Tutorials

Hi everyone! Can you believe it’s May?! Holy moly this year is flying by! This is Jenn, aka jk703, here today to share the Tutorial: Alphabet Fill Ins. This is a fun one that can really bring your layouts together! Plus, Chelle has awesome alphabets to fill in! 😛

First, for my example images, I’m using the newest kit – Green Thumb and the Green Thumb {Alpha}. Many of Chelle’s Alphabets will work for this tutorial, as long as they have a lined border. Let’s get to it!

First… Here is the alpha, in it’s original form. I spelled “alpha.” So original, right, lol! It works.

I have my alphabet letters lined up in my Layers Palette, and I added a shadow. Next, I will use the Magic Wand Tool. Here is what it looks like within the Tools.

Once you have the tool selected, you will want to choose the first letter of your alphabet in the Layers Palette. I have chosen my “a.” Now, click on the yellow part of the “a” within your workspace. You will get marching ants around the border of the yellow next to the black. Like this:

Once you have the marching ants, you will want to create a new layer ABOVE your alphabet. Do this by clicking on the square with a corner folded over. This will add a new, transparent layer above your letter. Here is mine…

Now, the marching ants are still marching, and your new layer selected in the Layers Palette. Press Command (Alt on PC) + Delete. This will fill in the alphas marching ants with the background color that you have chosen. Here is mine – white, and what my layer looks like after being filled in. You’ve created a mask.

Now, bring in any of your patterned papers, or a paper that really would work with your page. make sure it is above the new filled in alphabet layer. In my case, that is the white “a” layer. Then right click on the paper, and choose Create Clipping Mask. Here is mine:

Neat, right?! Now, you have to go back and do that for each letter. I know it seems tedious, but once you do it a couple times, it goes really fast. AND… the outcome is really cute. Here is a copy of my Layers Palette as I was working on this tutorial, and deciding on papers. I loved them all! You can layer paper after paper, but only the top one will show on the letter, unless you turn the layers “eye” off, so it is hidden.

Playing with the different patterns, I came up with these mixes and matches.  Super versatile for any layout, and using the same patterns that are in your kit. You can play with the size of the pattern by making the paper smaller, too!

One more tidbit. With all these layers and papers in there, I might want to switch up the papers later. With that in mind, I leave all my layers unmarked and will group them for easy finding later. Highlight all your layers that have to do with the alphabet, masks, and patterns in the Layers Palette. Then click on the super tiny triangle on the top right corner of the Layers Palette. A menu will appear. Choose New Group from Layers.

After you choose the New Group, you will then see all your layers put into a folder. Super neat, and easy to navigate. 

Super easy, fun, and very versatile to your page and favorite patterns. I think this Tutorial: Alphabet Fill In is really a great technique. Give it a try – I’d love to see your layouts. (Link me up – pretty please!!)

Carol helped me out and created this absolutely stunning layout using this technique. She used Chelle’s At the Park and Gone Fishin’ kits for this layout – just check out that big picture blend into the wood paper. It looks so perfect! Her alpha has a pattern clipped in, and uses a little bit of embossing to the layer also. I think it is a beautiful page!

Thanks for visiting, and I hope you learned another technique to personalize your pages, give you some versatility, as well as stretch your stash just a smidge!

Hi Everyone! Are you ready for iNSD weekend?! It’s so exciting… so much to see, do, and join in on! I (Jenn/jk703) won’t take up too much of your time here, but this Tutorial: DIY Circle Elements is a fun way to add a little fun to your layouts. Here is my final layout, and I’m going to show you how to make that circle with the writing. I’ve used some of Chelle’s Farmer Market releases – Green Thumb – WOOT! Check out her STORE to see what is available for $1 – Farmer’s Market!

First, I used the shape tool to make my circle. Before we start, be sure to Rasterize your shape, if needed. You might get stick at some point. If you do, and your shape isn’t rasterized, do it them.

Right now, I have chosen to leave it above my photo, but I will move it below later. It’s yellow… for now.

Here is my Layers Palette.

Next, I’ve chosen the Type Tool. I’ve used a font called Wanderlust. Any scripty, thicker font will look nice with this method. You can try Pacifico or Thirsty Script. I believe both have free versions. I’ve typed it and the layer is above my circle.

After my type was good, I used the move tool to tilt my letters a little. I also made sure that my letters overlapped the edge of the circle a little bit. This way, when I cut them out, I will cut a part of the edge off.

For the next step, you will have the text selected in the Layers Palette, and double click on the thumbnail. You will get marching ants around the letters on your layout.

After you have the marching ants, turn off your Type Layer. This is what your type should look like on your layout.

Now, you will choose the shape, and press delete. You will see where the marching ants was, the paper/shape inside will be deleted. Here is what mine looks like. Press D to remove the marching ants. Add a shadow style, and you are done.

Note – when you move the shape, paper and type, be sure to lock the layers together, so that they move together. In case you need to make changes for later on edits.

Now, I’ve tried out a couple of other paper layers and ended up with the yellow polka dot. Here is my final layout. Easy DIY Circle Elements. You can even add styles to them to make them look letterpresses, or acrylic!

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial. Have fun during iNSD! Get all you can for the $1 Farmer’s Market!

Hi Everyone! It’s Jenn, aka jk703, here to bring you another tutorial! A lot of times I try to recreate what I can create on a paper layout! One thing that I always liked was paint and splatter…. but then I also liked the opposite. What is the opposite? Today’s post – Tutorial: Stenciling!

For my layout, I’ve used Chelle’s newest delight – Creme de la Peche! It is a gorgeous kit… but make sure you give it a chance, it is very versatile. I’ve used it today on a spring layout of my boys! My layout also uses a template by Scrapping with Liz, and the fonts – Special Elite and Wanderlust. Here is my final image: 

Start out with your blank page (by blank – I mean paint-less, lol!):

Add your paint – I have 3 layers here.

Next, you will place your shape above the paint. I’ve chosen leaves. Here are my two leaves layers, and my 3 paint layers:

Next, you will choose one of your leaves. Double click on the thumbnail image, and you will get marching ants around the shape. Now, On EACH paint layer, click on the layer and delete. The paint within the shape will be taken out. Do this for each shape you have, as I had to do it for each leaf, on each layer of paint.

Once you are done deleting paint, turn off your shape layers. And my page after deleted paint, and turned off leave layers:

That’s it!!

Really. That’s all that you have to do to mimic a stencil. You can do this with flowers, doily, and so much more. Here are some layouts the CT came up with for stenciling.

Karen made this lovely creation! Just look at the lacy edgers – perfect stenciling. Plus, I really like the mixed font and alpha title work. She used Creme de la Peche and SWL template Recyclables 29.

Lisa used Bunny Hop. She used the splashes and eggs to make her stenciling! Look at that line of pictures. My favorite is the candid silly one!

Jan made this super fun page from the Grizzly River Rafting Co. Ride – perfect for the water splash out of the spray – put on top of the bottom photo and behind the journaling tags. She used In the Forest and In The Pool, plus a retired Little Green Frog Designs template.

This Tutorial: Stenciling doesn’t have to be messy, and you will love the results! Give it a try.

Thanks for visiting and hoping to see layouts using this technique.

Hi Everyone! This is Jenn, jk703, here with a fun and easy tutorial for your journaling! I’m here today to share Busy Background Journaling… or Not So Busy Background Journaling! Don’t groan yet! I get it, journaling is hard for some, easy for others, but if you put the effort in, you want to be able to use the papers you like, AND read your journaling! Right?!

For my layout, I’ve used Chelle’s Doctor’s Orders, Chelle’s CU Watercolor Brushes, a Scrapping with Liz March In Review template, and the font Special Elite. I’m super addicted to this font, and have used it since January on almost every layout. I’ve never done that before.

Method #1

I’m working on this page. You can see my grey spots over on the right. That will be where my journaling will go. I’ve used the water color brushes (two of them), and lined them up how I like.

And my Layer’s Palette:

Next, I merged them together. This way, they become one watercolor shape/spot.

Next, I brought in a solid paper, that matched my background paper with the swirled circles. (Say that 10 times fast!) This paper is above the watercolor shape.

Next, I will clip my paper to the Watercolor paint. Just have the paper selected in the Layers Palette, right click and choose Create Clipping Mask. Like this:

Once you clip the mask, it may or may not show up a lot if you’ve used the same color as the pattern paper. That’s ok and normal. Just like mine, right now.

So, here is a quick fix. First, select the watercolor brushes layer, and go through each of the Blend Modes to see if any will work for your journaling needs. They did not for me. That’s ok. Select the watercolor layer, and the paper layer, and DUPLICATE them. That’s right. Duplicate – once selected, right click and choose Duplicate. Then your Layers Palette will look like mine below. The watercolor part has darkened the white swirls, just a bit more.

And my duplicated watercolor spots.

Here is what my final layout looks like. Even with the small size, you can see more journaling than paper where I’ve used the watercolor brush, and paper.

Method #2

I’ve got one more trick up my sleeve. This one is super easy, especially if you don’t have a solid paper in a specific color! Again, I’m working on my layout. I’ve used the Marquee Tool, and drawn a box where I’d like my journaling to be. You should see marching ants.

Next, you will change your Background Color to the color you want to be prominent for your layout. In my case, I want a darker color to cover the light white swirls. So, I choose the solid teal. Here is my background Colors.

Your marching ants are still marching at this point. Next, you will create a new layer on top of the background paper (or right where you want your journaling to be. This layer can be moved later if you need. With that new layer selected, and your marching ants marching, you will choose Select > Modify > Feather. Feathering is expanding the edges of the selection, but more of a blend will occur as the edge moves away from the center.

A pop up will appear. I chose to feather by 30 pixels.

After you click ok, you will then press Command + Delete (Alt plus Delete on PC) and you will fill in the selection with the Background Color. See below. A filled in area that does not have distinct edges or really a total square-ness.

To make this seem less solid, all you have to do is play with the Blend Mode, and the Fill or Opacity. For my example, I chose Darken and a 68% Fill.

That’s it. Not too hard, and a super fun way to use all those wonderful backgrounds on your pages, but still allows room for readable journaling. Here is my final layout:

There are loads of ways you can journal on busy backgrounds. Journal cards, words strips, paper pieces, tags, or even darken and make your font bold.

Karen (zippyoh) used Doctor’s Orders too, and the Artsy Journal Templates by Scrapping with Liz. She used the word strips to journal for her layout.

Thanks for visiting! Hope these techniques will get you using a bit more of those fun patterns that Chelle makes!