Using elements to your advantage in a layout

Today was a lazy day for me so I decided to spend some quality time with one of Kiki's kits.  I worked with Kiki's To the Moon and Back kit (available at Scrapbook Elements), which is one of my faves.  With its deep rich colors with a touch of glitter, it is elegant and fun!

I love using elements in my layouts...and you can create really cool things with elements. I also love to use glitter or paint splats.  This kit has one and I decided to use it to "frame" my photo.  It really came out  pretty cool!!  All I did was duplicate the layer several times and just moved it around create it.  For the picture shadowing, I added an inner and outer glow from PSE (noisy).  This is the splatter from the kit.

Here is my layout:

I would love to see what do with this kit, so I will be checking out the galleries!  Thanks for stopping by.
Sharon

Creating a Frame Using Stroke Selection

If you are anything like me, you have the hardest time finding the perfect frame for your photo.  Even kits with great frames, don't always have a frame in the right dimensions for the photo you are using.  Today, I am going to show you how you can use Stroke Selection in both Gimp and PSE 7 to create a frame for your photo.

In both programs, the first thing you need to do is add a transparent layer above the photo that needs a frame.  To do this in Gimp, go to the Layer menu, choose New Layer and then choose Transparency.  In PSE 7, go to the Layer menu, choose New and then press Okay.

Next, you need to select the shape of the frame.  Now the method for doing this in Gimp is very different from in PSE 7.  In Gimp, make the photo your active layers and then while still in the layers dock right-click on the photo and choose Alpha to Selection.  In PSE, you will keep the new transparent layers as the active layer, press the Control key and then left-click on the photo.

Now, make sure your foreground color is the color you wish for the frame to be this will make your life much easier.  Once you have the desired color chosen you will follow very similar steps for both Gimp and PSE 7.  In Gimp, you will go to the Edit menu and choose Stroke selection.  Choosing a stroke size of 25 pixels gives you a fairly thin frame.  Going higher than 25 will increase the thickness of the frame.  Now click okay and your frame will be created.  For PSE 7, you will follow the same steps.

In both programs, you could begin playing with Layer Styles (PSE 7) or Filters (Gimp) to enhance the frame.  But you can stop right here and you will have created a simple frame for your photo.

Here's my layout using Bright Skies Ahead from Recherche by KH Designs.  The frame around my photo was created following the exact steps I just gave you.

Be sure you stop by FunkyPlaygroundDesigns and take a look at Bright Skies Ahead.  This kit is perfect for all those photos you will be taking once Spring arrives.

If you have any questions regarding the tutorial, please leave them in the comments and I will do my best to answer them.  Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. And don't forget to take some photos.

Featured Layout

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I'm thrilled to have had my layout featured this week!

I used Kiki's To the Moon and Back by Kiki Halbert, available at Scrapbook-Elements and a freebie I offered on this blog on Valentine's Day!

As Ever,
CT Pam

Muddie Buddies

This is a great dessert for the holidays or any time of the year.  It is especially easy if you need to make a treat for your child's class.  It is quick and easy and everyone loves this.  I used Kiki's colab kit Winter Frolic (with Valerie Ostrom) which is available at Funky Playground.  Pick this kit up and make this recipe.  Your kids will love it.

Sharon

A freebie from "To the Moon and Back"

Hi, I have a freebie for you from "To The Moon and Back". I love this kit.

So head on over to Scrabook Elements and pick this up, snag my freebie and
create!!




Here is the freebie link: box.net

Citrus Salad

This is truly one of the best salads I have ever had.  And my husband was in love with it.  Definitely worth your time to put together.  Here is the recipe.

Salad

    * 2 cups salad greens
    * 1 can bean salad (drained)
    * 2 cucumbers peeled and sliced
    * 4 oranges peeled and sectioned or 1 cup canned oranges (drained)
    * 1 cup fresh pineapple (canned pineapple can be used (drained))
    * 1/4 cup citrus salad dressing
    * 2 tablespoons (minimum) raisins or dried cranberries or dried cherries
    * 2 tablespoons (minimum) chopped nuts (any kind)

    1. In a bowl, mix salad greens, fruit and vegetables.
    2. Spoon dressing (below) over and mix gently.
    3. Top with raisins and nuts.

Dressing

    * 1 cup nonfat lemon yogurt
    * 4 tablespoons oranges juice
    * 6 tablespoons white vinegar

    1. Mix all ingredients until smooth
    2. Store in refrigerator

And I have created recipe cards for you.  These cards were created using Dans Un Jardin from Recherche by KH Designs.

The file contains 8x8 and 4x6 cards, so that you will be able to print the size you need.

(Download Here)

I hope you enjoy the recipe.  And don't forget to save some time for scrapping!

Happy Valentine's Day

Have a super day; may you receive chocolate, flowers, and love! Here's a little cluster to embellish one of your layouts, hope you enjoy it! It is is from Kiki's To the Moon and Back by Kiki Halbert, available at Scrapbook-Elements.


CT Pam

To The Moon and Back Quickpage

I am back with a quickpage freebie for you. It is based on this layout I created with To The Moon and Back from Kiki Halbert Designs.

If you haven't taken a moment to check out Kiki Halbert's latest release, To The Moon and Back, I highly recommend you do so. It is a gorgeous kit.

Now without further delay, here is the quickpage I've created. I hope you like it.

(Download Here)

The weekend will be upon us soon. Hope you have a great weekend and have some fun scrapping.

A little treat for you, my friends and fans!

Hi everyone. Well I have to say that I am so excited about my latest kit released today at Scrapbook-Elements.com!

I decided that I'd make a little coordinating treat for you that will help you get started scrapping that special relationship you have.

I've called this a Tempting Starter template and if you like it, let me know in the comments, and if there's enough interest, I'll post a Tempting Starter pack very soon for you to enjoy! Just click the button below to tweet about this or post it in Facebook and you'll get your download link.

Have a great Super Bowl Sunday folks!

To the Moon and back is here!!!!

It's here!!! Yay!!! Happy Dance.  To the Moon and Back is a gorgeous kit and it is available at Scrapbook-Elements.  She added papers with just a bit of glitter to make them really pop.  There are some really cute elements and word tags!!  I think this is one of her best kits yet, but I probably say that about all of them, but this one is special!! 

Here are some layouts from the Creative Team:

Don't forget to check back next week and there will be a freebie for you to grab!!!

Sneak Peak!!!!

Time for another sneak peak!!!  Kiki has been very busy and she has a new kit coming to Scrapbook Elements on February 6  that is just for your valentines and love pictures.  Expect some glitter and lots of great elements with a rich color palette perfect for valentines, love and all your pictures.

This kit will be avialable on February 6 and you are going to want this one!!!

Now that you've seen it, aren't you in love......

Check back tomorrow for the debut of this gorgeous kit.

Also, check back next week because we will have a freebie!!

Winter Frolic-Now available at FPD!!!

Winter Frolic, Recherché by KH Designs new collaboration kit with Valerie Ostrom is now available at The Funky Playground.  This is a fun kit perfect for all your snow pictures and I know there are plenty of people out there what have had plenty of snow!!

 Here are some layouts from the CT:

Winter Frolic Sneak Peak!!

Are you ready???  Got snow????   Kiki has a new kit out and she has collaberated with Valerie Ostrom at Funky Playground called Winter Frolic.  There are lot of great elements with a different color palette that will go perfect with your winter pictures!! 

Check it out. It will be available on Feb. 4 and I know you want it!!!