Shutterfly Digi Scrap Blog

Shalae Tippitts, designer for ScrapGirls tells us a bit more about herself.

Tell us about yourself.

"I am currently a mother of 4 children with our 5th on the way.  We have spent the last 9 years in Provo, Utah where my husband is currently finishing up his last year of his doctorate. It has been challenging and so rewarding to have our small family while being students.  I graduated with an associates in Graphic Design, but then recieved my Bachelors in Art Education. I taught art to K-12th grades for a couple of years before I married and moved here with my husband.  It's ironic how 14 years later from getting my associates in Graphic Design, that I have ended up doing similar things with digital scrapbooking and my design business. It has seem to come in full circle." 

Where are you currently designing?

"I currently design for ScrapGirls.com.  I absolutely LOVE it there.  I get to work with amazing talented women, and have the greatest customers.  There are always amazing sales, along with chats, classes, and crops every week.   Even the messageboard is a great place to hang out, learn new tips, make friends, and get help."

What is your creative style?

"My creative style is so random... I'm one of those people that like to have my hands in all kinds of things. That was one reason I decided to be an Art teacher. I could use all the art mediums and not limit myself to one!  Because of my fine art background, I really love being able to imitate paintings, or traditional art media in my designs and layouts."

Shutterfly : All New Custom Path

Rahel Baker shares with us some very exciting news about the Shutterfly "New Custom Path." I'm positive you will find it useful and very exciting. Enjoy!

I love the flexibility of All New Custom Path because it lets me move photos and text anywhere, and gives me the option of adding unique touches like symbols, stickers and custom fonts that make my books look special.

If you’re a digital scrapbooker (using design software like Photoshop to create your pages), you probably love these features too, but also want the option of dropping in your own original pages.

The great news is, you can still digiscrap in All New Custom Path!

Here’s how.

Digiscrapping with All New Custom Path

1. Select the Versatile Classic style (in Everyday Occasions)
2. For the title page, select the NEW full bleed layout from the navigation bar on the left-hand side
3. For each inside page, select the full bleed layout (choose 1 picture photo layouts)
4. For the front cover, select the full bleed layout. NOTE: If you leave the text box blank, no text will print
5. For the back cover, select the full bleed layout
6. For the spine, select the full bleed layout
7. The specs for All New Custom Path are identical to those used in Classic Custom Path for all book sizes EXCEPT the die-cut cover and the 8×11 pages. The 8×11 pages now have slight more bleed. Stay tuned for more information on the die-cut cover

If for any reason you’re not happy with your photo book, we’ll replace your order or give you a full refund. Happy digiscrapping!

If you would like more great ideas having to do with creating a digital scrapbook or photo book I would encourage you to check out the Picture More Blog.

A New Love for Digital Scrapbooking : By Shalae Tippitts

Shalae Tippetts , designer for ScrapGirls tells us how she learned to love digital scrapbooking!

"I always had a huge dislike for Scrapbooking.  I didn't want anything to do with it.  That was until my first baby came along.  It's that little person that suddenly makes you want to start documenting your stories, taking pictures, and record every minute of every day.... she led me to start creating a scrapbook.  I did paper scrapbooking for about a year and a half until I had my second child and broke my arm 4 weeks after she was born.  I was suddenly unable to cut paper, glue, and create the layouts with paper.  I could use a mouse on the computer, and started finding out about digital scrapbooking, and have never looked back since.  It was the perfect fit for me and my perfectionism when it comes to anything artistic and visual. I could hit the undo button, I could delete or copy. I wasn't wasting supplies. It was heaven.  When I started I had no software, and ended up using my dad's Microsoft Digital Image Pro software, and started designing with it for ScrapGirls.com.  After a few months, I was told I really needed to learn Photoshop Elements. So I went out and found the cheapest version of Elements I could find which was 2.0.  I didn't have a clue how to use it and began to teach myself all I could about it. Years later, I have taught myself Photoshop, and Illustrator. I am amazed at how far I have come from simply teaching myself, looking up tutorials or things I wanted to learn, and the amazing abilities I have now for creating digital scrapbooking supplies."

 

 

Brandy Murry : Lives a Techno Life!

Brandy Murry from ScrapGirls talks technology!

Share a bit about your photography background.  

"I have done some professional photography upon request.  It was a natural creative outlet for me until I found designing digital scrapbook products. Now my good ole trusty DSLR mostly gets a workout from taking photos of scrapbooking elements and textures. 

I prefer black and white photos, there is just something so classic and timeless about them."

What digital software do you use? 

"Adobe CS5.  Isn’t everyone’s favorite Control Z? Oh yes for sure I use that more than anything, but I did learn a new trick lately that I didn’t know and I love and thought I might share:

To duplicate a layer more than once, (like for duplicating a flower embellishment several times on your layout) hold down the Control (Command for MAC) and Alt keys while pressing the up arrow. Every time you press the arrow you get a duplicate of that layer. This is super handy when doing scrapbooking layouts because I love to spread the love around the page."

Do you have any digital tutorials on your site or located anywhere else that you want to share?  

"I have some video tutorials available on the ScrapGirls You Tube Channel. It can be found here:http://www.youtube.com/user/ScrapGirls#p/u"

Techno Talk : With Amanda McGee

Amanda McGee from Scrapgirls gives us some "techno talk!" Enjoy. 

What is your favorite piece of technology and why?

"It's difficult to choose my favorite piece of technology. It's impossible, it's like choosing a favorite child. They are all my favorites, each unique and special, and needed in their own special way. So if I have to pick, I'll just pick technology itself, and how it's enhanced my creativity and ability to work at home. I am very fond of my camera and how it enables me to capture special moments in our lives. I love my wacom tablet, and how it helps me create whimsical illustrations. I love the Adobe software for the design capabilities. I can't do any of that without my laptop computer, which allows me to bring it with me whether it's to the room where my kids are playing or to my studio office for some quiet concentration."

Share a bit about your photography background.

"I do not consider myself a photographer. I'm a picture taker and a mommarazzi. However, I have been taking photographs since my I got my first Barbie pink 110 camera. I've upgraded since third grade, going through several 35mm cameras and digital cameras over the years, including an early version of the Sony Mavica that stored the images on floppies. That was a nuisance! Photography bliss happened to me when I bought my first DSLR in 2008 and have enjoyed the challenge of learning how to get out of auto mode. I would say my style of photography is "taking lots of pictures," mostly candids with a few home staged photo shoots in between. Some of my favorite shots are those of my children where I've used a fixed 50mm lens with the aperature setting wide open, and making use of the natural light of the north facing windows in our house."

What digital software do you use?

"I use Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop CS5. In Illustrator, my favorite tool is the paintbrush pen. I love to adjust the pressure sensitivity when I use my wacom tablet to draw over my scanned pencil sketches. In Photoshop, my favorite technique is layering textured papers with the blending modes options. You can create so many different looks by simply changing those blending modes. I use multiply, linear burn, overlay and soft light the most often."

Hybrid Scrapbooking : With Amanda McGee

Check out this hybrid scrapbooking inspiration by Amanda McGee from Scrapgirls . She is so artist and her work is nothing but top of class! 

"I love making hybrid items that can be used as Home Decor. Being influenced by digital scrapbooking, I like making "word art" for my house. This past fall I layered some background papers with letters, printed them out and put them in some spray painted black frames. It made for a fun festive autumn accent on the sofa table."

"Last summer, I made my son a set of alphabet flash to help him get ready for Kindergarten. They were really easy to make, I simply printed the alphas from my "New School Collection," laminated them, hole punched the corner and put them on a ring binder. He had fun tracing the letters with a dry erase pen. Here's a fun layout that I made showing him using those cards."

 
 

"I've also created this fun lunchbox money tin and teacher tote box with my School Time Collection."

 

 

Techno Talk : With Amanda Sok

Amanda Sok designer at ScrapGirls shares some techno talk with us.

What is your favorite piece of technology?

"I'm throwing it up between my computer and my camera. My camera takes the photos, but my computer allows me to do fun things with them."

Tell us about your photography background.

"My photography background is non existent! I just love taking photos of any and everything. My husband laughs at the random things I take photos of. Food, messes around the house, something silly the kids left laying around, anything really"

What is your software preference?

"I use PhotoShop. Don't really have a favorite technique, although I encourage people not to feel threatened. Try new things, theres always the history tab. You can't mess up! :)"

Documenting Life : With Christine Gundersen

Christine Gundersen , designer at Digital Scrapbook Place  tells us a bit about a project that really will help all of us celebrate "everday celebrations!."

"Right now I am working on a Life as We Know It project. I am taking a picture every day and then make one layout each week with those 7 pictures, including notes about each picture. The goal is to take pictures of what we are doing and what is important to us. My kids are also taking pictures and so at the end of the year, I am going to put my layouts together and then add a few pages for each child. I am excited to see the differences in the perspective each of us will have.

I started a thread at DSP for anybody else who is interested in this approach and it is amazingly relaxed. If you want to do one layout per month, great. If you want to do a daily post…that’s fine too. Something in between? No problem! I just want people to celebrate the little moments that make up life in between the birthdays, vacations and Christmas."

 

February Freebie: Christine Gundersen

Christine Gundersen , designer at Digital Scrapbook Place has a very special February Kit called "Smitten" for each of us to download. Perfect for all of those special Valentine photos! I hope you create something really fun with it. She also shares some wonderful insight to her digi-scrapping background. Enjoy!

"I have always been a crafty girl, you name it and I probably have the supplies to do it. I first started scrapping 14 years ago, after our first child was born. My how scrapping has changed since then! Supplies were sooooooo limited. A dozen colors of paper, decorative scissors and some stickers were the majority of what was available. When digital cameras first came out, I was leery, REALLY leery. Some of the comments that I “might” have said, "The pictures are just too icky." "There is no way I will be getting a digital camera any time soon." "Why would you want all of your pictures on your computer?" I now have 4 digital cameras, including my brand new birthday present, a Nikon D7000!! Not to mention the 5 others in the house. LOL When I first heard about digital scrapbooking, I lurked at Digital Scrapbook Place (DSP) for a couple of months. Finally in September of 2006, I took the plunge, completing my very first digital layout EVER, for a contest for DSP’s creative team!
I still don't know what I was thinking, that layout took forever because I had to check help for everything I wanted to do. LOL But the seed had been planted, at first the plan was to do both digital and paper, by Christmas it was more like 70/30 and by the next spring the addiction was complete. Since then I have hardly touched my paper supplies, despite having an entire room full of "stuff."

I have been published several times, the 2 biggest feathers in my cap, being Creating Keepsakes and Digital Scrapbook Magazine. In 2008, I started focusing on designing and I am thrilled to be able to share my love for this wonderful hobby with others through my designs."

Please remember that all freebies are for personal use only!

Download 73_K_HeartFeltDelivery1_aefr

 

Welcome : Christine Gundersen

Christine Gundersen , designer at Digital Scrapbook Place is here as our next featured artist.  She will be sharing info about herself, her business, and her art. Let's get to know a bit about her.

"I have always been a crafty girl, you name it and I probably have the supplies to do it. I first started scrapping 14 years ago, after our first child was born. My how scrapping has changed since then! Supplies were sooooooo limited. A dozen colors of paper, decorative scissors and some stickers were the majority of what was available. When digital cameras first came out, I was leery, REALLY leery. Some of the comments that I “might” have said, "The pictures are just too icky." "There is no way I will be getting a digital camera any time soon." "Why would you want all of your pictures on your computer?" I now have 4 digital cameras, including my brand new birthday present, a Nikon D7000!! Not to mention the 5 others in the house. LOL When I first heard about digital scrapbooking, I lurked at Digital Scrapbook Place (DSP) for a couple of months. Finally in September of 2006, I took the plunge, completing my very first digital layout EVER, for a contest for DSP’s creative team!
I still don't know what I was thinking, that layout took forever because I had to check help for everything I wanted to do. LOL But the seed had been planted, at first the plan was to do both digital and paper, by Christmas it was more like 70/30 and by the next spring the addiction was complete. Since then I have hardly touched my paper supplies, despite having an entire room full of "stuff."

I have been published several times, the 2 biggest feathers in my cap, being Creating Keepsakes and Digital Scrapbook Magazine. In 2008, I started focusing on designing and I am thrilled to be able to share my love for this wonderful hobby with others through my designs."