After Barbara's (@Sokee) thread yesterday and talking to Cynthia (@MrsPeel) when she asked if I was here for the last MOC, I got to thinking...nobody should ever be embarrassed to post a layout or to reach out for scrappy help, because someone WILL help!! Trust me when I say this...I was helped during the chaos that is MOC! Nobody had to help me, but they did and I am forever grateful! When someone reaches out to you asking if you need help, it really is out of love and kindness...not to embarrass you, or make you feel like your layouts aren't good enough...I pinky promise! A lot of you know that my first 8 pages for MOC5 were done on my cell phone using PixelLab! I didn't know how to scrap in Photoshop at ALL!! I was able to wing one of the template challenges on my phone, but when it came to Cheryl's template challenge I didn't have a clue to wing it on my phone, so I opened up Photoshop and gave it the old college try! Right way Anne (@AnneofAlamo) messaged me, asking if I needed help! It was pretty obvious I didn't have a clue what I was doing I think it was the next day, or maybe a couple days after Anne reached out to me, she had set up a an Adobe Live Meeting with Cheryl (I know there were a couple other ladies there, but I can't remember who) and they were teaching me how to use clipping masks, how to copy shadows to paste onto a new layer, how to change the color of the paint and more! Please don't let anyone's layouts intimidate you, or make you feel like yours are less than...of course it's natural to compare what we've done to someone else's, especially if it's a style that we LOVE and would be able to pull off!! Here is my first attempt at using Photoshop and my attempt after getting help! And yes...I really did post my first attempt online for all the world to see! What was your most embarrassing layout you posted? Paper and embellies from All the Feels collab
That is such a wonderful post and perspective, Timmi! You really changed that layout immensely; I'm so glad they helped you and you were open to the help! Do you enjoy using Photoshop compared to the phone app? Many wouldn't take it the same way, so I will say that I will always hold back. I might join in liek Cherly or others there to help after it's set up. I just don't want to hurt any feelings. It's a touchy subject in my mind. I know I would be sensitive, probably over-sensitive. Scrapping is very personal at times, and what I or they perceive as creative and beautiful can be quite different. I know that I have messaged people asking how they did something, technique, or what font/products, style, etc. I've also gotten messages about certain techniques that I use or how to do something in Photoshop. I'm a softie, so I know that I will opt to wait until someone asks outright. Then, watch out... information overload.
@bbymks5 and just look at you now! You scrap like a pro! No one would have ever guessed that you just started using Photoshop in January. I'm so glad that we have a safe, friendly, helpful community here at TLP. I love helping others learn how to digi scrap, so if you have a question just holler and I'll do my best to help ya. I didn't start out at TLP 11.5 years ago, but I did get help from another digi scrapper who reached out to me when I was first learning digi and told me about her PSE/PS lessons. I will forever be grateful to Linda Sattgast for pointing me in the right direction.
this was what we were talking about with Timmi when the subject came up..... I could remember perfectly well her avatar, her nickname, some of her pages but my memory sometimes plays tricks so I wasn't sure if it was MOC, so I asked.... and after she showed me the first template before Anne helped with Cheryl, *which I didnt see) I mentioned how sometimes I see huge potential in people but something that happened years ago made me a bit reluctant to offer help unless I kind of am in a dialogue and know the person wont be embarrassed OR offended, but you should know, with all our heart, here at The Pad EVERYONE wants to help, and they will go all the way to try help you. We will. Not only the Pollys, but many, many people here help a HUGE deal, like Christa @cfile who is always giving a hand or making templates or showing tutorials to help, there are others, many many people who will go all the way, and if we don;t know the answer, we will go look for someone who does.... Timmi, once again, my lovely, you rock!!!!!!! @bbymks5 and the whole community, you know you are my family!!!!!!!
You've only been scrapping since January?!!! Wow! Way to jump in and go for it! And you've been so involved in the forum this year I didn't realize you were new; just thought I hadn't gotten to know you yet (and never had reason to look at the join date under your name). I've been digiscrapping for over a decade and I've encountered many helpful people in the various forums I've been in. But TLP is at the top of the chart!
It's so nice to hear how everyone helps each other. That's part of what makes TLP so amazing! You are absolutely right....everyone should feel proud of their LO's and never be afraid to ask a question. How exciting for you, learning photoshop. It's such a great program and there is always something new to learn about it.
You are amazing, Timmi! And that was so wonderfully said! We all started somewhere and there is never any shame in asking for help. I wish someone had reached out to me years ago when I had such an obsession with beveling everything and told me to just stop! Ha! I still feel like a newbie even after 11+ years. I learn new things all the time!! You are right, one of the most wonderful things about TLP is that we are all here to support, encourage, and help each other!!
This was one of my first layouts and so hard to believe that it was 2011. I still have an issue sometimes with pulling my items out of proportion so if anyone has any suggestions on who to help that problem I would be grateful.
It's pretty hard to hurt my feelings LOL!! I can see how someone might like it's a personal attack, but I've always welcomed constructive criticism in all areas of my life...doesn't mean I've always changed the way I do things though Scrapping on a PC is SO much easier than scrapping on a phone!! It's like day and night!! Just the screen size and the control of using a mouse makes a HUGE difference!! PixelLab allows you to add drop shadows and you can tweak colors a bit so it's super user friendly, but it definitely doesn't compare to an actual program! Thank you!! I'm still learning new things in PS all.the.time. I will forever be grateful to @AnneofAlamo and @gonewiththewind for helping me!! That hour of power learning helped me out SO much!!! YES!! @cfile Christa has been super helpful to me too!! I'm personally not a place to offer help or make suggestions because I wing it aka fake it till I make it, but I hope one day I can pay it forward!! Thank you!! *hugs* I was a couple days late in finding out about MOC and then it took me a couple more days to post out of fear LOL!! I told myself everyone was new at one point so just.post. I'm so glad I did too!! It really is!! I've peeked into one other forum, posted one layout and bolted! I ran and never looked back! I had no idea how much PS could do!! I agree! If it's not someone's best page, they should still feel proud and cherish it! I haven't run across anyone I don't like here, I haven't seen anyone being rude, it's just the best place!! Thank you! Right!! Someone just tell me to STOP the insanity with xyz!! I'll rock something not knowing I'm doing it totally wrong and will continue to do it until someone tells me to stop.it.!! I love it!! Look at all your layers!! I have issues with proportion too!! I have a tendency to make things too big or too small....flowers are big example of this LOL!! I'll take a flower and shrink it down so much, then say out loud, "who in their right mind would make this flower that tiny Timmi?" then I shrug and look around and leave it LOL!!
I love this post! I started digital scrapping when CM came out with the sbcStudio for MAC. We all know that didn't last long, but when it worked it was wonderful and easy to use except for the fact that I couldn't use templates. I spent more time scraplifting templates than I did scrapping. I was intimidated by CT members layouts, but now I'm on CT's. I eventually learned PSE and then PS. My first layout in PSE took me over a week to finally complete. I took (and still take or watch) any class or tutorial possible. There's always something to learn. What I love most about scrapbooking is that there is no right or wrong way to scrap. If you like flowers and clusters and layers of papers, go for it. I've finally decided that I don't like all that fluffy stuff on my layouts. I still like lots of pictures on my layouts, but I can live without all the clusters.
The trick is to hold down the shift key to constrain the proportions while you are resizing and always do it from a corner handle. If you are coming to the Watch Cheryl Scrap tonight, I'm sure she'd be happy to demonstrate. She uses CC as well.
I'm about to go join Cheryl, but I just wanted to hijack this thread first lol to say that I had no problem holding SHIFT to keep the proportions in PSCS3, but that doesn't work in CC for me. I have to hit the "lock" in between the width and height boxes up top. It's so weird. IDK if there's some special little box I'm supposed to check in order to constrain proportions using SHIFT in CC...?
I have SO MANY embarrassing layouts but now that 2Peas & Scrapbook-Bytes are shut down, you can't find them anymore. Here's a 'gem' I created in 2003 before anyone was even selling digital scrapbook items. You had to scan in things from real life or download something from the sharing gallery at SBB to use on your pages. Please notice my 'amazing' shadows, my illegible font, my Photoshop brush 'string'... it's a sight to behold!
I love templates, but trying to scraplif them...that's a tough one!! I think it was last months scraplift challenge, I picked one with a paper strip tree, thinking I could it since I've made them with real paper....buuuuahahaha!!! I'm terrible at sizing so I tried for like an hour before I went back to see if there was a template in the credits, and luck was on my side! I bought that template so fast my shopping cart had fire shooting out of the wheels LOL! CT pages can be so intimidating, but I love seeing them!! I love seeing everyone's pages, there's so many ideas out there that I see something I love everyday and never would have thought of! Awww!!! At least you had real papers and elements in there and not just the template guides LOL!! I can't even imagine trying to scan real life objects into the computer and then trying to get rid of the white places...no. thank. you. I wish I would have started digi scrapping earlier!
This post brings me so much joy!! I came here from Scrap Orchard when it closed and I was welcomed with open arms!! And I have just come back from a sort-of-hiatus and I have again been welcomed with big hugs and people saying that they hoped everything was ok. Everyone is so helpful and so loving at TLP. It is one of my favourite places to be <3
Oh my gosh! I love this post so much! I had no idea you only started scrapping in January! I remember you saying that you were using your phone and I was so impressed! You gotta love Anne and her super loving and helpful ways! I can't wait for her to come back next month and see your praise of her offering to help. She is just awesome! So glad you were brave enough to jump on in for MOC... cuz now it just seems like you've been here forever.
One of the very best things about TLP is the comments in the gallery. My scrapping ability have grown soo much being here at the pad. One thing that has really helped me is reading the specific comments on my layouts about what people like in my layouts. They are always encouraging and helpful. Like a puppy dog, that positive re-enforcement works on me... Which reminds me, I need to go leave more helpful love in the galleries...
@bbymks5 - thank you for your inspirational post!!! I personally remember sitting at my PC in tears when I first started - I wanted to learn what to do so much - and back then there weren't a lot of tutorials ... heck, there weren't many digital sites online! Friendly scrappers reached out to me and guided me ... it's such a caring community!! And like the others have said - your pages certainly rock!!! (I can't even imagine scrapping on your phone!!! Nicely done!!! )
