Hello Scrappers! This week we are highlighting Monique. Her gallery is filled with simple STUNNING layouts. I’m sure you can find tons of inspiration.

I chose to lift: So Happy Together

Here’s mine:

And here’s some inspiration from the ScrapMatters Creative Team:

Heidi chose to lift:  So Different

and here’s her layout:  So Alike

Gi Christina chose:  Right Now

And here’s her layout: a moment of pure magic

Jamie chose: Be happy being who you are

And her layout: Aiden

Becca chose: France

and here’s her layout: Lili

And Marlen chose: Sven is the Man

and here’s her layout:  Ritter Sport Museum

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 March I will choose one layout at random for a bonus point!

-You have until the end of March to complete your layout for your points to be counted towards March 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!

Can’t wait to see what you create!

–Chelle

Hi everyone, Connie here with my first chance at hosting a Template Tuesday challenge here at SM. I’m very excited to share this template with you & can’t wait to see what you come up with!!

*There are no rules this time other than to use the template

Download Here: http://www.4shared.com/file/237555197/50ac1bd7/cap_031610Tuestemp.html

My layout:

And some amazing inspiration from the team using the template!

By JillyFish using: “Alvean’s Beauty Parlor” by Andilynn Designs

By kim21673 using Plugged In and Hang Up Word and Date Tags by Connie Prince

By misfitinmn using I Wuff You by Connie Prince & Bella Gypsy

By profiler_mar using The Bees Knees and The Bees Knees WA by Connie Prince

By abhall76 using SM Birthday Gift Kit & Felty Alpha by WM[squared]

By .megan. using Play by Sahlin Studio and Decrow Designs

By anrobe using Vibrant Memories by Pri Rocha

By loribear using Remember Me by Sarah Bennett

By QuiltyMom using The Good Life by Juno Designs

By jennamy82 using Banana Split by Britt-ish Designs and Gwenipooh Designs

Now before you go, just a few quick reminders:

* Post your layouts to the Tuesday Template gallery, then link us up here so we can leave you lots of love
* You will earn one point by participating in this challenge. You can receive an EXTRA point for using a product that has been released in the seven days prior to your post – be sure to make a note of this in your post so you receive proper credit!
* Your layout must be unique to this challenge – no double dipping..
* You have until the end of the month to complete the challenge
* At the end of the month, I’ll choose one random winner to receive an EXTRA point

Have fun creating!!!

Connie Prince

Heidi here with a new Saturday special … shadows.  There are so many different directions I could go, but today I am going to show you how to change the color of your shadow.  If you have questions about shadows, you can always check here and here for a wealth of information. Before I get started, I wanted to highlight an amazing product in our store … Get Real – Realistic Drop Shadow Styles by Jennifer Barrette.  Jennifer had made it simple to apply a shadow to almost any element you can imagine.  With my example below, I have used her shadow styles on my layouts. Simple and easy.  Jennifer was kind enough to offer a coupon if you would like to purchase her style :

$1 off
code – getreal_1off
expires – March 20th 2010

O.k., onto the lesson.  Have you ever had an item that you added a shadow to, but it just doesn’t look right?  Sometimes, having a black shadow isn’t natural.  Look around you right now.  Are the items casting shadows black? Maybe they are a soft shade of gray. Maybe the are reflecting the color of the item as the shadow. Keep this mind as you go to shadow today’s layout.

However you add your shadow, go ahead and add it to your paper/element/etc.  Now, I want you to double click on the “fx” on your layer you shadowed.

It should bring up a box that looks like this:
Make sure you that the  “drop shadow” box is highlighted in blue like the #2 shows. If that is not highlighted, you will not see the screen above.  Next, I want you to click in the black box circled in #3.  It should bring up a new box that looks like this:
Notice that your cursor can now choose a new color if you place it over your layout. Next, I want you to click on your paper.  You color box will change to the color of the paper and this is o.k.  Now you want to start moving down on the color box.  I usually go to the gray side of my color.  Watch how the shadow color changes on your element.  Does it now look a little softer and more natural?  Keep playing with it until you get a shadow that looks like it would if it were sitting in front of you right now.  Or, if you have Jennifer’s style, you can keep the color where it is and just move the sliders as shown by the #4 until you get a color you are happy with.

For my layout above, I had white paper under my pics/elements.  With Jennifer’s shadows, she has a brown color for the shadow which give a nice warm natural shadow.  But for this particular layout, I wanted my shadow a little more on the “cool” side, so I changed the shadow color.  I did not, however, change the shadow color of the white paper resting on the bottom brown paper.  It was the perfect color for that paper.

Here is my layout:

Please note that this was using CS4.  I am not familiar with Elements, but I was told by Denise, who is the queen said that the dialog boxes look different, but the concept still works. This also works in Paint Shop Pro.

Good Morning!!  Andrea (chia) here with this weeks Grand Theft Layout.  We have some new girls on the ScrapMatter’s Creative Team and I wanted to highlight the growing gallery of one of these new CT members…dianeskie.  She has a fun style that I’m sure you will love lifting!!

I chose to lift Enjoy Every Moment…

Here is my layout using Happy Go Lucky by Jenn Barrette Designs…

And here is what has inspired the ScrapMatter’s Team…

wm[squared] lifted…

And using “Play Bundle” by Sahlin Studios & DeCrow Designs and White Paper: “Just The Basics – Cardstock” by WM[squared] Designs, she came up with…

Tanya lifted…And here is her beautiful layout created with Enjoy The Moment, Enjoy The Moment Snipettes, Stitched Swirls and Tuck and Wave Templates…

scrappurple lifted…And came up with this fun, winter layout…

jennamy82 lifted…And here is her lift using Daisy Crazy by Trixie Scraps & Madame Wing…

hoo-rah and abcmomof4 lifted…

hoo-rah’s using Feeling Moments from Pri Rocha, Storytime Collab from Sarah Bennett, Lil’ Digi Bits by Jude, and Stacy’s Back Door Designs, Crayon, Crayoff Alpha from Denise Beatty, Glitter Mess from Juno Designs…

and abcmomof4’s using explore.learn.grow staple, stitches and string (recolored) by Sahlin Studio, Sister Sue by Sarah Bennett…

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 March I will choose one layout at random for a bonus point!

-You have until the end of March to complete your layout for your points to be counted towards March 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!

Enjoy the lifting! I can’t wait to see what you’ve done!!

Golly, sorry that I am running late here.

Anyway, Alamama here to bring you one of my favorite challenges!  There’s no rules, use the template anyway you want.

http://www.4shared.com/file/23299090…ttemplate.html

Here’s mine:

Using Sarah Bennett/Judet *Storytime*, Sahlin *Explore, Learn, Grow* and Jennifer Barrette *Autumn Bliss*.

Here’s some inspiration from our awesome new CT.  I only posted a few here.  The rest will be posted in the forum.

by kim21673

Using  Tough Boy by Sarah Bennett

by loribear

Using Connie Prince’s – Forever Kit – “Cherished”

by jeffsamber

Using Erica Zane’s Backyard Buddies

A quick reminder of the rules:
- You will receive one point for completing this challenge and posting your layout in both the gallery AND the forum thread. You will receive 1 extra point if you use a new release product within the week it was released. You must make note of this in your post in the forum to get the point.
- You will have until the end of March to complete the challenge.
- No double-dipping, your layout must be unique to this challenge only.
- FYI: you don’t have to use ScrapMatters products to complete this challenge- we just like it when you do!

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?

.

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!

Hey everyone! LuAnn here with our next It’s in the Cards challenge!

Before we get to the template – have you checked out the Hybrid Bootcamp put together by the ScrapMatters’ Hybrid Team?  It’s never too late to stop by and pick up some tips and techniques to take your hybrid projects to the next level!!!

Remember: the rules of the challenge are:
*To earn your Matter of Scrap point for the month you need to photograph and upload your card to the Hybrid Challenge gallery by the end of March – yepp, you get more time since it’s just about the end of February.   Then come back here and post it in this thread as well. Make sure to let your hostess know if you use a new product within a week of it’s release – if you do, you get an extra point!  One random winner will be chosen to receive an extra point!*

Here’s our template:

Download HERE

Here’s my card using Man in the Moon Designs’ Carousel Ride kit

And check out this wickedly cool card by Julie:

I can’t wait to see what you come up with using my template!