Impressions of Comfort

Impressions of Comfort Studio Girls Collab is out! The colors are so warm and fuzzy. It's pretty warm here in Southern Cal today, maybe even 90 degrees, but I am sure it will cool down soon enough.

Not all items shown!



It's a huge kit as usual. Here's a sampling of what's inside.







Of course this is NOT ALL of the previews!! I just picked random images to display here.

Designers include Impressions of Comfort. Baers Garten Designs, Berna Datema, Dana Frantz, Studio Flergs, Jen Caputo, Jessica Bolton, mgl Scraps, ON Designs, Phuong Ton, Wendyzine Scraps, and Lorie Davison.

So how about some layouts!


by Kristi


by Gislaine


by Danesa

more to come!

The Artisan Notebook Ezine & Win Free Kits

I'm so excited to announce that I'm the featured designer in the Digital Scrapbook Artisan Guild's Ezine this month.

I downloaded my copy first thing this morning. It was like Christmas morning.

So won't you join me in celebrating! Woot! I'll be picking 5 random responders to receive 2 free products of their choice, including ones that have not been released yet (hint... Orchids, Halloween, Christmas).

Here's the thread at DST to respond to if you would like a chance to win.

This month's issue features a Blend Modes Primer with tutorials in PSP, PSE, and good old PS. Each issue includes a membership kit and filled with tutorials, trends, coupons, freebies, and other goodies.

Get your copy today!

My section includes a coupon (doesn't expire until end of December) and free mini kit. Here's the mini kit and couple of layouts for you.

Thanks so much for celebrating with me!!

http://www.dsaguild.com/



Here's a layout by sweet Kristi. She used some stuff from Floral Grunge, the stitches from the Date It, and twine from Tropical Oasis and By the Sea.



Here's one from the talented Lilja



Credits:
Kit: Studio Phuong - Contentment Mini Kit
Alpha: Studio Phuong - Clear Alpha
Overlay: ON Designs - Old Paper Overlays
Frame: Paislee Press - Mailing Label Frames No4
A couple of Tracy Ann Designs Frippery Wisps No1
Wordart (recolored with paper from Contentment + blended): Natali Design - Fall Delight

Photo Mask Freebie

Here's a freebie for you. When this link expires or reaches its maximum, it's gone. I'm sorry. I won't be updating the links. I have put TWO links up. Click HERE to get it or if that no longer works, click on the photo. If they're gone, they are gone. These photo masks will be available at SBG next week. Feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for visiting!

I'd recommend a darker photo for this particular mask, if you would like to see the details. Also add a slight drop shadow (not too heavy though).

There is no TOU included with this link so here goes, you may use this for your PERSONAL-USE only. You may not share, distribute, or forward the link. You cannot use the freebies to create products for resell or for profit without written permission. You may not use it for any illegal or immoral reason.




HERE is a third link in case.

Blending with Fallen Papers

Is everyone waiting for the "Fallen" elements? It seems so! :)
Okay, okay, I'll get working on those soon okay!

So I was thinking, how can I get people to be interested in papers only. I love papers, especially beautifully textured papers. Why? Well, I thought I'd share a quick a dirty way to add textures to your photos. There are so many ways you can do this. But I thought I'd share a quick one with you.

Please keep in mind that you must experiment with different blending modes to get the effect you want.

Okay here goes, create a new 12x12 document. Drag the paper that you would like to use. Use a textured paper with this. Now, of course the Fallen papers are perfect for this as they are textured. So go get yourself a set! LOL.

Second, drag your photo on top of the paper.





Okay so now your photo is top of your paper. Select the photo layer. Now, resize your paper. It should be just a tad bigger than your photo. For papers with light patterns, like this one from Fallen, you will be able to see the designs. You will what I mean in a moment.

With this paper and this photo, the best blending mode to use is "Soft Light". Remember that this also works with PSP as blending modes are also available.



Well, the photo seems very light. So duplicate your photo layer. When you duplicate the layer, the second photo layer should be on top of your first photo layer. It should also be "Soft Light".

I was not happy with it yet so I duplicated the photo layer again. I ended up with 3 photo layers in Soft Light mode.

With the third photo layer, it seems kind of dark. So I lowered the "Opacity" of the third photo layer to 52.



Okay so this is what I ended up with.



Now remove the other parts of the paper that you are not using. I do this by selecting my photo, there should be dancing ants in the shape of the rectangle, then Select -> Inverse, select the paper layer, and delete.



I'm not completely happy with this yet. What I would probably do next is to duplicate the photo layer again, play with the blend modes, and use a mask and only apply softly to the face. But that is a different tutorial. :)

Hope you enjoyed it.

Photo Masks

If you know me well, you know that I love to experiment.

Well, my latest project, yes, I KNOW I AM BEHIND on kits, but I can't help it. My latest project is to create some photo masks. I think most people do know how to use photo masks, but I am sure there are a few out there that has yet to try it out. So I thought I'd show you how to use one with one of my latest products.

Feedback would really be appreciated on this one. Love/Hate/Don't care. You can even leave anonymous comments! LOL.

To use a photo mask really is only a few steps.

You can start on your layout or you can create a new canvas.

I am going to use a new canvas in this example.

Place your photo on the canvas. Drag the photo mask over your photo. Resize the photo if needed. Place the mask BELOW your photo.





Now, create a clipping mask (Layer -> Create Clipping Mask).
After you create your clipping mask, you can resize the photo or move it as needed.



There you have it!

Some Layouts

Here are some layouts for your viewing pleasure.

This is a new one by the talented Ms. Kristi...


Credits: Phuong's Tropical Oasis and By the Sea, Shabby Miss Jenn, and Milla's Surf's Up.

A beauty by the gorgeous Ms. Lilja...
She blended two of the papers together. The story behind the photo is also quite lovely.


Credits: Phuong's Fallen Papers, Serenity elements, Floral Grunge elements

A sentimental one from the sweet Ms. Leda...


Credits: Mysterium QP1-JOHD is designed by TDS Layout Artist, Joanne Hubbard using Debra Tope's Mysterium Kit. Splash of Black Glitter Alpha (recolored) from Studio Phuong.

Here's a cutie one from Ms. Gislaine...


Credits: Of Serendipity By Studiogirls at Scrapbookgraphics

Here's another from Ms. Leda...


Credits:
2 Clear Alphas: Plain And Polka By Phuong.
The Daily Scrapper Quick Page Dreamer QP1-KAMG is designed by TDS Layout Artist, Karen Maggie using Aja Abney's Dreamer Page Set.

Here's one by Ms. ScrappeeHappee...



I also wanted to share with you the BEAUTIFUL layouts by the talented LovelyMissKait from the SBG crew.


Credits:
Times New Roman and Mariah
2 Clear Alpha: Plain and Polka by Phong Ton @ SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=21883&cat=0&page=1
It's About Time and Flying Disk Alpha by Lorie Davison @ SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=22066&cat=0&page=1
Rough to the Touch with Everything In It by Lorie Davison @ SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=22057&cat=0&page=1
Sketch action by Trish Jones (retired).
Twirlytwig and tab from Archive Collection kit by Lorie Davison @ SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19678&cat=0&page=1
Scotch tape from Fancy Pants Elements by Flergs at SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=20789&cat=0&page=1
Photographer frame from Prairie Gal Collection by Lorie Davison @ SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19981&cat=0&page=1
Staple from By the Sea by Phuong Ton @ SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=22076&cat=0&page=2
Action: Shadow It 2 (acrylics) by Wendyzine @ SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=21356&cat=0&page=3


Credits:
Sandbox Alpha by Phuong Ton
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=22077&cat=0&page=1
By The Sea kit by Phuong Ton
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=22076&cat=0&page=1
I'm not sure where the net is from. As soon as I find out, I'll post it!! Let me know if you recognize it so I can credit the designer!

Little Bit Tattered Photo Overlay - Freebie!

I'm working on a new kit, "Fallen". The papers are done but not the elements.

Those tattered photo frames are also so hot right now. I thought it would be cool to include an element like that in the kit. Would you like a free sample?

Just to let you know that once the download link has expired on this, I will not be renewing it since it will be part of the kit. The download limit is 500 so grab it while it's available! :)

You get the Photo/Frame Overlay plus a mask.



Please drop by sometime to check out the finished kit! :)

Flair Freebie

{updated the link}. Another 100 downloads or 7 days and this link will not be available. Sorry, I won't be enabling when this happens. So hurry and download while it's still available. :)

It seems like Flair has been pretty hot for some time now. So why not make one for fun?

Here's a Quick Flair for you (like a quick page but smaller) :).

Please click on the image to download the file. It is a PNG file with an opening for the picture. Cute baby picture not included. ;)

These freebies are not for redistribution. They are for personal-use only and cannot be repackaged or sold in part, whole, or altered.





Here's a fan flair you can snag. Why not have one for me too, right?! Hehe.


I made the flair from my new "Fallen" Papers. Elements are not available yet.

Attn: Sweet Pea Kit Purchasers!

Hi! If you had purchased the Sweet Pea kit, please email me (with the order number if possible). I do not have any customer information from purchases at ScrapbookElements but I do have the order numbers. I will be revamping the kit soon, with more elements, papers, and updating some of the original ones. I want to make sure that those that have purchased the original kit get the updated version as well.

Please send an email to ptonscraps@gmail.com.

Thank you!! :)

Love these Quick Pages!

I just LOVE LOVE these quick pages. YES, they are quick pages! There is so much detail, natural elements, and that WOW factor. These also print just beautifully. Of course what makes these pages are my cutie sons!

These quick pages by JenU Designs (http://www.jenu-designs.com/) and the lovely stars in the photo are Sean and Ethan. ;)