Hi all!! Kylie, here with you today! :o)  The wait is over folks…here are your projectSCRAP templates for the month of MAY!!

How are you going with snapping your weekly photos?  I’m pretty certain you’re all doing better than me.  Yes, I have a confession…this will be the first month since we started projectSCRAP last year that I haven’t taken any pics by template-download-time…not a ONE, guys!! Yikes!!  Should I start to panic?! ;o)  Probably!  But I’m not going to (and you shouldn’t either, if you happen to be in the same boat)…there is still time!!  I’ve just had one of those months…plenty to journal about, but no pictures!  I LOVE these brand new templates and can’t wait to scrap them…so this is what I plan to do: take my little point-and-shoot out on a date!! Yep…a day out…just my lil’ camera and I.  I’m taking Beckie’s rockin’ advice and the opportunity to practise my photography…and I’m excited to see what I come back with!  Now, let’s grab those templates, shall we…

You can click on the image below…or, CLICK HERE to download your NEW templates!!

Are you new to project SCRAP? …well then, if you are not familiar with our little scrap project (if you ARE familiar with it, skip this paragraph, as always, lol)… THIS POST is a great place to learn more!  Also, if you click on the PROJECT SCRAP 2012 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 in 2012!  But, as a quick little reminder… here is the project in a nutshell:::

Oh, and don’t forget to post YOUR project SCRAP 2012 pages in our special GALLERY :o)  We ALL love to browse the pages to get inspiration for our own layouts!  Especially during those times when we are not feeling so creative, lol!  SP will be doing her May ‘check-in’ in a few weeks time…and will, of course, be sure to include some wonderful gallery inspiration, using the latest templates…and ya just never know, your pages might be featured!

THANKS a bunch for stopping by the blog today! Make sure you visit again tomorrow…Rosy has a special birthday treat for us!  And speaking of birthdays – don’t forget about our blog’s birthday bash!!  Have you played our party games yet??…they’ll be finishing up next week – so don’t miss out!!

KylieFree (not desktops), project Scrap 2012, Uncategorized 11 Comments

Hello blog friends!  It’s Kim here today with a fun post I hope you will enjoy!  A little while back, one of the Shabby team members thought it would be fun to have a photo swap and share it here with you.  The idea was that we would each send in a photo or photos along with any journaling we would want included on a layout.  Then the photos would be given to someone else on the team and they would create the layout.  Sounds like fun, right?!  It was a chance for us all to take a photo we were looking for a little inspiration to scrap and see what someone else would do with it.

So… here’s what happened when the team swapped photos.  I would say it was a random swap… except that it wasn’t exactly!  I tried when I gave out the photos to give us each something we wouldn’t normally get to scrap.  And the first thing I had to be sure and do was give Jenelle a chance to do a girly layout!  Here is what Jenelle created to scrap a photo of Casharina’s girls.

It looks like Jenelle enjoyed creating this girly layout!  All those bright colors perfectly compliment the photo too.  When I asked her about the experience of scrapping Casharina’s photo, she said “I was so excited to be scrapping pages about girls, but then thought to myself – ‘hang on a minute – I have pretty much no experience scrapping girl layouts – where do I start???  Too much pink?  Too many hearts and bows and flowers??’”  It may be that Jenelle was uncertain at first, but I think the result is perfectly lovely!

Jenelle wasn’t the only one getting to step out of her comfort zone in the photo swap.  I also wanted to be sure Casharina got a chance to do a boy layout!  Here is her layout of fun facts about Rosy’s cute little guy.

Love it!  It’s perfectly boy, but still has Casharina’s style all over it!  Here’s what Casharina said about her experience: “My biggest fear was that she wouldn’t like it, or that I wouldn’t make it boyish enough.  I’ve NEVER done an ALL boy page and I must say it was quite challenging!  Creating a layout for Rosy has inspired me though, as I’ve wanted to do a 10 reasons why/about forever and I couldn’t bring myself to put one together.  But now that I have I’m VERY excited to try one for my girls!!”  Sounds like trying something new for someone else has inspired Casharina to try it for herself too!

Next up we have Rosy, who was given three of my photos from our backyard adventures.  I really enjoy Rosy’s style and don’t think I can pull it off myself, so I was thrilled to see this layout with my photos.

I love how Rosy has taken three photos that don’t look alike (except that they were all taken in my backyard) and pulled them all together in this layout.  She picked perfect colors and elements to do this.  Thank you so much, Rosy, for helping me capture one of our everyday moments in this layout.  I think part of the fun of this photo swap was seeing my pictures all wrapped up in a design with someone else’s style!

Moving on, it was my turn to take on the photo swap challenge.  I scrapped this layout with a photo from Kylie of her cute nieces.  They make such great subjects for a layout, and here’s what I did with the photo.

I have to admit my first thought was that I was intimidated to scrap for someone as talented as Kylie!  AND… the place and event was something I had no idea about since I have never been to Australia!  BUT… part of the fun is in the challenge.  So as a starting point, I used my good friend google to look up Lorne Pier and Australia Day.  And one search led to another (because I’m kind-of a nerd and get interested in learning things).  Somehow I ended up looking more closely at the Australian flag than I ever have before, which led to me having to know why it has the seven-pointed star on it, which led to me having to put one in the layout… you see where this is going!  Point of this story: One of the fun parts of the swap for me was scrapping a photo from something that my family hasn’t done or experienced!

Kylie is up next with another stunning layout, created for Beckie with her beautiful bluebonnet photo.  I laughed when Beckie sent me the photo because I had been thinking of putting in a bluebonnet photo for the swap too.  Seems like both of us were looking for some inspiration for our endless bluebonnet photos.  What a great reason for a photo swap… looking for a new perspective on a layout theme you’ve done a lot of.  Here’s Kylie’s take on a bluebonnet layout.

Kylie said: “I felt the pressure scrapping someone else’s precious pics!! But I loved it…there’s a certain joy that comes with working on a page for someone else!!  I get the same buzz when I’m gift-giving!!”  I love that comment.  Sharing in the photo swap was a bit like gift giving!  And on the other side, you were receiving a gift too!

To complete the circle of our photo swap, we have a layout by Beckie.  She was given the task of scrapping one of Jenelle’s sons as a baby.  Did it take you back in time to when yours were that little, Beckie?

This is a truly sweet baby layout.  Who wouldn’t have been inspired to go sweet with the layout when looking at those big baby blue eyes?!  I love all the different elements Beckie found to cluster around the photos in this layout – a work of art!  Since that is one of the things I love so much about this layout, I found it interesting that Beckie said this: “I had no idea how nerve wracking it would be to scrap for someone else!  When I scrap for myself I just kind of throw it all on there and stop when I think it looks ok.  But I was so worried Jenelle wouldn’t like the page! LOL.  So I kept messing with it, adding stuff, etc.”  Beckie, I think you found the perfect balance with this layout!!

I hope this post gave you all a glimpse into our fun – and left you with some inspiration too!  I think after going through the swap, we all agree with these thoughts shared by Kylie:  “I probably took a bit longer to get started and must have gone through a million different paper combinations before I was 100% happy!  It was also hard to know whether to leave the photos full size or not, and if cropping them would make a difference to the story or the memories.  I also umm’d and ahh’d about the title – big or small??  When you have no real connection to the pics the story-telling through your choice of papers, elements, title options etc is definitely harder – you have to purely rely on what you see in the photo…but that’s half the FUN!!  On the flip-side, receiving a page crafted by someone else is even more exciting!!  When you see it you love it – it’s perfect!  I’m soooo critical of my own pages so it’s lovely to have a gorgeous page with your photos that you don’t find fault with!!”  Thank you for sharing those thoughts, Kylie!  I couldn’t have wrapped up the experience better myself!

That’s all for today, but Kylie will be back on the blog tomorrow to share the Project Scrap 2012 MAY templates!  I know SP’s sneak peek has us all anticipating them… only one more day to go!

KimInspiration, Photography, Uncategorized 5 Comments

Hello everyone, it’s Casharina bringing you another Layout of the Week!  Although I love to browse through our gallery and see tons of beautiful layouts, gaining lots of inspiration along the way…doing these posts is so difficult.  You make us really work when it comes to choosing a LOTW…there are so many wonderful layouts!  However the rule for me is to choose only one - so I have done it – I have chosen lil_goldie’s layout Instagram 2.

I have to say I loved this layout from the moment I saw it (lil_goldie actually scrapped two pages full of these instagram photos)!  I love this idea!  Many times, I have the “real” photos on my phone, the everyday life photos, and they too need to be scrapped.  This page has really inspired me to do just that!  In addition, I love how she has created the frames for each image and placed a larger frame around her cutie pie driving.  The use of the Heartfelt collection is just perfect, right down to including the various paper pieces.  I also love how she modified the edges of the journaling paper.  It all looks perfect together!!

Congratulations lil_goldie for sharing your beautiful layout with us!  You should receive an email for a $10 gift card (via email – so be sure to check your spam/junk folders if you don’t see it in your inbox) to enjoy some shoppe’ing fun!

Thanks for stopping by!  Please join the lovely Kim on Wednesday for some photo fun and inspiration!

CasharinaLayout of the Week, Uncategorized 5 Comments

Hi everyone :o)  SP here today…for our APRIL project SCRAP check-in!  April (and the first half of May) FLEW by for us…I mean, it was like a flash, lol :o)  Our month was first spent celebrating Easter…and then preparing for (and going on) VACATION!  We just got back home and had a truly WONDERFUL, amazing, AWESOME time!  It was the ‘biggest’ vacation we have ever been on as a family – three weeks – and lots of great destinations…the main one being Disney World!!!!!  What an incredible experience it ALL was :o)  As you can imagine – I have thousands (literally) of photos and videos to go through…which I will be doing over the coming weeks (and months, lol…hey – let’s just be honest and realistic here…it might even be YEARS!)!  In fact…so many photos that I might even half to split them into TWO albums!  I don’t want to forget a single memory or moment from our trip…so I am constantly typing out notes and journaling – but sadly – am already having a hard time remembering the details, lol!  Ahhhhh, aging, it’s a wonderful thing, lolol :o)  Anyhoo…the only ‘bad news’ is that we all came home quite sick (i mean like REALLY ill)…but we are on the mend and finally feeling a little like our usual selves (always wonder if that is really a good thing or not?  lolol)!  One beneficial thing about being so sick (yes, forever trying to find the positive)…is you can’t do much but sit around (it’s great for a few days – after that….I’m in total ‘cabin fever’ mode, lol)!  So, during the ‘sitting time’ – I was able to scrap my April pages :o)  It was really difficult choosing just a few pics from so many…especially when I still haven’t gone through ALL of them…but I think I ended up with a pretty good ‘summary’ of out month :o)  Part of our vacation was in May, too – so at least I have a little more room to scrap next month, lol!

If you missed the templates for APRIL - be sure to download them HERE!  They are among my faves…love what Kylie did with them :o)  You girls know that I ADORE circles…so this was perfect for me!  So, here are my final pages for April…which is sure to be my fave month in our 2012 album, lol!

Now, let’s get on to MORE inspiration!  I LOOOOVED looking through the project SCRAP 2012 gallery to find all of these gorgeous layouts!  The main thing that I noticed…is that you girls know how to rock…and TWEAK/EDIT templates like nobody’s business :o)  Seriously – I enjoy all of the customizations and changes – it’s a great reminder to us all that templates are just ‘starting points’ that can be modified to suit our needs!  So, as you peek through these pages…check out the differences between them and the original templates…kinda like those brain teasers where you have to find what is different between two photos, lolol! 

Let’s begin with Kim’s APRIL pages!  Seriously – these totally popped off the gallery page…the colors…the photos…the clustering – all pure perfection!  Kim mixed and matched various kits and products and ended up with a masterpiece that I hope to replicate at some point :o)  These layouts just make me smile…and so many details – I just keep going back and looking again!  THANKS, Kim!

Next…Rosy’s pages - they are simply STUNNING!  I have to say – Rosy has an amazing talent when it comes to capturing her kids in photos!  Her photography skills are stellar and that really shows in these pages :o)  Love the close-ups of the kids…and all of the other fun pics that illustrate her family’s month (which looks like a lot of fun!)!  You’ll also notice that she tweaked the templates and the result is fabulous!  Thanks, Rosy! 

 Next…we move on to Kylie‘s gorgeous pages!  They are filled with joy and happiness…and Easter :o)  I always appreciate the way Kylie tells her story in her layouts – and these pages are no exception!  Not only do you feel the sweetness and love…but you feel like you got a glimpse into her world!  There is always a depth to her pages…and I’m just happy she shares them with us…thank you, Kylie :o) 

 Did I mention there was a LOT of gorgeous inspiration this month?  LOL!

Now…how about some ‘eye candy’ from Amber!  She never disappoints with her layouts…and I’m just so happy she is a part of our little Shoppe gallery :o) When I look at these pages – I just get such a sense of FAMILY…all the kids and smiles and FUN – love it!  Looks like a lovely start to spring!  Thanks for sharing, Amber!

 And finally…we wrap-up with jessg26′s pages :o)  Aren’t they BEAUTIFUL?!  Such a gorgeous mix of colors and patterns…all the pink with sunshine yellow = HAPPY :o)  I also love how she modified the templates…adding more photos and lots of great interest!  It’s a gorgeous interpretation – giving a whole new look and feel to the pages!  Thanks bunches!

As always, there is MORE inspiration in our special, project SCRAP 2012 gallery!  You’ll find many more layouts there – so be sure to check it out…and most importantly – UPLOAD YOUR LAYOUTS!!!!!  We love sharing in everyone’s 2012…and love that you guys are joining us for project SCRAP 2012 - THANK YOU :o)

Now…just for fun – I thought I’d share a teensy, tiny little ‘sneak peek’ of May’s templates…which will be shared with everyone next Thursday – here at the BLOG :o)  Looking forward to scrapping with them…

That will do it for me today :o)  Tomorrow is a little ‘blog vacation day’ – so we’ll see you back here in Monday with a new LOTW!  Until then – have a BEAUTIFUL and BLESSED weekend :o)  XOXO — SP

Shabby Princessproject Scrap 2012, Uncategorized 5 Comments

Hello everyone.  Jenelle here with a super quick and simple shortcut that I have only recently discovered and can’t believe I ever scrapped not knowing this!!!

A little birdie recently told me, that when scrapping using PSE, you can click anywhere on your layout with your move tool and it will automatically highlight that layer in your layers palette.  Oh, not fair for me who uses Photoshop – this would save me so much time!!  I am forever getting lost in my layouts, scrolling up and down trying to find the right layer for an element I want to move/edit etc.  I am so bad at naming all my layers (I usually do the first few and then forget!!!) so this can be really frustrating.  I end up ticking/checking the auto-select box to find  the layer I want but then I forget to go back and uncheck it and I end up moving things I didn’t want moved!!!

But alas, this happens to me no longer.  I have discovered a neat little trick for all the Photoshop users out there, like myself.  All we have to do is select the move tool and then right click directly on the element in our layout we are trying to locate (command-click on a Mac I believe also works).  A little dialog box then comes up with the names of all the layers involved in the specific area we’ve clicked on.   From there, we can then left click on the name of the layer we want and it will highlight that layer in our palette.  Oh the time I have saved using this trick!!

Here is a screenshot to illustrate.

I hope this little trick has helped some of you Photoshop scrappers out there and saved you some time when creating your layouts.  I use it all the time now and, if anything,  it encourages me to name layers, even if it is just with abbreviations.

Thanks for stopping by.  Please check back tomorrow when the wonderful SP brings you the next instalment of our Project Scrap Check-In.  Until then, happy scrapping everyone!

JenelleTips and Tricks, Uncategorized 15 Comments