Joannie McBride, online editor

I don’t know about you, but I for one am ready for the weekend. But before I head out the door, I need to share some love and give away some free scrapbook product!

Do you have any fun plans for the weekend? Leave a comment here by Friday, May 31, 2013 telling us how you’re going to spend your Memorial Day weekend.

One lucky winner will receive a prize package with products from Close To My Heart, Echo Park Paper Co., and My Mind’s Eye.

Leave a comment for a chance to win!

Good luck!

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Did you know Creating Keepsakes has an online store? Don’t miss out on the Scrap & Paper Shop Memorial Day Sale: Take 15% off ANY order with coupon code SPMD15 PLUS FREE Shipping on orders over $50!

Download this week’s free scrapbook font: CK Cowboys and Indians!

Available from noon (MST) today, May 24, 2013 – noon (MST), Friday, May 31, 2013.

For instructions on how to download fonts and for trouble shooting, read this.

To read the Terms of Use for the CK fonts, read here.

Enjoy!

Contributing Writer, Autumn Baldwin

Hey everyone! It’s my kids’ last day of school TODAY! Everyone’s pretty excited for summer break. One of my favorite parts of summer is staying outside late on summer evenings, enjoying the lovely weather as the sun makes it’s way down.

It’s a great time for taking photos because the low, directional light makes everything look warm and gently shadowed. It’s also the perfect time to get a lens flare photo.

To get a photo with lens flare, you’ll want the sun to be a bit higher than your subject’s face. Ideally, when you focus on your subject the sun should be just barely visible at the top of the frame. That will help give you the sunburst and radiating circles of light that look so cool in photos. Be careful as you take your pictures that you’re not looking right into the sun, and take a lot of photos, adjusting your position and angle slightly each time so you’ll have lots to choose from.

If the sun is already fairly low and right behind your subject and you’re shooting on auto, it’s hard for your camera to get the correct exposure. So there’s a good chance you’ll end up with an underexpose or overexposed photo. Use the levels menu in Photoshop Elements to increase the contrast (tutorial here) and the Hue/Saturation menu to increase the saturation so you can still end up with a usable photo:

Additionally, you can use Photoshop Elements to add lens flare to a photo for an artistic effect. In the menu bar at the top, choose filters – render – lens flare. From there you’ll be able to play around with the direction and type of flare for the effect you want:

When using a lens flare photo on a layout, try stamping a few extra circles directly onto the photo to mimic the lens flare effect.

I Love This by Autumn Baldwin

For more photography and Photoshop Elements tips and tutorials, visit my blog, It’s Always Autumn. This week you can enter to win a full year’s subscription to Creating Keepsakes Magazine – hope to see you there!

Autumn

Dream Team Member, Laina Lamb

Way back when, I attended the University of Cincinnati to become an architect. After the first year I realized architecture was a little too static for me and ended up getting my degree in interior design. In the 90’s we were taught to drafting to show our work. AutoCad was a brand new technology and not readily taught or available. I spent many years perfecting my drafting skills and attribute my design background to the “linear and graphic” style I use in my scrapbooking today. The drafting tools I used in school are still in my toolbox and are used frequently in my crafting projects. Here are few you may not be aware of. Most of these inexpensive tools can be found at your local office supply store or online.

24″ Stainless Steel Ruler

Metal Ruler

I use this tool every time I craft to trim pages and excess paper with my craft knife. I own a 12″ and 24″ version. The 24″ size is ideal because it can stretch across a double page spread.

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Self-Healing Mat

Self-Healing Mat

By far the most used and valuable tool I own. My college mat was past its prime so I bought a 24″ x 36″ mat from my local craft store at a steal with a coupon. I highly recommend a mat this size because it not only protects your entire desk but you can also lay out a 12 ” x 24″ double page spread and still have room on the edge to cut. I use the grid printed on top to line up borders and make sure things are straight.

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Drafting Dots

Drafting Dots

These handy little dots are perfect for holding your pages in one spot as you work on your layout. They are low tack and completely removable from your paper. Go slow the first time though to get a feel for it.

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T-Square

T-Square

My handy T-square helps me line up page elements parallel and at 90 degree angles.

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Triangles

Triangles

Triangles are great for obtaining 45, 30, and 60 degree angles. “Inking Triangles” have a raised edge so that when used with a pen, the ink does not bleed underneath the edge.

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Click Eraser

Click Eraser

One of my most favorite and inexpensive tools. I do all of my journaling with a pencil first, then go over it with a pigment pen. The small nib is perfect erasing my pencil marks and the white polymer won’t ruin my paper.

Tip: buy these for school. They really help my kids.

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Erasing Shield

Erasing Shield

I use my erasing shield over the area I want to erase to help minimize the “rub”. Works great for targeting only the areas you want to erase.

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Lead Pointer

Lead Pointer

This gadget is supposed to be for sharpening lead points in art pencils and compass points. I find it to be a handy and inexpensive distressing tool.

Tip: Great for removing “burs” (those little tabs) on paper die-cuts and chipboard.

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Cleaning Pad

Cleaning Pad

In school we used this cleaning pad to keep off excess graphite on drawings and remove smudges. I use it to remove dirt from papers. Also a handy tool for taking the stick off of stickers.

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Drafting Brush

Drafting Brush

I keep this brush at my side. Great for brushing away eraser dust, powders, glitters and more. All without smudging your work.

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Adhesive Remover

Adhesive Remover

This is simply a must have for all crafters. I have had the same adhesive eraser for over ten years and it’s still good. Use this remover to pick up stay sticky stuff off of paper. This does not work well on photos.

Great tip: Goes well with a Xyron X. (I swear by the repositionable) After running your diecut material through the X, rub your finger over the tape remove the clear top. Rub the Adhesive remover over the entire wax sheet and diecut material. Now your sticker is ready. The adhesive remover will pick up any stray unnecessary adhesive and make your die cut sticker look much much better.

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Extended Stapler

Extended Stapler

Ever want to staple in the middle of your 12×12 page but your regular stapler didn’t reach? Here’s the solution!

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Transfer Paper

Transfer Paper

This handy paper lets you trace any design and transfer it to another. Great for adding doodles, etc.

Tip: White paper is PERFECT for tracing and transferring a design to a chalkboard. Once you transfer the design go back over it with actual chalk.

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Grid Vellum Paper

Grid Vellum Paper

Get a whole pad and share with your friends. Vellum is new cool kid and with a grid? Even better!

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Templates

Circle Template

You can find a template in just about any shape or size you need, like a this circle template above or the oval template below. I use mine for drawing but they also come in handy when trying to decide what size circle I want to cut on my Silhouette. Templates also make great masks for inks and mists.

Oval Template

Lettering Template

They even make templates that can help you with uniform had lettering and line spacing.

Stencil Font Template

Stencil fonts are quite trendy these days!

Tip for buying stencils: Look for stencils that say “inking” just like the triangles from above. This type includes little bumps on the back that raise them up off the page and help your pens not to “bleed” underneath.

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I am so glad I held onto these handy items from my college days. Who knew my old school tools would be so handy today?

Joannie McBride, online editor

Need ideas for creating masculine layouts? Our Make it Masculine chapter in Scrapbooking Boys & Men has 25 foolproof ideas that focus on clean lines, solid focal points, decidedly masculine fonts, and the energy of motion to highlight your guys in every way possible.

On page 25, Deena Boese’s layout shows perfectly how to use curves to emphasize a title and keep the look masculine. She also included clusters of gears, nuts, and bolts to frame her focal photo and journaling.

Honestly by Deena Boese, as seen in the Scrapbooking Boys & Men special issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine.

Bonus Download:

Download this layout for free!

Download Deena’s free Photoshop layered PSD template or JPEG of this layout.

Joannie McBride, online editor

Inspired by Kelly Goree’s scrapbook layout C + S on page 73 of Scrapbooking Boys & Men special issue, we’ve created a collection of word bubbles just for you to use on your scrapbook pages and other crafting projects!

C + S by Kelly Goree, as seen in Scrapbooking Boys & Men

You can download this free sheet of word bubbles here!

Be sure to check out all of our free scrapbooking downloads, tips, and techniques at creatingkeepsakes.com.

Natalie McConnell, Senior Editor

Summer is just around the corner, which means that warm, colorful, and flavorful inspiration is in the air – just waiting to be found by you. What summery something inspires you? Is it the feel of the warm grass between your toes, the color of the sea as the sun is setting, or maybe it’s your strawberry lemonade perfect for BBQs. Whatever gets you excited for summer can also make great scrapbooking inspiration.

Think of it…the colors of a beach ball can transform into a whimsical banner; the whipped cream on your dessert can become cotton ball clouds in your layout sky; or a fun printable can guide your design ideas.

(Image courtesy of carletessaez.tubler.com)

(Image courtesy of bhg.com)

(Download this free printable, courtesy of thelatestfind.com)

(Download this free summer printable, courtesy of hellobrielle.files.wordpress.com)

Enjoy your beginning of summer and find inspiration wherever you go!

Megan Hoeppner, creative editor

This is Hope Chest.

With its design inspired by items you’d likely find in a cedar chest, this striking collection would be beautiful on heritage pages, wedding albums, and any other classic theme or occasion.

Aren’t these embellishments beautiful and springlike?

If this update leaves you eager to try this stylish line on for size, this may be the post for you. You see, we’re giving the collection to one lucky lady or lad. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post between now and Monday, May 27 and you’re entered to win. Best of luck to you!

And congratulations to last week’s Late & Great winner, Liliana, who will receive stamps and dies from My Favorite Things Stamps! We hope these treats quickly become some of your favorite things.

Cheers!
Megan Hoeppner, creative editor

Stacy Croninger

Hi,

Ruby Rock-it has generously donated product for use at CK Events and they want you to have the opportunity to see and play with their latest product: Carnival King.

This bright, fun line of papers also includes cards perfect for Project Life scrapbooking.

A fun Project Life layout using Carnival King.

Would you like to win this package of paper? Then leave a comment by noon MDT on Thursday, May 23 and we’ll choose a winner.

Congratulations to our winner!

lea says: These look like so much fun!

Watch for an email in your inbox with instructions on how to redeem your prize.

Important contest note: We apologize, but due to increased shipping costs Creating Keepsakes is no longer shipping prizes outside the US. But we definitely don’t want our international winners to walk away empty handed. If your shipping address is outside the US and your comment is selected, you’ll receive a one-year subscription to Creating Keepsakes magazine. If you’re an existing subscriber, your subscription will extend. Thank you for your understanding.

Thanks for stopping by! You probably want to go to Ruby Rock-it’s web site so you can see their other products too.

Stacy Croninger - Digital Managing Editor

Hi everyone,

How’s your week going? Need a technique idea to get your creativity flowing today? This idea is quick and easy and can be adapted to any layout’s theme or color.

In our recent publication, Scrapbooking Boys & Men, Elizabeth Gardner used inks to create a custom background. Her inked circles used deep shades of blue to bring swirling water to mind as well as a scattering of droplets and buttons to continue the water theme. Let’s take a look at the layout and how to recreate the background using supplies you have on hand.

Thrill Seekers by Elizabeth Gardner as seen in Creating Keepsakes' Scrapbooking Boys & Men

The first step is to trace a circle on your background paper. Elizabeth found a plate the size she wanted so look around your house to find the perfect sized circle for your design.

Draw large circle onto page.

Then she took her spray ink, unscrewed the lid, and used the tube to lightly trace over the circle she’d drawn. To add more movement to the design, draw several circles with ink, using the original circle as a guide. On Elizabeth’s layout, she used spray ink but you could also use paint.

Unscrew top of spray ink bottle and use tube to lightly paint over circle.

Finally, use the tube to drop ink spots randomly on your paper. The closer you are to the paper, the smaller the drops so vary the height that you drop the ink for a variety of sizes.

Splatter droplets of blue ink to simulate water.

And there you have it! A custom background in a matter of minutes. The great part about this technique is you can change the ink colors to match your photos or theme.

If you are looking for other masculine layout ideas, make sure to get a copy of Scrapbooking Boys & Men. You’ll find color, design, photo, and technique ideas to capture the moments with the men in your life.

Have fun creating!