Sunday Sketch - 9/28/08

This weeks sketch comes to us from Pencil Lines. It is sketch #102 and Christine Middlecamp is the creator. You can check them out at www.pencillines.com.

Be sure to check them out and leave them some Shaker love along with a link to your layout. Link back here so we can leave you some love too!

Converting Black and White Photos

Have you ever wanted to use some photos on a layout, but couldn't because the colors in the photo didn't go with the colors of the paper and embellishments? Have you ever considered converting your photos to black and white? I did when I created the layout below using the Little Boy Blue Scrapbook Kit from Picture it Made. Although the company is no longer in business, I wanted to share some directions on converting a photo to black and white.



I wanted to use the original photo for this layout, but the original had colors in it that didn't work well with the kit. So I decided to convert it to black and white. This can be done in most editing software programs. I converted mine using Adobe Photoshop Elements 5. Here are the steps below:


Photoshop Elements 5

Open Photoshop Elements.

Click on Edit and Enhance.

Click on File, then open, and choose the photo you want to edit.

Once the photo is opened, click on enhance.

Click on convert to black and white.

Click save as and type a name for your black and white photo.

Then you are ready to print your photo.

Microsoft Word
You can also use Microsoft Word to convert your photo to black and white.
Open Microsoft Word.
Insert your picture through the Insert Menu/Picture/From File.
Select the picture with one click.
Choose the Format Menu.
Select Picture.
Select the Picture Tab.
Choose the color drop down arrow from Image Control.
Select Grayscale.
Click on OK.

Give it a try on your next layout!

Inspire Me Thursday - 9/26/08

Think about how many "hats" you wear during your week. I know that mine is "mom, wife, driver, cook, problem solver, etc".

My challenge is to you is to let the hat above inspire you to create a layout featuring your many "hats" that you wear during the week.

Have You Ever Tried a Digital Hybrid Layout?

I created this over the weekend using the September digital add on kit created by Jenn and Linda’s September kit. If you haven’t tried Linda’s kits you just have to. They are packed full of paper and embellishments for several layouts. I started out with a simple digital layout I created in Photoshop Elements 6.0 using the September Add on created by Jenn.

Then I printed it on matte photo paper. I used some cardstock from the September kit, corrugated cardboard, black paint from Making Memories, and my daughter’s trucks to make the tire tracks. After creating the tire tracks I let it dry and then placed the print out of the digital layout on the brown cardstock. Next I placed the elements on the page using adhesive. Embellishments were also used from the September kit. I created the arrow using cardstock from the kit. I also thought the corrugated paper would go well with this. Digital Hybrid Scrapbooking is very easy. You can start with a simple layout and use all kinds of materials to finish it. It is absolutely the best of both worlds!

Challenge: Try creating a digital hybrid layout. You will definitely be surprised at how easy it is.

Sunday Sketch - 9/21/08

This weeks sketch comes to us from Allison Cope at So Sketchy! You can find her at www.sosketchy.blogspot.com.

Be sure to drop in to tell her "hello" and then link your layouts back so that we can leave you Shaker love!

Inspiration Challenge - 9/18/08

As I rejoin the real world...I want color, flowers, things that make me happy. No more gray, brown and blah...for me.

This week for my Inspiration Challenge - I am posting an ad from the magazine the gym I belong to sends out. I know that I have summer photos that are waiting to scrap that has all these colors, then I have my roses that I am very grateful that made it thru the storm (I already have a rose-deformed but I have one and its beautiful) that can be represented thru the flowers and the rainbow that gives us hope that it really will be okay and we will find that pot of gold one day if we haven't already.

9/7/08 - Sunday Sketch Challenge

This sketch is from Julie Bonner @ 52 Sketches. Every week she posts an original sketch and everyone who submits their layout gets put into a drawing for some great prizes!

You can check her out at: http://www.juliebonner.typepad.com/52_sketches_52_weeks/

Link your layouts back to here and then also send her a link to your layout to show your Shaker love.

09/04/08 - Inspire Me Challenge

I ran across this the other day on http://www.dphotojournal.com/ and I love the way the colors all work together even though they are at different times during the day, how it is a layout from someone who isn't a necessarily a scrapper and how it is something that we see everyday.

How does this inspire you? Is it the colors, the placement of the photos, or the photos in general?



Link your layouts back to here and tell in what way this inspired you and your name will go in the hat for a RAK from me. The drawing will be held on September 10th in the evening.

Blending ~ Do It Digi Challenge 9/3/08

This week's challenge is to incorporate blending into your layouts. You can focus on blending with your photograph, papers or elements.

In the following page, you will see that I blended my photographs in two separate ways. I've set one photograph to overlay and made it a larger accent for the background, and the smaller photo I converted to black and white and then blended with a blue background paper, using the overlay and color burn options for layers. In addition to that, I blended two background papers in the center to make the colors pop a little bit more. I didn't do it on this particular layout, but sometimes I'll duplicate layers, like the birds and the leaves and then set to overlay to make the colors more vivid.

Experiment with your digi program, and let's see some blending this week. Be sure to post your layout to the Shakin' Challenges Gallery and link back here so we can ooh and aah over your page!

CLICK here FOR layout CREDITS

Sneak Peak at the September Kit - Digital Add On!

I just finished playing with the digital add on created by Stacey for the September kit and I just had to share what I created! Every month there are 3 digital add ons created by our own designers.

I am fairly new at this hybrid scrapbooking but it is so fun and easy to do! Try one of the digital add ons with your next kit! You can print the patterned paper and paper elements on your printer. Then incorporate it in your next layout, card, or project. If you have any questions please ask in the forum. There are plenty of people willing to share their ideas!
Carole