Scrapbooking Tutorials – Simple Scrapper https://www.simplescrapper.com Scrapbook Ideas Tue, 17 Dec 2019 20:48:48 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.2 https://www.simplescrapper.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-favicon-1080-v5-150x150.png Scrapbooking Tutorials – Simple Scrapper https://www.simplescrapper.com 32 32 Easy DIY Photo Cards https://www.simplescrapper.com/2013/11/easy-diy-photo-cards/ https://www.simplescrapper.com/2013/11/easy-diy-photo-cards/#comments Wed, 06 Nov 2013 10:00:08 +0000 http://www.simplescrapper.com/?p=28253 There are so many beautiful photo card designs today, but I’m often frustrated by the price point. We send 80 to 100 cards each year, and that adds up quick! This has led me to design my own cards for the past three years. I thought it would be neat to share my process as […]

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There are so many beautiful photo card designs today, but I’m often frustrated by the price point. We send 80 to 100 cards each year, and that adds up quick!

This has led me to design my own cards for the past three years. I thought it would be neat to share my process as well as the exact template I used for this year’s cards.

Easy DIY Photo Cards from Simple Scrapper

Before we get to it, I also want to make a confession here. I chose a 4×6 card size so that it would fit into my Project Life album!

Step 1. Concept

Two years ago I used Ali Edwards word art. Last year I used commercial fonts. This year I discovered the Oh Snap boutique for photographers. This digital shop offers an impressive array of on-trend graphics and ready-to-go templates.

While there were so many designs I loved, I purchased this set so I could easily customize the images. In this case, I really needed to include two horizontal photos.

Making Spirits Bright templates from Oh Snap

I had a particular eye towards the sentiment on the bottom right, as it was vertical in orientation. But having options in this bundle gave me some peace of mind for experimentation!

Step 2. Create

I started by creating a 4×6 template for my card with two horizontal photo spaces and one vertical sentiment space. After inserting my photos I used the color picker to select a red from my daughter’s shirt as a background color.

Free Photo Card Template from Simple Scrapper

I added the selected sentiment and a brief message with our family name at the bottom with the Lora font. There are so many beautiful digital brushes today, making it easy to personalize your card.

Download the Template
Not sure how to use layered templates? Watch this tutorial.

Step 3. Print

I do all of my mail order printing with Persnickety Prints. Chari and her team treat your images and projects with the utmost care. The quality can’t be beat!

Easy DIY Photo Cards from Simple Scrapper

I choose the 4×6 photographic card package (comes with envelopes!) with a matte finish and rounded corners. You can also have your cards printed on card stock, but make sure to leave 1/4″ margins to allow for trimming.

Have you ever designed your own holiday cards? Leave any tips and tricks in the comments!

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Add Digital Stamps to iPhone Photos https://www.simplescrapper.com/2013/06/how-to-add-word-art-to-iphone-photos/ https://www.simplescrapper.com/2013/06/how-to-add-word-art-to-iphone-photos/#comments Sun, 02 Jun 2013 15:12:57 +0000 http://www.simplescrapper.com/?p=25964 This post is part of our summer storytelling series. Click here to register for Stories of the Summer, a free summer scrapbooking class. Last weekend I shared this image on Instagram. I used a digital stamp from my Summer Stories Toolkit (see details below) on top of a silhouette photo taken at a recently graduation […]

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This post is part of our summer storytelling series. Click here to register for Stories of the Summer, a free summer scrapbooking class.

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Last weekend I shared this image on Instagram. I used a digital stamp from my Summer Stories Toolkit (see details below) on top of a silhouette photo taken at a recently graduation party. I knew right away I just had to share this relatively easy technique in a post!

Note: The instructions provided are for iPhone, but the apps used are available for iPad as well.

Step 1. Add Digital Stamp to iPhone via Dropbox

Dropbox is a free cloud storage and syncing service that I use on all of my devices. It works on Mac or PC and there are apps for iPad and iPhone. It is the easiest way to access any file on your phone by just dragging it to a folder on your computer.

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Once you open the Dropbox app and identify the desired word art file, click the file to open it. Since it is a black png file you won’t be able to see it. Click the icon in the lower right that is an arrow pointing down into a box. Select the option to “Save to Photo Library.” (You can alternately copy the file to the clipboard.)

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Note: If you don’t wish to use Dropbox, you can email the word art files to yourself and save them to the Camera Roll from your email. Other cloud storage options like Google Drive could work as well.

Step 2. Add Digital Stamp to Photo in Laminar

Laminar is an inexpensive photo editing app with powerful capabilities for creating masks and layers. We can use it for the entire process of adding and recoloring digital stamps to your photos. (Note: You’ll want the Pro version for an enhanced experience on iPad.)

1. When you open the Laminar app, it will ask for the source of the image you want to use. Select your photo from the Photo Library.

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2. Rotate your image, if needed, by selecting Edit > Crop/Size and then the direction of rotation desired.

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3. Click the icon in the top left. Select the option to “Add Layer”. It will again ask you for the image source.

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4. Select Layers > Transform to allow manipulation of your digital stamp. Use your fingers to re-size and move it to the desired location. Click “Apply” when done.

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5. (Optional) If you want to keep the stamp black, at this stage you can select the cloud icon in the top right with the arrow on it. Then choose the desired export format, size, and destination.

Step 3. Recolor the Digital Stamp in Laminar

Other apps have layers (like PhotoForge2), but Laminar also has this masking feature that makes it super easy to recolor elements.

While you could recolor your digital stamps on the computer, the whole point here is to do things quickly on your phone. Here’s how to change a black png file to any color in the Laminar app.

1. Click the icon in the top left. Select the option to “Create Layer Mask”.

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3. Then select “Apply”.

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4. Click “Edit” from the bottom menu and select “Brushes”.

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5. Select “Paint”.

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6. Click “Properties” to increase the brush size. You want a fat brush.

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7. Use your finger to cover the digital stamp with color. Click “Apply”.

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8. Select “Layers” and then the transparent layer with your digital stamp. This highlights the layer. Select “Layer” again and then “Delete Layer”.

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9. Select “Layers” and then the layer with your color mask. Select “Layers” again and then, if desired, drag the opacity slider to the left.

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10. Select “Layers” and then “Flatten Image”.

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11. You may crop within Laminar, if desired, by selecting Edit > Crop/Re-Size.  Then go ahead and select the cloud icon in the top right with the arrow on it. Choose the desired export format, size, and destination.

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12. From here you may share your enhanced photo to various web locations or send it to your printer. I opened mine in Instagram and applied the Valencia filter.

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There are so many possibilities and I can’t wait to see what you do with this technique. Make sure to share your summer photos (with and without digital stamps) with the hashtag #summerstories.

Ready to try it out? I’ve developed a special toolkit for summer memory keeping, which includes the digital stamps shown as well as 50 story prompts for your summertime.

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Get a jumpstart on your summer storytelling!

  • 50 exclusive digital stamps (.png + .abr, preview)
  • 50 original summer-centered story prompts
  • Delivered immediately via instant digital download

Grab the toolkit now for $16.99
(or just $9.99* with you FREE Stories of the Summer registration)

Buy Now - Button Blue

*Discounted checkout revealed after you enroll in the free class.

Have questions about this tutorial? Leave a comment below.

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Faster Scrapbooking with Micro Kits https://www.simplescrapper.com/2013/04/fast-scrapbooking-with-micro-kits/ https://www.simplescrapper.com/2013/04/fast-scrapbooking-with-micro-kits/#comments Sat, 13 Apr 2013 01:23:31 +0000 http://www.simplescrapper.com/?p=25363 Create fast scrapbook layouts with this simple getting-ready technique.

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If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve seen me post several photos of micro kits. These are essentially page kits where I gather one or more photos and a specific set of supplies together for one layout.

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Many times the items are a subset of a pre-coordinated kit, like those from Studio Calico. In this example below, I had gathered items from the Front Row Card Kit.

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I find that making decisions in a separate sitting from my scrapping helps me work faster and be more creative with what I have in front of me. I will sometimes even make several micro kits at a time.

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When I create my micro kits, I start with just one or two pieces at a time. This creates a mood for the page to which I can add more items. Sometimes the mood comes from embellishments, as in this example below, and others it comes from the patterned papers.

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I don’t make too many micro kits at a time, only what I have surface area for. If I’m not feeling creative in a design sense, often combining products together with the story in mind will give me the inspiration I need. If this doesn’t happen right away, letting the concept germinate helps a lot.

How Do You Prepare to Scrap?

Many of our paper-using team members, like Sara Case Strickland, also use kits in one way or another. Sara says: “I’m a paper scrapper all the way so kits are my real go-to item. Pulling out a bag with paper, cardstock, letters, and embellies all coordinated and ready to go? Awesome. I do have wood veneer, my tiny attacher stapler, and flair buttons always on hand too though.”

Since I’ve been working with paper more often recently, I thought I’d also ask some of the Simple Scrapper digital team members how they get ready to scrapbook.

Lisa Corbin Polak’s process very much mirrors mine in digital format and Celeste Smith generally uses a single kit for her layouts as well.

Lisa says: “Most of the time I start with photos, look for a template, and then start picking elements. Lately, I find that I stick mostly to one kit. I’ll pull the papers, the edited photos, and some of the embellishments that I think I want to use into a layout. Often I save that and come back later to scrap. Of course, then I usually go back to look for more embellishments.”

Celeste says: “I typically start with a kit. Then I find photos to match the kit. I open all the papers in the kit and my photos, start a blank canvas and start making blocks for papers. Then at the end I usually have to go hunting for a few more items to complete the page.”

Ronnie Crowley, Jean Manis and Van Nguyen all tend to gather products as they scrapbook.

Ronnie says: “When I scrap digital it starts with the pictures and then I find a template. Then I consider what I want the page to feel like which pushes me to a specific color of paper, or a kit I know I have, or sends me to my organiser to look for a specific item. If it’s a paper or item I find in my stash on EHD I then look at what else is in that kit will work and sometimes I will work with just that. More often than not it will lead me elsewhere in my stash looking for something else. I don’t have to remember where I put it as I tag things multiple ways meaning I can find it multiple ways.”

Jean says: “Working digitally with a template, I choose the photograph then seek papers to go with the template/photos. Embellishments follow. I write the journaling about midway through the process. But I don’t have any [supplies prepared as kits].”

Van says: “When I scrap digitally, I usually stay within a collection and if I need something else not in the collection, I usually stay with the same designer. My go to embellishments like staples and stitches, however are always the same. And I love starting with a template or at least a sketch when I scrap digitally as well.”

I’d love to hear how you work. How do you get ready to scrap? And tell me, what do you think of the micro kit idea? Is it an approach that could help you scrapbook faster?

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How to Prepare for 30 Days of Lists https://www.simplescrapper.com/2013/02/how-to-prepare-for-30-days-of-lists/ https://www.simplescrapper.com/2013/02/how-to-prepare-for-30-days-of-lists/#comments Thu, 21 Feb 2013 10:00:07 +0000 http://www.simplescrapper.com/?p=24573 Next month I’m participating for the second time in 30 Days of Lists, and for this round I’m also serving as a challenge Ambassador. 30 Days of Lists brings people together in the spirit of simple journaling, scrapbookers and non-scrapbookers alike. If you’re already signed up or even still considering it, here’s a step-by-step list […]

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Next month I’m participating for the second time in 30 Days of Lists, and for this round I’m also serving as a challenge Ambassador. 30 Days of Lists brings people together in the spirit of simple journaling, scrapbookers and non-scrapbookers alike.

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If you’re already signed up or even still considering it, here’s a step-by-step list to prepare yourself for the journey.

Step 1. Sign Up

While there are many ways to get involved in memory keeping online, there are few that offer so much value on one sweet package. 30 Days of Lists is just $8 for thirty daily journaling prompts, many giveaway opportunities and a fun support group. Click here to sign up.

Step 2. Download Your Checklist

All Listers get access to several free bonuses, including a special checklist I created to help you both prepare and stay on track. Yes, you get a list for your listing!

Step 3. Gather Supplies

This project begs for a special journal to keep your lists. Earlier this month I released a companion kit for this round of 30 Days of Lists. It sold out in just over 24 hours! While it is no longer available, the other kits currently in our shop would be quite suitable as well!

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Step 4. Prepare a Foundation

If you’re using a more creative set of supplies, you may want to decorate a cover and prepare your pages for listing. This step, while optional, can make the project more fun and help you stick with it.

I used the kit for my foundation, preparing one page per list with a consistent look and feel for each spread.

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Each spread is exactly like Day 2-3, with a different patterned paper on the odd-numbered side.

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Yes, I realize this is 30 Days of Lists. I’ll be using Day 31 to reflect on what I learned.

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I used my Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher to secure the number tags. It added a little bulk, yes, but like how it gives the book some substance without being crazy thick.

Step 5. Start Listing

30 Days of Lists begins March 1 on a private Lister-only blog. Make sure you sign up now so you can follow along with the group! And don’t forget, you can use the hashtag #30lists to keep up on Twitter and Instagram.

Note: I am an affiliate for 30 Days of Lists and thus, your registration through my link financially supports Simple Scrapper.

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Storytelling when Journaling is Hard https://www.simplescrapper.com/2012/11/journaling-keep-it-simple/ https://www.simplescrapper.com/2012/11/journaling-keep-it-simple/#comments Mon, 19 Nov 2012 11:04:33 +0000 http://www.simplescrapper.com/?p=22562 Team member Aimee Maddern shares one idea for sharing her stories when she isn't excited about journaling.

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This is a guest post from team member Aimee Maddern.

If you’re like me, you don’t quite love to journal! I have a few reasons why it’s hard for me:

  1. I hate my hand-writing.
  2. I am not a very good storyteller.
  3. I don’t think people are interested in what I have to say.
  4. Most of my layouts are of my dogs and they can’t read.
  5. Photos tell the story alone, right?
  6. I don’t really have much to say.

To make up for less journaling on my pages, I have a few other ways I incorporate the story into my layouts. My title always seems to tell you what I have done or where I have gone. Also I like to date the layout, particularly the day the photo was taken. It’s very easy to see when the photo was taken, because our phones and digital cameras keep track of that in the metadata.

Here are a few ways you could add more story to your layouts without more journaling:

  1. Choose a creative title.
  2. Make a list.
  3. Add dates to photos.

Every once in awhile I like to add a little story other than my title and date. Often I take photos that no one ever sees except me. This photo of Kevin on Sims Bridge is an example. I thought adding a bit of journaling was appropriate for this layout.

1. I type my journaling in Microsoft Word.

2. I measure a tag.

3. In Word, I go to page set up and either find something close to my tag size or create a new size. In this case the tag is to small to run through the printer itself so I know I will need to adhere it to the paper.

4. I then change the font, size of text and start playing with the margins.

5. I print it out to see if it will fit on the tag.

6. I then attach the tag to the paper with some washi tape, and run it through the printer.



7. You can see its not perfect but I am happy with it. I had some colored bakers twine and slide it into the little pocket on my layout.


My journaling: We weren’t in a hurry to get to the Woodburn race. We had left in plenty of time to get there. We have traveled so much this year, but really haven’t stopped all that much and enjoy it. I was needing to put my toes in the water. As we drove up through Mt. Shasta, I could see the steam and wanted to stop. On our second attempt getting off the freeway to find the stream, we found “Sims Bridge”. It was this quaint little spot of the side of the road. It was exactly what I needed. I walked down to put my toes in the water, Jager followed me and Cassie followed you. After I was done with the freezing water, I came up to find you taking in the View of Mt. Shasta. It was a beautiful day in September. I love when I capture photos of you.

Do you like journaling? If it is hard for you, what is one technique you use to tell the story?

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Making Paper Scrapbooking Easy Again: Using Templates https://www.simplescrapper.com/2012/09/making-paper-scrapbooking-easy-again-using-templates/ https://www.simplescrapper.com/2012/09/making-paper-scrapbooking-easy-again-using-templates/#comments Wed, 05 Sep 2012 10:00:10 +0000 http://www.simplescrapper.com/?p=21017 Team member Julie Aldridge shows step-by-step how to use a template to create a paper scrapbook layout.

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In this guest post team member Julie Aldridge beautifully showcases how simple it is to use a template to create a traditional scrapbook page.

I’m a paper scrapper. I don’t mind being on the computer a little, but I like to get my hands dirty and play with paper, embellishments, patterns, and colors. I like to dig into my craft space and be inspired. I like to keep things simple.

And I am obsessed with templates.

Templates make my creative process easier. They have revolutionized the way I scrapbook. My pages are quicker and easier because the bulk of the work is done for me.  Instead of staring at an empty, blank page, I use a template and finish my project in 3 steps. Quick, easy, clean, and simple.

Step 1: Pre-Planning/Design

My first step is always to set up my design. This requires a little pre-planning. Don’t be scared, all I’m doing here is asking myself, what am I going to make? Usually, I either start with a template or photo that I have in mind. In the following example, I started with a template for 4×6 photos because I had a HUGE stack of 4×6 pictures that I wanted to use. Here’s the template:

Looking through my stack of pictures, I found one that I loved and wanted to use. Unfortunately, the template calls for 2 pictures, and was titled ‘Then and Now’. I nixed the ‘Then and Now’ title since that’s not what I was going to do. Next, I decided to replace the second image with a journaling card. Since my journaling was now planned, I removed the text. Ta-Da! The design was finished!

Step 2: Print

This is the easiest step! Since my picture was already printed, I just printed out the journalling card.

Step 3: Play

With the pictures and journalling card printed, I pulled out my paper and embellishments and looked for complementary colors. I almost always use neutrals and try to stick as closely to the template as I can. After all, I’m trying to make this easier for myself!

Materials: Solid paper is Quicksand by Bazzill Basics; screen print paper is Birds on a Wire by Hambly Screen Prints; flag made with Book Jacket/Memoir Collection by Studio Calico; scalloped stripe made with Letterset/Calico Classic Collection by Studio Calico; Brad by Crate Paper; journal card uses Cathy Zielske’s design from DesignerDigitals.com; template by Simple Scrapper Premium Membership; photo taken by Brooke Turner Photography.

This method works for all sorts of templates, and I use it consistently every time I make a page.

For more complex templates, I’ll use Photoshop/Photoshop Elements to pre-plan my design by dragging and dropping my pictures into a template that Simple Scrapper’s Premium Membership provides [Step 1].

Then I’ll print the 12×12 picture directly through a company like Persnickity Prints. Within a week, I have beautiful 12×12 pictures at my doorstep with the pictures already in place [Step 2]. All I need to do then is add paper and embellishments [Step 3].

For further reading, check out the pages made by the design team for July’s Challenge to see more examples of Simple Scrapper Premium Membership templates in use and stop by my own blog to see my method put in action.

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Take Two: Combining Two Single-Page Templates in a Single-Page Scrapbook Layout https://www.simplescrapper.com/2012/08/take-two-combining-two-single-page-templates-in-a-single-page-layout/ https://www.simplescrapper.com/2012/08/take-two-combining-two-single-page-templates-in-a-single-page-layout/#respond Mon, 20 Aug 2012 15:52:58 +0000 http://www.simplescrapper.com/?p=20770 This installment of the Take Two series shows how to combine two single-page templates into a single-page layout.

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This installment of the Take Two series shows how to combine two single-page templates from the Simple Scrapper Premium Membership Library into a single-page layout.

I wanted to scrap a single-photo layout using the paper scrap style that’s recently caught my eye in galleries. I was immediately drawn to two templates from the November 2011 release.

I actually didn’t scrap either of these templates when they were released last November – so this will in fact be a First Take.

I started by considering the single-photo template, since I knew that I would be scrapping just one photo. I opened that template up in Photoshop.

I saw the potential of using the four photo spots in this other template for paper strips.

To begin the merge of the two templates, I selected the four photo rectangles and the scallop border from the template shown above and dragged them into the single-photo template. At the same time, I deleted the title and the paper behind the title on the single-photo template.

It was obvious that I needed to resize the photo rectangles, which I would be using for the paper strips, to match the sizing of the mat behind the photo and journaling box. At the same time, I simplified the journaling box.

At this point, it was time to choose digital papers and elements for my layout. Since I was scrapping a photo of my husband and our two sons, I wanted a masculine-feeling collection. Also, because I was going to be using a mixture of patterns, I wanted a digital set that would include a large variety of patterns. I ultimately chose the Echo Park Note to Self collection after unsuccessfully trying to do some mixing and matching of papers from several different kits.

I added my photo and my journaling to the template, and then began to try different papers in the various locations. One advantage to the digital approach is that I was able to scale the patterns to my choosing. This could be achieved with traditional papers by using both 12” x 12” and 6” x 6” papers in the layout. The Note to Self collection comes in both sizes.

At the same time I added a stroke and a small embellishment to the journaling box.

After letting this layout sit for a while, I made a few changes with papers and embellishments: I added a border, changed the paper for the ribbon and switched out the two background papers.

I tried adding the title on top of the patterned papers but was unhappy with the effect. The titlework simply didn’t stand out against the patterned paper.

I brought the ribbon out from behind the patterned papers and added my title with the alpha from the digital set. I decided to weave part of the title behind the paper. With the ribbon layer selected, I selected the area around the paper behind which I wanted to tuck the ribbon with the marquee tool.

I did a “select inverse” and added a layer mask. I could have simply deleted part of the ribbon, but I prefer to use non-destructive methods in Photoshop when possible.

Supplies: Simple Scrapper Premium Collection templates; Echo Park Note to Self Collection papers, alpha, and embellishments

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How to Add Memorabilia to Digital Scrapbook Pages https://www.simplescrapper.com/2012/08/using-memorabilia-in-digital-scrapbooks/ https://www.simplescrapper.com/2012/08/using-memorabilia-in-digital-scrapbooks/#comments Fri, 10 Aug 2012 10:00:28 +0000 http://www.simplescrapper.com/?p=20660 Digital scrapbooking expert Melissa Shanhun shares a video tip for adding memorabilia to scrapbook pages.

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This is a guest post from Australia’s top digital scrapbooking educator Melissa Shanhun, owner of Digital Scrapbooking HQ.

Do you struggle to add memorabilia to your scrapbook pages?

As a digital scrapbooker, sometimes I’m not sure how to add all that life stuff to my pages. Sometimes I pop it one or two things into my photobooks, or bind it along with printed pages in a home made album, but what about getting those items into digital form?

In my video today, I’m going to share two simple ways to add memorabilia to a digital scrapbooking page.

RSS subscribers may need to visit Simple Scrapper to see the video. If you have a scanner or a camera and Photoshop Elements (or similar editing software) you can follow along.

My Memorabilia Process

  • Collect items and pop them in a plastic sleeve by approximate date to help me find it later.
  • Scan flat items to include on my page and save the file along with my photos from that event.
  • Photograph 3D items in natural light and save the photos along with event photos.
  • Extract them for use on a digital page.
  • Print and enjoy (and clear out some shelf space!).

Simple Memorabilia Tips

  • Photograph your memorabilia on a plain, contrasting background if you want to extract it for use in a layout.
  • Use a scanner to get clear text on flat memorabilia without messing with a tripod or photographer’s lighting set up.
  • Use the quick select tool to select and delete the background quickly.
  • Help memorabilia fit as embellishments on your page by recolouring or just choose a kit that goes with the memorabilia.
  • Don’t fuss! If the memorabilia is a little creased up, it just adds authenticity.

At Digital Scrapbooking HQ you can see how I recoloured and adjusted the memorabilia to fit with my colour scheme as well as learn other extraction methods.

If you are keen to learn more about digital scrapbooking I have special offer for Simple Scrapper readers – $5 off any video workshop.

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Take Two: Double-Page Template to a Single-Page Layout with the Emphasis on Photos https://www.simplescrapper.com/2012/07/take-two-converting-a-double-page-template-to-a-single-page-layout-with-the-emphasis-on-photos/ https://www.simplescrapper.com/2012/07/take-two-converting-a-double-page-template-to-a-single-page-layout-with-the-emphasis-on-photos/#comments Thu, 26 Jul 2012 00:00:34 +0000 http://www.simplescrapper.com/?p=19828 This installment of the Take Two series shows how to shrink a double-page template from the Premium Membership library into a single-page layout. I will be creating a hybrid layout – one in which my process uses digital tools to create a traditional, paper layout. I wanted to create a layout using some square photos, […]

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This installment of the Take Two series shows how to shrink a double-page template from the Premium Membership library into a single-page layout. I will be creating a hybrid layout – one in which my process uses digital tools to create a traditional, paper layout.

I wanted to create a layout using some square photos, taken with a Kodak during one of my family’s road trips in the early 1960s. Most of the photos from my early youth were taken with the same Kodak. The quality of the photos isn’t great, but back then, film and processing were expensive and my parents took photos sparingly. I treasure the photos despite their quality and I believe the photo of me with my grandfather is the only one ever taken of the two of us together.


I went searching the Simple Scrapper library for a suitable template to use as a page sketch and found a double-page one in the December 2011 Collection.

Simple Scrapper Template from the December 2011 Collection

My original take on this template focused on our family’s relaxed Thanksgiving holiday vacation.

Supplies: Jessica Sprague/Heidi Swapp Winter Wonderland papers; Robyn Meierotto papers; Echo Park Paper Co. border; Splendid Fiins brad; Ali Edwards word art; Anna Aspnes paper and stitching

Visualize

Looking at the template, I knew I wanted to use the five photos and the journaling strip in a one-page layout. After opening the template in Photoshop, I used the crop tool, set at 20” x 12”, to help me visualize the area of the template that I wanted to use in my new layout. I didn’t use the tool to actually crop anything, however.

Delete Layers

I deleted the layers in the template that I would not be using in my new layout.

New Canvas

I created a new 12” x 12” canvas and drug the layers over. You’ll notice that the journaling strip and title are not on the new canvas. As I brought the items into the new 12” x 12” canvas, it was evident that the journaling location and orientation would need to be changed. I sized the photos to take up the maximum horizontal space. The extra layers were still part of the template but not visible on the screen.

Make Adjustments

I moved the location of the title/word art and reoriented the journaling box to be horizontal rather than vertical.

Add Photos + Journaling

I placed the scans of my original photos into the template and added white borders. I also wrote the journaling and added it. Finally, I created some star embellishments in Photoshop to serve as placeholders for paper embellishments in my final layout. I didn’t have my exact set of embellishments chosen, but wanted something in that bottom left corner so that I could better assess the layout at this point.

Another Adjustment

It may sound crazy, but because I scrap digitally more often than with traditional supplies, I forgot that I wouldn’t be able to print my journaling directly onto my background paper since I don’t own a large format printer. I extended the mat on which the photos were resting and created a background paper for my journaling. Knowing that I would be using a journaling card as a mat for my chipboard alpha, I added my title digitally to better help me visualize my embellishments.

Finish

At this point it was time to print my photos and journaling and assemble my layout with my papers and minimal embellishments. As I stated earlier, the quality of the photos isn’t great, but I’m thrilled to have been able to reconstruct a little bit of my early childhood history on a scrapbook page. To be honest, these photos weren’t even stored together in the photo box; they were scattered among several hundred photos from that time.

Road Trip Supplies

Another Take

As I was finishing up the article, I couldn’t help but begin to see yet another template variation – achieved by rotating the photos 90 degrees clockwise and putting the title and journaling strip to the left. If I were to make a layout from this version of the template, I’d likely replace the vertical paper strips with an embellishment of some sort.

Download the template with a Free Membership

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Hybrid Scrapbook Layout Process: Starting with a Patterned Paper https://www.simplescrapper.com/2012/05/hybrid-scrapbook-layout-process-starting-with-a-patterned-paper/ https://www.simplescrapper.com/2012/05/hybrid-scrapbook-layout-process-starting-with-a-patterned-paper/#comments Wed, 23 May 2012 11:35:12 +0000 http://www.simplescrapper.com/?p=19279 Jean Manis lets patterned paper inspire a hybrid layout.

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Recently I came across a patterned paper from the Studio Calico October 2011 Field Guide kit that I didn’t have any idea on how to use when I received my kit. The sun-ray paper, an exclusive paper made by Sassafras for Studio Calico, screamed for a summer, outdoor layout, but with the gray fall weather in the Pacific Northwest at the time, I just wasn’t thinking about sunny outings.

Sassafras for Studio Calico paper
from the Studio Calico Field Guide Kit

Starting Point

I hardly ever start a scrapbook layout with a paper choice. I’m more likely to see a set of photos and then look for an appropriate template to use, or for my creative team assignments, I start with the template and find photos. Since I was starting with the paper this time, I could have chosen either path–starting with photos or a template–and decided that it made most sense to find photos.

Finding Photos

Digging through my photos, I found two from a summer outing at which my sons had eaten ice cream cones. I would have preferred working with three photos, but these photos were from pre-digital days when I took far fewer photos. I’ve learned to work with what I’ve got!

Choosing a Template

I browsed through the Simple Scrapper Premium Membership Library of sketch templates, evaluating those designed for two photos. I ultimately chose a single-page one from the February 2012 collection.

Simple Scrapper February 2012 Sketch #3

Starting the Layout–Digitally

I scanned my photos, made necessary color corrections, and brought them into the template in Photoshop. I made the background a shade of yellow to simulate the patterned paper and removed the stitching.

Wanting to see what the layout would look like with portrait, rather than landscape, photos, I rotated the template 90 degrees clockwise. My original photos had a lot of elements on the sides that distracted from the focus. I turned off the monogram element and the journaling, since I was still at the brainstorming stage.

I definitely preferred the portrait photos, but decided that I wanted my title in the lower-left corner, so I vertically rearranged the photos, title, and journaling spot.

Having settled on the portrait orientation for the photos, I began to think about the page’s overall color scheme. I realized that the colors in the photos didn’t really go with the yellows and oranges in my patterned paper. I converted the photos to black and white in Photoshop. At the same time I added white borders, and shortened them to be 4” x 5” rather than 4” x 6”. I settled on a split-complimentary color scheme, so I changed the title color to be teal.

I decided that I would put the sun center in the upper-right hand corner of the layout and changed the journaling card to be more vertical than horizontal. Finally, I layered the close-up photo of my youngest son on top of the photo of my oldest son at an angle for a more informal feel to the page.

Finishing the Layout–Traditionally

It was finally time to print out the photos and begin to work with the paper and other embellishments. Before I could lay down my title, I had to choose one, which is a task that I struggle with. I turned to Peppermint Creative’s Title + Phrase Guide. Choosing the Summer category I found A Little Taste of Summer, which seemed perfect for the photos. I didn’t have any teal dimensional alpha stickers, and I was determined to complete the layout without purchasing additional supplies. I decided to dye Vanilla Doll Thickers by American Crafts with Tim Holtz Distress Stain in Broken China. I applied the stain several times to get the desired color.

I adhered my title to the lower left-hand corner before adhering anything else. Once those were down, I added the photos and the journaling card, which I created in Photoshop to achieve the reverse-type look. At this point, I shopped my stash for embellishments to finish the page. I covered the point where the sun rays came together with a pinked-edge paper that had been included in the Studio Calico Glee Club kit.

Supply List

Where are you most likely to start a layout? With a sketch or template, with a set of products in mind, with photos, …?

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