Friday, October 24, 2008

Welcome.......

to all my new visitors! (I hope I have some and I'm not just talking to myself.) Today is the first day that I'VE actually gone out and told the digi-world that I'm here. My fellow CT members introduced me on their blogs and I told my family they could stop in and visit but today I spent a little time letting my favorite sites know that I started this blog.

I, like a lot of digital scrappers, wanted to know how to design my own stuff. I searched for tutorials, took a few classes but never really made any progress along the journey until I took the Design Academy class at Stone Accents Studio taught by Sherah Kraan (Skrapperdigitals). As I've said before on this blog, it's such a well-rounded, all-encompassing course. We got info on how to make everything from patterns and textures to buttons, brads and bows. Yet, they weren't a "copy me" type of tutorial. She taught us how and let us use our imaginations to create our own ideas. But we also got the behind the scenes stuff that truly makes a designer. Quality checks, the essential parts of a kit, making blinkies and blogs, gathering your creative team, desiging your terms of use, how to apply to a store for a position as a designer, resources........so, so much packed into this 8 week course. And, though I say 8 weeks, it's a progress at your own pace class. You can join at any time. Some of us are on week 8 while others are on week 2. We learn from each other's questions and have weekly chats. I highly recommend it for anyone even slightly leaning toward a more involved position in the digital scrapbooking world.

Earlier, I told you I couldn't get the bows right in PS Elements 5. I may have found a way in Real Draw Pro 4 (speaking of which, check out www.esteesbarn.com for a years worth of tutorials for $25 AND, if you buy RDP4 directly from her, it's like getting the first year free as she charges you for the RDP as part of her membership. Then it's just the renewal fee after that.) But at last nights chat, I told Sherah that I found out Elements has the liquify (I didn't know that was there!) and she showed me how I could use that to make my bow........ "puffier" is the technical term she came up with. I can accept that. My bow came out very real looking, according to her, but it looked like it had been ironed flat. Which was EXACTLY how it looked! Mwahahaha! She took my bow and sent it back.....all puffy and flowing and 3D-ish and said, "Now, here! That's what you can do with liquify!" So! I'm going to be liquifying my bow tonight. Wish me luck!

9 comments:

Darlene Haughin said...

Congrats on your new blog, Melanie - looks really nice, crisp and clean! Hope you have fun with it. :)

Bekah_E'scape2Scrapland said...

Lovely blog! congrats!! :)I'm going link you up to mine :)

Bekah_E

Anonymous said...

Mel my sweet, you never fail to amaze. I love your writing style and well done on having the nerve to get out there and find somewhere where you can further your skills. Love the blog and the papers are just gorgeous. And oh boy, what I wouldn't give to be plonked down beside that stream of yours with a fishing rod. Bliss.

Congratulations honey.

Crops said...

I cant wait to see this bow!!!! Hurry will ya! LOL

Anonymous said...

Congrats Melanie, you should be proud, well done it looks so pretty and keep up the good work!Elle.

mITSYBELLE said...

Beautifully done, it's a calming experience visiting your blog :)

Diana said...

You are not talking to yourself, girlfriend! LOL! I've added you to my list of blogs... and yes, I started my own (even though I have my own domains ;) ), so c'mon over and visit me, too! Good luck on your designing! {{{{HUGZ}}}}

pkdoll said...

Mel-I'm still not home, but I had to get on !! I wanted to see where you were at with your designing. That liquefy effect can be soooo cool. Like crops said I can't wait to see your bow. I am going to be first in line to purchase your first kit!! Could you autograph it for me??hahahaha! Than I can say I knew her way before she started designing and her LO's were always so awesome!! Talk to you soon GF!

Keri Ann said...

Aunt Melanie,
You never fail to amase and inspire me! I am so proud of you like always! Your page layouts are gorgeous as always, as ytour talent always shines through everything you do!
Love forever,
Keri Ann