Mar
06
Posted by Cristy
Here’s a quick tip I learned a few years back and still amazes me.
Cut 4 – 5×7 Mats out of 1 – 12×12 paper or cardstock and have a bonus journal square left over.
1. Using a cutter like Fiskar’s Personal Trimmer, open the swing arm and line up your 12×12 paper on the 7″ mark (fig. A).
2. Proceed to cut taking the blade down to the 7″ mark along the blade guide (fig. A).
3. Next turn the 12×12 paper 90º Clockwise, and repeat steps 1. and 2. (fig. B)
4. Turn the 12×12 paper another 90º Clockwise, and repeat steps 1. and 2. (fig. C)
5. Once again, turn the 12×12 paper 90º clockwise and repeat steps 1. and 2 (fig. D)
6. That’s it! You should have 4 perfect 5×7 mats and 1 journal square (fig. E)
Matting your 4×6 pictures couldn’t be any easier! Amazing!!
Apr
24
Posted by Cristy
If you’ve purchased my paper piecing patterns you’ve noticed that each pattern has several SVG files. One SVG file per color. This way you’ve been able to save on paper.
If you’ve tried to keep the pattern scaled properly it’s a bit difficult because SCAL imports files in crazy sizes, not the size the file has been saved in.
To solve this problem just:
1. Import one SVG file
2. Scale it to the size you want
3. Send it to cut
4. Then before you delete it import the next SVG file of the pattern
5. Scale that file to the first one you imported
6. Delete the first file you already cut
7. Send the remaining file to cut
8. Repeat steps 4 thru 7 until you have the whole pattern cut.
Oct
29
Posted by Cristy
Personal die cutters are gaining popularity by leaps and bounds! You all know my favorite is the Craft Robo but, most of my scrapbooking friends have the Cricut. And now they all have the Sure Cuts a Lot software, better known as SCAL, which works with the Cricut.
Haven’t heard about SCAL, click here to learn more!
SCAL reads SVG files. For those familiar with PhotoShop and Illustrator it is very easy to save a file in SVG format. For those who don’t have access to these programs I’d like to offer my services!
First I’d like for you to know that all my paper piecing patterns are available in various formats including SVG. You can find patterns at The Shop.
Second, if you have patterns you’d like to use with your Cricut and don’t know how or don’t have time to make them into SVG files you can send them to me via email and I’ll convert them for you. Go to The Shop or click here on SVG FILE CONVERSION and check out the options available.
Please email me BEFORE choosing an option and include your patterns so I can better tell you what can be done.
Send your files to: orders@cocscrapbooking.com or cristy@cocscrapbooking.com
Sep
16
Posted by Cristy
New to Illustrator? Here’s a quick tip on how to create a “stitched” look. Make sure you check out my other Illustrator and Photoshop tutorials.
1. Open a new file or a file you’re working on. FILE < NEW or FILE < OPEN…
2. Select the shape tool from the tool palette on the left. I’ll be using the square tool for this tutorial (Figure 1).
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Aug
28
Posted by Cristy
Here’s a quick way to get a chalking effect in your digital layouts.
1. Open your layout or a new blank file, I’ll be using PhotoShop CS2.
2. Create a shape or place a shape if you’ve purchased or downloaded a digital embellishment.
I’ve drawn out this butterfly shape (figure 1) using the custom shapes tool. You can find lots of cool shapes there. I want to use this butterfly in a layout just as I would use chipboard or paper piecing in traditional scrapbooking.
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Jul
28
Posted by Cristy
This is why we do it, this why you should do it.
1. Get those photos out of the shoe boxes!
Come on! In the words of Nicey Nash, “Get rid of the foolishness!”. The more time passes, the more damage your photos are in danger of acquiring.
2. Get the photos out of the folder jungle in your computer!
Going digital has made things much easier, BUT, in the end, if you don’t get to printing your photos the computer is just a way more expensive shoe box.
3. Your photos are special, you took the pictures to look at them, get through #1 and #2 and showcase your photos with all those great paper kits and embellishments you’ve purchased and keep purchasing and don’t use (see #4). (Same goes for you digital scrapbookers!)
4. Scrapbooking kits, papers, embellishments and tools just get cuter and cuter. Isn’t it hard to “just look” when you’re in the scrapbooking store? I know you’ve got lots of stuff already. USE IT!!!!! That way you can make room for new stuff and minimize the clutter in your scrapbooking corner.
5. Scrapbooking is rewarding.
Once you’ve finished a page it’s just satisfying. You’ve saved your photo from damage. The moments you’ve captured have been beautified. The memories are there for all to see. Your album becomes an heirloom.
Of course there are many other reasons why you should scrapbook, but give these top 5 reasons a whirl and you could easily get to another of my favorite reasons to scrapbook….get your pages published!
Be inspired! Happy Scrapping!
Jul
02
Posted by Cristy
Digital scrapbooking is growing by leaps and bounds. Are you clueless when it comes to knowing how to get started? Here are 8 simple steps on how to create a single photo digital layout in minutes.
Step 1
Select a background “paper”.
Using a predesigned scrapbooking kit is the easiest way to get your feet wet. You can always design your own, but that takes a while. If you don’t have any kits to start from you can browse through my Shopping Nook and purchase one (they’re very inexpensive).
For this “how-to” I’ll be using my latest kit, Smiley Grunge, and I’ll be creating the layout in Photoshop CS2.
So then, go ahead and open the file you’ll be using as a background paper by clicking: File > Open > choose your file. Click OK. (Figure 1, 2 and 2b)
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Jun
13
Posted by Cristy
I’m gonna try to select a “Digital Layout of the Week”, every week, and deconstruct the design process for the benefit of any newbies to the digital world and for the veterans, maybe we can learn something new! Please leave your comments and questions and I’ll be happy to answer.
This week we have two single photo digital scrapbook layouts, “Cuddly” and “Sweetie”. Here’s how these were created along with notes on the software used:
1. PhotoShop or Illustrator?
It’s up to you. If you want to edit your photos (ie. add effects) then PhotoShop is better. But, both have similar tools and are compatible with each other. I sometimes create patterns, doodles or a drawing of something (like the giraffe and bear) in Illustrator and later open them in PhotoShop and make the rest of the layout there. For this weeks layouts I used Illustrator only.
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May
13
Posted by Cristy
I’ve been scrapbooking for a good 15 years and love the traditional method as well as the digital method. Recently I’ve gotten into the “hybrid” method which is 70% digital and 30% traditional. That being said, I can’t really print photobooks (which really are inexpensive) because I prefer thicker loose prints to be able to add embellishments the traditional way. So I recently purchased the EPSON R1900 wide format printer in order to print on thicker paper. Yes, it’s a big investment but in the long run it’s cheaper.
Here’s why I say that…
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Apr
23
Posted by Cristy
I’m sure I’m not the only one with thousands of photographs that if scrapbooked one per page would equal thousands of pages and albums. We can have several single photo layouts but multi-photo layouts are a must. Ideas there are plenty but when we hit “scrapbookers block” we need some inspiration.
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