I Don't WANT To Sew. So What?

Maybe sewing on your layout isn't your thing. That's OK!
Wait...What's that? You still want to use fabric on your pages? How about stamping on fabric and adding it to your page? How about making a fabric yo-yo flower or two? You want to know how? You want to see examples?

Here Heather Bailey teaches you how to make a fabric yo-yo flower
(this gives me an entirely new appreciation for the gazillions of them that Scarlet's made for us!!)
Here you learn about stamping on fabric

Perhaps you aren't quite comfortable with putting fabric on your page yet and want to try a few cards, first. How about this link to a cute little project?

Maybe you just need to see some more examples by scrappers you know? An extra little "push" of inspiration if you will-- Lisa stamped on the fabric and sewed it to her page. See them both close up HERE and HERE. Thanks, Lisa, for sharing these fabulous pages with us!

On Monday, Tammy V. left a great comment: "I do have one tip for stitching on paper. I like to make sure my stiches don't come loose, so whether I use a stop stitch or not, I always dab just a tiny bit of Aleenes tacky glue on the back of the paper."

Now, maybe you've never used fabric and have no idea why/how you'd go about getting some just for a page or two. I have a few ideas for you:

• I bet you know a quilter/seamstress. I bet that person has a ton of little scraps that she (or he) has kept that are too small for their own projects. Never hurts to ask, right?
• How about some of those old worn out kid/baby things that you can't bear to part with but don't want to give or donate? What better way to commemorate than adding it to a page? Re-purposing or up-cycling! Yay!!
• Maybe you found some old linens at the flea market and a few were ripped or torn. It only takes a small piece or two to make a great card!
• If you must purchase, but don't want even a 1/4 of a yard, consider turning to etsy. I've seen tons of grab bags full of scraps for sale there.

I am always interested in any other ideas you all might have for fabric and sewing on your pages! Send me an email or leave a comment and I'll definitely include it in my next blog post! Happy Earth Day, everyone!

Homespun happiness

As Jenn mentioned yesterday, the gap between scrapbooking, sewing and mixed media art is lessening all the time.

When my babies were born I was insistent on making them their baby blankets, because if they weren't going to be sleeping in my arms, I wanted them to sleep wrapped up in some thing I lovingly created. I don't think I put Morgan down for the first two months after she was born.

When I was pregnant with Payton I referred to her as my baby bunny because we didn't know who we were having but she was due around Easter time. I found this bunny fabric which worked perfectly for what I had in mind. Around the blanket amongst the cute little bunnies it says "Plant Smiles" "Grow Giggles" "Harvest Love". I just loved that so much.

I intentionally purchased extra fabric so I could make additional keepsakes with it. One of the projects I've been meaning to do is a layout using some of this fabric with photos of Payton when she was little and her blanket was still fresh.



And because this layout was about a blanket, what perfect stitch to go with it than a fun blanket stitch down the middle. With this one I eyeballed it and pierced the holes without measuring because i used the white edge strip from Bazzill as a template of sorts.





Aren't those bunnies the cutest?! Even now it's Payton's favorite thing, and she has a particular way she likes to be wrapped up in it too. She likes to hold a corner of the satin binding where she can put your finger in the fold, and she wants the "rabbit side" to be up. She's so cute about it!


If you need assistance on stitching, one thing to go to is a stitching template. My favorite template is this one from Bazzill. When these first came out I didn't think I would use them because I stitch all the time without needing a template, but I did the following layout last fall and really wanted to use the blanket stitch, and this template allowed me to easily pencil in where I needed to pierce my needle and took a lot less time than my former method:

I now use it a lot or at least refer to it when I'm thinking of adding a bit of homespun to a project, so that it can spark a stitch idea.

Bazzill has several stitching templates including shapes and words, and also has some additional fun border stitches that I may just have to pick up! Templates allow you to be haphazard and homespun in an organized way. You can lay the template where you want the stitch to be and move it around until you have it where you want it, and then pencil in where you will pierce your holes.

A good rule of thumb is to use approximately 3 strands of floss when you are doing a shape. I often use all 6 when going in a straight line, but it does create a larger hole where the stitch goes through the paper.

Jenn will be back later in the week for more fabric and stitchery ideas, and I'll be back to discuss that fabric album in the project kit.

Have a great day! Davinie

Seamingly Easy?

I'll be the first to admit...I'm a recent convert to the love of everything fabric. It all started with a friend showing me some of her sewn projects and suddenly I had a new machine and a whole pile of fabric and notions. Almost like I needed another hobby, right?

I'm pretty sure you've all figured out that this month's project kit has something to do with fabric...hope I'm not blowing any big secrets here. :) Dav and I thought it would be the perfect time to talk a little bit more about using fabric and sewing/stitching in your everyday scrapbooking. My hand-stitching doesn't hold a candle to Dav's...so I'm going to let her explore that avenue in the coming days.


Mixed media artists and collage artists have been using fabrics in their art for a long time-but not everyone loves that particular style. With the advent of scrapbook products from famous fabric designers the gap between scrapbooking, sewing and mixed media art is lessening all the time. Today I just thought I'd offer encouragement and tell you that the options are endless. YOU can use fabric on a layout just like you'd use patterned paper. Maybe, since you're all so nice I'll throw in a few links and tips, too.

So...I had this scrap hanging around that I'd quilted the majority of in a table runner. I couldn't bear to part with the last bit because the fabric itself has been discontinued. When Dav and I started talking about what we were going to do this week, this little scrap was in the back of my mind, jumping up and down shouting "me, me, use me!!"


A few tips, tricks or notes, you ask? From personal experience (keeping in mind everyone has their own style a lot of this is trial and error/learn as you go). Feel free to add any of your own tips or tricks in the comment section and I'll collect them for my next post!

• Use a needle that you're done sewing with or not going to use on regular fabric projects
• Use a little adhesive to hold your fabric in place
• Draw lines lightly with pencil if you're wanting precision
• Lessen your foot tension slightly
• A back stitch or a lock stitch will keep your thread anchored when starting/stopping
• Sew a 'practice run' on a scrap before you start on your project
  
• Read this thread: SEWING HELP
  

How about some links?
These two SC Peeps always have great sewing on their layouts: Lisa & Nik
Amazing magazine for mixed media arts: Cloth, Paper, Scissors
The gal who has really brought this to the forefront lately: Donna Downey

Jack and Jill Inspiration

If you are just getting ready to dig into your Jack and Jill kit and need some inspiration to get things moving or a layout to scraplift...just check out the member gallery! I was browsing the Jack and Jill gallery yesterday and was blown away by the pages in there! Wow! Here are a few that really had me going back for a second (and third!) look....

This one is by Houston and I just love how she used that crossword puzzle paper! Adorable!

This one by gluestickgirl just makes me smile! From the bits of patterned paper hippos to the colors to the stitched journaling lines....sigh. Love it!

Here's a fabulously simple and beautiful 2-pager by ShellyJ. Look how many photos she fit on here!

And finally, I had to highlight this one by Jennifer L. Jedi eggs would have been a huge hit at my house and I LOVE that her husband thought to take a photo of the boys in their poses with the eggs! I love her title work here.

I made myself just pick 4 to share today. There are so many gorgeous creations in this month's gallery though...you have to go check them out here and leave some love for your favorites! And if you are just getting a chance to dig into your Jack and Jill kit....make sure you post your pages so we can all enjoy them! I swear SC has the most amazing member gallery...thank you!!!

Having Fun with Actions

If you are going to use actions on your photographs, it is important to remember that you can mix and match them and have a lot of fun trying out different combinations! You don't just have to run one action on an image and then be done. You can run two or three or even more actions on the same image if you want. There are so many different effects you can get depending on which actions you run and also which order you run them in.

I chose two pictures that I took of my little sweetheart recently and I just played around with all three sets of my actions to show you how many different looks you can really get! And I could have kept going... this isn't it!

And the thing that is exciting to me is that there is no right or wrong here! Each of these images is a little (or a lot) different than the others and yet I like them all. As a sidenote: There are definitely times when I will run an action on a certain image and I will not like the results. This can be due to the lighting or the coloring in the original photograph and the way the action is processing it. So you do have to remember that not all actions will work on all photographs, especially the ones that have a more extreme effect. Actions like my simple color boost, on the other hand, are made to give you a nice subtle pop of color, without changing the tone of the image much, if at all. These types of actions typically will work on every photograph and can easily be used as part of your every-day workflow.

That wraps up my installment of photoshop action tips for the week. I hope that you had fun learning more about actions and the different ways you can mix and match them! Please feel free to email me if you have any more questions about my actions. I am always more than happy to help!

A little post to give praise to Maggie's actions ;)

I'm fairly new to photoshop and really know how to do next to nothing with it. But a few months ago I decided to try this whole action thing and started with a set of Maggie's actions. They came with full instructions on how to install them and how to run them and it could not be any easier. I just thought since she was posting this week about how to use actions, I would give her a little shout out about hers! Here are a few photos that I used them on. I ONLY ran her action on them...no other editing at all!

Here's the SOOC version...

Here's the same pic with Simple Color Boost action:

I think Simple Color is my favorite because it works on pretty much all photos and it's somewhat subtle. Here'a another SOOC shot of my adorable nephew:


And here it is with Simple Color + the Lighten Up action:

And finally, here's one more:

With just the Lighten Up action (which you can adjust to your liking):

So, even a photoshop newbie like me can use these or any actions. They help kick your photos up a notch. Plus, it's just fun to play around! :)

An Interview with April's Guest Designer!

Morning all! I hope most of you already know a little bit about this month's guest designer, Kimberly. At the very least you probably know that she is a super sweet gal, totally genuine and an amazing scrapper (the above layout is my fave of hers from the April gallery)! But I thought it might be fun to do a little interview with her so that we can peek inside her creative mind and life. :) Here's some questions I asked her along with her responses... Enjoy!

When did you start scrapbooking?

1996 on my due date with my son Foster. I had him 9 days later...and have been hooked on scrapbooking since! :)

What's your favorite part about being part of a design team?

Connecting with great designers and developing long lasting relationships with them.

What do you love about SC? (I had to throw this question in there! ;)

I LOVE EVERYTHING about SC! I LOVE all the designers...I LOVE all the wonderful friends I've made here and continue to know more. I LOVE the kits! I get so excited to get my kit every month! :)

What does your family think about your scrapping?

They love it! My kids love to see what I create...they really LOVE it when something I've done gets published and they feel famous! LOL

Descibe your scrapping space.

Just right! I have a counter size table that is about 6ft long and about 5ft wide with a devider in between it. On one side is my computer and printers and the other side is where I do my work. I have a LARGE book shelf that I got at IKEA for all of my supplies to go on. I have everything labeled for ease to find while I'm working. I have a Stamp fetish....and have 400+ stamp sets and counting...they make me smile! :)

Do you have other creative passions/interests?

Hmmmm...PHOTOGRAPHY! and...Yoga!

Is there a certain scrapbooker that you look to for inspiration?

ALL the SC dt girls...I also love Celine Navarro's fun artsy style and my friend Kim Moreno

What's your must have product?

Chipboard, flowers and stamps.

What is your least favorite thing about scrapbooking?

Not having enough time to work with all the products that I have stacked and all the photographs that I want to scrapbook.

What technique are you interested in trying next?

I have no clue...but I LOVE trying new techniques all the time. :)

Do you have a tried and true technique or design element?

Stamping and using my pen knife to cut things out are always something I LOVE doing.

How would you describe your style? Has it changed over the years?

It's always changing...I don't like to stick to any style...I just pray before every LO for the ability to be able to create something special and perfect for the photographs I am using at the time.

Do you attend crops?

Not any more so much. There aren't much up here in Montana...but I do try to on occassion.

What's your process for starting a layout?

I start with my photographs that I print out. I look at them and start playing and laying things out and picking out colors and think about my title and journaling and where I want it to go. What is going to highlight the photographs the most and best.

Can you share with us your current favorite layout you've done? What makes it a fave of yours?

I would have to say the photograph...and it all just came together so easily from there.

Here's the link so you can see it in full! http://www.studiocalico.com/forums/galleries/show/9341


What advice would you give to a new scrapbooker...someone just starting out?

To just let your creativity bloom...and that there is no wrong way or thing to do. The sky is the limit with everything out there to create with.

Thanks Kimberly for sharing with us! You can check out Kimberly's blog here. :)

Action Tutorial

Today I am going to show you exactly how to run one of my actions. If you haven't used actions before, you will be surprised at how easy and simple it really is! (This tutorial is for running actions in Photoshop and not Photoshop Elements.... but I can do a tutorial for Elements in the future.)

Here is a screenshot of my computer with Photoshop CS2 open. I opened up the image that I wanted to edit and I duplicated the image just so you can see the original SOOC photo next the one we are editing. This will help you to see exactly how the action has changed the image.

The arrow is pointing to the actions palette. If you don't already have it open, you would go to Window, Actions and then it will open up. Next to it, to the right, is the layers palette. This is another one that you will need to open. If it isn't open, simply go to Window, Layers and it will open.

In the Actions palette I have selected or highlighted the action that I want to run or apply to my image. Once I have it selected I will click on the arrow at the bottom of the palette. If you hover over it, it will say "play selection." Here I have selected the Urban Action in my Color MIX Action set.

Below is a screenshot that was taken right after I ran the action. You can see that the image has changed quite a bit as compared to the original. The arrow is pointing to a layer that is above the background layer in the layers palette. A lot of actions (including some of mine) will create a duplicate layer to which all of the adjustments will be made. If you were to simply delete this layer at this point, you would be back to your original image. This is to allow you the option of adjusting the intensity of the effect.

Most of the time I do not leave the intensity of the effect at 100%. Instead I will decrease the intensity until it is to my liking, and here is how to do that. The arrow is pointing to the opacity slider that is located in the layers palette. It is important to make sure you have the layer you are wanting to adjust selected. Then you will click on the little arrow that is to the right of the opacity window and a slider bar will appear. You can move the point on the slider up or down until you reach your desired result. Here I have selected an opacity of 76%.

At this point you can go ahead and flatten your image by going to Layer, Flatten Image and you are done! Or, if you want you can play another action to create a different effect. Here I selected the Yellow Vintage action in my Vintage Action Set and I hit play. You can see in the screenshot below how I got a completely different look by running this action after I ran the other one.

So, that's all there is to it! Pretty simple right? If you haven't already tried actions, just be careful because they can be addicting!! :)

All About Photoshop Actions

Hi there! I am excited to be a host this week on the Studio Calico blog! Life for me is crazy and busy and fun at the moment and it seems as though I have a million things going at once... but it is all good and I feel content and blessed and grateful and excited.... And on top of me staying busy with scrapbooking and photography, there is definitely never a dull moment around our household... but what can you expect with 3 little boys and a little girl that is holding her own at keeping up with them! :) I LOVE it!!

Anyway, as you may or may not know I have a few sets of Photoshop Actions that I sell through my blog. And I get quite a few emails each week with questions about my actions. They range from "What is an action?" to "How exactly do I use them?" and everything in between.

So, I thought I would share with you some more information about actions and also give you some tips and tutorials on how to use my actions on your photos. Sound fun? I hope so! Over the course of the week I will show you lots of sample images that I have used my actions on and I will give you my insider tips on how to use them to get the same look on your photos!

Today we are going to start with the basics:

What is an action?

An action is simply a recorded set of steps/commands that you can run on your photo to get a particular effect.

In other words, you might see an image and then ask "How can I get my images to look like that and have that same coloring or those same vibrant colors?" If you asked me how I edited a certain photo to make it look that way, I could tell you each individual step I did and how I did it but it would take a while and you might not even understand how to use some of the same commands that I used. In the end you would probably feel more lost and confused and most importantly you would be thinking "Well I certainly don't have time to do all of that to each of my images.... forget it!"

Here is where an action solves the problem! Instead of me telling you all of the individual steps, I can create an action that has all of those steps/commands recorded exactly how I used/applied them. Then all you would have to do is hit play and the action would run all of the steps for you in the right order and you can end up with the same result! Much easier right?

What software do I need in order to use your actions?

All three of my action sets are currently available for Photoshop 7.0, CS, CS2, CS3 and CS4.

Also, they will all soon be available for Photoshop Elements. My Color Set is currently available for Photoshop Elements 7.0. The Elements set also works with the Mac 6.0 version, but the instructions to load them are a little different so email me if you are a Mac user. Soon I will have all three sets available to purchase for both Photoshop Elements 7.0 and for Elements 6.0 for Mac so keep checking back!

How much Photoshop knowledge do I need to have in order to use your actions?

You really don't need to have much Photoshop expertise at all in order to run and use actions successfully on your photos. Most actions, including mine, come with instructions on loading/running them. From there it is simply a matter of hitting play. Then if there is anything you need to do, the action will pause and give you instructions. Later this week I will walk you through running an action and I will also give you specific tips you can use to tweak the action and adjust it to the right intensity for your liking.

The best thing about actions is that they are a lot of fun! They really open up some exciting things you can do to your photos and you don't even need to know how to do the individual steps! It does all the work for you! I love that! Here a few sample images that I have used my actions on. Throughout the week I will share with you the SOOC (straight out of camera) version of the photo so you can see the difference between the original image and the image after the action has been used. (Click on the images to see them bigger and to get a better feel for the actual colors. They look a lot better and are more true to life when you click on them for some reason!)

As you can tell, these were all taken last week at our Easter festivities! It was right in the middle of the day so the lighting was really bright and they aren't the most technically correct but they capture the moment and that is what matters right? But what I love most about actions is that they can really make those colors pop! So fun!

More tips and tutorials to come later this week!

Sneak Night Winner

If your name is DebbieT and you made this comment, you're the winner of the Carter alphabet stamps. Congratulations!

OMGoodness, what a cutie he is, and so are those stamps! Can't wait to see the sneak peek!

Just send us an email at info@studiocalico.com, letting us know your address and the prize you won.