Time Heal Thy Wounds

Good morning, Sherry here to bring you a great featured layout from Cilenia's gallery!   Cilenia has a wonderful new product in her store this week, and it's called Scribbles and Scripts.  I have to admit I couldn't figure out what this was until I got it and opened it up, and wow, I was so excited!  Let me show you this layout, and then we can talk more about it.  It is by mystampin and it's called Time Heal Thy Wounds:

Click preview to see full credits

Okay now.  Scribbles and Scripts contains 3 overlays that are 12 x 12 in size, and 3 smaller photo mats.  Beth has used an overlay and a mat in her layout here.  You see the inked edges here, as well as the writing in the corner and the scribbles in the bottom corners - that's what makes up the 12 x 12 overlay.  Don't you just love the effect?  And then you see the mat is the heart and the words on top of it, as well as the ink splotches inside and outside the heart.  Now that I have seen these products, I am so in love with them!  What a great tool to add that extra oomph to your layout and give it a real art journal feel!

You can get Scribbles and Scripts here:

Don't lose any time, pick them up today!

Friendship

Good morning!  Sherry here to bring you a bit of inspiration from Cilenia's gallery.  Today we are going to look at a great layout created using Cilenia's Follow Your Art May - Strength bundle.  It was created by mystampin, and it's called Friendship:

I love the concept of strength through friendship - friends are definitely a huge source of strength to us all, in fact our friendships even help determine how long we will live.  Beth has really outdone herself in the creation of this page.  She took the Strength title from one of the papers in this kit, which looks wonderful.  But the stars of her page are the two friend dolls!  Such creativity reflected here!  She used a brush for the doll's faces, and the hair comes from brads that are in Cilenia's kit.  What a great use of tags to create their bodies, and I love the string that binds them together, with such strength.  And backing them up with mats really makes them stand out even more.  Beth put a lot of thought into this layout, with the result being a spectacular page, perfect for art journaling.

You can get Cilenia's Follow Your Art May - Strength bundle here:

Be sure to stop by and pick up this bundle today - it's 33% off today, so it's a great time to buy!

LO for my daughter on finding STRENGTH with New art

Hi everyone!

I know I've been ultra quiet these past few weeks.  Sorry!  We've had some rough times here in our family along with my first of two upper jaw surgeries, but I'm happy to report that all is well now and like everything else difficult in life, this too has passed.  We grieved, we supported each other, we got STRONGER!

The timing of all this was uncanny... as I had already been working on our newest FYA collab Strength.  This kit hit home with me and my daughter Kallie as I was creating.  I will not go into details, as I am not one to put personal emotions out there, but I will say... I found the strength somehow to be strong for her and I was in awe of her own inner strength she found in herself.  

I do what to thank all of those who sent all the beautiful and positive thoughts and sentiments! It was very heart warming and the love was definitely felt from all. 

I created a layout to remind her and I of how strong we really are and how strong she can be... but also how much strength we can find and give to each other in times of sorrow or weakness. This is my Kal... I love her bunches and am so proud of the woman she has become today!

Credits: FYA Strength kits by Angie Young and Cilenia Curtis both found here.  Aria has a wonderful kit too that coordinates with ours. 

You can read the beautiful muse Aria wrote on our Follow Your Art Blog posted today and see some awesome inspirational layouts from our team.  There's even more in our Follow Your Art Challenge Gallery too. 

The Bundles on sale - Or you can find the pieces separately also if you prefer.

  

And this week Digitals is celebrating iNSD and my entire shop is on sale now through May 8th! 

I also released 2 kits, Brushes and Overlays, last week and they are all on sale too.  These are Personal and Commercial Use kits.  I rarely create Commercial Use, but these were just screaming to be shared.  I'd love to see what you create with them, so don't be shy, link me up!

 

Big hugs!

Awake at Dawn

Good morning!  Sherry here, and today I am showing you a wonderful layout from Cilenia's gallery.  It's called Awake at Dawn, by judyinsd, and it uses Cilenia's Follow Your Art Hope kit:

Dawn is such a powerful symbol of hope, the dawning of a new day that is a blank canvas for us to paint anything we want.  Judy's pictures are perfect illustrations of that concept - we can see here that even through the clouds, hope shines through.  Her background layering adds so much interest to this layout, as well as the layering of elements and paper circles/strips behind her photos.  She chose to use the "dream" word art, which puts the finishing touch on this beautiful piece of art.  What a great use of Cilenia's kit Judy has given us!

You can get Cilenia's Follow Your Art - Hope bundle here:

That's all for today, I'll be back tomorrow with a new Photoshop tip!

Equality = Balance

Hi there, it's Sherry here, bringing you another wonderful beautiful inspirational layout from Cilenia's gallery!  This one was created by mystampin using Cilenia's March Follow Your Art kit, and it's called Equality = Balance:

This layout is most definitely about empowerment.  The words that Beth has used are all strong words that enhance this picture of these strong women.  To me, it's about the balance of race, balance for women, and the balance of age between the young child and her mother.  All of the colors of Cilenia's kit are perfect for the colors in this picture, each bringing out the best in the other.  I really love the shades of blue here - it speaks to me of the hope we see in the sky.  And what an amazing job of layering Beth has done, and such realistic shadowing - certainly a touchable layout, as well as a touching one!

You can get Cilenia's March Follow Your Art bundle here:

And here's the link to her entire store:

Cilenia's Store

That's all for today - watch for me here tomorrow with another Photoshop Quick Tip!

Sherry

It's All About The Play

Good morning - it's me again, Sherry, with another weekly dose of inspiration from Cilenia's gallery at Digitals - there is so much beauty there it's easy to get lost!  I have to show you a layout called It's All About The Play by judyinsd:

Pin It

The title of the layout is perfect for the photos for sure!  And I must say Judy has done a fantastic job creating the word art for her title, it adds to the sense of fun here.  The frame is great for these photos, and the 3 brads bring out the blues in Grayson's shirt.  I love the paper strips behind the photos, and the paint splotches.  This is definitely a layout that's all boy!  That mouse he's sitting next to in the bottom photo is the mascot mouse from Chuckie Cheese, something I'm sure most scrappers with children in the last 25 years or so can recognize - a great place for little boys (and girls!) who are all about the play!

Judy mainly used Cilenia's Beautiful Mess 6 kit for her layout (preview is linked):

Pin It

She also used pieces from Imagine The Dream, Stitches 04 Loopy, and Christmas in July - you can check those out in her store here:

http://digitalscrapbookpages.com/digitals/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=245

Okay that's all for today, I'll see you tomorrow with a Photoshop Quick Tip so be sure to stop back by!

The Rose Fairy

Good morning!  My name is Sherry - I'm livingoutloud in the Digitals store, and Cilenia has graciously allowed me to post on her blog a few days a week to share with you inspirational layouts from her gallery, and new releases when they come out.  I became a Cilenia fan when she opened her store at Digitals, and I'm so pleased to be asked to do this.  I hope I bring a little sunshine to your day!

One of Cilenia's latest releases is called Vintage Love.  I'm going to show you a layout done by mystampin with this kit - the layout is called The Rose Fairy:

This is a gorgeous piece of art!  The colors of this layout caught my eye as soon as I went to Cilenia's gallery.  Mystampin did a terrific job of choosing papers and elements that are perfect for the concept of her layout.  I love the photo of this beautiful child and the way she's blended it into the background paper. When I read the poem, my imagination took me to a place where this little girl is reciting the poem to someone special in her life - it is a beautiful poem and perfect for this kit.  The border of rose petals along the bottom illustrates the poem so well, but also gives such a romantic touch.  And don't you just love that beaded pin at the top left cluster?  Thanks mystampin for this truly inspiring layout!

It isn't shown here, but Cilenia has also given us a really unique alpha set to work with that I know you'll want to use!

Everything in this layout is from Vintage Love except the flower with green leaves behind it, and that is from Auntie's Parlor by Aria.

You can get Vintage Love right here:

And here's the link to her complete store so you can appreciate all of her gorgeous products:

Cilenia's Store

I have enjoyed bring this to you today, look for me again soon!

Downloadable Love Album on Sale Now!

Download This Workshop to Quickly & Simply Create a Valentine's Album

Designer Cilenia Curtis and Stacey Mann have created a Downloadable Love Album Workshop to help you put together your own album for that special someone this Valentine's Day, for your anniversary, or any time. It includes everything you need -- templates, tags, a full kit, journaling prompts, and photo ideas -- so that all you have to do is assemble. Start now and you will have plenty of time to finish it by February 14. What a special treasure that album will be!

On Sale now for only $16!

Click Preview to purchase in the shop! 

Valentine's Day will be here before you know it, so we have the solution for the perfect gift. Sign up for this workshop and we will provide all the tools and motivation you need to COMPLETE an album for your loved one in time for Valentine's Day!

Included in this downloadable workshop is an EXCLUSIVE set of ten 12 x 12 templates (in psd format) and a full 33 piece love-themed kit, both designed by Cilenia Curtis, that include everything you need to complete at least a 10-page album (or 20 pages if you do each one as a double-page spread.) You can go bigger if you choose to.

You also receive ten journaling prompts plus bonus ideas, and a list of over 20 fun couples photo pose ideas. Just purchase, download, and then work at your own pace. In no time at all, you will have your album completed and ready to give to your spouse, boyfriend, or anyone else you want!  

- Set of 10 Exclusive Templates

- Set of 399 Date Tags

- 2 page PDF of Journaling Prompts

- PDF of Photo Shoot Ideas
- Young Love kit which includes:

• 10 12x12 papers
• 2 12" in length torn edgers (1 card stock, 1 tissue paper)
• 3 buttons (1 threaded messy stitching)
• 2 sewn brown paper edger/stuffers
• 1 messy cording stitches
• 4 hand drawn flowers
• 1 large hand drawn floral flourish element
• 1 Love Is old note paper
• 1 large sewn circle tag
• 2 horizontal sewn string of hearts
• 2 vertical sewn string of hearts
• 2 knotted bows
• 1 red staple
• 1 stringed set of tiny tags

Some of the sample layouts use Cilenia Curtis' Vintage Love and Vintage Love Mini Kit that coordinate well with the pieces in this workshop. Pick them up for more coordinating design options.

Sample layouts:

       

Tips & Techniques - Placing a photo within a framed area

Have you ever had an odd shaped frame you wanted to fit your photo within or an overlay frame and not quite sure what might be the best method?  I was asked by a "newbie" to digital scrapbooking on how to do this last week and used her question to create a new mini tutorial for Digitals Newsletter this week.

One method I did not discuss was simply erasing all the outside parts of the photo you don't want to show.  But this is what I call destructive as if you change your mind about it's placement within your frame, you have to do from scratch again.  My first choice method will always be to create a clipping mask as I show how in Method #1 in this mini tutorial.  But as with many things in photoshop, there are many different ways to come out with the same results.  I used to use Method #2 for years in photoshop and non-photoshop graphic programs.  Each has it's own purpose, but in learning each, you will think of other ways to use these skills.

Here's a preview of the PDF page 1.  View and download the whole mini tutorial here.

Off to work now I go.  Finishing up a quick page album with my CT for December's Free with Purchase gift.

And I have some exciting things to share starting this Saturday as I am the new Featured Designer at Digitals and will have free daily downloads over the following 15 days so that at the end, you get the entire kit!  So be sure and check back Saturday and each day in the shop for your free daily download!
Want a peek?  Sure you do! lol It was created from a personal Art Journal Project and it's still going, so I'm sure there will be add-ons to this kit. :)

I also re-released an updated version of my Days of December Kit and that is now in the shop at a discount of what the original mini kits sold for.  I plan on having the 22 page Album PSD templates up also this week if you didn't get it previously.  These are perfect for your December Daily albums.

Till next time,

Scraphic Design: Foundations | Seat Giveaway

Tiffany is giving away a seat to her awesome class Scraphic Design: Foundations!  I personally took this class and highly recommend it!  Run over to Tiffany's Blog HERE and post a comment about your biggest design challenge for a chance to win!

If you already bought the class, you'll get a full refund if you win.  Good Luck!

Over the Hump Crop with DeDe TONIGHT

Thought I'd help spread the word. If you like online live crops than you'll want to join us at Digital's Over the Hump bi-monthly Surprise Challenge with DeDe Smith tonight.  Looks like it will be a lot of fun!  Join her in the digitals Chat room at 9pm EST.

Evolution of a Page - Painted Template 1 + a coupon

There is no doubt about it, I love my paints and getting all artsy in real life and in digital.  What I love even more is I am now merging the two by painting my usual mixed media backgrounds and bringing them into digital by scanning and turning them into wonderful textures, overlays and photo masks.  I used to have to print a photo and glue onto my canvas and paint wash over (hoping I didn't mess it up), and adding all my embellishments.  With the digital age, I don't have to worry about that any more! Yeah for digi!

Today I want to show you an effect I did years ago in real life art that I have now created digitally using some current photos of sweet Lilith and her Grandpa.

I started with my Painted Template 1, a new series I hope to be bringing you weekly each Tuesday.  It's on sale Tuesday and Wednesday this week 20% off, but because you are reading this, you can get a coupon to get it free with any other purchase from my shop.  Just make sure you add it into your cart with your other purchases before applying the coupon code.  CODE:  paint-T1

When you open this template, you will notice a background with a fill color of the blue.  You can leave this or fill with your color of choice, or put in a paper instead.  I will leave the color as I like it with the photos I have chosen.

The first thing I think about is my large photo I want "painted" into my background.  I added a sun flair using the Photoshop filter lens flair because I already had a nice behind lighting of the sun I wanted to artsy up a bit.  In Photoshop CS it is FILTER>RENDER>LENS FLAIR from your top menu bar.   Move the flair to where you want and adjust the brightness until you like it.  Remember, if you don't like the effect, you can undo and try again.
Here's my before and after of my large photo.
Yes, I cleaned up the spit up too! LOL  Easily done with my cloning brush with a little patience. lol

I then dragged in my photo to just above my "Large Photo Mask" layer in the template.  Clipped it to that layer.  In CS you hover between the two layers holding your alt key and click with your mouse.

See how it's already an artistic photo?  Now if you want, you can play with the layer's blending mode of the overlay and or the photomask for totally different effects.  The beauty of this template! 

In the above example I left the Overlay texture blending on Overlay with a 33% opacity, and the photomask with an overlay blending and 100% opacity.  But feel free to play!  

Here's just a FEW things you can do to change the look.

Want a dark rich color on the photo? Change the Overlay texture layer to multiply or linear burn and up the opacity.  

Want a ungrunged cleaner photo? Change the photomask to a Normal blending mode instead of an overlay.

Change the mask to a Screen layer mode and take the opacity up to around 65%.

And of course you can always turn off, adjust or delete the Overlay layer also.

Next I added my smaller photo and simply clipped to the small photo painted mask.  Added my journaling, a date above the line and the added title of Baby Lilith.

DONE!  Now I could add more, but the beauty and simplicity of the moment was what I was after for this, but with my usual artistic flair.  I plan on making an opposite page with more photos of these two and some journaling of Grandpa's thoughts about his precious little baby Lilith.  I will use the same template, but may rotate it, move it around, or bring in some other elements… will have to see when I get there. :) 

My finished page.  Isn't the moment just Simply Beautiful?! (Minus the spit up of course! lol) 

Hope you enjoyed a little peek into my process and I would love to see how you use this template so be sure and show us in my gallery at Digitals! Be sure to check out more inspirations there using my products for tons of creative ideas!  And who knows… you might be picked for Layout of the Day too from our First Responders!

Here are some more of my New Releases this week and all are on sale Tuesday and Wednesday this week along with a few of last week's releases. 

Tags 1 Re-released and a New Tags 2.  Both PU/S4H/CU licensed.

  

Stitches 05 available for PU or CU

 Join me again here next Tuesday for another "Evolution of a Page" and a new Painted Template.

Updating my photo albums and new releases

Hi there!
I've been busy this morning updating my website with new photos, my newest releases and added a new album for my art quilting too!  Hope you find something here to inspire you either with your scrapbooking and/or artistic hobbies.

Look how easy my iWeb made this for me! :) Everything updated with links. lol

Beautful Mess http://www.cileniacurtis.com
Home - New Releases PU and CU
Mini Tutorials - Newest tutorial on creating Creases and Folds
Art Quilting - The beginning of a mini art quilt.  Actually the doodles here are how my new kit was created. :) Will update as we go and will blog our techniques later.
Bug & flower Art Quilt - Progress photos!  We are basting!
Scrap Pages - New page created from my newest kit Beautiful Mess 1
My Spaces - Update photos of the new Art and Sewing Studio


Here's a look at my newest kit Beautiful Mess 1 - Mixed Media and there's even a CU kit of the papers too! Beautiful Mess CU Textures and Papers
This started out with some doodling while out at the pool with Miss Bailey on some fabric.  Go figure right? It has turned into one of my fav kits so far!  

And check out some wonderful Layouts by my CT and one from me too for some inspirations.

From Nicky

 By me

From Lynne