Whew…that’s a lot to cover in one post, LOL!  Hey guys…SP here :o)

BEFORE I FORGET (which is so very likely, lol) – I wanted to remind you guys that the blog is taking a VACATION for the next two weeks!  We’ll be back on September 13th…all refreshed and inspired and READY TO BLOG!  But, I will STILL be posting the LOTW on both Saturdays…so don’t stop uploading your beautiful layouts to the gallery :o)  When we return…you won’t want to miss a fabulous product spotlight…super cool tips and techniques…a NEW template challenge and more!  So, don’t forget about us, lolol!  I just wanted to give the girls (and myself) a little ‘breather’ during back-to-school!

Kylie and I designed this month’s desktop (mostly Kylie, lol) and we hope you love it!  It combines papers from the DARLING paper collection with elements from the HOPSCOTCH kit (some slightly recolored) :o)

CLICK HERE to download the 1024×768 version

CLICK HERE to download the 1280×800

I know that in the past, I have said that I would never choose a LOTW again, lol!  And, I have to say that even though it is soooooooo difficult to choose only one from all of the super fabulous layouts – I find myself somewhat enjoying it lately, lol!  I guess just because it affords me the time to really look through all of the pages (something that sadly, I haven’t had much time to do lately :o(  read:  CALENDAR SEASON, lol)!  So, this week was extra tough because it seems like you girls are filling the gallery even more than usual (hmmmm, did you know it was going to be my turn and try to make it even tougher for me?  lolol)!  I know that that sounds like some kind of ‘stock’ statement…but it is truly heartfelt!  I know that a couple of months ago…I could click on layouts for the past 7 days…and there were be one or two pages (about 30-40 layouts)!  This morning, I clicked on it…and there were 103 layouts to choose from (well, of course, i excluded the shabby artist pages)!  That is amazing and soooooo cool to me!  But, at the same time…sheesh, it made this difficult, lol!  Seriously – I admired so many layouts this week – so many that were touching and heartfelt…many that were super creative and lots that were just plain fun!  I saw quite a few from what I would consider some of my favorite shoppe scrappers – but I also noticed quite a few from new gallery posters – who I am sure are soon to become favorites, too, lol!

So, without anymore rambling…let me show you this week’s LOTW!

I selected the amazing georgeinci’s YOU’RE 2RIFFIC page for several reasons!  First of all – it is gorgeous :o)  She totally knows how to rock multi-photo pages!  Somehow, she is always able to fit so many photos on the page – while at the same time – having a fabulous design with lots of fun details and embellishments (and her title work is always spot on)!  Also, over the past few months…I feel like the precious and unbelievably cute Evie Mae has become somewhat of a poster child for the Shoppe’s gallery, he he!  You can’t not recognize that angelic face and the genuinely perfect smile!  Mommy does such a fabulous job taking pics of her (and, her handsome brother, Archie, too)!  Finally…this layout just perfectly tells the story of the day – and the beautiful photos illustrate it so well (look at the soft lighting and the details she captured)!  I could just not let Evie Mae’s birthday week pass without honoring her (and mommy) here on the blog!  THANKS SOOOOO MUCH for being such a wonderful part of the Shoppe :o)  Be sure to see georgeinci’s complete gallery for more fabulous layouts (including more from the birthday…I promise, you’ll be inspired)!

First, I just wanted to say how totally and completely awed I have been by all the layouts that you guys submitted! It has been a joy to see how everyone interprets the template differently!  Some get super creative and turn it and twist it (lol) and others stick to the basic conept!  And, either way – the end result is awesome!  You can see all of the layouts HERE!  Thank you so much to all who shared their layouts and participated in the challenge!  I sooooo hope you had fun and enjoyed working with it!  (template challenge five will be announced/shared on September 16th)

Without further ado, I would like to announce the winner of the $25 gift card to the Shabby Shoppe!  As always, our template challenge winner is chosen by a random number generator – we just think that makes it fun and fair for EVERYONE who participates (and allows for the extra entru options that we offer)!  And the lucky post number was 10!

CONGRATULATIONS, Shanna234 - your SPRINKLER FUN page won the layout challenge!!  You should already have an email with your gift card info :o)  Your layout is so perfectly adorable – LOVE IT!! I hope you enjoying shoppe-ing and that you will share the layouts you create with your new goodies from the shoppe!

Thanks again to all who participated and had fun with this layout challenge.  Be on the lookout for our next challenge coming soon (September 16th)!

HAVE A WONDERFUL TWO WEEKS!

We’ll see you back here before ya know it :o)  As always – thanks soooooo much for being with us…and for being a part of the shoppe!

Shabby PrincessFree Desktops, Shoppe News, Uncategorized 30 Comments

Hi everyone! Denise here with a fun hybrid project for our inner little girls. I’ve been seeing lots of  banners on scrapbook layouts and love them! While at my local scrapbook store, I spotted chipboard banners from Paper Accents in two sizes (labeled Pennants). This banner is the 6″ x 9″ size. The Shabby Princess kit Carousel with it’s vintage collage look was perfect for my Daughter’s banner.

Here’s close-ups of the individual parts, directions for this project to follow.

To start I scanned the banner and one of the chipboard alphas into the computer. In Photoshop I made a master layer mask a little larger than the actual banner to allow for mistakes. I decided all the banners would have the same top plaid pattern, which is labeled in my Photoshop file “Top section.” Duplicating the master layer mask and cutting it into three sections, I could now add and mix papers from the Carousel kit for each banner. Stitching from Giggle Box was added to the seams. Having the chipboard letter scanned helped in placing the musical instrument and the heart in Photoshop. All items were printed onto matte photo paper and cut out. Using a liquid glue I glued the panels onto the individual banner pieces and weighted each piece with a heavy book to make sure the corners stayed down.

The Alpha was sprayed with Glimmer Mist and glued to the banners. Additional bling, American Crafts chipboard and buttons were added to the banner.

To create the edges pre-made scalloped edges were glued to the back of the banners and trimmed. Using a generous amount of liquid glue and working half the edge at a time, glue than glitter the scalloped edges. I used a glitter that was large and chunky but safer than glass glitter for kids rooms. To finish punch holes and string a long ribbon through the pieces and the banner is ready to hang.

It was a lot of fun to work with my Daughter on this project, having her help choose the individual pieces and where the items should go.  She LOVES her banner! I hope this inspires you to create a banner for your special princess. :)

DeniseHybrid Projects, Uncategorized 5 Comments

It’s Kathy, back again to bring y’all part 2 of my Hybrid Product Pick series.  Today I am going to be sharing my favorite products for embellishing all these gorgeous projects. 

One of my absolute favorite things to use in hybrid projects is chipboard because it adds such depth and dimension.  I have been smitten with all of Maya Road’s products, but their chipboard shapes are really to die for!  Take a look at those cutie-patootie back to school shapes, wouldn’t they coordinate so well with the new Hopscotch School additions?  Chipboard is so versitile, it can be painted, stamped, embossed, covered with patterned paper, glittered, you get the drift.  Most always I use some distress ink to finish off a chipboard shape.  Inking the edges of chipboard and paper makes them pop and adds a real shabby feel to your projects or pages.  I use Tim Holtz Distress Ink line by Ranger, there are so many colors to choose from, but one of my favorites is Vintage Photo…love it!  Another of my favorite products by Ranger is Stickles, a glitter glue that gives a shimmer to just about anything.  Stickles also comes in a zillion  lots of colors, but if I had to choose just one, it would be Diamond.

I go a little nuts for flowers too.  I love the contrast of delicate flowers paired with the grunginess of distress inks.  I love all of Prima’s flowers, and I love to make my own paper flowers too, it is so much fun and the styles and techniques are endless.  However, one of my most favorite flowers to use are my own handmade crocheted flowers.  Nichole Heady had a great tutorial on how to make them here.  You might remember the Hybrid Recipe Box I made a while back featured a double layered crochet flower with a ribbon center.

Now, I am a GIRLY-GIRL, there is no doubt about that.  I love pink, any color pink, in fact it has always been my favorite color.  Orange is running a close second in the last few years, but pink still rules!  I also love sparkly things that shimmer and shine, like GLITTER!  Yes, I am a huge sucker for glitter…I like fine glitter, chunky glitter, glass glitter, any kind really.  SO, you know that the candy colored glitters in the cute little bottles of Doodlebug’s Sugar Coating are a MUST HAVE on my list.  I love to cover a chipboard letter in glitter and use it as a monogram to personalize things.

I love fabric.  I LOVE fabric.  Fabric does funny things to my heart…it goes pitter patter and feels all funny when I see beautiful fabric.  It is very much like how I feel when I see a great new scrapbooking kit or paper pack.  I love to sew and quilt and make lovely handmade things from fabric…and I love to use it in my hybrid projects too.  Fabric flower embellishments are a perfect way to use up scraps and they add such punch to a project.  The fabric featured below is Nicey Jane by Heather Bailey, one of my all time most favorite fabric designers…EVER! 

Another staple in my hybrid stash is ribbon…lots of ribbon in lots and lots of colors.  Grosgrain ribbon is sturdy, yet elegant and comes in just about any width imaginable.  Ribbon looks great stitched onto a page, tied around a box handle or looped into a flower shape.  A little ribbon can go a long way in adding texture and movement to your hybrid…sometimes even just a little goes a very long way.  I have bought ribbon from lots of places.  Recently, I discovered Trimweaver…I do not think I will ever buy grosgrain ribbon anywhere else.  The colors are gorgeous, and the look and feel of their ribbon is far superior to any I’ve seen.  Of course, there are lots of other wonderful ribbon retailers online (and locally, too) - be sure to Google some of them to find what best fits your needs!

There are so many ways to embellish your hybrid project, it is the most fun  part, I think…as it allows your creativity to fly free.  It can also be very frustrating if you are unsure of what you are doing or what products to use.  I hope that my insight and suggestions have been helpful.  Allow yourself to play with embellishments, trying different techniques and combinations of things,  go outside of your comfort zone… try something new.

KathyHybrid Projects, Uncategorized 12 Comments

Hi all! It’s Kylie here with a little tutorial on a creative way to wrap your journaling text.

For those who currently use Photoshop CS you may already be familiar with work paths. Today, I will be highlighting one way to use this very valuable tool.  For Photoshop Elements, Paint Shop Pro or other scrapbooking program users, the function for creating a text path is ‘more than likely’ not available. However, don’t be discouraged, all is not lost! :o) There are a variety of text paths/shapes available for purchase for some of these programs (definitely PSE, for the others they may be a bit harder to find). You simply drag and drop the pre-made text path templates onto your layout and then update the text as you wish. Some of these handy products can be also be used by Photoshop CS users as a quick and easy alternative to creating your own paths and shapes. You can find some HERE, or – do a google search for more :o)

 Okay…let’s begin the tutorial. We are starting off with a layout I created after reading Lu’s fabulous Color Study post on Monday. I’d layered some elements around my photograph in the centre of the page and wanted to add some journaling in a creative way. Wanting the text to hug the centre circle nice and tightly was my main intention.

1^st Step:  At the very beginning we need to add a new layer. (Menu options: Layer –> New –> Layer…  & click OK, or Shift+Ctrl+N) I called this layer “New Layer” just for the purpose of this tutorial. Now we are ready to create our work path. The work path will hold the eventual text. For my layout I wanted to create a rectangular box. So, for this, we choose the Rectangle Tool from the Tools palette (#1.). Please note that this is a shape tool and not a marquee tool which happens to be located higher up on the tools palette. (For your particular layout you may wish to create a circle, another shape or even something free-form and will therefore select as required.) After selecting the Rectangle Tool, the options toolbar will update itself with the appropriate selections. Click on “Paths” (#2.) and then “Add to path area (+)” (#3.). You will notice the cursor is now a ‘plus’ symbol with a subscript ‘plus’ symbol. Position your cursor, click the mouse and draw the shaped path required.

2^nd Step: If we were to add the text at this stage the text would flow over, or under – depending on the layer order, the centre elements. I want the text to wrap around the right side of the elements. To do this I am going to change the shape of the rectangle by using the Ellipse tool. Right click on the currently selected Rectangle Tool and choose Ellipse Tool (#1.). Now to the options toolbar: leave the “Path” option as it is (#2.) – we already selected that in step 1 and there is no need to change this option. Now move up the toolbar and select the “Subtract from path area (-)” (#3). You will notice the cursor is now a ‘plus’ symbol with a subscript ‘minus’ symbol. Position your cursor, click the mouse and draw the shaped path required. This will “cut-out” part of the previously created rectangular shape.  However, this change does not show up on screen. If you wish, you can click on “Paths” in the Layers palette to view the newly created work path shape.

3^rd Step: Let’s add some text. Click on the Type Tool from the Tools palette (#1.). After selecting the Type Tool, the options toolbar will update itself with the appropriate text selections. Choose the font, size, color etc that you would like to use (#2.).  Now move your cursor over the rectangular work path and you will notice that it will change from a dotted-square I-bar to a bracketed I-bar. Now click in the shape and add your text and accept it (click green check mark on options toolbar).

The “New Layer” will now show as a text layer. To hide the work path outline simply click on another layer in the Layers palette. And ta-dah! – text wrapped the way you want it!! :o)

This just one of the many ways you can play with text and work paths. So have fun and experiment, experiment, experiment!! See you all again soon! :o)

KylieTips and Tricks, Uncategorized 13 Comments

Hey y’all, it’s Kathy and I’m here today with this week’s Product Spotlight…Bounce!  I fell in LOVE with Bounce when it was released and just HAD to have it, even though I only had girls at the time.  I bought it at the same time I bought Twirl, knowing that those ADORABLE stickers would get some use somewhere.  It is such a fun kit, the expressions on the frog and turtle just crack me up!  As always, this week’s Product Spotlight feature is on sale this week only!  You can pick it up for $5.21. 

Bounce is a very up-beat and whimsical kit, perfect for capturing little boy’s antics, summer fun, or spring time mud puddle frolics.  Here is my layout, a reminder of how fast my BABY is growing up, using a straw sippy cup and sitting on his knees.  He is all boy, and I’m looking forward to playing more with Bounce to capture all of his “little boy” moments.

We can’t wait to see what fun layouts you create with this vibrant kit, meanwhile, here’s what some that the team created with Bounce.

Thanks girls, and we hope you’ll post your layouts using Bounce in the gallery for all to admire!

KathyProduct Spotlight, Uncategorized 10 Comments