Club Scrap: Artist Team Challenge: Digi Delight.

Ok are you ready for the Team Challenge.  This month the challenge was to use the Digital images  to create digital/hybrid projects.  Digital can be challenging or fun, it is a different way to craft.  I came to crafting through Digital Scrapbooking.  Then moved into Digital Art Journaling.  I still created a lot of my sentiments in photoshop, print and use on my cards, solves that issue of "not right stamping".  I did not want to overwhelm you with the techie part, so my goal was to show you  a trick or maybe something new that might  get you to think about the digital files in a different way.

This was not an easy task as I have never written a tutorial for this type of project.  So I tried to keep it simple.  Let me know what you think or if you have any questions., just sent me a note.    But first, you should have arrived from Jennifer and if you got lost, Click here.

First off, I am using Photoshop for this project.  I am also using the latest release,  your screen might not look the same if you are using an older version, or a different Photoshop Program than this.  But the principal is the same.  I have been using this Program for many years and while it changes  with every release, the basics are constant.

Card 1:  This will demonstrate the basic technique, hang in there.

and

These were made with the same images but one is layered and the other flat.  

I started by creating the background.

One of the issues with using files, that if you try to enlarge them they can Pixilate, have jagged borders.  One way to avoid this is to create a stamp from the image, and then alter the "stamp".

Located the Image that I wanted and using the lasso tool, outlined the image.  I captured part of the background.  You can't see it in the photo but this little bit of background gives the paper texture and depth, taking away that "photo look".  Next, I opened another file, white page and dragged this image onto the paper.  It is very light and needed to be darkened.  There are many ways to do this, but the easiest is to click on the image bar and use the adjustment and brightness and contrast tools.

Under the image tab is the adjustment tool.  Below this is the Auto Contrast.  Screen One is the Level and the second shot is Contrast .  

Placed the output level clear to the right at 255 and far left to 0

 Use this to darken it further.  

Here is the comparison, right is untouched, left is the darkened image.  You  could also use the layers to add more layers and use the darken mode to do this, but you have to flatten the image and sometimes there is a bit of distortion.  This is a simple 2 step process.   It is still blue, but so dark it really doesn't matter.

Now we need to turn into a stamp.  Under the edit tab, is the "Define Brush Present, click this.

This widow opens, Name your brush and you just created a "stamp".   That number indicates the size.  You just increase the number in the brush tool to make bigger or smaller.  

Ok, we are almost done!!

On the blog, when a kit is released is a file with very important information.  Also the fonts used are in this posting.  They are a click away and load right into Photoshop.  

Open this file in Photoshop.  Then using the color picker, place the eye dropper on whatever color you want, or choose a color of your choice.    I chose the bottom blue color.  Make this your selection.

Go to the brush tool, select the brush, set you color and stamp away.  

I printed this out and used it for the backing for the first example, matted it on blue and added a ribbon.  For my Hybrid part, I created the Sentiment tag.  

Tag was created using the Rectangle tool, creating my boxes and then typed in my text. 

The outer box is black, Happy Birthday and the inner box is in the same blue as the Shoes.  

I printed this out on white card stock.  The Black and blue tag was printed on my ink jet printer.  A second black box (on top) was printed with my Laser printer.  

I ran the black box through my Minc with Gold foil, cut along the lighter blue line and matted these.

Both of these layers were popped up on fun foam.  I used the crystal pen in blue (included in the kit) to add hash marks to the light blue line to add that "hand touch".

For the second card, I copied the Background onto a smaller (5X7 canvas), pulled the rectangle into the file, centering it and then printed on my ink jet printer  All that was needed was to add ribbon, embellishment, mat and place on a card base.  I did cut this down to the A2 size.  

Whew!!! that was involved.  but the good news, I used all the same techniques to create the other 2 cards.  So, you get a reprieve from my tutorial, enjoy some eye candy.

Card 2

Simple and elegant.  Used the darker blue "ink" on the chip, same rectangle box, same stamp making technique and lastly a Dutch Proverb makes a simple elegant and perfect card.  This one is matted and no foiling was used in the creation of this project.  I flipped the "shoe" by checking a box in the brush tool selection tab.  (This is my favorite).

Card 3:

Again, created the "stamp", made my alignment, stamped in black ink and printed on my Laser printer.  Just lassoed the Sentiment pulled it onto the paper and printed .

This is how it was printed.  I have an additional sentiment,  Never sure when I might need one, and why waste paper.  I just cut these out and keep a folder in my foil supply drawer.  

Cut down to size, foiled the sentiment in gold and the card in Blue, mounted on a blue cardstock, finished. 

This photo shows the shine a bit better.

Well that is all from me today.  Your next stop is Cheryl.  

Happy Crafting 

Josette