Belle Papier {pretty paper}

It’s Thursday and time for another Ways to Use it Challenge on Splitcoaststampers.com This week I have a challenge for you that you can all play. How do I know? The challenge is to use that piece of equipment you are using right now! The computer. Find ways to use it! Lately I’ve been seeing hybrid this and hybrid that popping up all over the place. Now you can jump in with both feet or just print out a sentiment..whatever your comfort level. Design a card digitally and then print it out and add embellishments if you wish. Print out a template to use for your project. Another cool idea is to make your own printed paper by typing out definitions etc and repeating them across the page. Whatever you decide…I hope you’ll decide to play along and have some fun! Check it out at WT156

Time to Reflect

The design I created the other day that inspired this challenge uses some digital patterned paper that I printed out. The new Prima Hybrid web-site had a lovely free downloadable kit and I thought I’d give it a whirl. I’ve used digital paper and elements before for digital scrapbooking but have never tried out printing the digital paper for a hybrid design. After opening my paper in Photoshop Elements, I simply printed off my paper.

Quick Tip: Want 6×6 paper for card designing? When you go to print your paper…simply scale your printing size to 50% and then print. I love how you get the perfect scaled size of paper you need! If you need a visual…check out the pic below. You can click on it if you need to enlarge it.

After printing off my digital paper…it was easy to make it into a card design. Yes that is stamping you see on top of the paper. I couldn’t resist stamping on it! You can still use your favorite techniques and mix it up. That’s why its called hybrid…a mixture. I used my Lined Paper Backgrounder stamp from Cornish Heritage Farms to add some interest and a journaling style block. On top of that stamp, I added in my sentiment, clock and some embellishments from the Time to Stamp set from The Rummage Bin line. Also on top of the clock…I stamped my French Script Backgrounder in Tattered Rose Distress ink to add to my vintage look.

My layout for this design is very loosely based on last weeks sketch by Di Hickman. I added some freestyle stitching up the sides instead of the scallops. A little out of my box again for this design. I’m having fun trying new things out!

Have a super day and I hope you’ll find some time to check out the challenge and maybe try something new as well!

Supply list:

Cardstock: Natural Smooth - Prism papers

patterned Paper: One Season (Digital) - Prima Hybrid

Stamps: Time to Stamp (The Rummage Bin line), Lined Paper Backgrounder - Cornish Heritage Farms

Ink: Burnt Umber Palette ink - Stewart Superior, Tattered Rose & Brushed Corduroy Distress inks - Ranger

Other: felt flowers and vintage lace(from paper kit) - Prima Marketing, ribbon - Creative Impressions, button - Autumn Leaves, brad - Karen Foster, rhinestone sticker - MAMBI, sewing machine

Wow! Where do the days go?! I created this design in August and STILL haven’t shared it here on my blog. So…if you need a little sunshine today…this is a digital layout I created of my littlest guy. I used the Better Homes and Gardens Ultimate Guide to Digital Scrapbooking as a great resource for trying out new things on this design. As a newbie digital scrapbooker…I found this invaluable! This design is originally created for a book review on it for Craft Critique. I wish I had more time…I’d love to do more of these fun designs. To create this design and to try out some of the new techniques I learned in this book, I learned to add digital brushes to create my own designer paper, apply drop shadows, mask off my own digital chipboard and cover it with digital paper. Sorry I can’ remember all the products I used with this design, but most of the digital elements are by Shabby Princess By the way…if you are interested in trying out free digital elements…Shabby Princess has an incredibly gorgeous new Harvest Spice collection…free for downloading for personal use on their web-site! Stay tuned as I know it is going to be popping up here in a design as soon as I get some time to play!

Journaling … like boys across the ages, summer brings the joy of warm sunny days, the feel of sand between your toes, the fascination of waves on the shore and the wonder that the world is yours to explore….

Very busy day today here….but I just couldn’t let the day go by without popping on and sharing something with you! I realized I haven’t shared all of my digital layouts with you and so, here is one of my favorites. It looks simple but uses level three techniques from the Ultimate Guide to Digital Scrapbooking in it. I love how the photographs fade one into the other… digital elements by www.shabbyprincess.com

Wow…those beautiful summer days seem so far away now. I treasure this photo I took of my oldest and youngest, together on the beach.

The journaling…

You are both so different, but at the same time, so much

the same. I love to see you together.

My oldest. My youngest.

Despite the age difference,

A special bond.

Wishing you a fabulous day! And I’ll be back tomorrow with a stamped card design. And don’t forget…if you haven’t entered already…just scroll down to see how you can enter to win the Make a Wish Stamps for a Cause set from Gina K.

Together

I’ve been so busy, I’ve totally forgotten to upload some of my digital designs! Actually I have a lot of designs queued up for posting, part of the problem is the time it takes to blog them all. The previous week, I was posting two entries a day and I’ll probably do that again this coming week, but right now, I’m spinning. So… no C’est Bon entry this Sunday as I just can’t do it. Sorry.

I’m hoping this digital layout will make you smile. This is my youngest little guy, Joshua this past summer. He is at the beach, actually on top of his father’s shoulders and just enjoying himself to the fullest.

Smiles

The digital elements for this design were all part of the down loadable kit that came with the Ultimate Guide to Digital Scrapbooking. This was a fantastic publication put out by Better Homes and Gardens….fabulous for the beginner and full of extra techniques and ideas for those who wanted to take it up a notch. The kits contains great digital papers and embellishments and I put together this design using a few of them in Photoshop Elements 5.0 This is a fabulous program for the money. Lots of cool effects. Hmmm…just talking about it makes me want to find some time to do some more. There is never enough time in the day, is there?! If you are interested into getting into digital scrapbooking it is super fun. There are loads of free digi downloads out there if you are just wanting to try it out. I’d also recommend picking up that magazine if you have a chance…it is well worth the money. If you are interested and missed my Craft Critique article, you can check it out at The Ultimate Guide to Digital Scrapbooking: A Book Review

Hope you are enjoying your Sunday! {{{{Hugs}}}}

Summer…it is my favorite time of year and wayyyy too short here in Canada. It is also one of the busiest times of the year for us as well and so I treasure every moment of it that I get. My favorite way to spend time in the summer is playing on the beach with my kids and sailing across Lake Huron. Of course…that is rare as I am usually the one of the beach with the kids. While on the beach, I usually have my camera on hand, making sure I can capture a special moment to cherish the rest of the year until we can make new ones on the beach again.

Sunshine

I’m on the beach again today so I just thought I’d take the time to share a digital design i created with some of my summer photos. Most of this designs was created from free digital kits by www.shabbyprincess.com in Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0. Sunshine title was from the free digital kit that came with the Ultimate Guide to Digital Scrapbooking. I’ve been learning so much from this publication! It is totally worth the investment, many times over! It is a Better Homesand Gardens special interest publication adn you can find it at craft stores or bookstores.

Have a wonderful summer day filled with Sunshine!

As promised….I finally got my {C’est Bon} article finished!!!

This week for my {C’est Bon} entry I thought I’d share something I’ve been having a little fun with lately! I’ve been having such a great time playing around with digital scrapbooking. Now, I’m definitely NOT an expert and these pages are just beginner but maybe it is something you may want to give a try!

I was first introduced to Shabby Princess on Beth’s Freckled Fun Blog. How cool I thought and of course, I just had to give it a try! It was a little frustrating I must admit while I learned a few basics, but oh so fun. The great thing about Shabby Princess is their free digital downloads! They are PERFECT for a beginner wanting to give it a try…no supply investment…just download and have some fun! If you do get addicted…LOTS more VERY cool digital kits available at their Shabby Shoppe.

Things I like about Shabby Princess…

• free digital downloads
• love the shabby style
• fun
• need help? Tutorials on site
• digital elements all work well from one kit to the next…combine them!
• you never run out of paper or embellies!
• Digital kits store on your computer…no more mess
• want more? Lots of new kits released for purchase
• there are even great digital goodies to designed for blog use!
• you don’t need to run out to the store!
• print out some of the paper or elements with a photo and use it for hybrid design
• template available for designing photo cards
• great newletter…make sure you sign up for it!
• gallery on-site for inspiration
• chat room

A few of my samples… go easy on me It takes a bit of practice!

(Click on pics to enlarge to see detail)

Joshua at the beach - uses Express Yourself Free Kit by Ronna Penner

Flowers are Beautiful - uses Shabby Mommy Free Digital Kit

Joy - uses Sun Porch Free Digital Kit by Amy Teets

Sooooooo…… does this mean I’ll be forsaking papercrafting?! Definitely not! But there is always room for new ideas, new projects, new designs…and this digi stuff is super fun! I just know you’ll be seeing more of it popping up in the future as the mood strikes!

Please note: I am not in any way affiliated with Shabby Princess. Just a happy newbie digi scrapper.

I designed a cute little “click on it thing a ma gig’ for Jacksonbelle’s ebay store for her! Very technical term, I know! Does anyone know the proper name for it? I am such a Tech-tard as JulieHRR would say! LOL  It is the little box down in my sidebar that says Jacksonbelle’s Embellishments. Just click on it and it will take you right to her store. I made it, one- to challenge myself and see if I could! ( you KNOW I love a challenge) and two - as a little thank you to my good friend Lindsey! Please note!!! I do not profit in any way from sales from Jacksonbelle’s ebay store! I don’t want you to get the wrong idea.;) Anyway…I think it is supercute and I was so tickled that I actually designed it and figured out the code…I just had to share! If you love Lindsey’s store too and want one…just let me know!

I also changed up my blog template….sigh….again! I loved!!! my banner but it just wasn’t working right now with the blog host software, so I went back to the daisy. The sidebar was driving me crazy with add-ins popping out of it all over the place! So now I am here with Misty Look! Not totally satisfied yet! Stay tuned for more upcoming template woes!

I just can’t stop playing with these Digi layouts! This is of Joshua and his favorite thing in the whole, wide world…his soothers! The title of this page is one of my DDteam friend’s stamping philosophy and blog name. This is for you, Jami! Now….don’t shoot me please, for taking a little stamping break. I’m still designing and believe it or not….you can digital STAMP! How cool is that? See the cool circular motifs over the design….they are digital stamps! Fun, huh? And my fingers are still clean! Don’t worry though….I’ll have inky fingers again before the night is out!

All the digital elements were downloaded from Shabby Princess. They have a fabulous selection of free downloads for you to play with. If you go ahead and try it out…drop me a line, an e-mail, a comment….something! I’d love to see!

Why didn’t anyone ever tell me this was so much fun?! My second digital design. This is Ben blowing out his candles at his fourth birthday in December. You just HAVE to try this out!

I can never resist trying out something new…well, design or craft-wise at any rate. If it has to do with heights…forget about it! I just couldn’t resist trying out some digital scrapbooking with this cool free download from Shabby Princess Designs. I saw it on Beth’s Freckled Fun blog and of course….just had to try it for myself. LOADS of fun, free, super cool and best of all…. NO MESS! Now this is just a quick, try-it-out layout…I’m sure I have lots to learn! Could this be the start of a new addiction?