And the Winner is......

Good Evening everyone! I am so sorry that it took so long to post, but I started my new job today! It has been a year since I worked and I am thrilled to be back in the workforce! I am even more excited that I found a job that I am already loving!! 

Anyway, I am so excited to announce the winner of my new LIVE Beginner's Digital Scrapbooking class for PSE!! Thank you to all of you who entered the contest and I am gonna send you a little extra something because I truly wanted ALL of you to win!! After a  random draw, I am so excited to announce that the winner of my new Live class is.........(drum roll please)..... JODY GREEN!!!

Congratulations Jody!  Please send me an email at dare2digi@yahoo.com to claim your prize and thank you again to all of you who entered to win! Have a very blessed day! 

Get Your Shoping Lists Written...It's New Release Day!

ok, ok, so I think I get more excited every week with all the new goodies that the designers put out than most people do, but I know all the spectacular goodies that are coming to the stores and I really can't wait to share them with you! That and...I AM RELEASING MY NEW CLASS THIS WEEK!!! woot! I have been waiting and waiting and waiting to bring you this new LIVE option and I can't even begin to express just how excited I am about this new release! I think everyone knows by now that one of my passions is teaching. I LOVE to teach others about the joy of scrapbooking and documenting their family! I love to write tutorials and lessons, but more than anything, I like to work with a student one on one and hear their excitement when something they have been struggling with...FINALLY makes sense!! With the Self-paced written version of my lessons, I don't really get the opportunity to chat with YOU and SHOW you how to scrap, but, we are FINALLY able to offer you, the scrapper, a LIVE version of the class!!! This is so exciting because we are now able to work TOGETHER!! I can scrap, talk and share with you all my secrets and you can ask questions, work along side of me AND watch the taped version again and again via the SOUL University forum! This is the beginning of some wonderful lessons to come! I am so excited about this technology and what it hold for the future of scrapbooking! So, without further ado, let me introduce you to my new LIVE class as well as the other fabulous releases coming out this week at Scrap Orchard!

Dare 2 Digi: A Beginner's Guide to Digital Scrapbooking in PSE: LIVE version! 

Here is what you get with your purchase of this LIVE interactive class!

Dare2Digi: A Beginner's Guide to Digital Scrapbooking in PSE-LIVE

Instructor: Tamara Allen of Dare2Digi

Class Requirements: This is a beginner's class. No previous knowledge of Photoshop Elements is necessary, however, you will need to have a purchased PSE or have a trial version of PSE installed on your computer.

Class Type: This is a LIVE class. Recorded videos will be made available for those that are not able to attend the LIVE class times.

Class Dates: October 4, 2012 at 8:00-10:00 CST; October 11, 2012 at 8:00-10:00 CST and October 18, 2012 at 8:00-10:00 CST

Class Description:

Through a series of live demonstrations, you will learn how to set up and use your Photoshop Elements workstation as well as learn about the tools and shortcuts needed to master the program.
You will learn the step by step procedures and techniques used to create your very own digital scrapbook pages including, but not limited to the following:

• Setting up your digital workstation
• Downloading and Unzipping your digital supplies
• Tools and Shortcuts used in Photoshop Elements
• Photoshop Layers and Layering Techniques
• Basic composition for the beginner scrapbooker
• Adding and sizing photos, elements and papers.
• Creating and using clipping masks
• Basic drop shadowing using the programs drop shadow styles
• Basic design principles
• Adding and adjusting text usng the Text Tool
• Saving your digital layout for print and for web sharing
• Printing your digital page
• Uploading and crediting layouts in the store gallery
• BONUS coupons to help you build your stash

You will have unlimited access to the SOUL forum where you can ask questions, exchange peer review, and receive instructor critiques. There is NO expiration date to the forum and videos.
You will receive a *BONUS* PDF version of the LIVE classes so that you can follow along with the class, take notes and have it as a reference for years to come.

You MUST have a working version of Photoshop Elements for this class. If you do not have a copy, you can download a FREE two week trial version at Adobe.com.

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Wanna Win A FREE SPOT in the Class??

In honor of the introduction of my new class, I want to give away 1 (one)spot in the class  for FREE!!
All you have to do is:

a. like my Facebook page  and/or subscribe to my blog

b. share this post on your facebook page and/or blog if you don't have a FB

c. come back here and leave a link to YOUR FB or Blog post and your name by 

Sunday, September 23, 2012 12:00 CST(sorry, late posts will NOT be accepted into the drawing)

I will pick a winner by random draw on  Monday, September 24, 2012 and will post the name of the winner right here! Good Luck!

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Let's Look at the rest of the new releases this week at Scrap Orchard! 

 

Capture Life: September by Tracie Stroud

and

Melting Pot by Little Green Frog Designs

My Layout:

Melting Pot  by Little Green Frog Designs
Capture Life: September by Tracie Stroud 

 Dare to Be by Bella Gypsy

 

My Layout using Dare to Be:



 and here are a few I didn't have time to play with this week but are calling my name for this weekend!

Aren't those great??  The designers have really outdone themselves this week! Make sure you stop by the store and pick up these amazing products on sale...and, go ahead and purchase a seat for the LIVE Beginner's class before the class fills up! The seating is limited and these live classes are only going to be taped once a quarter, so sign up now, reserve your seat and don't miss out!!! 

Have a great Day!

Fixing Underexposed Photos using Blending Modes: A PSE Tutorial

When I started out on my scrapbooking journey five years ago, Photoshop Elements was my very first purchase. I had heard it was simple and easy to use and a great tool for the beginning scrapbooker. I discovered, however, that not only was it a great tool for the beginning scrapbooker, but it was also a great tool for the family photographer! Since most of us that scrapbook actually take the photos we use, this works out to be a fabulous bonus when selecting a software to start out with. We are the ones that document our children’s lives on a daily basis and we are the ones with the camera stuck to our eyeballs at our kiddo’s baseball game or cheerleading camp! So, since PSE is the software I started out with, it is only fitting that I lean this tutorial more towards the users of Photoshop Elements, although the same principals can be used in Photoshop as well!

One of the great things about Photoshop Elements is the many quick-fix options that can be used to fix or enhance our photos. I cannot tell you how many times when I was starting out, that I took a picture that was too dark or underexposed. The Enhance menu on the Photoshop Elements toolbar offers many quick fix tool choices such as Auto Smart Fix, Auto Levels, Auto Contrast, Auto Color Correction, and Auto Red Eye Fix. Although all of these can be used in some capacity or another, it really is not my preferred method of choice when it comes to fixing under or overexposed photos and that is mostly because it takes all of the control out of your hands and leaves it with the program. Today, I am going to share with you a few very quick and easy fixes using PSE and it's layer blend modes that will expand your photo correcting abilities and help YOU to make your photos shine!

To begin, open up the underexposed photo you would like to fix. I have chosen a photo of my oldest daughter that I took right before her senior prom last year. I was in a hurry, trying to get some shots of her, and I forgot to change my ISO settings when I changed from sun to shade. I really loved this photo, however, and I wanted to see if I could make it work so I could scrap it! 

Once your photo is open, locate it in your layers palette on the right side of your screen.



Select and highlight the photo layer by clicking on it in the layers palette. You will then need to duplicate the layer. You can do this a couple of different ways; either by hitting CTRL +J OR by right clicking on your photo and selecting Duplicate Layer. When the Duplicate Layer dialogue box pops up, click OK. You will now have two of the same photos in your layers palette.



Once you have duplicated the photo (now called Layer 1), this is where the fun begins! With the top layer (Layer 1) selected (it appears dark gray on my screen) click on the drop-down blending mode menu (it is located above your photos and is the drop down menu that shows the word Normal). Click on the arrow and, from the drop down menu, select the Screen mode. You will notice that all of the modes are grouped together. The group that starts with Darken, will do just that..darken your photo. The next group will lighten your photos and the group after that (the one starting with Overlay) will add some contrast to your photo. Take a moment to play with each mode and see how it effects your photo.



Once you select the Screen mode, you will notice that your photo has lightened up a just a little bit. Depending on how dark your photo was, one pass may not be enough. If your photo is still too dark, you may duplicate the Screen Mode layer by selecting it and hitting CTRL+J. This should lighten your photo even more. Continue to duplicate the layer until you have gotten it just right. If you need to make it lighter, but clicking it that last time made it too light, then you can make an adjustment to the opacity on the top layer, by lowering it until you get it just how you want it. The Opacity menu is located right next to the Blending Mode Menu. Click on the drop down menu and slide the slider to the left to lower the opacity.



Once you have made the final adjustments to the opacity layer, you can then flatten the layers to create one image. Right-click on the bottom layer in the layers palette, and select “Flatten Image.” All of your layers will now be merged together to create one perfect image for you to use in your layout!

One thing to remember as well, is that sometimes, when lightening a photo, you will lose some of the contrast in the photo. To retrieve that back, and to give it that special pop, you can add back some contrast by duplicating the photo and changing the Blending mode to Soft Light. You will then need to lower the opacity to taste, but it will make your photo go from ho hum to yum yum!



Now isn’t that better? And it took less than 5 minutes to save a photo that I might have otherwise trashed!

You can use this same method to correct overexposed photos as well. Instead of choosing the Screen mode, you will choose the Multiply Mode, and then follow the same procedure as you did to fix the underexposed photo.

Isn't that quick AND easy??? There are a ton of ways to fix exposure on a photo, and this is just one of the many! Try it out and see what you think...I will share with you a few of the other ways in some tutorials that are coming up later!

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Before I leave, if you are looking for a way to step out of that box and try something new, then why not try this lovely template provided by Scrapping with Liz this week at Scrap Orchard?? Its fun, its simple and to the point..has great composition and can be scrapped in a multiple number of ways making it very versatile!

(Click here to go to the Scrap Orchard blog to download the FreeBee)


Here is my page with this fabulous template!




I used Bella Gypsy’s new kit Boy Extraordinary, to scrap my page!



Have fun and happy editing!!

Hope for a Better Tomorrow...and some New Releases!

You ever have one of those weeks that NOTHING goes right? Well, I am having one of those years. Seems like everything in my life is falling apart. It started with the heat pump leaking water all over the carpet, then went to the kitchen wall collapsing due to termite, heat and water damage and ended with the bathroom toilet springing a leak and flooding the ENTIRE hallway. Then, just when I thought NOTHING else could possibly happen, my youngest daughter's beloved pet bird and our second car.....died.  Now, the death of the bird has effected us all pretty bad, but the death of the car is DEVASTATING!! Trying to get three working people to their assorted jobs by 8:00 in the morning when we all work in different directions...well, it isn't so easy. Needless to say, I had one of those weeks that makes you want to throw in the towel and just say "I quit!"

I was talking to a friend of mine when I was reminded that as bad as it seems right now, there are others that have it worse than I do. We are all relatively healthy, we have a house and food to eat...we still have one car and are at least, not having to LIVE in it, and I have HOPE that all things will get better. 

Hope doesn't always come easy for every one. It's so easy to look at the bad things in your life that you sometimes forget that there ARE some good things. When times like these occur, I have people in my life that I know were planted here by God himself, to remind me that there ARE some good things happening; that God DOES give us hope; and that all I have to do is let go of my self pity long enough to look around and recognize it. 

This week, I decided to focus on the GOOD things. The things that make me want to live instead of give up. My family and friends are just two on the long list of things I have to be thankful for. God did not promise me that there would be no bad days in my life, or that I would never hurt for money or want for anything, but he DID promise that if I turned my life over to him, HE would give me the strength to get through the bad days and that is something that I can count on...even in my weakest moments.

My hope for YOU this week is that you find the strength you need. When things seem out of control and you feel like giving up; when the weight of raising a family and paying the bills gets overwhelming; or when our earthly body is weak and in need of rest, remember that even when everything things seems lost, that GOD has control and it is through Him that you can find the peace and the calm that you need to get through it,,,, whether it is one day or what seems like forever! Jesus says "Come unto me all ye that are laden and I will give you rest." I, for one, am going to be taking him up on that promise! I need the rest.

Since I had such a hard time last week(I will be the first to tell you that I just curled up every night in bed and lost myself in a book so I wouldn't have to think about it) I am a little behind on this weeks new releases from my some of my favorite designers! I would be remiss however, if I didn't show them to you today since you can still pick most of these up at the sale price!

First off, if you missed September's SOUL webinar on the 12th, then you missed a fabulous interview with Amanda Heimann! We found out we lived only three hours apart..AND that she supports a football team that, although I could really care less if she supports them, my family does, so we are no longer aloud to talk to each other! LOL. I am teasing. I will talk to her behind their backs because I really like her!!  She seems very grounded, a good ole' Texas girl..tough on the outside and tender on the inside...and she has a good sense of humor...especially when it comes to cows. 

I also did a demo on some of my very favorite title techniques! I MIGHT have gotten a little long winded, but gosh..there was a LOT to share with you, so much so that I think I might have to put together another class...just about Titles..so be looking for that in the near future! 

If you joined us in the webinar, you got Amanda's fabulous new alpha for FREE!! However, if you want this excellent alpha for your own collection and you were not able to attend, then you can pick it up at Scrap Orchard for 20% off this week! 

Essentially: Everyday by Amanda Heimann

 

and here is my layout using Amanda's kit Carefree and the alpha (recolored)

Also this week , Bella Gypsy released THREE new kits! I only had time to scrap with two of them...but they really are some of my favorite layouts...EVER!!!

Perfectly Imperfect

Perfect To Me by Bella Gypsy Designs 

 Gimme Layers 31 by Cluster Queen Creations

Enjoy the moment

 Slow Down by Bella Gypsy
Gimme Layers 14 by Cluster Queen Creations

Little Green Frog Designs also had a new releases this week! I loved them so much, I scrapped with TWO of the templates!

Genuinely You! 

 Genuine by Jennifer Labre
Gooseberry Fool by Little Green Frog Designs

Lazy Days

 Indian Summer by Chelle's Creations
Indian Summer Plaids by Chelle's Creations
Gooseberry Fool by Little Green Frog Designs

The Pursuit of Happiness

The Pursuit of Happiness by Amy Stoffel
Half Pack 58: Photo Focus 20 by Cindy Schneider 

Also at Sweet Shoppe Designs, Jady Day Studio had a few more re-releases just in time for all of the fall fun! 

Give Thanks

 Autumn Fun - Give Thanks by Jady Day Studio
Technobabble by Little Green Frog Designs

Our First Halloween

All Treats No Tricks Template Pack by Cindy Schneider
Autumn Fun-Ghoul Night by Jady Day Studios

 

and finally, although it isn't a NEW release, it IS still new...I just didn't get to work on it because of all the stuff going on at home! BUT..I LOVE this new kit!

 

Got Cache?

Adventure Awaits by Crisdam Designs
Adventure Awaits Labels by Crisdam Designs
Adventure Awaits Alpha by Crisdam Designs
Cindy's Layered Templates - Set 126 by Cindy Schneider 

That is it for my new releases this week! There are so many GORGEOUS new goodies at Scrap Orchard...make sure you stop by and check them out!

Keep an eye out for THIS weeks new release cause I am going to have something that has been weeks in the making! Something that I am SUPER excited about, and will give YOU, the scrapper, some hands-on instruction!! This is one you DON"T want to miss!!! 

Have a great week! 

Fabulous Fall! Inspiration, New Releases and a Freebie!

Fall is one of me VERY favorite times of the year. The colors are gorgeous, the weather is cooler and all my fall shows start back up! Not only is it one of my very favorite times to be and FEEL alive, but it is also one of my vary favorite seasons to scrap! It really must be though since I tend to want to scrap with every single fall kit that graces the digital scrapbooking stores!

Today, I thought I would round up some of my favorite fall layouts from some of my favorite designers! These have all released in the past several weeks and they are fabulous to work with if you are looking for some fall kits!  There are quite a few, so let's get started! 

Autumn Days

 Indian Summer Patterned Papers by Mye De Leon
Indian Summer Cardstock by Mye De Leon
Indian Summer Embellishments by Mye De Leon
Burlap Alpha by Mye De Leon
Stitches from Simply Me by Mye De Leon
Tag from Color Change by Mye de Leon
"days" Alpha from August Mega at Scrap Orchard
Cindy's Layered Templates - Half Pack 56 by Cindy Schneider

 Autumn Afternoon

Autumn Afternoon-part one by Mye De Leon
Fuss Free:Masquerade 2 by Fiddle Dee Dee designs

 Fall Fun

 Fallen: Mish Mash by Amy Stoffel
Fallen: Geometric by Amy Stoffel
butterfly from Madeline kit by Amy Stoffel
"Fun" alpha from Sweet Serenity by Amy Stoffel
Fuss Free: Sweet Days Templates by Fiddle Dee Dee Designs

 It's the Little Things

Serenity by Happy Scrap Girl
Fuss Free: Masquerade by Fiddle Dee Dee Design

Autumn Wish- releasing TODAY!

 Beautifall by Amy Stoffel 

template by Little Green Frog Designs

Don't you just LOVE the colors of fall? the oranges and browns and yellows and purples are really what make a layout come to life! This week, take a moment to scrap some of your fall memories. I love the bounty of fall, so I always like to include a ton of stuff! Take a moment to step outside your box this weekend. Scrap with several different patterns or use lots of pretty elements. Make sure to include a fall quote or journal about your fall traditions! Whatever you do, enjoy the colors of autumn! I know I do! 

Don't forget that this week, on the Scrap Orchard blog, I added a new freebie template from Little Green Frog Designs! If you haven't stopped by the blog, head on over and pick up your free template today! 

and here is my layout with it! 

 Flora by Jennifer Labre Designs

With that, I will wish you all a peaceful weekend! We are hoping for some rain around here, so I am keeping my fingers crossed for a weekend at HOME! Something that doesn't happen very often here since we always have some kind of game going on!