Lori Whitlock Blog Hop! Freebies and Giveaway!

Welcome to the Awesome Autumn

Blog Hop!

Here is my layout I made with two of Lori's Fall collections

Fall Fling and Autumn Afternoon

and you can get them now for 30% off your entire purchase!

30% OFF sale Oct 18-23

$20 Gift Card Giveaway on Lori's blog and

FREE "Thanksgiving" banner!

Click here to download

Blog Hop Lineup 

Lori Whitlock Start Here!

Natalie Graham 

Corri Garza 

Joy Dickson 

Lisa Bell 

Mendi Yoshikawa 

Amanda Jones 

Christine Ousley 

Lisa Barrie You are here!

and don't forget to

New Webster's Pages Giveaway!

I hope everyone is settling into the new school year. I know for me I'm spending more time in the car then ever before. Los Angeles is a large city and I'm finding myself driving from one end to the other. But one thing we always make time for is spending some time at the beach. 

Since buying my Silhouette Cameo only eight months ago it's had a profound effect on my scrapbooking. I love buying digital kits and this page showcases two of my favorite. I've used Echo Park Everyday Eclectic and Websters's Pages "Yacht Club"  you can find out how to win the collection below!

Digital kits are easy to use, all the background paper is a jpg just like a photo and the other elements are .png it a photo with a transparent background. This makes them very easy to print & cut using your Silhouette Cameo.

Digital scrapbooking is using photo editing software, like Photoshop Elements, to design a layout using the same steps you normally use now. You start with using a kit that contains digital elements, papers and alphas. Photo editing software has many tools that mimic the tools you use now like cutting, moving, layering plus some really cool tools like resizing and recoloring. If you love the feel of paper, scissors and glue you can give hybrid scrapping a try! Check out some digital kits available from your favorite manufacturers, Jessica Sprague is a great place to get started they offer kits from several manufactures like Echo Park and Pink Paislee and offer great beginner classes as well.
If you''d like to give it a try Papercrafter's Corner is giving away the beautiful Yacht Club Collection form Webster's pages. You can find it here. http://papercrafterscorner.com/blog/creating-with-digi-kits-and-a-digi-giveaway/

Digital Freebies from Jessica Sprague and More!!

I saw this email this morning from Jessica Sprague and I had to share it with you all. What a great opportunity to learn how to use the basics in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements.

This FREE class runs from June 18-23! Register now!

Here are some quick details of the class:

• Course Type: Instructor-led
• Format: Online, video
• Length: One week
• Subject: Photoshop techniques
• Instructor: Jessica Sprague
• Works for: Photoshop Elements 6-10 or CS2-6.
• Mac and Windows? Both!
• Who's it for: EVERYONE!
• Class Size: Unlimited

It's time to take Photoshop out of the box! In this FREE class, Jessica will introduce you to five incredible, indispensable techniques EVERYONE should learn in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements. For five awesome days, we'll meet together to talk Photoshop/Photoshop Elements and everything YOU can learn how to do! Legendary teacher and creative genius Jessica Sprague will be your guide in five different projects that show dozens of techniques and tools - WHAT to do and WHEN to use them.

In our class we'll talk about the Photoshop Top 5: 5 indispensable Techniques EVERYONE should know:

Technique 1: How to Edit Photos: Quick Tricks

In this project, Jessica will show you quick tricks for boosting contrast and adding that extra pop to ALL your photos. As a bonus, you'll also learn how to turning your photos black and white!

Technique 2: How to Use a Digital Quickpage

Quickpages are pre-designed scrapbook pages that are waiting only for your photos and text. Jessica will show you how to use them in this great project!

Technique 3: How to add Frames and Texture to Photos

In this project, we'll add both a texture and a frame to a photo, and set it to print as a 5x7.

Technique 4: How to Use Photoshop Brushes

In this technique we'll create a blog header using one of the BEST Photoshop tools: The BRUSH tool! You'll love all the creative possibilities!

Technique 5: How to Make a Card

Everyone needs to know how to bust out a quick, cute card using Photoshop, and Jessica will show you how to make it easy!

How This Class Works

Each day, a new video lesson will be posted in the classroom. You don't need to be online at any specific time, so you can take the class in a way that fits your schedule! Best of all, like all of our classes here at JessicaSprague.com, ALL of the course material is available to you forever!

You'll also receive an email each day of our class, to keep you motivated and on track! You can post in the class message board to ask and answer questions and get to know the other class participants. This will be the most fun you'll have all summer! Register now!

I'm signing up to check this out and I'll post my review!

So you're going to sign up for Jessica's Class, how about some free digi designs to get you started!

Sweet Shoppe Designs has some beautiful freebies here, These designs will give you a great start to Printing and Cutting some wonderful elements with your Silhouette Cameo!

Not sure how to use digital elements with your Silhouette Cameo, check out my tutorial here and here!

Ok so now you've signed up for class and you have some fun digital kits to work with...but did you know the software is free from Silhouette, that's right, even if you don't have a Silhouette Cameo yet, you can download the software for free and play around with it here is the free software link. So, if you are deciding if you want one or you already have another cutter you can still play with all these freebies. 

Here's another great sale ending today you can get Photoshop Elements for $50.00 off!

Check it out here!

You can get a free 30 day trial of the brand new Photoshop CS6 here 

So, you really don't have to spend a dime to create with Photoshop and digital kits!

How fun is that!

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day here in the US.  Thanks you to all the service men and their families for there incredible service to this country every day.

To help celebrate here are some Memorial Day Freebies from Cupcake Wishes!

For more you can find her Printerest board here and her blog here
Thanks for visiting ! 

Silhouette Cameo Tips for Cutting Cardstock

I was reading Samantha Walker's Blog yesterday and she gave some great tips that I wanted to share with you.

Have you ever wondered how to cut textured card stock like Bazzill? 

Well...you're not alone...I've had to experiment with settings until I figured a few things out.  

First off...one magical setting for Bazzill does not fit all. 

Your cut settings should be determined by your paper thickness and the detail within your design.  

For very simple designs...I'm finding that you can get a beautiful cut with your blade set on a depth of 4, speed of 3 and thickness set at 33.  

However, if you cut a detailed design you should bump up your settings to a blade depth of 5, speed down to 2 and thickness at 33. Then you will also want to click on the "double cut setting" on the right of your cut settings screen.  

Silhouette Customer Service has recommended blade depth settings between 4-6 for Bazzill card stock. They also agree, that one setting, does not fit all situations. 

So...how do you know whether to cut lighter or heavier...here's a few trouble shooting signs to watch for.  

Problem: Paper cutting most of the design, but not quite all the way through...

Suggestion: make sure you have your "double cut" box checked (for detailed designs), or set your blade depth down one more level (for simpler designs.)

Problem: Paper cutting the design, but the corners of the design, where the blade turns, are "mucking up."

Suggestion: slow down your speed, change your blade depth to cut a little lighter (if it's on a 6 try a 4 or 5) Then make sure double cut is checked to ensure a complete cut through.  When your corners start messing up with the paper pushing up, that means that the blade is pushing too hard for the details in the design, it needs to have less pressure and cut those corners more slowly twice in order for it to go smoothly around the bends."

I agree with Samantha and in addition, I cut my textured Bazzill with the textured side down. And when at all possible, I prefer the Bazzill Smoothie Cardstock, I always have plenty of white smoothie on hand. It has an ultra smooth finish I love it for card bases.

I'm finishing up a new project and I hope to have it ready for you tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Hugs, Lisa

And the Winner is........

Congratulations to Kellycreates and Michelle you have each won a set of Perfume bottle chppies. Please contact me within the next 7 days at lisabarrie@live.com with your mailing addresses. I can't wait to see what you both create!!