Shutterfly Digi Scrap Blog

Kim Meeder : Creative Ideas

Kim Meeder , designer for Scrap Girls shares some tutorial tips and some great creative ideas below.

"Along with the other Scrap Girl designers, I regularly write tutorials that are included in the daily newsletter.  All of these tutorials are compiled quarterly and featured in an e-book, Scrap Girls Tutorials and Way Cool Stuff, that is available for purchase in the Scrap Girl Boutique.

I don’t hybrid scrapbook layouts.  I do, however, use my digital scrapbooking supplies to create crafts.  Some of the projects I have completed are mini books, coffee mug inserts, greeting cards, decorative magnets, and graphic baby onesies for baby shower gifts."

Everyday Inspiration : By Kim Meeder

Kim Meeder , designer for Scrap Girls shares some good old fashioned "Everyday Inspiration" with us!

Everyday life:

Each time our family gets together, it is a celebration for me.  One of the highlights is seeing my grandchildren interact with one another.  It may be crazy and chaotic with little munchkins running everywhere, but I love every minute of it.  This photo shows our oldest grandson, Dylan, playing with our granddaughter, Adrianna.  Dylan is totally in love with his cousin and wants a baby sister of his own.  At the time this photo was taken, his mommy (my oldest daughter) was pregnant and we didn’t know whether Dylan would be gaining another brother or a little sister.  We now know that his newest sibling, due to arrive on April 19, will be a little brother!  So, I’m sure this adoration society they have formed will continue for quite a while. 

 

  

Techno Talk : With Shalae Tippitts

Shalae Tippitts, designer for ScrapGirls talks technology with us. Enjoy!

What is your favorite piece of technology?

"My favorite  piece of technology... wow... how can I limit it to one.  The first would be my computer. I wouldn't be able to do anything without the computer.  The things I'm able to create, the internet that has vast amounts of information, it's just amazing how so many things can be found in one simple machine.... I'm addicted."

Tell us about your photography background.

"I've never taken a photography class, although I do believe that my fine art background and understanding of design principles and elements has helped me be able to develop my photography skills.  I like bright pictures, and so you will seem most of my stuff full of color. I just have a simple point and shoot, but it works great and can take some great pictures. I like my subjects close up, and I like good angles, or interesting views. I'm always wanting to learn how to improve my skills though, as I believe the pictures really can make the layout."

What software do you use?

"I currently have CS2, and Illustrator that I use the most often. I plan on upgrading before my husband graduates, but right now, they do exactly what I need them to do, and it serves me well.  I would not be able to survive without the blending modes on the layers palette. I LOVE blending, and use it in every layout I've ever created."

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."

 

 

Beautiful Mini-Kit : By Trish Yochum

We have really enjoyed getting to know about Trish Yochum, designer at ScrapGirls. As one last treat for all of us she has created a very seasonal mini-kit that could be used with almost any photos, boy, girl, baby, grandparents etc. Enjoy using the kit and please remember that all freebies are for personal use only.

Download TYO_Jif6_SpringPetals

 

 

 

Techno Talk : With Trish Yochum

Trish Yochum, designer at ScrapGirls tells us her technology secrets!

What is your favorite piece of technology?

"My computer is my favorite piece of technology because I constantly make mistakes and/or changes to my work. Doing things digitally allows me to alter my work and save multiple versions to compare and decide what I like best. I guess I should say a computer with a huge EHD to hold all of my variations!"

Share a bit about your photography background.

"I have taken a few photography classes, but am mostly a trial and error kind of girl. I take a ton of photos, so that I have a good selection to choose."

What digital software do you use?

"Photoshop in the Creative Suite 4. My favorite thing to use in PS is masks, because this tool makes it so easy to edit and collage multiple pieces without actually erasing parts the original piece. Have you gathered yet that I have an issue with making art related commitments?"

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

"Scrap Girls has an on-line university with lots of great free tutorials."  

Do you hybrid scrapbook and tell us about your experience with it.

"I have used digital scrapbooking materials to make things for parties and presents for people. One of the favorites has always been personalized coffee tumblers."

 

Welcome: Trish Yochum

A big welcome to Trish Yochum, designer at ScrapGirls. We are excited for you to get to know about her and her design!

Tell us about yourself.

"I live in the great northwest just south of Seattle, Washington. I am a mother of two mischievous boys and have been married to my best friend for the last 11 years. Through the years I took art classes in school, but never really felt confident about my drawing abilities. While at college I took a 150 Drawing class where the professor showed me how to draw beyond inanimate objects, this opened a whole new world for me. From there I graduated with a BA in Graphic Design and I have been creating ever since.

From college I went to work for a University designing catalogs, music concert programs and tickets, event posters, brochures, weekly newsletters and had the opportunity to create pieces for KPLU/NPR radio. My next adventure took me to Wizards of the Coast where I had the pleasure of designing packaging, playmats, logos, T-shirts, magazine ads, trading cards, book covers and roleplaying game books for products including Magic; The Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, Neopets, Pokemon and many more. In 2006 I was introduced to Scrap Girls and digital scrapbooking which set me off on a new adventure creating papers, embellishments and whatever my brain thought of that would make creating a digital scrapbooking page fun. Over the years I have been blessed with many wonderful opportunities and I love my job!"

Tell us about your digi-scrapping background.

"I began digi-scrapping in 2006. By trade I am a graphic designer and I loved to make hand stamped cards, so a friend of mine recommended that I try digi-scrapping.  Once I started I was hooked and I have been documenting our family adventures ever since."

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"

Everyday Inspiration : By Brandy Murry

Brandy Murry from ScrapGirls has some wonderful everyday inspiration for us!

"I posted this layout about my daily life here in Holland and the things I love about it.

It was always a life's dream to live in Europe, surrounded by all the old world beauty and I am so thankful to have the chance to live out that dream. There are many things I love about being able to experience life here, as it is so different from my life living in the United States. I have come to appreciate both. But like everything in life there are pros and cons to it all. It's funny because if I ask for ketchup on my fries (frits), I am immediately asked: “Are you American?” Isn't it funny to be tagged American for ketchup? I want to say..”Yes I'm American..can I have my Ketchup now?”, but my Mama raised me better than that, so I just smile and say “yes”. I know they find me interesting as any of us would with a Dutch person living in a place like Macon, Georgia or Texarkana, Texas."