Here is a tutorial that will teach you how to create fun lines and frames using almost any geometric shape! (see example in the "bumps" under the orange line in the layout above)1. Select the Brush Tool (B) and set your brush size to about 25 px and the hardness to 100%. The color doesn't matter.2. Find the Toggle Brush Panel icon in the upper left corner of the Photoshop screen.3. In the Brush Panel, set the Spacing to about 150%4. Open a blank canvas in Photoshop. (I'm using 600 x 600 pixels at 72 dpi) Click anywhere on the canvas to create one dot. Then hold down Shift and click somewhere on the opposite side of the canvas. You should get a perfect spaced line of dots.5. Now try the same thing again with your spacing set at about 80%. This time before you even click the first time, hold down Shift and click and drag across the canvas. This is a very cool trick for creating a peek … [Read more...]
Brush Work Across Layers Tutorial by Rebecca
Today’s tutorial focuses on stamping / brushing / writing across multiple layers. This is one of those techniques I use A LOT, and while it may not stand out and be the first thing you notice on a layout, it IS one of those little touches that can bring a greater element of realism to your digital pages. Let’s get started!! When I do layouts, I tend to get all the stuff in place where I want it, then I’ll go back through and do the finishing touches – add shadows, tweak elements here & there, and fix my paint that crosses multiple layers. So for this example, let’s pretend my ‘layout’ is this photo with some brush work over it… like so… So now I have 3 layers – my background, my photo, and my brushed ‘11’ for my title. STEP 1: Duplicate your brush layer. Right click on your brush layer in the layer pallet, and select Duplicate LayerSTEP 2: Cut the brushwork into 2 separate … [Read more...]
Watercolor Look Tutorial by Farrah
I love the look of watercolor. Often times, I'm lazy and just clip my photo to a watercolor paper or element. However, I especially love the look on pages where it looks like an artwork in progress. As if I've stopped halfway though filling in a watercolor version of a drawing, as I have done in this LO:I'll teach you how to create this look too.1- Create a blank document and drag over your photo 2- Duplicate your photo and then add a layer mask to HIDE your bottom copy of your photo3- We're going to turn the TOP copy of your photo into a drawing, so click on the top copy of the photo and go to Filter -> Stylize -> Find edges 4- **optional** I always desaturate the drawing version of my photo, so that it looks like I used a No2 pencil to draw it, otherwise, it will look like colored pencils. The choice is up to you! =) To desaturate, go to Image -> adjustments -> … [Read more...]
Trend Watch – Confetti/Scatters
Do you know that confetti goes waaaaaaaay back. It was an ancient custom of tossing grains or sweets during special occasions! People would also throw colored leaves and flowers. Then with an Indian and Arabic flair added to color and sugar coat rice began. I did a bit of searching about confetti and loved all the info! Confetti and glitter are two completely different things! Glitter is tinier, and sometimes called metallic confetti. The most popular is the star! Now a days, you can't go to a baby or wedding shower or fancy fun party without seeing scatters of themed confetti on the table. The scrap world is no different, and this Trend Watch is full of many fun things you can scatter across your pages! Luckily in digital we don't have to stick to cut up papers, anything in your imagination can be scattered! I took a quick walk thru the gallery and saw so many … [Read more...]
Dear Polly: February ’14 Edition
Well, hello again, all of you lovely Lilypad Peeps! It's me, Polly, and I'm here to solve a few of your life's problems. Well, at least a couple of your scrap problems, hehe...If you missed my grand debut last month, you can check it out here. Now, I know you sweet thangs were EXHAUSTED after all of the scrapping you did for MOC. Whew. It was crazy around the Pad all January long. So, there weren't as many questions for me to answer this go-round. Don't fret, though, darlins. I'm sure you'll think of something next month *wink*.Here are a couple of things YOU all wanted to know this month...1. Dear Polly, When I unzip files on my PC, there is often a __MACOSX folder (which I delete) and I don't know what it's for, I just assumed the designer uses a MAC? But what is the .DS store folder? (bestcee)It's a file that started being created on Mac's after 10.4 … [Read more...]
Love Yourself Challenge: Round 1 wk2 – The Mind (Traces)
In our first week we assessed the condition of our bodies, evaluating our health and self-esteem. This week we will trace the path our lives have followed, honouring our accomplishments and reflecting on the sacrifices we've made along the way. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Good things come with a price, and yet every negative situation can lead to something good! As you review your life, take note of the cost you have paid for your accomplishments. Motherhood in itself comes with a huge price that I am sure all of us would agree is worth every penny! So maybe you need to cut yourself some slack and stop feeling guilty for not being able to "do it all"! I love this quote I saw on one of the layouts last week: "The only time you should ever look back is to see how far you've come". I think it's so appropriate for this week! Hindsight is 20/20. In reflecting on … [Read more...]
Happy Valentine’s Day to YOU!
There's so much to celebrate at the Pad this weekend as we wish you a Happy Valentine's Day!Here's what's happening in the shop:All of our Valentine's products are 30% offNew Releases are 20% offSpend $10 and get our super adorable and unique collab "We Go Together" for freeAllison Pennington's fantastic Polly Picks are 20% offTrend Watch: Big + Bold products are 20% offThat's at least 5 good reasons to shop, but maybe the best one is that you deserve a little Valentine's treat! … [Read more...]
Behind the Design: Kaye Winiecki
Hi all! Polly Jewelle here with another edition of Behind the Design. With a little bit of pleading and maybe a few bribes we got the designers here at the LilyPad to agree to show off their design spaces at home. They also agreed to answer a few questions about their design space that will allow us to get to know them better. This month we are going behind the designs ofKaye Winiecki Mac or PC?PC. Nothing special enough to tell you how much ram etc.Coffee or tea (or both/neither)?Neither. I do love the smell of coffee but it smells better than it tastes. Occasionally in winter I will have a hot chocolate. I’m not a big fan of hot drinks.Guilty pleasure snack while creating/scrapping?Would anyone be surprised if I said chocolate, particularly Cadbury? Lately I have also been enjoying these soy chip thingies, mmm mm! Oh and popcorn chips, do you have … [Read more...]
Shoulder & Back Slump Begone!
With all the awesome BYOC stuff, Lynne-Marie's terrific Love Yourself project and January's stellar daily challenges, I'd bet some of you need some help with the computer schlump in your back and shoulders. Sitting for long periods at a desk can curve your back into a C-shape, weaken those vertical spine muscles, and round your shoulders forward. It's a recipe for back pain! What can you do to counter-act the slump?If you're at home (you might look a teensy bit strange doing this in an office or cube environment), and you're confident about your floors, get down on the floor. Or yoga mat. On your stomach. What you do next is usually called a "Superman" exercise. In our case, it's "Super Girl!"Now that you're on your stomach, start out easy. Keep your arms at your sides, crunch up your butt muscles, and arch your legs and head and shoulders up. Try not to let your shoulders … [Read more...]
Organize Your Pad: February ’14
It's time to Organize Again! Last month we talked about Tagging... and this month let's see discuss Folders.The question was posed in the forum and the masses responded :). How do you organize your digital supplies on your hard drive? How do you use FOLDERS to help you? Is your Desktop full? Do things stay in your Downloads too long? Do you organize by Designer? Site? Type of element?And here's how the awesome Lilypad Community responded. I love seeing the different approaches to organization. It makes me motivated to get myself together a little differently or a little more.VickyD:"I have my supplies in folders by store, then designer, then by kit/paper/alpha etc name. I have a separate folder for BYOC in my TLP folder, at the end of the month the items get moved into the respective designers folder ready for the next months BYOC. I also now have a Project Life folder. … [Read more...]