Scrap Girls Digital Scrapbooking Adventures

Christmas Card

I love creating cards and since I discovered digital scrapbooking I make them much more often. Christmas cards are especially important to me. The great thing about creating them digitally is that you can also send them by e-mail. I used to do that when the children were very small, because I didn't have the time to put them together "on paper". This year, however, I will mail them.

Our family picture was taken in the garden using a self timer. I treated it with the;ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Altered Photos PS 8201 , because even though I tried to coordinate our clothes, they were still too bold. I used ScrapSimple Card Templates: 5x7 Monogrammed Announcements to speed up the design (I resized the card to 4x6 in.). The papers and elements come from the Awaiting Christmas Collection and Christmas Magic Collection Biggie. I also applied the ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Felt 8201 Super Biggie to the card design elements. I printed the card and glued it to a piece of folded cardstock in matching color. I have lots of space for handwritten Christmas wishes that way. Happy Holidays everyone!

Quick Card

Did you ever happen to forget to purchase a wedding card? It happened to me the other Saturday when we were invited to a wedding. While cooking in the morning I tried to "plan" the rest of my day. When I realized we didn't have a card for the couple and that I had less than 4 hours before I had to get myself and everyone else ready I almost panicked.

But then I thought about digital scrapbooking. I love creating personalized cards, but I really try to prepare them well in advance! While I was still cooking I tried to "visualize" the card to speed up the design process. When I was finally able to sit at the computer I didn't like my first results. Then I simplified things. It always works for an elegant affect! I quickly printed it out on photo paper and glued it to some textured card-stock I had available. Then I looked for a matching envelope, wrote few wishes right from our hearts, and the card was ready! Thank God for digital scrapbooking!

I used All About Marriage Collection Biggie.

My 2006 Scrapbook

Recently, I printed my 2006 scrapbook. I had almost all of the layouts ready 2 years ago, but still wanted to complete a few more. I did just that several weeks ago and was able to finish the whole project. I am so happy with my printed digital scrapbook. I love looking through it! Most of the layouts are some of my firsts, but I "corrected" only a few. I like seeing how my scrapbooking skills have developed over time.

Layouts created using Scrap Girls digital scrapbooking supplies.

Great Minds Think Alike

When I was working on my Fleeting Moments Collection Biggie layouts, I asked two of our fabulous Layout Artists, Armi Custodio and Christy VanderWall, to help me with them. I sent them the files a few days before releasing the collection. When I woke up the next day, I already had a layout from Christy waiting in my email.

Digital scrapbooking layout by Christy VanderWall uses:

Fleeting Moments Collection Biggie

Fleeting Moments Solids Paper Mini

ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Altered Photos PSE 8201 

ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Altered Photos PS 8201

Hoo Loves Ya Collection Biggie

Mischief Maker Collection 

Raffia Embellishment Mini 

Brush Set: Stamped Dates

I loved it and I let her know immediately. Then, three hours later, I got another layout from Armi. I couldn't believe my eyes, they looked so similar!

Digital scrapbooking layout by Armi Custodio uses:

Fleeting Moments Collection Biggie

Fleeting Moments Solids Paper Mini 

ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Altered Photos PSE 8201 

ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Altered Photos PS 8201  

ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Dirty Press Retro Inks 5401 Biggie

ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501

Isn't it amazing how great minds think alike? Doesn't it make you wonder where the creativity comes from?

First Scrapbook

I always thought I learned about scrapbooking after I came to the US in 2005. I was wrong! Although scrapbooking is not popular in Poland, I kind of "invented" it for my own use as a girl. When I was about 15 years-old, I collected pictures taken at different stages of my life and made a scrapbook. Well, actually, it was a very primitive scrapbook. It was made from white cardstock tied with a leather cord. Every page contained photos, dates, comments and embellishments. My embellishments were just stickers I had available at the moment. I called it a photo album. Apparently, it was a little bit more. I recently found it and I loved looking through it!

My new workspace

I love my new workspace, and I don't mean my new desk (although it's huge and very cool), but my new Photoshop workspace. I use our old 15" LCD monitor as my second monitor, as workspace for my navigator, brushes and layer styles palettes. I can finally see what the brush looks like, because I chose the large thumbnails view while designing digital scrapbooking layouts. I do the same with styles. I love it!

Coaster

Recently I became "practi-crafty". I enjoy turning my digital scrapbooking into "real-life" items so I decided to make a coaster for my daughter. She loves looking at her pictures so I didn't have to look for the right photo for too long. I chose one of my favorites and sat down at my computer.

I printed my design on mat photo paper and glued it to a thin sheet of cork board. I rounded the edges with scissors and then sanded them carefully. Next I applied several layers of Mod Podge and let the coaster dry. Needless to say my daughter was delighted!

I used: Pretty Primavera Collection Biggie, GraphX Collection Biggie, Lettering Delights Fadoodle Font and Brush Set: Stamped Dates.

December

I really can't believe it's December already! I love December! I remember all the excitement when as children we counted down the days to Christmas. Now it feels different, because I'm one of those responsible for the Christmas mood in my family. I need to prepare food, buy gifts and so on, but this is exciting as well.

I love giving gifts, especially hand made ones. This year I decided to make digital scrapbooking calendars for our parents. I'm a person who writes things down a lot, so I fell in love with Thao's templates. I hope that our parents will love them too! (Note: these were printed on double-sided photo paper and bound).

Digital scrapbooking supplies used:

ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates - Calendar: Big Design 2009, Christmas Magic Collection Biggie, Assemble Your Own Cards: Christmas Magic, A Guy Thing Collection, Chillin Collection, Naturescape Collection Biggie.

Birthday Gift

I don't know about you, but I usually spend a lot of time thinking before I get my husband something for his birthday. This year was different. I was inspired by what our Layout Artist Janine gave to her husband for his 50th birthday: a fishing trip. He loved it and I thought that it would be a great gift for my hubby as well. So I arranged it for him with our friend. Then my digital scrapbooking came in handy: I designed this card for him.

Pawel loved the trip even though he had to get up at 3 am to get to the boat. They went fishing on the Baltic and my hubby caught five cod. He was very proud and we really loved the fish!

Card created using: I Fish Collection Mini, Digital Stickers: Camp Scrappy Signs and Beachin Collection Biggie.

Taking Breaks

I'll be moving soon, so I'm very busy and stressed right now. Unfortunately, I don't have as much time for digital scrapbooking as I would like. I recently decided to take occasional breaks.

My husband takes care of the children for an hour, late in the afternoon, from time to time and I head to Starbucks. I take my MP3 player, cell phone (in case of a parenting emergency) and a book. I order my favorite green tea frappuccino and sit in the corner of the cafe. I don't think about what's going on at home since my husband does a really good job with the kids. I can relax.

I recently purchased several design books and just flipping the pages makes me feel awesome. I usually get several new ideas for layouts, products or other designs after these get-a-ways. I always try to get inspired wherever I go.Here's a photo taken during our visit to Target last week.

I just love the circles in the design and this grabbed my attention right away. I decided to design a CD cover using it as my inspiration.

My digital scrapbooking layout uses: Herbal Collection and Brush Set: Circles Couture Biggie