Happy Spring for those in the Northern Hemisphere!
Emilee here for your next Saturday Special.  I thought we could build on what we learned last week with Heidi (scrappurple) and talk more about stitches and shadowing our stitches.  I think stitches are a fun way to make a digital LO look ‘real’ and they add a lot of character to a LO. That being said, stitches can be tricky to shadow. Here are a few tips to remember when shadowing stitches:

**ZOOM IN…Stitches are small and you really need to zoom in close to the stitch to see exactly what you shadow looks like
**LESS IS MORE…think about what stitches look like IRL–they are very close to the paper and therefore have a subtle shadow. Decrease the opacity to lighten the shadow and increase the subtlety.
**SOFTEN the shadow a bit (using ‘Size’ in PSE). Stitches are made from a fiber and won’t cast a ‘hard’ shadow like a piece of paper, but rather a softer shadow. Of course a thicker stitch will require a different shadow than a thinner stitch.

The key is to zoom in and play around with your settings until you have a realistic shadow for your stitching. Or if you don’t want to worry about it at all, you can purchase Jenn Barrette’s Realistic Drop Shadow Styles.

When you are adding stitches to a LO pay attention to what you are ’stitching’–two pieces of paper, pic to paper, ribbon to paper, etc. Adjust your stitches so that they look like you used your sewing machine. Get creative and duplicate stitches on top of each other to create a messy-look, create grids, use different types of stitches and HAVE FUN!

Here is an example from me, an Easter card using Man in the Moon and Stolen Moments new collab Easter Morning:

and some more examples from our talented Creative Team…

from Courtney using 5 a day by Erica Zane and Circle Stitches, Love Life, Wire Rimmed Alpha, and Film Clipping Masks by Sahlin Studio:

from Becca using Sweetest days by Erica Zane:

from Cyndi using All About Photos Template Pack 2 by Purple Tulip Designs, Stitch Me Up by Chelle’s Creations and the Everyday Grab Bag SM Designer Collab:

You only have 11 days to participate in this Saturday Special so you better get started. You’ll need to upload your LO using stitches to the Saturday Special Gallery and to this forum. You can receive ONE point for participating in the challenge and another point for using a new product from the SM store–please indicate here if you used a new product. At the end of March I’ll choose a LO to receive an additional point towards your April total.  Remember, no double-dipping and this challenge closes March 31.

Emilee (emileem)

Kids at Play by the ScrapMatters Designers

Easter Salutations by Britt-ish Designs and Studio Tangie

Jellies: Alpha 1 by Britt-ish Designs

Slam Dunk by Chelle’s Creations

Slam Dunk: Team Colors by Chelle’s Creations

Slam Dunk: Blog Freebie by Chelle’s Creations

Jelly Beanie Collab Kit
12×12 Jelly Beanology Templates
12×12 No One Likes Black Licorice Templates

Bee Happy Kit
Bee Happy Word Art
The Bee’s Knees Templates

A Magical Place – BragBook Album
A Magical Place – QuickPage Album

Memories of You – Designs by Sarah Bennett

Springy Baskets Hybrid Templates by Geeky Diva Designs

Everyday Grab Bag Collab by Happy Scrap Girl Designs & Designs by Tater

Tumble Time by Haynay Designs

Clouds Over Head by Jenn Barrette

Shaped Cards: Spring by Krisi’s Kreations

“Little Peanut” by LawTeeDa Designs

“Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” by LawTeeDa Designs

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“Make A Wish: Boy Kit” by LawTeeDa Designs

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Easter Sunday by Plum Dumpling Designs

Overlays #01 – Commercial Use by Pri Rocha

Project 365: Template set vol.2 by Scrapmuss Designs

Project 365: Template Set Value Pack 1 by Scrapmuss Designs

Easter Morning by Stolen Moments & Man in the Moon Designs

Freebie add-on available on Stolen Moments’ blog!

Freebie add-on available on Man in the Moon Designs’ blog!

1, 2, 3, 4… Go! (Set 2) by Sya’s Blueprints

1, 2, 3, 4… Go! (Set 2): CU Version by Sya’s Blueprints

Lovey Days mini kit by Trixie Scraps Designs

Through the Week templates vol 2 by Trixie Scraps Designs

Stamped, Dated, Stated volume 2 by Trixie Scraps Designs
Your Days are Numbered vol 2 by Trixie Scraps Designs
Alpha Tiles vol 2 by Trixie Scraps Designs
7-Up Journalers by Trixie Scraps Designs

Be Inspired – Tanya by WM squared Designs

Caught Red Handed by Wimpychompers Creations

Explain It! by Studio Tangie

Chipper Chatter: Verbs by Studio Tangie

Hi Everyone!

I get the pleasure of showing you all the wonderful Hybrid Highlights for March! I love browsing through the Hybrid Gallery. There is so much wonderful inspiration there!

There are so many creative and awesome projects, it’s so hard just to pick a few!

Look at this adorably box by tiffanydimples

Love this Egg Basket by profiler_mar

Love this “Your Faves” Mini Tin by, leightheo

Look at this cute Pink card by, OksanaA

There are some great new Hybrid products in Store too!

I hope you enjoy looking at all this Hybrid goodness! I hope to see some new Hybrid projects posted in the gallery from you soon too!

Julie

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