I DID IT! Printed My 1st Album! & RadLab

Hi Everyone.... Lots to share... SO... I actually bit the bullet, and had my 2011 Rewind Album printed!  Yes... printed!  I was waiting as patiently as I could wait, and it arrived on Monday afternoon!  I was sitting at work, itching to leave and rip open the box! I LOVE it!

It is so awesome to see it IRL rather than my computer. No matter how much anyone tells you that it is great - you need to print to realize what they mean!  The pic on your screen is nothing like the real thing! Actually seeing it and holding it is weird and so cool! Seriously!

OK... I am not the best scrapper ever, not the best speller, or the best at thinking things through. BUT, I love my album, and what mistakes I notice are mine and mine alone. Most are really silly and make me laugh at myself - like the HUGE staple, or a Misspelled Title (Litte instead of Little, lol!) and the numerous spelling/typing errors in my journaling. For me, it's sort of like "It is what it is..." I wasn't able to fit all my pages so far into this album, so I made a first chronological album, and may print pages for a second album... yes, I scrapped a lot! :)

It was 98 pages long, and I got a nice brown leather album, and had a peek spot for an image. Each page has a nice thickness, and my kids loved looking at them already!  My oldest wanted to take pieces off the pages, and loved that they looked real to him!  Made my night when he said that!  He already asked if he could take it to school!  LOL!  Um... not yet, I have to show it off first!

My images are not the greatest!  I haven't replaced my camera, so I had to use my distance lens, and I put my book on the floor!  I was standing on my couch up high, trying to get the pictures!  I couldn't take a picture for every page, but I got a bunch! Here are some pages... All of the images are linked to my layouts in the gallery if you need credits.

Spinky Dink Scraps Kit

Spinky Dink Scraps Kit

Chelle's Creations Kit, Happy Scrap Girl Watercolor 

Textures and Scrapping with Liz Template

Chelle's Creations Kit, Happy Scrap Girl Watercolor 

Textures and Scrapping with Liz Template

mle: Scraps by the Brush Kit and 

Scrapping with Liz Templates

Jennifer Labre Designs Kit

 Crossbones Cuts Kit and 

Scrapping with Liz Templates

LCC by Amy Stoffel Kit and 

Scrapping with Liz Templates

Tracie Srtoud Designs and Captivated Visions 

Kit with Scrapping with Liz Templates

Designs by Kat Kit and 

Fiddle Dee Dee Templates

LCC by Amy Stoffel kit and 

Fiddle Dee Dee Templates 

Tracie Stroud Designs Kit and 

Fiddle Dee Dee Templates

Tracie Stroud Designs and 

Fiddle Dee Dee Templates

Stolen Moments and Flergs Kit with 

Templates by Fizzy Pop Designs

Chelle's Creations Kit with 

Scrapping with Liz Templates

Chelle's Creations Kit with Scrapping with Liz Templates, 

and my handwriting font - Typative Tall by wm[squared]

Awesome!  I love it!  I'm so glad this venture into digital scrapbooking has really made me proud of my creativity!  My husband loves it too!  He sat for a long time and read each page, and really loved looking at the book!  Made my night!

On top of that wonderful album... I can share that I am a RADvocate!  WOOT!  This means if anyone tried and eventually buys a purchase from Totally Rad, I can ear a comission!  No pressure there... especially if you give it the 30 day trial of the RadLab... you will not want to use anything else for photo editing!  Check it out here!

Well, there you have it!  My Album, and Totally Rad!  YAY!  Thanks for visiting and I hope you come back soon!
Jenn
jk703/The Typative Scrapper

Sharp Uploads: How to!

Hi everyone!!!! I have a little tidbit for you today! When I first started scrapping digitally, I was so green and so baffled most of the time! Things get easier as you learn more about your program, play with features and try new things out.

So, when I first started, I was so confused about saving for the galleries that I literally no clue what I was doing! Today's tutorial is to help you Save for a Gallery Upload! Hope you enjoy it!

For my example, I've used Chelle's Blessings Kit. It is a beautiful kit and perfect for many milestone pages, such as births, weddings, communions, and other events you would like to scrap! My layouts end up being 600x600 at 72 dpi. I usually scrap double pages, and will convert each side to it's own file for the web as well as a file for my album uploading.

This is my layout:

First, you should have your layout open in Photoshop.

Flatten the image by right clicking on the topmost layer in your layers palette and choosing "Flatten Image."

Duplicate the layer. You should have a Background layer and a Background Copy layer. You can re-name this Sharpen if you like or something you prefer.

Next, you will run the High Pass Filter on the duplicated layer (Background Copy or Sharpen if you renamed). Click on the Filter in the Menu bar > Other > High Pass.

My pages usually use a figure between 1.4 and 6. More than that makes my layout look off. Click ok. You should now see a grey box on the layer above your layout. Do not flatten at this point.

Next is the addition of a Color Pop, though this is optional. To add a Color Pop, add an adjustment layer to the original layout layer, Background.

Your adjustment layer is an adjustment in Hue/Saturation, and you will be changing the saturation specifically. My mouse moved, so my screen print changed when I took the "picture," so your Hue/Saturation should be highlighted on your screen. Click on Hue/Saturation. You will be brought to this screen.

The range can be anywhere from +1 to +10, depending on the colors and brightness of your photos or kit choice. Once the Color Pop is added, you can change the opacity to lower how much of a POP you want. You will have to change the Blend Mode to Overlay.  Just make sure you have the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer selected in the layers palette, so you are adjusting the correct layer's opacity and blend mode.

Flatten the image. Depending on your needs, you can save this version as a jpg since it is still full size. It will be ready for uploading to an album. If you are going to upload to a gallery, here is what I do.

First, choose Image on the Menu Bar, and choose Image Size. Change the 3600 x 3600 sizes (or 12 x 12) that are there to 600 x 600 (or 2 x 2). Click ok.

Next, choose Save for Web and Devices from the File Menu drop down. You will be brought to a different screen from your original layout.

In the top right of the Save for Web Screen, you should see an options panel or menu drop down, click on this. Click and choose, Optimize to File Size and a menu will pop up.

Enter in the number you wish -- I always enter 149.5, just to be sure I am below the 150kb limit. Click ok, and your image re-sets to the correct highest quality for the size.

Click save, and save your WEB version. That's it.... nice right sized, sharpened, gallery layouts - ready to go! There are multiple ways to sharpen and re-size, I just thought I'd share this one, as it is just my own method. That is a great time-saver to use that optimize feature, right?!

Once you get used to these steps, try to save them as an action! Then all you have to do is click the button and presto! :)

Created originally by me for Chelle's Creations: HERE!

Thanks for visiting today! Have a great week!

Jenn (jk703 or The Typative Scrapper)

Woody.... :)

Hi Guys... How is everyone!?  I am having a good weekend and thought I'd share some recent layouts!  Each will be linked to the gallery and the credits between the layouts!  Hope you enjoy them!  Happy weekend!!!

Scrapped with Chelle's Yee-Haw Goodies and some yummy templates from Fiddle Dee Dee Designs!

Chelle's Creations - Yee-Haw Combo
Fiddle Dee Dee Designs - Fuss Free: Set Nine (P1)
Fiddle Dee Dee Designs and Cluster Queen Creations - Gimme Layers - Spaced Out Volume 1 (P2)
Font is LD Youngster.

Thanks for looking and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Jenn (jk703/The Typative Scrapper)

Project 52: Catch Up, lol... not Pick Up! :)

Hi Everyone.... Just a quick pop in today to show off my recent Layouts for P52.  I am so nutty at work lately, and with only so much time, blogging has slid a little... but I'll be sure to post some more layouts and tutorials soon!  Share them... someone might learn something!  :)

I last showed off Week 1... so now to show off Week 2, and 3!  Here you go!

Week #2 used the following supplies:  Fiddle Dee Dee -- Verbosity Album,  Geek Chic Scraps and Spinky Dink Scraps -- Tell Me About It Kit,  WM [Squared] -- Vintage Summer Alphabet, and the font is Earthquake Typewriter. Photo Action by Paint the Moon.  Note: Scrap Goodies in my picture are from Chelle's Creations and Stampin Up!

Week #3 used these yummy goodies: Jennifer Labre Designs - Winter Wishes and Fiddle Dee Dee Designs - Fuss Free Day by Day: Set 1(was at ScrapMatters, will hopefully be moved to The Digichick soon!) & Fuss Free: Square Pegs.  


It sure seems like snow and winter are the main themes of my pages, but we've gotten so much snow that I am done with winter for the next 5 years!  Really... it is March now... and guess what, we got snow today!  Hello... spring has started!  Hopefully I will get some spring shots for my P52 soon! My main theme for my P52 is simple.... fun pictures, a bit of journaling and paper blocking.  I wanted to keep it easy, no stress and fun to scrap!  I may be behind, but I am doing it and enjoying it!  


I'll be back with Week #4 and Week #5 which are done... sometime this weekend!  


Thanks for visiting!
Jenn (jk703)

Day 26 & 27: Family, Pets and Tears

Hi Everyone!  I'm back... lol... like I'd be anywhere else!  *giggle*  So... I'm up to Day 26 and Day 27 of the 30 Day Bloggity Blog Challenge -- to which I fell off the wagon, and recently got back on!  :)

So... Day 26 is a family picture... lol... I have to go search!

Wait... Be right back...


One More Minute...


ok....


well...

The last picture that I have as a family is from last summer, lol! Didn't realize how horrible I was at getting group shots!  That sure is going to change!!!  So... I will share a family picture at least of the 4 of us, and then a layout of Peter and I... :)

As you can see... Shayne didn't want to take a picture, so he looked away at the last minute!  Oh well... lol!  Plus, don't mind me...we were away for the weekend, and were going to drive home for a nice 5 hour long trip so I hadn't done my hair or much makeup!  :)

Here is Peter and I from my cousin's wedding... with the sun in my face and my hair blowing in the wind... Oh Puleez!  lol!  The second page to this layout was with my parents... they are below Peter and I.

Delightful Day Elements and Papers by Spinky Dink Scraps
Fuss Free: Contest Series 2 by Fiddle Dee Dee Designs
Fonts are Film Cryptic and Jane Austen Fonts

I used Spinky Dink Scraps and a template from Fiddle Dee Dee Designs for this layout and it was such a cute/classy kit to work with, plus an awesome template!  Kind of like the best of both worlds!  

Next up.... well. Pets.

Hmmm.. I don't have much to say.  It is a tough one, and makes me sad still.  

I've only copied and pasted my explanation from FB to here.  I try not to dwell as I will become sad and still very upset.  Just explaining this and posting this brings tears to my eyes and that lump in my throat.  I am still unable to do the second page, even though the words below ARE the gist of the second page. 

I copied and pasted from my FB page...

The background... The will be the first page of a layout. I can't do the second page yet -- I don't have the "right" words.

Mack, my furbaby, was starting to snap at Colin, and growl if he came near. Then when we were not home, he started damaging the house, clawing at the drywall, door trims, and having accidents all over the house. We tried so many things... One afternoon, Colin was crawling around, and was near Mack, and Mack snapped at him, and almost got him.

We had to make one of the hardest and saddest decision of our life. We had to bring him to the shelter. We couldn't take any chances with our children. It made me feel like the worst person/pet owner in the world.

I will never get over him, and our situation... I can tell you my side of the story so many times, but the guilt will never go away. There are always the thoughts of "I should have done this or that"... I miss Mack so much!

Thanks for looking, and reading my novel.
I chose this odd photo because it was my favorite.


Designer Digitals:
Anna: ArtPlay Palette, Find My Way,
Katie: Web Inspiration Challenge.

Font: Scriptina

ok... deep breath... 

moving on.  

Thanks for visiting!

Jenn (aka jk703/The Typative Scrapper)

Back on the Wagon.... Day 23 and Day 24...

Hello everyone!  I fell off my Bloggity Blog Challenge and decided it was time to climb back on the wagon!  Here I am to jabber on about my favorite vacation, Day 23 and something that I've learned, Day 24!  I took a wee break to catch up on some things, change things up in my scrappy world, and take a mini vacation!  


Day 23:  Favorite Vacation
Gosh... any vacation is a favorite!  Really!  I could vacation at home, and that would be a vacation because I didn't have to work!  LOL! 


But... to pick a recent one.  In 2010, we were lucky enough to bring the boys to Florida, and we visited Disney World, and Universal Studios!  It was a lot of fun, and the best part was that the whole family got to go - from my grandmother, my 2 uncles and their families, my mother and father, along with Peter, myself and the boys!  It was a great trip!  Here are some layouts from the trips and park visits:

Ticket to Ride by Chelle's Creations
Make a Splash by Chelle's Creations
Handwritten Summer by Karla Dudley
Font is CK Jot

Wizarding Magic at Scrapmatters
Fiddle Dee Dee Designs: Room to Breathe Set 3
Lamebrain BRK Font

Cindy's Layered Templates - Set # 81, Guest Designer December 2010 Page 2 is mirrored of Page 1.
Mye De Leon - The Magic is Here Kit
Chelle's Creations - Happy Alpha

So that is my most recent favorite vacation... but really, every vacation is a favorite!  

Day 24: What I've Learned

I've learned a lot!  Besides that actual learning you get from school and books (I've got plenty of that, and 2 degrees -- Psychology and Business with a minor in Marketing), life seems to be the best teacher for me!  Life and living, making mistakes, and being me really allow me to learn!  I've definitely grown since the teenage "I know it all" stages and enjoy learning now!  I've learned to be a multitude of things:  honest, happy, giving, open, to relax, silly, to just be me, and to love wholeheartedly!  I've learned to keep my eyes open, open my mouth, and learn from other's mistakes.  I've learned to be happy with what I have, and to keep striving to do better! In essence, I've learned a lot from books and life in general!  

Thanks for visiting!  Up next is another tutorial... just have to figure which one to post!  lol!

Jenn (jk703)

Friends and Fears... Days 9 and 10

So.... Friends and fears are up next... no, they don't go together!  LOL! I'm just smooshing my posts together as I go... especially since I am not a post -a-day person!  Many of my posts are first posted somewhere else, and then re-cycled for my bloggity blog!  :)  For me, this gives me all my posts in one spot though and includes my tuts, some layouts, recipes, randomness and chattery!

Day 8 -- Friends

I have friends, and they are grouped in my brain!  LOL!  There are the high school friends, college friends, neighbors who turned into friends, and my online friends!  lol!  Seems funny to be grouped, but that is the easiest way to explain!

High School Friends are the oldest friends that I know... duh?!... but there are few.  I had fun in HS, but it is that awkward teen years and you have no idea who you really are, kwim?!  These are also the type of friends that pop in and out of my life at times.  Dana, (Hi Dana!) was my best friend throughout most of HS... but we grew apart the last year, and then with college.  Our parents are friends, so I would see her a couple times at friendly gatherings!  We may not be as anywhere as close as we once were, but I truly do consider her a warm, wonderful, caring friend.  I would love to see her more often, but being able to catch up at least every summer, and through Facebook at least allows me to know a little about what is going on in her life.

College friends are the crazy, fun, happy crowd, right!?  Well, mine are that, and then there is the sweet, thoughtful and warm-hearted side!  I joined a sorority in college, and many would think that because you pay dues for your sorority, you don't really have "friends."  So untrue!  There are seven of us who meet a bunch of times a year, with girls night out or get togethers with the kids, who remain friends from college, and in my mind, for many years to come!  I am closest to Sara and Kari of the bunch, and know if I ever truly needed anything, they would be there - and the same goes for them! There are a few more sorority sisters the I count as friends.  Many times I just wish I lived closer to many!  It is hard to be active when so much is going on in your life, and family!  One other friend from college, I actually met after college (even though we went to the same college) was Dana!  (Yes, another) We worked together, and spent lots of time together.  She is a special friend.  She truly holds a spot in my heart!

My group of Neighbors-Turned-Friends, right now, are the ones that I see most often.  We were all having kids, meeting each other and living in our neighborhood -- perfect mix!  Everyone gets along, and we all have fun together!  The kids get to play, run around like maniacs, and just be happy!  Though times are changing, and people are moving, we make sure to plan things together and see one another!  Annual get togethers are starting at Halloween, Christmas and multiple summer BBQ's, and I've just enrolled Shayne in a Wizard Science class with one of of kids!  I know any of the ladies would help me out in a pinch as I would them!

Online friends... they are those fabulous people that I've met online in the Digital Scrapping Community!  I don't think that I have any BFF's so to speak, but there are people that I chat with, and see ALL the time.  People I am drawn to... In time, maybe I will be able to call them true friends.  Time will tell!

It appears that friends and closeness goes in cycles for what is going on in my life...

Many of you night know a close friend of mine, lol... Linda (scrapporreia)!  She actually is one of my neighbors-turned-friends IRL! We've gotten closer throughout the last year, and I truly love this woman!  I consider her one of my close friends.  We have so many things in common and I just truly enjoy her company, as well as her family!  She is a person that I can talk to, share my worst moments and happiest with, laugh with, trade kid problems with and just about anything else!  One big thing that we have in common, now, lol... is Digital Scrapbooking!  I was able to turn her to the Dark Side, and she is just as obsessed as me!  It is funny to our hubby's that we can scrap together and sit there and not talk!

My last friend and only true best friend - the one who will stay my friend no matter what will happen in my life. My husband, Peter.  He is truly my best friend.  I cannot really put into words everything he is.  He just is everything to me!

Using Spinky Dinks Scraps - Take a Chance, and Fiddle Dee Dee Designs, Don't Box Me In.

Open Your Heart To Love 

There you have it... the rambly friendly part!  lol!




Fears... What am I afraid of?

I'm not to sure to be honest.  I fear me... ROAR... nah, just kidding!  I think I don't fear anything specific... I'm a worrier, so that just takes over.  Maybe making the wrong choices, and how it affects my life, my kids life, and our future.  Maybe it is the uncertainty of what lies ahead.  Not sure.  How's that for uncertainty?  :P  There are the given fears of losing -- family, friends, job, etc... but I think that might fall into the uncertainty of what lies ahead!



Hope everyone has a great night and weekend!
Thanks for stopping by...
Jenn (jk703)

Living La Vida LOCAL! LOL!

Travels
The places that I have traveled is pretty short... I've mostly stuck to the US... I would love to travel all over, but that will wait at least until the boys are a bit older!  My favorite way to travel is cruising though!  I love it!  My list is a lot longer of places that I'd like to travel too!  (giggle). I'd love to visit Ireland, England, Australia, New Zealand, France and so many more!

When we cruised last, Shayne was 2 1/2, and we traveled to a bunch of the islands, and got to visit so many places!  It was the perfect vacation (psst... and for 3 and up they have daycare, lol)!  He was too young for the daycare, but he was REALLY good on the trip!  My parents and a bunch of family friends came along, so it was a nice group!

I'd love to plan one again for this year, but we will have to see what vacation is left -- especially after all this snow!  I really, really want to plan a scrapping one!  HA!  That would be awesome... a boat full of digiscrappers with a pool and drinks!  Ha!

This past summer we traveled to Florida to go to Disney World!  It was a nice trip - but the best part was spending it with our family!  My uncle Tim and his kids, uncle Terry and his family, my parents, my grandmother and Peter, the boys and I all stayed together and had a blast for 10 days!  It was great to go to Disney, but even better to hang out with everyone! Here are some fun and bright pool pics from the trip:

Color Me Happy by Jennifer Labre Designs
One Cool Metal Alpha by Jennifer Labre Designs at ScrapMatters
Doodle Border Freebie by Jennifer Labre Designs
Fiddle Dee Designs - Fuss Free: Dotted Border a
Fiddle Dee Dee Designs - Fuss Free Scalloped Borders
Fiddle Dee Dee Designs - Fuss Free Stripped, Set One
Ali Edwards - Thick Summer Words
Font is Pea Emma.

Happy travels to you all!  Local or not... if you are ever in my area, let me know!  I'd love to meet up with you for some lunch or just to hang out!

Have a great one!
Jenn (jk703)

Huh? Typative wha? and First Love... (Cue: Awwwwww) ROFL!

Hi Everyone... I'm back (albeit late) with Day 2 and Day 3 of the 30 day Blog Challenge... Woot!  After this I can say I'm 10% there!  HA!  Just kidding!  I am so corny... anyway... onto my posts... and guess what... both have scrapbook pages associated with them!  Where's that blink smiley when I need it!?  (Shari?! - lol!)


Day 2:  Behind the Blog
My blog is named... The Typative Scrapper.... I can be the biggest chatterbox!  BIGGEST... when I have time... or run of the mouth!  I spend a lot of time on the computer, e-mail, facebook (check out this page... The Typative Scrapper FB Style!) forums, and just about anywhere where my happy little fingers can type so.... I said I'm so typative... as in a typing chatterbox!  That is the gist of it... I even made a page about it...

The Typative Scrapper, Included In the November Artisan Notebook
Jennifer Fox Designs - Rough and Tumble
Fiddle Dee Dee Template for November Artisan Notebook.
Font is CK Cooper

Yup... that is it in a nutshell... a chaterboxish scrapper with a keyboard!  LOL!


Day 3:  Awww.... My First LOVE.... (*gag*)....
OK... just kidding... My lucky husband is Peter... and he and I met in college.  It was actually pretty funny!  Here is the LONG back story:

I had met Peter one afternoon, when my sorority sister introduced us at the college apartments we all lived in.  I thought he was cute, friendly, and funny... great qualities, but didn't think about it much...especially when he was all googly eyed over my "sister!"  KEY:  I had blond hair.

Fast forward about 6 months and we headed out to a fraternity party.  I was DD, so I was looking for something to do, that didn't need a drink!  :)  I found a pinball machine, but I was unable to get it working... I went up to a couple of the brothers that were having the frat party and asked for help.  Well, Peter was in the group, and offered to help me out.  We went and he got the pinball machine working and we played a few games.  Time to go...  Peter and a couple of his friends needed a ride, as well as my friends.  I drove his drunk rear home, along with his friends and mine... Night all... and again, didn't think anything of it...

Fast forward a couple more weeks, and I saw him at the bar across from my now off-campus apartment... we chatted, had a couple of drinks, played darts, just hung out.  At the end of the night, I wrote my number on his arm... from mid arm to his wrist!  LOL!

I found out the next morning that he got up and SHOWERED!  lol... he ran down to my sorority sister's apartment and asked for my number... they didn't give it out... but called me to ask!  I said it was ok... and we've been together ever since...

OH... when we met again after the first introduction... I had gone red!  We still joke to this day that he ignored me because I had blond hair and my friend had brown.  Obviously, I wasn't too impressive as a blond! :)

Here are two layouts that I have done for DH!  I bet you can see which is a favorite!

Spinky Dink Scraps -- Take a Chance 
Fiddle Dee Dee Designs & WM[squared] Template Collab
Font is Times New Roman

Mad Love Full Kit by Pixel Gypsy 
Lists and Lines Stamps by Pixel Gypsy 
I am not sure what the font is! Sorry!

That second page is my FAVORITE!  It is a double spread, but I don't need to bore you with more layouts, lol!  So... There you have it!  Day 2 and 3 done!  Yeah!  I've gotten 10% done!  Tomorrow I will be posting about Day 4: Parents... and Day 5: Recipe!  

What would you like.... figure friendly Tex Mex Turkey meatloaf, crock pot EASY Turkey meatballs, or snacky stuff?

Can't wait! rofl!

Thanks for visiting!

Jenn (aka jk703)