live laugh LOVE scrapbook

"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!