Digital Scrapbooking Journal - Part Fourteen

Learning New Techniques

Back in School Again

Thursday, May 15, 2008: Shhh! - I Scraplifted This Layout

Though the word association is negative (scraplift ---shoplift), scraplifting is actually a good thing. This is one way budding scrapbook artists can improve their design sense, try out new techniques, and - just generally - learn, learn, learn.

I participated in a Scrap Girls Chat and Crop on Mother's Day. It was so cool. The girls chatted about how their DH's were taking care of dinner so that they could participate.

One's hubby even gave her a $50 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls' Boutique as a Mother's Day Gift. She said it only took him about two hours to figure out how to do it. Now that's true love. [ I told my DH about this, but he hasn't taken the hint yet! ]

Our challenge for the Chat and Crop was to go to one of the Scrap Girls layout designers' online gallery and select a layout to lift. Catch was, we didn't know until a couple of hours before the chat which designer we would lift.

I chose Jo Corne's Beach Babe layout to imitate.

Really, all I lifted is the placement of the main elements. It's amazing how everyone's take is a bit different.

My journaling says, "Your Future lies before you" and "I wish you bluebirds in the spring. I wish your heart a song to sing. And then a kiss, but more than this ... I wish you love." (Aaah, Nat King Cole .... His beautiful silken voice was running through my head the whole time I worked on this.)

My layout was done in Photoshop and uses the following Scrap Girls products:

• MRE_SSTools_PhotoBasics actions
• ABR_FitToBeTied string bow
• BMU_CityPark_Alpha charm
• MRE_SSE_Weathered frame
• EHI_NowandForever_Brush_Special ("Love")
• SNU_FrenchMarket jeweled flower embellishment VRA_AWishfulStar_Emb_Special_Oval "Future"
• EHI_ScrapSimple_12x12_Enchanted-2 paper template
• BMU_CityPark_Paper

Saturday, May 17, 2008: I'm Back in School Again!

I never thought I would say those words again - and especially with glee. The last formal courses I took were for the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. They were grueling, to say the least. Just something I needed to do to further my career in finance.

Now I'm back in school to further my career as an artist. (I love the sound of that - "artist".)

I can't express how different this feels. I am loving every minute. I certainly don't regret my finance career, but it was hard work; whereas this is pure fun.

Maybe I'll tire of this too and need another career change 20 years from now - when I'm 82. LOL.

So let me tell you about my new school ...

I just took the first session of a four-part course on Dynamic Stitches at Scrap Girls. The class is being given by graphic designer, Katherine Weaver. It was online. We got the "syllabus" ahead of time so we could have all the necessary supplies at the ready for each session.

Then Thursday afternoon, I logged onto the live classroom at Scrap Girls with the password they had provided. For the next hour, I was entranced. It was a challenge to follow the chat (or chatter!) because sometimes there were three or four questions going on at once.

I gotta go now. I have homework to finish and then I have to read the syllabus for next Thursday. Woohoo!!!

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