{title} Gleek {credits} background papers from Art Ground 2 by Studio Rosey Posey | music background paper and scallop paper strip from Parcel no.8 by Studio Tangie | head, word art, glitter, white clip, ledger paper from Spinny by Studio Rosey Posey | paper frame, book cover, chain from Keeper of Time by Studio Gypsy | rhinestones, bow, brad, staple from Gypsy Queen by Studio Gypsy | painted alpha from Alphabet Soup by Emily Powers | ric rac, stitching, tape from Dream within a Dream by Sarah Barber Design | glee club photo found on the web from an old 1930's yearbook.
Okay ladies, our first ever CT Challenge is now up on my CT blog! You can download a free mini kit to get you started. What are you waiting for? Head on over now!
Introducing my first of many ATC mini kits. What's an ATC? Well, here's the definition at Wikipedia:
Artist Trading Cards (or ATCs) are miniature works of art about the same size as modern baseball cards, or 2 ½ X 3 ½ inches (6cm X 9cm), small enough to fit inside standard card-collector pockets, sleeves or sheets. The ATC movement developed out of the mail art movement and has its origins in Switzerland. Cards are produced in various media, including dry media (pencils, pens, markers, etc), wet media (watercolor, acrylic paints, etc), paper media (in the form of collage, papercuts, found objects, etc). The cards are usually traded or exchanged rather than sold.
My own personal definition is it's a way to create little inspirational cards for yourself. It's freedom of art! There are NO RULES (except the size)! Just the enjoyment of the process. I bet you're wondering, "How can I get this for free?" I'll let you know below.
The first of many "mixed bags" of yummy ATC goodies. Included in this bag are 7 backgrounds (@ 2.5x3.5") and 12 elements. Be inspired and create with abandon. There are NO RULES with creating with ATC's. Inspire yourself!
This is 20% off till March 6th, BUT, stay tuned for a new bi-weekly challenge on my Creative Team's blog here: http://sbdcreativeteam.blogspot.com/. For the first challenge, there will be a coupon available to get this kit for free to get you started in the world of ATCs. I'll post here on my blog when the challenge is up. Stay tuned!!!!
This is my secret indulgence, Dark Chocolate. I try to keep it to a minimum, but certain times of the month, I can't get enough of it. LOL!
{title} chocolate love {credits} template chopped to size from Experiment no. 7 by Emily Powers | flower, button, staple, hearts, and ribbon from Soul on Fire by Pixel Works | Chocolate Alpha by Sarah Barber Design | everything else from Dream Within A Dream by Sarah Barber Design.
I couldn't help myself. As I was working on this week's ADSR challenge, I had to do some chocolate making of my own, and thought, why not share? Here's a yummy treat for you all, at a yummy price! On sale to the end of the month!
This yummy alpha comes in two flavors, Chocolateand Dark Chocolate. Both alpha's also come in a version with and without a shadow. Numbers and symbols are also included.
This is for the ADSR5 challenge 4. We're supposed to create an ATC of our partner. ATC's are fun and I had a blast poking fun at Crystal and her known chatting addiction. It's no secret that she loves to talk. I hope you don't take any offense Crystal, but I felt this was so you! LOL!
{title} hello {credits} background paper from Bad Frog by Fidlette Designs | patterned paper, paint, clipping mask, and phone epoxy from Funky Love Song by Emily Powers | sequins from Mindy's World Sequin Spills by Racheal Young | 'hello' wordart from Fancy Titles by Kathryn Wilson | other word art and ribbon from Roorah by Kathryn Wilson | woman brush from photoshopfreebrushes.com | glitter style by Sweet Made Designs.
I had such a fabulous time playing with color on this LO. Can you tell?
{title} little devil {credits} template from A Beautiful Mess by Emily Powers and Taylor Made Designs | Dream Within A Dream by Sarah Barber Design | date stamp from Mark That Date by Emily Powers | glitter action by Flergs.
{journaling}"Tarrah and Dylan go at it all the time. She really knows how to push his buttons. But then she runs to her room, giggling with glee as he comes to seek his revenge."
{Scrap a movie you LOVE not just like or enjoy but just LOVE & ADORE!}
I love a good romance. I can't help it. Call 'em 'chick flicks', but I absolutely adore them. I've seen the remake of Sabrina like a hundred times. It's so romantic. Every time I watch it, I get caught up in it, hoping that she falls in love for real at the end and get's her true love. *sigh*
{title} sabrina {credits} Dream Within A Dream by Sarah Barber Design
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
-Eleanor Roosevelt
This kit is packed full of more ephemera for your art journal or heritage pages. Soft and feminine with a kick, it's sure to highlight your most treasured photos.
Kit includes: 27 papers, 14 ephemera pieces, 3 frames,7 trims,(including lace and stitching), 1 butterfly,3 gemstones, 6 die-cuts,1 glitter trail,2 rub-ons,3 word art pieces,1 epoxy button,2 envelopes,& 1 piece of tape.
This kit is on sale, 20% off till the end of February!!! Get yours now!
New look, new designs, more of what you want to express the artist in you! We're growing as a team and want to share the creativity. I want motivated, active, and talented ladies to join my team.
If you think you've got what it takes, send me an email at sarahbarber.design@yahoo.com
{don't forget to include a link to your gallery and/or blog}
I sell exclusively at Digiridoo Scraps. You can visit my shoppe here: Sarah Barber Designs
Hey ladies! My CT is trying to get their blog off the ground, so I've gifted a $2 coupon to my shoppe! Go on over and visit them and pick up your FREE coupon!
This is for yet another challenge. This one is for the monthly ATC Transformation Deck Challenge over at ScrapArtist. This was fun because we had to journal about darkness and light. I found this image by Lois Royo (one of my fave artists!) and used it to express what darkness and light mean to me. The quote is fabulous! I also re-colored most of the elements in this piece because I really wanted it pink! :)
{title}Make the Darkness {credits} Junk Mail brushes by the Gypsy Chic | Soul on Fire and A Beautiful Mess by Pixel Works | Mindy's World Sequin Spills by Racheal Young | Art Journal collection one and Reflections of Me by Fiddlette Designs | Teal Time by SherrieJD and Tangie Baxter | artwork by Lois Royo.
I am totally in love with Hugh Laurie from House, MD. He's just one of the sexiest men alive. LOL! I did this LO for the ADSR5 challenge. I had so much fun creating it!
{title} Major Mojo {credits} "House" photos from Fanpop | DVD collection photo is all mine! | F is for First by Kathryn Wilson | Love Birds by Emily Powers | Funky Love Song by Emily Powers | Alphabet Soup by Emily Powers | Epoxy Alpha 1 (Itty Bitty) by Emily Powers | "House" alpha by Angela Powers from Festivities collab kit | House cartoon character from shoeboxBLOG.com made into sticker by me via Atomic Cupcake action.
This week's challenge has to do with Blissful Living. What a bad week for me to be journaling about that. I have been having a bad health week. Pain and lack of sleep have been plaguing me for days. I just lay there at night, in pain, hoping I can sleep. My mind just won't shut down. It's so difficult when this happens, because I still have to get up in the morning with my baby girl. Lack of good sleep makes the pain worse. It's a vicious cycle. So as one of the words this week was "Seek", I decided to express the one thing that would be bliss for me right now in my life: sleep.
{title}I Seek Sleep. {credits} Reflections of Me by Fiddlette Designs | Art Journal Collection One by Fiddlette Designs | Set My Soul On Fire by Pixel Works | A Beautiful Mess by Pixel Works | Teal Time by Studio Tangie and SherrieJD | Junque Journal Add On by SherrieJD | Stamps: Nifty Fifties by Studio Tangie | stock photo from Deviant Art | fonts are Kingthings typewriter and sf Dana
Studio Tangie's CT's blog challenges this month are all about love. I wonder why? LOL! The first challenge was to scrap about your first love. But wait! It doesn't have to be about a boy, it could be anything in your life that was your first love. So, going on that thought, I remembered a time, very long ago, that all I ever wanted to do was draw. I thought that was it for me. I would always be an artist that drew pictures. I was later introduced to painting and couldn't believe how much more I could do.
Anyway, this LO is showcasing my first love in art, drawing. The drawing blended into the background paper is something I drew in high school for a class project. It looks wonderful with Tangie's Field Notes kit.
{title} first love {credits} Field Notes by Studio Tangie | glitter by me.
{title} discover the world {credits} est. by Taylor Made and Paislee Press | Serendipity by Fei-Fei's Stuff | Press Plate No. 15 by Paislee Press | Offset Wired by Taylor Made Designs
One in every four households in the United States has someone involved in scrapbooking (Scrapbooking, n.d.). In the last five years, the number of digital scrapbookers over traditional has tripled (Truman, n.d.). With the renewed popularity of scrapbooking, many modern scrapbookers prefer digital scrapbooking to the more traditional method of cutting and pasting. With factors such as cost, space, unique techniques, and the ease of sharing with online communities, it's easy to see why.
Upon doing the math, it's discovered that digital scrapbooking is more cost effective in the long run than traditional scrapbooking. For example, typical cost to get started in the traditional manner is roughly between $25 and $150 (Scrapbooking Cost, 2008, August). Start-up costs include an album to store pages, various papers, and embellishments, such as stickers, brads, and die-cuts, to decorate pages with. There are also tools to manipulate the page, such as punches, paper trimmers, markers, and adhesives. Most of these supplies can be used only once.
In digital scrapbooking the start-up cost ranges from $10 to around $100 (Scrapbooking Cost, 2008, August), largely dependent on the type of software purchased. There are many types of software available for use in digital scrapbooking. Some of these programs are created solely for the use of this hobby. My Scrapbook 2 and Scrapbook Max! are aimed at the beginner. For the more advanced user, there are broader ranged art programs that are used in all types of graphic manipulation, such as Adobe Photoshop Elements and Paint Shop Pro.
Other factors in cost are the kits used in the creation of the page. Much like traditional scrapbooking supplies, these digital kits include papers and embellishments. Costs range from $2 to $20 (Scrapbooking Cost, 2008, August), depending on what is included, but supplies can be reused over and over again. There are also thousands of digital designers online who give away free product to promote themselves. Some other tools that might be useful are digital cameras, scanners, and printers, all of which are much more affordable than they were in the past.
Another example of the preference to digital over traditional scrapbooking is the amount of space needed to work on the craft. In traditional scrapbooking a fair amount of space is required for supplies and for the actual creation of the scrapbook. Most crafters have a corner or an entire room dedicated to housing their supplies. In order to find the supplies desired, an organizing system is needed. Even the neatest crafter, in the throes of creativity, ends up with quite a mess. Whereas, with digital scrapbooking, no extra space is needed, as the components of this craft are all stored on the computer. Back-up of files might take a little more space if they are stored on an external hard drive, CDs or DVDs, but online storage is available for this virtual product. Also, digital scrapbooking can be done anywhere, making it portable and easy to access. This clutter-free hobby causes no mess, no matter how creative you get.
Digital scrapbooking offers a variety of unique techniques to alter photos and pages, not possible with traditional scrapbooking. In traditional scrapbooking some decoration is possible with inks, paints, a fancy border punch, or an expensive die-cut machine. With digital the possibilities are endless. Photo collages can be manipulated, sizing photos to exact specifications or altering the original color to sepia or black and white. Realistic-looking shadows can be created to give the page more depth and a layered look. Photo masks can be applied, changing the shape of the photo. Also, colors of the supplies used can be altered to match the photos used. During the creation process, nothing is permanent. Embellishments, paper, and photos can all be moved or removed to the crafter's liking. But the most significant difference is the ability to un-do something. If a crafter rips a piece of paper in traditional scrapbooking and doesn't like it, it can't be un-done. Whereas, with digital, all it takes is the click of a mouse to try again.
Lastly, is the ease of sharing the completed work in digital scrapbooking over traditional. With traditional methods, upon completion of a page or an entire album, the end result is one unique copy, not easily shared with the community at large. In digital scrapbooking, there are several easy ways to share artwork. Through the use of email and blogging, images can be shared with friends and family. There are also websites that are specifically geared toward the showcasing of photos and artwork, such as Scrapblog.com, Snapfish.com, and Shutterfly.com. These sites also have the added benefit of offering a printing service to have the scrapbook professionally bound. In addition, there are literally hundreds of scrapbooking websites with their own communities. Scrapbook pages can be shared on these sites' galleries and forums, giving the scrapbooker great satisfaction and a sense of community.
With today's fast-paced and technology-ridden world, it's easy to see why the modern scrapbooker prefers digital scrapbooking over traditional, not just for its ease of use, but for its portability and clutter-free quality. In today's current economic climate, it's no wonder more scrapbookers are going digital as the lower cost alternative. It's obvious this is where the scrapbooking industry is headed.
References
Scrapbooking. (n.d.). Retrieved January 22, 2010, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Scrapbooking
Scrapbooking Cost. (August 2008). Retrieved January 22, 2010, from http://www.costhelper.com/cost/games/scrapbooking.html
Truman, Elaine. (n.d.). Scrapbook Premier Inc.: Tradition + Technology = Terrific! Retrieved January 22, 2010, from http://www.scrapbookpremier.com/articles_display.php?article=76
{title} sharing a child {credits} Love Birds by Emily Powers | sequins recolored and 'leap of faith' word art from A New Leaf by Paislee Press | rope from Serendipity by Fei-Fei's Stuff
I was just sitting here, minding my own business, when Sharon sends me, yet another email, containing another wonderful challenge series for me to join. Like I don't have anything to do. LOL! Just kidding Sharon! Of course I immediately went to take a look, registered, and then proceeded to go shopping. I really need to stop doing that. But I'm having a ball! This one is over at Scrap Artist, hosted by SherrieJD. She also has an altered magazine for sale in her shop monthly, I think. It's awesome!!! It's called Altered Hearts. I love it!
Any way, I'm only doing one challenge series over there for now. I don't know if I'll be able to keep up with all of these challenges! ADSR5 starts on Sunday. So without further ado, here's my first Altered Artist challenge, a series called Transformation Deck Challenge. Each month you create a new ATC with the challenge prompt and at the end of the year, you have a deck of 12 ATC to give you inspiration whenever you're lacking. LOL! I don't seem to be lacking lately.
January's challenge was to express what you would do if you could relax and replenish. Honestly? I'd probably keep doing what I'm doing. But I do like to curl up with a good book or movie now and again. Relaxing, what's that?
{title} replenish the well {credits} Brown Sugar and Teal Time by SherrieJD and Studio Tangie | Antique Junk by Gypsy Chick
"Each glittering star on high shall tell, That since the hour when I first met thee, Though other may have loved thee well, Yet never did I once forget thee!"
This kit is a journey of love with an abundance of ephemera and glittering elements for you to proclaim your one true love!
Kit includes: 12 papers, and over 50 elements (including 2 alpha sheets!)
Special Thanks to Atomic Cupcake and Sugar Frog Fonts.
Tangie's got a weekly challenge over at Scrapbookgraphics called Altered Artspirations. Each week she challenges us to alter something. This week's was the Eiffel Tower. When I think of the Eiffel Tower, I think romance. I'm sure a lot of you think the same way. Paris has always been the romance capitol and the Eiffel Tower signifies France to a lot of us. So I dug deep and shared some of my private thoughts on love and why it works...(for me).
{title} constancy. {credits} Field Notes and Steamer Trunk by Studio Tangie | Flirtation and Fidelity by Sarah Barber Design. | stock photo from Deviant Art.
{title} Live the Life You've Imagined {credits} Field Notes by Studio Tangie | cardstock by Bazzill | patterned paper by Basic Grey | charms by Blue Moon Beads | lace, ribbon, buttons, glaze medium, craft paint | small alphas by Making Memories | Thickers by American Crafts | glimmer spray by Tattered Angles | distress ink by Tim Holtz | stock photo by Quaddles at Deviant Art.
Hello ladies. I have been so busy getting an enormous treat together for you. Be prepared, it's big. It's not quite ready, but here's a fun sneak peek. I did this for Studio Tangie's CT Blog challenge for this week. The challenge was a "fresh start" in a relationship. TFL!
{title}Fresh Start {credits} Flirtation and Fidelity by Sarah Barber Design. | Stock Photo from Quaddles at Deviant Art.
