Scrapropos

I thought I would start a little project. One where you can see from start to finish, via digital layouts. Not only will this keep me motivated, but you will get to see different techniques and hopefully learn a few new things about digital scrapbooking.

My project is going to be re-upholstering a chair that has been in my family for at least 80 years. I will be posting some pictures of the chair later (as I have look through my cd’s to find where my pictures are..ugh).

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Now, I do have a layout I would like to share. If you have wanted to do any time of layout that remembers someone that has passed away; whether it be a family member or friend; something simple can be the best way to display those wonderful “older” photos. I also wanted to make space for some writing/journaling to show how much I loved these two people; my Grandma and Granddaddy. If you are interested in learning how I did any of my layouts, let me know. I will start posting some tutorials if you would like to do similar layouts/embellishments. I will also provide some links to other tutorials that I have found very helpful.

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Here is another original set of patterned background papers for digital or hybrid scrapbookers. Called Paramecium Paisley because it reminds me of a bunch of single celled organisms swimming around on a microscope slide. The pages are both 8.5×11 inches and 3oo dpi for easy, high quality printing. The design was hand drawn by me in ink, then the color version was colored with watercolor markers.

Check back frequently for more funky, funny, and edgy digital scrapbooking freebies.

Right-click and choose Save Target File to download

Download Paramecium Paisley Color 300dpi

Download Paramecium Paisley Black and White 300dpi

(watermark titles appear on above banner images only, not on downloaded files)

Creative Commons information behind the cut…

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I created this digital scrapbooking paper just for (Scr)apropos readers. Scanned from my own ink and watercolor artwork at 300 dpi and sized for 8.5×11 inch pages, this paper will print out in excellent quality for digital scrapbookers that print their pages or for hybrid scrapbookers. I decided to create it at 8.5×11 because so many of the digi papers out there are 12×12, which is a nice size, but challenging to print at home unless you have one of the new larger format printers. 12×12 scrappers can always use the smaller page as an element on their bigger page, and 8.5×11 scrappers will not have to resize or worry about distortion.

To download the file, click on the link below. File is a jpeg compressed in a zip file. The purple title text is for the above banner only and does not appear on the actual downloaded paper.

Download Swirling Rose Digital Scrapbooking Paper

Swirling Rose Digital Scrapbook Paper by Teresa McClary is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License. Please give credit for the images to me, Teresa McClary, and when possible link back to this blog post. If you wish to share the file with others (PLEASE SHARE), link to this post for them to download the file. Thank You.

scrapbook, scrapbooking, journaling, scrapbook layouts, scrapbook projects, freebies, free scrapbooking, digital scrapbooking freebies, hybrid scrapbooking

Here is a whole happy Monday list of freebies for your digital of hybrid scrapbooking:

• A cute little Lady Bug
• Abby Alpha Patches
• Frame Goodie Bag
• Foofaraw Doodle Paper

scrapbook, scrapbooking, journaling, scrapbook layouts, scrapbook projects, freebies, free scrapbooking, digital scrapbooking freebies

Digital scrapbooking set! at Printables 4 Scrapbooking

Here is a cute digital set for some Summer time bloom pages. Make sure to take a look around the rest of the linked blog too for more scrapbooking goodies.

Technorati Tags: scrapbook, scrapbooking, journaling, scrapbook layouts, scrapbook projects, freebies, free scrapbooking, digital scrapbooking freebies

I have used lots of different programs to make digital scrapbook pages. I am also always willing to try out new one (yes, that is a hint to any companies that want me to review their product…lol). Somehow I always end up going straight to GIMP when I want to create a special project. I like the functionality, which is as powerful as Photoshop once you learn the program, and, like most people, I do tend to open the program I am most familiar with, which for graphics is GIMP.

GIMP, if you are unfamiliar with it, is a free open source graphics program. Yes, I said free. It does not cost anything to download, use, upgrade, or alter, and it runs on most operating system platforms, even older Windows machines.

I sat down today to write up a tutorial on getting started using GIMP for digital or hybrid scrapbooking, but before I started writing I did a Google search. I found this site full of great Tutorials for using GIMP for scrapbooking. I have no desire to reinvent to wheel so to speak, so I will direct you there for instructions.

Here is a page I made with GIMP using the Moody Blues Digital Kit from Shabbyprincess.com :

Technorati Tags: scrapbook, scrapbooking, journaling, scrapbook layouts, scrapbook projects, freebies, free scrapbooking, digital scrapbooking freebies

I ordered this canvas a couple of weeks ago and it arrived today. It looks so nice I had to share right away.

As part of my studio overhaul, which is still ongoing and turning into a bigger job than originally planned, but worth it, I want to upgrade the art on my walls.

Using GIMP 2.o and some digital papers and elements from scrapgirls.com, I made a 16×20 image at 300dpi. I will warn you in case you try to do this yourself. It was a HUGE file when I began adding all of the layers that even my brand spanking new computer choked at it a bit. I kept each individual graphic and photo on a separate layer until I was happy with the whole layout, then added a subtle drop shadow to each element to give the illusion of layers. Then I flattened the image and saved, as a still large, but manageable jpeg.

I was very nervous about how it was going to come out. Some of the small photos were taken with an older digital camera that was somewhere around 1 megapixel and there was nothing even close to what I was doing in the sample gallery on the canvas site. When I opened up my package today I was thrilled. It is perfect. The old images are so clear, much clearer than I expected.

Right now it is sitting on my pellet stove. When my husband gets home, I will have him hang it up for me.

I wrote a full review of the website I ordered from on my personal blog : Mind Of A Mom if you are interested in more information.

scrapbook, scrapbooking, journaling, scrapbook layouts, scrapbook projects, freebies, free scrapbooking, digital scrapbooking freebies

Polka Dot Potato

I am always on the lookout for good quality freebies for scrapbooking. Watch the new Freebie Finds category for more.

Check out this site for a good selection of digital scrapbooking free downloads:

Polka Dot Potato

scrapbook, scrapbooking, digital scrapbooking, freebie, free scrapbooking, free digital scrapbooking

I love the idea of taking photographs of all those special little projects that our kids make that we know we cannot really keep around forever. A photo is so much easier to store than a potato, carrot, pasta, and toothpick transforming robot (you laugh, but I do not make these things up. If my 5yo can figure out how, he will build a transformer out of anything). Making a scrapbook page for the project shows the kids how special you think their creations are even if they end up in the compost bin when they start to smell funny (the project, not the kids). The big questions I always see on any hobby forum where people take pictures, and seriously in our digital social networking world it seams like everyone is visually recording everything, is how to improve their pictures and what to use for a light box.

This article at Digital Scrapbooking magazine gives some great advice on making an inexpensive light box using those wire frame cube storage systems.

To add to their advice I suggest trying some of the screw in fluorescent daylight bulbs for lighting that are readily available now. You can get a 3-pack for about $10 and they last for years.  Not only are they more environmentally sound, but you are far less likely to give yourself a nasty burn when you reach in to move the subject of your photography around. I would also suggest using the cable ties to hook the wire grids together. The cable ties make for a much tighter fit and give you more versatility in how you configure the pieces.

scrapbook, scrapbooking, photography, lightbox, kids, family, parenting, memories, diy