The holidays are an extremely busy time for me.  I bet they are for you, too!  This week I have been working with my daughter to create a book for her husband for Christmas.  While I was helping her, she commented “You are so fast!!!” I started to think about the reasons why I am able to work so quickly, and that gave me the idea to share some knowledge with all you newbies!

If you are still reading you must be in search of a faster way to digi-scrap.  I know that when I first started scrapping, I would spend hours and hours working on a layout.  I am a busy mom with a part time job.  I am constantly on the lookout for a faster way to do what I do every day!  In fact, people in my family laugh because I am always analyzing different driving routes to figure out which is the faster way! LOL!!!  Do you do that?

Anyway, I realized that if I wanted to continue this hobby, I needed to find a way to fit it into my busy schedule. When I first started using keyboard shortcuts, I realized their potential.  Basically, anything you do over and over again in Photoshop can be done faster.  One way is by getting into the habit of using keyboard shortcuts.

I know for many of you this is basic knowledge.  But I didn’t grow up with a computer, so it amazed  me how much faster using a few keystrokes made my layout creation process.  For a time, I would put a post-it-note on my computer with a new shortcut.  I would leave that note up until I had that one mastered before creating a new one and working on it!  I kept doing that until I very rarely used the drop down menus.

By doing this over and over, I became an extremely fast digi-scrapper!  It also made the process of creating a layout a whole lot more fun.  I could focus on my design instead of  “now where is that command in the drop down menu…hmmm…is it under edit?…select?” Anyway, you get the idea!  I want to challenge all you scrappers out there to learn a new keystroke this week and maybe even create one of your own (but that is for a different lesson).

Every version of Photoshop has different keyboard shortcuts.  You will want to learn the ones compatible with your program.  I use CS5, but most are universal or similar.  It was nearly impossible to narrow down the shortcuts I use to just ten keystrokes…but I didn’t want to overwhelm you all!

For a more extensive list, one of my favorite finds is located HERE!

Thanks for stopping by!  Casharina and Jenelle will be here tomorrow with more happy holiday hybrids!

Congratulations to freedurt for her Flash layout!  Thanks for bringing a smile to my face.  I’m thinking that the $10 Shabby Shoppe gift card we are sending via e-mail might bring a smile to your face, too!!!  Enjoy! (and, just incase you don’t see it in your inbox, be sure to check your spam folder too!)

The next couple of weeks on the BLOG will be jam-packed with more festive fun!!  On most days we will have not just one, but TWO posts per day…WOOHOO!  Starting tomorrow make sure you keep on scrolling so you don’t miss a thing!  Thanks for stopping by and have a great Monday!

If you’re anything like me you still have lots of fun fall photos to scrap.  Bountiful is the perfect collection to make your autumn pages gorgeous and guess what?…it is on SALE for a limited time!  That means you can pick up all this amazingness (lol – is that a word?) for just $3.50 – right HERE!

If that doesn’t excite you enough,  just look at what our Shabby Artists have created with the incredible Bountiful digi-kit!

To see these layouts up close, go to the Shabby Artists gallery!  For even more inspiration, take another look at SP’s Digitally Designed Pumpkins. She used a quite a few elements from Bountiful (along with some other favorite fall kits) to make her post incredibly beautiful!

Stop by tomorrow for an awesome Focus on Photos post from Beckie!

For this week, I selected lifeisgood‘s layout “October”.  I am loving all her gorgeous fall leaves and that pennant banner!  I feel this layout really captures the essence of fall!  Of course, how can you resist that adorable photo?!  I couldn’t!!!

Congratulations lifeisgood, you’ve won a $10 Shabby Shoppe gift certificate (sent via email)!  Thanks for sharing your lovely layout with us!

Enjoy your fantastic Monday, but make sure to stop by tomorrow to see our latest Product Spotlight!

Take a look at SP’s Silly Boy :: Nut-Nut (on SALE for only $4.25…for a limited time)!

Here is what SP had to say about this collection when it was first released:

I often refer to our son as a ‘nut-nut’ when he is acting silly…not too long ago…he just looked at me and called me a NUT NUT (I’m ALWAYS acting silly)…which I thought was hilarious…so…there you have it :) There are some great boy colors here…that are still nice and soft!!! Very versatile, too! Lots of fun chipboard accents here…as well as a really cute digi stamp (my fave piece – he he)! The alphabet paper is soooo perfect for all types of vocabulary pages…school pages, etc! Let your imagination run wild! Hope you love this one as much as I do! Also…there are two versions of the quilt squares paper included in the kit…one WITH stitching and one WITHOUT the stitching :)

I had great fun scrapping with Silly Boy :: Nut-Nut! Take a look…

Silly Boy :: Nut-Nut is not just for little boy layouts!  With just a few adjustments, I created this one.

Kylie rocked the kit with her fabulous “goofy boy” layout!

…and finally, nothing but perfection from SP!

I hope you have enjoyed today’s Silly Boy :: Nut-Nut Product Spotlight!

Kylie will be here on Thursday to announce the winner of Easy-As-Pie Template Challenge SIXTEEN and post a brand-new FREE template and challenge!

Thanks for stopping by and happy scrapping!

It’s licinha1980 with her beautiful layout Baby Jonathan

How could I possibly resist those fingers and toes!  All that hair and that sweet smile  -  how can you not smile back! I love your layout licinha1980!!!  Enjoy your Shabby Shoppe $10 gift card …sent via email (be sure to check your SPAM folder!)

Thanks for checking us out today! Make sure you stop by tomorrow where I will bring our newest Product Spotlight! You don’t want to miss it!

It’s Anna here, and lately, I haven’t spent nearly as much time looking through the gallery as I would like to.  It was so refreshing to peruse all of your beautiful layouts as I was choosing this week’s winner.

Each weekend, someone from the team has the honor of choosing a layout posted from last week. That means l looked at every layout posted, and in all, there were more than 50! Now, we won’t pick from every layout posted…template challenges have their own chance to win a gift card, and, of course, we wouldn’t choose a layout posted by someone on the Shabby Artists team. So that narrows my choices down a bit. Where am I going with this? What I am trying to point out is that YOU have great odds of winning a $10 Shabby Shoppe gift card just by posting in the inspiration gallery. So remember to keep uploading all your lovely creations!

And our winner this week is graciewollf with her beautiful layout Stars.

There is something so magical about this page! This is what graciewollf had to say about her layout,“‘Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy’ Eskimo Proverb. This Proverb got me through alot when my little sister past away in 2003- 5 short years later, I had Aurora who had the same sparkle, spirit, and eyes. Aurora at 2 months old.”

Congratulations graciewollf  and thank you for sharing this bittersweet layout! Enjoy your Shabby Shoppe $10 gift card …sent via email (be sure to check your SPAM folders!)

This week is very exciting for everyone at the Shabby Shoppe, on Thursday we launch our very first Fast & Fabulous speed scrap…so come and join in the FUN!!! You can find out more about it by clicking HERE!! :o) And be sure to drop by tomorrow to pick up your FREE October desktop from Kylie! 

Just wait until you see what our talented team has created with this playful kit!!!

I loved making this layout about my boys chasing geese.  I am afraid of geese – having been chased and pecked by a goose before (they can be vicious) so I would never go after these birds!  The boys at our birthday party, on the other hand, have never had this experience.  They had no fear!

Look at Kylie‘s gorgeous creations…

…and another from Kylie that I just LOVE!

Beckie‘s son is such a little cutie…

and finally SP‘s sweetest of sweet layouts!

After seeing all this lovely inspiration, I know you will click right over to the kit HERE and snatch it up!!! Thanks for stopping by the blog today!

Make sure you’re here on Thursday for Kylie’s NEW Project SCRAP post! Until then, have a lovely day!!!

This layout is a vision of loveliness! I love the photos! I love the separation by color! I love all the perfect little details! But, most of all – I LOVE LOVE LOVE the journaling! I know I say that I enjoy your journaling a lot when commenting in the gallery! It’s mostly because I am a word nerd and I love to read about all of your wonderful little moments. It’s like reality TV through words – I get to peer into your lives for just an instant and I love it! Thank you so much lego for letting me get a glimpse of your life then and now!

Congratulations lego and thanks again for sharing your exquisite page! Enjoy the $10 Shabby Shoppe gift card that has just been e-mailed to you (be sure to check your spam folder)… have fun shoppe-ing!

Thanks for dropping by today! We’d love to see you back here on Thursday when Kylie announces the lucky WINNER of template challenge 14 …and shares the next exciting new template challenge with you all!

Look at the lovely inspiration from our team! 

For a closer look at all these layouts go the Shabby Artists Inspiration Gallery! 

Also be sure to check out our Twirl Piece-A-Cake Album and Badge Album in the shop! They are ON SALE (for a limited time only), too! 

Thanks for stopping by! Tomorrow SP will have another fabulous Gallery Girls post! Have a GREAT day! :)