live laugh LOVE scrapbook

"precious baby" Deconstructed

Back in early December I had put together a blog post for Anna Aspnes . . . ArtsyTraditional | Layout Deconstructed . . . showing, step by step, how a scrapbooker with traditional roots spins on her ArtPlay Palettes. If you'd like, you can view the original post on her blog here (wording is just a little bit different) . . . ArtsyTraditional | Layout Deconstructed. 

I typically work all my digital layouts in a 12 x 12 format with a white canvas (or background) and after I had selected the base (digital paper) for this particular layout, pulled it in onto my canvas . . .

And though I would typically pull my photo(s) onto my base now and work/embellish around it/them, for the sake of detail, will go layer by layer from the bottom of my layout up so that you can actually see how each layer looks, one on top of the other.

Once I had brought my base in, I added one of the transfers in the ArtPlay Palette just to make the fleur de lis a little more prominent (just because it's so darn GORGEOUS!) . . . 

If you'll notice, I lined the transfer up with the digital paper exactly so that they blended seamlessly together.

Next, I added a Love WordTransfer (I so LOVE the look of text as an embellishment!) . . .

I reduced the opacity of the WordTransfer to 42% and then added some dot splatter . . .

. . . and a couple of Anna's LoopDaLoops . . .

And truly, I've come to the conclusion that I am in serious need of a Twelve Step Program for Anna's LoopDaLoops! SooOOoo stinking addicted to those!

Next, I added a GoldPaint overlay . . .

The opacity of the GoldPaint overlay was reduced to 26% to give it a more subtle look.

Now comes my photo mask which I re-colored using the paint bucket tool (the masks typically come in black so I changed the color so that it would blend with the color and tone of my layout better . . . the color of the mask was sampled from the digital paper) . . .

I duplicated the mask so that it became a little more prominent . . .

Again, the mask was re-colored using the paint bucket tool so that it would blend better with the color and tone of my layout.

Then I brought my photo in . . . 

It's important to note that after I had converted my photo to black and white (this is my grandson by the way . . . he is such a cutie! if I can say so myself!) I added a filter that was made by sampling the digital paper and then blending it into my photo.

Next, a frame was added . . .

The frame was altered by clipping a Solids Paperie to it.

And finally, my title . . .

Aannnndd, to complete the layout . . . I added a few coordinating embellishments . . .

And that's it. Layout complete. And, truly . . . not a whole lot of effort required. Really. Anna's products do all the work so that even the most traditionalist at heart can add a little ArtPlay to her and her family's memories.

Supplied used . . . ArtPlay Palette Gather, ArtPlay Solids Gather Paperie, ArtPlay Palette Autumnal No. 2, ArtPlay Palette Autumn Haze, ArtPlay Palette Sophistica, Abstract FotoBlendz No. 1, GoldPaint Overlays No. 1, and Love WordTransfers No. 1.

You can view the full list of supplies used with links to the products in Anna's ArtStore at OScraps (including what was used from each ArtPlay Palette) . . . HERE!

     Blessings and hugs!
                 

P.S. I've got a layout on the BasicGrey blog today too! You can view it . . . HERE! 

"hope lingers"

"hope lingers"


"while the heart beats, hope lingers."  ~Alice Croggin

So much power in those six little words.

Supplies used include: (background is simply a layer filled with the color F6F7F2). Anna Aspnes Designs (ArtPlay Palette No. 4, ArtPlay Palette Find My Way, ArtPlay Palette Pumpkin Patch, LoopDaLoop ArtStrokes No. 6, and Distressed Toolset No. 3). Fonts: 1942 Report and P22 Cezanne.

     Blessings and Hugs!
               

I've been keeping a HUGE secret . . .

. . . and now that it is officially OFFICIAL . . . and I can actually tell others . . . I'm having a hard time believing that it's real. I keep thinking that I'm going to wake up and realize it was all just a dream!

Especially since I had found their call LATE . . . like the day OF deadline late . . . and after wrestling with the decision to submit or not . . . decided NOT . . . only to change my mind last minute and then had to literally rush to get my submission in (I only had just over an hour to spare before deadline) . . . to getting a phone call from Melanie . . . thinking she was "punking" me! . . . to the OFFICIAL announcement just a little bit ago . . .

. . . to actually being able to breathe again!

I have no doubt that the reality of it all will begin to sink in once I actually get to "work." If you can call "playing" with some of the most AMAZING scrapbooking products . . . WORK!   Seriously.

Now . . . those who are joining me on the DIGITAL DESIGN TEAM . . .
Ann Costen
Mary Rogers
Kathleen Summers and
Tiffany Tillman

Give me a few days and I will link the entire Design Team here (in my sidebar). If you want to check out their blogs until then you can link to them through the official announcement on BasicGrey's blog (link provided below my signature!).

SooOOoo looking forward to working with them! AND BasicGrey!

Blessings and hugs!
                        

Oh, and if you want to read the OFFICIAL Official Announcement . . . you can read it  . . . HERE!

"enamored"

"enamored"

"enamored" is a layout that I created as part of a DigiMORPH challenge over at Design House Digital. I was the last in line out of twenty-two. You can view the MORPH . . . HERE.

It absolutely AMAZES me how the design MORPHS from start to finish. Absolutely LOVE this challenge for that reason alone.

Supplies used include . . . (background is simply a layer filled with the color F6F7F2). ALL digital elements are Anna Aspnes . . . ArtPlay Palette 4, ArtPlay Palette 8, ArtPlay Palette Magic, ArtPlay Palette Obsession, FotoGlows No. 4, Hipster Plume Korners N Edges No. 2, LoopDaLoop Artstrokes No. 3, ScriptTease Time No. 1, SprayPaint No. 1, and fonts: Bookman Old Style.

**Note** This layout was created using only digital brushes (with the exception of the photo mask and frame). NO digital papers were used (same as "hope") . . . at all . . . cRazY huh?!

     Blessings and hugs!
              

"hope"

My first official layout for Anna Aspnes Designs (AnnaTeam) over at OScraps! And, yes Anna's store is finally OPEN!

"hope"

The photo that I used for this layout is the same photo that I used for "today" (with a few additional actions applied). Absolutely LOVE this photo and it is, hands down, one of my FAVORITES! And if you are wondering . . . her eyes really are that blue!

Supplies used include: (background is simply a layer filled with the color F6F7F2) ALL brushes (dot splatter, script splatter, script, butterfly): Anna Aspnes (Hipster Plume FotoBlendz No.4, ScriptTease Happiness No.1, Dotted Korners and Edges No.1, and Sketchy LoopdaLoop ArtStrokes No.2); hope word art: Amanda Taylor (TaylorMade Designs also at OScraps); and fonts: CK True Type Slim. **ALL of Anna's products have been linked and are clickable (with the exception of ScriptTease Happiness No.1).

Now . . . I'm off to organize some kits that I downloaded from Anna's store yesterday. Looking forward to spending the holiday weekend scrapbooking (even though I have to work Saturday, Sunday, AND Monday)!

**Edited**
I JUST received notice that "hope" has been featured over on the Gallery Standouts blog for Finger Pointing (September 2)! You can view the post . . . HERE! SooOOoo EXCITED! And such an honor!

**Edited** . . . one more time!
Two Peas in a Bucket's newsletter hit my inbox just a short bit ago.
Imagine my surprise  when I opened it up and found this . . .
 
"User Lift: Katherine B" . . . my jaw about hit the ground!
SooOOoo cRazY honored that Erica chose my layout for the challenge this week!

     Blessings and hugs!
              

"ME" and some really BIG news!

I confess . . . I'm not the most dedicated blogger (even though I truly do love it). I threw the "presently under Construction" up, made a few tweaks, and then . . . NOTHING! And though I am still in the process of making some adjustments, I figured I'd go ahead and start posting again anyway. Especially since I have some rreeaaaallyyyy BIG news to share! Keep reading!

ANNA ASPNES (formerly of Designer Digitals) has asked me to join her Creative Team at her  new store . . . OScraps! Of course I said YES! And have been COMPLETELY beside myself with excitement ever since! Anna's designs have, over the last few months, become some of my favorite "go to" digital products. Particularly her BRUSHES! Being as I am such a HUGE BRUSH NUT! And I mean . . . HUGE . like you've never seen HUGE before . B.R.U.S.H . NUT!

Joining me on Anna's team is . . . Chris Asbury, Eszter Baranyi, Adryane Driscoll, Donna Goar, Kendra Grande (CT Administrator), Kerry Halasz, Barb Hogan, Fiona Kinnear, Phylis Kovaly, Tracy Little, Janaina Oliveira, Amber Ries, Deb Rymer, and Vicki Walters. Truly . . . to be amongst such talent is quite humbling. **Please note that not all CT members are linked yet. I'm still working on that. =]

Oh, and if you are wondering . . . Anna's store at OScraps opens Thursday September 1st (just FOUR days from now!).

And finally . . . a little something that I created just a few weeks ago . . . aanndddd a new found LOVE of mine . . . Art Journaling!

"ME"
Art Journal (8.5 x 8.5 Digital Format)

"Today I am more ME than I was yesterday but not as much as I will be tomorrow."

Art Journaling . . . for me . . . is creativity on STEROIDS! Seriously! And I am wholly in LOVE with the freedom of it all!

Supplies used include . . . feminine profile, corner flourishes, borders, and splatters: Anna Aspnes; aged overlay, timepieces, "Beautiful Life" word art, and small quotation marks: ***** *******; "Today" word art: Amanda Taylor; butterfly: Vinnie Pearce; large flourish and brad: Jen Wilson; flower: Jenna Beam; and fonts: Birth of a Hero and P22 Cezanne.

     Blessings and hugs!