This weekend we're celebrating the release of the 100th Artsy Layered Template with a special triple 100 sale. All 100 Artsy Layered Templates are on sale for 100 cents each for 100 hours in the On Sale category of the aA Store until Tuesday May 28, 2013 at 1pm EST. I created this layout using Artsy Layered Template No. 100 and shared my easy 5-step process in today's AnnaNews. If you missed it, it's not too late to sign up and receive it here. Related articles Template Savvy 8 Ways to Use ArtsyKardz + SALE Project 365/Life | Week 16 Continue reading

NewART is now available in the aA store. Each of the 5 individual digital products is discounted by 20% or available as a collection at 36% off through Friday May 31, 2013 at 9am EST. We're also celebrating the release of the 100th Artsy Layered Template with a special triple 100 sale. All 100 Artsy Layered Templates are on sale for 100 cents each for 100 hours in the On Sale category of the aAStore. I'll be breaking down my own process for using the 100th Artsy Template in tomorrow's AnnaNews and we have some special blog posts lined up for next week providing both inspiration, and guidance on how to use the Artsy Layered Template. Related articles AnnaRelease 17 May 2013 Midweek Release + Artsale Midweek Release, ArtSale + iNSD Sale Details MidWeek Release + ArtSale Continue reading

I used this same layout design to tackle my Tandem Scrapbooking 2005 month in review page. Click on the images for complete supply list and better view of the pages. FotoInspired Week 20 was created using digital products from the FotoInspired No. 2 series. This template design is now available as FotoInspired DoubleTemplate No. 14 in the aA store. Minimal Changes. This week's layout pretty much follows the same format as previous layouts. I have used the new FotoInspired DoubleTemplate No. 14 with the new FotoInspired StitchedFrames No. 1 as well as some of the older FotoInspired sets. My photos were edited using a mix of my own actions as well as some from My 4 Hens Photography. Some of these photos are clipped to the layers in ArtsyKardz with the remainder being added straight to the template. Background papers,... Continue reading

MidWeek Release. 6 NewART digital products are now available in the aAStore. These products are 20% off until Wednesday May 29, 2013 at 9am EST. ArtsyKardz. 4 New sets of ArtsyKardz to coordinate with ArtPlay Palette Awaken delivered in .jpg and the popular layered .psd format for use in digital and traditional scrapbooking as well as Project Life. I'm using these into my own Project 365 this year. Please note that the 12 X 12 ArtsyKardz are essentially artsy backgrounds in layered .psd format. You won't necessarily use these in your Project 365/Life pages but they make great launch pad for all your other artsy pages. Instructions and inspiration for using both the .jpg and .psd version of these Kardz can also be found in the following posts: Tutorial | Using ArtsyKardz in your Digital Layouts No. 1 Tutorial |... Continue reading

AnnaTeamer, Heather Prins, shares a favorite technique for beating *layout fright* and getting started with a new layout. ......................................................................................................................................................... Have you ever found yourself staring at your screen not knowing how to start your layout? One of my favorite ways to get creativity flowing and quickly get over feeling stuck is to begin a page using one or more ArtStrokes. You can usually find at least 2 or 3 in each Artplay Palette or they're delivered in sets in the ArtStrokes category of the aAstore. The placement of ArtStrokes on a layout immediately divides a large overwhelmeing white space into smaller more manageable areas. Think of creating a grid of sorts with artsy flair on your page. Divide the Canvas. Place one or more ArtStrokes on a new document and use the resulting arrangement to set boundaries and create guides... Continue reading

It was a socially busy weekend but I did find the time to open and marvel at the stack of prints I recently ordered at Persnickety Prints during their recent INSD sale. It's quite a process organizing the prints chronologically and then placing them in the appropriate albums. I'd do myself a favor if I didn't wait so long to order. I'm usually able to make it happen about every 6 months and I'm always happy when I do make that effort. It's one thing so see your pages on a screen, but completely different to hold them as a tangible keepsake in your hand. It's also quite a feeling of accomplishment to see all your pages collectively as body at work. Looking through the pages always makes me smile as I relive some of the moments from the past... Continue reading

NewART is now available in the aA store. Each of the 5 individual digital products is discounted by 20% or available as a collection at 37% off through Friday May 24, 2013 at 9am EST. I used this release to create the following layout. Make sure you're signed up for AnnaNews to receive the Layout Deconstruction tomorrow morning. Continue reading

I'm back on track with my Tandem Scrapbooking 2005 project, and used the same Project 365/Life design with slight modification to complete my pages. Specifically, I switched out a couple of the masks to accommodate more photos. Click on the images for complete supply list and better view of the pages. FotoInspired Week 19 came together by creating a layout from the FotoInspired No. 2 series products as well as a number of custom masks and frames. This template design is now available as FotoInspired DoubleTemplate No. 13 in the aA store. Repetition. You will notice a repetition of techniques as we progress through this project. Each layout has a solid background with a painted EdgeTransfer with a variety of photos and mini-artworks combining photos and ArtsyKardz. The pages may or may not include thematic or script-style brushes and transfers... Continue reading

MidWeek Release. 6 NewART digital products are now available in the aAStore. These products are 20% off until Wednesday May 22, 2013 at 9am EST. ArtsyKardz. 4 New sets of ArtsyKardz to coordinate with ArtPlay Palette Natural Instinct delivered in .jpg and the popular layered .psd format for use in digital and traditional scrapbooking as well as Project Life. I'm using these into my own Project 365 this year. Please note that the 12 X 12 ArtsyKardz are essentially artsy backgrounds in layered .psd format. You won't necessarily use these in your Project 365/Life pages but they make great launch pad for all your other artsy pages. Instructions and inspiration for using both the .jpg and .psd version of these Kardz can also be found in the following posts: Tutorial | Using ArtsyKardz in your Digital Layouts No. 1 Tutorial... Continue reading

Members of the aA Team share more ways to use clipping masks in this sequel post. Click on the images below for complete supply lists and more information on the layout creation process. Read the first post here. ............................................................................................................................................................... 6. Recolor A Mask. Eszter likes to recolor masks for use in her pages. In this particular page she converted the mask to pink (Layer > Layer Style > Color Overlay), sampling the shade directly from her photo, to create a subtle foundation for her design. Eszter also clipped an image to another mask and applied the Darken blending mode to allow the underlying book texture to show through the light areas of the image. Everyday Stories | Eszter Baranyi 7. Crop A Mask. Crop a mask and use just part of a FotoBlendz file. Chris clipped a photo to a... Continue reading

That's what we call Mother's Day in the UK, which takes palce earlier in the year. It's kind of nice to be recognized twice per year. I was up early with the dogs, phoned my Mum, enjoyed brunch Downtown Denver with my peops at Linger, hit the garden center, worked a little, biked the reservoir, did 3 loads of laundry, cleaned up the house and then cooked dinner, took the dogs out again to the park before hitting the computer again in an attempt to beat the Monday morning rush. Life is always jammed packed and there is little downtime, even on Mother's Day, but as I was just telling a friend, this chaotic lifestyle I lead is short term. All too soon E and L will be leaving home and I won't know what to do with my time.... Continue reading

NewART is now available in the aA store. Each of the 5 individual digital products is discounted by 20% or available as a collection at 37% off through Friday May 17, 2013 at 9am EST. Continue reading

A few crazy happenings around here, to include a certain little dog digging out of the yard into the coyote- ridden open, a possible move for us overseas and 4th grade field trip, forced me to can my Tandem Scrapbooking layout for this week. The photos are selected and ready to go so I be pressing on with Year 2005 next week. FotoInspired layout Week 18 was created using digital products from the FotoInspired No. 2 series. This template design is now available as FotoInspired DoubleTemplate No. 12 in the aA store and supports up to 14 photos. Ratio of Photos to Art. This week's spread includes fewer photos than previous weeks. This is partly due to having fewer photos for last week but I also want to make that conscious effort of introducing variety into my pages by including... Continue reading

MidWeek Release. 7 NewART digital products are now available in the aAStore. These products are 20% off until Wednesday May 15, 2013 at 9am EST. ArtsyKardz. 4 New sets of ArtsyKardz to coordinate with ArtPlay Palette Inflorescence delivered in .jpg and the popular layered .psd format for use in digital and traditional scrapbooking as well as Project Life. I'm using these into my own Project 365 this year. Please note that the 12 X 12 ArtsyKardz are essentially artsy backgrounds in layered .psd format. You won't necessarily use these in your Project 365/Life pages but they make great launch pad for all your other artsy pages. Instructions and inspiration for using both the .jpg and .psd version of these Kardz can also be found in the following posts: Tutorial | Using ArtsyKardz in your Digital Layouts No. 1 Tutorial |... Continue reading

Members of the aA Team share their favorite ways to use Clipping Masks in this 2-part blog post. Click on the images below for complete supply lists and more information on the layout creation process. .......................................................................................................................................................... 1. Create a Matte | Clip an artsy paper to a mask to create a quick and easy matte for a collectiong of elements and/or photos. Amber clipped a paper from Artplay Palette Jardinier to the full-page fotoblendz from the Gift of You Template Album to create a colorful and interesting matte behind the cluster of stacked photos. Blessings | Amber Ries 2. Journaling Block | Masks make great journaling blocks when recolored or clipped with solid papers. Donna recolored the clipping masks from LabelTransfer Clipping Masks No. 1 to addd visual interest and a fun chalk-like feel to the white background and lined... Continue reading

Fab Outdoors | Digital Supplies Journaling reads: "Friday 3 May 2013 was a *no school* day. There seems to be far too many of those in my humble opinion. I didn’t want E and L sitting around the house consumed by technology, and so when the opportunity arose to do a little volunteer work at a local farm, we jumped at it. Well, if the truth be known the girls did. The boys not so much. Eric took the day off to join us. We had anticipated working with the animals but planted some trees and built some fences instead. Sometimes things don’t quite work out as you expect but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy them and find the good in helping others." I used a Artsy Layered Template No. 98 for this layout (coming to the store on... Continue reading

NewART is now available in the aA store. Each of the 5 individual digital products is discounted by 20% or available as a collection at 37% off through Friday May 10, 2013 at 9am EST. ArtsyKardz and Project 365/Life digital supplies, except those included in MidWeek Release 24 April 2013, will also be discounted by 30% from Friday May 3, 2013 through Monday May 6, 2013 at 9am EST. I'm also sweetening the deal with a special Free With Purchase Special Offer: when you spend $10.01 or more you get FotoInspired DoubleTemplate No. 11 for FREE. It's a great time to stock up on your FotoInspired/Project Life supplies, or maybe try them out for the first time. Get lots of tips and trick on how I have been using them each week, and in my Tandem Scrapbooking project, here. Here's... Continue reading

I used my Project 365/Life design with slight modification to tackle my Tandem Scrapbooking 2005 month in review page. Specifically, I switched out a couple of the masks and replaced the large square frame on the right page with a frame from FotoInspired Frames No. 2. Click on the images for complete supply list and better view of the pages. FotoInspired Week 17 was created using digital products from the FotoInspired No. 2 series. This template design is now available as FotoInspired DoubleTemplate No. 11 in the aA store and is my iNSD special offer for a limited time. Orientation of Photos. This week I want to talk about the dimensions of photos, in terms of landscape and portrait photos, as well cropping them to make them work with the FotoInspired templates. You likely take a variety of photos in... Continue reading

MidWeek Release. 8 NewART digital products are now available in the aAStore. These products are 30% off in lieu of the upcoming iNSD celebrations (see full details below) and will remain in effect until Wednesday May 8, 2013 at 9am EST. ArtsyKardz. 4 New sets of ArtsyKardz to coordinate with ArtPlay Palette Living Well delivered in .jpg and the popular layered .psd format for use in digital and traditional scrapbooking as well as Project Life. I'm using these into my own Project 365 this year. Please note that the 12 X 12 ArtsyKardz are essentially artsy backgrounds in layered .psd format. You won't necessarily use these in your Project 365/Life pages but they make great launch pad for all your other artsy pages. Instructions and inspiration for using both the .jpg and .psd version of these Kardz can also be... Continue reading

This tutorial by AnnaTeamer, Joanie Schaefer, deconstructs a heritage layout using various blending modes and an extraction technique. .......................................................................................................................................................... Joanie says, "I cherish each and every old family photograph I have. When I sit down to scrap one of these heritage photos, I hope to find the best way to showcase it, and really make it shine. Many of these old photographs are faded and discolored, and often have other flaws that make them a challenge." The original photograph in this layout was dull and included a large shadow of the photographer so the photograph was blended to minimize this flaw, while the addition of blending modes accentuated the the best parts of the image. Layer the Background | Layer 4 background papers, applying various blend modes with differing opacities, to achieve the soft and subtly patterned base. Overlap 2... Continue reading

At the beginning of the year, in my 2013 Intentions post, I pledged to do a 365 Project that involved taking a photo each day throughout year 2013, of or about me. I named this project Project 365 | Just Me. ........................................................................................................................................................... April officially ends on Wednesday and so it's time for my monthly update on the JustMe project. I have taken 21 photos as of today, and if I stay on track for the remainder of the month, I'll have missed 7 days in total. Most of these days occurred in the first half of the month, and if I'm honest, this shaky start prompted me to get through the rest. Again, it was just a matter of paying attention and being aware that I was slowly falling off the wagon. Falling has definitely become easier, as has getting... Continue reading