DIY Hybrid Halloween Banner and Photoshop "clipping" tutorial

One of my favorite days of the week is Wednesday, because over at Jessica Sprague they have $1 and 50% sales on digital papers and elements. I am not affiliated with the site in any way, except as a shopper who loves getting a great deal on Echo Park, Pink Paislee and other trendy paper company designs.

I have a friend who really, really likes Halloween. She does a wonderful job decorating her home and gets everyone in the spooky spirit. I'm not so big on Halloween, but thought it would be fun to make her a little mantle banner for her fireplace using some of this week's $1 deals from the Echo Park "Chillingsworth Manor" collection.

As I've begun dabbling in digital one of my favorite tricks has been discovering the use of "clipping".  Nearly any digital element can be used to "cut" out the shape of your choice.

I created the pennants for my friend's banner using the following steps:

1. Open the pattern paper and resize it so that the print will be proportionate to your project. I wanted to make the pennants in my banner 4x6.

Select the Image drop down menu: Resize: Image Size.

Be sure that "contrain proportions" is not checked and enter the width and height you would like to use. I always set my resolution at 300.


2. Open the shaped element of your choice:

 HINT: In order to see the images side by side select the Windows drop menu, Images and Tile option.

3. Now using your mouse drag your paper on top of the shape you will be cutting.

Be sure that in your Layers Palette that your pattern paper is above the shape you will be cutting.

4. Press and hold the Alt key while positioning the pointer over the line dividing the two layers in the Layers palette (the pointer will change to two overlapping circles ) and click.

The technical term that Photoshop uses for this is "grouping with previous".  It can also be accomplished by going to the "layer" drop down menu and selecting "group with previous".

If this process doesn't work out, it is most likely because your layers are not in the correct order in your palette.

Now you can embellish your pennants as you wish.  I added a number of elements from the Echo Park Chillingsworth Manor collection.

I'll share the completed project with you in my next post,

InLinkz.com

Have a lovely day,

CarrieAnne

Hanging with Grandpa - Echo Park Digital Project Life Layout

Echo Park Digital Project Life Layout
Serendipitous Scrapper

Fall has descended in full force here in Northern Georgia. Drizzling rain, cool mornings and the first appearance of long sleeve shirts and jackets.

I've a fascination with photographing my kids from behind. Whether they are walking away holding hands, peering up at the sky or looking at animals with their Grandpa as in the attached layout I love seeing their different heights and interactions from an alternative perspective. You also never have to worry about them blinking!

Here is the second part of my 2 page Project Life spread using Echo Park digital products by Lori Whitlock.

One of the things I like about Project Life is the ability to capture stories and pictures about a variety of things in one layout. These photos were all taken at the Abe Lincoln National Boyhood historic site, but I was able to record a story regarding Reid's shoes, things my mom always does on vacation and my feelings about my big brother all in one layout.  In the past I would have done at least 4 layouts to cover these things and more likely than not they would not have gotten scrapped due to limited time. I like that I'm journaling and scrapping at the same time.

InLinkz.com


There are a bunch of new flowers in the works that I'm uploading to the shop and I'll show images and projects on the blog soon.

Have a great day,

CarrieAnne

Land of Lincoln - Digital Project Life Layout

Digital Project Life Layout - Land of Lincoln
Serendipitous Scrapper

Oh how I love, love, love Project Life - let me count the ways!  I especially have come to love it in digital format. Jessica Sprague had this Echo Park kit on sale for 25% off last week and I am planning on using the elements over and over again to scrap our Family Reunion Camping trip from this past Summer.

The ease of Project Life and affordability of digital just can't be beat when they are combined. When the album is all done, I'm going to purchase a copy for each family group that attended the campout for Christmas presents. This is soooo much faster and cheaper than replicating multiple albums traditionally.

I'm not breaking up with traditional paper crafting by any means, just keeping my options open for projects like this where I have a TON of photos and no time or $$$ to scrap them all old school.

This will eventually be a 2 page layout with both sides using Becky Higgins "Template A" format.

InLinkz.com

Thanks for stopping by,

CarrieAnne

Cricut Bird Banner Anniversary Card



"Give a Hoot" Anniversary Card

Today is my 11th Anniversary! It is hard to believe so much time has just flown by.  I made this card using the Cricut "Give a Hoot" cartridge for my hubby and then realized when I was done that it is just a bit too pink and girly. So I'll have to use it for a Valentine's Day card or some other occasion. This means I do have to get crackin' on a new card though and at least try to get it done before he gets home from work.

Recipe:
Cartridge: Cricut: Give a Hoot
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug: Textile Textures
Dies: Spellbinder; Nestabilities
Patterned Paper: Echo Park
Cardstock: Echo Park
Pearls: Recollections
Trim/Ribbon: May Arts
Dimensional Adhesive: Stampin' UP!
Adhesive: Beacon Adhesive ZipDry
Punch: Marvy Uchida
Rubon's: 7Gypsies

Cuts:
"Bird Banner" on page 43 of the "Give A Hoot Cartridge"
1. Cut at 1.5 inches from black damask patterned paper using "BrdBnner" cut.
2. Cut at 1.5 inches from black damask patterned paper using "BdBnnr-s" cut.
3. Cut at 1.5 inches from hot pink cardstock using "BrdBnner" cut.

Thanks for stopping by,

CarrieAnne

Batty about You

If you have ever been a fan of Christmas in July, perhaps you will also like Halloween in April!  Recently a number of online Scrapbook stores have seriously reduced the prices on last year's Halloween lines.Because I acknoweldge I have a papercrafting addicition, I know I need to feed it as cheaply as possible. This means I rarely buy a line when it is newly released, but I do go a bit nutty when it is cleareanced out. I just received all sorts of awesome Halloween products and just couldn't resist sharing a few projects I made from them throughout the rest of the month.

This little bat is from the Hello Kitty Greetings Cartridge - isn't he just the cutest! I love that this cartridge includes a number of shaped cards on it and the bat itself opens while the rosette is the card base.

Recipe:

Cartridges: Provo Craft: Hello Kitty Greetings, George Basic Shapes
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug: Textile Texture
Dies: Spellbinders: Nesting Scallop Circles
Patterned Paper: Echo Park Paper Co.: Happy Halloween
Pearls: Want 2 Scrap (Black)
Ink: VersaMark
Paper Piercer
Embroidery Floss: DMC (Black)
Adhesive: Stampin' UP!: Stampin' Dimensionals, Tombow: MonoAdhesive, Beacon Adhesive's ZipDry


How To's

1. Use the "Bat" cut on page 72 of the Hello Kitty Greetings Cartridge with the "Card" Function selected to cut hinged bat card from black cardstock at 4 1/4 inches.

2. Select the "Clothes/Clothes" function and  the "Bat" cut and cut the black layer pieces out from black cardstock at 4 1/4 inches.

3. Use the Cuttlebug Textile Texture embossing folder to emboss all of the layer pieces cut in step 2.

4. Ink the edges of the wing and feet embossed pieces with VersaMark ink and adhere to bat card base.

5. Adhere a piece of patterned purple paper between the eye holes of the bat head.

6. Layer the bat's head over the belly layer piece and add interest by using dimensional adhesive.


5. Remove the remaining black card base border around the head with scissors as seen in pictures so that the head is the only portion of the bat without a solid black outline of cardstock around it.

6. Use a paper piercer to punch a border of holes around the wings and feet.

7. Embellish bat head with pearls so that the eyes have a small purple outline.

8. Use DMC floss to add thread to button and adhere button nose with glue dot.

9. Cut two scallop circles by using Spellbinders' largest scallop circle nesting die.

10. Score between every scallop.

11. Use scissors to cut from the end to the mid point of one score line. Repeat this for both scallop circles.

12. Accordian fold on the score lines to create two pleated half  circles.

13. Glue half circles together to create a full pleated circle by overlapping one scallop on each side and adhering with glue dots.

14. With orange cardstock cut at a 3 1/2 inch circle with the "circle" cut on page 108 of the George and Basic Shapes cartridge.

15. Adhere orange circle to back of rosette with Beacon Adhesive's Zip Dry for stability.

16. Adhere embellished black card to rosette with Beacon Adhesive's Zip Dry.