CLICK HERE to download the 1024 x 768 version

CLICK HERE to download the 1280 x 800 version

 It’s beginning to look a little like SPRING :o)  lol…well, if it still seems like winter where you are…at least our April desktop will bring some spring to you, lol!  Kylie put this GORGEOUS desktop together and it is just so FRESH and PRETTY!  I have no doubt that it will bring some HAPPY to your screen, it’s like a breath of fresh, Spring air :o)  So, enjoy it – and have a WONDERFUL weekend guys!  We’ll be back on Monday with LOTW…although I might see you sooner with a Project SCRAP check-in (working on my March pages over the weekend)!  Until then….xoxo–SP :o)

Shabby PrincessFree Desktops, Uncategorized 33 Comments

Hi guys :o)  SP here and so excited to be bringing you our next installment  in our GALLERY GIRLS series!!  As I always say, it is my favorite ‘blog duty’ lol!  I really enjoy the opportunity to get to know a fellow scrapper better…and never fail to be inspired during the process!  And hey, that’s the whole point…and I know the same just has to be true for you guys as well :)  So, let’s get started!

This month’s featured Gallery Girl is the wonderfully creative and kind Rosy (also known as Rosy in the Gallery).  She has been a joy to work with (and email with) and has created lots of fun new pages to share with us!  And, of course, she spent some time answering all of my interview questions, sharing with us about our scrapping journey and family life!  We’ll get to know her better here in just a second, but first – let’s check out a new layout that Rosy created just for this special post (there are lots more new and cute layouts sprinkled throughout the post below…so be sure to scroll down).  Rosy will also be uploading all of these layouts to her gallery…so you can see larger images and more info about each there :o)

Like I mentioned, Rosy created some wonderful new layouts for the feature and while it is NEVER an easy task for me to choose a fave…I think this would have to be it!  I loved the creativity…and that she captured some of her FAVORITE THINGS, which will be so great to look back on one day!

Isn’t that fabulous?  It’s funny because I have been wanting to do a current ‘fave things’ layout for a while…and was even more inspired when Rosy sent me this one!  Alright, now on to the interview…let’s get to know Rosy better!

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF…

I’m a mennonite wife and mommy living in central Ohio. I’ve been married to my wonderful husband for 3 1/2 years and we have two precious little ones. Isaac is almost 2 and Audrey is 7 months old. My days are full of all the normal housewife/mommy duties.  I’m probably more quiet in real life than most people know me online :)

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SCRAPPING DIGITALLY…AND DID YOU EVER GIVE PAPER SCRAPPING A TRY?

I did paper scrapping for quite a few years and then found it to be almost impossible after my son was born about 2 years ago. I gave digi scrapping a try and now I love it more than I ever did paper scrapbooking, which I didn’t think would ever happen!

HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOUR SCRAPPING STYLE?

Maybe a bit “eclectic”.  It keeps changing as I try new things. I’m constantly trying to find a balance between keeping the photos as the focus of the page and the fun of adding stuff.

This is another favorite layout for me (SP)…those pics are just too cute for words…and the design is absolutely PERFECT (and something I will be trying myself, lol)!  LOVE LOVE LOVE!

WHAT IS THE FIRST COMPONENT OF EACH PAGE YOU CREATE…OR DOES IT VARY FROM PAGE TO PAGE?

I almost always start with the photos. I think it’s important to have the papers and elements be a compliment to the photo; not the other way around. Journaling is the hardest part of a layout for me.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LAYOUT (TO DATE) AND WHY?

It keeps changing; right now my favorite is “BLUE EYED CUTIE“. I love how the photo captured the blue of her eyes and I just like how the colors and everything came together.

WHAT TIP/TECHNIQUE DO YOU KNOW NOW THAT YOU WISH YOU HAD KNOWN WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED SCRAPPING DIGITALLY?

There are many but some that I use the most now are blending mode/opacity changes and recoloring. I’ve also learned how to get a layer mask in PSE and using dingbat fonts to make specific element for a LO. Something that I’d like to know more about is the best printing options.. sizes, photobook vs pages, etc…

WHAT IN YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE INSPIRES YOU IN YOUR SCRAPBOOKING?

The subject of many of my layouts are my children. Design ideas come from lots of places… magazines, book covers, even cereal boxes :) If I’m out of ideas I usually come to the gallery here!

TECH STUFF :o)  Tell us about your camera and software!

I’m still a bit “old school” with that, but I’ve discovered that the most up-to-date equipment isn’t necessary for me to enjoy my hobby. My camera is a Canon Power Shot S3 IS and my software is Photoshop Elements 5.

Seriously, how PRECIOUS is Rosy’s next layout?  Look at those faces…and all of the yummy pink – PERFECT!

FAST FIVE FACTS!

• fave color: aqua
• fave food: custard pie :)
• fave movie: I barely ever watch a movie, so I really don’t know.
• fave song: “Would We Truly Long For Heaven”
• fave memory: our honeymoon on Nantucket Island, holding my babies for the first time

I hope you have enjoyed getting to know Rosy as much as I have!  Thanks again so much, for being such a pleasure to work with…and for creating so many inspiring layouts to share with us!

Join us next month for another GALLERY GIRLS FEATURE!

I’ll be back tomorrow to share April’s FREE DESKTOP with everyone…see ya then :o)  xoxo – SP

Shabby PrincessGallery Girls, Uncategorized 7 Comments

Hi all! It’s Kylie here and I hope everybody had a lovely, lovely weekend. Now, the best way to start off the new week is with Layout of the Week, of course! So here it is! :o)

chocochoco’s beautiful layout 2forLOVE!

Whenever I visit the gallery there is always something new and exciting to look at (and drool over!). And I always look forward to seeing what pretty creations chocochoco has posted during the week. Her pages are always overflowing with artistic inspiration and she certainly knows how to get the most out of her embellishments and alpha’s. This week’s pick for LOTW is no exception. What a gorgeous layout! The split notepaper on the dark textured paper, the  double frame with a super-cute use of staples in the corner, the masked flourish clipped with that pretty Plentiful Collection paper and the Happy Go Lucky stitching has been enlarged to look more like richly woven tapestry thread. The clusters around the picture frame and the ‘LOVE’ title are just amazing – perfect layering and perfect shadowing… beautiful work!! And of course the precious family photo and the touching poem are what makes this page so special! To take a peek at all the inspiration and talent this young digi-scrapper continues to share with us, just click HERE, and it will take you to her entire gallery. :o)

Congratulations chocochoco! Thanks so much for sharing your special layout with us! You have been emailed a $10 gift card to the Shabby Shoppe! - have lots of fun shoppe-ing!

And before I sign-off for the day I’d like to THANK each and every one of our very talented digi-scrappers that posted to the Shabby Shoppe Gallery last week (any week, for that matter!). Growing and sharing creatively is such a joy!! :o) Be sure to stop by the Blog on Wednesday for the next edition of Gallery Girls … I’m soooo excited to see who it will be this month!

KylieLayout of the Week, Uncategorized 3 Comments

Hi everyone! Happy Friday! :o) It’s Kylie here… and I wanted to share with you a hybrid project I recently had lots of fun putting together.

Most of you are beginning to enjoy the onset of spring right about now. (After reading yesterday’s projectSCRAP post, I know SP is!) Not me, lol! It’s autumn here in Australia – but I ENJOY autumn just as much! …anyway, thinking about spring led me to “spring cleaning”! (Now, that’s always ENJOYable?!) You see, I’ve been working on more and more hybrid projects over the last year, thanks to the Shabby Shoppe Blog, and my supplies were getting a little out of control. A good “spring clean” was in order. I actually don’t have too many supplies, compared to most traditional scrapbookers, but I didn’t really have anywhere to keep them all. I just let them all rattle around in some old shoeboxes. Practical enough – yes, but slightly boring, huh!! So I decided to get organized and make up some special storage dedicated to only my hybrid bits and pieces that I can display in my (future) craft room.

I chose a 9-drawer storage unit (SB2073) by Kaisercraft and followed their simple instructions. However, instead of using traditional scrap papers, I printed out all the papers and fun embellishments I wanted from the Shabby Shoppe’s ever-so-cheerful HOPSCOTCH digital kit. I then went to work assembling and decorating my new ‘shabby’ hybrid storage unit. There are lots of different craft storage options available to suit your needs – just visit your local scrapbook/hobby/craft store or online supply store. A Google search is always an option too.

 Some other items that helped my storage drawers come to life:

• Semi-gloss photo paper
• Scissors
• Acrylic paint – antique white
• Craft glue, double-sided tape, glue dots, 3D dots
• Distressed ink
• Various buttons – mostly by Basic Grey
• Lace ribbon
• Mini Crochet Doilies (Spring) – by Kaisercraft (sooo pretty!!)

 I really love the idea of starting with a blank canvas and using a favorite Shabby Princess kit to decorate a hybrid project. And having really enjoyed making this one, I actually can’t wait to do another one, or two! I’m thinking of making one for my nieces for all their play jewelry and beaded bracelets/necklaces we’ve made over the years. The drawers are a perfect size. And for my nephews, one for them to store all their tiny little cars, plastic figurines, and other bits and pieces. Now I just need to decide on which kits to use – blossom, twirl, sweetie pie, bella, bounce, modish boy, giggle box, sandbox come to mind just now …oh my, that decision is going to take some time! LOL!

 Thanks for visiting the blog today and I hope you enjoyed looking at my little hybrid project. Wishing you all a wonderful weekend! Happy scrapping (digital and/or HYBRID!) and see you all back here on Monday for Layout of the Week! :o)

KylieHybrid Projects, Uncategorized 8 Comments

hey guys :o)  SP here with the MARCH templates (two separate templates to create a ’spread’) for project SCRAP 2011!  Have you all been taking photos?  I have…YAY…and hope you have as well…because it’s just about time to get SCRAPPIN’ :o)  Now that SPRING is here (well, at least for me, lol) – I feel inspired to get out and take pics beyond the everyday – ya know – flowers, birds…anything and everything outdoors, lol!

Project SCRAP ~ bundle ONE is now available for purchase at the Shabby Shoppe…CLICKING HERE will take you straight there!

PLEASE NOTE: if you participated in project SCRAP 2011 right here at the Shabby Shoppe’s BLOG…you do not need to purchase this product. Be sure to check your hard drive before purchasing :o)

You can click on the image above…or, CLICK HERE to download the MARCH templates!  I hope you LOVE them as much as I do :o)  Kylie was sweet enough to work on these and I couldn’t be happier with them!

If you are not familiar with our scrap project (if you ARE familiar with it, skip this paragraph, lol)…THIS POST is a great place to learn more!  Also, if you click on the PROJECT SCRAP 2011 category (on the right side of the blog)…you can ALWAYS easily find ALL posts related to the subject!  It’s your go-to place if you want to keep up with everything!  But, as a little and quick reminder…here is the project in a nutshell:::

So, that’s it for now!  Be sure to post your finished March layouts in the project scrap GALLERY!  We are looking forward to seeing how you work with these fun templates :o)  I’ll be checking in again with you guys soon…and will be sure to post some March inspiration in the next week or so as well (when March is actually over and we all have our photos scrapped)!  Until then, have fun scrapping (and photographing)!

Be sure to stop back by tomorrow as Kylie inspires us with a super wonderful hybrid project!  xoxo –SP

Shabby PrincessFree (not desktops), Uncategorized, project Scrap 2011 16 Comments