freebie

Using large photos & a challenge




The kids were snuggled in on the couch this weekend watching Frozen for the zillionth time, so I snuck away for a few moments in my craft room.  I love to create, but printing pictures is my least favorite thing.  I do have a little box where I keep extra photos that haven't been used yet, but I flip through those so often I'm kinda tired of seeing them.  As I was looking for something to use on a project, I found two photos of me with my kids that I had printed on a piece of white card stock.  The photos were a little bit larger than I would normally use, so it was fun to play around with paper and photos in a different way.

I challenged myself to create two layouts...one for my daughter and one for my son using these two photos.  I used the Office Hour Scrapbook kit and Project Life kit from Studio Calico to put these together.  The least amount of options, the better for me.  I can sometimes get lost in paper and embellishments if I'm not careful! :)


I thought it would be fun to offer this up as a little challenge with a fun prize on my blog today!  I'd love to see your take on this project!

It's super simple to do and you really only need a printer and some paper to make it happen!

Here's a quick little walk through....
Start by printing two photos onto a piece of 8.5x11 white card stock.  I used Aperture to print my photos by choosing the "two photos per page" option.  Play around with your printer settings and try to get two large photos on one page.  If you would like to Photoshop to layer your photos, I put together a little template for you to use.
8.5x11 Photoshop Template


After you have your photos printed onto one page, just cut right down the middle for two large photos.  Now it's the fun part!  Get those photos and stories onto a layout!

Here's my two layouts!


I used some papers from the Office Hours Scrapbook kit to create a base for my photo.    I sewed my photo onto a piece of printer paper so I could add my journaling under the photo.  I filled in the bottom part of my photo with this awesome cut file created by Paige Evans.  A few embellishments, cork stickers and a trimmed journaling card finished off my page.




For this photo, I started with a vertical band of papers on the right side of my white background.  To keep it girly, I added a large white doily and a few stamped flowers inspired by this tutorial from Elizabeth Kartchner.  I also sewed a glassine bag underneath my photo so I could add my journaling onto a Project Life card and slip it into the bag.



So are you up for a challenge??  I'd love if you would play along!  After you post your project to your blog or gallery, add a link in the comments here!!  This challenge is open until next Monday, March 24th.  I'll post the winner to my blog and send out a fun little goodie bag!

Happy Monday and Happy St. Patrick's Day!!
xoxoxo

glitz design: bling bling & a cut file freebie

it's all about the giant rhinestones at glitz design this week.  their sparkle and shine can really make a project pop!!

for my project this week, i decided to add quite a few of them onto my layout....as well as a few baby photos.  (i think i'm obsessed with baby photos right now!)

i used my silhouette to cut out the background circle shape to add a little depth to my page.  i backed a few of the open circles with patterned paper from the finnley collection for a few color pops here and there.  then i finished the layout off with a quick title and the gorgeous giant rhinestones!






glitz design: magic is something that you make and a cut file


i'm sharing a fun way to use some of the chalkboard papers at glitz design today! 

i love this photo of my two laying on the floor talking together.  their relationship is truly magical to me.  i thought these words went perfect with the photo so i decided to use my silhouette to cut the title "magic is something that you make", as well as some stars from the chalkboard paper. 

i trimmed my chalkboard paper down to 6x12 so i could back it with a piece of white card stock.  i love how the white makes the title and stars pop.  i layered my photo onto several monochromatic papers from the glitz design paper pads and i finished off the layout the "color me happy" peek a boo to add a little pop onto the page, as well as some star garland (i basically just sewed together the cut out stars from the chalkboard paper and adhered them to my page).

the font i used for the silhouette cut is called oil can and it is my absolute favorite!!  i've saved the title and star cut file and it's available for download here.

find a magical photo and create away!!  i hope you enjoy it!  let me know if you end up using it!  i'd love to see what you create!

happy wednesday!
xoxo



freebie: circle cut file


here's another freebie for ya...

this one is a circle cut file i made on the silhouette for the layout below.  

i love circles.

you could turn it sideways or on a diagonal for a different look...

and it would be super cute resized for a card...







circle cut file

please feel free to grab one for yourself, but please credit and link back if you use it.

xoxo

project life: layered psd template



i thought i would share a little layered template i created for my insert this week.  i tend to have lots of photos, so multiple pictures on one 4x6 photo works well for me.  

i also like to change things up a bit and add either journaling or embellishments on my grid pictures.


here's how i use my layered psd...

this is the file i created using photoshop elements.
you can use it as it is...with 6 slots for photos.  these squares are roughly 2x2 each and are perfect for instagram photos.




when you open the psd file, you will see the layers #1-6 on the right hand side (as pictured with the arrow).




as above in my project life insert, i sometimes like to "hide" a layer to leave a white space for journaling or embellishments.  for the insert, i cut down one of the dear lizzy cards for that spot and sewed it into place.

click on the little "eye" next to the layer you want to hide.  you'll see that box disappear after you click on the eye icon.




for the photo on the front of the insert, i "hid" the two layers on the right to make space for my title. 
i love how the white space makes the photos pop.


click below to download the layered template
4x6 layered psd template


let me know if you have any questions or need any help with this.  i just play around with pse so i don't know too much, but i'm happy to help if i can!!  

thanks for stopping by!




project life freebie: laundry card


i thought i would share a little freebie today.  it's a simple little laundry card i created in photoshop. i saw this as a poster on pinterest and thought it would be perfect for project life.  you can see how i used it on my spread below.

happy monday everyone.


(just click the picture and save it to your desktop)