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Recipe Challenge 5/25

It's time for another recipe challenge! But before we get to the details, I'd like to announce that the winner of the template challenge is:

LITTLEBITS!

You will be emailed with your gift card! Thanks so much for playing along, everyone!

OK now down to business! Here are the requirements for your layout:

Here is my layout for an example:

And here's a recap of the rules if you need them:

- All layouts must be created using mostly GG Products

- Each layout is to be uploaded to it's appropriate category in the GG Gallery and you MUST link us up in the comments section of the Challenge Blog Post

- For each challenge 1 random winner will be chosen to win a $5 gift card. Complete ALL THREE challenges for the month and you will be entered to win a $10 gift card! That means that you could win up to $15!!!

- The winner of each challenge will be announced on the day the new challenge is released, and the "Grand Prize Winner" will be announced on the 5th of each month.

Can't wait to see what you all come up with! Good luck! :)

Golden Tuesday 5/25

Keep your eyes peeled later on today for the new Recipe Challenge and the winner of our Color Challenge, but for now...Golden Tuesday!! Seeing as how the school year is coming to a close, I decided to feature "Kindergarten Kid" this week. Snag it today only for $2.98!!

Tutorial: Adding a Stroke to a Word

I don't know about you, but I love multiple-word titles that use more than one alpha. That's how this technique was born...well that and laziness. While I like using more than one alpha, I hate taking the time to find an alpha that works with the kit and the alpha that came with the kit. That's how I started using strokes. When I first started digi-scrapping, I used Elements and strokes are easy to find and use on photos from the very beginning in that program. After about a month of learning how to digi-scrap, I took a year and half break. When I returned, I jumped in with CS3 (this tutorial is done in PhotoShop CS3). It was a whole different ball game and strokes aren't as easy to find and use for the first time. After about six months, I finally figured out how to use strokes. Once I figured it out though, a whole new world opened up to me... That brings us to today's tutorial on how to add strokes to words. Everything used on the page shown in this tutorial is GG's newest kit Boys and their Toys. (Click on images to make them bigger...)

I almost always leave the title on my pages until the very end. So here's my layout waiting for the finishing touches:

Next you'll need to decide on the color you want your word written in and the color you want your stroke in. I always select my font color by using the eye dropper tool and selecting a color from the kit/page. 

For this page, I selected the color of the blue ric rac. For my stroke I selected the color that is around "Longhorn" or the alpha that came with the kit. Of course you could choose practically any color under the sun for either color, but I personally stick to white, cream, tan or very neutral colors for the stoke. Once you have your colors selected, set your font color to the foreground and your stroke color to the background. Then select your type tool and pick a font. I chose Everytime I Miss You for this page. My go-to favorites are CK Cursive and Thinking of You.  Now type in your word(s). Play with the font size until you get your word(s) the size you want. 

The next step is to rasterize your type. (In PS Elements it is called "Simplify Layer.") To do this you will need to right click on your layer in the layer palette. Click on Rasterize Type. You will notice before you rasterize your type, you can change fonts or sizes. After you rasterize your type, you can no longer do this. It becomes like an element you get in a kit. You can resize it like you do a flower or piece of string, but it is no longer a text box so you can't change the font.

Now that our layer is rasterized, we can add a stroke. First you need to switch your foreground and background colors so your second color you designated for the stroke is on top. Make sure your word is still selected in the layers palatte and then go to your menu along the top of your screen and click on the edit tab. From there, go down to the "Stroke..." option.

 

Then this window pops up:

I generally like smaller strokes on my words, but you can play around with width and find your personal favorites. I typed in 7 px into the width box. You want to make sure under the location option "outside" is selected. Then press OK.

There you go. You have a stroke on your word. At this point you just need to put your word where you want it on your page like so:

I also prefer to add a shadow:

There you have it. Now you have a title that isn't made out of only one alpha. Here is another example for you:

Of course this tutorial can be applied to lots of different things. You can go more traditional and add strokes to pictures...and you can go even more crazy and add it to anything... If you have any questions, leave a comment and I'll do my best to answer them. AND...Make sure you try this out and upload your pages to the gallery so I can check out your work!

--Natalie

NSBR: Lime Ricki Swimwear

I don't know about you, but I have the HARDEST time finding a swimsuit I love. I think all in all over the past 3 years I've bought 5 suits in hopes to find the "perfect" one! Well, this year, I hit the jack pot!

Lime Ricki Swimwear is TOTALLY AWESOME!!! I'm a sucker for bright prints and colors (as you could probably tell from my scrapbook kits) and these guys have got the best patterns! It's also important for me to cover up my belly...promise ladies, no one wants to see that! Lime Ricki tankinis are long enough to cover your middle!!!

I ordered the "Hannah" top with the "Yellow Boy Shorts" bottoms and I am in love! I'm pretty small on top and it's hard for me to find a swimsuit that I'm not self concious in. The support is awesome but not over the top, and their sizing is spot on! I just got the same size I usually wear for my normal clothes and they both fit perfectly.

So...if you're in the market, I HIGHLY HIGHLY recomend Lime Ricki Swimwear!!!

Golden Tuesday 5/18

Golden Tuesday this week: "My Angel Mother"...snag it for 50% off and scrap all those wonderful Mother's Day Memories!!!

Color Challenge 5/15

Thanks to everyone who participated in the last Template Challenge! The winner is..........

SARAHLYNN
Here's her darling layout, great take on the template!!!! You will be e-mailed shortly with your gift card!

Now onto the new color challenge! I had so much fun with this and I hope you do too!

Here's my layout with it:


And one from Natalie as well:

So, there you have it! Have fun and be sure to post the link to your layout in the comments of this post!

Happy Scrappin!!!
--Leslie

Golden Tuesday

Where the Heart Grows...$2.98 today only! :)

May Template Challenge

ETA: POST UPDATED WITH .PNG DOWNLOAD LINK

It's May 5th (already?!?!) which means it's time for another template challenge and to announce the winners of the recipe challenge and the grand prize for completing all three challenges in April. The winner of the recipe challenge is....

photo.craft!

The winner of the $10 grand prize is:

anna

Congrats!

Here is the new template (click on the image to download):

*There will be a separate .png file for downloading later...sorry for the inconvenience.*

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE .PNG FILE.

Here are some awesome layouts from the creative team for inspiration:

Layout by: Sarah

Layout by: Shantell

Layout by: Natalie

To play along:
*Remember that all layouts must be created using mostly GG Products

*Each layout is to be uploaded to it's appropriate category in the GG Gallery and you MUST link us up in the comments section of the Challenge Blog Post

*For each challenge 1 random winner will be chosen to win a $5 gift card. Complete ALL THREE challenges and you will be entered to win a $10 gift card! That means that you could win up to $15!!!

*The winner of each challenge will be announced on the day the new challenge is released, and the "Grand Prize Winner" will be announced on the 5th of each month.

Good luck and have fun!

--Natalie

Golden Tuesday

Another Tuesday...you know the drill! :) Get "Daydream Believer" for only $2.98 TODAY ONLY!!!