How to Start Digital Scrapbooking

I wrote this up for a friend of mine, and to have a place to show my friends who want to learn how to digital scrapbook. This post was updated most recently November 4, 2014.

How to start digital scrapbooking

By Jaime Bohler Smith

Start by downloading the Digital Scrapbooking Manual by The Daily Digi. 

It is a good read, but a lot of the links are broken, so I’m putting some new ones here. 

Here’s a great post on terms and such in the digiscrap world, if you already use Photoshop or Photoshop Elements they will be familiar to you. 

http://aliedwards.com/2010/01/scrapbooking-with-your-computer-digital-product-definitions-suggestions

And here is a video that does something similar, but in video form by Lain Ehmann: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac3RCFpAA8Q

Here is a great ‘getting started’ blog series:

http://aliedwards.com/2010/01/scrapbooking-with-your-computer-day-one

If you would feel better taking a quick class here are some options.

Free 15-minute Jessica Sprague class:

http://www.jessicasprague.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=606&catid=35:general-class-information

Paid ‘Watch Me Scrap’ class (I’ve heard it’s fantastic):

https://thedailydigi.com/classes/watch-me-scrap-learn-digital-scrapbooking

Things to Scrap With

In addition to the how to you will need to things to scrap with. There are a few main stores in digiland that I frequent. They are:
Sweet Shoppe Designs

The Lilypad

Scrap Orchard

Pixels and Company

At Sweet Shoppe they have a free category. I’d recommend creating an account and downloading some of the free kits in this section so you have a few papers and elements to work with as you learn. There is also a free section at The Lilypad (free) and Pixels and Company (free). Take a look around and see which styles appeal to you – they are all different!

I’m partial to Sweet Shoppe at the moment for all things digi, but Scrap Orchard used to be my home until they made a big change in the gallery. I love the stuff at the Lilypad – I just bought the memory pockets subscription. I go back and forth A LOT between the stores and styles.

How To

For the How To in tutorials, Sweet Shoppe has a GREAT tutorial section here. Some highlights are below.

What is Digiscrapping? http://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/tutorials/index.php/2011/12/getting-started-what-is-digiscrapping/

Getting Started: Making Your First Layout http://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/tutorials/index.php/2011/12/getting-started-making-your-first-layout/

Getting Started: Using Templates http://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/tutorials/index.php/2011/12/using-templates/

Common mistakes of new scrappers http://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/tutorials/index.php/2011/12/getting-started-common-mistakes-of-new-scrappers/

What makes it different?

The number one way to make digital scrapbooking look like ‘real’ pages is with drop shadows. There are hundreds of articles on it, free styles, expensive styles and make your own shadows. Here are some resources specific to shadowing in photoshop.

Start Here! Free shadow set and tutorial by Megan Turnidge

http://www.designsbymeganturnidge.com/blog/?p=1437

Sweet Shoppe Tutorials on Shadowing: http://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/tutorials/index.php/category/shadowing/

Tips on Great Shadows: https://thedailydigi.com/drop-shadows-tutorials

Paid shadow styles I use:

Rock the Shadows by Tracie Stroud (scrap orchard)

Toolbox: Shadows V1 by Gennifer Bursett (pixels and company)

Get Real Drop Shadows by Jenn Barrette (Sweet Shoppe)

Next steps

Go make a page! I scrap square 12x12 and print either 12x12 (for my pocket pages) or 8x8 for everything else. For 2015 I’m going to do a photobook of all my layouts 10x10 at the end of the year in a hard cover book. As you can see it can be anything you want it to be! I love it, I’m a computer nerd, and I love being on the computer so it works for me.

I do share a lot of my layouts online at the stores (they all have rules) but one I need to visit more is Get It Scrapped. They gallery there is ‘open’ which means you can post any pages. I also post to pinterest and a pinterest like place just for digital scrapbooking called ScrapStacks. You don’t have to share, but it’s nice to get people’s comments on your pages but I also know some people freak out about putting pictures on the internet. I try not to upload anything with my address or city, but I’m also not too worried about it.

For printing individual layouts and pocket scrapbooking cards I use Persnickity Prints. They specialize in printing digital scrapbook layouts and all kinds of Project Life stuff.

Speaking of Project Life, pocket style scrapbooking is a new favorite of mine. Here’s a quick overview on Project Life, it similar to regular digiscrapping but in a grid format. I do it digitally using the stuff from the stores mentioned above and items from Digital Project Life. They also have an app and I’ve posted a few pages from that on my Instagram. 

I'd be remiss not to share a few favorite designers!

Libby Pritchett

Dream Big Designs

Amber Shaw

Tickled Pink Studio

Erica Zane

Kristin Cronin-Barrow

Little Butterfly Wings

Stolen Moments Design

Forever Joy Designs 

For templates (single photo, clustery types): Two Tiny Turtles

For templates (collage style): Scrapping with Liz and Traci Reed's 365 Unscripted Stitched Grids

What else can I tell you? J

It's a Double Birthday Bash!

I've been so fortunate to work with some of the best designers in digi-land and I'm thrilled to be a new member of the Dream Big Designs team! I met Cheri back at Digiscrapapalooza 2012 and I love her designs which are perfect for my style of scrapbooking, and she has tons of kits that work great for little boys and for Disney.

This week we are celebrating her birthday and her design birthday! You came here from Kayla's blog, Keepscrappin' Designs. I've put together a fun portrait 4x6 birthday card using the kit Hawaii Honu. I've had this kit for awhile, and wanted to wish Cheri Hau`oli la Hanau - Happy Birthday in Hawaiian.

 

DOWNLOAD HERE

Your next stop is Kassie Scraps. If you get lost along the way head back to Dream Big Designs - and be sure to look around the new site!

Hmmm...Ready to try again?

WOW I haven't been over here in awhile. I just loved looking back over my posts from over a year ago. What changes we've had since then. I really should blog more, or do something to keep track of my memories but alas, life gets in the way. I have my photos, I have my scrapbook pages, and randomly I have this blog, my family blog, and random memos on my hard drive. I tried (am trying?) to get in the habit of using Oh Life to record a snippet of every day but it's been a few days since I've done that. So I will refrain from apologizing and just carry on.

So in my life since April 29th 2012 A LOT has changed. We did get moved out of Bob's and into our brand new custom built home in August 2012. They dug the big hole on May 22nd, so between that time our little family visited our home site nearly every day to see it getting built. We loved the whole process!

We also got older - Scott turned 40, I turned 36 and the doctors said either have a baby or be done. In July we finally got back to the RE, and decided we would just do three rounds of infertility treatments which would take us through the end of the year. I was sure there was no way it would work, and we did the first round of treatments in July 2012. I saw the first positive pregnancy test on July 25th at 11 dpo. Amazingly, our daughter was born just three weeks ago today! More on that later.

I still digiscrap, and hang out at Scrap Orchard most of the time. I also get to do some fun creative team work for four AWESOME scrapbook designers - Cheri of Dream Big Designs, SuzyQ Scraps, Tracie Stroud Designs and Melissa of Cluster Queen Creations. You'll be seeing some more of that soon.

We did go to Disney again, this time in November 2012 and got to be there during the holiday time frame. It was our first all Disney, only Disney trip and I can honestly say that it was my favorite visit so far. Seeing how different Connor is on each trip is so fascinating and he was truly entertaining on this visit. I still share my Disney memories over at MouseScrappers.

So if anyone reads this, enjoy a big wave hello from me! I hope I can keep on this for some time, and at least through April 22nd when I'll have a really cool digital scrapbooking freebie for you! Stay tuned.

49-Day Whirlwind

I have so much news to get through so I'll briefly hit the highlights. Decided to build a new home, listed our house, took a family vacation to Cincinnati, sold our house in just 20 days, left for Vegas for Digiscrapapalooza, had a mini-getaway with DH, DH changed job responsibilities, packed, moved to Grandpa Bob's and two storage units. :) Phew!

Before Bob passed we decided to build a new home, back in January. We signed an agreement on a lot, but hadn't moved on picking house stuff like cabinets, carpet and door handles yet. The second stroke happened and it took us until after Bob passed to get our current home listed. In the meantime, we learned Bob had left his home to us. So, what seemed so overwhelming fell into place and someone fell in love with our current starter home and bought it (the first couple who even came through the house!) and we had a place to live while our new one was being built. It's been a wonderful mix of grief, elation, bewilderment and joy.

We're settled into Bob's "mid-century modern bungalow" which means it's small and old. The baby loves it, the dog loves it, the cats love it, and I'm becoming more okay with it. The hubs loves that it's free and we have no house payment for a few months! Here's a LO that I did, redid and redid about our new home. This was journaled just two days after we sold our house:

CREDITS: My Girl by Laura Banasiak, Template by Cluster Queen Creations, Fuss Free Fancy Borders by Fiddle-dee-dee Designs. Font is 28 days later. {ScrapOrchard Gallery link}

Stick with me, I'm working on some fun posts! In the coming month I'll have a few recaps of Digiscrapapalooza including some software tips that have changed my scrapping life, details on the changes at Mousescrappers (go check them out!), fave layouts from April, review of SuzyQ Scraps new e-book Terrific Title Tricks and some thoughts on gallery comments and leaving love.

So, tell me about your last 49 days? Whirlwind, Tilt-A-Whirl or Calm, Cool, Collected?

Slowly but Surely

I'm starting to come out of that haze, you know the one. The 'What the heck happened over the last four months of my life?' feeling when you're a caretaker. I guess I should be grateful it was ONLY four months, but with a little one who grows by leaps and bounds daily, four months seems like an eternity.

I'm glad to be part of SuzyQ Scraps Project Love, Me 2012. It's been very interesting how one of the prompts speaks to me each time she releases the new details of each month. For March it's believe, and I put this together:

CREDITS: Sunshine by SuzyQ Scraps, Template by Fiddle-dee-dee Designs, Fuss Free: Tell-A-Tale

I'm surprised how I've been led on this journey, I miss Bob and I miss helping him. I still wish I could have done more, but I will make peace with that soon.

Spring is almost here in Indiana, and I'm anxious to get out and about and feel that sunshine for myself. I'm sure that will be the trick to snapping me back into reality.

That or the upcoming, most epic Vegas trip ever!!! And a little mini-vaca with the Hubs. What are you looking forward to? Are you down in the dumps waiting for better weather?

Someday was Tuesday

My Facebook status from Tuesday February 21st, 2012:

"That day is finally here, the call came that Grandpa Bob made his final journey home this morning. Scott and I are grateful for the time we got with him, and that his suffering is no more. The last thing he said to me was 'Thanks, Babe!' and I hope he knows how thankful we all were to have known him."


Ironic how I just posted on Monday, thinking the whirlwind was over and that Grandpa was 'settled' for a while. No doubt God has a sense of humor, since now Bob is at such peace. It happened so fast (again I acknowledge the irony of that statement given his illness), and just like that he was gone. With one phone call to us, that part of our journey was over.

I'm sad. Not upset, not angry, not confused, just plain sad. I'm sad that his last days were in a nursing home, not because they didn't take good care of him. It was a great place, he was very well taken care of. I'm sad because there wasn't a better way to help him. The comments I could make about Medicare and Medicaid and http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifthe hoops you have to jump through just to get the RIGHT care - let's just say they are best kept to myself right now. http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

I met some great people along the way. Amy at the 4th Frog kept me hopeful with her forwards about Aging Care. Lorraine at Horizon Hospice - who we never got to use - talked me off the ledge and told me more about the health care system than any doctor or nurse did over the last four months. The ladies at the Cancer Center in Avon, who are the most caring and loving group of people you could ever wish to be a part of your grandpa's life. The nurses at Hendricks Regional Health, the doctors at IU West Hospital, and the doctors/staff at Westview Hospital did the right things at the right time to help us along our way.

Services are today, we're heading out in a few hours. I'm most proud of the flowers we picked out for him, I think he'd really like him. He was very generous man - sending Scott and I to Hawaii for a wedding gift so his flowers are built around a tropical theme. We're taking Connor - it's hard to explain it all to a two and a half year old.

God Bless you Bob - three bells for you dear sailor.

Scraplift Challenge #54 now open

I just posted the details of Scraplift Challenge #54 over at Mousescrappers, I'd love to have you play along! I've put together this mini kit for anyone who participates between now and March 4th.


I'm finishing up some bonus elements to give away here on the blog, as I've been practicing so I can participate in the first ever Design Challenge at Mousescrappers. Here's the swatch we've been given to work with:


So, what do you think? Any elements or kit items you think I should do? I'd love to hear your suggestions - feel free to leave me a comment or send me an email to meejay33 (at) gmail (dot) com.

Slacker posting apology

We all have one of these right? That first post that you write when you haven't updated in a loooonnngggggg while, and you keep putting it off because you don't want to admit defeat? *Sigh*

The best way to overcome that fear is jump in and start writing again. It's been a long road between that Disney trip and today. Yes, the trip was AWESOME, but just two days before we came home things starting to go awry with Grandpa Bob. You see, we take care of the hub's Grandpa, we're his only family. Shortly after we got home, the strokes happened. Then it was a whirlwind of hospitals, specialists, picking a nursing home, moving units in the home, more hospitals, more strokes and oh yeah, the holidays and a little event I've been working on for two years, the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl. Where we are with Grandpa Bob today:


Credits: Connected through Caregiving, Ties that Bind Add-On: Father & Son by SuzyQ Scraps and Template by Little Green Frog Designs (now at Scrap Orchard!)

This layout is part of a program I'm participating in this year - Project Love, Me by SuzyQ Scraps. I'm still loving being a part of her CT, and I've got to play with some awesome products over the last six months.

Things are picking up at Mousescrappers - I will be hosting a scraplift challenge starting tomorrow! They've also started a design challenge that I'm going to participate in, and it's a great way to build your Disney-inspired stash and support the site as well.

So welcome back if you've been around here before, and if not, welcome to my scrapbook journey! I'd love to have you follow along. I'll be back tomorrow (post is already done!) with details on the scraplift challenge, hope to see you around!

25 days to Disney!

According to my DisneyParks.com home page we are just 25 days from arriving at Disney! We booked so late last trip that this one seems to be sneaking up on us. I'm very much looking forward to a getaway with my little family.

In honor of our 25 days to go I've put together a list of 25 moments we can't wait to experience on this trip:

25. Walking into the Magic Kingdom. Nothing like the first glimpse of the castle!

(There has got to be a better way to get that photo without so many rear-ends in it)

24. Dinner with the Princesses. Every girl wants to be a princess, right?
23. Using Touring Plans, and the Lines App for the iPhone to plan our day and manage our wait times. I still need to buy it - maybe on Friday I can get that done.
22. Staying on property and specifically staying at Port Orleans Riverside – can’t wait to take C fishing and for a surrey ride.
21. Stopping along the way to meet characters – hope to find Captain Hook!
20. Visiting Animal Kingdom – we didn’t get there on the last trip.
19. Breakfast at the Tusker House, love Donald and Daisy and can’t wait to get our photos taken with them.
18. Pin collecting – I mean buying!


17. We hope to attending the Halloween party, i.e. MNSSHP (Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party)! Still debating if Connor would make it to at least 10 without being a crazy baby.
16. Having more time at Epcot, I really want to ride the Mexico ride.
15. Lunch at the Plaza on Main Street.
14. Visiting without C – so happy to have Mom and Dad there a few days to help out.
13. Toy Story Mania! (see #14)
12. Star Tours!! (see #14)
11. Seeing Mickey and Minnie in the new Town Square Theater.
10. Wishes and/or Fantasmic, and being able to stay since C will already be in bed (there's #14 again!)
9. Parades! Would love to see the one at Hollywood Studios.
8. Lunch at Hollywood Vine since it’s Disney Jr. with Handy Manny, Leo and June from Little Einsteins and the Hubs favorite - Oso.
7. Seeing the Beast’s Castle under construction in Fantasyland.
6. Yuengling beer on tap.
5. Riding the monorail, although we might give the ferry a try (but I prefer the monorail!)
4. A Mickey ice cream bar for Connor.
3. Photopass photos and Magic Shots, including ordering the photopass before hand to save $50.00.
2. Getting new plushies for Connor to go with Mickey and Minnie!
1. And most of all, spending time with my little family and making memories that last forever.

What do you look forward to on your trips? Any tips for traveling with a two year old?

Freebie Template - Mousescrappers Challenge #83

I'm excited to be hosting another challenge at Mousescrappers over the next two weeks. This is my first template challenge to host, and I modeled the template after a recent layout I did of Connor visiting the big semi at the State Fair:

CREDITS: {Stash-Builders} Simple Paper Alphas 1 and Vroom Zoom Chugga Choo Collab by SuzyQ Scraps

I then re-scrapped this layout for the 2010 Disney trip book (just three more pages to go!) using the same template and adding a few elements and not deleting the photo bar on the side. I really liked how this turned out:

CREDITS: Magical Vacation by Tracy Howard (retired) and {Stash Builders} Project 365 Date Stamps 1 by SuzyQ Stamps

It goes to show that some of the tips from the Topsy Turvy Templates e-book can help! I used some of those ideas in using the same template and coming up with two different layouts. I think next time I'll rotate it 90 degrees and see how that turns out.

Join us over at Mousescrappers through September 30th to download the template below. It's available in PSD, TIF and PNG files right now. PAGE files will be available later this week. Link me up to your creations - I can't wait to see how you use The Big Tilt template.

Topsy Turvy Templates - Suzy's first e-book!

I'm thrilled to announce a new project from SuzyQ Scraps that I had the pleasure of being involved in. Over at Scrap Orchard she just released her first e-book, Topsy Turvy Templates. Have you ever wanted to know how to use templates more often? I always see those templates in the stores and wonder how they get turned into to the designs I see in the galleries. This book shares tips and tricks on how to take four templates and use them dozens of different ways. Here's three layouts I had published in the book:

CREDITS: A Life Expressed...{Simply} by SuzyQ Scraps. Template (modified) by Fiddle-dee-dee Designs.

CREDITS: A Life Expressed...{Joyfully} by SuzyQ Scraps. Template (modified) by Fiddle-dee-dee Designs.

CREDITS: A Life Expressed...{Peacefully} by SuzyQ Scraps. Template (modified) by Fiddle-dee-dee Designs.

The e-book includes 11 ideas for modifying templates and includes over 45 scrapbooking tips PLUS a set of 4 exclusive templates from Fiddle-Dee-Dee Designs. It's on sales this week for just $7.99 (regular price $9.99).



Head over to the Orchard and check it out. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Will you pick this up? Would you buy an e-book like this? Link me up to some layouts that inspire you to stretch your stash.

The never-ending Disney book

I have just a few pages to go! I've been motivated to get these digital scrapbooking layouts done this week. My Persnickety Prints cart is ready, just waiting on four more layouts! Here's two I've finished up this week.

CREDITS, MEETING MICKEY: My Happy Place by Captivated Visions and Litabells and Stitch Hiccups #1 by SuzyQ Scraps

CREDITS, MY PINS: It's Magical the Kit and Alpha from Just Plain Fun, both from Britt-ish Designs. Template by Wyld Peas Designs.

I really enjoy the layout about the pins. I've been a big fan of pin collection (not trading!) since my trip in 1999. It was then that they had rolled out the pins for the millennium celebration. Somewhere in a box I have about 20 pins from that trip. For the 2010 visit I had to limit myself and had a plan. I wanted one for each park we visited on the trip, a Mickey head, and one of Mickey and Minnie. I don't like the ones that open up or go crazy, but I do like the vintage Mickey ones. I could spend hours browsing the pins! I enjoy the pins so much, and I'm glad Connor got his Lighting McQueen lanyard and pins on his first visit, given his in-utero name. I'm a collector - not a trader - because I couldn't bear the thought of parting with my favorites.

What's your favorite souvenir from Disney? Are you a collector? Don't even get me started on Vinylmations and the hubs obsession! Share with me - do you have a layout to link up? Can't wait to hear your stories.

Moving On

I've said it before, but digital scrapbooking is my therapy. I gravitate toward it to remember the good times, the bad times and the silly times in between. One of Sandy's daughters posted this thought today: Strange how life just keeps moving on. Isn't that true? But I suppose that is what we are here for.

So, moving onto the happier parts of this blog. I had a lot of fun with Suzy's new kit, A Taste of Autumn. I can't wait to dig in and play some more with this kit!

Taste of Autumn, the Bundle

I scrapped a fun photo from last year - with no journaling (quite rare for me!) and my first ever all journaling layout.

CREDITS: Taste of Autumn {the Kit} by SuzyQ Scraps

CREDITS: Taste of Autumn {the Add-On} and Taste of Autumn {the Clusters} both by SuzyQ Scraps.

Fall is just around the corner. It's back up to 90 degrees tomorrow here in the midwest then falling back to the 70s from there. I'm ready for football weather! Although I'm staying away from any conversations about our Indianapolis Colts...we're a bit of a fair-weather state.

Speaking of fall, we are just 31 days away from Disney! I should probably start the countdown now. The book is almost done, I have some pages to share later this week.

If you'd like to scrap those 2010 fall memories or get ready for 2011, pick up Taste of Autumn through Wednesday 9/14 for 20% off! Visit Suzy's store in the market here.

Life and Love

Sorry for the lack of updates or layouts, but I've been pretty occupied with the day job over the last two weeks. We made it through the U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway as a family, and Connor loved his first trip to the track during a 'real' race. I have some fun photos to share over the next few days.

In other news, things starting to return to normal Monday night, then the text finally came from my boss, E, that his wife was succumbing to a lengthy battle with breast cancer. In just a few hours she was gone. I just returned from the visitation tonight and I'm so proud to call Hendricks County my home. I saw hundreds of people tonight, and I've taken over 100 phone calls in two days from people expressing their condolences. SS raised an amazing family, and spent over 40 years with her soul mate. I only hope I can be so fortunate in my years. Her kids - MB, KT, B and J are amazing. The inlaws and the grandkids also loved her beyond belief. I've heard of miracles, but I'm watching them unfold in front of me right now.

Please pray for this family in the coming weeks. They were so lucky to have SS in their life, and to share in her love. I'm grateful I got to know her over the last nine years.

Rest in Peace Sandy Sue. Your legacy will go far beyond tonight - and with generations to come. I hope you are up there sorting out these wild Brazil, Indiana connections right now - I'll need a detailed explanation when I get there. Say hi to my friends and family, and know that your love will continue on and on.

New Telephone Challenge Open at Mousescrappers

I had a such a great time participating in my first Telephone Challenge at MouseScrappers last month hosted by April, I'm hosting the next one! We're taking the first 15 sign-ups to play in a progressive scraplift. I'll send my layout to the first person, then it's up to you to be inspired by the layout, the colors, the content or whatever peaks your interest. At the end of the challenge all the layouts are revealed in the gallery so you get to see the progression from start to finish. Fun, right? The only requirement is that your layout be Disney related. Here's my layout from the last challenge:


CREDITS: Storytime and Layered Titles: Mouse Edition, both by Britt-ish Designs. All Stacked Up Backgrounds Vol. 4 by Captivated Visions.

This may be one of my favorite Disney layouts I've done. I love how the kit from Britt is so versatile! Here's a link to the gallery of the whole challenge.

For this next challenge it's lucky #21! 21 is 3 times 7 and seven is a lucky number so the theme is "Disney Luck". What is something you lucked out on at Disney? Did you meet a character you really wanted to find? Did you finally get to ride that ride you've always wanted? Were you family of the day? Did you get an awesome room at the resort? What did you 'luck' into? Sign up and everyone who participates will get the In the Playhouse {Word Art} Pack!

Sign up here - there are only six spots left!

Summer Rewind Sale at Scrap Orchard

It's that time of the year when summer comes to an end and fall begins. Labor Day weekend is usually the end of summer here in the states and especially in the Midwest. Our big Labor Day weekend tradition is the NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. I will apologize now for the number of #NHRA60 tweets you will see from me this weekend. The U.S. Nationals right here in central Indiana are the Big Go, the biggest event in drag racing. It's loud, it's fast and fun. You've never seen anything like a car going less than a quarter-mile in about 4 seconds at over 300 mph from a standing start. For more info on the Nationals visit Lucas Oil Raceway's Facebook page.

Now that I've reminisced about racing, I want to make sure you know all about the Summer Rewind Sale at Scrap Orchard going on now through September 5th.


My wish list is FULL - here some of the stuff that will probably be going home with me before Monday:

Here Fishy Fishy by Tracie Stroud and Micheline Martin by Tracie Stroud

Cutiesaurus by Laura Banasiak

It Wasn't Me by Designs by Kat

My Happy Place Full Kit with Litabells Designs by Captivated Visions

SuzyQ Scraps also has her summer stuff in the rewind sale. Check out her full list of products here. It's a great time to pick up these kits at amazing prices! Here's a few of my faves' from Suzy:

So Silly by SuzyQ Scraps

Beep Beep Boop Beep {the Kit} by SuzyQ Scraps

I hope you enjoy browsing the market and add to your stash! Let me know what you find - any must haves that I missed?

Top 5 Tips to scrap those Magical Memories

As I'm finishing up my 2010 Disney Scrapbook and prepping for our 2011 trip, I often think about how I came back to digital scrapbooking just this past spring. I'd taken a bit of break since getting pregnant in 2008 and having the baby and going back to work full-time. I just didn't give myself any ME time. I ran back into the Mousescrappers site and I was hooked. The challenges got me started scrapping again, and I quickly realized that scrapping those magical memories was different that scrapping our everyday life.

I saw this post on the Daily Digi this week and it got me thinking about how to scrap those REALLY big things. Maybe that's why I haven't printed any layouts yet - it would make them so permanent and I want them to be perfect. Here's my Top 5 tips for scrapping those big trips - and especially Disney.

1. Plan your pages BEFORE you go. It doesn't have to be a college-style outline, but if there are photos that you know you want to get when you are on the trip it's okay to take a little notebook of must get shots. If there something you REALLY want to experience? Write out your thoughts now - that journaling can be incorporated into an amazing layout when you get home.

2. It's okay to take pictures of your food - your husband may think you're crazy but the mom across the restaurant TOTALLY gets it. We spend a lot of time at Disney eating. Connor is a three meal a day kid, and we know that we will be sitting down for all three meals somewhere. It's part of the trip, and can be some fun pictures for you to enjoy down the road.

3. Stock up on free fonts. There are several free font sites out there that can be used for titles, journaling, detail work and more. Mousescrappers has some great challenges where you can earn kits and other Mouse-related scrapbooking items, but if your budget doesn't allow for a huge investment in purchased kits then use the free tools to add to your creativity. Clip Art can be your friend too! The Daily Digi has a great post of free fonts for journaling here.

4. *Disney Specific* Check your non-Disney stash for kits to use in your layouts. I adore my Disney specific stuff. However, I've also found that I have some very versatile kits that can be used for several different things. I'm a big fan of Suzy's A Life Expressed Collection in monochromatic colors of pinks, reds, black, gray, orange, blue, green, purple and more. It's great to mix and match or throw with some black and white versions of those out of focus photos like I have since, ya know, the mobile two year old. Here's one I've previously shared on this blog:

CREDITS: A Life Expressed...{Simply} by SuzyQ Scraps.

5. *Disney Specific* Buy the Photopass CD before you go! If you even think you want the Photopass CD, buy it before you go. Photopass is a great opportunity to get photos of everyone on your trip in that iconic setting. I love that the photographers got pictures of me and the hubs interacting with C. We have some fantastic photos of us watching the parade and I could never have gotten those myself. You can pick up the pre-order CD for $50 less here. Also fun? Adding all the Disney borders to photos! Edit all you want, it doesn't change the cost of your photos. Here's some of our edited photos from the 2010 trip:




There you go! What would you add? I'd love to hear any of your tips and tricks for scrapping those big vacations and especially those Magical Memories. Leave a comment or link me up to a layout of a big moment you love!

Happy Anniversary to Britt-ish Designs!

One of my all time fave designers is celebrating an anniversary this weekend in honor of her store being open one year - Congrats to Britt of Britt-ish Designs! If you are a Disney fan, and especially a Disney scrapper, her kits and elements are must haves for any stash. Right now she has a 'Magical' Grab Bag on sale through Thursday September 1st. I picked it up over the weekend and I assure you - it's an A-MAZE-ING deal.

It's A Magical Grab Bag

In addition to the awesome grab bag, her entire store is on sale for 30% off! Here's some of my faves:

Candy Shop - Collab with Sahlin Studio

Happiest Phrases Sticker Pack

Britt's Ribbon Jar

Friendly

Just Plain Fun

Storytime

Hopefully that's enough eye-candy for you to go check it out. Britt is a huge supporter of MouseScrappers, and she even has a fun Quick Page Blog Train going on. Thanks Britt - for everything you do, and congrats again!

On the QT!

This week was a doozy. The Hubs made it back in town, but he is in prep mode for the BIGGEST week of the year for his work, the upcoming Mac Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals. The largest drag race in the world takes place over Labor Day Weekend right here, and it's a flurry of test sessions, media interviews, open houses, awards dinners and of course, races. At my work we've had a GREAT week - I'm getting to hire some additional help for our teeny tiny staff and we are also expanding our offices and I will be moving upstairs by the end of the year. I'm definately going to need to start scrapping some decorations soon!

The MOST exciting #digiscrap news E-V-E-R came last weekend, when the super-awesome Suzy Q asked me to be part of her permanent Creative Team. I've enjoyed my summer guest spot so much, I was thrilled and honored to say yes. Good news for you all - more awesome SuzyQ Scraps layouts to browse! Now that I'm on the QT I've seen some of the stuff she has in the works for the fall and it is not to be missed! I'm so excited to be promoting her products because her goals align with mine. If you know me from work, you know how I feel about mission statements, visions and strategic plans. Trust me when I say Suzy has it together. She's got a plan to help scrappers express their creativity and share their stories, and I'm pleased to go on this journey with her and with you!

I did get a very tiny bit of scrapping time in this week finishing up my commitments for the summer team. I was so, so lucky to be with a great group of women who taught me so much. This week I finished up with two alpha assignments:

CREDITS: Peppermint Alpha and A Life Expressed...{Simply) both by SuzyQ Scraps. Template by Fiddle Dee Dee Designs - Fuss Free: Pennies From Heaven. Font is Follow You Into the World, and this was done for the Scrap Orchard What the Font? Challenge.

CREDITS: {Stash Builders} Kraft Alpha, {Stash-Builders} Project 365 Date Stamps 1 and Bug Collectin' all by SuzyQ Scraps. Template by Little Green Frog Designs.

I also got around to updating my header. This blog has evolved into more storytelling and layout sharing than designing, so there is no need to have a header with my design logo. I still plan for freebies here and there and some freebie roundups, but it turns out my other comittments don't allow for a lot of designing time. I'm still working in some scrapping time, but it's easier to put down and come back. And isn't that why we all LOVE to #digiscrap?

Easy-Peas-y

I'm single Mom this week - and while I do get some scrapping time in, it doesn't leave much time for blogging. The Hubs is in Minnesota for a race and C and I have been roughing it all week. It's also been a doozy at work, which is funny because I help people go on vacation - how hard should it be? But, I digress.

I think I've done some of my best layouts this last week, and Suzy's stuff makes it so easy! Check out these fun layouts. This one is my favorite:

CREDITS: {Stash-Builders} Simple Paper Alphas 1 and Vroom Zoom Chugga Choo Collab by SuzyQ Scraps

CREDITS: {Stash-Builders} Simple Paper Alphas 2, Oopsie-Doodle: Arrows 1 and A Life Expressed ... {Simply} all by SuzyQ Scraps

I did this one for the Scraplift Challenge being hosted over at MouseScrappers:

CREDITS: Feeling Chipper Alpha, Oopsie-Doodle: Frames 2 and A Life Expressed ... {Colorfully} all by SuzyQ Scraps

My turn on the SuzyQ Scraps Summer Team is coming to an end. I've had a blast and I've learned so much! If you are considering applying to a Creative Team (CT), just do it! I waited three years to apply, and I wish I would have done it sooner. Find a designer you like, use their stuff, and then watch for when they have a call. It's such a rewarding experience.

Lastly, are you looking for some scrapping fun this week? Check out the Mini MONSTER-thon Speed Scrap going on over at Mousescrappers. The Keystone Scraps CT is hosting five speed scraps between now and Sunday afternoon and the prizes build a fantastic monster-themed mega kit.


Well C is starting to wake up. I think we'll head to the zoo this morning. I've got my eye on some kits that need some fun photos. Hope to see you at the Monster-thon sometime this weekend - say hi if I do!