A background mask for your layouts!

I've let myself get too busy these past months but now I'm settled again and can enjoy scrapbooking to it's fullest.  Today I wanted to share a background mask I made to dress up a layout I recently did.  Here is my page.

This sweet picture is the granddaughter of a friend.  She is a cutie.  I decided to use this subtle kit called Lavender Dreams by LDrag Designs and wanted to give the layout edges a pretty look, so I created this mask with the flower edge.  It is delicate enough it looks a bit like lace.  I think it added just enough to the page.  If you would like the PNG file I am happy to share it. 

You can download the file from the file sharing site below.  Have a great day scrapping!

MediaFire: Flower Edge Square

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A fun lacy PNG file for your digi pages

As I have worked more and more with digital scrapbooking I have wanted to create some pages with the look of punched edges.  I have so enjoyed my paper border punches the desire was to make some PNG files that will give me that look on my digital pages.  Today I have a square PNG to share that has a pretty looped edge.  The first of the PNG files I have created to look like punches.  It has a bit of a lacy look.  Here are a couple of pages that use that PNG file.

With my "Sweet Dogs" layout I pulled the square off the side of the page so only 3 of the loopy edges show.  This pretty kit is by Zoe Pearn called Serenity.   My second page uses the full square shape.

This layout was done with a beautiful kit called "Beautimous Spring" by Shawna Clingermann.  If you'd like the "arched loop square" PNG file, please click the link below.

Expired Link

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great time scrapping!



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Lots of Hearts for Valentine Pages

My friend Pam Callahan who is always creative and thus inspires me to try new things did a wonderful page using shadows to create pleats in a digital layout.  Here is the digital template I am referring to which is posted over at Pam's Ideas for Scrapbookers blog where I am a contributor.  I loved the 3D effect she achieved with the shadows and was working on a digital page for a challenge at Sweet Shop Designs.  I decided to try some shadows to make a background of hearts look 3D.  Here is my layout titled "Loved by You".

I created the layout using a limited edition collaboration kit called Helping Hands put together by a number of awesome designers.  While the kit is no longer available I have to admit my favorite digital resource for kits is Sweet Shop Designs.  There is lots of great talent there and where ever there is exceptional talent there is always the opportunity to learn new things.

I had fun creating my background of hearts and thought it could be used for a number of different layouts so I decided to share the background with you. Here is a basic sketch of the heart background.

I have created a file in PhotoShop Elements (PSD) to share.  It has a background layer, a layer for the hearts and a layer for the shadows.  If you would like the file you can download it, just click the file name below.

Background of folded hearts.psd

Take a moment to tell someone you care about that you love them.  Have a fabulous Valentine's Day!

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It's time for Snow pictures! Plus a digi border to share!

We got our first big storm last week and I had fun watching our puppy Maggie get her first taste of the snow.  We spent some time in the backyard just watching her race around and play.  I had to scrap some of those pictures.  I have also been working in Inkscape to create some more borders and shapes.  Here is a layout I did that uses a new border I created.  I am calling it my oval flower border because to me it looks like flowers, but it's really just several oval shapes layered on top of each other. 

This layout was created with a kit I got the past year at Sweet Shop Designs called Winter Wonderland by Dani Mogstad.  Unfortunately the kit was just discontinued.  I have enjoyed it so I'm glad its part of my library of digi kits.  I have also included a few elements from a current kit called All That's Cozy by Traci Reed and Meghan Mullens. 

If you'd like to use the oval flower border on one of your own creations, I have uploaded the PNG file to MediaFire and you can download it here.  I think this border can be used with lots of different layout styles, it reminds me a little bit of lace.  Enjoy!

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A digi Snowflake border for your winter pages!

I have been enjoying digi scrapbook over the last few months and have begun to branch out with my templates.  So I have a simple snowflake border to share with you that I whipped up after experimenting with snowflake shapes.   I am getting a kick out of creating shapes and pgn files in Inkscape.  It's taken me a while to find the time to learn the software, but it is well worth the effort.   Here is my layout that uses the snowflake border.

I created this layout using a beautiful digi kit called "Tis the Season for Peace" by Kristin Cronin-Barrow.  It's available over at Sweet Shop Designs.   The four large snowflakes sitting in the snowdrift make up the border.  Here is a pic of the border alone.

If you would like to try out this digi border on a page you can download the Photoshop Elements PSD file by clicking  (this link has expired).    Thanks for stopping by.

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Congratulations to the Winner!

The winner of the $15.00 gift certificate to Scrapbook.com is nmlady.  My thanks to everyone for joining in the Blog Hop.  It was a special day for us and we enjoyed sharing our first anniversary with you.  Now its time to take a break.  Enjoy your day!!

This layout was completed using a beautiful digi kit called A Mothers Love by Kristin Cronin-Barrow and Scrap Kitchen Designs.

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Ideas for Scrapbookers Anniversary Blog Hop and RAK!

Hello everyone!  It has been such a great experience to be a part of the team of contributing artists for the Ideas for Scrapbookers blog.  Now that the blog has turned one, it's time to celebrate and thank our readers for making this such a good year!  Today I am going to share my favorite posts involving sketches.  As I looked back there were 3 sketches that I particularly liked.  First is a sketch that was created from a readers page.  Anita Marie Bownds submitted a beautiful layout that was used to produce this sketch.  It is great when our creative readers share their talents and give us great ideas too!    Here is the sketch and then a layout that I just created interpreting the sketch.

And here is my layout.

The next sketch is by one of our contributing artists, Heather Landry.  This is a great sketch that could be used many ways.

Heather's example layout for this sketch is adorable.  I just love the pics of her pug!

Last is a sketch by another of our contributing artists, Lisa Blastic.  This is also a very versatile sketch. I loved this idea so much I decided to try a digital layout based on Lisa's sketch.  Here is the sketch.

Here is  my digital layout of my husband and my niece.  I used a great kit called "My Number One" by Eva Kipler to complete the layout.

So now that you've had a brief taste of the great sketches on the Ideas for Scrapbookers blog I have a scavenger hunt  and prize for one lucky reader.  The prize is a $15.00 gift certificate to the Scrapbook.com on-line store.   I have three questions you will need to answer.  To get the answers you'll need to look through the sketches on the Ideas for Scrapbookers blog.  Jot down your answers and email them to me at joy2scrapbook@live.com.  Everyone who sends me the correct answers will be entered into a random drawing.  You have until Wednesday, 10/20/2010, at midnight to email me your answers.  On Thursday, I will send the winner, via email, your gift certificate to scrapbook.com.  I will also post the winners name on my blog. Sounds fun right!  OK, let me give you just a little help to get started.  To view all the sketches easily on the Ideas for Scrapbookers blog, look in the right hand column of the blog and scroll down to the area with the column heading LABELS.  Click on the topic "Sketches" and the posts that involved sketches will be filtered for you.  Now just remember as you hunt, that at least one of the questions below will be found in the "Older Posts" so don't forget to look beyond the first page. 

Scavenger Hunt Questions:
1.  The first sketch you will be looking for is VERY versatile and can be used for an 8 1/2 by 11 page OR a 12 by 12 page.   (Hint:  The sketch is displayed as an 8 1/2 by ll sketch and  the sample layout is a 12 by 12 page).  What is the date the sketch was posted? 

2.  One two page sketch was inspired by a Starbucks ad.  The sketch is based on a readers page.  What is the name of our creative reader?

3.  Which contributing artist for Ideas for Scrapbookers developed a sketch from a layout she did titled "Excellent"?   Send me the Name of the contributing artist that created the sketch.

Since there are just 3 questions, this shouldn't take you long.  Hope you have fun with this.  I'll be looking for those answers in my mail box!  Good Luck to everyone!

Thank you for joining in today's blog hop.  Now its time to move on to your last stop.  Next is Pam Callaghan's blog.  Here is the link: http://mylittlecreativestudio.blogspot.com   Have fun!!

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