Digital Scrapbooking and Photography

Smash-Up Banner Tutorial with Digi Masking Technique

May 12, 2008
by Jan Barlow

I just love those little banners I've been seeing on layouts and cards lately and I thought it would be fun to make some all “smashed up” (SIStv’s coined term for “hybrid” scrapping which is the mixing of digital and “real” scrapbooking papers and elements).

                   

(See more images here)

For this little project, I used Photoshop Elements 6.0. If you don’t have PSE, did you know that you can download a free 30-day trial (full program) from the Adobe website?

You may ask, "why smash this up, Jan? Wouldn’t it be easier to just cut a triangle out of my patterned paper?” My answer is, “sure, you can. But, do you really want to cut up a whole beautiful sheet of paper for a few diamond or triangle shapes when you can just draw a PERFECT diamond shape in PSE, mask it with your choice of digi paper, and make as many copies, with as many papers, as you’d like?” I’m gonna stop with the quote marks now since it’s me that’s going to be ‘talking” to you the rest of the time anyway.

                  

(See more images here)

Okay - in ADDITION to showing you how to make a cute embellie for your projects, I do have an ulterior motive here, and that is to show you how to digitally "mask" any solid shape that you either brush or draw or type with a digi patterned paper. It's fun. It's magical. It's addicting!

For your convenience, I've created a pdf file containing all these instructions which you can download and print out:
Download JBarlow_Banner-MaskingTut_05-12-08.pdf

For this project you will need:

Photo editing software (I used PSE6)
Digital papers (I chose Audrey Neal's "bluegrid", "greengrid" and "kraftblue" papers from her
     "File 13" Collection)
White cardstock (I used textured for a nice, um, textured effect)
Adhesive (I used a Zig 2-Way glue pen, Tacky glue and Xyron machine)
Ink pad (for distressing edges)
Sandpaper
Scissors
Hole punch
Fiber - ribbon, cord, twine, etc.

For those of you with some knowledge of digi scrapping, you can just follow the bold instructions. Additional instructions are underlined. And, for the most detail, just continue reading.

Let's get started!

Step 1 - Create a blank canvas

(All shortcuts are Photoshop Elements, i.e. PSE). Open your photo editing program and create a new blank document by clicking on the "Ctrl" key and the "N" (for "new"). Specify a size of 8.5 inches width and 11 inches height, a resolution of 300, RGB color and a white background. This will give you a white "canvas" so to speak, to drop your artwork onto and later print out.

         

Step 2 - Drawing Diamonds on a Grid

Turn on the grid by going to "view" in the top toolbar and checking "grid". Each large square on the grid equals one inch and the smaller squares equal a quarter inch.

Before drawing, hit "Ctrl D" (for default) to make sure your foreground/background colors are black/white.

Right-click on the shape tool in the tools section on the left of the page and select "custom shape tool" (heart). (If you hover over each tool with your mouse, the tool's name will pop up.) In the "shape" box at the top (to the right of the heart), click the little arrow to open the fly-out box and then click on the double arrows on the top right edge to open another fly-out box where you can detail the image you're looking for. Choose "shapes" in the alphabetical listing.

    
                       turn on grid                                                custom shape selection tool

In the shapes box, select the filled diamond shape by double-clicking on it. Draw your diamond to about 3 inches long and 1-1/2 inches wide. Of course, the size of the diamond should be relative to the size of the project you're putting the banner on.

                               

Before we go any further, since we will be using these shapes for clipping masks, we will need to simplify this layer that we've just created. This will take the diamond from a shape drawn on a sheet of paper, to a moveable object with a transparent background. Kind of the difference between a drawing and a cut-out.

To simplify the layer, right-click on the diamond layer in your layers palette and choose "simplify layer" from the drop-down menu. You will see the background of the diamond thumbnail go from solid to "checkered". The checkered background indicates transparency in PSE.

Now let's turn off the grid by going to "view" again and checking "grid" again. When the grid is showing, anything that you place on your canvas will "snap to" the guide lines. This is great for aligning photos and objects, but not so much when you just want to nudge things into place, as we will with our next diamond shape.

We're now going to duplicate our diamond shape. Select your "move" tool (see red arrow, below) and with your mouse on the diamond shape, hold down your "alt" key and you will then see a shadowed cursor appear. This means you are about to make a copy onto a new layer. Before you move the cursor, and while you are still holding down the "alt" key, also hold down the "shift" key. Keeping these two keys held down, click and drag your mouse to the right and you will see a new diamond shape. Holding down the "shift" key during the copying process enables you to move the duplicated object in a perfectly straight line up or down from the original. Adjust your new diamond so that it is next to the old one with a little space between. You'll notice in your layers palette on the right that PSE has made a new layer for the new diamond. Now, go ahead and make two more diamonds the same way so that you have four diamonds in a row.

Step 3 - Make a Clipping Mask

With our diamonds on a transparent (or simplified) background, we have now made shapes that we can use as clipping masks. In PSE lingo, this pretty much means that you can clip another digital element, usually a pp or a photo, to this shape.

To continue, we will open up 3 patterned papers (pp's). Because of the small shapes that we are using, I suggest a pp with a small scale pattern, or else you won't be able to detect the pattern. I chose Audrey Neal's "bluegrid", "greengrid" and "kraftblue" pp's from her "File 13" collection. I will be using the papers in the same order as just mentioned.

You can open your papers by clicking "ctrl" plus "O" (for open) and browsing to the file where your digi pp's have been stored. Choose your 3 pp's and click "open". (If you hold the "ctrl" key, you can make a multiple selection.) You will see the pp's appear in the project bin underneath the main screen, as well as in the main screen.

My blue pp is on the top of the stack that I just loaded, so I will move the blue pp to the background canvas. In your layers palette, click on your first diamond layer. Now, when we pull in the pp, it will come in just on top of the first diamond shape. Go back to the main screen and, with your "move" tool still selected, click and drag the blue pp down onto the "untitled" document in your project bin at the bottom of your page, under the main screen, as shown below, left.

 

You will notice that the edge of the blue pp extends outside of the background canvas. Let's resize the blue pp, so that the pattern is smaller for our diamond. Drag the paper so that the top left corner aligns with the top left corner of the background canvas. Then click on the bottom right little square of the bounding box and drag the paper up so it fits just at the right edge of the background canvas, as shown above, right. It will be shorter than the background, but that's okay - it won't show. Click the green arrow to commit the size change. Now we're ready to clip the blue paper on the 1st diamond shape in one easy move.

In the layers palette, you will see the blue pp above the 1st diamond layer. Place your mouse cursor at the border right in between the pp and the diamond layers and then hit the "alt" key. You will see a symbol that looks kind of like an "8" with an arrow to the left. That means you are about to clip the top layer onto the bottom layer.

     

Go ahead and click with your mouse while that symbol is showing and - to da! - your pp is now clipped to the diamond shape. See it up in the main screen? Cool, huh?

             

Let's go ahead and duplicate your pp layer in the layers palette and clip that same pp to the 2nd diamond. Target the pp layer by clicking on it. Then, right-click and select "duplicate layer". Another blue clipped layer will appear just above the 1st blue layer. Click on the new copy and simply drag it to just above the 2nd diamond layer. Again, place your mouse cursor at the border right in between the pp and the diamond layers and then hit the "alt" key. Click with your mouse to clip the duplicated pp to the 2nd diamond. You should now have the blue pp clipped onto the 1st 2 diamonds, as shown below, left:

 

Now we will mask each of the remaining diamonds with each of the remaining papers following the exact same steps:

Click on the 3rd diamond in the layers palette. Double-click on green pp. Make sure move tool is selected. Drag green paper down onto the background canvas in the project bin. Resize the pp. Place your mouse between the green pp and 3rd diamond layers in the layers palette. Click "alt" and then click your mouse. Repeat steps for the kraft pp and 4th diamond. You will then have 4 masked diamonds as shown above, right. If you would like to further resize your pp's to get more detail of pattern, just click on the pp layer in the layers palette with the move tool selected and simply drag the corners of the pp until it's as small as you'd like. (You'll have to click the green checkmark to commit in order to see the change.)

Now you know how to mask a pp onto any shape! You can use your shape tool to draw a shape, as we did, or you can use a shape that you "brush" onto a layer, or you can even use an alphabet letter as a mask. I recommend shapes and alphies that have enough "area" to really show the clipped pp. Have FUN playing with that. And, of course, anything that you mask, if you do it on a simplified layer with a transparent background, it can just be printed out onto a white paper (as we will do) and then cut out for use on a "real" paper layout. That's what "smashing up" is all about!

Step 4 - Making Some Small Diamonds

Now we're going to make three smaller diamonds for variety in our banner. Since our diamonds are already masked with paper, this will be an easy-peasy process.

In the layers palette, click on the first blue pp layer. Now, holding the "shift" key, also click on the diamond layer below it. Make sure you have the move tool selected. On the main screen, put your mouse on the selected diamond, hit the "alt" key and drag a new masked diamond into place as you see below.

                  

Now we'll make this new diamond a little smaller. After you drag the new diamond into place, click on it and you will see the bounding box appear. Grab the corner of the bounding box and simply drag the box to a slightly smaller size. Click the green checkmark to commit the change.

Now let's make a copy of the green masked diamond and the kraft masked diamond. (Remember to select BOTH the pp and diamond layers in the layers palette at once by holding down the "shift" key.) Resize each one. They don't need to be exactly the same size. Variety is good. You should now have a row of 4 larger diamonds and a row of 3 smaller diamonds.

Step 5 - Make a Duplicate Set

I want to make some more diamonds while I'm at it and fill up our background. There's a super easy way to do this without moving each layer individually. Select your move tool. In your layers palette click on the very bottom diamond layer, hold the "shift" key, and also select the very top layer of all in the layers palette. (All but the bottom background layer.) Now ALL of the masked diamonds should be selected. You can take your cursor and move them around as a group now. Place them on the page so that there's an equal border at the top and on both sides.

Now, let's duplicate this whole top half! While pointing to the selected top half, hold down your "alt" key and "shift" key together. Then click and drag the duplicated copy down so that it fits underneath the top setion with an equal boundary on the bottom and sides. Let go and, voila, you now have 14 masked diamonds. You can click on any of the layers in the layers palette now and you'll see the individual layer become highlighted as you click on it. Wasnt that SO much easier than measuring and drawing each one individually?

                         

Step 6 - Adding Text to Masked Shapes

I want to spell out the word "romance" on 7 of the diamonds and I chose to do that on the top two rows. For the 7 diamonds I'm going to add text to, I want to first merge the 2 layers of each clipping mask together. That way I don't have to worry about accidentally moving the pp behind the mask. I do this by right-clicking on the paper layer in the layers palette and then I choose "merge down". Then click on the next pp layer, right-click and choose merge down and so forth until you have 7 patterned diamonds visible in both the layers palette and on the main screen.

Before adding the text, target (or select) the very top layer in the layers palette. This way you'll be able to see all the text, as it won't be hidden by layers over it.

It will be easier to add the text to a zoomed-in view of our main screen. Hold down the 'alt" key and roll your mouse scroller AWAY from you to zoom in. I want my text to be in white, so first, click "D" for default, which brings up the default colors of black/white for the background/foreground. Click now on "X" to switch the foreground color to white (and the background to black).

Select the "type" tool ("T") and place your cursor in about the middle of the bottom half of the 1st diamond. I chose a distressed font to give a "stamped" effect.

After you type the letter, click twice on the move tool and arrange the letter just where you would like it to be. Keep in mind that on your banner, you will only see the lower half of the diamond, as it will be folded over.

                     

Now let's put just a teeny drop shadow on that letter and it will look more like a rub-on or a sticker. In the palette bin at the top of the right side, click on "Effects", then the 2nd icon which is "Layer Styles". From the drop down box, choose drop shadows. Choose the last one in the top row - "low" (as seen below, left) and double click on it. Now scroll down to your letter in the layers palette and you will see a little "fx" on the layer.

   

Double click on the "fx" in the layer and you will get a "style settings" box, as shown, above, right. You can do quite a bit of adjustment to the drop shadow here and you can even save these settings and paste them into other layers. For the letter's drop shadow, we will key in the following 3 numbers: Size = 5, Distance = 5, Opacity = 40. That will give a nice, subtle and realistic looking shadow.

Next we'll make a copy of the letter. Select the move tool and, with the cursor on the letter, just as before, click the "alt" key and drag the letter to the next diamond. Release. Click again on "alt", drag, release. Repeat until each diamond has a letter on it for the word you want to make.

Now we will change the letters to spell the word "romance". First, make sure that in addition to the move tool being selected, you also check the "auto select layer" box (just on top of the move tool). This will help you to locate the layer your selected letter is on in the layers palette. On the main screen, click once on the letter you want to change and you will see the bounding box appear. Find the layer that has now been highlighted in the layers palette and double-click on the letter thumbnail in that layer (i.e. the actual little pictue of the "T" in the layer.) Now the letter on the main screen will be highlighted and you can simply type to change it to the appropriate letter.

Note: When I spelled out "romance", I didn't want the same colors and sizes next to each other so I mixed up the placement of the letters. Just be sure to double-check to make sure you get ALL the correct letters in the word placed where you want them. Since we copied each letter with the font, size, color and drop shadow choices already made, it was a simple matter to just change the letter.

Step 7 - Printing

       

Now, what you see on your main screen, as shown above, will be what gets printed.

Go ahead and choose print from the "file" menu. Hit print, and in preferences, select "best" for quality.

I used a textured cardstock which, of course, gave my little banner some texture.

Step 8 - Finishing Banner and Applying to Project

The letter diamonds will be folded over cording and adhered together in the finished state. For the remaining diamonds, you may choose to fold them in half as well, or you can cut each diamond in half to make two triangles that will actually be hanging freely from a cord or ribbon.

For the whole diamonds: cut each diamond out and crease in half "loosely", but don't make a hard crease at this point. If you have a Xyron machine, now is the time to send the diamonds through, re-flattened with the patterned side UP.

Choose and measure the twine or cording you want to use. (I made sure that my word would fit on an 8.5 x 11 layout way back when I sized my diamonds.) A rounded cording or twine works great with this method, but I think a thin ribbon would work as well. Remove the diamonds from the Xyron and place them on your work space with the sticky side up and be sure the letters are in the correct order. Carfully place the twine at the fold line of each diamond and then, one at a time, fold the diamonds over the twine so that the letter shows on the top and adhere.

   

When folding, make sure that the point and sides meet up. Sand or ink the edges and then further distress with the edge of a scissors, if desired. Bend 'em up a little, too. This is just my preference, as I love the shabby chic look. Also this process makes the paper a little more like fabric. Add to your project.

            

Here, you see the banner with the word "romance" along the side of the page. I wrapped the twine around to the back.

For half-diamonds: I found it easiest to start by cutting my row of diamonds in half, across, at the midpoint, giving me a block with the triangle tops at each end (shown below, left). We will be "stringing" these triangles to make the banners, so I flipped this block over and drew a pencil line where I thought I would want the holes to be punched. After drawing the line, I then finished cutting out the triangles, punched 2 holes for my ribbon or fiber, one at either end of the top of the triangle, and then distressed them, as above. You could also sew on them, stamp on them, place rubs on them - whatever your creative mind can think up.

 

Then, thread your ribbon, cord, fiber or whatever, through the holes. I find that a dental floss threader is the best as it's flexible and will fit through most holes easily. You can either wrap your ribbon around to the back of the project, or leaving a little extra, knot the end and let it hang loosely. Again, bend up your little banner to give it added dimension.

   

Then, finally, add the banner to your project! You can either keep your banner straight, like I did in the "Romance" layout, or as in the card below, let it twist and turn a little for a more whimsical effect.

       

This is SUCH a fun little project. The variations and possibilities are endless. I hope you've enjoyed learning the clipping mask technique and I hope you'll take the time to play around with adding a banner to some of your projects. I'd love to see your creations - please share them with me by emailing me at janlbinpa@hotmail.com. If you have any questions or comments, don't hesitate to pm me (pascrapgal) or email me!

xoxoxo
Jan   

Fashion (tem)'plates Tutorial

Cathy here! I hope you enjoyed all the wonderful challenges and games at SIStv this weekend! It was so much fun, wasn't it? I even hosted a SMASH-UP (hybrid) challenge. Thanks everyone for playing!

So today I'm going to share the tutorial I created for the Fashionista try-outs back in February. I created a digital layered template (aka fashion 'plates) based on one of my favorite paper layouts. Then I created a DIGITAL page and a HYBRID page using the same template.

If you are already familiar with templates, you can simply download the free template here.

If you need some tips on how to use a template, read on!

First, let’s talk about why you would want to use a layered digital template in the first place. Layered digital templates allow you to “cut” or "clip" your digital papers into the exact shapes in the template with the press of a few keys. Making it that much easier to scrapbook digitally. Think of each layer as a big die-cut that cuts your digital paper into the shape of that layer. It is a great tool for scrappers just starting out as well as more advanced ones who want to make a page quickly. And just like "sketches" made for paper scrappers you can totally change up the template to make it your own. (but I'll save that for a future tutorial).

Here's the digi page I created using Audrey Neal's Git R Done kit available (soon) in the Boutique.

Download the complete instructions to make this digital page here:
Download Page 1.
Download Page 2.
Download Page 3.

As I mentioned earlier, you can also use a digital layered template to make a HYBRID layout. It takes a bit of printing and cutting and pasting, but the pay-off is a dimensional page that you can slip into your scrapbook album along with other paper pages.

And here's the hybrid page I made:

You can download the instructions to make this hybrid page here:
Download page 4.
Download page 5.
Download page 6.

You can see how the use of physical embellishment like thickers, hand-stitching, metal clips and even a hidden journaling spot add some life to an otherwise flat digital page that you might print out.

So I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and template. Please link me up to any pages you create. I'd love to see them!

xo Cathy

Freebie for NSD!

Use this cute little birdie for Fashionista Lucy's hour!

Download it free here!

Download birdy_1_copy.png

30 Minute Minibook - Hybrid / Recycling

Recycled Rockabilly Hybrid Minbook

Want to create a cute, cool and super simple minibook made up  mostly of odds and ends you probably already have on hand? Oh, and did I say you can do this in less than 30 minutes?  Yep, that's right, less than 30! Well, what are we waiting for? Take a look at the sneak peek and let's get started!

Everything you need to know about how to complete this adorable little minibook, including a full supply list, is right here in this PDF file for your printing and reading ease.

Download Recycled_Rockabilly_Hybrid_MiniBookJR.pdf 

The beauty of this little mini is the only thing you might need to buy (if you haven't already) is Audrey Neal's Rockabilly Quick Page pack which is available for purchase and download in the SIStv Boutique. While you are there be sure to check out all the other digital/paper/hybrid goodness available for all your creative projects...you won't be disappointed! Seriously, you just won't!

While in the Boutique you may also want to check out the other digital Quick Page packs that are available for purchase and download; the selection of goodies to be had is growing weekly. In addition to the QP packs, you can also choose from an array of individual Quick Pages, Print Blocks, embellies and brushes. All of this is yours to be had and can help you create endless varieties of these quick little minis with the utmost of ease.  Oh, and, about those Print Blocks by Kerry Lynn Yeary, you can make a killer little "house mini" by way of your digi or traditional scrapping skills...check it out and let your imagination run wild - the possibilities are truly endless!

One last thing before I leave you, in an effort to make things a little easier and more versatile I have included a template for the cup holder wrapper. So, now, if you happen to not have one on hand you have no excuse for not whipping up this minibook. Ok, truth be told, it is also included for those of you that prefer to trace the shape directly onto your patterned paper.

Hopefully you have enjoyed this tutorial. If you have any questions or problems you can always send me a PM. There are a few more photos of the finished project in my Gallery at SIStv.

Jayne (aka NellieRose)

April Digi/Hyrbrid Mini Tutorial #2

Hybrid ATC Mini Album by Jan Barlow

Hi! Welcome to week two of our digi/hybrid mini month! (Well, that was fun to say!) I’m Jan (aka pascrapgal) and this is not only my first tutorial as a new Fashionista, but my first tutorial – evah! I hope you have fun with it!

ATC’s (Artist Trading Cards) are all the rage, right now, aren’t they? I think it’s because they are tiny little works of art that are not only really fun to make, but also really quick to make. For this tutorial, I thought it would be fun to take the ATC one step further and make a little mini book out of ATC cards bound together. For my project, I used 7 photos and 8 ATC cards.

Click here to see entire project on my profile page.

To make this hybrid mini, you don’t need a photo editing program. You don’t even need a word processing program. You only need to be able to print from your computer. How great is that? You can officially call yourself a hybrid scrapper when you’ve completed this mini! I had so much fun making it and I bet you will, too!

I will show you how to create the hybrid ATC mini on regular playing cards, and I’ll show you a fun technique that I used for embellishment. I made my mini very lumpy and sort of funky/distressed. (It kind of took on a life of its own!) After you view this tutorial you can do the same or keep it very clean and simple. Feel free to create yours in whatever style you choose! Ready? Let’s get started!

I’ve created a pdf file for you to download that contains a materials list and the set of instructions. Just click on the link below to access the pdf file!

Download JBarlow_HybridATCMiniAlbumTutorial_4-14-08.pdf

For the hybrid ATC mini you will need:

§ Printable ATC Collage Sheets, Volumes 1 and 2 (found in the SIStv Boutique – Digital section – under ‘SIStv Smashups (Printables and Hybrid)”

§ Matte photo paper or smooth, white cardstock (for printing collage sheets)

§ 8 regular playing cards

§ fine grade sandpaper

§ adhesive(s) (I used a Xyron, an ATG, a glue pen and Tacky glue)

§ 7 printed photos, each sized to fit on a hole-punched ATC card

§ Dye and chalk inks (I used Staz-On black and various Colorbox Chalk inks)

§ Acrylic paints in light blue, light green and red (to match papers) and cream

§ Small foam brushes

§ Fine glitter (I used silver, green and blue)

§ 2-1/4 “ scallop circle punch or die cutter

§ Bind-it-all and o-wire (I used 1” wire) OR a hole punch and 2 binder rings

§ Clear-stamp alphabet

§ Journaling pen(s)

Optional Materials for journaling/embellishments:

Cardstock, manual typewriter, ribbon, buttons, chipboard, stickers, rub-ons, brads and any other little tidbits you’d like to add from your stash – and I know you have one!

Step 1. Purchase and download the ATC Collage sheets from the boutique. These great papers were created by the fabulous Kerry Lynn Yeary, one of SIStv’s own Fashionistas! I printed out both volumes (2 pages of 9 designs each) onto the matte photo paper for a great, crisp image. Choose the “Shrink to Printable Area” option before printing. (see below) This makes the papers slightly smaller than the playing card and provides a little border all around the edges.

      

Step 2: Cut out 9 colored rectangles and 7 black/white rectangles for your mini. I used scissors so I could slightly round each corner as I cut, creating a softer edge. After cutting out each piece, lightly sand each paper edge, again paying attention to the corners.

            

Step 3: Adhere the papers to the cards. I ran all my little papers through the Xyron first, ensuring a good, even stick. Adhere a black/white paper to one side and a colored paper to the opposite side for 7 of the cards. On the 8th card, adhere a colored paper to both sides. Because the bound mini will open like a book, I laid mine out so that all the b/w sides were on the left of each 2-page layout and the colored sides were on the right. The one card with 2 colored sides is the last card, which will then create a colored back cover. This design gave my eclectic, colorful little book a sense of unity.

               

Step 4: Punch 4 binder holes in the top left side of each colored card. SIStv’s webisode # 65 shows how to use an o-wire binding with hand-punched holes rather than Bind-it-all punched holes. If you don’t have o-wire, simply punch two holes (rather than 4) and use loose binder rings. Just be sure that your rings are big enough to allow your pages to turn easily.

                              

Step 5: Apply acrylic paints to the edges of all the cards. I loved the look of using contrasting, but coordinating colors. I had fun letting go and NOT being precise here! J Let dry. (Note: if you would like a much “cleaner” looking card, you could paint – or gesso – all of your playing cards before adhering the collage papers, and then skip this step.)

Step 6: Distress all of the edges of the cards by roughly (and carefully!) rubbing the inside edges of an open scissors along the edges of the cards.

 

Step 7: Ink the edges of each of your prepared photos with black Staz-On ink. While this ink does dry quickly, you will still want to be careful not to get it on the photo. (I have found this usually happens from my fingers, not the ink pad!)

Step 8: Choose 7 of the remaining unused colored collage papers to punch a scallop circle for layering under each photo. Take into consideration the patterns and colors you already having going on in each 2-page layout as well as the colors in your photos. Roughly cut out the 7 papers you’ve chosen. Before cutting the circles out of each rectangle, run each of the 7 papers you’ve chosen through the Xyron.

Tip: After Xyron-ing, but before punching/die cutting, lift the slippery adhesive backing sheet on each paper a bit and make a cut into the backing (not the sheet) with your scissors, about halfway into the rectangle, and then re-adhere the backing. This will make it MUCH easier to remove the backing in Step 10. Now punch or die cut the 7 scallop circles.

                            

Step 9: Paint the edges of each of the scalloped circles (with the adhesive backing sheet still attached) with a coordinating color of paint. Let dry.

Step 10: Adhere a scalloped circle to the black/white (left) side of the first 2-page layout. (Bend the circle, as in photo above, a little to release and grab the backing off the adhesive where you had cut it.) Be sure to let some of the circle stick out over the edge of the card after it’s adhered.

            

Then, flip the card over and sprinkle glitter onto the sticky, overhanging part of the circle. Rub it in really good, for a good stick. Brush away excess. FUN! Do this for each of your 7 scalloped circles, one at a time, varying the placement of the circles on each left-hand page, so that when you’re done, there will be glittered circle parts sticking out all around the outer (unbound) edges of the mini.

Step 11: Adhere your photos on top of the scalloped circles and place journaling strips around the photos. I used a manual typewriter to type onto ivory cardstock and cut out either whole words or individual letters, inked all the edges and glued to the card.

                        

Step 12: Using a contrasting, but coordinating, color of paint, stamp a word on each of the colored sides of the cards. The word should be relevant to the journaling and/or the photo on the left side of the layout.

 

Step 13: Now you have the basic hybrid ATC mini pages completed. From here, you can embellish as you desire. I was careful to not put “pokey” things across from photos. I basically approached each half of each 2-page layout as I would any regular ATC. This is a great place to use little goodies from your stash!

Step 14: Finally, insert your binding wire/rings into the holes and close. Now you have an adorable little mini made out of ATC cards!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial. Of course, you can customize to make your mini as chunky or flat, as simple or complex as YOU would like! Here are some other ideas for making a hybrid ATC mini: You could just adhere the collage sheets down, add some labels and use for a journal. These papers are gorgeous all on their own. Or you could completely fill one side of each layout with a photo and decorate the other. You could assemble and decorate, leaving out the photos and give to someone to add their own photos to. You could gesso and/or paint the naked playing cards and just use bits and pieces of the collage papers and make actual mini collages on each page, and then add song lyrics, a favorite poem, bible verses, whatever. The possibilities are endless.

Please let me know if you have any questions by emailing me at janlbinpa@hotmail.com. I would LOVE to see what you make, as well! Thanks for playing with me! ;)

Hybrid ABC Mini Book Using MS Word

Hi! It's Cathy (aka cayla73) here with my very first hybrid tutorial as a Fashionista! Every week, one of the digi/hybrid fashionistas will post a brand-new tutorial with a fun project to try. For April, it's all about the digi/hybrid minis!

This week, I'm hoping to entice you digi/hybrid-curious sisters out there with this super-simple hybrid mini-album. It's perfect for your very first hybrid. You don't even need a photo editing program like Photoshop to make it!  I used Microsoft WORD. Yup. MS Word. Let's get started!

My daughter, Sofi loves thumbing through small books and looking at photos of herself, her family and her favorite things, so I thought I would create this palm-sized ABC book. 

All you need to create this are a digital label, digital set of alphas, a printer and some scrap supplies you probably already have in your stash.

A detailed supply list and set of instructions are included in the PDF I created for you. Just click on the link below to get started!

Download CPascualHybridTutApril08.pdf

Have fun!

 

 

 

FTAGH: Easter Card

It's Easter Weekend! Enjoy this free printable card. Just download, print, and attach to your Easter Basket or mail it to a friend! This card is a 5x7 print in .pdf form so you can simply print it out! Not photo editing software required!

Download SIStv_KAT_5x7_PrintableCard_HappyEaster.pdf

SMASHUP Tutorial: Cute Canvas Tote Bags

Hybrid Totebag Tutorial
by Audrey Neal

Even though we usually do a big grocery store run on Saturday or Sunday, it never fails that we end up needing one or two things here and there throughout the week. Instead of amassing another pile of plastic bags, why not make a great little totebag – with a “Go Green!” reminder – to carry your groceries when you’re just grabbing a few things?

 

Supplies:

totebag, ribbon, iron-on letters (March Style Phyle)

“Apple of My Eye” digital kit

iron-on transfers for dark fabric (Avery)

buttons (3 brown, 11 red)

embroidery floss (white, brown, red)

 

Instructions:

1. Open a      new blank file with the following specs:

width: 11 inches

height: 8.5 inches

resolution: 300 ppi

color mode: RGB

background: transparent

2. Open      the school paper and drag it onto your blank document * see picture below
3. Now      we’re going to make a quick scallop border. Create a new layer      (Ctrl+Shift+N) on top of your school paper. Select a 300 pixel brush and      make 5 overlapping dots, then duplicate this layer (Layer>Duplicate      layer, OK). Move the layer over so that it lines up with the original      layer. Repeat until the line of dots is as long as your background layer.      Arrange your scallop along the top border of your paper. (screen2)      Duplicate it twice and arrange these borders along each side. Make sure      your top scallop layer (in your layers palette) is highlighted, and then      merge the 3 scallop layers (Ctrl+E on each layer). Make sure that you      don’t merge the scallops with the background paper.
4. Open      the red dot paper and drag it above your scallop border. Click Ctrl+G to      group it with your border, then Ctrl+E to merge the layers.
5. Open      the green circles paper. Select your Magnetic Lasso Tool. Starting about      halfway down the page, drag your lasso tool along the circle shapes. As      you move across the page, angle farther down so that you are creating a      sloped background. Once you get to the other side of the paper, trace up      along the upper edge of your paper. (screen1)
6. When      you get back to your starting point and click, “marching ants” will appear      around your selection. Click “delete.” Click Ctrl+D to deselect the image.      If necessary, take your eraser tool and erase any stray portions of the      image. Drag and drop the green paper onto your school paper. If you      choose, use your Magic Wand tool to select the black lines in your green      paper and then click “delete.” This will remove all the black lines in the      pattern.
7. Open      the tree stickers and drag them onto your paper. Arrange them to your      liking and add a slight drop shadow if necessary. Repeat with the      sunflower stickers.

**Note: To add drop shadows:

Under “Styles and Effects” on the right side of your screen, make sure “Drop Shadows” is selected from the drop-down menu. With the layer you want to shadow highlighted, click on the “Low” shadow box. A small symbol that looks like an “f” inside a circle will appear next to the layer name. To adjust the shadow, double click on that symbol. I prefer to use a distance setting of 4 to 5 pixels, rather than the default of 21.

8. Open      the red label and drag it onto your paper.
9. Open      the staple and drag it on top of the label. Position it where you want it      to go, and then merge it with the label (Ctrl+E). Duplicate the label      three times and arrange as shown.
10. Select      your type tool and position it on top of one of the labels. Choose your      font and size, then type your text. I used the font “1942 report” and      typed the

    New England

    proverb: “Use it      up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.”
11. Open      the blackbird sticker and drag it on top of one of your labels. Add a      slight drop shadow.
12. Flatten      the image and save it.

Print the image onto your transfer paper, making sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Apply the iron-on to the totebag as directed.

Add the iron-on letters. You’ll want to remove the letters from their protective backing, because the paper will otherwise stick to the first iron-on. With careful attention, these letters will peel directly off the backing; just place them where you want them to go on top of the background image. Once your letters are arranged, cover them with a sheet of tissue paper (you might want to use a couple of additional sheets to cover the entire image, just for the sake of being careful) and apply steady pressure with a hot iron. After 1-2 minutes of pressure, remove the iron and let the image cool before removing the tissue paper.

Embellish with ribbon, buttons, and additional stitches.

A great variation of this project would be to print each component (trees, flowers, frame, labels, etc) onto printable fabric, and then applique it onto the totebag.

FTAGH: Printable Greeting Card

Okay y’all, this one is super easy.

Do you have some cardstock and a printer?

Yes?

Awesome!

Then you just download this image from here (it’s totally free!) and print it out!

That’s it! That’s all you do! Then you can rummage around for an envelope (I never seem to have those on hand) and a stamp (I never seem to have those either) and if you’re lucky (and organized) you can sign it with a flourish and mail it off! Everyone loves getting mail that is something other than an electric bill or an offer for 17 subscriptions to Camping Monthly, so hurry up and make someone’s day!

Designer Spotlight On: Maggie Lamarre

Meet one of SIStv’s talented digital designers, Maggie Lamarre!

I discovered scrapbooking by accident while looking for a tutorial on the subject of creating digital signatures. My first computer was an Apple called “Lisa” back before the era of the Mac, however I have been a PC user ever since. When Mosaic took off a wonderful world opened for me.

Getting into digital scrapping was a natural evolution for my hobby since it combines my passion for technology and photography.

I started professionally designing digital materials over a year ago. My style can be describes as classic with a strong tendency towards heavy textures with lots of depth and vibrant luminosity and a constant sprinkle of fun. In addition to designing, I enjoy teaching and sharing this amazing craft.

As I continue to develop and grow, my next goal is to have the privilege to work with industry manufacturers to create multiple lines of products based on my designs. When I am not spending time with my family you can find me in the kitchen experimenting with recipes, curled up with a book or stamping a project, another obsessive hobby of mine.

I am grateful to be part of this industry and look forward to making my contribution by inspiring others to cherish their precious memories. You can find my designs in several magazines and at Scrap In Style TV. 

Maggie’s work can be found in her SIStv gallery

Her digital products have a realistic flare to them, making it hard to distinguish them from real life products! You can find Maggie’s digital designs in SIStv’s digital boutique. Today she is debuting the digital collection “Calico Vert”

It is a beautiful collection, reminiscent of these wonderful florals, with scrumptious soothing shabby chic colours. The collection includes 4 Pattern papers, 2 Word art photo corners, 1 Cherish chipboard, 1 Filigree Birdie brush, 1Silk cord Wrap, 1 Metal brush Heart pin, 1 Flourish frame, 1 Bracket word Art, 1 Library card brush, 1 Chipboard swirl, 1 Green button, 1 Red button, 1 Green tie button, 6 Cabochons of fun words ( fun, create, good times, unique) and 1 Set of Upper case Alphabet

You can find Maggie’s “Calico Vert” collection here for only $4.00