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!
               

"WINTER beautiful"

Living in northeastern Indiana we get our fair share of Winter every year. Year after year. After year. And ooOoh how I HATE it. I hate that it is so cooOold. And that it lingers on and on. And on. And on.

And on.

But, one thing is for sure . . . you are completely unable to deny its beauty. And beautiful it is. Especially after a winter storm. When the snow that has fallen is completely untouched. Unspoiled. Something about how pristine it looks. Peaceful. And then I remember how cold it is. And well, I get over it. Quick. And begin counting the days until Spring. And warmer weather.
 
"WINTER beautiful"
Finger Pointing ~ Gallery Standouts December 20, 2011

My youngest daughter, Brookelynn Amanda. And yes, I know, she looks JUST like me. ;D ;D And that little snowman . . . isn't he one of the cutest things you've ever seen (speaking solely of scrapbooking supplies that is)?! LoOoovVeeee him!

"There is nothing in the world more beautiful than the forest clothed to its very hollows in snow. It is the still ecstasy of nature, wherein every spray, every blade of grass, every spire of reed, every intricacy of twig is clad with radiance."  ~William Sharp

Supplies used include . . . Anna Aspnes . . . ArtPlay Palette Sophistica, ArtPlay Palette Retro Holiday, ArtPlay Palette Pumpkin Patch, ArtPlay Palette No. 8, Snowy Overlays No. 1, GoldPaint Overlays No. 1, Abstract FotoBlendz No. 1, MultiMedia Snowmen No. 1, Stitched by Anna Snowflakes No. 1, LoopDaLoop ArtStrokes No. 3, ScriptTease Winter No. 1, and MagicSprinklez No. 1. Other elements used . . . Megan Farrow. Fonts . . . CK True Type (journaling) and P22 Cezanne (beautiful - stickerized).

And one more thing . . . 

My sister, Debbie . . . the pixel artist behind MyDoodles (and the one who made me the doll in my sidebar), made me these tags (original artwork by Hearts Enchanted) . . .

     

Are they stinking gorgeous or what?! I've asked her to make me a couple of dolls that I can use in my Art Journal. Ones without faces. Can't wait to see them.

     Blessings and hugs!
               

"fall beautiful" for PageMaps

"fall beautiful"
for Becky Fleck
PageMaps September 2011

"It is beauty that captures your attention; personality which captures your heart."

An all digital layout based on this 12 x 12 PageMap . . .

Supplies used include . . . digital papers: Jen Allyson; circular accent, circular stitches, butterfly, flower splatter, paint splatter, epoxy splatter, and alpha (fall): Megan Farrow; stitching (Stitched by Anna Borders No. 1) and text accent (ScriptTease Happiness No. 1): Anna Aspnes; word art (beautiful): Ali Edwards; and fonts: Bookman Old Style.

     Blessings and hugs!
              

"today" . . . (again)

"today"
Originally blogged November 2010


No, you're not seeing double! I promise!   I've re-done the layout that I created for Becky Fleck, November 2010 PageMaps, in a 12 x 12 format (it was done for her in an 8.5 x 11 vertical format because the PageMap was an 8.5 x 11 vertical sketch) because I typically scrapbook in a 12 x 12 format.

Supplies used include . . . digital papers: Jen Wilson (background and dot) and ***** ******* (grid); frame: MaryAnn Wise; TODAY word art: Amanda Taylor; butterfly: Vinnie Pearce; flourish: Jen Wilson; brad: Jen Wilson; quotation marks: ***** *******; glitter: Megan Farrow; paint splatter: Vinnie Pearce; and fonts: Bookman Old Style and Hurricane.

     Blessings and hugs!
              

"today"

"today"
Originally blogged November 2010
for Becky Fleck
PageMaps November 2010

An all digital layout based on this 8.5 x 11 Vertical PageMap . . .


Supplies used include . . . digital papers: Jen Wilson (background and dot) and ***** ******* (grid); frame: MaryAnn Wise; TODAY word art: Amanda Taylor; butterfly: Vinnie Pearce; flourish: Jen Wilson; brad: Jen Wilson; quotation marks: ***** *******; glitter: Megan Farrow; paint splatter: Vinnie Pearce; and fonts: Bookman Old Style and Hurricane.

     Blessings and hugs!
              

"Cherished"

I've heard it said that "grandchildren are your reward for letting your teenage children live" and, well . . . I'd say whoever said that was absolutely right. ;D

"Cherished"
Originally blogged June 2010
"Cherished" was an all DIGITAL layout that I created for the PageMaps 4th Anniversary Layout Contest. It is the same PageMap that I used for my layout "Where There is Love," April PageMaps, April 2010.

This is the PageMap . . .

I had originally selected this Map from the January 2009 PageMaps archive for my layout entry. Really loved all the layering. But after struggling with it for two days . . . the deadline for entry was looming . . . I ended up scratching it and going with the Map that I had used for April PageMaps 2010. Aannnndd. . . if you are wondering . . . no, my entry didn't win. If you would like to see the layout that did win you can view it here . . . PageMaps June Newsletter (you'll need to scroll down to page TWO).

Anyway . . . back to "Cherished" . . . the photo that I selected for this layout is of my reward . . . er, I mean . . . granddaughter, Kaylee Grace from Spring 2009. And though the photo may look like a "standard" black and white photo (in the actual layout), it's not. I had been working a lot with actions and filters and this particular photo had both. And if you are wondering what an "action" is . . . an "action" is simply "a means to record all the commands used to generate an effect in Photoshop for re-application later." Like this . . .
   
This is my photo SOOC (straight out of the camera . . . on the LEFT) and my photo with the Photoshop action applied (on the RIGHT). With this particular photo there are actually TWO actions applied . . . a black and white action and then a boosting action which increased the overall contrast in the photo. The black and white action with the boost that I used on this photo isn't for every photo though. With some photos it's just too "powerful." If that makes any sense (has to do with the levels of contrast). Once the actions were applied I then added a filter . . .
   
The filter was simply a color that I sampled out from the actual color(s) in my layout and then put on its own layer (I used the rectangular marquee tool to make my selection . . . same size as the photo . . . and then filled that selection using the paint bucket tool). The filter layer was then "clipped" (CTRL ALT command) to the photo and the blending mode changed (I used soft light for this particular filter). The opacity of the filter was reduced a tad bit and that's it. Easy peasy. Seriously. And the overall effect . . . much, MUCH better than had I used a "standard" black and white. Or even a sepia toned photo (which I did try at first).

Supplies used include . . . Digital papers: BasicGrey (Scarlet's Letter); Flourish: Rhonna Farrer (Color my World); Border brush: BasicGrey (Black Tie); Distressed grid (behind title): Vinnie Pearce (Distress It Brush Set 01); Flower: Manuela Zimmermann (Moment's of Joy); Button(s): Anna Aspnes (Vint{age} Button Set); Fonts: Bleeding Cowboys and Batang.

     Blessings and hugs!