Unkie

Unkie

Font is Westsac

Everything from Explore by Jennifer M. Trippetti at Scrap Outside the Box

Scraplifted from Mother's Day 2006 by mnm_y2

Created for the Weekly Scraplift Challenge with Bannerwoman at Digital Freebies

Completed June 23, 2006

Erin's Digi-Scrapping Primer

Okay, this next entry goes out to Cat, who asked in a comment (on my regular blog) about how to get started in digital scrapbooking. Well, I certainly cannot even begin to claim to be an expert, since I am only about 3-4 months into this little escapade myself. But I will be happy to share what I have learned to this point. I will also mention a few things that I wish I had known when I started out. If you aren't really interested in digital scrapping, then you can probably stop reading this entry right now. That is all this post talks about. :-) I promise to get back to non-scrapping topics next time. I'm just excited to share what I have learned with someone who actually asked.

First and foremost, I have found scrappers to be just as warm and friendly as the stitching community, which is great. They are very helpful, and they offer lots of free stuff!! Which is great when you are just getting started. In fact, several scrappers I know make their layouts using freebies only. They have never purchases a single thing! I went almost 3 months without buying anything. Then my brother gave me some money to spend on "something frivolous for myself," so I purchased some kits. And it has been hard to stop, especially with all of the awesome sales going on recently! LOL Also, if you find a designer you like, be sure you email them and tell them so. You never know what might happen! I complimented one designer on her style, saying how much I liked it since it wasn't frilly and froufrou (I'm not much of a girly-girl) and how difficult it was to find boyish kits (as I have a little boy), and she sent me one of hers for free. Just for emailing her and saying something nice!! I'm not saying this will happen to you, but you just never know. Be nice, be complimentary, be helpful, participate, and good things happen. (I think this also goes by the name of Karma, LOL!)

The best place to start: visit some of the digital scrapping sites that are around. Just Google "digital scrapbooking" and you'll get a zillion hits, I promise. Most sites have shops, galleries, and forums, and they are a wealth of information. Registration is almost always free, though some sites have special sections just for paying members as well (I belong to two myself) that offer additional downloads and special deals. You can often find links to other sites, which lead to more sites, and off you go. You will find lots of info and tutorials, as well as freebies (or links to them). PSA (Public Service Announcement, a.k.a. begin soapbox): Digital scrapbooking freebies are the same as free downloadable stitching charts as far as copyright info goes. You cannot download a copy for yourself, then give it to someone else. Do not give direct links to the zip file, just send them to the same page you got it from! See this site for details: Stop Digital Piracy (End soapbox.)

Next is graphics software. If you already have some, then you should be all set. If not, the BBs can give you all kinds of pros and cons on each type. Obviously, people have their favorites, so take some of it with a grain of salt. Read up on each one, do a little research on your own, and see if there is a trial version you can download before you decide. I use Paint Shop Pro (um, version 8, I think), primarily because it came with my computer! And despite a moderate learning curve, I have quickly gotten the hang of it. My mother uses Photoshop Elements 3.0 (actually, she may have 4.0 now; I can't remember), and she likes it fine. I have that as well for some photo manipulation stuff, and I find it insanely frustrating for scrapping, so it really does vary by person what is "best." I would say that these two, plus the full Photoshop (mucho bucks) and Digital Image Pro (by Microsoft, IIRC) are the four most popular ones. DO NOT use Microsoft Paint (comes for free under the accessories menu). It just doesn't have the necessary power and features. While it is certainly possible to scrap using it, I really don't think you will be happy with the end results.

Once you have graphics software, and lots of available hard drive space, start downloading freebies! For the record, including my purchases, I have over 40GB (that is not a typo, forty gigabytes) of stuff downloaded. Yes, I do need to start culling! May I also recommend at least a CD burner, if not a DVD burner, for backing up all of your files, both your downloads and your layouts. PSA: Always always always leave a comment or reply to say thank you to the person providing the freebie, if it is at all possible. It is just polite. (This is something I didn't even think to do when I first started, and I am so embarrassed about it now!) Stores will often offer "samples" for free, so look under that category. Scrapping blogs are also good places to get freebies. I have links to several of my favorite sites in the sidebar of my scrapping blog, if you are interested. I also try to post any really awesome freebies I run across in my posts, so check the archives. PLEASE NOTE: I am just a happy customer promoting sites and designers and products I personally like and use. I am not on any creative teams, the designers have not asked me to do this, and I do not get any kickbacks. It's just me sharing what I like in the hopes that it helps someone else. (That is the long version of the common stitching BB notation "no affiliation, blah blah." LOL)

As far as how to organize these things once you have them, I have nothing to recommend! I'm still working on that myself. *Always* keep the terms of use (and read them if you use something from the kit!!), and make sure you know what kit and which designer each and every paper and element came from so you can provide proper credit! It works just like a report you wrote in school. There, you credit each and every book you used for research by title and author. It is the same thing here. Credit each and every piece of any and every kit you used, including where you got it from (though watch out in some of the online galleries at some of the sites; you are not allowed to mention other sites by name, but you should always name the kit and the designer). If you use a photograph that does not belong to you, make sure you have permission to use it (i.e. don't go surfing through Webshots and downloading random pictures; you can email them and ask permission, but if they say no or you don't hear back, you CANNOT use it), and always credit the photographer. This is what I did for my Peepers layout. I emailed Melanie to ask if I could use the photo, and she is credited with taking it.

Kits come in a variety of styles and colors and such, usually containing some papers and a few elements, such as ribbons, tags, frames, rivets, overlays, photo corners/prongs, etc. Each paper and/or element is usually contained in a separate file. All you then have to do is open your photo and each element you want to use in your graphics software, and layer them, just as you would in traditional scrapping (or so I am told; I have never ever scrapped anything in paper in my entire life!). How this is done varies from program to program, but that is the basic process. Line them all up, resizing if necessary, placing everything where you want it, then "flatten" and save the file into some printable format (usually jpg, sometimes png or tiff). You will want the end file to be big enough that it contains at least 200, but no more than 300, pixels per inch of the printed size you are after. So, if you want the end print to be 4 inches by 6 inches, aim for it to be 1200x1800 pixels when it is finished. (I read this thing four times before I posted it, and still didn't catch the mistake until the next day! I originally had 1200x1600, which would leave you rather short, or with a cropped layout. Sorry! I'm an engineer, and I can do math, really.) You want it to be at least 800x1200 pixels, or you will really start to lose image quality. Prefer to scrap square? An 8x8 printed layout should be 2400x2400 pixels when complete. It is okay to create it larger and shrink it. Do not attempt to create it smaller and then blow it up. You won't be happy with the end result.

After that, it really is just trial and error, trying new things and learning your software. I do recommend that you learn the following commands, and their keystroke shortcuts: select (especially shapes (if applicable) and magic wand or lasso), copy, paste to new layer, move, resize, crop, shape cutter (if you have one; not all programs do), and text block. I think blend and brushes would also be useful, but I haven't learned those myself yet. Oh, and sign up for newsletters! Sometimes you have to register at the stores for that, but again, registration is almost always free. (You may have to click "log in" at the top of the store page to bring up the registration form.) Just check the newsletter box at the end of the registration form. Newsletters rock, let me tell you. They have great tips and tricks, usually contain freebies, and you'll get notified of any upcoming sales (in case you are in a shopping mood!). If you don't like them, you can always unsubscribe later with no harm done.

Can't think of what to do or how to arrange things? Uses sketches or scraplift someone else's layout. They are essentially the same thing. A sketch is like a map, indicating where the photos, papers, elements, and journaling (text) should go. Always credit the sketch artist! You didn't come up with the design yourself, so don't take credit for it. Credit the creator with the inspiration. Scraplifting is just taking an actual layout someone else made and copying the basic construction. Again, credit the person you got the idea from! Something like "Scraplifted from *TITLE* by *PERSON*," and provide a link to the original work if you can. I will admit that I have severe trouble trying to come up with a layout design on my own (the exception being my brother's graduation announcement), and my layouts are almost exclusively scraplifts or from sketches. Browse the galleries! There's all kinds of awesome layouts in them. And it is polite to leave a nice comment if you find one you like.

If you want to stretch your skills and maybe move outside your comfort zone, try some of the challenges offered on the sites. They range from including quotes to sketches to color, and everything in between. I have found them immensely rewarding. I will also admit that I am unlikely to participate just because, or in the hopes of going into a drawing to win a prize. Lots of sites have "participation prizes," so as long as you meet the challenge criteria and upload your qualifying layout to the right gallery (they will tell you which one), you get a little prize. Usually a mini-kit or a paper pack, but it is a great way to build your collection *and* get some layouts done. Online chats and crops also commonly provide freebies for just showing up, so check those out, too. I am just now starting to participate in a few chats, and they are fun.

Anyway, I hope that helps, if not Cat then someone else. This is also posted on my regular blog, so forgive me if you see it twice. Thanks for letting me ramble on (and on and on) about my new hobby! If anyone has any other questions, feel free to ask. Clearly, I don't mind answering, LOL!

First Father's Day

And I don't mean that in the traditional sense. This photo is of DH holding Luke when he was less than an hour old. Literally his very first moments as a father, thus his "first father's day."



First Father's Day

Font is Arial

Paper, Ribbon Circle, and Alpha from A Boy's World by Rebecca Digrazio at Scrapbook-Bytes

"And" stamp by Gaucho Girl

Word art by Cindy Wyckoff

Completed June 19, 2006

Oh, and a quick freebie alert (yes, this is related). Cindy made the word art I used (and slightly recolored) for this layout. If you download it and use it, then go back to her blog and leave a link to the gallery you post it in, you get a free paper pack that is gorgeous! See her blog for details.

And for the record, any plugs I give anyone are just my own "happy customer" comments. I am not on any creative teams, I get no kickbacks or anything. Just trying to share what I like with anyone who might find it useful.

Peepers

This is a wonderful photo of my friend Melanie's cat Peepers, a black and white cat with the most stunning green eyes. When I saw this picture on her blog, I immediately knew I wanted to try this technique of layering a B&W photo on top of a color one and then erasing the eyes so that the iris color showed through. She kindly allowed me the use of her photo. I love it so much, I may try another layout or two with it in the future. Thank you Melanie!

Peepers

Photo graciously provided by Melanie Simmonds, altered by me

Font is Nuncio

Gray background paper from Green Elephant by Joana Carvalho at Digital Freebies

Green strips (all recolored by me), top to bottom are:

From Cafe Society by Tracy Collins at Digital Freebies

From Live Your Dreams by Jan Hosford at Digital Freebies

From Cafe Society by Tracy Collins at Digital Freebies

From Green Elephant by Joana Carvalho at Digital Freebies

Alpha from Pistachio Pudding by Joedee Matsler at Elemental Scraps

Ribbon and rivets from Boy Collection Friday Freebie by Amanda Rockwell at Digital Freebies

Scraplifted from Future Soccer Star by Lela Fleet

Created for the Bannerwoman Weekly Challenge, June 2006 Week 3, at Digital Freebies

Luke, Day One

Luke, Day One

Everything from Simple Things, an Eclectic Bytes CD Release Chat Freebie, at Scrapbook-Bytes

Blue background paper by Trish Jones

Darker blue floral paper by Dawn Stocstill (hunibuni)

Mottled center paper by Helen O'Daniel

Metallic Rivets by Zee Helmick

Inspriation Sketch 17 by Ginger Thibodeau at R U Square

Outside

Outside

Journaling: "This was Luke's first real chance to play outside. We took him to a local soccer field and just turned him loose. He wasn't quite sure what to do at first, but he got the hang of it. He hated falling down because he didn't like touching the grass with his hands to get up. -October 2005"

Font is Stonehenge

Everything from Friday Freebie by Amanda Rockwell at Digital Freebies

Inspiration sketch by Gina Miller

Created for the Subscribers Only Sketch Challenge #14 at Scrapbook-Bytes

Completed June 14, 2006

Sitting Pretty, Take 2

Sitting Pretty, Take 2

Font is Sidhe

Papers from Spring Fancy by Tina Dudly, with some slight recoloring by me

Ribbon from Candy by Sarah Batdorf at Scrappers Daily Dose

Stars from GlitzBytz by shelleyrae at Clik Chic Designs

Insiration Sketch #20 by Ginger Thibodeau of R U Square?

I didn't really like the layout that resulted from the challenge, so I redid it in my own version, but still basing it on Ginger's sketch as much as possible.

Completed June 13, 2006

Sitting Pretty

Sitting Pretty

Font is MA Simple Pleasure

Everything from Spring Fancy by Tina Dudly

Insiration Sketch #20 by Ginger Thibodeau of R U Square?

This photo is of Luke's first time sitting up unassisted.

Created for the June 2006 Element Challenge at RAK Scraps. The rules were: if you are using a picture featuring a male...use the color pink and or flowers, your featured picture should be from behind or above or at an angle...try to capture a diff perspective than the usual, and Use circles and rectangles together for your patterns and paper shapes

Completed June 13, 2006

Mind Meld

Mind Meld

Tag says: "Mind Meld"

Font is Fortunaschwein

Everything from Splendor by Rachel Dickson at Scrapdish

Scraplifted from Shiloh by chocolatte

Created for the Bannerwoman Weekly Scraplift Challenge, June 2006 Week 2, at Digital Freebies

Completed June 7, 2006

Eyes All Aglow

Eyes All Aglow

Tag says: "Eyes All Aglow"

Font is Flakes

Everything from Winter Bliss by Angie Svoboda at Digital Scrapbook Place

Created for the May 2006 RAK Newsletter Scraplift Challenge at RAK Scraps

Scraplifted from She's SNOW Cute by Ginger T

Completed June 4, 2006

Love at First Bite?

Love at First Bite?

Center says: "Love at first bite? NOT!"

Everything from Game Day Fun by Misty Cato at Scrap Outside the Box

Fonts are Curlz MT and Heatwave

Scraplifted from Ummm Ummmm Good!! by opeysmama

Created for Bannerwoman's Weekly Scraplift Challenge, June 2006 Week 1, at Digital Freebies

Completed June 3, 2006

Dragon*Con 2005

Dragon*Con 2005

Font is Kingthings Kelltika, a free internet download

Paper from Blossom by Helen O'Daniel at Scrapbook-Bytes

Frame from Lily by Carole Neale at DigiScrappin.biz

Created as a memento of my local cross stitching group getting to have dinner with two of our favorite designers, Teresa Wentzler and Jennifer Aikman-Smith

Completed June 1, 2006

First Shoes

First Shoes

Journaling: "Luke's very first pair of shoes. We waited until he was quite good at walking before investing in these. My husband bought new shoes the same day, and his were only $1 cheaper!"

Everything from Tenacity by Misty Cato at Scrap Outside the Box

Fonts are Bookman Old Style and Celtic Hand

Inspiration Sketch by Gina Miller at Scrapbook-Bytes

Created for the Subscribers Only Sketch Challenge #13 at Scrapbook-Bytes

Completed May 27, 2006

Mom and Este Mom

My Mom and Her Mom

Quote reads: "God's most precious work of art is the grace and love of a mother's heart."

Photo by Mark Warren (my father)

Font is Festival Flourish

All Papers and Elements from the RAK Scraps May 2006 Mega-Kit, specifically:

Paper by Mrs.Schmuck

Matte paper by Kelley Elizabeth McDonald

Stitching by Amy Wolff

Stamp and Stars by Cindy Wyckoff

Created for the Mother's Day Quote Challenge at RAK Scraps

Completed May 24, 2006

Bliss

Bliss

Tag reads: "Fastest Lips in the Renaissance"

Font is Cardinal Alternate, a free internet download

Get Funky Frame by Carrie Stephens, from FishScraps

Paper and Tag from Mon Ami Beau Kit by Zee Helmick, from Scrapbook-Bytes

Flower from Rhapsody by Misty Cato, from Scrap Outside The Box

Created as a thank you for Valerie Hammond (a kissing wench), who gave me free tickets to the GA Ren Fest

Completed May 23, 2006

Slam Dunk

Slam Dunk

Font is Team Spirit

Kit is Number One Fan by Staci Schall from The Digi Dreamer

Grungy Edge from Edges Pack by Lauren Bavin from Digital Scrapbook Place

Basketball Patch (on left) from Basketball is Life by Lady Jane at DigiScrap Central

Created for the May 2006 Free Daily Download Challenge at The Digi Dreamer

Photos are of Luke enjoying his Christmas gift from his father (the one helping him dunk)

Originally completed May 23, 2006, recreated June 3, 2006 due to computer glitch

McKenna

McKenna

Journaling: "Congratulations on the little princess! Happy First Mother's Day, Love Erin, Steve, and Luke"

Photos from Erica's Blog

Font is ALS Script, a free internet download

Everything from April Free {Pea} Digital Kit by Rhonna Farrer, from Two Peas in a Bucket

Created as a Happy First Mother's Day/Delayed Baby gift for my friend Erica Gonzales

Completed May 1, 2006

Happy Mother's Day 2006

Mother's Day 2006

Journaling: "To Mommy, Happy Mother's Day, Love Luke"

Photo by Erin Gaston

Font is SNC Script, a free internet download

Plopper from Ultimate Family Brag Book by Michelle Rottler, from 1HourScrap

Created as an insert for all of my cards for Mother's Day 2006

Completed April 26, 2006

Alan and Leslie's Wedding

Alan and Les's Wedding

Journaling: "Leslie Walker and Alan Coleman, United in Marriage, April 1, 2006"

Photograph by Rita Warren

Font is SNC Script, a free download from the internet

Everything from Golden Dreams by Kim Liddiard, from Digital Scrapbooking Place

Created as a small gift in honor of my uncle's marriage

Completed April 26, 2006

Dr. Warren

Jacob's Graduation Announcement

Journaling: "Dr. Jacob C. Warren, Ph.D. in Epidemiology, University of Miami, May 11, 2006"

Photos by Erin Gaston

Font is SNC Script, a free internet download

Everything (except UM logo) From Gentlemen's Study Add-On by Jade T, from Scrapbook-Bytes

Created as a graduation announcement in honor of my brother's graduation from the University of Miami with a PhD in Epidemiology

Completed May 22, 2006

I've changed my mind

Well, I've tried a zillion different backgrounds here, and even as pale as I can make them, I find them distracting. So I guess we'll go with a solid color, white for now. Not sure if white or black will make the colors "pop" more in the layouts. Guess we'll see. I'm leaning towards just sticking with the white for now. Tinker with the link and header colors a bit, but that's about it. And I really will get a layout or two posted soon, hopefully tonight.

My new scrapping blog

Wow, I never thought it would come to me creating a separate blog for a hobby, but here I am. In an attempt to prevent my layouts and such from overrunning my regular blog, I'm going to try and run this one as well, merely providing links from my new blog to this one when warranted (except for really important layouts, which will still make an appearance in my regular blog, LOL). We'll see how it goes.

And don't worry. I *will* be redecorating, and soon! I like the basic structure of this layout, and since I want to showcase the layouts themselves, I don't want to clutter things up. But a little color and/or texture would be nice. We'll see what I come up with. Thanks for looking!