Digital Diva

Ok, so maybe I'm not quite a diva yet, but I've been playing around with my Christmas gift - Photoshop Elements. I've figured out a few things and thought I'd share what I've been able to create so far.
I sat through hours of a tutorial and was able to create this page of Parker...
It has many different effects (some I'm not sure if I can create again without using the tutorial)
Then I played around with colorizing the photo of Parker...
Turned out pretty cute if I do say so myself!
So then I was feeling brave and decided to tackle my blog background.
You can check out the "New Year" background and header for my personal blog here at Ginger's Jingle . (now I won't need to bug my sister every time I want to change it)

Last but not least I was feeling pretty secure in my abilities so I created an invitation for Parker's (and friends) upcoming Arrow of Light ceremony. I had 50 printed up as a 4x6 photo to give out to everyone involved in scouts (and some family)

Right now I'm working on a February background for my blog.
I can tell it's going to take ALOT of practice and patience to get this digital thing down, but I'm a willing pupil.
Don't get me wrong, I'm NOT going to give up my hand-crafted art of Scrapbooking. There's just something about the texture and dimention that makes me so happy.
However, Digital scrapping will find it's little place in my creativity nook!

Putting it all together

This year was a close call...
I almost didn't get my Christmas cards finished in time to mail out to family and friends

I start planning and purchasing supplies in July.
My family makes fun of me because I start so early.
(They get more mad when I make them take holiday photo's.)
The planning process isn't easy. I try out many different color and paper combo's before deciding on the right one. This year I went out on a limb and chose a non traditional color combination.
Red, brown, white and blue...When I showed my mother in law she was not too excited about my color choices, but had faith in my abilities to make it work. I changed the design a couple of time until I was finally happy with the look and design of the card.
Over the next few weeks I'd cut out paper and assemble pieces whenever I had the chance. Finally I had all the makings of a card, all 70 of them..... assembly required!
It took a couple evenings to get the final product put together, but finally HERE IT IS!
The heart has glitter around the edges and the circle reads...
"keep Christmas in your heart"
It ended up being a tri-fold card... super fun and easy!
Parker was concerned that no one would figure out how to open it, but I assured him it wouldn't be too difficult. (sorry if someone had a problem)
So that's it....the making of the Dennett family Christmas Card for 2008....
Now to start planning for 2009... Christmas in July takes on a whole new meaning for me!

Thanksgiving Favors

I wanted to share a little project I made for all the teachers and staff at our school (70 in total). I figured since this was my last year at Elementary school, I'd show them how much they are appreciated. I made homemade chocolate chip and white chocolate cranberry cookies for their little treat. Their tags read, "So Thankful for all you do!" Happy Thanksgiving.
I decided we needed little favors for Thanksgiving dinner as well, so I changed the quote to read "So Thankful for Family" and filled them with candies (figure we'd get enough pie after dinner)I know projects like this just add to my to-do list, but I enjoy doing it so much!

Wedding Card

I attended my cousins wedding yesterday and shortly before we left I remembered I needed to come up with a card for the wedding. I always refer to the wedding invitation for color inspiration. This time I actually used parts of the invitation to create the card. I wish I would have taken a photo of the original invite, but forgot until after I cut it apart. But, here is a photo of the recycled card.
The elements I took from the invitation were the bow, the velvet strip across the bottom and the inside ivory piece with the embossed bride & groom names. The inside has a pocket for a gift card to be enclosed. The outside has a quote about love that I glittered. I would have used pink glitter so it would show up better had I known that was part of their color scheme. Their invite had no hint of pink , only brown so that's what I stuck with. Hopefully they won't think less of me for cutting up their invitation.
I love to create custom cards for weddings. Here's a few others I've created for a family and friends in the past.
All of these have pockets to hold a gift card or money and all of them match their wedding colors. There is one card I made for my cousin Amanda, that I forgot to get a photo of. It is one of my favorites. I need to see if she still has it and take a photo of it for me.

Fall Dinner

Heres a few photo's of the Dinner set- up I did (remember the invitations a couple posts back) It was great fun to decorate with a fall theme. The Boxes are filled with Chocolate covered Popcorn -mmmmm good!

Trick or Treat

Thought I'd share these cute buckets filled with all the fixings for Carmeled Apples. I put them together to give as Visiting Teaching gifts. I was going to make the apples myself, but alas, time got the best of me. I think the families will have fun creating them for FHE next week!

I found the buckets at Target $1 spot (although they were $2.50).
Cute, simple and fun!

Fall Invites

I was asked a few weeks ago to create some invitations for a dinner in honor of the Bishopric Wives. They wanted a fall theme and I found this adorable paper that just fit the bill. The layered flowers were made using bunches (pulled apart) from Michael's and I Cricut cut the yellow, curled and inked them to give them dimension.
They were super easy and could be easily adapted for any occasion. I'll definitely keep these in mind for future use.


I created 45 of these. A funny story about them (well, I can look back and laugh about it now anyway).
After they were all finished, I had them in my car to deliver when I passed by the Stake Center the dinner will be held. I noticed the street sign and there was only one "L". I had spelled it with 2. I panicked and gently tore off the vellum sheets to replace them with the corrected version (these were glued on). I even had to run across town to the scrapbook store and purchase more vellum.
Before I printed on the new vellum I wanted to double check the spelling online. I looked it up on Map Quest and believe it or not....it was spelled with 2 "L"s.
So I quickly looked up the stake website to see what they said and they confirmed the spelling with 2 "L"s.
I couldn't believe it. So I just glued the original vellum back on doubling my work time on this simple project.
Lesson Learned: Double check BEFORE printing the first time!!!

Note Cards in Envelope

I found a pattern for a darling note card holder and just had to try it out. I made the pink one quite a while ago, but made a couple more today. I'm going to teach it to the RS card class the end of the month. They are great gift ideas for teachers and friends.
This is the outside all tied up....Here is inside after opening.....
This shows all the contents... (the circle says "many thanks" or "Just a note"I found the instructions from someone on Split Coast Stampers. It's a great site for ideas.

So I've been too busy organizing and cleaning to make cards yet....hopefully tomorrow

National Card Making Day

What better day to start a crafting blog than on National Cardmaking Day.
I'm hoping to get many cards made this weekend, but for now I'll just post a project I've been working on for a RS Super Saturday.
It's a Tin Recipe Box
I've been busy ordering and finding enough supplies to make 30 of these. I just love this (or any) paper from Crate Paper . I had to search many websites to find enough for this project.
More pics to come later.

Project Time

I've been working on quite a few projects lately and thought it might be nice to have a place to share just my creative creations.