Oh So Cute Pages!

Just wanted to share some quick & easy digital layouts I did with Shabby Princess kits.

The three digital layouts above were created using Shabby Princess kit Express Yourself. Click here to see the kit beautifully created by Rhonna Penner for Shabby Pincess.

These two layouts above were done using Shabby Princess kit called Promise. Click here to find this totally cute digital kit!

Check Out Their Website!

Go check out Memory Makers Magazine website. For years I have loved their magazine & website for their creative ideas in paper scrapping. I have found some great digi kits on their site lately so go check them out!

Quick Pages

Seriously, Quick Pages are everywhere! Here are a couple of my favorite places to look.

http://sweetshoppedesigns.com/sweetshoppe/home.php

http://www.scrapbook-elements.com/sbe/

http://www.rakscraps.com/index.php

And here's a great blog where you can stay current on great things happening in the digi world!

http://ikeagoddess.blogspot.com/

Quick pages are so easy! All you do is download them to a folder you created on your desk top, open them in Photoshop and add your pictures. Seriously it's that easy. And just look what you can do! All these Quick Pages were found online, created by Michelle Underwood, and generously distributed as freebies on various sites.

Templates Are Everywhere!

So now that you have a couple steps down I should tell you that there are templates all over the web that make digital scrapping very easy! I made this layout in about 10 minutes using a template I found on the Scrapper's Guide CD that came with my version of Photoshop Elements! You can check their web site out at http://www.scrappersguide.com/. But look how the sample template looks with pictures!

And, it's so easy! Watch for my next Lesson of the Day to learn how!

Adding Words To Your Layout

The last, but very important step is adding words to your digital layout.

- Click on the Type tool in your tool box. This will bring a different bar to the top of your screen where you can chose your font and size.

- After you have made your font and size choices put the cursor on your layout where you want your text to appear and click. Remember at this point that your type can be moved at any time.

- Type the words you want to appear on your layout.

- At this point click the green check mark. You can do this even if you are not totally happy with the placement or the size.

- If any elements are covering your words, move the type layer to the top of your layer list on the right side.

- Click on the Move Tool to make any changes to placement and highlight the words to move them, or change the size or font.

Eazy, Peezy, Lemon Squeezy! Have fun playing with this & remember the more you play, the easier it gets!

Last night I created two elements to share with you. I will put one on new posts which have a lesson included and the other one on posts that include a little quick tip that I want to share with you!

Now On To Photoshop!

Now, just follow these simple (yet long) instructions to create your first digital layout!

- Open Photoshop.
- Click on File, then click New.
This will bring a pop up to your screen where you can customize the size of your layout.
- Type in the width and height of your layout being sure they are labeled in inches, not pixels.
My preference is 8 inches x 8 inches (cheaper to print out).
- Be sure the Resolution is set at 300 pixels/ inch and the color mode is RGB Color. The Background Contents is not important for this layout since the entire background will be covered. I usually set the background to white but you can also do translucent.
- Before you close this pop up you may name your layout.
- Close this pop up and your new background will appear in your work space.

- Click on File, then Open and browse to find your Moody Blues page in the folder on your desktop. When you open this page it will appear in your work space on Photoshop.
- Click on File, then Open and browse to find your photo.
To make this easier for myself I created a folder on my desktop titled "Pix To Scrap." When I download pictures from my camera, I put the ones I really want to scrapbook in this folder for easy access.
When you open your picture it will appear in your work space on Photoshop.

Ok, stop and take a breath. It seems like a lot but once you have done those steps a few times, it will be a piece of cake! Trust me:)

Looking at your screen, your bin (on the bottom of Photoshop) should have a background, the Moody Blues page and your picture.

- Double click on the Moody Blues page in the bin and it will appear in your work space.
- Click your cursor on the paper in the work space and drag it down onto the background holding the left button to drag. ( I will say "Click and Drag" from now on.)
- Re size the paper to fit the background.
To do this be sure the move tool is highlighted in your tool box on the left side of the screen. Also, be sure the layer which your paper occupies is highlighted in your layer list on the right side of the screen. You want the paper to cover the entire background. Click and drag the corners in to make it smaller.
- Once it is covered and re sized, click on the green check mark to commit this placement.
- Double click on the photo in your bin and it will pop up in your work space.
- Click and Drag the picture down to your layout in the bin.

At this point if your picture is hidden behind the paper layer, go to the layers and Click and Drag the photo layer to the top.

- You can make adjustments to your photo by clicking the move tool and making sure the photo layer is darkened in your layer list. You can make the photo bigger, smaller, or you can move it around the page.
- Once the picture is exactly where you want it and the size you want it, click the green check mark to commit it. (Don't worry, nothing in Photoshop is permanent. You can go move or re size it later if you change your mind.)

WOW, told you it was a long list of instructions, but wasn't it pretty easy? Check back tomorrow to see how I added the words on the layout.

Let's Start At The Very Beginning!

Ok, before you even open up Photoshop to create this digital layout there are a couple things you need to do.

1) Create a new folder on your desktop for your digital stuff. Click the right button on your mouse (I will say "Right Click" from now on). Then click New, then click Folder. Your folder will be on your desktop ready for a name. Name the folder then you are ready to put stuff in it!

2) Go to Shabby Princess and download the Moody Blues collection. Save it in your new folder. It will be a zip file which you need to unzip (Don't worry, it's really easy). Just click on the icon in the folder, click the Extract All Files button on the left side and save it in your new folder. Yeah, you did it!

3) Pick a picture that you want to use on your layout.

4) Pick a font that goes with the "feeling" of the picture you picked. You can do this now, or later but start thinking about it because there are literally tons of great fonts out there!

Honestly, the hard part is done! Now, before I share how to put these elements together to create a page that looks like the one I posted, go play with Photoshop, and read Getting Started With Photoshop, the booklet that came with your program. Getting to know Photoshop will help you tremendously, trust me;)

It's really easy I promise!

So, like I said, it's super easy. But for now I'm just going to let you look at these layouts. I'll tell you the super easy secret next time. Just remember: you don't need to have the top of the line computer, the newest camera, or hours of spare time. Just a desire to digital scrapbook your favorite memories & Photo Shop Elements (or similar photo program).

YOUR ASSIGNMENT: Go check out Shabby Princess. You will looove it! All these layouts were digitally created using Shabby Princess Moody Blues Piece of Cake Page.

The Beginning

Let's get started on our journey into digital scrappin!