I love hearing from you!

If you ask a question in your comment, please make sure to either show your email in your blogger profile, or email me directly....this is the only way that I can answer you!

Thursday, August 23, 2012

We have a Winner for the Sunday Blog Hop!



We have a winner to announce from our 'Sentiments Only' blog hop! Congratulations Julie of Last Minute Crafter, you were chosen from Angela's blog, Just Monkeying Around, as our August Blog Hop winner!

Please contact Cassie (cassandratrask@yahoo.com) to claim your $25 gift card to use toward digital images!

Have a wonderful day of stamping!

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

COLOR DIGI SHAKER CARD



Good Tuesday Tutorial morning to you...this is Lisa. Its my turn to make a little inspiring (I hope) tutorial for you.  My Marine son has been home visiting before he deploys to Afghanistan next month. Such a blessing. 

Now onto our tutorial. Today I will show you how easy it is to make a shaker card using Color Digital Images.  

Here is the Color Digi Shaker Card we are making today. 
Using two Digis:
ICE CREAM SOCIAL COLOR (banana split image_


First we'll start with the inside of our card.  My black card base is 5 x 5, fold at the top, from a piece of 5 x 10" cardstock.  The inside white cardstock piece is 4 3/4 x 4 3/4".  In Publisher I placed my png banana split outline image from ICE CREAM SOCIAL COLOR DIGI  and then washed it out to make a faint image so you can still write over the top of it. Then I placed the png sentiment from BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION DIGI and recolored it red.  You can learn how to RECOLOR digital images in the past HOW TO RECOLOR YOUR DIGIS WITH DIANE tutorial. 

Here is our front panel.  The png colored banana split image is printed onto white cardstock cut to 4 3/4 x 4 3/4".  In Publisher I placed the png Happy Birthday sentiment also from the ICE CREAM SOCIAL COLOR DIGI directly onto my image.  The png image is transparent so you can place on top of another image.

This is front panel 4 3/4 x 4 3/4" that will go over our image.  I used the largest Spellbinders Circle Nestabilities die from the large circles set.  I embossed the circle edge as well. 

This is how they will overlap each other. 

 Place score tape on the back of your red panel to adhere our acetate (clear cardstock). 

Now adhere your 4 3/4 x 4 3/4 acetate piece to the back of your red front panel. 

Place 1/8" thick diemsional tape on the back with no gaps along the edge of the die cut out so your fill does not fall out. Then put 1 teaspoon of candy sprinkles on top of acetate in circle.  Then adhere second 4 3/4 x 4 3/4 piece of acetate. I did this to contain the sprinkles and so there is a barrier between them and my image since it is candy. 

After adhering acetate, adhere your image panel then cover with score tape to adhere to card front.

Now you are ready to adhere to your card front.




Here is what it looks like adhered to the card front.   You're done. Wasn't that simple.

Here's another Color Digi Shaker Card I made using HANG IN THERE COLOR DIGI

Sunday, August 19, 2012

SENTIMENTS ONLY AUGUST BLOG HOP



Welcome to our monthly Blog Hop today. 
This month's theme is
SENTIMENTS ONLY

All you do is hop from one blog to another leaving comments as you go. One randomly chosen winner will be selected from all the comments left.  The more blogs you comment on the greater your chances are of winning the prize
$25 Clear Dollar Stamps Gift Certificate to purchase CDS digital images.
The winner of the hop will be posted right here Thursday, August 23rd. So check back and see if you won! 

Now you can start your hop seeing what the Design Team did with sentiments:





 


Friday, August 17, 2012

Clearly Inspired Challenge #58 (CIC58)



Happy Friday, crafty friends!  It's time for the second Clearly Inspired Challenge of the month!  We've had so much participation from the first one, that I'm still trying to get around and comment!  Thank you to all that have participated. . .your creations are so lovely!  Let's get to our next challenge, shall we?

Circles

Make a circular card or project, or anything with lots of circles on it.  Just be creative!  Before you submit, be sure to check out our challenge guidelines.

Here is what our August Featured Digi looks like:



Let's take a look at what our talented DT has for us:

Deonna Bemish -- featured digital image Hoot Hoots
Lisa Lara -- feautured digital image HOOT HOOTS
Jen Young ---featured digital image HOOT HOOTS


Please link directly to your project using Mister Linky down below.  We also ask that you link back here to Clearly Inspired Challenge sponsored by Clear Dollar Stamps.  You have until Thursday, September 6th at midnight to enter this challenge to be eligible for the prizes at the end of the month.  That's 3 whole weeks rather than the normal 2! Be as creative as you can while sticking to the theme.  Remember, only one entry per person, please :)
We can't wait to see what you come up with!




Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Digi Day at Clear Dollar Stamps!


Hello Everyone!
Time for another digi release!
 
Let's get started, but first............................................................
Are you new to digis?  Well if you are, here is a quick explanation.  You will buy and download a "zipped up" file.  You will unzip this file and receive all the images in jpg and png formats.  You will then pull those into a Word doc or picture editor and print, print, print.

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Digis by Lisa Lara

This little set is just in time for fall, school starting, and apple season!  The sentiments are just perfect for thank yous, birthday, and to tell that special someone how much you love them!

Apple Licious Digital Image
Designed by Lisa Lara. Copyright Lisa's Doodley Doos.
Licensed by Clear Dollar Stamps.


The DT members who created previews with this digi:
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How cute is this set????  I love the little bookmarks and cards that our Design Team has come up with to make this set so special!

Bookworms Digital Image
Designed by Lisa Lara. Copyright Lisa's Doodley Doos.
Licensed by Clear Dollar Stamps.


The DT members who created previews with this digi:
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Digis by Austin Owens

Austin was a busy girl this last month!  She has five new sets this month that I think you will just love!

The first set is perfect for Back to School pages and cards!  Don't forget to make little notes to include in your kid's lunch boxes!

Back to School Digital Image
Designed by Austin Owens. Copyright Austie Bost Stamps.
Licensed by Clear Dollar Stamps.


The DT members who created previews with this digi:
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One look at the samples for this set and you will be hooked!  Once again, Austin's set will make a baby's scrapbook page CRY out for attention or create a beautiful baby announcement/baby shower invite!

Baby Digital Image
Designed by Austin Owens. Copyright Austie Bost Stamps.
Licensed by Clear Dollar Stamps.

 
The DT members who created previews with this digi:
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Everyone loves fun backgrounds!  Here are a few for your collection!

Backgrounds Digital Image
Designed by Austin Owens. Copyright Austie Bost Stamps.
Licensed by Clear Dollar Stamps.


The DT members who created previews with this digi:

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I think this set is very fun and versatile!  Lots of adorable images to pair with some of our other sentiment sets or scripture verses!

Bugs Digital Image
 Designed by Austin Owens. Copyright Austie Bost Stamps.
Licensed by Clear Dollar Stamps.

 
The DT members who created previews with this digi:
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What pretty focal image flowers by Austin!  A sure hit on any card!

Rose Digital Image
 Designed by Austin Owens. Copyright Austie Bost Stamps.
Licensed by Clear Dollar Stamps.


The DT member who created previews with this digi:
.......................................................
Digis by Lori McCroskey

This set you will recognize from a stamp set, but I've splashed a little color on it for our digi release!  The papers to match make perfect little gift boxes to hang your tags on!

 Baked for You Tags Digital Image
Designed by Lori McCroskey. Copyright Clear Dollar Stamps.


The DT members who created previews with this digi:

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The next two sets come in color and black.....just to add a little versatility!  Everyone needs sympathy cards and these sets are just what you need to get a little stash built up.  Print out papers to match your colored sentiments!

Words of Sympathy Digital Image
Designed by Lori McCroskey. Copyright Clear Dollar Stamps.


The DT members who created previews with this digi:
.......................................................

 Christian Sympathy Digital Image
Designed by Lori McCroskey. Copyright Clear Dollar Stamps.


The DT members who created previews with this digi:
.......................................................

Faith Digital Image
Designed by Lori McCroskey. Copyright Clear Dollar Stamps.


The DT members who created previews with this digi:

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Make sure to check out our tutorial on how to colorize your digis!  This set would be perfect to splash a little color on!
Learn to color your digis on your computer here!

Birthday Celebration Digital Image
Designed by Lori McCroskey. Copyright Clear Dollar Stamps.


The DT members who created previews with this digi:



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What a wonderful release we had this month!  Thank you for coming and sharing it with us!

Please make sure to leave some encouraging comments for our wonderful Design Team!  They make every digi look so beautiful....I'm proud to work with them each month!

Hope your day is filled with stamping and blessings galore!

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Tuesday Tutorial: Using Word to Create Simple Scenes with Digis


Hello, crafty friends! It's Deedee here with another digital stamping tutorial for you on this fine Tuesday morning. Today I'm going to show you how to combine digis to create a simple scene using Microsoft Word, like the one on my sample card above. Creating scenes is one of my favorite ways to use digis, and once you've learned how, I'm sure it will become one of your favorites, too! :-)

Please note that this tutorial does assume some basic understanding of digis. If you are brand new to using digis, please visit our Digi Stamps 101 page HERE for directions to get you started. Also, for this tutorial, I'll be using Microsoft Word 2010. If you'd like to follow along with my directions for creating scenes with your digis using Word 2010, but don't currently have this program installed on your computer, you can download a free 60-day-use trial of Microsoft Office 2010 HERE (Microsoft Word is included in the Office suite of programs).

USING WORD TO CREATE A SIMPLE SCENE WITH DIGIS
Using Microsoft Word, you can create a simple scene by inserting two or more digis into a document and then moving them around to your liking. Today I will show you how to create a cute, summery scene using digis from two different CDS sets -- the happy bee from "Bumbles" by Lisa Lara and the sunflower from my "Sunshine & Smiles."

A. Place the First Digi on the Page & Make it Moveable
1. Open a new, blank document in Word.
2. With your mouse, click on Insert on the menu bar at the top of the Word window, and then select Photo from the pull-down menu.



 
3. A second menu will appear to the side. From this menu, select Picture from File.
4. The "Choose a Picture" window will appear on-screen. In this window, navigate to the digi you wish to open, and then click on the Insert button at the bottom right corner of the window.




5. The digi you selected will be placed on your blank Word document, and will have a blue rectangle around it. This indicates that the digi is selected and able to be edited. With the digi selected, locate the Wrap Text button on the toolbar above the document window. Click on this button.




6. A pull-down menu will appear on the screen. From this menu, select Tight. This will enable the image to be moved to where you want it later in this tutorial.

B. Place the Second Digi on the Page & Make it Moveable
Repeat the steps above to place the second digi on the page and make it moveable.




As you complete the last step, Word may move the second digi over the top of the first so that you can only see the one digi.


If this happens, simply click the top digi to select it (so that the blue rectangle appears around it) and then, holding down the left button on your mouse, drag the digi to another area of the page. You should now be able to see both digis on the page.



C. Make the Backgrounds of the Digis Transparent
You're almost ready to move the digis around on the page to create your scene. However, there's one pesky detail that needs to be taken care of first. If you are using the JPEG versions of the digis, you will find that when you place the digis near each other, one digi will cover up part of the other, as seen in the photo below.


This is because JPEG files have a solid white background. To solve this problem, you can either use the PNG versions of the digis, which have transparent backgrounds, or, if you prefer to use JPEG files, you can follow these steps to make the backgrounds on your JPEG digis transparent:

1. Click the digi to select it. When selected, the digi will have a blue rectangle around the outside of it, and the mouse cursor will be shaped like sighting cross-hairs.
2. Once the digi is selected, look at the top left of the Word window to see that the Format Picture tab is highlighted on the toolbar near the top of the screen. If it is not highlighted, click on it so that it is. Underneath the Format Picture tab in the Word window, locate and click on the Recolor button.


4. A pull-down menu of recoloring options will appear on the screen. Near the bottom of this menu, locate and click on Set Transparent Color.
5. You will now notice that the mouse cursor changes shape, from a cross-hairs shape to an arrow shape. Move the mouse cursor to some part of the space just outside of the drawn lines of the selected digi, but still inside the blue rectangle, and click there. This will turn the background of the digi transparent instead of white. NOTE: Be careful not to click inside the lines of the selected digi, or the image itself will become transparent instead of just its background.


6. Repeat the steps above with the second digi so that the backgrounds of both images are transparent.




D. Move the Digis Around to Create the Scene
Now its time to move the digis around on the page to create your scene. Simply click the digi that you want to move to select it, hold down the left button on your mouse, and then drag the digi to where you want it. Repeat this as necessary with each of the digis until you have them arranged to your liking.


Note: Be careful to place the drawn lines of the digis near each other, not on top of each other. If the lines overlap, they will appear that way when you print them, and will look messy. There are techniques for layering digis on top of each other without this happening, but it's a more complicated process, so we'll save that for another tutorial. ;-)

E. Print the Scene
With your scene arranged to your liking, it's time to print it out:

1. Load the paper on to which you wish to print your digis into your printer's paper tray.
2. In the Word window, click on File on the toolbar at the top left of the screen.


3. A pull-down menu will appear on the screen. From this menu, select Print.
4. Follow the prompts specific to your printer to complete the printing process.

And voila -- you now have a simple scene created from digis! Simply color and cut it out by whichever means you choose, and it's ready to use in one of your crafty projects.

I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial, and that before long you'll be feeling confident enough to create all kinds of scenes. Be sure to share your scene-ic creations with us -- we always love to see what you make with our digis! :-)