Today we're starting to get to know the free graphics program GIMP by scrapping with a layered quickpage (QP). Fair warning - this is a long post with (hopefully) enough information and screen images to make using it easy for someone that is a beginner to digital scrapbooking or just new to GIMP.What is a QP? As we talked about a few weeks back in the Beginners FAQ blog post, a QP is a pre-made scrapbook page. A traditional one would be a single flattened page with a cut-out for a photo that you would simply drag in, and maybe add some text on but no ability to move items on the quickpage around. If it has a flower on there and you don't like the position of the flower, you would have to try to cover it up with something because the flower and everything else is flattened onto the background and can not be manipulated in isolation (well not especially easily or by someone … [Read more...]
Minimal & Maximal Monday: Same photos, 2 different layouts with Template Tips
Hello! Following on from discussing design styles for Beginners in my last post, I gave myself an informal challenge to produce 2 different style layouts using the same photos and same products, and seeing it's Monday and I like alliteration, well, here we are.Starting with a template my mindset was to make a minimal style page and then switch things up to make it more maximal, and because I mentioned that Artsy and Mixed media can work with either of those styles in that previous post, I purposely picked a kit with some artsy pieces and papers in it and a template that is simple enough that I could art-ify.Scrappers often gravitate to one particular style but there 's also a lot of scrappers that jump between styles as they feel and I'm one of those people. Maybe it's the kit, maybe it's the photos, maybe it's a challenge but something will pull me in one style direction and I … [Read more...]
So You want to Start Digital Scrapbooking: Design Basics & FAQs
I remember as a new digiscrapper, galleries were both awe-inspiring and also a bit daunting. If you are new to scrapbooking and galleries, the various different styles and methods people use may seem a bit overwhelming at first, and you may wonder what a scrapbook page *should* look like and how it should be.The good news and short answer is that like any artform, part of the beauty of this hobby, is that your page can look however you'd like and be however you want it to be. There is no right or wrong way to scrapbook. There are various common styles scrapbookers will adopt and commonalities to all of them so let's summarise and intro all the types and parts of scrapbook pages.*Basic Anatomy of a Digital Scrapbook Page*Regardless of the overall style of a digital scrapbook layout (or page, we use the terms interchangeably), each layout starts with a background paper just like … [Read more...]
So You want to Start Digital Scrapbooking: Devices & Programs
In an increasingly paperless world, of digital photos and media content, digital scrapbooking as a way to memory-keep makes sense. In this blog series we'll look at some beginners topics like how to download and unzip product and creating your first page but before all that, you need a device and digiscrapping program and we'll look at some options today.Why scrapbook digitally? Others may prefer the tactile and old school traditional method of paper scrapbooking with printed photos, but for those of us that have come from a paper scrapbooking background, we can tell you digiscrapping requires so much less physical space and product, less risk of unintentionally cutting yourself or ending up sticky or covered in paint or sparkles (not only you but the little people that might share your home and be attracted to your craft space and supplies). And it's just less messy and who wants … [Read more...]
Beginners Mixed Media: Getting Artsy with Photo Masks
For some of us, there is nothing more nerve-wracking than attempting a scrapping style out of your comfort zone or more daunting than a blank canvas with infinite possibilities.(OK, yes, I’m talking about me personally but I’m sure this applies to others as well!)So in this blog series, I’m attempting to make Mixed Media less daunting by giving you (and me) some jumping off points. Where to begin with digi – mixed media scrapping? Right here for Mixed Media Beginners! I'm getting back to being creative after a few months break for renovations. Jumping back in after a break can feel daunting, especially into a style you're still feeling new to but this is where the designers skill can really help out!Last year in this blog series, I tried a bunch of different methods to get a mixed media look but my favourite has always been using paint, and so today I'm planning to … [Read more...]
Beginners Mixed Media: Textured Paint
To some of us, there is nothing more nerve-wracking than attempting a scrapping style out of your comfort zone or more daunting than a blank canvas with infinite possibilities.(OK, yes, I’m talking about me personally but I’m sure this applies to others as well!)So in this blog series, I’m attempting to make Mixed Media less daunting by giving you (and me) some jumping off points. Where to begin with digi – mixed media scrapping? Right here for Mixed Media Beginners! Recap & IntroductionAs a template scrapper and mixed media beginner, since embarking on this series, I’ve used basic linear paint brush strokes and ‘designer painted’ papers to give easy and instant mixed media vibes to my layouts. Most recently, I used stamps as the main elements on a page.This month, I’m experimenting with texturised paint similar to gesso, called Impasto. In the real world, … [Read more...]