New Book of Me Guide!

When I found out that Dawn had picked Tina for the next Gallery Spotlight, my first thought was how wonderful the timing! Tina has been working hard in recent weeks to bring a new class to Hummie's World!

Tina and I have been digibuddies for many years and I am excited that she has started scrapping again after being restored from some personal messes.

Please stop by the forum threads to meet her (here) and leave her some warm fuzzies.

Anyone who has known Tina in the digiworld knows how she promotes layouts about one's self. Therefore, she has created a new self-guided course here at Hummie's World. What a great opportunity to be inspired and encouraged to just scrap about yourself! Why not create a whole book!

The first set of 20 challenges are up and ready to go! Tina is sure to be quick in getting the second set available for posting soon. I know she is excited about encouraging you to scrap about yourself.

For each set of 20 that you complete, you will receive a special icon by your name.

Please read this index page for more information. Won't you join us? Any products can be used, so there are no excuses!

My Church

http://www.facebook.com/HanoverLutheran

It has been so long since I have had time to write on my blog, especially the Bible Bits posts that some people really seemed to enjoy. I want to get back to my normal self! Now that marching band season is about to end, I am feeling on the recovery end. I've been busy with the new designer class, but as soon as it is past a certain point, I will be able to focus on other things again. I actually took the night off and just watched tv last night. Sometimes I need to do that.

What you do not know about me is my personal life and all that I do for other people behind the scenes. So, I thought I would share with you a link to my church's Fan Page. Yes, it is me behind the scenes that is maintaining the Fan Page and website. I hope you enjoy it. I want to begin writing more things for it.

Do not hesitate to share about Jesus on this Fan Page. In fact, I encourage you to do so! I do not want it to be a Fan Page about our church. Noooooooo! Everything should focus on Christ. Everything. This Fan Page is for Christ. So, help me utilize it for that by sharing and chattering on it. You will make me smile, but more importantly, you will make God smile.

The website is here: http://www.hanoverlutheran.com/
You can subscribe to it's RSS to follow it too.

Template Challenge

Candy is at it again! Come to the forum to download a template for the challenge! It's another great one! Please give back to Candy by sharing the layout you make with this template so that she will continue to bring us more!

Quick Tip - New Guides in Photoshop Elements 8

This video shares a quick tip in using the new guides in Photoshop Elements, as well as a few uses for them.

Bag Toppers

I wanted to do a little something special for the boys today (the two that are home and my Little from Big Brothers Big Sisters), so I bought a bunch of candy and set out do do some bag toppers as a digital scrapbooking hybrid project.

I'm always seeing templates and downloads in the stores for purchase and have always thought "how hard can that be?"

It wasn't that hard and took me very little time to do it! Here's how.

First, choose your bag size. Your topper should be created based on the size of your bag. I am sure there are a variety of bag sizes. Since I was only make three and really filling them up, I used a gallon size bag. For class parties or more volume, use a smaller bag.

Manually place a piece of paper over the bag and eye how big it must be to fit as a topper. Fold it in half.

Remove it from the bag and cut the excess to create a template.

Measure the template. This is all you will be utilizing the template for. The size you measure is the size that you will utilize as a new file in Photoshop Elements (or other program).


In Photoshop Elements, find the horizontal center. I used the new guide in Photoshop Elements 8. Place some items, such as I did the circle and the journal mat, so that they will be included on both sides when folded. For other items, duplicate them and rotate them. For the border and the ribbon, I used Image/Rotate/Flip Layer Vertical. For the text and the sign that needed to be readable, I used Image/Rotate/Flip Layer Vertical and then also applied Image/Rotate/Flip Layer Horizontal.



When printed, fold the topper in half and staple it to the bag! Easy! It took me about an hour to make the whole project (less all of the time I spent on distractions!) You could glue on bows, buttons, and other items, but since mine are for boys, I kept it non-girly!

Here is my three bag toppers -- ready for making smiles!

You may download the topper I made today for a limited time here (and then in the Subscriber Area). Print it out and staple it on!

Download (I used my own kits available in the Subscriber Area for this project.)