Happy Friday! Hope you’ve all had a wonderful week with time for being creative.

For me, when the holidays are over and the house is once again still after two weeks of game playing, cooking and feasting together, and lots of laughter, I need something to sink my teeth into creatively to help ease into this new transition. Playing with my nature photography seems to be that centering craft (our wonderfully mild winter is certainly a bonus, too!).

Canon 7d, Canon 50mm/1.8, ISO 100, f/2.0, 1/1000 shutter speed, +1 exposure compensation (as I was shooting into the sun and wanted a dreamy effect)

For this particular image of our lupine at the lake, I wanted to enhance the softness. I was pleased with the composition and sharp selective focus of the one lone lupine, with the dock and lake barely visible (yet visible). The wide open f-stop (f/2) allowed for the blurry foreground and background, with the lupine focused in between. Love when that works out just as I hoped! Sometimes a blurry foreground just doesn’t look right.

To achieve this desired effect, I added a bokeh overlay (#45) and texture overlay (#22) from our Photo Art Blends 4 Pak, both set to Soft Light. I find these add more dimension than Photoshop Actions can and allow so many variations in color, intensity, and texture when experimenting with Layer Blend Modes.

Here are the layers making up the textured image. I then added a word art quote from This is Life 5 Scrap.Words, adjusting the hue to complement the plum (Ctrl-U, Cmd-U on a Mac).

FYI…this week I added four recent projects to my photography blog, many involving nature imagery. Enjoy! Hope to continue getting caught up there.

Note…our Photo Art Blends all come with their own tutorial and sample recipes to achieve varying effects. There are also masking tips to soften texture and color on portraits.

And, all five sets of our Photo Art Blends are all ON SALE for a limited time. And, Professional Licenses are available for a small additional fee (select the pro license option when adding to cart).

Happy creating! Michelle

tonya regular. supplies

Happy New Year everyone! So much to share today, even a wonderful layered Scrap.Template Freebie (at end of post).

What an exciting and festive time of the year…we wish you every happiness as you reflect on the past year’s memories and welcome in 2012.

Now that the hustle and bustle is nearing an end, we can get to the creative fun of scrapping our holiday memories! Our team has had fun over the past month capturing their holiday traditions and decorating, as well as current celebrations and past childhood memories.

A unique design idea, Tonya, Beth, and Karen created Christmas Tree accents using frames, snowflakes, and trees. Love, love, love them! See them above and below for how to mimic the technique.

beth ervin. christmas wishes, holiday dazzle papers and elements

beth ervin. supplies

karen wilhelm. supplies

beth ervin. winter woodland

This year we added seven new kits to our winter holiday products section in the shop (now with over 60 kits), all on sale through Tuesday, January 3, 2012.

See our newsletter for additional coupon code (going out January 1). Free sign-up here.

With so many more creations to share, see details in our gallery here.

And…to jump start your creativity here’s a FREE, pretty layered 12×12 Scrap.Template with its own tree element. Scrap.Templates are in psd format, compatible with Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements (they open in Paint Shop Pro, but the text and layer styles are disabled).

Download Scrap.Template Freebie Here (zip file: 7 mb-12×12-300dpi)

michelle shefveland. christmas wishes, freebie

Happy creating! Michelle and team

plum haze pak

Hi all! Back to highlight another Creative Team member, Melinda Ver Meer. As a professional photographer she skillfully draws the eye to her stunning portraits, using our products as icing on the cake (we won’t discuss the fact that she’s a Nikon gal!). Since we only live about four hours apart, we’ve been able to collaborate on some photography shoots together too.

backyard beauty pak, butterfly wings 5 pak

Here’s a bit about Melinda…

Tell us a bit about your family…

My husband and I have a bustling home in northwestern Iowa, where our five children ages 6-17 keep us young (and make us old!).

supplies

What are your favorite hobbies…

Photography, scrapbooking, and shopping are some of my favorite things to do!

supplies

What do you like most about digital scrapbooking?

Not dealing with the mess of supplies needed for paper scrapping. I love that I can take a break from a layout and pick up right where I left off without putting away/taking out a thing.

What type of camera do you use?

Nikon D300

backyard beauty pak, butterfly wings 5 pak

Do you work outside of the home?

I am a junior high/high school special education teacher and wedding/portrait photographer.

What is your favorite type of digital scrapbooking product?

I love flourishes and grungy elements as they are great accents for portraiture.

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What digital technique would you like to explore more in the coming year?

Trying to add more depth to my layouts with elements and shadows is something I’m always working on.

winter woodland pak

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Thanks, Melinda, for being with us these past four years sharing your life through photos and art!

Michelle

Hello! The team had a blast recently creating mosaics out of collections of past digital layouts. A great idea for a first page of an album or last page, or a re-cap of the year page.

The easiest method for completing a mosaic is to use one of our Scrap.Templates featuring square Storyboard Scrap.Frames - sets 13, 14, 26, 27, 29, and 33 are fitting choices. This will offer you individual clipping masks for each image spot beneath the frame (below Beth used one from set 26). Otherwise, you can use one of our Scrap.Frames and size and position layouts below each opening as I did above.

beth ervin

Here’s how using one of our layered Scrap.Templates with Adobe Photoshop Elements (Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro would follow similar steps):

1. Decide on how many and which digital layouts you want to feature in your mosaic. Or, you might want to pick out a template first to decide how many layouts you can use. Both Beth and Melinda used 01 Scrap.Template 26.  Tip: I keep printable jpgs of all finished digital layouts in a folder named Layouts (and layered psds in another folder). I can then sort by date to see most recent. I also name each layout with the subjects name and year. So all Alyssa layouts from this year would have Alyssa and 2011 in the file name. You can then search within your folder for such names, making it easier to narrow down.
2. Open Scrap.Template
3. Open all desired layouts. Flatten if in layered format (Layer>Flatten Image). Note: do not save over original layered file.
4. Resize all chosen layouts to approximate size needed beneath frames. Tip: to view ruler in Adobe PS or PSE select View>Rulers (Shift+Ctrl+R or Cmd+R on a Mac). For Melinda and Beth, the frame openings allow for about 2.75 inch squares. I like to drag all of the layouts onto one of them and then resize all at once (Image>Resize).
5. Click and drag all layouts onto template. Tip: when using this technique you’ll need to unlock the bottom most layer or it won’t drag with the other layers. To do so, double click on the lock symbol in the Layer Palette on bottom layer, Click OK on New Layer dialog box. Select All Layers (Select>All Layers or Ctrl-Click them in Layer Palette), then click and drag onto template.
6. Move each one into position. Rotate if desired, as some template’s frames are rotated a bit.
7. Move each layout into correct layer position in layer palette by moving right below its frame. Shortcut: Ctrl+[ or Cmd+[ on a Mac to move a layer downward one layer at a time.
8. In certain instances you may want to show only a portion of your layout or photo, therefore having some spill outside of frame until you clip to mask. If so, clip to corresponding clipping photo mask by selecting Layer>Group with Previous in PSE or Layer>Create Clipping Mask in PS.
9. Now the really fun design part! Decide on the theme and choose a kit that coordinates with the theme. Beth used Autumn Fields as it was used in most of her featured layouts. Melinda wanted to celebrate her son’s sixth birthday with a collection of layouts spanning his life and Spunky Monkey fit his personality to a T! melinda ver meer
10. Open a paper for the background.
11. Click and drag into place on top of the background in the Scrap.Template.
12. Melinda also added a creative twist by filling each of the nine frames with a different paper from Spunky Monkey using the frames as clipping masks (using instructions included with each Scrap.Template set). Using Steps 4-8 above, she resized each paper to about 4×4, dragged them onto the layout, positioned them, then clipped them to the frames (size of pattern will dictate how much you want to downsize). Fun!
13. Click on title text to activate Type Tool. Choose font, font color, font size and enter title (or add decorative word art as Melinda did).
14. Add extra elements if desired, as both Beth and Melinda did. 
15. Add personal journaling using Type Tool and any text path offered for journaling on the template.

And, here’s how using one of our Scrap.Frames (and digital kits[s] of choice) with  Adobe Photoshop Elements (Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro would follow similar steps):

Follow same steps above using any digital papers, Scrap.Frames, word art, and elements to design your own mosaic collage. Disregard Step 11 and simply resize and position your layouts manually beneath the Scrap.Frame openings.

tonya regular

Tonya mixed it up a bit by varying the size of her layouts as well as using a Scrap.Frame without all square openings. Very cool!

Click on layouts below from Karen, Patti, Beth, and I for more variations. See all of today’s layout details in our mosaic gallery.

Happy creating! Michelle

Hi all! Back again with more autumn inspiration thanks to Pinterest and our Creative Team.

Last week we released another fall-inspired digital kit, Majestic Oak. My brother lost an old, beautiful oak tree in a wind storm this summer; the inspiration for this kit. Two of the collage papers actually showcase this majestic oak.

The team shares below their pretty creations. See layout details in our team gallery here.

As this time of year settles in, so does our family’s desire to bake with pumpkin, squash, and apple. Rachel and I made a Pinboard sharing some favorite recipes and dishes we’ve found on-line.

Enjoy viewing the goodies here.

Speaking of autumn dishes, I just baked my first spaghetti squash. What a crazy vegetable…and so nutritious!

michelle shefveland. autumn fields papers, autumn fields elements and add-on, scrap.frames 13

Happy creating! Michelle

Hi all! Let’s get to know another Creative Team member, Karen Wilhelm. We love her knack for capturing the everyday with photos and stories, in beautiful tributes to her family of today and yesterday.

supplies

Here’s a bit about Karen…

Tell us a bit about your family…

A bitty town in eastern Arizona called Springerville is where I share my home with my husband, John. We have 2 grown sons and 9 grandchildren.

What are your favorite hobbies…

Photography, scrapbooking, reading, camping and picnicking in our forest are a few of my loves.

What do you like most about digital scrapbooking?

I love the ease of cleanup!  I just shut down my computer and there’s no mess left laying around!

backyard beauty pak

What type of camera do you use?

My current digital camera is a Sony DSC H5.  My dream camera is a digital SLR, but until then, my trusty little Sony goes everywhere with me.

Do you work outside of the home?

Retired now, my favorite job I’ve had was working for 2 podiatrists. They were a joy to work with and I learned so much from them!

What is your favorite type of digital scrapbooking product?

Papers seem to be my favorite, as I love the wide variety available! They truly set the tone for each of my pages.

What digital technique would you like to explore more in the coming year?

I would like to advance my skills of adding textures and masks to my photos. So many possibilities with layer blend modes!

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Thanks, Karen, for sharing your love of family, life, and scrapbooking with us over the past four years!

Michelle

Hello! Back again to share a super easy and basically free autumn fall centerpiece idea, focusing on vintage photos.

We just celebrated my mom and dad’s 45th anniversary last weekend and have been collecting ideas for party decorating on Pinterest with Alyssa and Rachel since this summer. I had an idea of what I wanted to make for centerpieces, but never did find anything quite like it, so just went with what I was envisioning and they turned out pretty cool. We got lots of comments by family and friends, especially when they saw a photo of themselves! Here’s how easy they are to replicate…

1. Collect dried twigs (I used birch as they have a nice sheen and don’t shed bark)
2. Collect quart sized canning jars (ask around or collect at thrift shops or yard sales) for multiple small centerpieces or a tall vase for one large one
3. Collect buttons or use your button stash
4. Create printable photo sheets. In Photoshop Elements or image editor of choice, create an 8.5×11 sheet of small printable images (2×3 to 3×4), leaving a small border around each image for leaving a white trim edge (File>New>8.5×11 at 300 dpi, white background). I created two sheets of 10 images for 20 images total, using two images per centerpiece.
5. Print sheets of images on card stock or photo paper
6. Trim images (I used my rotary cutter and cutting mat)
7. Using hole punch and twine or other cording, punch hole at top of image and make hanging tie
8. Arrange layer of buttons in bottom of each canning jar
9. Arrange twigs in each canning jar
10. Hang photos from twigs
11. Add any other accents you desire. Rachel had made some egg carton painted flowers on wire that we added for some pops of color.
12. Place on alternate tables with other tables having fall centerpieces. We had 30 tables to decorate, so made 10 of these and used flowers for the other 20.
13. Or, create one large centerpiece using a sheet or two of photos (about 10-20). When the party was over I combined everything to make the large arrangement at the beginning of this post. It will make a great conversation piece at Thanksgiving!

Here’s our party decorating Pinboard with lots of other DIY ideas. Did you know you can have boards with more than one contributor as we did here? Try it!

And Rachel’s fall-inspired home decor Pinboard…

If you’re not yet on Pinterest, request an invite from them here. See all of my Pinboards here.

Happy printing! Michelle

Fall, harvest time, chilly nights, pumpkins, brisk walks, changing colors, nesting, apple crisp, Autumn, bonfires, picking apples, raking leaves…these are all images and words that come to mind when I think of this time of year in the northern hemisphere. Such a glorious time for photography as the sun is quite low most of the day, so those soft dreamy photos are more easily captured.

simply inspiration scrap.words

Here’s a recent favorite abstract blur shot out the window while driving through our neighborhood. Just a touch of adjustments made to levels and saturation. See more abstract blur ideas here.

Our eight new fall releases have been used artfully by the team over the past few weeks and we have oodles to share with you! So much so that we’re needing to split it up in a few posts.

Due to the number of images below we’re displaying smaller previews…just click on any image to see them larger with artist name. See layout details in our team galleries, Autumn Fields and Giving Thanks.

Come back for our next few posts to see how we’re inspired by Pinterest this fall.

Note: watch for our What’s New Newsletter in your e-mail box Friday morning with this weekend’s sale, subscriber coupon code, new releases, new tips, and more. Free sign-up here.

Happy creating! Michelle

michelle shefveland

Hi everyone! Stopping in to share a pretty ScrapOver Quick Page freebie with our blog readers today.

A link to a tutorial on how to use our ScrapOver Quick Pages is included in the zip download.

This 12 inch/300 dpi Quick Page was created using our Off the Beaten Path 3 Papers, Get it Framed Danglies, Click.Masks 7, This is Life Scrap.Words, and Scrap.Edges 12.

New to our site? Be notified of Cottage Arts’ new releases, sales, tutorials, exclusive freebies, coupon codes in our free newsletter. Sign-up here. Subscribe to our blog RSS feed at top right.

Download Freebie Here (Personal Use Only - 20+ MB zip)

Enjoy!

Michelle and team

I totally forgot to show you the rest of Rachel’s DIY college apartment! Sorry about that; lots to share today!

So much fun went into creating the room furnishings and art for her walls with little funds.

Her headboard was a hand-me-down from a friend refreshed with some pretty paint from Valspar.

She made the mirror above her bed by spray painting bamboo skewers and hot gluing them to the back of a simple round mirror.

Our cream muslin Target room divider screen was refurbished with some vintage fabric I have had for years. We simply shirred and pinned it around the back. What a beautiful backdrop it became!

Her living room focal point is the retro spindle bookcase we scooped up for next to nothing at a neighboring yard sale.

Hand cut letters are all that were needed to accent the wall.

wall collage created using scrap.templates 33

My background in quilting means for a large stash of fabric, out of which we designed this simple pieced shower curtain using retro decorator samples (some of them were so ugly on their own, but in bits pretty cool!).

Painted on old vinyl albums, these shoes are a treasured gift she made for her roommate’s bedroom. Love!

A favorite verse became printable wall art.

One of the most rewarding projects was the pinned butterfly wall. Hand-cut butterflies from magazine tear sheets, creased in the center, were pinned flitting across her wall.

More butterflies grace a silver mirror and re-styled quilt rack painted in a sunny yellow to store her crocheted throws.

photo art blends 5 (on summer dock blend), photo art blends 3 (on poppy blend), simply dreamer scrap.words

A retro corkboard and collage of metal Altoid tins (acting as a magnetic board) grace the area next to her cool desk. Here she can rotate favorite photos and digital layouts.

To accent the last empty wall, we simply tacked an old map next to her hanging jewelry caddy. Library book sales are a great resource for maps.

With just some elbow grease and creative energy, you can create a colorful space to call home!

Happy decorating! Michelle and Rachel