Hi Everyone.  It’s Karen bringing you a new product spotlight.  Today we’re featuring two Shabby Shoppe products…the Sugarplum Dreams kit, and the brand NEW Sugarplum ADDITIONS to coordinate with it.  All of this just in time for scrapping all your holiday photos.  The colors are yummy and I love all the doodley elements.  Snatch it up while it’s on sale! You won’t be sorry.  Here are previews of the two products:

They are both on SALE for 25% off!  In the event you didn’t know, there is a site-wide sale at the Shoppe through tomorrow.  But, these two products will remain 25% off through next Monday (12.20.2010)!

And now, a little inspiration from the Shoppe’s Pre-Team.  Please note that some of these layouts feature the kit only, and some feature items from both the kit and the additions (and sometimes other Shoppe products, too)!  Be sure to visit the Shabby Artist Gallery to find out more about these page…and as always, visit the product pages to find out exactly what is included with each collection.

Thanks so much for stopping by! I’m looking forward to seeing more holiday pages in the gallery.  Join us tomorrow as Beckie shares some great holiday photography tips with us :)

KarenProduct Spotlight, Uncategorized 5 Comments

Hi Everyone! It’s Karen with today’s scrap inspiration…a little Thursday Thievery.  What that means is, I’ve chosen a page from the Shabby Shoppe gallery and the girls and I from the Shabby Artist team have each done their own, unique version of it.  Today’s page, Grumpuss, comes from the beautiful gallery of georgeinci . I don’t think there’s anyone that I don’t love about this page.  Everything about it is gorgeous…the photos, the wonderfully messy style, the perfect paper choices and all the lovely details.  When I saw it, I knew we’d have so much fun lifting it.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, Georgeinci, for the wonderful inspiration (and for so graciously allowing us to ‘lift’ your layout)!

So, without further ado, here are our pages…

by Kylie

by Karen

by Trish

by Beckie

by Anna

Thanks so much for dropping by and be sure to check back tomorrow when Denise and SP both share some fun and inspiring HYBRID projects!

KarenInspiration, Uncategorized 6 Comments

Hi everyone.  It’s Karen and I just had so much fun cruising through the gallery looking for this week’s Layout of the Week.  Today, the honor goes to kammyam for her super fun and gorgeous page orange C.  The moment I saw it I knew this was the one!  I just love the adorable photos of her sweet son, her terrific jouraling and the beautiful design.  And of course, I could hardly resist a page using my most favorite kit Hopscotch. Congratulations, Kammyam! Watch your e-mail for a $10  GC to the  Shabby Shoppe and have fun shoppe-ing!

Join us tomorrow for a gorgeous product spotlight :o)  Have a great Monday!

KarenLayout of the Week, Uncategorized 6 Comments

Hi Everyone! It’s Karen with today’s blog inspiration.  Thanksgiving is my  favorite holiday!  Oh, course as a kid, it used to be Christmas.  But now I enjoy the more relaxed time of Thanksgiving.  I love getting together with my family, eating all the yummies, but most of all, reflecting on how blessed I am.  For today’s inspiration the challenge is to use a one word title with the theme of gratitude.  I won’t be at all surprised if that doesn’t lead you to some wonderful journaling, too.  On my page I’ve featured SP’s newest title clusters:  Word Whimsy Autumn.

My Page:

Layout by Kylie:

Layout by Trish:

Layout by Lu:

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today, and I’m looking forward to seeing lots of thankfulness in the gallery soon.  Join us tomorrow for a YUMMY post by Kylie!

KarenInspiration, Uncategorized 6 Comments

Hi Everyone! This is Karen bringing you a tutorial on converting your photos to black and white using Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.  I know that actions are a quick and easy way, but sometimes they just don’t work for the photo you’d like to use.  I hardly ever use an action anymore since learning how to convert using a gradient map and levels.  Once you get the hang of it, it’s really quick and easy – so let’s get started :o)

Here are my steps:

1.  Open a photo.  We will be using the adjustments pallet circled in red.

2. Click on the Gradient Map icon (second from the right on the bottom).  Then, click on the long bar with the arrow.  It may be black.

3.  A box will pop up.  Click on the third preset from the left.  That should turn your image black and white

4.  Next, click on the LEVELS icon to add a levels layer.  Use the sliders to get the exact exposure that you want.  I’ve circled the middle one below which allows you to adjust the mid tones.  I play with that one the most.

5.  In this image, the sleeve on the right is too bright, so let’s make a levels adjustment for just that area.  Click on the levels icon again.  Use the middle slider to darken the whole image.

6.  Press Control (command on a mac) and the “I” key.  That will invert the levels layer, which hides the adjustments that you just made.

7.  Next, I use a soft white brush around 30% opacity and paint on the sleeve.  This will add the darkness on to just the area that you paint.  Keep painting until it looks right.

8.  I also add a contrast/brightness layer (looks like the little sun) and adjust with the sliders.

9.  Now, all you have to do is flatten your image and save it as a jpeg!

Using the gradient map and levels gives you lots of control over your conversions - so you can get them just right.

Join us tomorrow, as SP announces Blog Template Challenge {SIX}!

KarenTips and Tricks, Uncategorized 5 Comments