Sunday, November 6, 2011

The Digital Scrapbooking Experience

While we were preparing for our recent Hybrid Scrapping Workshop we knew we wanted to put together a list of sites our ‘Workshop Lovelies’ could visit after the class to explore the world of Digital Scrapbooking. 

On this journey we came across a great blog entry by the lovely Vanessa Roberts on the Tarisota Blog and, we would like to acknowledge that some of the information below was courtesy of this Blog and Vanessa’s research.... read and enjoy!





Beginning Digital Scrapbooking
Designer Digitals is one of our favourite places to visit for supplies, tutorials and some great freebies.  This great site boasts some very talented scrapbook designers like Ali Edwards, Andrea Victoria, Cathy Zielske and Katie Pertiet ....

Sahlin Studio  “How to Start” tutorial


Jessica Sprague a 'guru' in the world of digital scrapping - this is another great site with so much to offer.  Great tutorials, classes and supplies - a must on your favourites list.
The Lilypad - alphas that we just love and soooo much more!

Etsy - another great source for digital scrapbooking supplies and ideas

After 5 Designs - some fabulous whimsical designs on this great site

Smilebox

Free Digital Scrapbooking

Shabby Princess

PickleBerryPop


Free Fonts

Dafont 
Great site for all styles of fonts:  typewriter fonts, graffiti fonts, decorative fonts, grid fonts, curly fonts, fonts by Last Soundtrack – the list is endless......

Kevin and Amanda 
Lots of handwriting fonts on this site




Freebie Sites

Craft Crave  Daily previews of freebies on blogs

The Coffee Shop Blog So many things to look at

The Graphics Fairy Vintage Images to download









As it just happens, is was Digital Scrapbooking Day (DSD) as we were updating our Blog with this post (didn't even know there was one)... but heck Facebook has lots of pages announcing it.  We especially liked the link to the  Creating Keepsakes Blog all about getting started with Digital Scrapbooking - so head on over and check it out.

While there are lots of great sites out there - we hope the ones above 'wet your appetite' and get you started... much like they did us!


Hope you enjoy.....


Lizzie and Lisa

Hybrid Workshop Was A Sell Out!

After lots of discussion and, we will admit, some hesitation we decided earlier this year to look at introducing a Workshop that was all about Hybrid Scrapbooking.  It is true... a lot of our Workshop Lovelies were reluctant at first... lots of 'I don't do computer stuff...
I don't have Photoshop... don't think that would interest me'. 

Well we convinced them to join us on the journey and the resounding feedback was ... thank you, thank you.. you have opened our eyes to a whole new world of scrapping!



Our Workshop was not about computer skills or having certain software applications, it was about using digital options in simple ways that didn't have to challenge their computer skills more than what they were already doing using word processing or their camera software .... the advantages of purchasing digital papers and elements that they could use again and again, 'bunny slipper buying' - oh yes, turn on the computer and go shopping in your PJs if you get the urge and last but not least... budget busting options.




Our team became addicted as we pulled our workshop projects together - Miss Lisa (aka Lisa Greedy) was on a roll and her beautiful layout shows her creative use of elements (tags) and alphas purchased online... add some mixed media background - gotta love some distress stains, paints and Punchinello (aka sequin waste) and this is one fabulous Hybrid layout that everyone just loved.








Lizzie just loves the idea of being able to download projects that she can combine with bits and pieces from her stash ... Hybrid at its best!

She took some inspiration from an online project and started with a white timber frame (minus the glass), added some digital paper as the background, baker's twine, paper doily and a bulldog clip... a great way to display her finished calendar pages!


Lizzie introduced these gorgeous calendar pages she has made for a friend...by adding some 'Embellees' magic..... antique doily pieces, pearl brads, stamped images, diecuts, handmade flowers and Kindy Glitz the pages came to life and added that Hybrid approach that we wanted to showcase.





It wouldn't be a Embellees Workshop without our lovely Cassie McCumstie crafting a gorgeous handmade card.

The Hybrid approach was a great way to get us started with our 'handmade' Christmas cards. 

A beautiful digital image printed on white cardstock, finished with Kindy Glitz, a punched bird image (StampinUp punch and digital papers), bling, baker's twine and a beautiful stamped verse - truly just gorgeous and such a lovely colour option for this Chrissy season.










Cassie also showed how we could play with the same digital image and change the colour to produce a different look... check out the lovely options she came up with when printing the Christmas Tree image in black on Kraft cardstock, adding different bird images and finishing off with red & white baker's twine, pearls and rhinestones.





To finish up Cassie showed us how she used the image as the base to create another beautiful card using the left over leaf and branch punched pieces (StampinUp Bird Punch).  You have gotta just love how she 'repurposed' the leftovers and finished off another beautiful design!










One of the best things about our Embellees Workshops has been getting to know all our lovely Workshop regulars and welcoming new Workshop participants to our growing group - so welcome... Bronwen, Lyne, Jo and Mary. It was a pleasure meeting you ladies and thank you for the feedback on how much you enjoyed your first Embellees Workshop. We so look forward to you joining us again in 2012.







And to finish up this blog post we can't go without sharing a quick picture of our celebrations for the birthday girls in our group.  Lizzie was still recovering from her recent 50th birthday weekend away with the girls and, with the help of our lovely friend Dianne a beautiful cake appeared for us all to share and celebrate with Lexie, Cassie, Alex (aka standin for Deb) and Lizzie - happy birthday girls!!!




 
Don't forget to check us out on our Facebook Fan Page for more updates.

We look forward to catching up with you again soon!

Lisa and Lizzie