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Monthly Archives: February 2013

2/28/2013

Digital Project Life : Week Eight

I am here, I am here! WOW. Did not mean to take that much of a hiatus…but my life has been VERY busy this past week. We had a houseguest, I tackled my first piece of complicated clothing on the sewing machine (can’t wait for you to see it!), and chased kids around and around and around and around. Consequently this week’s layout is pretty simple. And definitely odd colors for me–since when do I like orange, brown, blue, and green?!

Whole Layout:

Left Side:

Right Side:

What we were up to this week: As the Week in Review card sums up, not too much before my Aunt Holly arrived on Thursday the 19th. (And yes, if your wondering, that is where we got the name for our Holly.) While she was here we did a lot of fabric store shopping and then prairie dress preparation. That’s right–I dove right in and made Holly a “Laura and Mary” dress, pinafore, and bonnet to compliment her recent Little House obsession. For the record I FULLY support this obsession, I would MUCH rather her pick up morality and lessons from that show than the pre-teen stuff I see on the Disney channel. Whoops. Sorry for the soapbox!

Techniques used this week: Once again it was brushes and text on photos all day long. And recoloring digital elements in Photoshop. Boy am I obsessed with that!

Other thoughts: I am too tired for other thoughts this week. HA!

Supplies used this week: Most of the items are listed in the icons below. The Week Eight circle came from September Blue’s blog and was, at the time, a free download. It’s $2.99 now, but I still think that’s a great deal for 52 elements. I absolutely love those elements! The I {heart} this photo is an Ali Edward’s brush available at designerdigitals.com.

 

 

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Cara Miller - Heather, I love the colors and papers that you are choosing for these layouts. Thanks for sharing. hugs, cara

Amy - As usual, great job on your scrapbook page spread for this week! Love it.

Lisa J. - What a fun week!
The browns and yellow of your spread tie in perfectly w/ a Little House on the Prairie dress making.
Your Aunt Holly sounds like she’s such a “kindred spirit.”

Donna G. - BEAUTIFUL pages, Heather! Marie really is a cutie!! And Holly is very pretty!

libbywilko - Love the photographs(as usual) this week and I so agree with what you said about supporting the LH obsession, can’t wait to see the finished dress.

Tina C. - Cool layouts! I think this is the first time I seen it layed out on 12 X 12 sheets of paper vs seeing it in the pockets look all the others I’ve seen this is so refreshing and appealing to a scrapper. Well you inspired me, after I use up all the pages I already bought I can’t wait to use this style, TFS and thanks for the inspiration

Sue - Love your pages so much – again!! Can’t wait to see the dress – what a super, awesome mom you are for encouraging your daughter in what she likes :) I love the September Blue weeks too and used one this week as well (recoloured of course – lol).

J3SS1C4 - I love how vivid this page is! The snow pics are super cute, as is the photo of your daughter buying her craft project!

2/21/2013

Digital Project Life in Photoshop–The Winner!

63 entries were entered into the random number generator and the comment number calculated was……63!

Congratulations Melanie! I just know you are going to love it:) Please email me so I can get you all of the details.

I hope to be back later with a baby book update, if not today, definitely by Monday.

For all of you that entered…thank you. It was awesome to see so many people interested in how to do a digital version of Project Life–makes me excited to do up some more videos!!

For those of you that missed it, I did post about getting started with digital project life back in early January. This post includes links to videos on how to use templates, how to put text on photos, and how to use a digital brush. Honestly…if you watch those you WOULD know how to get started and ultimately create an album.

Go check it out!!!

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Leslie - Congrats to the winner!! I thought some of the comments were yours, so I thought I had a better chance. :) That’s ok, I’ll go check out what you’ve posted. Thanks to your recoloring tutorial, I do know how to do that and LOVE it! Thanks Heather!

Melanie - Thanks a million!! I am just starting out project life for the first time every and this will help so much!

libbywilko - Congratulations Melanie !

2/20/2013

Digital Project Life in Photoshop Class Giveaway!

I know many of you want to get started doing Project Life digitally, but aren’t sure how to begin. Many times I have shown my  finished pages to family and friends and they are so ready to jump on board….until I tell them you need to use Photoshop to complete it. I literally can see the expression on their faces change, and despite my urging that it really is easier than they might think, I can’t get them to come back around. Have you wrestled with this? Been so intrigued, but doubt your ability to learn a new program?

I have just the thing for you – Jessica Sprague’s Digital Project Life with Photoshop class! I have taken the class myself and can tell you it’s packed with tips and techniques that will get you up and running fast. (And for the record, it’s awesome for those of you who already know a bit about Photoshop. I couldn’t believe what I learned!)

In this online, video-based class you’ll learn the basic Photoshop tools to create gorgeous pages in just a few minutes a week that integrate Becky’s digital Project Life templates, photographs, embellishments, and type.

You’ll learn how to:

·         Download and unzip files

·         Open, close, combine, and save images of different types

·         Save pages for both print and the web

·         Use digital templates to speed up your work and create a cohesive look

·         Add embellishments to your pages

·         Insert, arrange, and resize photos

·         Use the Type tool for journaling and titles

·         And so much more!

The class also includes the two-piece background that I use in almost all of my own Digital Project Life pages. If you have always wanted to create that double-mat layered look, it’s all in there!

This is a self-paced class, meaning, you’ll have access to all your course materials FOREVER. No need to be online at a specific time – complete the class at your own pace! Priced at $23 – this class is a steal and I couldn’t recommend it enough.

I am so excited to be giving away a spot in the class to one of my readers. In addition to winning a seat in the class, the winner will also receive one full Project Life Edition of their choice from acdigitals.com. AC Digitals is the home to all of the Becky Higgins Project Life digital products along with some of the most popular brands in the scrapbooking industry – American Crafts, Crate Paper, and Pebbles. 

Seriously…there is no reason no to give digital a whirl now!

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post letting me know what you are most looking forward to learning in the class and your favorite Project Life collection.

I will be accepting comments until midnight, CST today. Winner announced tomorrow!

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Jacqueline R - This class sounds amazing! I already use the paper version of Project Life, but would love to learn how to do it digitally. The thing I would really like to learn is how to recolor digital elements…I think that flexibility is one of the best parts of digi scrapping!

admin - Hi Jacqueline–Good luck in the giveaway. I actually did a tutorial a couple of weeks ago on recoloring digital elements. Check it out!

Melissa H - I am currently using project life but would love to be more familiar with project life digitally and photoshop techniques in general. The current favorite is amber core kit which I’m using in paper form this year. Thanks for the chance to win!
Melissa H

Lynn L. - I would love a chance at her class. I am overwhelmed by all the things you can do in Photoshop. It would be great to have someone walk me though it!! :) Thanks for the giveaway.

Jocelyn Thompson - I would love this chance. I would love to know how to recolor some elements; also working with layers and getting a cohesive look when finished. My favorite PL collection…that is a tough one. I love the Seafoam that is out now but I am so looking forward to the new kits coming in May …Midnight and Cinnamon to name a few. I just love all things Project Life!

Leslie H - I love your passion for sharing Project Life & making it accessible for all. I’ve picked up several solid techniques from your blog already (LOVE the double matted background template!) I would love a chance to learn more. I keep drooling over the Amber Core kit because of all the fun embellishments. Thank you Heather!

Stacey Rhea - I would so love to learn how project life can be easy through digital. It seems so overwhelming.

Jeanne J - I’m looking forward to learning everything in this class! Looks like a wonderful class! Thanks!

admin - Hi Jocelyn–someone else just mentioned recoloring digital elements as well–I did a tutorial a few weeks ago on that very subject, if you scroll down you will see my reply with the link. Good luck on the giveaway!

K Hutchinson - Oh my heavens this would be a dream come true to get a spot in this class! I would love to learn how to use templates the RIGHT way!

Leslie M. - This makes me very excited! I’ve played around with digi PL a bit, but know that there are so many things I would love to learn (sizing and adding text are the big things… there has to be an easier way!). The PL kit I would choose is the seafoam collection. Love it!

Anna - I would like to do a project that commemorates my mother for the family to have.

Susan T - I am still a newbie where Photoshop is concerned so it’s intimidating to think of doing Project Life digitally. I’m most looking forward to learning how to use the templates to include my pictures and papers/embellishments. My favorite is the Cobalt Core Kit.

Kathe - I love Jessica’s classes. I think Project Life would be a fun way to showcase my pictures rather than just sticking them into albums. I mean to scrapbook, I have tons of actual and digital scrapbook supplies, but don’t find time. This looks like a cure for that since it looks fast and easy. Starting is the hard part for me! Thanks for the giveaway

Jessica H - Oh I would love to learn more about arranging elements on a page and techniques in general
Would love to get the Baby Edition, maybe the for Her or maybe the neural – I would love to see more posts of your baby book :)

Kahy - I would be so excited about learning at MY pace. When you don’t feel rushed, you retain the information better. And I so want to get my hands on that Wellington collection!

Dixie - Oh I really like the text border. Can’t wait to try it out. I’m just starting digital scrapbooking and your videos, blog & freebies are great! Thanks for the inspiration.

Jmarien - Would love the chance to win and learn! Thanks!!

Karen P - I have been doing Project Life for the past three years but am new to the digital realm. I’d love to win this class! Thanks for the giveaway.

Molly - Totally enthralled with Project Life… drool over the pages I see on Pinterest, but can’t quiet seem to wrap my head around starting… this class would be perfect! Thanks for the chance to win!

Jill - I am looking forward to the opportunity to complete a project life album. I attempted to do it traditionally last year and I am still trying to print photos :)

Leslie Y - Would LOVE the opportunity to learn from someone so passionate that is the best way to learn. I have only done the shutterfly books and those are plain templates and you do not get the creativity I like. Super excited if I get the chance :)

Gargi A - Thank you for giving us a chance to win! This is such a great giveaway.
I’ve never scrapbooked and want to preserve all my family memories. So I want to learn everything there is in this class. My favorite Project Life collection is Amber and can’t wait to see the new ones coming out this Spring.

admin - Hi Jill–I know what you mean. All I do is digital, but then I got the idea to do a baby book the traditional way. I am on no weekly “time crunch” with that and the sheer printing of photos…oh my. With two little ones I wouldn’t be able to keep up. Digital is the way to go!!!

ivonne - I just like to learn everything in PS. I don’t have a favorite collection. I like “craft paper” and bright colors.

admin - Hi Jessica,

I am working on it, hope to be showing some pages next week. I am soooo slow when it comes to non-digital!

Lucy - If I win this class and kit I’d be thrilled. I’m looking forward to learning to best use digital files, you’ve been inspiring me. I love all the kits but if I have to pick a favorite I like the Turquoise edition.
Thanks Heather!

Abbey - I always learn something new in Jessica’s classes, usually its something I didn’t know I didn’t know! I really want to get the baby addition!

Julia - I already did take the digital project life class and totally loved it, because I learned so much!!
Now I need to progress my digital skills and would love to do new layouts with a new kit, and am so thankful for the opportunity to win a kit!

By the way I’m so inspired by your layouts, heather! Thanks for sharing!

bobbi - Bobbi B I’m what I call a “splinter skilled” digital scrapbooker. Translated that means I’m self taught and I have learned a little bit here and a little bit there. There are holes in my digital education. I would love to fill more of them with this class. Thank you.

Lisa R - I would love to win this class! I would to have someone walk me through how to do Project Life digitally. I am soooo behind on my scrapbooking and this would be a great solution to catching up!

Alice - I would love a seat in this class. Learing something new is always a good thing.

Lisa - *would love

Kristie Cabral - I have done digital scrapbooking with other programs, but I feel confined with some thing, and I know there is much more freedom to customize in PS and PSE, I really want to learn how to learn to utilize these tools in digital scrapbooking to allow more options and choices!! Thank you for the opportunity!! :)

Kara - My sister just introduced me to project life so this is my first year and I’m enjoying it, but I definitely could use some help! I like the Clementine one the best I think. They’re all so pretty its hard to choose!

Mariah - I have done a little digital scrapbooking and this is my first year doing Project Life. I would love to learn how to streamline the whole process and make it so easy that it actually gets done!

Kelly - Yay for a giveaway!

Too much I’d like to learn, but I guess what I’m most excited about is how to manipulate photos and work with the digital templates. Clementine and Cobalt are my favorite Project Life collections.

Natalie Wennergren - I would love to learn it all! Mostly for now though I’m excited for some of the basics, like how to use digital templates. I’m not very familiar with project life, but hope to be soon!Thanks for the opportunity.

Katrina - I need this from start to finish – I’m clueless! And I’m most interested in the baby project life templates.

Katharina - I am just about to start a Digital Project Life Album for my little boy and would love to win a seat in that class. Thanks for the chance to win.

Jen J - I am so excited about this giveaway! I have just started learning photoshop and though I have learned a lot I am sure there are easier ways of doing things.  I love the Baby for Him edition and the Olive Edition- oh heck, who am I kidding? I love them all!
Thanks for sharing your beautiful pages. I’m a huge fan but you already knew that when I suggested your name as a team member on Becky’s blog. Keep up the awesome work.

Christy Mayberry - I just started using photoshop and am so intimated. This class would be a wonderful opportunity for me to learn some things. Thanks for giving us a chance to win!!

Kelly Gleonde - Please! I’d love the opportunity to take the class and the giveaway!

admin - I sure do Jen! I still will never forget reading her comments that day and seeing my name….I swear my mouth dropped open so far it touched the floor! Thanks for reading and being such an awesome support!

Alba - I would like to learn everything in this class!What a wonderful class! Thanks a lot!
Many congratulations for your work. I discovered your blog recently and since then I lose a post.

Laura D - i would most look forward to learning how to use the templates–anything to speed up the workflow! my favorite collection is the clementine!

Diane W - What a fabulous giveaway. I know a little in Photoshop but don`t feel confident enough so this class would really give me a boost. As far as what collection is my favourite…ohhhhh that`s such a hard decision. I`m kind of leaning toward the Clementine collection but like the Turquoise one as well. Yikes! Don`t know if I could decide for sure. LOL

Jessica Anderson - I am doing digital project life for the first time this year. I would love to learn more about photo placement and templates. I want to do my kids baby books in this format as well!

Sofina L - I have been wanting to start a Project Life album but keep procrastinating – and looking at everyone else’s fabulous albums. I’m a beginner with Photoshop and this class would be a great kickstart and a wonderful way to learn how to do it. Thank you

Suzy Gray - The digi project life seems like it would be easier to keep up with. I love the clementine collection

Kim - I want to learn it all!!! My favorite collection so far is cobalt. Thanks for the chance to win!!!

Christy Mayberry - I am new to the digital scrapbooking world so any and all the help I can get would be appreciated. Thanks for the chance to win. So excited!

Krista - i’d like to learn some new techniques to help my workflow get faster! :)

Roni Nelsen - I have a bunch of digital supplies but can’t ever fit it together this would be such an awesome class!!!!

Scrumptious - Hi Heather! I am intrigued by your description of the digital PL class. I figured it wasn’t for me since I already know how to do what’s listed in the class description at least at a basic level, but if you learned cool new things then I am sure I would as well! So that’s what I would be most looking forward to learning in the class – all those little tricks and techniques I can’t even name because I haven’t learned them yet! My favorite of the PL editions that are available now is Olive. Especially after seeing what it looks like recolored during the PL CT’s “Olive week” – I think it’s beautiful as-is but that made me realize how versatile it could be. Totally off-topic, I am so so excited for the Rain edition, like, bouncing in my seat excited!

admin - It’s the shortcuts and self taught things that I learned the most about. (Like, for example, how I do things the long way all the time!!) Thanks for the tip on the stroke outline….it sounds hard, might be something I do later on in the year. I am working on so many projects right now I don’t think my mind could take another new thing–but I so appreciate you spelling it out for me. I will definitely reference it down the road.

Kari - Oh, this would be so awesome! I purchased photoshop a few years ago and have used it very little. The whole process is overwhelming. I love looking at your weekly layouts and think that digital scrapping may be the way to go for me. I’ve been a traditional scrap booker for 10 years and don’t seem to have time, or space, to do it anymore. This is the push I need!

admin - Kari–I think you will be amazed at the difference in digital. It works perfectly when you have little time (it’s super quick) and little space (all you need is a computer). It’s so addicting!

Sue - I would love to win this – I could certainly learn way more about Photoshop!! Thanks for the chance :)

Marian - Would love to be able to scrap faster and get rid of my backlog. I like the Wellington edition of Project Life.

libbywilko - Love love love to win a place I am finding getting started with photoshop pages the hardest part. Just got Seafoam and the digital Wellington kit. Thanks for the chance Heather.

Sarah - I would love to be more efficient at Project Life and my favorite collection is Seafoam.

Melanie - This would be awesome to take this class. My first year trying digital project life.

2/19/2013

Digital Project Life 2013 : Week Seven

I had been looking forward to this week all month–Valentine’s Week! I have been in love with black backgrounds ever since my Week Five layout, so the moment I saw the XOXO collection I knew it was going to be my kit this week. I absolutely LOVE every color in this kit, and when I looked in my closet I instantly knew why. Almost everything I own is red, pink, black, white, or turquoise. How funny is that?!

It wasn’t until after I put this page together that I realized I was not anywhere in the layouts–but never fear the streak is not broken! I was in plenty of photos this week, they are just going to go into an insert. Working on that now…and hopefully will be posting it later this week. I want to do a special anniversary insert for my husband and I. We don’t have a wedding album yet (although Teresa’s album has got me itching to do one now) so I figure it was the least I could do for us! I think it will be really neat for the girls to be able to look at it one day and see what Mom and Dad were like way back when.

Whole Layout:

Left Side:

Right Side:

What we were up to this week: This past week you could find us either out on the sidewalk clearing snow or down in the basement wrapping up all of our household goods in plastic to get ready for drain tile installation on Thursday. Is it any wonder why both my husband and I were ready for bed before our five year old Saturday night?! All that work came with a nice reward though, our anniversary coincides with Valentine’s Day so Justin and I got out for a rare mid-week date night on Thursday. It’s amazing how 90 minutes away from the house can feel like hours! (And how amazing dinner can taste when I don’t have to cook it!)

Techniques used this week: Once again it was brushes and text on photos all day long.

Other thoughts: This week is another good example of taking photos with intention. (If you missed my deconstructing a Project Life Week post last week that talked about this, be sure to check it out.) Marie has a habit of running out of the room we are playing in, and then being much too quiet afterwords. This always means she is in the bathroom! This weekend I paid particular attention to when she walked into the hallway, and when she did I followed her with my camera and snapped the photo in the bathroom you see above. This stage of hers is just too funny, as is finding her tiny bits of toilet paper ALL OVER THE HOUSE. She just loves to sit and tear the paper smaller, smaller, and smaller! If you catch her with it, she laughs and runs the other way. I managed to get a shot of this too, it’s showcased on the title card.

Be sure to stop by tomorrow for an EXCITING giveaway. If you have been thinking of trying your hand at creating a digital project life album you are definitely going to want to stop by!!!

Supplies used this week: Most of the items are listed in the icons below. The Week Seven circle came from September Blue’s blog and was, at the time, a free download. It’s $2.99 now, but I still think that’s a great deal for 52 elements! The “Right Now : This is Life” brush is from Ali’s Everyday Life Journaling prompts set. I, for the life of me, cannot get Designer Digitals products to work with inlinkz half the time! The “nine years together” card was a modified freebie from Cathy Zielske using brushes from Studio Calico’s Day by Day class.

 

 

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Margie S (Nihao, Cupcake!) - Beautiful photos. Great job capturing your life as it is in the present. I remember those TP days. My friend has a picture of each of her three kids covered in TP and she hangs them in her bathroom – such a cute series. I love the picture of your kids looking out the window. Lovely light on her face.

Teresa Victor - I look forward to each of your weekly posts and the color scheme for this one just brought an instant smile to my face! How HAPPY!

I’m becoming more and more drawn to the double mat background too, so I might have to try that one of these weeks. Thanks for the download!

Your photos and journaling are awesome. I love all the little bits of life you incorporate each week. That profile picture of Marie is one you’ll cherish forever- gosh, those sweet cheeks at that age go straight to the heart, right?

Congratulations on your anniversary! My husband and I got out for a rare date night for Valentine’s Day too. Wish it happened more often! I really really hope you decide to take the plunge and create a PL wedding album. If I hadn’t had the deadline to work with for Olive, I know I would have procrastinated forever…and now I wish I hadn’t waited so long. :) Thanks so much for mentioning it!

Have a great week!

libbywilko - Love your photography and I think you are great at making your pages work so well with the journaling and photos. I love Kelly’s circles too :-) . Maybe it’s being Australian (or not knowing anything about plumbing or basements we don’t have basements here) but what is drain tile in a basement ?

Scrumptious - Beautiful pages! I love the combination of B&W photos and color photos that complement the B&W perfectly. I tried out the double-mat layout for the first time this week (I used a digital page protector pocket thingie) and I think I’ll stick with it for February at least.

Lynn L. - I love all the bright colors and your pictures are always so crisp! I am not a digital scrapper, it seems a little overwhelming to figure it all out. I appreciate all the tips and tricks you share and I might get the courage to give it a try! Love your blog!!

kimberlee - Wonderful stuff. I love the bold graphic stuff you are using. :) We must have had the same week… I had to fish most of a roll of tp out of the toilet. :)

Scrumptious - Hi again, Heather! The secret to the colored outline on Kimberly’s pages (or at least what I assume it is, since it’s how I do mine) is to add a stroke to the clipping layer. I usually have a swatch palette open with the colors I’m using in that layout and pull one or another color from there to do the stroke. The tricky annoying thing about it, though, is that it requires some reorganizing. I like to do outside strokes so I have more room for my photograph, but then I have to do all kinds of fiddling with the template so there is still enough empty space between the cards to look decent and not cramped. Maybe Kimberly has a better way – we should ask her what her secret is. This is definitely one of those situations where I’m thinking, “I bet there’s an efficient way to do this in Photoshop, but I don’t even know what I’d need to google to find it!”

Sandy - Heather, of course I come back to see what you’ve done and you NEVER disappoint. Always beautiful pages! Your pictures are gorgeous and your daughters fascination with Little House takes me back to when I was in 2nd grade and loved those books as well…so sweet to know that they’re still able to impact modern little girls. Thank you again for sharing!! :)

Sue - Thanks SO much for your comments on my layout – you seriously made my day :) I love this week for you and I seriously need to start using some black and white photos because I love how they look on your pages. I like your practical thinking with drain tile being better than diamonds – I would do the same thing :)

Melissa Green - Your layouts are stunning and you capture your everyday life perfectly. I am a huge fan! <3

2/18/2013

Preschool Mini Sessions : Day Two : Minneapolis/St Paul Children’s Photographer

Happy Monday! This post was supposed to go up Friday…but I was a bit distracted with all of the home improvements happening here to sit down at the computer much. (Come to think of it I don’t think I snapped a photo at all this weekend either.) Perhaps I just needed a little break……it’s unbelievably hard to concentrate with jackhammers in the background!

Anyhow, today I am featuring one more round of images from my fall mini sessions at a local preschool. The preschool is a little hobby farm which provides the perfect backdrop for outdoor portraits (split rail fences and wagon wheels oh my!)…in fact I did an engagement photo session there last weekend! (No peeks of that yet–must wait until the Save the Date cards go out. Cannot wait to share them though!)

Tomorrow I will be posting Week Seven of Project Life, and Wednesday hosting an awesome giveaway. I hope to be kicking off one, if not two new series here at the blog as well…..it’s going to be an exciting week!!!

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Lynn L. - Gorgeous photos! What a great location to take photos!! :)