Make Your Own Digital Embellishments

As I was playing with this month's Oopsie Daisy Digital Kit, I looked at one of the backgrounds and thought it would make a nice looking embellishment, so I had to give it a try!

1. Open a new document with a transparent background.

2. Create a 3x3" square in a new layer using the Marquee tool. Color the square white. Tip: to make the square exactly 3", use the settings panel for the Marquee tool to specify a 3" square.

3. Open Background03 and drag it onto the new document.

4. Resize it to fit in the square, leaving about 1/8" border of white showing all the way around.
Tip: to constrain the shape so it remains a square while resizing, hold the Shift key.

5. Add a small bevel to the white layer using this setting:

The bevel effect is subtle, but really helps give the item depth.

Bonus: Add a black layer between the background and white layer for added 'pop.'

I really liked the look of this, so I duplicated the embellishment in a few different sizes and used it for one of this month's QDDLs:

Repeating the embellishment in different sizes and using the same image in the background helps tie it all together!

Next, I tried the same technique with parts of a few of the other backgrounds and overlays. Here's what I came up with . . .

Bonus: Create several of these in different sizes and print them out to use as cutaparts on your cards and layouts. You don't need to add the bevel effect in step five if you're going to print these out. Simply use your grid ruler to keep a 1/8" white border around the items when trimming.

The next time you're looking for an embellishment or two, look no further than your digital kit backgrounds and overlays. There's no limit to what you can do!

Until next time, thanks for stopping by!

-Ron

Hydrangeas & Geometrics Digital Kits

Have you seen the stunning Hydrangeas Digital Kit yet? Our very talented designer, Jacqueline Carney really outdid herself with this one!

I'd like to show you some layouts using the Quick Drop Digital Layouts (QDDLs). The photos are from two very specials days - March 15, 2014, the day I got married and January 18, 2014, the day David & I made our wedding rings . . .

Tricia, Sharon, David & I had lunch (and drinks) at 'the Green!'

Me, with my sister Reneé and step-Mom Dottie

My work family - Sharon, Anne, Cassandra, Jerry, & Aimeé

Me and my family, and Tricia & Sharon are definitely family!

David & I made each other's rings - such a cool experience!

(Sorry there are no photos of David here, but he really doesn't like his photo posted online.)

And I had to include a layout using the Geometrics Digital Collection. It's another winning kit!

Cake!

I hope you enjoyed this little tour of two great new digital kits!  If you haven't picked them up yet, take a trip to the digital store now!

Until next time, thanks for stopping by!

-Ron

Big Deal Digital

Happy Thursday, everyone!

Just in case you haven't seen it yet, I'd like to show you Club Scrap's amazing digital kit for February, Big Deal.

Let's take a look at the Quick Drop Digital Layouts:

It works with animal prints!

And silly (and not so silly) photos, too!

And even special Retreat photos!

How about Winter photos with Gav & Jess?

Or just special Mom & Son time!

And if that wasn't enough to convince you of how great a kit it is, it also plays well with others! Here it is combined with Bookshelves:

Pretty neat, huh?

If you haven't picked up your own copy of the Digital kit, CLICK HERE to get one now. If you like those Quick Drop Digital Layouts, you can get them HERE. And just so you don't miss next month's kit (or the one after that!), consider a digital membership.

Now go make something special with this month's digital kit. After all, it really is a Big Deal!

Until next time, thanks for stopping by.

-Ron

Versatile Graffiti Digital

Happy Thursday and Happy New Year!

Have you seen the Graffiti Digital yet? Well, get ready to Ooo and Aah 'cuz it's a real beauty and quite versatile!

First, let's take a look at a few of the Quick Drop Digital Layouts (QDDLs):

It works for tropical/beach photos . . .

. . . and with floral & bird photos.

It works for beverage photos!

And it even works with silly photos!

And if that wasn't cool enough, here are a couple of layouts done by CS Member, Cathy Gray:

And of course, it works with kid photos!

And so many of us have kid photos, right?

I think you'll agree that this kit is spectacular and works well with all kinds of photos. If you haven't picked up your own copy of it yet, you can get it HERE.

Now off you go - make some of your own beautiful layouts with this amazing kit!

See you later,

-Ron

Time of Your Life Digital

Happy Thursday!

I know we spent last week blogging about all of the cool projects from Retreat, but I really didn’t have time to talk about the Retreat Digital Kit . . . until now.

I really love this year’s Retreat Kit - grunge and metal are favorites of mine for sure. So I just had to share some layouts made with the Quick Drop digital Layouts. But before I do, I have a confession to make: even though I attended both retreats this year, I didn’t take any photos! I know, just what kind of a scrapbooker am I, right?!? So the photos on all of these layouts were taken by my dear friend, Kay Williamson. Thanks, Kay!!

And lastly, here’s a digital version of the hybrid layout from Saturday night’s workshop:

Terri, Karen, & Me - just bein' silly!

I know I had the time of my life at this year’s retreat, and I'm pretty sure those that attended (or got RIAB) did, too! And don’t forget to sign up for the 2014 Retreat - you’ll be glad you did!

See you next week!

-Ron

Digital Fun with Take Wing

Hi everyone! Happy Thursday!

Okay, it’s a new month, so that means a new kit: Take Wing — isn’t it beautiful?? I just love the imagery and the overall ‘style’ of the kit - some of that style reminds me of Pure & Simple, another fave of mine!

Once the Take Wing Digital Kit was done (yeah, the last week of the month gets pretty crazy, trying to get all the parts and pieces done in time, but it’s also lots and lots of fun!!), I decided that I needed to spend some time playing, but lately, time has been at a premium for me, so I turned to my favorite time-saving digi-parts: QDDLs! And to save even more time, I asked Jac to do 3 of ‘em!

So here are the 3 QDDLs that Jac made:

Jess & Gavin

Mr. Scott & Wine - 'nuff said!

Emily

And here are my 3:

Mykonos, Greece 2013

Me & a few friends, Retreat 2010

Venice, Italy 2013

Lastly, my BFF, Sharon, had a birthday yesterday, so I took one of the QDDLs and turned it into a birthday card for her (which I posted on her Facebook page, of course!):

Happy Birthday, Sharon!

And all of these layouts (and the card) were done in record time - about 20 minutes! Can't beat that!


So the next time you need a quick craft-fix, try a QDDL - or 3! It doesn't get much easier!


'til next time,

 -Ron

Tribal Digital - Quick and Easy with Quick Drop Digital Layouts

Happy Thursday and Happy August! Yup, it’s August 1st and that means we’ve got a new kit for you - Tribal - bold, beautiful, vibrant. This is one really cool kit.

I had a little bit of time to play the other day - once the Tribal Digital Kit parts and pieces were all created and ready to go - so I grabbed some photos from my recent cruise along with the 6 Quick Drop Digital Layouts (QDDLs) and went to town . . .

First up, David and I have a traditional ’start of vacation’ drink - a Long Island Iced Tea:

Next, a couple of layouts of Mykonos, Greece - a view of the Mediterranean Sea and some of the gorgeous scenery of the island:

On to some food layouts - after all, one does tend to eat a lot on a cruise, right?

Finally, some photos taken at the Domaine de Souviou Vineyard in Provence, France - so peaceful and relaxing:

So there you have it - a quick tour of the beautiful new Tribal Digital Kit. If you’re not already a Digi-Member, you’re definitely gonna wanna pick up this kit!

-Ron