Text Path Tutorial with Freebie

I'm back again with another video tutorial and a freebie to go along with it! I'm just having too much fun with these. Plus I've had a lot of questions about using the text paths and how to edit them. I thought the best way to answer these questions would be through a video tutorial.

Before I begin, here are some of my text paths that are available in the store (no longer available). 

Now for the tutorial. I'm doing this in Photoshop CS3 but I think it works the same way in Photoshop Elements. Sorry about the sound, it kind of sounds like alien noises or something in the background.

Hope this helps. Have a happy Tuesday!

Shadow Tutorial with Freebie!

Someone suggested I do a tutorial showing how I shadow banners. I'm no expert, that's for sure, but I thought I would make a little video tutorial showing you how I shadow them. I'm using Photoshop CS3. I know that in Photoshop Elements there are more limitations as to what you can do, but I do show you my shadow settings which you should be able to use in Elements.

I always wonder if I'm doing things the right way. There are probably many other ways to do this but this is how I do them. Hope it helps.  Don't forget to grab the freebie below so you can try right along with me.

Just click on the pic to download.

-Liz

Memories

I'm just going to pop in real quick tonight to show you a page I just scrapped about my grandparents. My grandfather passed away last week, and so I was inspired to scrap this page about my grandparents. My grandmother passed away 14 years ago. They were married for over 60 years! They had 6 children and from those 6 children: 22 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren!

My Journaling:

Even though my grandparents are gone now, they left such an amazing example of how a simple Christian life and marriage should be lived out that even in my life today I can apply those simple truths to my life. Examples of hard work, dedication, service, honesty, steadfastness, gentleness, trusting in God, not complaining or gossiping, etc. These are the things I remember about my grandparents and I pray that I will take their example and apply it to my life, daily.

Love - Matthew 22:37

Why Digital??

Hey there! Helen here to chat a little about digital scrapbooking. This post was supposed to be a tip or a tutorial but after days of trying to figure out what tip or tut to post I am throwing in the towel. However, I am awaiting the arrival of my new Photoshop CS5 Extended program as well as a book, Photoshop CS5 For Dummies. I have a feeling I will have lots to share with you as I learn the program.

I thought we could talk about why we chose to go digital in our scrapbooking hobby. For me personally, it was a hard choice to make....going digital. I should probably use the word "scary" vs. "hard". I could not wrap my brain around the whole concept of scrapbooking on my computer. Literally, I had NO clue about the any of it. Fear and lack of knowledge can keep you from trying new things all the time.

A year or so of pondering "digital" went by when one day I was in Archiver's browsing the latest and greatest tools, stamps, ribbons, etc. I stopped at the shelf of magazines and was thumbing through them when I saw one titled "Digi-Scrapping 101". I was intrigued to say the least. I soon realized this was just what I needed to make the leap into digital. It was a magazine with step by step instructions on loading the provided 30 day free trial of Photoshop Elements and creating your very first page. I mean, it was very detailed and precise, but that was what I needed. The CD with the trial offer for PSE also included all the digital papers, photos & elements needed to create the pages they walked you through. My favorite part was how they shared many websites where you could go and buy digital scrapbooking kits. It even explained how to make your purchase, download & unzip your new files.

That was about four years ago and I have never looked back. A few hours after installing PSE and working my way through the tutorials provided in that magazine I had a basic knowledge of what it was all about. From there I slowly honed my skills with the program by finding other online tutorials or just clicking on things within the program to see what it did.

My reason for going digital was merely curiosity but my reasons for staying digital are many!

1. It is SO easy (once you learn the basics of your program).

2. I can scrap on my laptop from my recliner!

3. No mess to clean up unless I spill the snack I am munching on as I create my page.

4. Much less expensive when you compare the average price of a digital kit ($4-$7) and the fact you can use digi papers, elements, alphas over and over and over again. Granted, you have printing costs & the cost of your program but seriously, overall, it is less expensive.

5. It used to take me hours & hours to do one page some days but with digi, it takes me on average, an hour to create a layout.

6. Scrapbooking forums & new friends!!! This is something I never even imagined was out there! I have made so many amazing friends by getting in to the forums and trying out for creative teams. I even met our very own eLIZabeth last year IRL while vacationing very near where she lives! When I think about all the other ladies I am going to meet in a few short weeks out in Vegas....I just want to squeal!


I am not saying I don't still enjoy going to my scrapbook room and getting out the scissors, glue & all my "touchable" ellies to create a cute card now & then. However, I am a digi-girl through & through now. I love the digi community. I love the designers I work for. I will never stop digital scrapbooking of my own free will.

So, tell me, why did YOU start digital scrapbooking? I would love to hear your experience. Leave a comment and share your story :)

xoxo,
Helen

Life with Liz - Video Tutorials, Sneak Peek & Chance to Win!

Well, it's another Tuesday....an almost normal Tuesday. My household has been sick on and off for the last 2 weeks and we are finally having a somewhat normal week.  It's been tough getting back into a routine but we are getting there, slowly but surely.

Anyway, on to today's blog post. I'm a visual learner. If I see it it's so much easier for me to learn and remember. So with that said, I thought I would maybe start a series of vidoe tutorials for all my blog followers. Here's just a short one to show you how to change up a template. Simple but I hope it's helpful.

Here's a video I posted on my facebook fan page a few days ago showing how I scrap (this one is higher resolution). It's sped up about 8x.  I didn't think you would want to watch 30 minutes of me scrapping!