve made. Both a goals of mine this year!

15. What would you like to learn to do (or do better) not related to scrapbooking? I’d love to take a cake decorating class. My aunt made the most beautiful cakes and she started teaching me. But between me moving across the country and then her passing away a few years ago, I didn’t get to learn much.

16. What are your favorite movies/TV shows? Nick and I always watch ParentHood and Grey’s Anatomy. I’m also shamefully addicted to Teen Mom lol

17. Describe your “scrapping” environment. Music? TV in the background? Drinks? Snacks? Where? I’m usually stretched out on our bed with music on. I like to at least have a big glass of water and sometimes a snack – if Mason’s not around to beg for it lol

18. If you only had 2 elements to use on a LO, what would they be? String and stitches. I’m always using both of those!

19. Would you like to share a little known fact about you…? I’m like 4 classes from completing my associates degree in Early Childhood Education. I don’t know why I’ve never gone back and finished, but I really should.

20. Can you tell us a little about your scrappin’ style? I generally scrap the way I did when I paper scrapped. I usually stick with cute and fun stuff and not use the more formal kits that have a lot of the more realistic look to them.

21. Favorite LOs that you have done?
This is constantly changing, but this two page layout is always at the top of my list.

22. What is your favorite part of being a member of the Scraps Matter Girls? The other girls! The bond of friendship with these ladies is not just fun, but such a blessing. There’s been many times when I just want to vent and they’re always around to “listen” and offer words of advice and encouragement.

-Kris (photonut71)

The hybrid gallery is really hopping lately!  It makes my choice harder!  But I LOVE these fun and creative cupcake cards by my2monkeys! They are so much fun! Love the button and flower clusters and the soft colors! Just beautiful!

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

-Dawn (aussiegirl)

Happy Sunday Everyone!  I hope everyone had a great day and maybe enjoyed some football!   I am excited to bring you the layout of the week, Dear Ava by zackanddavasmom!  I love the sweetness of that photo, and the soft colors! Love the clustering and the layered frames around the photo! The little footprints in the corner are adorable and I love the flow across the page! Beautiful job!

Congrats Zackanddavasmom!  Head on over to the gallery or the forum to leave her some love!

-Dawn (aussiegirl)

Today I’d like to talk about how to tone a photo to suit your layout. Sometimes we have awesome photos and we find the perfect kit. Then we get those beautiful color photos on the layout we’re working on and find that it’s all the wrong colors and tones for the kit we just had to have! Well, black and white can be really helpful but what if you really want to keep color?My solution is to tone the colors in my photo softly to fit my layout.

I’m going to start with a SOOC photo taken in RAW (doesn’t have to be RAW). Underexposed a bit but all the basis for a great layout.

Next I do my adjustments in Camera RAW in Adobe Photoshop or PSE. (tip! did you know you can adjust jpeg images in the RAW plugin too?) I make adjustments slightly to the white balance and exposure. I also like to bump up the vibrancy, but that’s a personal choice.

Now the steps are the same for PSE or PS users (all other users I’m sorry I don’t have access to the programs you use. Try to follow along!) Haze intentionally being added to soften the color of a photo is a big popular post-processing trend right now. Here is a simple way to do that.

First I create a levels adjustment layer and the only slider I will move is the black output levels. It’s this little slider under the levels graph on the left.

This level will not be the same based on your image. If you don’t want a haze skip to the next step.

Color tone in PS
I add a color fill layer with a light shade of the tone I want to give to my photo. Then I change the blend mode to soft light and lower the opacity to taste. You can experiment with blend modes to get different effects.

Here is the final toned image with a slight pinkish tint.

For more advanced users of both programs try adjusting the output levels of each color channel (rgb) in the layers adjustment menu. You can adjust the tone this way too!

Here is my layout using Chelle’s Beauty Within kit and Cheryl’s (gonewiththewind)
Fuss Free: Day by Day set 1

And here is the CT girls showing you how easy it is!

LeeAndra using our guest Micheline Martin’s 2011 Grab Bag

Becca using Fiddle-Dee-Dee Designs Fuss Free: Week by Week set 1 and Micheline Martin’s 2011 Grab bag

Challenge reminders:

-You will receive one point for posting in Saturday Special 1.15.11 thread & in the Saturday Special 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 you’ll be entered into a random drawing that could earn you some bonus points!

-You have until the end of January 2011 to complete this challenge to earn MOS points.

-Remember no double dipping…your photo and/or layout must be unique to this challenge.

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

Look What’s New at ScrapMatters.com 01/14/2011!!

I hope you are having a wonderful January so far. I was writing a check yesterday and I was shocked that it was already the 13th. This month is just FLYING by already. We have a jam packed newsletter for you this week. Not only do we have the weekly newsletter goodness, but if you subscribe to the ScrapMatter’s newsletter, this week’s newsletter also includes the January ScrapMatters newsletter. (Which a little birdie told me includes a free mini from Stolen Moments and Jady Day Studio!) If that weren’t enough, we also have two exciting guests with us this month, Armina Designs and Micheline Martin. So refill your beverage of choice, grab a nibble and get comfy. It’s time to read your ScrapMatters newsletter.

Embrace the Day by the ScrapMatters Design Team

Winter Holiday

Winter Holiday Wordbit Set Free for a limited time!

CU Fabric Styles

Love Me Do by Jady Day Studio

The Peace on Earth Add-On by Jeanine DeOre

The Peace on Earth Sparklies by Jeanine DeOre

Happy New Year card BLOG FREEBIE by Jeanine DeOre

Olive Juice by Jennifer Labre Designs

Everyday Metal {alpha} by Krisi’s Kreations

A Photo A Day by Plum Dumpling Designs

A Photo A Day Template Freebie by Plum Dumpling Designs

Fancy Footwork by Wimpychompers

Very Special Kid by Wimpychompers

Special- Until January 21st buy the kit Very Special Kid and get the wordart free!

It’s Midnight by WM squared Designs & geniaBeana Designs:

It’s Midnight: Word Art by WM squared Designs:

Charlotte & Oliver, by Amy Stoffel

CU Toile Overlays by Amy Stoffel

Artesia, by Amy Stoffel and Krystal Hartley

Also releasing this week:
Page Starters: Inpired by Helen, by Amy Stoffel
Artesia Words, by Amy Stoffel and Krystal Hartley

My Sweet Valentine by Chelle’s Creations

Holly Jolly Alpha 2 by Chelle’s Creations

CU Canvas Patches by Chelle’s Creations

Be Jolly

CU Doodle Frames

Say It Ain’t Snow! by Erica Zane

Say It Ain’t Snow {add-on} by Erica Zane

Lotsa Layers v1 by geniaBeana Scraps

Love, Sweet Love by geniaBeana Scraps

Happy Patterns Vol 6 by Happy Scrap Girl Designs
see product page for a full view of each pattern!

Happy Patterns Overlay Vol 6 Freebie by Happy Scrap Girl Designs

My Magical Place Alpha Add-On by Haynay Designs

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