OCTOBER IS TOO CLOSE TO CHRISTMAS!

When I retired in February, I thought I would have so much free time and that I would catch up on everything that needed to be caught up, read everything that needed to be read, and write everything that needed to be written! But I think (and this is just a suspicion) that someone comes in and turns the pages in my calendar while I sleep…that is the only way that it could be October already! Fess up, someone….who did it?

As a Boomer (baby boomer) born on a farm and growing up in the 50’s I learned that you need items that can serve dual duty. Having a grandmother who loved to sew was a big plus in our family. She made dresses for my mom and me, shirts for my brothers as well as wonderful quilts to keep us
warm and cozy on the coldest winter nights. These quilts, while as beautiful as any that I’ve ever seen, were also very practical ways to use the left over scraps of fabric. Worn fabric (clothing) was sometimes made into small (throw rug size) rag rugs..

A friend of mine gave me a wonderful gathered skirt that contained yards of a quality fabric. I wore it until it was too small, then my grandmother took it apart and created items for the kitchen with it. I had a dress that I loved which I wore first as a dress, then we made it into a skirt and after that it became an apron and matching potholders! We just didn’t waste things. Unfortunately, though I tried, I do not have the knack or gift of quilting like my mom and grandmother, but I have learned how to appreciate things that serve dual purpose.

This is the case with our computer created pages (bet you wondered how I was going to segway into this).

I love to create my own greeting cards and write my own verses for them. I know there are so many programs where all you have to do is punch a button and print but I love to make them as personal as I can. This is one of the things you can do with your HugWare. You can create a scrapbook page and turn it into a special card for someone, a wall hanging, a bookmark, a magnet for their refrigerator or even make it the face of a wall clock.

One of the Creatables that I am using this month, Peekaboo by Cara Bradshaw, lends itself so willingly to the dual purpose!

Project one: Daddy’s Boots

Thanks to my friend, Chally, for Tucker’s adorable photos!

1. I created a 12 x 12 new page and chose 300 DPI as my resolution.
2. I added a square photo and chose “ resize to fill page” and then “make transparent”.
3. I created a frame of brown and then used the “cave effect” to mimic the leather of the boots.
4. I added another photo of Tucker and made it transparent to hold a little verse that I wrote.
5. I added the little peek a boo, made the face transparent and let Tucker’s eyes replace the one from the image. I used the “transparency brush” set at 100%.
6. I added the boot to the frame without the peek a boo.

By doing this as a 12 x 12, I can also print them as 8 x 8 and create a wonderful album. I can use the poem on transparency as a bookmark if I want to use portions of the page in other ways.

By doing this as a 12 x 12, I can also print them as 8 x 8 and create a wonderful album. I can use the poem on transparency as a bookmark if I want to use portions of the page in other ways.

Project two: Just Look at You.

Chrissy loaned me this adorable photo of her little one on the beach. Thank you Chrissy!

1. I created a 12 x 12 new page and chose 300 DPI as my resolution.
2. I added a square photo and chose “ resize to fill page” and then make transparent.
3. I created a sand color frame and used effects, texture to give it a sandy feel.
4. I added a poem to the background of the page. I chose not to mat it.
5. I added the peek a boo, used the transparency brush at 100 % to erase the
   face and placed baby’s face behind the image. I used the brush to brush away any left over image of the little girl’s face.

Project three: What Are You Thinking

Thanks again to Chally for the photo!

1. I created a solid color background and used the color picker to match the blue in the little one’s shirt.
2. I added a white mat around the photo to brighten up the page.
3. I added a vellum overlay with a little verse on it.
4. I added the peek a boo boy and wagon and put his eyes in place of the image. (Same process as above.)

Project four A and four B: The Dancer

Judy sent me this wonderful photo of Emily and I had fun experimenting with it.

Project four A

1. I added the photo of the little dancer to a soft background.
2. I cut around the photo and used soften edge on the photo.
3. I then used the transparency brush to soften the edges even further.
4. I typed “dancer” in my Hug Browser and found my little dancer. I added the little dancing girl from Gotta Dance by Cara Bradshaw. (Isn’t she cute?)
5. I wrote the poem and left off the “e” in my name. I then printed it and turned it around so that I could put it on her toe.

Project four B

1. I added a red background to bring out the color of the costume.
2. I put a frame around the photo.
3. I created a cutout of her leg and added it to the outside of the frame to make it appear as though she is stepping out.
4. I created a tag and placed the title on it and used the eyelet from DIP.
5. I “tore” some paper and placed over one portion of the page. (I took a square portion and cut portions of it away. Then I added a shadow.)

Project five: My Favorite Pumpkin.

My online friend, Karen sent me a photo of her niece in the pumpkin patch.
My thanks to Karen!

1. This was created using the same steps as previously. I used the “distort” effect to add the photo to the pumpkin.
2. I copied the page and used the dry paint effect on the top layer.
3. I used the transparency brush to brush away the painted effect from the child and leave the background with the effect.

Project six: This Is the Perfect Day

This is my friend Judy’s son and cat. Thank you Judy!

1. This was created using the same steps as previous pages.
2. Photo had a lot of dust so I used the touchup, remove dust function in PI
   and then cropped the photo to take out the rest of the background.
3. I added the little peek a boo and a few words on the bank.

Project seven: I Love Cookies

Thank you Randy for loaning me Nic’s photo!

1. This page was created using the same steps as previous pages.
2. I changed the cookie jar peek a boo to a boy using the cap
   from the little boy with a wagon.
3. * Ask me about this ….

There you have it! I don’t usually showcase just one Creatable, but I was having so much fun with this one that I wanted to share! These little folks make adorable signature tags, bookmarks, stickers and would look adorable printed and ironed on your kids tee shirts! I think they are fun to print on kids pillowcases as well.

* Oh, thank you for reminding me! This photo was a little bit dark and the background was a bit dark. I used the “dry paint effect” which smudged the dark background a bit and then I erased the effects from Nic’s face to show more of his personality than the painted effect allowed.

Tips and Tricks:

If you have photos that you love but with backgrounds that overwhelm or darken, use an effect to tone down the background and bring out your center of interest.

Make a copy of your photo and try various effects. If you don’t like the effect for the entire photo, use the transparency brush and brush the effect away from portions of the photo. The same applies to creating black and white photos with one bit of color. The black and white photo goes on top and you erase bits away to show the color beneath.

Don’t be afraid to digitally crop your photos as long as you save the original version untouched that you can go back to. Sometimes just a portion of the face is more effective that the whole person or even the whole face. Take some time to experiment!

Don’t feel that you have to fill your pages with gimmicks and effects that aren’t needed just because you can. I find that I love a simple page that showcases the photo and like to use the effects available when they help to bring attention to the photos. Have fun, learn, experiment and then use what makes your page shine!

Your assignments should you desire to accept them:

1. Create a computer page and then use various elements of it to
   create something such as a bookmark or tag.
2. Create a book for someone using small versions of some of your pages.
3. Create some personalized bookmarks for your friends along with
   some matching stationary.
4. Hug someone!
5. Make a list of the things you love to do.
6. Do some of them!
7. Make a list of the people you love most.
8. Tell them!
9. Hug some more folks and then meet me back here next month!!!

And until then….Happy Scrapping!!!