Picture perfect spoon bridge

I'm really starting to like working with frame brushes. The new Film Frame Brush Set at ScrapNfonts is no exception.

Other credits for this layout: LD Remintong Portable, TXT Long Hand and Post Stamp Brushes from ScrapNfonts, flowers and journal strips from Shabby Princess's Harvest Spice, Paper from Wanderlust from Lettering Delights.

p.s. The Post Stamp Brushes are still in the lead, especially when a holiday is involved.

August Challenge winner

We had a good turnout for this month's challenge. Thank you to all who participated. It was fun to see the layouts in the gallery! Here is our winner:

Congratulations to Susan for winning the August Challenge! She has won a $10 coupon code to ScrapNfonts.com.

Thumbelina

I am in love with this card by Allison.

Template anyone?

This month's challenge is a little different, perhaps easier, perhaps harder. Have you worked much with scrapbook page templates? If not, here is your chance to try one out. Today's challenge is to make a project using this template.

There are several options with this challenge. You can either download this template as a photoshop file or a png file and work with the layers in a graphics program you're familiar with, OR you can use the image of the template as a sketch to base a paper project off of. All scrapbook pages or cards based off this template are welcome! You must ALSO use at least one product from ScrapNfonts in your layout. If you don't have any ScrapNfonts products, you are welcome to check out their free fonts, which have recently been switched out.

Click here to download the Photoshop file template

Click here to download the PNG file template

Upload your finished project to the ScrapNfonts idea gallery by August 22nd. The winner will receive a coupon code for free product at ScrapNfonts. Here is a layout I made with this template, to get you started.

The fonts are SNF Jester Fool for the title, SNF Sophia for the handwritten font, and DB Garden Shower to make the cute flowers in the upper right corner. Other credits: Paper from Shabby Princess Spontaneous Delight.

Happy Crafting!

Oh, baby

Finally I got the images to upload! Here is the layout I promised a week ago using the swirly frames.

Other credits: LD Cursive, LD New Arrival, DB Dainty Swirl

Using frame brushes on photos

The new frame brushes over at ScrapNfonts this week have some fun potential! If you've never used brushes before, don't be scared! Each set comes with a brush file for Photoshop and Photoshop Element users, but it also comes with .png images that can be used in virtually any photo editing program (including free programs, like Picasa and Photoscape) and other design programs.

Here's a quick walk-through on using the new frame brushes on photos.

First, let's start with a photo. Which one should I pick... Ah, here's one with the most beautiful baby girl ever (according to a biased new mom, which I whole-heartedly admit I am). This picture is just begging me for a frame.

Next comes the brushes. If you're working in Photoshop, all you need to do is double click on the .abr file, and the brushes will automatically be added to your current list of brushes.

Photoshop tip: If you want access to the brushes through your Photoshop
Library, you can also go to "My Computer", then go to C:\Program
Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop [your version]\Presets\Brushes and drop the .abr
file there.

If you're working in a different photo editing or design software, open your photo and the .png you want to use in the program.

Now is the fun, artsy part. Every photo program is a bit different, so take time to play with your program to familiarize yourself with it. If you have Photoshop, select the brush tool, then pick your frame brush, pick the color, scale the brush to the size you want in the Brushes window, hover it over your photo where you want it, then stamp. With other programs, you might have to open a collage option, or copy and paste the .png into the photo.

Here is the photo as if I just layed the .png on top of it.

If your program allows layers, I recommend putting the frame on a different layer than the photo. You can play with frame options better that way. With the frame selected you can adjust the hue (the color) the saturation (the brightness/dullness of the color) or the lightness, OR do a color fill if your program allows.

For this next picture, I set the lightness as high as it would go so the frame is white.

I want a softer look, so I'm going to adjust the opacity on the frame layer to 65%, and this is what I end up with.

Once you have the basics down, you can really set a mood with the right frames and effects. This picture is ready for my blog or facebook, or a scrapbook layout. Hmm... I think a scrapbook layout. I'll keep you updated.

Drumroll please...

With the help of Random.org, we have a winner in our Lettering Delights giveaway! Number 72:

Congratulations Sara Susy Bob, you get to satisfy your digital love! Could you leave a comment with a way for me to get a hold of you, like an email address? I have temporarily set up comment moderation, so no one else will see it. Congratulations, again!