FABulous Scrappin

Playing in PSE

 It's been a busy past couple of days around our house.  My sister and family came down for a visit and well, we never sit still with three kids running around.  We went to Legoland and Disneyland back to back days.  I've had my exersice for the year.  :)

In the mist of all of this fun fun fun I have been playing with Photo Shop Elements (PSE).  I finally got Photoshop and am still learning all of the tricks.   

I added some rounded corners to this photo.  You can find the tutorial I used here.

I think it's going to take me a long time to learn PSE, but it will be a fun process.  If you have any favorite tutorials or Photoshop functions please let me know.  :)

Digi Scrappin

I've mentioned before that not all people scrapbook with paper, some are all digital and some are a hybrid of traditional and digital.  I'm a "traditional" or paper person.  But..... (There's always a "but", isn't there?)  I recently got Photo Shop Element (PSE) and am loving all it can do.  I stay up at night an surf the web for fun tutorials on how to do... everything.

This week, Ali Edwards posted a video tutorial on how to use her digital elements in PSE.  I thought, what the heck.  I'll give it a try.  And here's what I created.

I purchased the digital journalling tag and then added in the text.  If I decide to use this on a page, I would then print this out and adhere.  Pretty simple.

This may be a super simple Photo Shop trick, but for a beginner like me it took a little time.  I'm really proud of myself.  :)

After playing with the above tag for a while, I wasn't sure I liked the different fonts and colors, so I tried this one. 

I think I like the second one better.

I'm really liking these journalling tags and can see me using them quite a bit.  They work for me since I don't usually hand write directly on my pages.

Happy Scrappin!

Scrap Otaku

I'm thinking of changing my blog name to Scrap Otaku.  Otaku means "nerd" in Japanese.  No, I don't speak Japanese, but my dear sis is obsessed with Japanese Quilting and her blog is actually called Quilt Otaku.

The reason for my otaku-ness is my new scrappy love, Japanese Washi PaperTape.  

Isn't this stuff beautiful?!!From HappyTape.com

It's sorta like colored masking tape.  Oh, how I love it!  I've seen it on the web, but got my hands on a few rolls in my last Studio Calico kit and now that I've used it, well, I am totally hooked.  

It looks beautiful on layouts, but you could use it on so much more.  I'll never use a piece of boring scotch tape again.  All gifts will be put together with washi tape from now on!  (I think I may be a little obsessed.)

Check out these two sites and I think you'll be hooked too.  

(Happy Tape and  UGUiSU on Etsy)

Happy Scrappin!

Scrapbook Trends Magazine

 

I received my first issue of Scrapbook Trends magazine in the mail yesterday and well, I didn't waste any time.  I read the entire thing last night.  

It's a fun issue with lots of great ideas.  The best part, in my opinion, is the photography.  I love how they showcase one layout per page and they take a clever picture of the layout.  Some layouts are at the beach or in the grass.  It's super cute.

If you want to check out the magazine you can download one issue for free.  Go hereif interested.

Happy Scrappin!

Letter to Your Children

 

Well, Mother's Day is over and with it another letter is written.

Every year, since I was pregnant, I write my daughter a letter around Mother's Day.  I write about what is going on in our lives, what she is doing, how big she is, what our vacations are for the year, what it is like to be her Mommy...  I really just right whatever pops into my head at the time.  

I plan to save these letters and give them to her when she is an adult.  (Not exactly sure when, but I'm sure I'll know the right time when it comes.)  

The first year I wrote this letter, I didn't even know my daughter's name. (I was only 5 months pregnant.)  My letter consisted mostly of comments about my pregnancy, morning sickness and wanting to meet her.  This year's letter is so different.  I wrote about loving being her Stay At Home Mom and all of the fun Mommy and Me classes we take.  It's amazing how different our lives are in just two short years.  (I write on a card or stationary, but never seal the envelopes.  This way I can go back and read my letters whenever I want.)

So I encourage all of you to write a letter to your kid/kids sometime this month.  You don't have to have fancy paper, just grab a piece of computer paper and give it a go.  Mother's Day is all about you right, so give a little back.  Tell them what life is like for them and you right now.  Think of how much they will love reading these letters in 20 years.  

If you don't have kids... yet, don't let that stop you.  Write a letter to yourself about what you love in you day today, or your hopes and dreams for tomorrow.  If your kids are already adults, great!  Write a letter and mail it to them now.  You're lucky and don't have to wait to give it to them.  :)  

I love technology and am addicted to e-mail, but there is something to be said about snail mail.  I can't remember the last time I got a real letter in the mail...

Date Stamp

This is my new favorite find!

As I've mentioned before, I can't stand my handwriting and as a result I often have a scrapbook page almost finished, but need to print the journalling or add a date to the page.  The layout will end up sitting out for weeks waiting for one last detail to be finished.

Last week while at a local office supply store I found this cute date stamp.  It is fabulous!  You just turn the wheels, set the date and stamp it right onto your page.  (Only problem is that the year starts at 2010, so I guess I won't be using this on old pages.)  Still, it's a great find!

I also love the look of the date when stamped.  It's never perfectly lined up and I like that.  It feels more personal to me.  

I used to work at a bank where we used these all of the time, so it's an added fun reminder of a college job.  :)

Oh, and the price is so right.  Under 5 bucks!  You can't beat that for a must have scrap tool.

Happy Scrappin!!

Free Font Fridays

 

Scrapbooking has made me realize something about myself... I HATE my handwriting.  I see other designer's layouts with their own handwriting on their pages and I love it.  It looks and feels so personal.  It adds a certain flow to the page.  That said I can't do it.  I've tried and I just hate, hate, hate my writing.  

I've tried printing.  I've tried cursive.  I've tried some combination of both.  I've even tried to copy a font I like through Word, but I'm never satisfied.  It's an embarrassing trait of mine, that I'm not proud of, and it's always been this way.  

I remember in high school writing notes to my friends during class and having them look at my note with a blank stair because they were illegible.  Sad...

On the bright side, journalling on a scrap page does not have to be hand written and there are some amazing fonts out there.  You can purchase fonts, but I've found some great free fonts at the Creative Keepsakes website.  They offer a free font every Friday, called Free Font Friday.  (Appropriate, huh!)

The above pictured font is CK Ali's Handwriting.  Clink on the link and you can download it for your own pages.  :)

I like the CK Ali, but use many of their different fonts depending on my mood and that of the layout I'm working on.  

Yes, it does take me longer to complete a page, but in the end if I'm happy with my result then it's all worth it!

Happy Scrappin!