Category Archives: Digital stamping with My Digital Studio

Journaling as part of scrapbook design

Welcome to this week’s Sunday Journal post,Sunday Journal where we’re going to look at an example of using journaling as part of scrapbook design.

I made the cute page below in My Digital Studio, incorporating the journaling around the edges of the page in order to frame the pictures in the middle.

Square journaling example

Square journaling example

I created a wide, short text box in My Digital Studio, and typed in the words across the top.  Then I adjusted the font, font size, and text color to be the way I wanted them, and copied it.  I pasted it on the page three times, changed the words in each text box and rotated them 90, 180 and -180 degrees to make them read correctly as I placed them around the outside of the page.

Do you like the way the journaling makes a frame around it?

There’s a couple other things I would like to share about the page:

  • No, Munchie the cat did NOT chase a mouse on Christmas Eve, but I really liked the picture of him sitting in the wrapping paper and thought this would be an amusing way to bring him into the page!
  • I particularly like how his darling pink ears and nose match the pink bow and wanted to emphasize it, so I used the Color Match feature in My Digital Studio to make the mat around his picture match the color of his ears!  I simply selected the mat, clicked on Color Match, and then the screen shows the objects on the page in pixellated format.  I moved the cursor to select the pixel with the exact shade of pink that I wanted to feature, and clicked to select the color.  Voila! pink mat!
  • We all know that using Stampin’ Up! gives us scrappers a great benefit because the colors match all across the product line.  Well, I did the same thing on my page by making the outside mat the same pink color!  When I was Color Matching Munchie’s photo mat, I simply saved the pink color as a “favorite,” then selected the Background Paper of the page and changed it to my new “favorite” color: pink kitty ears!
  • I made this page 8 x 8″ so it would show up well on the blog, but I can easily turn it into a hybrid 12 x 12″ scrapbook page by printing it and mounting it on a 12 x 12″ sheet of card stock.  And that additional layer would give it even more dimension, and add to the frame effect!

Check back next weekend for the next Sunday Journal post, when I will share another way to get words on your page and use journaling as part of scrapbook design!

My Digital Studio for travel

I’ve been posting about all the problems you may have with scrapbooking that can be solved by using My Digital Studio, and here are a couple more reasons why I love my Digital Studio for travel!

Problem #7

I need a hobby that is portable – I travel a lot for business and have lots of time in the hotel with nothing to do.

Solution:

Put My Digital Studio on a laptop and GO!  Of course, if you use a laptop from work, be sure to ask whether you can add outside software to it.

And if you travel on vacation but have little kids who go to bed early, bring your own laptop from home and scrapbook your vacation pictures at the end of the day, while the little ones are sleeping!  That’s what I did during my solo trip to Utah for Convention this summer, since it was TOO HOT to be outside in the afternoon… I took a little My Digital Studio break!  See my previous post here.

My Digital Studio solves problems!

So, after a great session yesterday showing the features of My Digital Studio (the intuitive scrapbooking software from Stampin’ Up!), I started sharing the Top 10 ways in which My Digital Studio solves problems!  Here are the next three problems or needs that My Digital Studio can solve for you:

Problem #4

I don’t want to scrapbook because all my pictures are digital and I hate having to get them printed.  I never have them ready when I want to scrapbook!

Solution:

My Digital Studio allows you to use your photos directly without having to print them!  No need to spend money on enlargements – you can change the size of the picture, crop out unwanted details, and alter the picture right in the software.

  

Problem #5

Whenever I sit down to scrapbook, I find that my pictures are either the wrong size or need to be cropped…it’s frustrating and expensive to make those enlargements!

Solution:

My Digital Studio allows you to enlarge, zoom in and crop your pictures yourself – no expensive enlargements needed and no waiting!  No need to print ahead of
time!

 

Problem #6

I’d like to make one of those photo groupings but I don’t want to work that hard to get all the pictures straight.

Solution:

My Digital Studio can center and align your pictures for you!  And the grid feature makes it easy to place pictures where you want the.  You can even just
print out the photo group and use it on traditional pages.

I hope these reasons help to show you how My Digital Studio solves problems!

My Digital Studio Solutions


I held a great session today to demonstrate the My Digital Studio software, and we talked about some of the problems that people have doing paper scrapbooking, and the My Digital Studio solutions to these problems!

I will hold the session again soon but here are the first three Solutions.

Question: What needs or problems can My Digital Studio solve?

Problem #1:

I don’t have much space for rubber stamping

Solution:

My Digital Studio requires only a computer (or laptop)

 

Problem # 2:

I don’t have much time to rubber stamp and can never finish a page or card before I get interrupted!

Solution:

With My Digital Studio, you can save your partially finished projects and pick up again where you left off!

 

Problem #3:

I have to make duplicate albums for family members.

Solution:

With My Digital Studio, design once and print multiple times!  You can print multiple copies of a scrapbook, calendar or swatch book – and even customize each one with the person’s name before you print!

 

Are you starting to get the idea that this software can help you with some of your needs?  Stay tuned and I will share some more great My Digital Studio solutions tomorrow!

My Digital Studio easy to use!

I am holding a demonstration tomorrow to show why I call my favorite scrapbooking program, My Digital Studio easy to use!  I’ll have some samples of the scrapbooks and cards that we can make with the software, and will do a quick demo of the software on the big screen.My Digital Studio

So come share a cup of coffee and see how easy it is to get your pictures out of the camera or computer, and into lovely a scrapbook that you can share!

Click here for more details about the session and the upcoming classes.  And contact me at carol@carolGpapercrafts.com if you have any questions!

Keep an eye out for future posts about My Digital Studio and the projects you can make with it.

I hope you can join us to see more information about the software, and you can see why I call My Digital Studio easy to use!

Upcoming paper crafting classes for Winter 2012!

I am excited to share the schedule of upcoming paper crafting classes for
Winter 2012!

The first event is a free demonstration of My Digital Studio, the intuitive digital software from Stampin’ Up! for making cards, scrapbooks, slide shows and more!  I will have samples of items that have been made with the software, and will show a quick demonstration of how fast & easy it is to use on the big screen. No squinting!  Coffee! Wednesday, 1/18/12 from 1:00pm to 2:30pm.

Note – if you are interested in purchasing My Digital Studio, let me know and I can help you get it set up on your computer if you can bring your laptop to Ridgewood, or over the phone if you are far away!

Each month I will be running two different types of classes.  You must register and pay in advance so I can have materials ready for you!

1)    Technique class – we will make two different cards and a third item, which may be a 3D item or another… interesting thing!  We will use at least two different techniques on the projects, and you will be able to make a little reference card with a sample of each technique and directions on the back.  Keep these technique cards on a ring and refer back to them when you are looking for some inspiration!  Dates: Thursday 1/19 at 11:00am (note changed time!), and Thursdays on 2/9 and 3/15 at 1:00pm. Fee $20.

Technique ring

Technique Ring

2)     Scrapbook class – we will alternate a hands-on, paper scrapbook layout class one month with a My Digital Studio scrapbook/technique class the next month.

  • For the hands-on layout class, I will give you everything you need to create a layout with blank spots for the pictures, and you can take it home and add your photos. Thursday 2/10 at 1pm. Fee $20.
  • For the MDS class, bring your laptop with My Digital Studio loaded on it.  I’ll have the big screen set up so everyone can see the demonstration, and then we can work through one or two cool techniques while creating a project.  Thursdays on 1/26 and 3/22 at 10am for beginners and 1pm for experienced users. Fee $20.

Classes are held at my home studio in Ridgewood.  Contact me for more details or to sign up!  And for those who are not in the local, northern NJ area… I
plan to add some online classes in the second half of the year!

I hope to see you at one of the upcoming paper crafting classes for
Winter 2012!

Free My Digital Studio download

Have you started using My Digital Studio, and would you like a free My Digital Studio download?  What a question!  Of course, who wouldn’t?!  Take a look:

MDS Day in the Life Kit

MDS Day in the Life Kit

Stampin’ Up! is giving away a free download for anyone who has a Facebook page and “Likes” their Facebook page and fills out a survey, or you can also get the download by simply filling out the quick survey (see links below).  It will be available only until Jan. 10.  Here’s what Stampin’ Up! says:

Thank you for being our friends! To show our appreciation for our 100,000 (plus) Facebook fans, we’re giving away a free digital kit to EVERYONE to use with My Digital Studio (or any other design software if My Digital Studio is not available where you live). The Day in the Life kit contains Designer Series Papers, embellishments, a Designer Template, and is valued at $14.95(US)! … And so you (and your friends) have plenty of time to download the kit, we’ll make sure it is available through January 10.

Here’s what to do:

  • To become a Facebook fan, go to your facebook page, search for “My Digital Studio” to “Like” the page and start the survey.
  • To bypass Facebook and fill out the survey and get the download, click the following link:

Day in the Life Kit – FREE Download!  surveymonkey.com

When you download the kit, you simply select whether you have a PC or Mac, and whether you are using it within My Digital Studio or simply as graphic material in another graphic program.  It guides you through the steps – easy!  This is the same process you can use if you purchase downloads online.

Please contact me if you have any questions about My Digital Studio or downloads.  If you would like to see what other downloads are available, or more info about My Digital Studio, click here.

I hopy you enjoy your free My Digital Studio download!

Treat box at the banquet!

Here is a picture of how we shared the treat box at the banquet!  I made these cute little favor boxes, or treat boxes, using My Digital Studio to print the paper and the Bitty Box die cut on the Big Shot to cut them out.  The top is made from the Sweet Treat Cups with a little silver cake decoration ball inside as a pinball… it rolls around!  See details here.

We put one at each students’ place at the band banquet.  The band members thought they were cute, and enjoyed the candy inside… but I also think that they gave everyone something to play with during the long evening!

Tommy Pinball Wizard box at the banquet

Tommy Pinball Wizard box at the banquet

My Digital Studio treat box directions

Hey, yesterday I posted pictures of the cool little gifts I made for the marching band banquet, and I promised to share the My Digital Studio treat box directions!  So here we go. 

The music for this year’s show was Tommy by The Who.  So, as I posted yesterday, I used the Stampin’ Up! Sweet Treat Cups and added one of those little silver cake decorating balls as a pinball.  You can roll the ball around and try to get it into the hole that I punched in the letter “O” of the word “Tommy.”

Pinball Wizard treat box - score!

Pinball Wizard treat box - score!

Of course, it is fun to make little gifts or favors like this, and it only takes a couple minutes to assemble one… but when you make 100 of anything, those minutes can add up and it can take a while!  So, I used my brain and some of my favorite paper crafting tools to make it go faster… and make the results look really professional!  Read on!

Big Shot die cut and embossing tool
Big Shot die cut and embossing tool

While you can of course just cut out the shape for a box from some cardstock, score the sides and fold into a box, using the Big Shot and the Bitty Box die make quick work of it.  Feed the paper and die in, roll the handle and the die cuts the shape AND scores the fold lines in one easy step!  Then it is easy to fold along the score lines and assemble the box.

 
Frequently, I might embellish the finished box with ribbon or brads or stamping, but in this case I wanted to print rather small words on each side of the box.  I thought that it would be ideal if I could just print them out before I die cut the box shape.  So I immediately went to My Digital Studio, the intuitive software program by Stampin’ Up! that provides so many ways to do creative paper crafting for scrapbooking, card-making… and so much more, as you will see!  Click here to read on and see how I easily laid out the project! 
 
 

My Digital Studio favor treats!

Pinball Wizard treat box 1

Pinball Wizard treat box

Wow, check out the My Digital Studio favor treats that I just made for our high school marching band banquet! 

The band did music from Tommy by the Who, so I designed these treat boxes using Stampin’ Up! Sweet Treat Cups on top and added one of those silver cake decoration balls as a Pinball… my tribute to Pinball Wizard!  I punched a hole in the letter “O” in Tommy and you can roll the pinball around until you get it in the hole… like this!

Pinball Wizard treat box - score!

Pinball Wizard treat box - score!

 

Favors like this are fun to make, but when you are making about 100 of anything you need to be smart about it.  So check back tomorrow and I can show you how I used My Digital Studio and my Big Shot to save time and make these look so darn cute!

100 of anything is a lot!

100 of anything is a lot!

You can use the same idea to make a cute decoration or game for a holiday table.  Let me know if you want to make these My Digital Studio favor treats!