It’s time… to announce True Scrap 3! If you’re not familiar with the event, then you need to know… it’s the ONLY live online paper crafting event in the galaxy. We bring the best instructors directly to YOU, allowing you to interact, hobnob, communicate, connect, and learn — all from the comfort of your own home.

Check out the instructors here, and make sure to sign up for our early notification list. General registration starts March 1 (if you’re an alum, you’ll hear from us around Valentine’s Day with a special offer).

This has nothing to do with scrapping, but I have several baby presents to buy and this came across my desk today. Since you can only get this fab deal through a link from a Groupon affiliate, I thought it was my duty to share!

It’s the super-soft Nuddle blanket, made specifically for strollers! It’s got slits for the straps of a five-point harness to go through (which I think would make it work for car seats, too).

Here’s the deal: Half off a Nuddle in your choice of colors, for only $19! I’m ordering a few to have on hand for people like her. Oh, and you can send them a gift certificate directly on checkout, so they can choose their color! Cool, eh? Wish they made ‘em in my size. Better than a Snuggie.

Back to your regularly scheduled program.

Do you have hundreds or even thousands
of digital photos?

Do you hate having to search and search
to find the photos you want to scrapbook?

Do you need help making the whole process
of getting to the pictures you want easier?

You are in luck! Today I talk to Kayla Lamoreaux about her new
online class Finding Photo Flow.  Turn up the sound and join us
as she tells all about her class, what to expect, what will be covered,
who the class is for (hint: it’s not just for scrapbookers!) and what the
format will be. As you listen you will learn…

*how captions can be used to tell the story of a photo,

*how long it takes to become proficient at a single photo software program (and why Kayla’s put the time in for us so we don’t have to!)

*how being really nerdy can be fun and

*why I feel dorky!

Seriously, though, here are the links I mention in this episode:

Layout a Day Challenge – today is the first day of the challenge
but it’s not too late to sign up!

True Scrap III is coming in April so sign up for updates.

The free webinar by Susan Weckesser on How to Doodle will be February 23rd.

Kayla Lamoreaux’s  Finding Photo Flow class.

Join in the conversation on my Facebook page or leave a thought or
comment below and subscribe on iTunes so you don’t miss a single
scrappy tidbit!

Have a Scrap Happy Week -see you next time!

Today I’m sharing with you my answers to questions that scrapbookers have asked me.

I’ve included video tutorials showing the simplest method I’ve found for each question. It is quite possible that there are other ways to do these things, but I try to make things easy for you by showing you the quick way!

Let me know in the comments if you have any questions, I’d love to hear from you.

Recolouring part of an item

1. Open your tag file
2. Save as a new name (so we don’t break the original)
3. Using the magic wand tool – set the tolerance to 50
4. Click on the coloured border
5. Shift click until the whole border is selected
6. Press Ctrl+J to create a new layer with just the border
7. Click Layer, New Fill Layer, Solid Color
8. Click OK
9. Click OK (yes your whole screen will be filled with colour – don’t stress!)
10. Press Ctrl+G so that the Solid Color Layer will clip to the border only
11. Double click on the Solid Color Thumbnail
12. Then use the eye dropper tool to select a colour you want to use from your layout
13. Click OK
14. Now the border should match the new colour you have selected.

Adding a border to a 4×6 photo

I was wondering how to print white borders on 4×6 photos in PSE.  I see the option to print borders when I select print, but they never come out even no matter what # I choose.

Thanks,
Michelle

How to print a border on your image

Add a border to your image

Text on a Path in PSE 10

This is the most talked about feature in PSE 10, but below I have a few tips for thos with PSE9 and earlier wanting similar effects.

1. Select the Text on a Custom Path tool (Click and hold the text tool to show the Text on a Custom Path tool)
2. Click and drag to create your path
3. Click on the path and type your text

Text inside a Shape in PSE 10

Everyone is excited about Text on a Path, but I love text *in* a shape best!

1. Draw a shape using the Custom Shape tool
2. Click within the shape using the text tool (be sure the text colour is different to your shape colour!)
3. Type your text
4. Hide the shape by clicking on the Eye icon in the the Layers panel if you don’t want the shape to show on your finished page

Text on a Path in PSE 9 and earlier

Just because you don’t have Photoshop Elements 10 doesn’t mean you have to miss out on text on a path. I walk you through how to use pre-made text paths and text box shapes in  Photoshop Elements 9 or earlier.

See how you can resize, rotate and use the paragraph alignment settings to get different effects.

Create a watermark on your image

I had a question from one of my readers recently:

How do I go about adding (c) copyright type watermark to multiple images in Photoshop Elements?

You may want to do this if you are uploading your photos on the web, so I thought I’d share this with you too! Using the Process Multiple Images feature in Photoshop Elements you can batch process your images and resize, add a water mark and more.

Watch the video or read on below for step by step instructions.

1. Go to the file menu – then click Process Multiple files.
2. Navigate to the folder of images you want to process. (or open them first and work with the opened files)
3. Put in the details of how you want to alter the images (resizing etc)
4. Leave anything you want to keep the same blank
5. Add your copyright message into the custom text box on the right hand side – see screen shot below (You can insert a copyright logo by typing Alt+0169 on the numeric keypad, or just copy and paste this one into the text field ©)
   
6. Click OK
7. Wait for Photoshop to process each of the files
8. The resulting image looks like this:

Fix a photo in Photoshop Elements Quick Edit Mode

Photoshop Elements has some great photo editing features- here is show a couple of ways that you can improve your photos in just minute!

Want to have better photos?

Go from bland to brilliant using just Photoshop Elements.

• Turn your overcast skies blue
• Clean away food from your baby’s face
• Create a perfect group shot – where everyone is smiling & has their eyes open!
• Get rid of red eyes.

I’ll teach you how to fix your photos using Photoshop Elements quickly, so you can get on with scrapbooking!

The workshop includes:

• One click fixes for photos
• Step by step instructions for common photo problems

Digital Scrapbooking Primer

Did you miss the earlier posts? This month I’ve shared 20 digital scrapbooking videos with you:

• The only 4 tools you need: Starting out in Photoshop Elements 10
• Using a Digital Page Template: Create pages you love in less time!
• Cutting, Misting and Inking: Creative and simple techniques for digital scrapbooking
• Getting your supplies under control: Using the Organizer with your Digital Supplies

Questions?

I’d love to hear your questions in the comments of this post, what do you want to know about Photoshop Elements?

I’m Melissa Shanhun, digital scrapbooking educator and owner of Digital Scrapbooking HQ where I answer your digital scrapbooking questions with video tutorials, one-on-one classes and free online workshops.

I’ve been using my computer to create beautiful things for about 15 years now. I’ve spent 10 years working in graphic design using a variety of software systems including Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. I’ve also taught a University unit on presentation systems and graphic design for the past few years.

I’ve been focusing my skills on digital scrapbooking since October 2007, and I’ve been teaching in person classes in Perth, Western Australia since 2009. In 2011 I launched Digital Scrapbooking HQ, where I’m creating a unique system where you can get your Photoshop questions answered and you can use your computer to do what you want it to!

My work has been featured at The Daily Digi, Scrapbookgraphics, and the Daily Scrapper. I’m currently on the team for Wendyzine Scraps and was published in the 2012 Log your Memory Memory Logbook.

Last chance for Template Album Set at half price!

Want to take the plunge into digital for February’s LOAD? All month long I’ve got a special discount on my 31 digital templates set for Layout A Day readers - a massive 50% off! Check out the details of my Simple Digital Album Template Pack here.

I am so proud of this community of ours! All on their own, past LOADsters have put together a Layout a Day blog hop  to share ideas, thoughts, and suggestions on successfully tackling the Layout a Day challenge. Here’s the lineup!

The Amazing LOADsters Blog Hop!

Margie                          http://xnomads.typepad.com

Kelli                                    www.scrapbookgirl71.blogspot.com

Jennifer                         http://atthebluebarn.blogspot.com/

Lisa                                    http://lisahausmann.blogspot.com/

Monica                        http://scrapinspired.com

Kimberly                        www.kimberlykalil.com 

Eileen                                    http://thinkinkpaperscissors.weebly.com/blog.html

Danielle                         http:/www.acoffeeaddict.com

Pam                                    dailypamage.blogspot.com

Katrina                        http://k84mansramblings.blogspot.com

Cate                                     www.lifebehindthepurpledoor.com

Gayle                                    http://www.lifeonlilypadlane.blogspot.com

Heather                        heathersdragonsden.blogspot.com

Gina                                    http://randomthoughtsmindlessmusings.blogspot.com 

Kristie                                    http://kristiesloan.com

Janet                                    http://khashabfamilymusings.blogspot.com

Lydia                                    http://lydiaink.wordpress.com

Check it out! And then go sign up for LOAD. Time’s a-wastin’.

A few weeks ago, someone emailed me (a twenty-something, unmarried, male “someone”) and asked me why I scrapbook. “What’s the point?” he said. “I just don’t get it.”

I was really glad he asked, though I was a bit taken aback at first. I mean, why WOULDN’T you scrapbook?

With the imminent arrival of Layout a Day 212 next Wednesday, I get similar questions more frequently:

-Why would you want to scrapbook every day?

-What do you talk about in your scrapbooking layouts?

-Why do you put so much energy into this? Aren’t people just going to scrapbook anyway?

Well, as you know by now — I am absolutely PASSIONATE about helping women capture their memories and their family’s memories in a fun, simple, and meaningful manner. As for why I scrapbook? Well, watch this short video.

I hope after you watch it, you’ll decide to join me and 336 other scrapbookers at LOAD 212. Your photos and your family will thank you.

P.S. If you like the video, feel free to share it!

The Photoshop Elements Organizer comes with all recent versions of Photoshop Elements for Windows and version 9 onwards for the Mac.

You can use Photoshop Elements Organizer to organise your photos (indeed this is what it was designed for!) but today I’m going to demonstrate how I use it to keep all my digital scrapbooking supplies under control.
Watch today’s video for a quick start guide to getting you supplies organised.

You can watch the video in full screen mode: Click to start playing the video – then you can click on the far right button (4 arrows outwards ). See them in all their glory and actually be able to read the text and see what I am doing!

What happens to your files?

Photoshop Elements Organizer creates a database of your files, it does not move any files or store them within its database (it’s different from iPhoto!).

Organizer creates a thumbnail of your image and stores it along with metadata (date, keyword and other file information) in the Organizer database buried deep in your hard drive.

The files you import stay where they are on you hard disk.

Set up Organizer

If you keep all of your digital scrapbooking supplies in one folder of your computer, you can set up the Organizer to search this folder for new items every time it is opened.
I find this is the  quickest was to keep my Organizer up to date with my purchases.

Import your Files

I suggest importing just a couple of folders at a time if you have an overwhelming amount to organise.

1. Go to File – Get Photos and Videos (Ctrl+G) and browse to folder you want to import
2. Then click Get Media.
3. If there are any errors, these are likely just duplicates or files Organizer can’t handle, so just click OK

Navigate in the Organizer

• Double click to open one image in a larger image size
• Use the arrow keys to navigate through your images
• Click on the keyword tag to restrict your view to the items in just one category.
• Click show all to Show all of your images

How to Tag Quickly

Start simple!

Tag simply to start with, you can always add more tags, but if you start trying to tag with too many details you’ll find yourself wading through an endless list of keywords with only a few items under each one.

Tag by how you look for supplies

If you mainly scrap with kits, just tag the kit previews with how you look for the kits (colour or theme)

Are you always looking for one designer’s kits? Create a smart albums for that designer, by searching for filenames that contain their designer id (eg Tangie or Flergs)

Do you like to search by colour? Tag items by colour.

Real life example: I tag only my papers by colour, I will look for a paper, find one I like then click on Show in Windows Explorer to see the rest of the kit. Then I usually just scrap with that kit.

Use search by Details (Metadata)

Most designers use their own naming convention, so I use the advanced search functions to take advantage of that. Here’s a few tips on searching to find items in your collection to tag as a group.

Previews?

Pixel width <600
File names ends with jpg
Tag by theme or colour scheme

Looking for Papers?

Pixel width 3600
File name ends with jpg
Tag by colour or pattern
Ctrl+Click (Cmd+Click on the Mac) to select multiple papers at once<

Embellishments?

File name contains flower (or button or ribbon etc)
File name ends with png
Tag by colour or type

Alphabets?

File name ends with png
File name includes alpha, lower or upper
Tag then stack your alphas to have less clutter! Go to Edit – Stack – Stack Selected Photos

Templates?

I’ve created a video tutorial showing you how I tag all my templates:

Find Templates by searching for:

File name ends with tiff
File name ends with psd
Tag by number of photo spots or style (graphic or clustered)

How to find things fast

• Use filenames and keywords together using the Find – By Details (Metadata) option on the Find menu.
• Add captions for items you think you may want later, eg types of patterns or word art. Then you can search by Find –  by Caption or Note
• Click on the Keyword Tags to create an OR search. For eg if I click on flower and leaf, any of the items that are tagged with flower or leaf appear.
• You can also build advanced searched in the By Details (Metadata) search box
• You can also select one paper in say red and then search by Visual Searches – Visually Similar Photos or Videos - all your red papers and embellishments will appear and you can tag them in one fell swoop! AWESOME!

Keyword Lists

You can import these keyword lists by clicking on the green + button in the Keywords Panel and then From File
Download Starter Keyword Tags
This donwnload includes:

• Basic Paper Colours
• A basic list of embellishments
• Seasons and Themes: Seasons Keyword Tags Themes Keyword Tags For Tagging previews
• Templates: Templates Keyword Tags For tagging your templates by number of Photo Spots
• Add to this and create your own!

My Keyword Tags: Mshanhun-Keyword-Tags - not for the faint hearted!

Keep it Up!

Once you have tagged most of your collection keeping up is the key! That’s why I encourage you to start simple!
Have a few minutes spare on the computer? Watching TV with your laptop alongside you? Find untagged items by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Q (Cmd+Shift+Q on a Mac)

Backup your Catalog

Photoshop Elements prompts you to backup your catalog – I suggest backing up to an External Hard Disk, if you have one.

I keep all my supplies on my main (internal) Hard Disk as I find it gives me faster access to the supplies and internal hard disks are much less likely to crash or die on you!

Go to File – Backup to CD, DVD or Hard Drive to start the backup process.

Live Webinar – Organizing your Supplies

In this webinar I’ll demonstrate how quickly find and tag your digital scrapbooking supplies. I’ve also set aside plenty of time to answer your questions.
Digital Scrapbooking Primer: Organising your Supplies
Date: Sunday, February 26

Time: 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM (Eastern Time) (view and register in your timezone)

Cost – Free!

The webinar includes:

• Live streaming of my screen and webcam and I walk you through the workshop
• Text chat with me and other participants
• Question and answer session: get your questions answered on the spot!

Coming up in the Digital Scrapbooking Primer

• Next week: Questions and Answers  - I’ll be answering your questions in an upcoming post, so please ask them in the comments below.
• Free live workshop on Organising your Digital Supplies February 26

Questions?

I’d love to hear your questions in the comments of this post, what do you want to know about Photoshop Elements?

I’m Melissa Shanhun, digital scrapbooking educator and owner of Digital Scrapbooking HQ where I answer your digital scrapbooking questions with video tutorials, one-on-one classes and free online workshops.

I’ve been using my computer to create beautiful things for about 15 years now. I’ve spent 10 years working in graphic design using a variety of software systems including Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. I’ve also taught a University unit on presentation systems and graphic design for the past few years.

I’ve been focusing my skills on digital scrapbooking since October 2007, and I’ve been teaching in person classes in Perth, Western Australia since 2009. In 2011 I launched Digital Scrapbooking HQ, where I’m creating a unique system where you can get your Photoshop questions answered and you can use your computer to do what you want it to!

My work has been featured at The Daily Digi, Scrapbookgraphics, and the Daily Scrapper. I’m currently on the team for Wendyzine Scraps and was published in the 2012 Log your Memory Memory Logbook.

Want to take the plunge into digital for February’s LOAD? All month long I’ve got a special discount on my 31 digital templates set for Layout A Day readers - a massive 50% off! Check out the details of my Simple Digital Album Template Pack here.

Boy, have I got a treat for you! In today’s podcast, we’re going deep into the glittery recesses of a very special place — the imagination of font designer Rae Kaiser! In this interview, she shares:

-How long it takes to design a font (way longer than you think!)

-What you need to keep in mind when selecting type and fonts for your project

-Which font drives her batty (I agree!)

-How you can get free fonts

-And more!

We also talk about LOAD212, True Scrap, and a few other fun odds and ends. And if you stick around until the very end, you just might hear a little bit of Ernie and Bert. Or Ernie, at least.

Links for this episode:

-Rae’s blog, Outside the Line.

-Layout a Day

-True Scrap

-Free webinar with Susan Weckesser on How to Doodle, Feb. 23!

Lots of fun… don’t miss it. And after you listen, make sure you subscribe via iTunes. If you don’t, you’ll be sorry. Very, very sorry. After all, with 30 five-star ratings, you can’t go wrong!