Monday, April 18, 2011

MDS Monday #10

This week's theme for the MDS Monday Challenge was an Easter project. I just finished an Easter card - which I've had printed at Stampin' Up. It's my first time sending something off to their printers, so I'm pretty excited to get it back. Hopefully I ordered it in enough time to get the cards sent out for Easter.

Anyway, since I already did an Easter card, I wanted to do an Easter page. I still haven't scrapped last year's Easter photos. Actually - now that I've said that, I realize I haven't scrapped ANY Easter photos. Hmmm...guess I'd better get a move on.

I was inspired by the stamp set Easter Blossoms which has the saying, "Sending Springtime Smiles". I didn't need the word "sending" but I liked the rest. I also knew I wanted to use the Chocolate Bunny stamp and the Greenhouse Gala DSP paper. Here's what I came up with:

I found the layout idea online and although I changed the elements around about 100 times (each), I stuck with the original layout. The page turned out completely different from what I had in mind originally, but that's what I like about digi scrapping. I can add and delete to my heart's content without wasting a thing. Although - I should set a time limit on myself. I have a tendency to spend too long on a page, which would explain why I'm so behind on my scrapping, haha!

I used the drop shadow technique to give some color to my branches and I must say - it's a pretty cool effect. It took a little time, but not nearly as much as I thought it would. I'll definitely be using this technique more often. :)

Head on over to the UDI blog to see what the talented divas have in store for us this week!

5 comments:

Debbie said...

That is a really pretty page. Love it!

Tonya said...

Love your Easter page! Great job!

Amber said...

thank you both!

Mandy Grant said...

Amber, your pages are always so full of texture (never flat) and have great design elements.
Questions:
#1 You dorp shadows are perfect what numbers do you use Opacity, Blur and XY layout?
#2 Where do you get most of your digital inspiration?

Thanks again for the inspiration!

Amber said...

Mandy - thank you so much for your kind comment! Adding texture to my pages is actually something that I focus on a lot because I can't stand the flat digital look, so you just made me feel like million bucks!

Ok, question #1: I wish I were more help on this, but when I do my drop shadows I don't actually have specific numbers I use for opacity, blur or xy layout. I generally use my arrow keys to move the shadow around until I find an xy position I like. I decide where to put it based on how I want to highlight the element on my page and then I try to stay consistent for all the other elements. I just try to imagine how it would look if I were using traditional elements. I do mess around with the opacity and blur, but again, I pay more attention to the look then I do the numbers.

Question #2 - I have a lot of sites that I check for digital inspiration. I get a daily email from ScrapGirls.com and I usually find at least one layout there that I'd like to copy. I also love JessicaSprague.com, TwoPeasinaBucket, Designer Digitals, Shabby Princess and Persnickety Prints. I'm sure there are others I've found, but I can't think of them of the top of my head. Sometimes I like to check Tiny Prints for card ideas - they definitely have some fun stuff.

I hope that helps!