Simple Photo Layout - Do It Digi Wednesday 10/15/08

Lisa on the Digi Creative Team here with today's Do It Digi Wednesday.

Create a simple layout. Find a picture without a person in it and create that layout with journaling to challenge the reader's thoughts.


Here's my layout.........thanks for looking in advance.

Credit-Cinda right here at The Shaker Box- September 08 Digi Kit:Spring, Summer, FallSpring, Summer, Fall

Make sure you post your layout in the Shakin' Challenges HERE with a link back to the forum HERE.

DO IT DIGI WED - JOURNALING BLOCK ON BLURRED PHOTO

Your challenge this week is to create a journaling block on a blurred area of a photo. Sometimes (this happens to me a lot - LOL), the blurred area is already there on my photo, but sometimes I have a crisp photo with extra areas that are just begging to be blurred and used as a journaling or title block.

I followed a tutorial by Jessica Sprague. Her step-by-step instructions were so easy to follow for Photoshop Elements, but I'm sure the directions could be easily converted to your digital program of choice. Check it out here: JESSICA SPRAGUE TUTORIAL

This is the page that I made following the technique.

Make sure to post your layout in the Shakin' Challenges Gallery HERE and link back to the forum so we make sure we see your creation!

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

FILLING TYPE, DO IT DIGI WEDNESDAY 7/23/08

Hi everyone!

Ready for a new digi challenge?

There are some incredible alphas out there ready to use, but sometimes a layout needs that little punch of something extra. This week, I'm challenging you to use a font "filled" with paper (patterned or solid), something that really coordinates with your photo and the papers and elements you've so carefully chosen to tell your story.

Jessica Sprague has a tutorial HERE, but you can also use a clipping mask if you want to quickly merge the font and paper together without the stroke edge on the paper filled font.

You hybrid gals or traditional scrapbookers can take advantage of this technique as well. Let's see what you can do!

Remember to post your layouts in the Shakin' Challenges Gallery with a link back to this thread so we can leave you some luvin'!

DO IT DIGI WEDNESDAY - DROP SHADOWS ON ACRYLIC

Digital acrylic alphas and elements are HOT right now and Jessica Sprague has a great PSE tutorial for adding drop shadows to those elements.

Here is the link to her tutorial: http://spraguelab.squarespace.com/blog/2008/4/21/photoshop-friday-on-mondayd-dropshadows-on-acrylic-d.html. When you follow the link, you will notice that there is another link in the tutorial to download an acrylic alpha made by Meredith Fenwick. If you don't already have an acrylic alpha or elements, this would be good to grab as it's so cute - and makes it easy to follow along with the tutorial.

So your challenge this week is to create a page using an acrylic alpha or element . . . try out that tutorial on drop shadows, too!

Here are a couple of pages I've done recently using acrylic elements and alphas:

LINK TO THE SHAKER BOX GALLERY FOR LAYOUT CREDITS

LINK TO THE SHAKER BOX GALLERY FOR LAYOUT CREDITS

CROPPING PHOTOS AT ANGLES - DO IT DIGI WED 5/28/08

This week we are going to focus on our photos. The beauty of digi scrapping is that we can do all kinds of photo editing and enhancements. Everyday photos can take on the attributes of extraordinary photography with different techniques, and a really cool way to do that is to crop your photo at an angle.

Here is a great tutorial for taking a regular photo and making it into a cropped photo at an angle: http://spraguelab.squarespace.com/blog/2007/3/11/photoshop-fridayish.html

Here is my original photo that I started with:
And here is my layout with the cropped photo at an angle (which I did by following the above tutorial):
I really feel like the focus of the photo completely changed when I first cropped the photo, but when I cropped it with the angle . . . it just added an additional element of fun.

Let's see what you can do this week with this technique. Traditional paper scrappers could find that this method would be effective with manual turning and cutting of photos as well - so join with us!

Make sure to post your layouts in the Shakin' Challenges Gallery HERE with a link back to the thread in the forum.

Have fun!

Time for a Little Digi

The April kit is GORGEOUS and there are two coordinating digi add-ons to help you increase the versitility of your kit!

Here is Arts & Crafts
























It's time for another Do-it Digi Challenge. No "paper look" with this challenge - that means no layered paper, frames, ribbons, eyelets, flowers etc. Just your photo(s) - maybe blended into your background - maybe some brushwork and text. Let your photo(s) really shine! Be creative and have fun with it! Be sure to share your layout in the gallery at The Shaker Box - yours just might be our next Layout of the Day!

Just wait until you see who our digital sponsor is for the month of May!!!

GOING GREEN - DO IT DIGI WEDNESDAY 4/23/08

So yesterday was the official Earth Day . . . and there's been lots of buzz about conserving not only energy but resources and coming up with clever ways to recycle and reuse. We can see the trend in scrapbooking with digi scrappers and traditional scrappers alike looking to hybrid projects and reworking lots of regular items into a new and beautiful purpose.

So my question is: what are you doing now, in your home, with your family in your community organizations or churches, in the school systems, to make "going green" a reality? I have to admit, this isn't my strong point. However, our family has a little garden plot and have planted peppers and tomatoes. We repurposed some older lumber to create our garden box, and while that doesn't seem like much, knowing that we were able to make it with materials we already have, and that we will have an abundant crop of FREE fresh produce that we like to eat frequently is just another wonderful bonus.

I know, I'm long-winded today. What I'm looking for this week is for you to scrap a layout about the efforts you are making - big or small . . . or showing off a hybrid project . . . or for the traditional scrappers who join in with us, using up products that they already have in their scrapping collection. I'm leaving this open to interpretation - just go play, and post your project in the Shakin' Challenges/Do It Digi Challenges part of the gallery.

Do-it Digi at The Shaker!

For this challenge I want you to blend at least one of your photographs into your background paper.

Look for a paper that blends with the background of your photo or recolor your photo to blend with a paper. You might try playing with the blending modes or the opacity on your photo. You might also want to use a soft or grungy brush as an eraser to blend the edges of your photo into the paper.

Here is one of my recent examples:























See The Shaker Box gallery for credits.

Have fun with this! I can't wait to see what artwork you create!

Speaking of digi, don't forget the exclusives this month at The Shaker Box from Mad Scrapper Designs, Robin Blankenship! There is her gorgeous In the Garden kit (our Creative Team has had lots of fun with this one)! There is also a quick cards freebie that Robin created with her In the Garden kit. Grab it while you can!

DO IT DIGI WEDNESDAY - GLOWING PHOTOS

There are numerous actions available to alter your photos before placing them on your layouts. I found a great tutorial by Jessica Sprague and I thought it would be fun to try enhancing a photo (or photos) today! This will be great for traditional scrappers to add a little something extra to their paper pages as well.

Here is the tutorial: JESSICA SPRAGUE'S PHOTOSHOP FRIDAY. I'm not familiar with other software programs to provide additional directions, but I hope that an Internet search or other digi scrappers here can provide additional assistance to those using other programs.

This is my layout:
LINK TO THE SHAKER BOX GALLERY FOR LAYOUT CREDITS

I followed the instructions in the tutorial, but what I ended up with was a combination of the medium and dramatic effects. I just kept adjusting until the photo "looked right" to me.

I hope you have fun . . . remember to post your layouts in the Shakin' Challenges Gallery HERE.

Wow Wednesday!

So much going on at The Shaker Box! Where to I begin?!

We have just introduced four new members to our Creative Team - stop by and welcome Gina, Amber, Dee and Lisamarie!

As if there aren't already enough challenges with our Spring Fling crop, it's time for Wednesday's Do-it Digi challenge! Some of you were having a good time yesterday with April Fools jokes. Share a good April Fools joke, about your April Fools day in general, about your favorite jokester or just a funny story. Make the layout full of fun embellishments so it helps tell the story. Laughter is good medicine! I can't wait to see your layouts in The Shaker Box gallery!

Our digital sponsor this month is Robin Blankenship, Mad Scrapper Designs and I love the colors of her In the Garden kit - EXCLUSIVELY AT THE SHAKER BOX!























This week you can get the chance to chat with Robin at The Shaker Box - today at 1:00 PM EST and tomorrow at 9:00 PM EST. I hope you can join us!

DO IT DIGI WEDNESDAY - BLURRED

Your digital challenge for this week is to take a photo and blur a portion of your photo. And for paper scrappers joining in on this challenge, simply use a photo that is already blurred (that you might not normally use).

On my photo, I targeted my son's image using the lasso tool. I copied and pasted right on top of the photo. I then returned to the original photo and applied blurring filters (I used radial, motion and Gaussian blurs) to alter the background behind my son's image. I did some final blending with the layer image of my son on top of the original photo.

To view credits for my layout, CLICK HERE. Remember to post your layouts in the Shakin' Challenges Gallery HERE. Looking forward to seeing what you create in the gallery!

Around the Edges

The calendar says that spring is almost here. Flowers are coming up in Ohio. The rain has arrived and formed large puddles everywhere. But there is still a little snow "around the edges".

For this week's Do-it Digi challenge you need to journal around the edges of something in your layout. It could be the layout itself, a person or object in a photo, a photo, frame, or any other embellishment.

As always, traditional scrappers are welcome to play along!

Here is my example:
























For credits visit the gallery at The Shaker Box.

CHARMED, I'M SURE! - DO IT DIGI WEDNESDAY

This week, your digi challenge is to hang charms or other items in your layout. It can be a time-consuming process to make an element appear to realistic "hang" in a digital layout, but one that is well worth it in the end result. Let's see how many charms or other embellishments you can "hang" in your page this week.

Here is my page with a few charms to give you an idea. Also note the cording and pin that are hanging from the frame.

TO VIEW CREDITS ~ CLICK HERE

Make sure you post your layouts in the SHAKIN' CHALLENGES GALLERY so we can all view your works of art!

Do-it Digi at The Shaker!

March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb or vice versa. If you're in Ohio it's a bipolar lioness all month long (sorry, but it was 70 on Monday, 35 and raining on Tuesday, snow on the ground this morning)!

Create a layout of your favorite animal - your pet or your favorite zoo animal. Focus your journaling on the animal's personality. Make the elements in your layout convey the personality of the animal.

Here is mine:
























Papers from Swept Away from Scraps by Jenn. Photo overlay is from Royal Ripples of Love from Digital Compilations by Cinda. You can find both digital kit add-ons on sale now at The Shaker Box! Dry Brush Alpha is by Weeds & Wildflowers. Font is Footlight MT Light. Be sure to post your creation in the gallery at The Shaker Box!

MARKING TIME - Do It Digi Wednesday 2/27/08

Spring is only a few short weeks away. How are you passing the time until the magic day arrives? I know that a good Spring cleaning always helps make the time pass.
Create a LO using papers and elements showing time - clocks, numbers, watches, items lined up in a row, or a progression of photos showing the passage of time. Think about how you pass time, what you are waiting for, and how you make that time pass. You could focus on the weeks of a pregnancy or the days leading up to an important birthday or other celebration.

My daughter desperately wants a Maltese puppy, and has begged for one for the past three years. We have a cat that is 7 years old, and Olivia often forgets to feed or water the cat unless she is reminded. We keep telling her that when she grows older, becomes more mature, and accepts responsibility, we will grant her wish. Until then, she's waiting for her special little puppy. I created this LO to print out for her to remind her of her wish and maybe by looking at this sweet puppy's face, will encourage her to be more responsible with the pet we already have.

For full credits, please click here: WAITING

There are so many things we do each and every day to mark the passage of time . . . including our own craft of scrapbooking. I look forward to seeing what each of you does with your time! Remember to post your layouts in the SHAKIN' CHALLENGES GALLERY.

Spring Fashions - Do-it Digi 2/20/2008

Looking out the window, I dread going outside - it's snowing and freezing - I can only hang onto the fact that spring is coming - (not soon enough)!

Now that I'm a mom I'm not much up on fashion (my body doesn't look so cute in much of it and I don't often buy stuff for me). Inspired by an ad I received in my inbox from Piperlime. They showed a rainbow of shoes. It made me think about my shoes in high school. I had a red pair, a green pair and a purple pair of flats. Don't you often wish you had taken pictures of some of the things you had when you were growing up? Reminisce about those things (if you still have some of them - pull them out and show us) or take pictures of some of your kid's favorite things right now.

Post your layout in The Shaker Box gallery and you just might win our Layout of the Week contest!

GET READY TO FLY - Do It Digi Wednesday

What better way to prepare for the upcoming DAY OF LOVE, Valentine's Day, than creating a layout, card, or altered art object featuring wings. Think fat little cherubs, wispy butterflies, the outstretched wings of a bird. Of course, a little red and pink and maybe a few hearts to accompany those wings wouldn't hurt! Use brushes, elements, or papers . . . just use your imagination and take flight!


The layout I chose to do is focusing yet again on my never-ending journey towards self-acceptance. It's all about love. Realizing I am something, even if I'm not everything.
You can view full credits for the layout HERE and while you are in the gallery, check out the other Shakin' Challenge layouts as well.

Looking forward to seeing how each of you soars.

Let them know your heart!

It's Wednesday again already! That means it's time for another Do-it Digi Challenge at The Shaker Box.

This week create a layout for someone special. For the journaling, tell them what it is you love about them. You must journal in your own handwriting. If you haven't already had your handwriting made into a font, I highly recommend it, but you can also write out your journaling and scan it.

Here are a couple of examples from the gallery today:

Come on over to The Shaker Box to see credits and to post your own layout! You never know, your layout might just become the layout of the week!

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