Lots of new products at Scrapadelic.

Kool Katz is a new, fresh and very kool kit for those kool katz in your house! Even if you don’t have a kat you can still use Kool Katz, there are lots of elements suitable for spring, feminine or just pretty layouts.

A Spoonful of Sugar is full of sweet confections! It’s also baby soft with lots of stitched felt elements. Want to make your layouts distressed or shabby? I’ve included a slightly shabby overlay which can completely change the look of your pages. Use this kit for Easter, spring or baby layouts…or for heartwarming and happy pages.

Get More Sugar Please! The Spoonful of Sugar add-on pack! There are some really sweet additions: two tulips, two butterflies and three doodles…all stitched up! You’ll also find a pink ribbon and bow and three plain but textured backgrounds. All complementary to the original kit.

There is lots more to see at Scrapadelic…check it out!

If you’ve never used a layered template before, it might look daunting seeing all those layers! Don’t worry, it’s really easy once you familiarize yourself with one simple technique: clipping masks.

Let’s create a layout using a layered template! We’ll start by placing a photo into our layout.

1. In your layered template, click on the layer where you want to place your photo (make sure you have “auto select layer” checked.

.

Look at the layers palette, usually the layers are appropriately named to tell you where to place certain elements, like, “main photo”, “paper”, etc.

2. Open your photo.

3. Using your move tool, drag (or copy/paste) the photo into your layout. You’ll see that it is not positioned correctly and overlaps other layers.

Here’s where it gets fun…

4. Holding down your alt key on a PC or option key on a Mac, position your mouse cursor exactly between your photo and the layer below it. You’ll see a new cursor:

This means that you are about to create a clipping mask.

5. Now click between the layers…voila! You photo is “clipped” to the layer below it.

6. You can reposition your photo if you like, or even resize it…your photo will remain within the clipping mask.

7. To release the clipping mask, simply do the opposite of what you did above: alt or option click between the layers to release it.

8. It’s best now to merge the two layers together. Shift-select both layers and then hold down your control key for PC, command key for Mac, and hit the letter “e” on your keyboard. The two layers are now one.

It’s as simple as that!

As with many techniques in Photoshop, there are several ways to do things. I’ve shown you just one way to make a clipping mask. It’s by far the easiest! If you aren’t familiar with keyboard shortcuts, it may take some time to become comfortable with them.

Now, carry on with the rest of your layout by bringing in background papers and elements until you have all of the layers completed. Don’t forget to add drop shadows! You don’t have to use the template exactly as it is…move things around, resize the template’s elements or delete some of them altogether. That is the beauty of layered templates, you have the freedom to create a layout that is uniquely YOU.

If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

PHOTOSHOP TUTORIAL
Removing Pre-shadowed Elements
Text By: Pattie Knox

Shadows and lighting are the two elements that combine to give your layout depth and realism. When you create shadowing it is imperative to remember that the light source for each element on a page comes from the same direction. (Usually the top left.) The bulkier the item, the deeper your shadow should be. For example, you would want a heavier shadow on a button than on a strip of paper to give the illusion that the button sits higher on the surface of the layout. Many purchased kits provide elements with the shadowing already in place and the depth determined by the designer. These elements reside happily in your layouts in most cases, but what if you want to rotate a element in a different direction?

I’ll be using a Victorian rose die-cut from my Victorian Style kit to demonstrate.

As you can see, the shadowing on the original element is quite pronounced and gives the illusion of depth.

If I flip the element horizontally in order to have it facing the opposite direction, the shadowing is in an incorrect position and will throw off the composition of the layout.

Use the following method to rectify this situation.

1. “Ctrl-click” (“command key –click” for Mac users) on the layer containing the element. The selection will be indicated by “marching ants.”

2. Choose “Select” > “Inverse” to select the area outside of the element. Notice the change to the “marching ants” indicating the selected area.

3. Hit the “Delete” key on your keyboard to remove the shadowing. You may have to hit Delete several times to completely erase all traces.

4. Now choose “Select” > “Feather” and set the Feather Radus to 1 pixels. Hit the Delete key again. This step softens any “jaggie” edges that may have been left behind.

5. You now have an element completely devoid of any shadowing. Note that it looks very flat on the page and needs a shadow to make it appear more dimensional.

6. Add a new shadow (if desired) using your own settings…done…a few simple steps that can make a huge difference in the appearance of your layout.

Well, a new Scrapadelic shop is what’s new! I’ve worked hard, along with the services of Lauren Barden of Moment Saving, to bring you a store that is pleasant to navigate and is easy on the eyes. All of your favourite Scrapadelic kits are available plus you’ll find a few new things.

Scrapadelic is a work in progress at the moment…keep watching for new things added to the store over the next while.

I do plan on a Grand Opening sale (every single thing in the store on sale) in the month of March, keep your eye out for that too!