Google What? Read All About It!

Hi Everyone!  I'm here to share some chatteryness with you today!  I had a fantastic idea for today's post, but it hasn't panned out... so that one will hopefully I will get to post next time!  I've been blogging a lot lately on my scrap blog, and I read sooooo many blogs that I needed to figure out a way to be able to know what I've read, what I've seen, and keep my blogging time down without missing any cool or fun posts!  How to do this?! Hmmmm...

I was introduced to Google Reader, but a fellow digi scrapbooker!  Google Reader is "a fun way to browse interesting stuff on the web," per Google!  It really is, but they forgot to mention one fact -- it is EASY!

Here is the link to the Google Reader - Give It A Try page on the web. Now, let me tell you a little about it.

Say you read 20 websites that you visit to read daily.  Each has it's own posting schedule, and it is random.  Some might decide to update when they feel like it, some once a day, and some multiple times, some once a week....all random  How can you follow all that?  Ugh!  You could bookmark each website, and check each daily, wasting a lot of time, and effort for posts that might not be new or updated.  Then when you miss a day, you might miss some of the new updates too!

Google Reader does all the checking for you... it lets you subscribe to the websites, and then it does all the checking for you!  Every so often, it checks for updates and new information. So, instead of having to visit those 20 websites and checking each of them, you log into Google Reader.  Google Reader tells you which of the websites have updated, and what they updated with all at once!  How easy!!!  AND... you can view the new content, either in Google Reader, or click on it to go straight to the website.

Right now, I think I have about 50 blogs that I subscribe to!  If they update 10 times per day or once per day, Google Reader usually finds out about the new items within minutes. Even if one blog doesn't update for 6 months or a year, I'm sure that Google Reader will know within hours of that update! That is so much easier than visiting every day!

Now, I need to show you how to add Geek Chic Scraps to the subscriptions after you run over there and sign up, lol!

One step easy peasy!  Just click the Add a subscription, and place the web address of the blog or website you want to subscrips to and click on Add.  You're done!  Sooooo easy!

Well, there you have it... easy way to follow everyone!

Hope you had a great Tuesday and so happy you visited!

Post was created by me for Geek Chic Scraps: HERE!

Thanks for stopping by!

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 4 & 5: Meet Mom and Dad... and some yummies!

Hi everyone!  Me again... yup... like it would be anyone else... lol... just playing!  I always seem to start my blog posts with Hi Everyone!  Can't help it!  I enjoy blogging, but can't properly start with out that beginning!

Day 4 -- Meet My Folks... ok... I have a couple of layouts that I MUST share!  They mean the world to me, and I wouldn't be who I am if I didn't have them!  Good and Bad... it made me... me!

Geek Chic Scraps -- Thankful For You
Graham Like the Cracker Tuesday Template 10/5
Font is Pea Steele

Geek Chic Scraps -- Thankful For You
Graham Like the Cracker Tuesday Template 10/5
Font is Pea Steele

Day 5 -- MUNCHIES!!!!

MY all time favorite snacky recipe is Pizza Squares... I know it sounds normal... but there is NO sauce?!  lol... Here is the recipe... when I make them next, I will take a pic and post the recipe again...

You will need:
1 10 oz. Refrigerated Pizza Dough
2-3 cups of Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (at least 2)
1-2 oz. Shredded Parmesan Cheese (at least 1)
2 Tbs. Fresh basil Leaves OR 2 Tsp. Dried basil Leaves
2/3 cup Mayonaise (I use the Fat Free, Low Cal one)
2 Garlic Cloves, Pressed
6 Plum Tomatoes (may need more depending on size)

Oven should be set to 375*.
Spray pan with non-stick spray.
Roll out pizza dough onto a 13x9 baking pan.
Press pizza dough toward the edges, try not to make holes like me! (lol!)
Sprinkle about 1 to 1 1/2 cups of the shredded mozzarella cheese all over the pizza crust.
In a separate bowl, combine: 1 to 1 1/2 cups remaining mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, mayonnaise, basil, garlic.  Add any other spices you would like...
Mix really well.
Slice and arrange tomatoes in a single layer - covering the pizza dough.
Spoon the cheese mixture onto the tomatoes. (I put some on each tomato, and then in any bare spots).
Bake 20 minutes - or until the top of the cheese is a light brown, bubbly, yummy mess!
Slice into squares with a Pizza Cutter!

EAT!  :)


I love that, and I bring this along with Guacamole to almost EVERY party I go to... I have one more really yummy recipe, but that will be another blog post - just reading it makes you gain 10 pounds!


Hope you've enjoyed your visit... and that you'll come again!
Jenn (jk703)

Digital Scrapbooking Tips!

Hi everyone!  I'm here to bring a fantastic blog post for today!  Woot!  I am going to introduce you to a few of my MOST favorite tips for Photoshop and Photoshop Elements!

I started my digital scrapping obsession in March of 2010 -- it sure was fast to get hooked on!  I get all the "support" I need from friends out in Digiland... I really think they just feed into my obsession!  I have at least managed to get one of my close friends into this hobby!  

Linda is now just as obsessed as I am!  As I showed her around our wonderful community, I also shared a few of my tips with her!  She has a graphic arts background, so some were just a re-iteration of what she knew too!  I thought I would share them with you... so here goes!  Enjoy!

Tip #1:  Save, Save and then Save Again!

I have been the victim of layout theft!  Theft from my software freezing, my husband closing photoshop or just me clicking in the wrong spot -- which means that I lost all my hard work!  Then to start over again, and try to get back to where I was is hard to do!  So Save, Save, and Save Again!

Tip #2:  Learn the Scrapbooking Lingo...

Bouncing around in this community and trying to understand all the acronyms, and word of digital scrapping can be daunting! I personally have a stamping and paper scrapbooking history, so I was already lucky to know most of the terms!  Linda and I would chat about our scrapping, and we wouldn't understand each other... we were using different terms!  We would end up in a fit of giggles!  Here are a list of terms that I hear daily:

.PNG Portable Network Graphics

This is the most common high quality file format used to save digital scrapbooking elements requiring transparency.

.PSD

This is the file format for Adobe PhotoShop and PhotoShop Elements. Retains layer and image information that is not transferable between other applications.

.PSP Paint Shop Pro

Default  file format for JASC Paint Shop Pro. Retains layer and image information that is not transferable between other applications.

Scraplift

To create a layout that is inspired from, identical to, or very similar in style and/or content, to a layout created by another person. Scraplifting is generally considered as permissible as long as credit is given to the original creator.

R.A.K  Random Act of Kindness.

To create a layout as an unexpected gift for another person.

Element/Embellishment/Ellies

Refers to any individual decorative digital objects that may be used in a layout. Ribbon, Wire, Buttons, Beads, etc.

Brush/Stamps

In terms of graphic software a brush is a tool that allows you to create a wide variety of effects. It is similar to a stamp or painting tool that allows you to stamp/paint with images. These images can be of varying color, size, transparency and more.

Layer

In image-editing software, a constituent part of an image that can be manipulated independently of other parts.

Mask

A function within select software that allows you to change how your image is seen -- it edits the image to only a part of the image. A mask can have a hard or soft edge, as well as duplicating textures and  allowing you to achieve so many effects.

Tip #3:  Trimming your files!

As you are working on your layouts, you drag and drop papers and elements and place them just so on your pages, right!? Many times you leave things hanging off your pages... the paper only covers half of that 12 x 12 layout your working on... and the other is hanging out, in that unseen out of bounds area.   You can't see it right... so how does it affect you???  It takes up that valuable, MOST VALUABLE, space on your hard drive!  That is space that you could be filling up with more goodies!!!!  What are we waiting for... lets clean up!

When you are done with a page, this is what you do before you press the save button!  Up in the Menubar, there is the tab called Select.  Click on this, and choose All from that drop down menu.  You should see the marching ants roaming around your square 12 x 12 edge.  Next, you will go back to the Menubar, and choose Image, and then click on Crop.  This quick and easy step allows you to trim away all that unseen, space hogging digital imagery.  By completing this step, you can really reduce your file size.  I have gone back and re-saved some of my earlier files, and have seen over a 10MB reduction!  Just think... 10MB x 10 layouts!  that is almost 1 GB... keep adding that up and you have lots of space to fill with more supplies!!! 

This blog post was originally created by me for Geek Chic Scraps: Here!

Hope you enjoyed my ramblings!  Share a tip you can't live without; I'd love to read them!

Double Smouble You Say?!

Hi Everyone!  I'm back to ramble a bit for you! 

I am sure you are as obsessed as I am about Digi scappin?!  I am, and I only really started this past March 2010!  I have sure learned a lot!  I started out as a paper scrapper, and card maker, and then had kids!  No time to scrap and no time to clean happened... I'm sure some of you were in the same predicament!  

Anyhooo.... I decided to try digital, and then started wondering why it was bothering me a bit!?  I figured it out... I am a traditional scrapper at heart, and love the look of paper pages, as well, and layouts!  By layout, I mean the double layout!  

I learned that I like to make double layouts and I think in the long run it will work nicely when I get to printing that book I've been working on!  I thought I would just share a  fun tip from when I scrap my double layouts! 

I make my layout 24 x 12 and then I have a couple of guides set up at the 1/2 mark on the edge of the pages!  I use guides so I don't always have to wonder if something is going to get cut off in the printing process later on down the road. It looks like this:

The above picture is missing the middle guides at 11.5 and 12.5 on the inner edges.  Sorry about that!

When I make a double layout, I first start with my paper stacking, and then move upward in the layers area!  

BUT, I do tend to work on one side heavily with layers, clusters, placement and shadows! That first page is closer to finished than the other, but also saves me loads of time.  By doing this, I can then copy and paste many of the elements I like on page 1 side onto the side of page 2.  I can also group various layers, and duplicate them! Then when adding to the other side, flip or twist it in a way so it looks different!  BY doing this, I'm saving time not having to re-seize, shadow, or even some clustering!  

I also tend to save my layouts as double layouts.  I don't save each side individually.  I figure that if I need to make changes, it is easier to locate both pages together!  Also, I plan on shrinking my layouts (that is everything BUT the Background) by 10% before uploading to make sure nothing gets cut off when printed!  Just an idea!

Another time saving tip for me is templates!  I am a big fan, and I use them tons!  But how do you use a template for a double layout?  Well, if I use it as is for the first page, and I want something similar, then for the second flip it, mirror it, or just use something from it as a starting point, and mix it up to make that second page!  Many of my paper layouts were mirror images in terms of design... it just changed with what was actually included on the page!  

And remember to trim the excess of your files to save space!
Post created by me, and posted at Geek Chic Scraps: Here!

An example of my recent Double Layout:

Click on the Double for a Larger Version:

Captivated Visions -- It's About Him Kit
GG Digital Designs -- Clip Its 2
Font is Creative Block BB

Thanks for stopping by, checking thing out, and reading up!  I hope you all (who celebrate) have a great Thanksgiving!

Jenn
(jk703)

November 2010 Layouts... I've been busy!!!! :)

Here are some layouts that I created this month!  :p

Using Jennifer Labre Design goodies and Fiddle Dee Dee Shape Templates:
Double Thumbnail... click for the larger two pager:


P1


P2



Using Geek Chic Scraps's Twinkle -- part of the November Daily Digi Files found HERE
Double Thumbnail...click for larger two pager:


P1


P2


Using designs from Tracy Stroud, Designs by Ziska, and Ziggle Designs:


Using Captivated Visions and Stolen Moments, Second Spring:
Double Thumbnail... click for larger two pager:


P1


P2


and last but not least.... using Collab Goodies from Studio Gypsy and Studio True Blue.

ACTION!

Hi Everyone! 

 I am so excited to be here and be able to share one of my most favorite websites!  Now, I know we all love and obsess over our digital scrapbooking pages, but we can't forget our photos!  They are the reason we show off our pages and how we capture the moments to remember! 

So without further ado... my favorite photography website is:  MCP Actions!

MCP Actions is my home for any actions and photo treatments that I use for my layouts! They are awesome!  There are so many you can choose from, and a few freebies that the owner, Jodie Friedman, gives away on the site!  Some will cost you some moola, but in my own personal opinion, they are so worth it!  They can really change the picture, and make it so much more than what I had to start with!  Plus, any operator related photo problem seems to be fixable when I use the various actions! 

Here is the link to all of her freebies:  Free Actions.  There are many for Photoshop, but a lot for Phostoshop Elements too!  My most favorite freebie is the - The Take Action on Cancer Awareness Action:

It can really dress up your photo or change the tone of the pictures to match your layouts!  Perfect coloring and completely able  Here is a direct click:  Free MCP Action for Cancer Awareness.  This set is so cool... and I used it on my layout with the most recent kit:  Book Worm!  Here is a thumbnail to my layout, just click it to make it a little bigger:  

I use a product from MCP that goes by the name of :  All in the Details!  This fab set really has a lot to offer, and then when you mix actions and more actions.... you have so many possibilities!  It really can help in making the best photos for your memories! 

Hope you enjoyed this post with me!  I enjoyed sharing one of my favorites with you! Leave a comment and link to your MCP Photo Actions; I would love to see them! 

I originally created this blog post for Geek Chic Scraps:  Here!

Happy Photo Fixes!