Christmas Tree Template Example

Wow, time really does fly because tomorrow's already Friday! By the time we know it, it's going to be Christmas week. Anyway, I wanted to share some Christmas inspiration with all of you. Remember that Christmas tree template we shared with all of you? Well, if not, it can be found here(highlight "here" and insert the link for that template).

I decided to use that template for a Christmas photo that was taken many many years ago. Here's what I came up with:



So, what do you think?! Cute, right?! :)

If you use this template, send it over to Pam, and we'd LOVE to feature your page on the blog.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Hugs!

Get dimension with your Photos…

Add dimension to your pages with your photos. This technique will add so much to the visual effect of your layouts and use up some of those photos you have with lots of background showing.

I placed pop dots on the back of a 4 X 6 photo and centered it on top of a 5 X 7 of the same photo. I chose a pattern paper with swirls and flowers that I cut out and layered around and under the photos for more depth.
I really liked the finished effect…Be sure to use photos with lots of open background showing.

Leaf Template Tutorial

I wanted to try one of Pam’s templates, and this template with the leaf for journaling was perfect for the cute photos that I took recently of my grandchildren, Katie and Adam. As you can tell, I didn’t follow the template exactly, but used it as a guide for my layout.



First, I printed the template out on 12x12 paper with a large format printer. You can also print on 8.5x11 and piece the template together. This gave me a pattern to use for my large leaf. The small leaves were punched from some paper that I created just for the leaves.

I used several different “Fall” colored inks and my Tim Holtz foam pads for blending the inks. For this example I used inks in mustard seed (yellow), spiced marmalade (orange), Prussian blue, and fire brick (red). With the foam pad, I rubbed the each ink on plain white cardstock, using a circular motion. Just add the different inks right on top of each other. Continue blending using different colors until you get the look you want.
The Prussian blue might seem a little odd, but when mixed with the yellow, you get a very nice green color.


Once you get the look you want, use a large leaf punch or use the small leaf on the template as a pattern to trace on the back of the cardstock and then cut them out. The beauty of this method is that when you punch or cut your leaves, no two leaves will be the same color.


You might have noticed that I included a small “cat-eye” inker in the first picture. That is a copper color ink. After I punch the leaves out, I just rubbed the edges with the copper ink. The copper is really a nice finishing touch.

I hope you’ll try one of Pam’s templates. It really speeds up the process when you know what your design will be.

Papers used in this layout are from Deja Views – Global views.

Four Photo Curvy Template

This template works great for sledding pics, water pics, and other activities! I created one large photo and three smaller photos.

First here is the template. There are also fun circles to use as journaling tags and title spots!

(Click on each individual image and a larger sized image will appear)

Here is the photo template by itself. Print and trace onto your photos. You should be able to print portrait size onto one piece of computer paper.


And lastly, the sketch of the page! I know some people work better with those. I have give pretty specific measurements for each part of the sketch!

Get creative with the template, feel free to flip it 180 degrees or combine photos, whatever works for you!

Here is the digital layers download!
http://www.4shared.com/file/186304566/c3afbf7d/pc_curvyphotoblock_template.html

PS- it's the last day to enter the journaling challenge! Don't forget to enter! The prize is a 25 dollar gift certificate to sb.com!

Digital Stamps

Digital stamps are one of my new, favorite crafting tools. Just like traditional stamps you have a great variety of designs and artists but generally digital stamps are right at your fingertips, inexpensive, and easy to store. And of course, anyone who knows me well, knows that I cannot make up my mind about the things I like. So I have two favorite companies to introduce to you....Regina Easter over at The Cutting Cafe (http://thecuttingcafe.typepad.com) and Tracey “Fred” Miller over at Fred She Said (http://www.fred-she-said.blogspot.com).

Let me show you just a few of the things you can do with the products created by these talented ladies.....

The above photo is a gift card holder I made using Regina's Teacher Printable Stamps “Just a little something from me to you ….Teacher”.

Above I used Regina's Family Traditions Printable “Baking Cookies for Santa” I especially love the sentiment tags that Regina offers over at The Cutting Cafe. I love doing gift baskets and they lend themselves beautifully to embellishing these.

I just wanted to give you a close up of the awesome tag that I used here. The cookies in the center print separately so you can color and pop dot them (like I did here) for dimension.

And moving over to Tracey's creations. I have to say, there is always one stamp set that you just simply fall in love with, and mine is Emma, one just never knows what Emma will be up to next (Helps that she reminds me of my own little girl, Emy.) Some of Tracey's images come with a black and white line drawing option or a color option and let me tell you either way is fun.

The cute little tag above was made using one of Tracey's colored images “Catchin' Flakes”. I simply traced my tag pattern around the image and tied a pretty bow at the top – it really is as easy as that.

The card above was made using Tracey's image “Emma and the Chickadee”. This image was not colored and I put it through my own 4 step process. First, I colored the image in colored pencil, pressing firmly and laying down lots of color, that color tends to smudge so I covered the entire colored area with Crystal effects to give it a shiney look. Then I colored in Emma's face with chalk (I think it's a more blendable and subtle look.). Third I added some Stickles to Emma's hair and the fur on her coat, and finally, I masked the entire colored image and dabbed the background with blue ink to help pop the colors and provide some background.

I've included a sheet of printable gift tags which you can use as a template or print out and stamp on yourself. I hope you'll have fun with them. And don't forget to stop in and see Regina and Tracey at their stores!

Advice from Tracey Miller on how to use digital stamps:

For digital images, the easiest way to print your digital images is to use word processing software like MS Word or Open Office ( a free GNU Licence download). On a new page insert the image onto the page, you can resize and move the image, flip it, mirror, make more copies, and even recolour the outline.

For inkjets and colouring your images, to avoid smudging , good colouring mediums are chalks, pencils ( and odorless mineral spirits and paper stumps for blending) and alcohol based markers like Copics. Printer's inks are all different. If your printer uses a dye based ink you will be good to go as far as smudge-proof colouring. If you want to watercolour, try using an embossing heat tool and heat set your print or lightly spray with a fixatif like Krylon Preserve It Spray. If your printer uses 2 black cartridges or has a Photo Black cartridge option, the photo black cartridge is the cartridge you want to use as it is dye based. Printers with 2 blacks installed, try a glossy photo setting and the printer will use the photo black. If your printer uses only pigment inks, try a fixatif spray to seal the ink. Heat setting may or may not work with pigmented inks. Laser printers give the best smudge free prints for colouring and the laser sets the ink into the paper... these prints will even hold up to watercolouring.

Digital stamps work so well with paper piecing techniques. If your digital stamp comes as a PNG file with a transparent background, in Word or a graphics editing program, you can layer the image over top of digital paper. Or print the image directly on designer paper.

Fun Curvy Template!

Hello all!! A quick post from me! My parents are here to celebrate Thanksgiving with us! I love when they are in town, so fun.
This is the last post for a few days, but I wanted to give out one more template for those who want to scrap this week! We will return on Sunday.

Here is the template! It was actually made from a page I did about THREE years ago! I thought being able to print the curve would help people achieve this design with a space in between the photos and other papers. Print, cut out and trace onto your paper/photos.

(Click on each individual image and a larger sized image will appear)

Here is just the photoblock template for those who just want that. Open in another program and print full size. I made this without the flowers overlapping!

And last, but not least, the actual sketch for this who just want to use this! ps-if you use this template I WOULD LOVE to see your take on it, email me at scrappingpam73@yahoo.com .


Here is the digital layers download!
http://www.4shared.com/file/186297763/64b881a6/pc_hill_template.html

Wishing everyone a great weekend and have a very happy Thanksgiving (to those who are celebrating)!

Reader's Pages!

Here are some AMAZING pages by a scrapper named Bridget! She submitted these two me about a week ago and I was excited to get her email. It really is (I know I keep saying this) so cool for me to see pages that people make with my templates. This first page is using the Wave Photoblock Template! I love how she keep it as the main focus of her page! Also the text on the sides is way cool!!


This next page is also by Bridget! She used one of my new templates called the Flower Photoblock Template. I love how she scrapped her flowers on this page! It is so colorful and fun!



Thanks for sharing your work with me Bridget!

Here is one more page I wanted to share by contributing artist Sarah! She used my Flower (4 Petal) Template. I adore how this turned out!! She used such great colors and fun papers!


Would you like to have your pages featured?? Please email me at scrappingpam73@yahoo.com ! I cannot wait to see your pages!!