making scrap pages

[mnarteach]

I've been making scrapbook pages using PSE 5 and stuff I've downloaded but would really like to make my own background papers, embellishments etc. Any idea where I could good tutorials or directions to learn how to do this? I love what I see other designers doing and want to do it too. thanks

[Wags374]

If you are a subscriber here there are a lot of great tutorials that will get you started.

[cats4jan]

Digital Designs for Scrapbooking by Renee Pearson has some great easy to follow projects with great pictures. She has just put out book 2.

[Teacher617]

I second what Jane said. In addition, I would recommend the book "Digital Designs for Scrapbooking - Making Your Own" by Renee Pearson (2007).

Tricia

[Kathy]

A lot of the scrapbook sites offer free tutorials. A great one is Digital Scrapbook Place. Here is the link ....

http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/university/tutorials/tutorials.shtml

Have fun. Caution ... it is very addictive.

Kathy

[Wags374]

I second what Jane said. In addition, I would recommend the book "Digital Designs for Scrapbooking - Making Your Own" by Renee Pearson (2007).

Tricia


I looked it up on Amazon, but couldn't really tell what was in the book. Is it written for PSE5?

[Teacher617]

The introduction to the book states, "In this book, I assume you are at least somewhat familiar with Adobe Photoshop Elements' basic concepts and techniques for working with layers, tools, and their options."

The screen shots within the book show the Artwork & Effects palette open on a few pages, and this is only available in PSE5. However, I've not found this to be a problem with my version, PSE 4.

Table of Contents lists:
Creating Backgrounds
Creating Digital Elements
Using Brushes & Other Special Effects
Remind Me!
Gallery

Tricia

[shellb]

I bought the book (Renee Pearson, “Making your own”) off Amazon and was a little worried because it didn’t really have too much info on the book. However, it is a HUGE help. I learned so much from it and not just scrapbooking stuff.

[Wags374]

Thanks for the info - mabye I'll have my mom get me a copy for my birthday. :)

[cats4jan]

Jane - I saw Pearson's book at Micheal's - I read through it and it was great.

It's not an Element's book - per se - it's a digital scrapbooking book based on Elements kinds of programs. I actually learned Elements using a scrapbooking book that is no longer available - but I think Pearson's book is a close second to the one I used.

What I like about it - rather than another Elements book - is that it concentrates on skills necessary to do digital scrapbooking - like making paper, etc.

[Wags374]

Thanks Janice - Since I am a subscriber here, and a premier subscriber at ScrappersGuide, I'm starting to wonder if a book wouldn't be overkill. Especially when I don't seem to be able to find the time to actually get to the tutorials, videos or podcasts I already have access to.

Right now I'm working two jobs and am a full-time mom. (Thankfully Grandma can babysit for a few hours each week if I'm super swamped with work.) I am always wanting to learn more and try new things, and sometimes forget I have a ton of other things that need my attention too, like the baby goat that is supposed to arrive this week...

[mnarteach]

Ok I got the digital designs 2. I have not worked through anything yet but one of the things I want to do is to take a shell photo and make it into an element. I'm not sure if this book will tell me how to do that. I am not a premier subscriber either. Any ideas on a place I can find out how to do this or can someone here guide me? thanks again.

[cats4jan]

Jane - judging from your work - I doubt the book would help you. Only mentioned it for others who want a place to start when learning to design papers and such.

For me, it was funny how the Elements books I purchased did not help - and it wasn't until I got a digital scrapbooking book and started working on projects that I learned how Elements worked.

[Wags374]

Ok I got the digital designs 2. I have not worked through anything yet but one of the things I want to do is to take a shell photo and make it into an element. I'm not sure if this book will tell me how to do that. I am not a premier subscriber either. Any ideas on a place I can find out how to do this or can someone here guide me? thanks again.

Well if there isn't a lot of background you can use the magic extractor tool to extract it from the background and then save it as a png file (to preserve the transparency.) Or you can select it by hand with the lasso or magnetic lasso tool.