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More Scrapbooking

For y'all that are interested in the digital scrapbooking gig, here are two pages from our trip to Appleberry farms that I did. here and here.

To do the first one, I just filled the background with a ginham pattern, then I made the text, and applied another pattern to it. Then I did the postcard, grouping it as a layers set so after I was done I could move it around as a group. It's mostly polygons, lines and text, but the stamp is an image with a white border around it, that then has a round brush with 150% spacing around it to take away some white and make that scallopped stamp border.

The apple I got from microsoft's design gallery (or maybe from google's image search?) and then I took away all of the background and let photoshop resize it nicely (photoshop is gooood at that!).

The photo is a regular photo, but I added a white border to it by increasing the canvas size. Then I used a rough brush around the edges to make it look a bit more realistic … and that is it.

On the second page, I did the same technique with the photos. The other elements were done by using the rectangle tool. Then on top of each, I used a symbol from the dingbat (font) called “Counter Scraps” and put them on red, and then messed around with the layer opacity until I liked the effect.

The text around the edges is just that … text. I did it in four pieces, since PS7 doesn't let text follow a path. Continue reading “More Scrapbooking”

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Digital Scrapbooks

I got a couple of questions about digital scrapbooks, so I thought I'd write about 'em a little.

The idea behind digital scrap books is that instead of using the tangible 3D objects (papers, embellishments, pens, scissors, etc.) you would normally use to make a neat-looking scrapbook page, you instead use your computer. You take photos, and textures, and lettering, and clipart and combine them using a graphics editing program (photoshop, or paint shop pro) to make a simliar layout. Once your done with the layout, you can either print it or just save it digitally to view on a web page or to burn to a DVD or something like that.

Obviously, this scenario has it advantages. For one, if you're a digital photographer (like me), it makes lots of sense to simply import your images into a program and play around with them. For another, it's hugely excellent have your best friend, ctrl-z with you at all times. The “oops” factor is big with digital cropping. Another thing you've got to love is the cost … around $1/page if you print them yourself. Which is a huge savings in comparison to traditional scrapbooks. Another thing I really love is that I get to use my favorite fonts … and other digital elements that would be a super-pain to use with traditional scrapbooks. Another reason for me is that it's yet another way to keep my skills sharp. Continue reading “Digital Scrapbooks”

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Busy Weekend

We had a very nice weekend. We did quite a bit of shopping on Sunday. We raided the summer sale racks at the normal places and got a few new items for the closet for not much $$. And we got another piece of my b'day present, a new car stereo that has an auxillary port so I can plug in my MP3 player. It even glows amber (though it has a green option, too), just like all of the lights in my little Honda's dashboard. It's so very cool. We also ran some much more mundane errands, worked out, and spent most of the evening at home watching DVDs. Continue reading “Busy Weekend”

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All About Summerfest


I like this picture becaus it's sort of the essence of Summerfest: all sorts of different people coming together to listen to music and drink beer. If you've never been to Summerfest, it's hard to imagine just what it's like. I wasn't expecting anything too big, but Summerfest is HUGE. The stages aren't temporary either … they're permanent. In fact, the whole festival grounds seemed to be permanent structures, sort of like an amusement park. There were rides as well and tons of food stalls. Every genre of food (practically) was represented, including the WI favorite, beer-battered cheese curds. Corporate America was also well-represented. They pitched tents and let the masses try out their new stuff. Matt and I got our pictures taken with cool props (and then promptly printed) at the HP tent. We got to try out the new N-Gage (that video game cellphone thingy) and watched a very very drunk dude do Karaoke at the SoBe tent (I think he got a bottle of SoBe for his trouble). Of course, seeing that there was beer-aplenty, there were tons of the funny drunk folk. Matt wore his Pacman t'shirt and attracted lots of attention … drunk girls and guys were very into the t'shirt. Hilarious.

Of course, the music is the real draw. There are about a dozen stages (all of varying sizes and layouts) scattered throughout the grounds … with live music or other acts ALL day. We looked through their lineup and Matt and I could have easily seen a band every single day that we like… just a few that were playing THIS weekend (this thing goes on for 2 weeks): Guster, Sister Hazel, Matt Nathanson, Fountains of Wayne, Kenney Chesney (with Uncle Kracker! haha), Leann Rimes, Boo Radley, Kid Rock (not that I care, per se), Ben Folds and Live. We got to see Matt Nathanson, Sister Hazel and a few other bands as we walked through the grounds. And we got to sit out by Lake Michigan and eat some truly greasy food.

I highly recommend this festival!!

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Pics That Way –>

Matt and I went for a walk and I was inspired to take a few pictures. There were some cool mushrooms and a really pretty sky that's getting poised to storm like crazy. I love this time of year. Everything is green and gorgeous and flowering. Kudos nature. Another great spring.

I'm planning to work on our paper scrapbook for the France trip but for some reason I can't find the sticky letters we bought for the cover which is making me mad because I know I put them in some sensible place yesterday but now I can't remember what that place is. Oi. I guess I can continue without them, but I'd really rather have everything to start them.

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This 'n' That

We've had a very nice day so far. We went to the farmer's market this morning. The weather was overcast, but nice anyhow. The farmer's market isn't very good this time of year mainly because there's just not much there. You're good if you want spinach, but otherwise, you're kinda SOL. Matt, however, found the most yummy thing in the world. They're called pumpkin bars. And I guess, basically, they're light pumpkin bread with cream cheese frosting on top. SOOOO good.

We brought May with us but we didn't know that dogs weren't allowed (we'd seen people with some last year) so she had to go back to the car. Luckily it was in the garage with plenty of shade and little heat so we didn't have to leave. Then we tromped up and down state street for a while looking for presents for upcoming events and stuff like that. Continue reading “This 'n' That”

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Viva La France!

Well the France Album is finally done. It's taken me plenty of hours, but it's done (though I may add one or two things still). There are TONS of photos. Enjoy!

Sort of a normal/boring day, really. We had yummy Chin's sesame chicken for dinner. That stuff is seriously good. I really should try some more of their stuff, but the sesame chicken is so good and I hate getting something that sucks, esp. if you're getting take-out. That's one reason I like Noodles & Co. so much. If you try something and you don't like it, they'll replace it for you for free.

Mean Girls comes out tomorrow which I'm really excited to see and I was reminded today that Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban comes out in like a month! Anyhow, I want to go see that and there's plenty of work to do. The paper version of the France album has got to be put together and I've got some other little things I'm working on.

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Oooh! Pictures!

Well, I've finished downloading the pictures from France. Just our pictures count 544. Kelly has more. I'll find a different way to put these up on the site … there's going to be just too many. Right is just a tiny sample of the pictures we took.

We had such a great time in France. We saw amazing things, beautiful things, weird things, ate great food, saw amazing art, and really really enjoyed ourselves.