It’s Tuesday Template time!!! Hi – Cara (aka colson) here with today’s template.  I always struggle when I want to create a photoless layout and many other scrappers do too.  So here’s a template… let your stories shine!  Rotate it, flip it, move things around – I’ll even let you add a pic if you HAVE to :laugh: – just have fun and post them here and link ‘em up so we can leave you love.

Here’s the preview:

Template Preview

Here’s the link:

Here’s some inspiration from our awesome CT

From Amy (aka anrobe)

And here’s mine:

I am back with another designer interview today!  Now we get to learn all about Kay Miller of Kay Miller Designs!

1. Your screen name? Your real name? KayM

2. What is your main job/career? I am a designer, stay at home, homeschooling mother

3. Are you married/children/pets? I am married to the best guy in the world, Paul, and we have two great kiddos, three dogs, two cats, two rats and two horses. How’s that for a menagerie? LOL

4. Where is home for you? I live in South Central Missouri.

5. What are your 3 favorite foods? ice cream, chex mix and Fritos. I’m a real health nut.

6. PC or Mac? What program do you use? I loooooooooove my Mac! I have two, an iMac and a Macbook Pro. I use Photoshop CS4 and Illustrator to design and scrap.

7. What is the most challenging part of designing for you? The business part. I love to be creative. I am constantly thinking of new things to make all the time, but the business end of it all really bogs me down. I wish I had someone to do all of that part for me

8. What would you like to learn to do (or do better) not related to scrapbooking? Well, I would love to learn to take better pictures. I take pictures all the time and learn new things daily it seems, but I would love to learn more about lighting and how to get good photos indoor or in low lighting. Oh I guess that is kind of related to scrapbooking isn’t it??  Another one is that I would love to learn more about web design and html. When it comes to my personal store, I always have to get someone to do things for me.

9. What are your favorite movies/TV shows? I am a diehard fan of LOST. LOVE that show!! So sad it’s over  There’s not much on now that I just love. I enjoy kids movies, and I like action/adventure. I also love a good romantic comedy every now and then. My favorite of all times is While You Were Sleeping with Sandra Bullock. That’s an awesome movie and I watch it each year at Christmas time.

14. How would you describe your design style? My style is very whimsical and cute. I can do other styles and occasionally I’ll do a more sophisticated type kit, but I love the cute stuff

16. Which of your products in the Scrapmatters Store showcases your style the most? The kit I just finished with Yari, Park Play, is a perfect example of my style. Cute, whimsical and full of children and little animals.

17. What is your favorite color scheme to design with? I love pink!! LOL! Mostly I use bright pretty color combinations. I’m not a fan of boyish colors or anything masculine. I am very challenged in the male department when it comes to designing!

18. Favorite kit you’ve designed for Scrapmatters? Well, I’ve only done one so far, so I have to pick it! LOL! Park Play which is a collab with my friend Yari, Jady Day Studio.

Thanks Kay for telling us more about you!! Be sure to check out Kay’s full shop before the end of the month for more goodies!

-Amanda (panders77)

It is the second Sunday of the month so that means it is time to interview are awesome guest designers!  I am so excited to get started!  First up is Lindsay Jane Designs!

1. Your screen name? Your real name? Screen name – Lindsay Jane  Real name – I get called Lindsay (Jane is my middle name)

2. What is your main job/career? I  used to draw floor plans and sketch houses for real estate agents but I am now  a digital designer.

3. Are you married/children/pets? 3 teenage boys – aged 13, 15 and 17 and One dog – Sally (aka Sooky and Slippery)

4. Where is home for you? Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

5. What are your 3 favorite foods? Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, White Chocolate…Can you tell I love chocolate!

6. PC or Mac? What program do you use? PC – CS3 – Art Rage Pro

8. What would you like to learn to do (or do better) not related to scrapbooking? Learn to use a digital SLR camera

9. What are your favorite movies/TV shows? Movie – Mama Mia, TV – Survivor, Desperate Housewives, Greys Anatomy, Brothers and Sisters

14. How would you describe your design style? Traditional paper scrapbook style – fairly clean and simple.

17. What is your favorite color scheme to design with? I love blues and fawns.

18. Favorite kit you’ve designed for Scrapmatters? Spring Symphony – love the beautiful color combo in this kit – soft and fresh.

Thanks Lindsay for letting us get to know you better!  Check out Lindsay’s awesome store before the month is up!  Be sure to pick up some of her goodies!

-Amanda (panders77)

Hello, Melissa (yzerbear19) here with this week’s Saturday Special challenge. If you’ve seen my gallery, you’ve probably noticed that I love to blend pictures into the background of my layouts. It’s pretty easy to do. The instructions for this tutorial are for Photoshop. The techniques may be slightly different depending on your program.

For basic blending

1. Place your photo where you want it.

2. Select the blend mode you want to use. I tend to use OVERLAY and SOFT LIGHT. Play around with the different blend modes to see which one you like best.

3. Adjust the fill and opacity levels until you achieve the look you want.

Sometimes though there are parts of your blended photo you don’t want or you might want a softer edge. For this technique we are going to use the layer mask. The benefit of the layer mask is that if you make a mistake it is very simple to correct. To achieve this:

1. Select the layer you want to blend.
2. Follow the steps above for the basic blend.
3. Add a layer mask

4. Select a large soft brush.

5. Paint over the edges you want to soften.
6. If you make a mistake you can paint over the area with the white and it will restore the original picture.

Another way to soften the edges is to use the gradient tool with the layer mask.

1. Follow steps 1-3 above.
2. Once you have added the layer mask instead of using the brush select the gradient tool.

3. This technique works best with a straight gradient.

4. Add a gradient to the mask.
5. It may take a few tries to get one that you are happy with. Just undo and try again if you don’t like a particular gradient.

Here is my finished layout.  I decided to go with the linear gradient blend.

Credits: Moments in time by Erica Zane

Check out these totally beautiful layouts by the Creative team:

By kmkarayannis

Credits: A Little Love by  The Design Girl.

By jendavey

Credits: Crazy Love by WM[squared] Designs

By canadianmommy

Credits Chikkadea by KimB’s Designs

Your challenge is to create a layout with at least one blended photo using one of the methods posted above.

I can’t wait to see how you use these tips.

Some important reminders:
-You have until the end of March to post your entry. Be sure to post it to the “Saturday Special” 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.
-You don’t have to use ScrapMatters products, but we like it when you do.

Look What’s New at ScrapMatters.com 03/11/2011!!

Are you you are seeing green? It’s not you, it’s the designers at ScrapMatters. Spring is just around the corner and our designers have lots of fabulous fresh and bright goodies for you this week! Including a totally awesome 80′s inspired kit from the design team!

The finalists for Design Star have been announced,  and the results are in this newsletter, so be sure you cruise through the whole thing.  If you subscribe to the ScrapMatters newsletter, make sure you open the copy in your inbox because it includes  the link to a free super cute mini from Plum Dumpling Designs and Jeanine DeOre!

Totally 80′s by the ScrapMatters Design Team

A Walk in the Woods + Bonus Alpha by Plum Dumpling Designs

A Walk in the Woods Blog Freebie by Plum Dumpling Designs

Letterpress Alpha by Plum Dumpling Designs

Product Preview Service by Stolen Moments

Too cute to Pinch by Wimpychompers

Crazy Love – Mini by WM squared Designs:

Lucky Me by WM squared Designs:

Crazy Love – The Bundle by WM squared Designs
Crazy Love – Alpha by WM squared Designs
Lucky Me – Alpha by WM squared Designs

Lucky Charm, by Amy Stoffel

It’s a Boys World, by Amy Stoffel and Jen Yurko

Festival Alpha by Chelle’s Creations

CU Texturizing Brushes by Chelle’s Creations

Don’t Bug Me {Lady} by Erica Zane

Don’t Bug Me {Lady} add-on by Erica Zane

EZ Originals v.1 by Erica Zane and Denise Beatty Originals

Dragonfly wishes by geniaBeana Scraps

Trim and Save Layers Action by Happy Scrap Girl Designs

CU Checkered Overlays by Inspirations from Day

Just My Luck by Jady Day Studio

GRAB BAG REVEALED!
Grunge-It Edges and Essentials Bundle (also available separately) by Jeanine DeOre – CU/PU

Blog Freebie, Tips and Tutorial by Jeanine DeOre

The Charm Mini-Kit (FREE for my facebook fans!) by Jeanine DeOre

Couch Potato by Jennifer Labre Designs

Just Chillin’ by Jennifer Labre Designs

Kindhearted Add-On by Jennifer Labre Designs & Scrapmuss Designs

Cover It Up: Square {including cutting files} by Krisi’s Kreations

Unforgettable – The Kit

Alluring – The Kit

Alluring – The Bundle

Spring’s Love Song by LDrag Designs

Spring’s Love Song: add on by LDrag Designs

KimB’s Chikka-dea

Around The Block Templates by Kay Miller Designs

We are now entering the final round of the Design Star competition. Congrats to the ladies moving on to Round Four!

Hi everyone!  Its Amanda (Abhall76) here to kick of the day with my first “it’s in the cards” template.   I decided to do a template for a pocket card that I have always loved.  There are so many possibilities with this one as I am sure you will see by some of the great samples that the Creative Team have come up with!

I will start off with my sample using Pebbles and Butterflies by Haynay Designs,  Create It Yourself: Flowers v. 1 and Create It Yourself: Leaves & Stems by Krisi’s Kreations

Next we have this gorgeous birthday invitation by Melanie (scrappymelly) using Main Street Magic by Connie Prince.

And now here is lovely one by Carina (cinna) using That’s Not My Clover by Erica Zane

Karen (bydelstorp) came up with this great birthday card using Cupcakes & Candles and You Say It’s Your Birthday mega collabs by the ScrapMatters Design Team.

Here is the fantastic way Cathy (Scrappycath) came up with to let someone know you love them.  She used Orange Crush by Jennifer Labre Designs.

And here is a fantastic one that Jewelle (jubeejewels) came up with using Erica Zane’s What’s Cooking? {the whole batch}.

So now that you have seen some fantastic samples I hope the template doesn’t scare you too much.  It really is easier (and far more fun) than it looks!  I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

You can grab the template here!

Some reminders:
-You will receive one point for posting a photo of your card in the It’s in the Cards 3/10 thread & in the It’s in the Cards 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 March to complete this challenge to earn MOS points.
-Remember no double dipping…your photo must be unique to this challenge.
-You don’t have to use Scrap Matters products, but we love it when you do!

We will lift Lizzy for this edition of GTL! You can find her gorgeous gallery here ! You will find lots of variety in Lizzy’s gallery!

I lifted this page:

And here’s my spin on it:

Inspiration from the CT….

Melanie lifted this page:

And came up with this super sweet spring-themed page:

Liz lifted this page:

And came up with this adorably WILD page!:

Lisa was inspired by this girly page:

And flipped genders with this fun & bright boy page:

Chel took-on this page:

And came up with this fun boy page:

Jenn lifted this beauty:

And came up with this soft & sweet page:

Crystal choose this neutral page:

And gave it a face lift with some bright pops of color:

Challenge reminders:
-You will receive one point for posting your layout in the GTL: 9 Mar thread in the forum & in the Grand Theft Layout gallery, you need to post in both places! 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 March you’ll be entered into a random drawing that could earn you some bonus points!

-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!

So lift away!
–Jami

It’s time for another Tuesday Template! No rules, just have fun with it!

Download Here

Here is the page that inspired the template (made with Jady Day Studios’ A Girl’s Perfect Birthday Combo):

and some inspiration from the CT:
from Cheryl using Rainbows and Butterflies by WM Squared and Graham Like the Cracker:

from Sarah using Red Red Wine by Jennifer Labre:

from Simona using Zen Garden by Inspirations by Day:

from Sandra using Winter Wishes by Jennifer Labre:

from Melanie using Rainbows and Butterflies by WM Squared and Graham Like the Cracker:

from Jenn using Captivated by You by Amy Stoffel:

and from Carina using Rainbows and Butterflies by WM Squared and Graham Like the Cracker:

Didn’t they rock those?! I love seeing how many different ways a template can be used!

Some reminders:
-You will receive one point for posting in the Tuesday Template 3/8 thread & in the Tuesday Template 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 March 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!

I can’t wait to see all your wonderful pages!!

.

Hello Henriette here with this months photochallenge and we will be talking about how to photograph glass.