Rozanne Paxman

Muse: To be absorbed in one's thoughts; engage in meditation. Not intended to solve the world's problems, another person's problems, or to cover topics completely. One does not have to agree with musings to enjoy them, just as one does not have to be the same as someone else to appreciate who they are.

Would you like to earn a $20 Gift Certificate? Send your own muse to [email protected]. If it is selected for publication in the Scrap Girls newsletter, you'll get to have fun shopping!

Creating a Lace Background

Note: Tutorial created using Adobe Photoshop CS4 with Microsoft Vista

I often use lace as an embellishment because the delicate material adds a touch of elegance and softness to any layout, whether it's a heritage-themed layout or a baby-themed layout. Sometimes, though, a little lacy ribbon or bow isn't enough. When you want your layout to feel especially rich and elegant, you can create a background entirely made of lace. Let's explore how to create a lace background using ScrapSimple Paper Templates.

First, choose your paper template. I'll be using ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Rosemary. I like to add a white background fill layer under the template layer so it will be easier to see the details of the lace.

Next, it's time to add color to the template. Go to Image> Adjustments> Hue/Saturation (Ctrl+U). Check the "Colorize" box and adjust the sliders to achieve your desired color. Here you can see that I've changed the color to a light purple.

If you wish, you can stop here; however, there's a way to make the color more realistic – and it's really easy to do. First, find a patterned paper that coordinates with the color you've already chosen for your lace background. Add it to your working canvas, making sure your patterned paper layer is on top of the lace template layer. Here, I've chosen a paper from Watercolor Whimsy Paper Super Mini.

Next, you'll want to clip the patterned paper to the lace paper template by creating a clipping mask. Right-click on the patterned paper layer and select "Create Clipping Mask" from the context menu or you can use the shortcut, Ctrl+Alt+G (or Ctrl+G in Photoshop Elements).

You'll notice that your paper template has lost its lacy texture. You'll need to change the Blending Mode of the patterned paper layer to allow the lacy texture of the paper template to show. You can also adjust the Opacity of the patterned paper layer to create a more subtle effect. Here, I've chosen "Linear Burn" for the Blending Mode and I lowered the Opacity to 83%.

When you're satisfied with your adjustments, sit back and admire your lovely lace background. Wasn't that easy? Notice how the coloring of the lace is richer and more varied with the addition of the patterned paper.

Now that you have created your lace background, it's time to add photos and embellishments. I like to keep it simple to allow the lace background to shine.

Layout by Ashleigh Bronner
larger view

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Rosemary, Basic: White Paper Mini, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Photo Clusters 4, By Hand Word Art Mini and Bella Marie Collection Biggie are also available.

Article written by Ashleigh Bronner

How to Use Photoshop Brushes and Styles to Add Accents to Your Digital Scrapbooking Layouts

Note: Tutorial created using Photoshop CS2 with Windows XP

It's easy to use Photoshop brushes and styles to add accents to your digital scrapbooking layouts. Many times as we work on layouts, we find that we have a space that needs "a little something," such as in the example below. The calendar is coming along nicely, but instead of adding photos or individual embellishments to the empty date squares, a brush with an added style may be a perfect solution. In this tutorial, you will learn how to use Photoshop brushes and styles to accent your digital scrapbooking layouts.

For this layout, the area that needs an embellishment is rectangular. Instead of choosing several small brushes for the date squares, a wider brush will fit nicely, such as Brush Set: Fancy Flourishes. If you haven't added them to your brush preset folder already, you will need to load them.

First, activate the Brush Tool. Open the brush option box and click on the arrow in the upper right corner. Choose "Load Brushes" and navigate to the proper folder on your computer to add the ABR files you want, in this case, Brush Set: Fancy Flourishes.

Create a new top layer on your layout and ensure that it is activated (selected). This is very important. One of the wonderful things about Photoshop is that it allows you to do, re-do, un-do, move things about, add special effects (styles), and edit to your heart's content. This is possible because of the layers which can all be manipulated separately. If you place your brush on a separate layer, you have many options and can obtain many different looks. However, if you place your brushwork on a layer that has a background paper, for instance, that brush is stuck to that background layer and you will not be able to manipulate it further. For maximum versatility, add a new layer when you use Photoshop brushes and styles to add accents to your digital scrapbooking layouts.

In the example below, the brush was added onto a separate layer because it will have a style applied to it. The placement bridges the gridlines, and while it may look harsh in black, the style that will be added will coordinate with the layout and blend it in nicely.

The style that will be used for this layout is ScrapSimple Tools – Styles: Verdigris Biggie 5101. This style set was chosen because the colors are similar to the color scheme of the layout so far. This will allow the layout to continue to have a peaceful feeling. This style set will be loaded in a similar way to the brushes. Activate the Styles Palette and click on the arrow in the upper right. From the options box, choose "Load Styles" and navigate to the proper file on your computer and choose the ASL files.

In the Layers Palette, make sure that the layer with the brushwork is activated (selected). In the Styles Palette, choose one of the styles, then click it. Your brushwork now has a soft verdigris look that coordinates perfectly with the layout. From this point, you can choose to add more brushwork in other areas. Remember to place each brush "stamp" on a new layer so that you have maximum versatility.

The next time you need "a little something" on your layout, use Photoshop brushes and styles to add accents to your digital scrapbooking layout, and see what a quick and easy process it is. The flourish I added to this calendar works well to balance the month/year text in the upper left corner. It will allow me to add more embellishments around the perimeter of the calendar, while still maintaining a clear calendar space as shown in the layout below.

Layout by Durin Eberhart
larger view

Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Fancy Flourishes, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Verdigris Biggie 5101, ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates - Calendar: 12x12 Monthly Review 2011, In The Moment Collection Mini, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Gold 5101 Super Biggie, Chinoiserie Collection Mini and Lettering Delights Timely Font are also available.

Article written by Durin Eberhart

Layout by Durin Eberhart
larger view

Designer Freebie by Durin Eberhart coordinates with her ScrapSimple Paper Templates: When I Was Young, part of this month's ScrapSimple Club offering!

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Word Art Templates: When I Was Young, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Woodland Applique, Dyed Fabric 9 Paper, Brush Set: Wildest Dreams 3 and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Gesso 5102 are also available.

Today's freebie designed by Durin Eberhart

* There is a "free download" button on the details page for each gift. You don't need to put them in your shopping cart unless you are shopping for other items. Also note that if you are slow reading your newsletter, you may find this freebie has already been retired, as the freebies are only available as gifts for about two newsletter cycles.

East Coast High Noon Crop
Wednesday, May 11th - 10:00AM MT

Join April (April Showers) each Wednesday at 10am MT for the East Coast High Noon Crop. All coasts and time zones are welcome! These crops are designed to allow you to work on your own photos and themes simply giving participants a one hour goal and a fun, new challenge each week. On May 11th, we'll do an Embellishment Challenge. Create a layout using at least three different types of embellishments - flowers, buttons, brads, staples, tags, ribbons, whatever works with your page! Create your layout and upload it to the special High Noon Crop Gallery. You'll be amazed what you can get done in just one hour, but there is no High Noon Sheriff timing you! Hope to see you in the chat room!

Baby-Themed Crop & Chat
Wednesday, May 11th - 7:00PM MT

Join Carla (CRS) and Theresa (tiza126) for a new twist on the Baby Theme Crop at 7pm MT! This month, we'll continue to work with ABC's. Include something in your layout that starts with a M, N, and O!

U.F.O Chat
Thursday, May 12th - 7:00PM MT

Everyone has them - those projects you've started but just haven't gotten around to finishing! Join Shannon (tinkerbell11) and our guest this week Jennifer (SilverSwanMom), one of our very talented Layout Designers, in the chatroom at 7pm MT to talk about all of them. Post your layouts in the Unfinished Objects Layouts Gallery before the chat so we can get Jennifer's input during the chat.

What's New in the Boutique Chat
Friday, May 13th - 9:00AM MT

Join April (April Showers) at 9am MT on Friday morning to chat about all the wonderful new products in the Scrap Girls Boutique! What are your favorite new items? Is your shopping basket full? What did you kaboodle? Have you already done layouts or other projects with your new goodies? Come tell the designers how much you love their work. You never know who will show up. There's a thread every Thursday and now there's a chat, too!

Recipe Swap Chat
Saturday, May 14th - 7:00PM MT

Join Carla (CRS) and Lei (Bride) at 7pm MT in the chat room for our Monthly Recipe Swap Chat. Please check the message board the Thursday before the chat for this month's theme and the swap details!

May Message Board Game: Spotlight on the Boutique!

Each day during May (with the exceptions of Sundays), a member of the Welcoming Committee will post a layout in the official game thread. The layout will correspond with a product in the Scrap Girls Boutique and will be either the only layout or directly to the right of the product image on the product details page. A spotlight circle will show a portion of the layout you are to search for. If the layout is not identified by the following morning, a second spotlight circle will be added to the layout. This will be repeated until the product is identified.

To participate, search the Boutique for the layout and post a link to the product page in the official game thread. One guess per member per day. The winner will be drawn from all members who correctly identify a product throughout the month. The winner will receive a $10 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique!

For complete details, visit the Monthly Message Board Games folder on the Scrap Girls Message Board.

May Monthly Layout Contest: What's blooming in your yard, garden, or neighborhood right now? For those in the northern hemisphere, it would be spring flowers. For those in the southern hemisphere, it would be flowers of the fall variety. For May's layout contest, show us what's blooming in your neck of the woods or show us photos of your favorite flowers. Post your layouts in the May Monthly Layout Gallery before Midnight MT on May 31st. Be sure to list your credits in the description or under the EXIF Properties. If your layout is one of the two chosen, you will win a $10 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique!

Club Concepts Layout Contest: Post your new layout using the current club selection (either the Scrap Girls Club or the ScrapSimple Club) in our Scrap Girls Club Members Gallery or the ScrapSimple Club Members' Gallery. Be sure to list all of the Scrap Girls products you used. If your layout is chosen, it will be showcased as a Club Concepts layout winner, and you will win a $5 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique!

Check our message board calendar if you have any questions about what is happening at Scrap Girls. All event times are given in Mountain Time Zone unless otherwise noted. Need help converting time zones? Check out the World Clock - Time Zone Converter. (Use 'USA-Utah-Salt Lake City' as the location for the Mountain time zone.)

Haven't received your prize as a contest winner? Please send an email to [email protected] and we'll get it out to you right away!

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