The Typative Scrapper: Hello... Hello... anyone there? Catch Up & Tutorial

Hey everyone! Yes.... I intended to start the year blogging away, but things got away from me... and I seemed to take a long break. Well, I've decided that I need to get commited and back to at least a weekly post! Even if it is just layouts to share.

So.... I have about 15 tutorials that you have to check out and I must continue to share... whether of not anyone reads these, I know I have used my own blog as a reference! Just last night, I was looking at the Cross Processing Tutorial, and I was laughing at myself!

Plus, today - I signed up to be approved for a RADvocate. I know... what?! is going right through your mind! OK... I'll explain! Totally Rad is an awesome photshop plug in that transforms your photos in as few clicks as possible - and it is that easy! Check out this video from their website: Watch RadLab in Action! Hopefully, I am accepted as a RADvocate. That means that anyone who purchases something at Totally Rad, from clicking on a banner or from my posts, earns me a commission. Actually, I'm not too worried about a commission - but sharing this awesome feature is really cool! I already know of two friends that got it when I told them about RadLab! Plus, you can try it before you buy - so people know what they are getting beforehand! Awesome in Photoshop Plugin form! Check it out and keep your fingers crossed for me! :)

Anyway... there is lots going on in life.... My boys are getting bigger, my life crazier, and my work even more boring-er! LOL! Making lemonade here! :) I'll share the good stuff - kids, and scrapping! I've completed my first digital scrapbooking album! Yes... my first and I've been doing this for two years. the first was learning, and the second had a goal - and I completed it! Yay! Check it out! I'd love to know what you think! :)

See it larger, click HERE!

It is iNSD, WOW... there is lots going on! Check out Scrap Orchard, ScrapMatters, Scrapbook Graphics to get awesome goodies. Those are the stores my designers sell at, lol! There are some awesome deals going on this weekend!

Here are some favorite recent layouts....

First one I wasn't even sure of - it's a double, 12 x 24, and that large photo is not the norm for me, but I love it and got a Gallery StandOut at ScrapMatters! That sure makes you feel better about a layout you aren't sure about, lol! Colin at the beach with the NYC skyline in the background - April 2012.

Mix and Match by Scrapping with Liz
Fiddlesticks by Amy Stoffel
Font is SNF Journaling Bold.

Here is one more... I just love the outcome of this layout and no template - which is unheard of from me! LOL! Here is Colin (again) smiling from the pool last summer.

I need to look for favorites with Shayne in them for my next post! :)

The Mane Even by Chelle's Creations

Worn Out Pieces from Happy Scrap Girl

Font is LD Thankful (Catch) and The Chuck Wearer by Heather Hess.

Now... I'll end with a tutorial.... one of my favorites! Adding Texture to Paint...

I find that I really like my pages to look as paper-like as possible. I love great textured papers, felties, scatters and paint. Paint stumped me for awhile, especially how to make it look like it was painted on my paper. Today, I'm going to show you a technique to get paper "painted" on your layout.

I'm using Chelle's Creation's Home for the Holiday Bundle, Scrapping with Liz's 3's a Charm template pack and Watercolor Overlays 3 by Happy Scrap Girl. I'm in the middle of working on my layout, and added a paint swatch to my layout. I want to give it some texture, but I really didn't like the textures that Photoshop has, so I dug into my digital scrap supplies, and pulled out a watercolor overlay.

Step 1:
Open the overlay that you would like to use as your texture in a new photoshop file. Then File > Save As a .psd file. I leave the name of the file as is, so that I can give credit to the designer when uploading my layouts. Remember where you saved your new overlay.

Step 2:
Once you have that overlay saved as a .psd file, click back into your layout. With the paint layer selected, choose Filter > Texture > Texturizer.

Step 3:
A new Texturizing screen will pop up. On the right side of the pop up, you will see a small triangle pointing down with some lines. Click on this, and choose Load Texture.

Step 4:
A second new pop up menu will appear and you should choose the overlay .psd file that you just created a bit ago. Now, under the small triangle, there are 2 sliders. Play with those, until you like the look of your paint. This is a more personal option, and choose what pleases you. For mine, I left the scaling at 50, changed my Relief to 21. There is one more option called Light, and you can change this depending on how you shadow and your angle on your layouts.