Do It Digi Wednesday . . . Mardi Gras Masking

My father is in a local Mardi Gras association, so he and his fellow Krewe members are very busy with last minute preparations for the upcoming parades. We can do the same thing with our layouts, too! Brushes are a great way to add additional interest to a page, but let's take it a step further. Use a brush with a clipping mask to create one-of-a-kind elements for your layout. For technical information, Jessica Sprague has an awesome tutorial for Photoshop users that you can check out here: http://spraguelab.squarespace.com/imported-archives/2006/4/21/photoshop-friday-issue-no-2.html. Let's see what you can mask this week!

In my example layout, I used three different brushes. The hearts and the doily underneath the photo were from a set of Victorian Valentine brushes I downloaded as freeware from the Internet and the swirled frame brush is by Rhonna Farrer [complete credits for the layout in the gallery]. I clipped the same orange-toned textured paper to each brush after I "stamped" it. I used layer duplication, bevels, and drop shadows to achieve the final effects you see on the layout.

Get ready for Mardi Gras . . . get those brushes out and mask them! I'm so excited to see what you create! Cheryl

Love Is In The Air . . .

Oh yes. It's getting to be that time again. The time of year when we drop our subtle hints to our dearest ones about what we would like for Valentine's Day and just hope that they caught on! Shops are filled with flowers and chocolate - ahhhh chocolate. Our gallery is no exception. Stop in and take a peek at the lovely cards and layouts that are being created just with love (and sometimes chocolate) in mind! You'll find lots of inspiration to help you celebrate your love this year (even if it's chocolate). I know, I need a chocolate intervention. LOL.


Here's one to get you started . . . this is me and my dear husband this past Saturday.



Have a great time over the next couple of weeks creating your LOVE-ly cards, layouts and altered objects! Cheryl

A snowy northern day

Well everyone it is a very cold and snowy day north of the border.  Time to pull out some stamping supplies and try a new technique.  I found this really cool template on the Splitcoast Stamper website and thought it would be a cool challenge to try.

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=77971&d=1200303991

Give this beautiful Valentine's card variation a try and post your card to our gallery.  We would love to see what you come up with.

Until next week stay warm and enjoy a nice warm mug of cocoa!

Monday Card Challenge

This Monday's card challenge is make a tall card, either 4x9 or 3 3/8x 6. Tall cards are easy to make and fit right into no. 10 and no. 6 3/4 envelopes that often have in our home for letter writting or bill paying.

After you take the challenge post it in our gallery, we would love to see what you've made.

Jan 27 Sunday Sketch This!

Here is the sketch for this week...
you have one week to attempt this sketch...
if you chose to take this mission your book will be one more page complete! lol!

Show us what you have done
place it in our gallery
place it in your blog...

just please don't steal... share the love by sending someone here to see our sketches :) Thanks!

Digi Sponsor + Crop Showcase

I just had to add in one of my favorite layouts from the crop:

Learing to Walk by Mel




























Also, there have been some wonderful additions to the digital sponsor gallery. Check it out and often! Here is one of many:

Warm Winter Day by jenbalding

Inspire Me Thursday and Crop Notes!

Hello!! We've had a really busy and fun weekend over at The Shaker Box!! Our crop was full of fun, games, challenges and classes! I was really excited about the amount of participation that we had! Here are a few of my favorite layouts, from some of the challenges we did!

New Driver by silvia


Let It Snow by sassyscrapper40 (from my Clear Card Class)


Way to go everyone that participated!! I had so much fun "meeting" you all!

Now, for today's Inspire Me Challenge!I was inspired, yet again, by the 2007 Autumn Leaves calendar!! The idea was to use old cards you've received and recycle them into new cards! I love this idea because I am big on recycling and I have lots of old cards laying around!! Here is my EXAMPLE. Can wait to see everyone's take on this!! When you're done, make sure you post it in our MEMBERS GALLERY!

You don't need any more inspiration!

It's Wednesday already! Time for another Do-it Digi challenge. Since we have just wrapped up an amazing online crop at The Shaker Box, there is more than the usual amount of inspiration in the gallery. For this week's Do-it Digi challenge, find a favorite in the New Year crop gallery and scraplift it!

Here is one of my favorites (it's from sassyscrapper40)




























Be sure to share your layouts in the gallery at The Shaker Box so that we can leave you some love and who knows - you might just be selected for Layout of the Week!

It's a PARTY!!! Come Shake it with US!!!!

January Digital Sponsor

The sponsor for January is Andrea Boyer of Boyerville Scraps!







She has some fun stuff in her store and has a great deal for the month of January! Check out the information at her blog.

Our awesome CT has come up with wonderful layouts using her products. You can see them here.

Button UP!! Inspire Me Challenge for 1/17/08

This week I was inspired by a layout that I saw in a UK scrapbook magazine, Scrapbook Inspirations. They layout was done by Vanessa Matthews. She created the cutest little caterpillar with buttons. I want to see what cute things you can create with buttons!!

Here is my Example.

Also, don't forget to join in on the fun this weekend at our Shakin' New Years Crop!

Warm Up With a Glow

Baby it's cold outside and I can't wait for Spring! It's Wednesday again which means it's time for a Do-it Digi challenge at The Shaker Box.

This week we are trying to warm up with a glowing layout - first select your picture(s) - maybe a fire in the fireplace, a burning candle or Christmas lights (please don't taunt me by showing me a glowing sunrise or sunset over the beach). Now digitally add a glow to something else on your layout - the title, the photo or any other element.

Be sure to share your layout in the gallery at The Shaker Box so that we can leave you some warm fuzzies!





























My layout for the challenge features papers from this month's digital sponsor at The Shaker Box - Boyerville Scraps (Andrea Boyer). See the gallery at The Shaker Box for complete credits.

Good Morning, just another cool morning here in Central TX. We sure could use some rain but none in a couple of weeks. Just a reminder to those who joined in the January CC Valentine Contest that today is the start of the second week. This card has a ton of hearts, really only a few, so get out the heart punches or maybe use a different punch but remember it has to deal with Valentine's Day.

Another reminder as of the First of February the Shaker Box's own Chrisg will be doing the Monday/Greetings from the Heart sketches. I'm sure you are all aware of the beautiful LO sketches she does. After almost 3 years I decided some new blood was needed for the Creative Card Sketches. I have loved doing it and will still be active at The Shaker Box.

Have a great week and don't forget to post those cards!

Introducing Our Newest CT

The announcement has finally been made for who our newest Digital Creative Team Members are!

Head over to our forums and say hello if you haven't already to:

Chris (Chrisgr), Kate (Kateypie), Jen (Jenbalding), and Cheryl (Gonewiththewind)

Congrats and welcome ladies!

Inpire Me Challenge!

I was inspired this week by last years Autumn Leaves Designing With Calendar...Nov. 15th page to be exact!! I copied the example and made a doorhanger for my girlfriend, but this technique can be used for cards, layouts...you name it!! Here is my EXAMPLE!

Don't miss out on the fun we will be having over at The Shaker Box from January 18th to the 22nd! It's an online crop full of fun challenges, classes and games! Visit us here.

Doodlerific!

Yes! It's "doodlerific" over at The Shaker Box! We've introduced our new CT members and the creativity continues to build!

For this week's Do-it Digi Challenge we are doodling on our layouts. There are lots of doodles out there or you can draw your own (you can use your mouse or tablet or draw on paper and scan). Use only photos and doodling for your layout (a background paper is optional).

Ready? A doodle doodle doodle, a doodle doodle doodle...

Have fun with it - I can't wait to see what you create! Be sure to share your layout in the gallery at The Shaker Box.

More projects with the December kit

The kit was perfect for a snow layout. I used the piant from the kit to add a frosty look to my clear embellishments.



A close up view of the painted letters. Looks so frosty!



Clear and metal embellishments and journal stamp are from my stash.

If you have some extra time and like hand stitching then this technique is for you. I attached the felt trim with the floss using multiple french knots.



A close up view of the hand stitching.

Stamp and ink are from my stash.

I finally scrapped!

yep . . . can you believe it? and I'm updating this blog as well. (Deep breaths . . slow breaths. . . grab the nearest bag and breath in your nose. . out your mouth) Yes, it is quite amazing.

Well let me show you what I've been working on! We have this fantabulous new kit that started shipping Dec. 15th and it is JAMMED packed with Rhonna Farrer's Xmas paper. YUMMO!!!!

Here is a little peak at the kit contents:

This kit is really something and if you are a subscriber . . it's only $23.99!!! Check it out by visiting the Shaker Box online store.

------------------

Ok enough advertising, here is the best part. I've started taking Shimelle's Xmas Journal. I know it is way late but I actually planned on doing an early journal for next year. This Xmas was just so great however, that I wanted to document it.

Sooooooo . . without further ado. . . here are my first 2 pages.

The X in this page has some of the wonderful snow-tex on it! So fun to use and it really makes the letter look like it was covered in white fluffy goodness.

These pages were made mostly of the Dec.. Shaker kit with a few other extra embellishments thrown in.

I can't tell you how happy it makes me to be finally scrapping again. The old kitchen table we had that is now down in my scraproom has been marvelous and I think has actually help me find my scrappy mojo!

Thanks for looking everybody! I promise the posts won't be so few and far and between.

Oh and don't forget to stop by theshakerbox.com next week for our CROP!!!

Do-it Digi at The Shaker!

I'm so excited that we will be welcoming in our new CT members at The Shaker Box! Lots of fun and inspiration to come! I am also excited to find out who our January digi sponsor is!

I almost forgot that today is Wednesday! That means it's time for the weekly Do-it Digi challenge!

Now that the holidays are officially over and we can get back into a routine, share your favorite Christmas gifts or holiday memories. Photos are optional, but you should use ribbon and some bling (journaling of course). You'll find examples in the gallery at The Shaker Box - come on over and check them out - post your layout while you're at it!