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A blog for scrapbooking and crafting enthusiasts brought to you by the fine folks at
Scrapbook Trends, CARDS, and Simply Handmade magazines.
Archive for June, 2010
June 30th, 2010 
July Sneak Peek
I am so excited to introduce you to our July issue of CARDS Magazine! I know I say it every month, but this is my favorite issue yet. It could be that the cover features my favorite color, yellow. Or maybe it is because the issue is jam-packed with everything wedding, including a wedding, bridal shower and wedding announcement section. It also could have something to do with the BBQ section since barbeque’s are one of my things about summer.
The July issue features the following card sections: Wedding, Money Holders, Chipboard, Bridal Shower Invitations, Home Sweet Home, Wedding Announcements, Jewels, BBQ Invitations and Fast & Fabulous. July also features some wonderful articles, including our new-and-improved Ultimate Card Class. (You are seriously NOT going to want to miss that!)
Our submitters are amazing, and this month is no exception. Thank you all for sharing your fabulous card-making skills with us. And, for all of you who haven’t tried submitting to CARDS, please do! I know from the many hours and hundreds of blogs I’ve blog-spotted that there is some major talent out there that needs to be discovered and published!
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Hannah Craner
WOW #51: Using a digital pencil for framing
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My kids were practically born with pencils in their hands. From the time they could hold a drawing tool in their hands, they have been doodling. One thing I love about digital scrapbooking is that if I can do it manually, then I can do digitally. Today I’d like to show you how to use a digital pencil to create a frame.
You will need your digital editing program and you will need your manual for the program to both locate the digital pencil tool and understand how it functions.
Step 1: Because I want to frame a photo, I first open a photo on a new document in my photo editing program. (I’m using Adobe Photoshop CS4).
Step 2: Now I open up a photo and drag onto my document.
Step 3: Now I select the pencil tool from the left side of the screen.
Step 4: The pencil tool in my program is adjustable, meaning–I can make the pencil line as thick or as thin as I would like. I adjust my pencil by using the brush drop-down menu. (Become familiar with your program’s drawing tool options to see if you can adjust the thickness of your pencil as well.)
Step 5: I am going to select a starting point just outside the upper left corner of my photo. Because I want straight lines, I will hold down the shift key and select the next point which will be the bottom left corner of the photo. My photo editing program connects the two dots with a straight line if I have lined them up correctly (read your manual for how best to accomplish straight lines). I continue my lines by simply placing the pencil at each corner of the photo and then back to the starting point.
NOTE: Having trouble creating a perfect line? Turn on your grid by selecting “View,” “Show,” and “Grid.” Follow the same instructions to turn off the grid.
Step 6: This creates a perfect rectangle.
In my sample below, the photos were framed in the template I selected. I could easily add additional framing or change the color of the frame for a completely new look.
(Supplies: Staples and Book paper by Michelle Underwood from the “Trendy” kit for www.twopeasinabucket.com; Linen Paper by Crystal Wilkerson from the “November Paper” kit for www.jessicasprague.com; Scallops border brush by Rhonna Farrer from the “Artsy Edged Punches” for www.twopeasinabucket (discontinued); Poppy, Green Dot, Brown Solid and Alphabet from the “Happy Go Lucky” kit from www.shabbyprincess.com; Stitches by Michelle Underwood from the “Beautiful Ending” kit for www.twopeasinabucket.com; Tan dot paper by Crystal Wilkerson from the “Color Me Happy” kit for www.jessicasprague.com; 3-14-10 Web Inspiration Template by Katie Pertiet for www.designerdigitals.com)
If you want to try this tutorial but aren’t ready to tackle it digitally, you can recreate the same look with a pen and a ruler. I love how a simple pen frame centers the eye on a photo. I’d love to see how you’ve used your digital drawing tools. Of if you use a different program than Adobe CS4, please share your tips and tricks with our readers on how to use your particular drawing tool (be sure to list the program that you use and the tip for using digital pencils).
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Jen Gallacher
Star Spangled Banner & Americana Lollies
For those of you that will be celebrating the great US of A this weekend, we’ve spotted some fun projects over on Hilary Kanwischer’s blog. Show your patriotic spirit with a Star Spangled Banner of your own — Hilary gives instructions and detailed photos.
Hilary also has some fun 4th of July lollipops, in the same style as her famous (seriously) Halloween & Christmas pops. They look good enough to eat, so you’d best keep the corn-on-the-cob and watermelon wedges coming to avoid temptation.
Sprinkle a little Americana around this week and enjoy your summer celebrations!
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Amy Noorda
Challenge: Show Me Something Round!
I am drawn to basic shapes. Perhaps it’s because I have a freshly graduated first grader, but I love squares, rectangles, and especially circles. Circles on a layout give the project motion. They can be found in products such as buttons, brads, and tags. They can be found in stamped images, as a background on a pattern paper. You can even create them digitally or through a die cut machine or a punch.
This week I’d like to challenge you to add a circle to your project. Now that’s not hard at all is it?!
Here is my project using a digital template from Vinnie Pearce:
(Supplies: Bonus Template by Vinnie Pearce from the “Give Me Templates Pack 2″ kit for www.twopeasinabucket.com; yellow paper, cloud paper, dot paper by Vinnie Pearce from the “Toy Box Papers” kit for www.twopeasinabucket.com; red solid paper by Michelle Underwood from the “Vintage Holiday Memories Solid Papers” kit for www.twopeasinabucket.com; stitching by Carina Gardner from the “Element-ary Stitches” kit for www.twopeasinabucket.com; Bunting Rub-on with White Stitching by Vinnie Pearce from the “Toy Box Elements” kit for www.twopeasinabucket.com; Vintage Typewriter font from www.scrapvillage.com)
CHALLENGE: To be included in the random drawing for this challenge, simply create a card or layout or project that contains a circle. Take a photo of it or scan it and then upload it to your favorite online gallery. Then simply link us to your project within the comments section below. One winner will be selected to receive a prize package from our fabulous sponsors. If an international winner is selected, the winner will be awarded an online download of one of our great magazines! All entries must be posted by Sunday, July 4 by midnight MST to be included in the drawing.
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Jen Gallacher
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