::ANNA::

MidWeek Release + ArtSale

MidWeek Release.  There are 4 NewART products coming to the store today.

2 Sets of 3 X 4 ArtsyKardz perfect for both digital and hybrid scrapbookers.  Use them for journaling, matting, blending or for Project Life to name just of the intended uses. These coordinate with ArtPlay Palette Vitality and ArtPlay Palette Find My Way No. 1 respectively.

Project 365+1/366 layout week 7.

I didn't take any photos this week so I scanned a few things lying around in the kitchen aand on my desk including a recipe, school reports and illustrations.

The MonthReview Template No. 2 for February.

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ArtSale.  There are 10 hand-selected digital products on sale at a 30% discount until approx. 9am on Friday March 3, 2012 EST.

Love this layout using some of this week's ArtSale items.

Blossom | Marnie Morgan

The Holiday Album | Pages 18 through 20 and Page 1

Digital Supplies: ArtPlay Palette Santa Nicholas Add-On,

Digital Supplies:  ArtPlay Palette Santa's Elf, LoopDaLoop ArtStrokes No. 1, MagicFlares No. 1, MultiMedia Santas No. 1

Digital Supplies: ArtPlay Palette Retro Holiday, MultiMedia Christmas Trees No. 1

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New to the Holiday Album Project?  Please see previous posts here.

I finished up my album this weekend and it went to print today.  I'm hoping I might have it in hand for the final post of this series next week.

In this post, I am showcasing the last pages of my project which include a spread about the presents as well as two single pages to begin and end the album.

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Presents | Page 18 and 19

1.  Repetition.  This spread showcases the highlights of our Christmas morning and you will notice that many of techniques shared in this series are once again employed in this page.  I establish patterns and the techniques I will use throughout the album in the first pages of my albums. These techniques are repeated with slight variation to quickly and efficiently achieve a frsh but cohesive album.  

Each of my pages feature consistency in terms of both the photos and the supplies.

• Photos are showcased in both color and black/white
• Supplies come from a handful of product sets and some are used more than once on multiple pages
• Each page features LoopDaLoop ArtStrokes and/or paint
• Fonts are consistent throughout the album
• Flares appear on most if not all pages

I often find myself adopting techniques and adapting my process during the creative flow of album.  A lot of this is experimental.  When a technique sticks and appears on multiple pages, I ensure consistency throughout the entire album by assessing all pages together at the end of the process.  It's not unusual for me to revisit and make adjustments to the first pages in the album after the project is complete.

2.  Text.  Repeated use of the same fonts keep the album looking cohesive but I also adapt text in templates to work with my photos and what I want to say without compromising on quality.  I not only move text boxes but will also change the shape of text boxes to make them better accommodate my journaling.

In this album, I had a lot of photos to work with which meant photos often assume the spaces designated on my layout for text, forcing me to find a new home for my journaling:

• Move the text over a photo featuring "white space" or a solid background.  If none of your photos have this white space, you can easily create your own by using a MagicFlare, transfer, paint or label placed over an image where the details are not vital to the story-telling.
• Add a Layer Style to the text such as a Drop Shadow or an Outer Glow to emphasize your journaling.
• Duplicate a single text box to create multiple text boxes to house your journaling.

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Details | Page 20

The last page of my album is always a round-up page that either concludes my album and/or provides a place for a random collection of photos not already included in subsequent pages.  This technique is a tidy way to tie up loose ends and make sure I have not excluded any important details or imagery.

Memories | Page 1

I always complete the first page of my album last.  The first page is an introduction to the album and I always have better clarity as to the main themes and the over-riding message I want to convey to the reader.

In this particular album,  the smile and joy of the season was the main focus of my project and so the photo seemed of Luke biting the head of a gingerbread cookie seemed fitting.  Not only does the photo make me smile but the headless gingerbread man in front of his lips could be construed as a smile.  

Selecting the right photo to introduce an album is as important as a good introduction to a book but you may have to compromise on occasion.  White this photo portrays the right message it features Luke only, and as a Mom, I'm always mindful about representing my children equally in my scrapbooking.  Introduction either include both or neither one of them.  I aimed to balance this out by including a large photo of Ella on the last page.

Do what you can with what you have and let the rest go. 

Weekend Photos

A few photos from the weekend.

Caught in the act.  Double trouble.

Wii Sports Resorts.  I totally thought we were done with the baby gates.

Snooze.

Why do they never sit straight at the table?

Basking in the sun.

Apple and blackberry Paleo pancakes.

Tutorial | Using FotoGlows in Photo Editing

This tutorial was kindly provided by AnnaTeamer, Chris Asbury.

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When the lightening and brightening adjustments in Photoshop or Elements don’t do the trick, you can work magic with FotoGlows.

FotoGlows can be used over or under photo or element layers with different blending modes applied, and at varying opacities, to achieve amazing results.

In this tutorial, I will show you how to use FotoGlows to add highlights to emphasize your photos.

1.  I selected a background paper and a frame from ArtPlay Palette Crazy Life and a clipping mask from Original FotoBlendz No.13 to which I clipped my photo.

2.  Duplicate the photo layer, clip the duplicate layer to the mask and apply the Multiply mode at 60% opacity. This adds depth and dimension to the photo. Don’t worry about it being too dark at this point. You’ll see some amazing effects when you begin to add the FotoGlows in the following step.

3.  Select a FotoGlow from FotoGlows No.3, clip it to the mask and apply the Overlay mode to the FotoGlow layer at 100% opacity. Notice that I positioned the FotoGlow in the lower left corner to highlight and emphasize the flowers.

4.  Select another FotoGlow from FotoGlows No.3, clip to the mask and apply the Overlay mode at 100% opacity. I positioned this FotoGlow over the right side of the photo to emphasize the water’s reflection. Adjust the size of the FotoGlows as necessary to emphasize only the areas that needed highlights to avoid losing the contrast in your image.

5.  Increase the highlights by duplicating the FotoGlow layer from previous steps.  I this case I duplicated the FotoGlow from step 3, unclipped it from the photo mask and repositioned it over the frame. I decreased the opacity of this layer from 100% to 85% and carefully erased portions of the glow to fine-tune the effect.

6.  The page was completed using elements from ArtPlay Palette Crazy Life (transfers, button, word art title, loop, butterfly, red stitching, frame, painted overlay); a red splatter paint from FotoInspired Layout No.6; paint from Different Strokes No.5 and an overlay from 12x12 Artist Edges No.1.The WordART journaling is from Dido Design’s Little Birdie Told Me.

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Checkout the new WarmGlows in the MagicSparkles series, which add a hint of magic warmth to your images and layouts.  Experiment with different blending modes to suit your photos, layouts and preference.  I personally like to use them with Screen or Hard Light modes.

NewART Sneak Peek

NewART coming to the store tomorrow around 2pm EST with discounted AnnaRelease and $1.00 AnnaSelect item.

Watch for a tutorial in this week's AnnaNews which will show you how to to create WordLabel elements using the ArtPlay Vitality WordLabel BrushSet.

MidWeek Release and ArtSale

MidWeek Release.  There are 4 NewART products coming to the store today, fulfilling a couple of requests and regular release items.

ArtPlay Solid Paperie to coordinate with ArtPlay Palette Crazy Life.

Coordinating 3 X 4 ArtsyKardz perfect for both digital and hybrid scrapbookers.  Use them for journaling, matting, blending or for Project Life to name just of the intended uses. This particular set co-ordinates with ArtPlay Palette Crazy Life.

Project 365+1/366 layout week 7.

I've also had a request for a Month In Review template.  This week I'm releasing January, February will release at the end of the month and March will release each month thereafter.

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ArtSale.  There are 12 hand-selected digital products on sale at a 30% discount until approx. 9am on Friday February 24, 2012 EST.

The Holiday Album | Pages 14 through 17

Digital Supplies:  ArtPlay Palette Sophistica, Christmas WordART  No. 6, LoopDaLoop ArtStrokes No. 6, Silver SnowFlakes No. 1 (recolored to gold)

Digital Supplies: ArtPlay Palette Retro Holiday, MagicSprinklez No. 2,  LoopDaLoop ArtStrokes No. 6, MagicFlares No. 1

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New to the Holiday Album Project?  Please see previous posts here.

I'm quickly heading towards the completion of my Holiday album and I'm electing to showcase 2 double-page spreads in this post. This is partly because I had a little extra time this weekend and am keen to complete the album, but also at this point I'm repeating many of the techniques explained in previous posts to this series in order to complete the remaining pages.

In this post, I will continue to focus on my process for completing each page drawing attention to those techniques of interest and/or not yet explained.

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Lights | Pages 14 and 15

I confess that we didn't quite get around to putting up the outdoor Christmas lights this year.  I nevertheless had plenty to play with inside and had some fun practising some of the techniques taught by Katrina Kennedy in Capture Your Holidays through the Lens. 

1.  Subject Matter.  When your title doesn't fit your photos in the conventional sense, either think outside a box and get creative with a play on words, or simply change the title.

2.  Merge Masks.  In this template, there are two adjoining masks which can be used independently to showcase 2 photos, one on each page, or merged to create a single mask.  Move the layers from page 14 and 15 to one 12 X 24 inch canvas as outlined in the first pages of this series.  Move the mask layers so that one is above the other in the Layers palette.  Select the top layer of the 2 layers and go to Layer> Merge Down to create a single layer combining both the masks.

3.  Recolor Papers.  If the colors of your chose papers are not coordinating with your photos, make them work by making color adjustments.  Recoloring saves time by eliminating the need to try out numerous other paper that may not work either.  I applied a yellow tint to the ArtPlay Palette Sophistica papers by checking the Colorize box in the Hue and Saturation palette and adjusting the Hue slider to change the color hue.

4.  Over-sized Titles.  Consider placing a large decorative complementary title over one of the large masks.

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People | Pages 16 and 17

1.  Balance Elements.  When you add one or more elements to a page, place a complementary element or group of element on the opposing page to tie the two pages together.  This approach works particularly well when the elements are positioned diagonally from one another.

2.  Stroked Frames.  Each of the templates includes one or more fine-lined frames.  You have a few options with these frames.

• Invert the color of these frames from black to white, or color of your choice.  
• Move them around within a template and from one template to another.  
• Create your own frames.

Breakfast in Bed

Apparently, giving in on 2 dogs has it's perks.  I was treated to breakfast in bed on Tuesday.

I love surprises, even if it means being photographed immediately post deep slumber.

Digital Supplies: ArtPlay Palette Love=Life, ScissoredHearts No. 1, CanvasTextures No. 1, ScriptTease Life No. 1, PaintedHearts No. 2

NewART + Discounts

8 NewART Digital Products at 20% off, with one $1.00 AnnaSelect item plus entire AnnaRelease at 36% discount is now available.

Thank you for your continued support of my designs.

Tutorial | Create Framed Prints Using FotoBlendz

This tutorial has been kindly provided by professional photographer and AnnaTeamer, Kerry Halasz.

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Do you have a photo that you would like to frame but would also like to add a little pizzaz?

FotoBlendz Clipping Masks are your answer!  You can use these masks with any photo to create a beautiful and uniquely framed photo that can be printed and framed or incorporated into your scrapbook pages.  This particular image will be placed in an 8 X 10 frame with an 8 X10 ready cut mat and 5 X 7 opening.

Transform a photo from this:

To this:

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Create your own framed printed by following these steps.  Please refer to the free Instructions for Use eBooklet for fdetailed step-by-step instructions.

1.  Open the photo in your photo processing program and resize it to 5x7 at 300dpi.

2.  Create a New File sized 5 X 7 with a white background.

3.  Select a  FotoBlendz Clipping Mask.  I used a mask from Layered FotoBlendz No. 4.

4.  Move the masks onto the 5 X 7 canvas using the Move tool from the Tools palette. 

5.  Resize the mask so it fits within the parameters of the 5 X 7 canvas. Ideally you want to create a 1 inch white border.

6.  Move your photo onto the 5 X 7 and position on top of the clipping mask.

7.  Clip the photo to the clipping masks.  

8. Move the photo around and/or resize the clipping mask so that the image is larger than the mask and it's edges extend beyond those of the mask.  You can also add a piece of digital paper in between the image and the mask to create complimentary color.

9. Flatten your file and print.