Thank you Diva Designers

WOW!!! and WOW!!! again ...

THANK YOU to all the Diva Designers who presented the 12 Days of Christmas Extravaganza over on our Free Classroom Blog during the last few weeks. What an amazing array of beautiful, clever projects you have all come up with for us.

Special thanks to our Guest Designers -

Sarah Gladman

Kellie Lusted

Anne-Marie Cox

Marion Werren

And of course thanks also to Diva Rach, and all the Diva girls who have been our guest design team members throughout the year, and not forgetting the lovely boss lady who decided to make it the 13 Days of Christmas LOL.

We hope you have enjoyed our scrappy Christmas ideas - they will remain on the blog for you to refer back to at any time.

5 sleeps to go ...

Have you been gathering your supplies ... check out the FORUM for more details.

See you there !!!

Design Team Competition - Ready, Set Go !!!

And they're off and racing ... well, tomorrow anyway LOL.

Yep, Michelle is kicking off her Design Team Competition tomorrow, Monday 23rd November 2009.

Do you have what it takes to be a part of the Divas Team in 2010. It's not too late to register today ... check it all out on the FORUM.
Or maybe you just want to cheer along from the sidelines, that's ok too.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL DT COMP ENTRANTS :o)

And it's only 9 more sleeps until our Divas 12 Days of Christmas Extravaganza !!!

Look forward to seeing you there.

Get Ready for the Divas DT Comp

Have you got what it takes to be the next Divas Designer???? Michelle will be hosting a Competition commencing MONDAY 23rd NOVEMBER 2009.

Sign up HERE ...

Check out the requirements HERE ...

And answer THESE questions ...

Bring on the challenges !!!

More happening at Divas

So have you signed up yet for our Divas 12 Days of Christmas Extravaganza? It's going to be a fabulous, creative 12 days. You dont want to miss it.

And coming soon ... Divas Design Team Competition. Yes, Michelle is looking for a fresh new team in 2010. Could it be you?

Register your interest here ... and keep watching for more information coming soon.

Photoshop Tips

I found these tips whilst looking for photoshop brushes to download and thought it might be useful.

15 Photoshop Tips that you may not have known

1. Increase the Canvas Size with Crop Tool:

We usually use Crop Tool (C) the images, but holding down Ctrl + Alt whilst dragging the Crop Tool to quickly increase the canvas size of a image from all the 4 sides.

2. Duplicate a Layer Style:

To quickly duplicate or to copy and paste a layer style to a object on another layer,just hold down Alt key and drag on the "fx" which indicates layer styles. Alternatively if you just want to move a layer style just drag the "fx" and drop the layer where you want it to move.

3. Toggle between several open documents:

If you have more than one documents open at same time, you can quickly toggle through them pressing Ctrl + Tab keys.

4. Layer Visibility:

To hide all the layers except just one, hold down Alt key and click on the Eye Icon on the Layer Palette, this will hide all the other layer. To again make all the layers visible just do the same.



5. Select Alternative Layers:
Now, I am sure you might know that selecting a layer and then clicking on some other layer whilst holding down Shift Key selects all the consecutive layers between them, BUT if you just want to select say Layer 1 and Layer 3 and maybe just Layer 6, then just hold down Ctrl key and click on the layer which you want to select in the Layer Palette, this way only the alternative layers (i.e only the layers that you want) will be selected.



6. See The Text Color:
When you’re working with type, the obvious way to change color is to highlight the text and then pick a new hue by double-clicking the Foreground Color and choosing from the Color Picker. But the problem with this method is, because the text is highlighted, you can’t see the color change. To get around this, click the color square in the Options Bar. As you change the color, you’ll see the type alter accordingly.

7. Plotting Points on Curves:

Curves can play a great role on perfecting the tones in a image, and you can end up with a lot of different effects simply by playing about with the Curves dialog. You can plot the specific color(s), just open up dialog box and hold down Ctrl key and click on any color in your image, a point will appear on the curve that represents the color, ready for you to edit.

8. Reset Any Dialogue Box:

You can easily Reset any open dialogue box, press Alt key and click on Cancel button which has automatically become a Reset button when you pressed the Alt key.

9. Centre Point of a Document:

A quick trick for finding the centre of an object is to Go to Edit>Free Transform and you’ll see a bounding box appear. There’s a useful handle in the centre of the top, bottom and side lines, so go to View>Rulers and then pull out to those guides. Alternatively you can use the following Photoshop Action I have made especially to locate the guides to the centre point of the document.

10. Do away with Palettes, Toolbox and Option Bar:

Hit the Tab key and all the Palettes, Toolbox and Option Bar will disappear. This is particularly useful when you just want the image to be on the artboard, hit Tab again to get them all back. Alternatively, if you just want to do away with only Palettes hold down Shift key and hit Tab.

11. Image on a Specific Angle:

If you ever want to get an image to follow a specific angle, with your image open, go to the Measure Tool (I) and click and drag a line to the angle you want. Now go to the Edit menu select Transform>Rotate. The layer will then snap to the line you drew.
Note:Remember that your layer should not be locked.

12. Add, Rename or Delete a Swatch:

Right click on a swatch in Swatch Palette to quickly create a new Swatch or rename it or delete it. Another tip to quickly delete a swatch.
Hold down Alt key and notice how the cursor changes into Scissor icon allowing you to delete a swatch.
Same is true for Brush, Style Palette etc.

13. Move and Transform Selection:

Drag on the document with the Marquee Tool (M) without releasing the mouse, hold down Spacebar, it will let you move the selection anywhere you like.

Also, you can transform a Selection by choosing Select>Transform Selection.

14. Scale Layer Style/Effects:

If you apply a layer style to a object and are picky like me to have it only this much or just that much, worry not, you can easily adjust how much of a layer style to be applied by Right clicking on Layer Style icons (fx) and choosing Scale Effect, in the corresponding dialogue box you can easily scale effects by moving the slider.

15. Open a Layered File as a Flattened Image:

If you want to just have a quick look at the file, it can be a time consuming task waiting for all the layers to load, if your file has lots of layers. But there is a nifty trick to turn it around, Go to File>Open and find the layered file you want. Before clicking Open, hold down Shift+Alt and Photoshop will open a flattened version of that file.

Get Ready for Christmas

Mark your calendar now, you dont want to miss this!!!
12 days of scrapping and creating goodness - heaps of ideas for gifts and cards and making your home look festive for the Christmas season.

Register here today!!!

Jen Hall's Sneak Peak

Hi ladies

Here is a sneak for what is to come in Jen Hall's class for this Saturday commencing at 10 am and using the fantastic Cosmo Cricket Earth Love papers. The below shows you a sneak of 2 different layouts that you will be making on the day.

You will be required to provide one 6x4 photo in landscape orientation for one layout and 5x7 in landscape orientation for the other layout. Plus your usual scrapping supplies and Jen will provide the ink and border punch!!

If you wish to purchase a spot in this class or the kit you can do so by clicking here.

If you have any questions please let me know.

The raffle tickets will be $2.00 per ticket or 3 for $5.00 and will be sold throughout the morning.

Fundraiser Update

Not long to go now till the fundraiser and you get time to yourself to scrap and chat LOL
Here is one page from Marion Werren's beautiful class.


MARION WERREN'S CHRISTMAS ACCORDIAN FOLD ALBUM CLASS
Extra requirements not provided in the kit -

Adhesive: Foam Mounting Tape.
EMBELLISHMENTS: Pearls: Red & Green, Rhinestones: Red & Green. Ribbon: 1metre of any ribbon of choice to tie up your album, (I used a 1” wide striped organza), Pen: Black for journaling
PHOTOS: 4” x 6” Portrait Colour (4), 4” x 6” Landscape Colour (2), 2 ¼” x 3 ½” Landscape Colour (1) for the front of the house.


sneak peak of one other page.

We will also be having in the shop on the day some Mystery Diva Paper & Flower Packs ranging in price from $2.00 to $15.00. The flower packs are jammed packed with all sorts of flowers and the paper packs have matching papers with embellishments. It will be like a lucky dip and you won't actually know what you have received until you unwrap your parcel.

So make sure you sign up for the classes and the kits as soon as possible.

Scrapbook Divas and Girls Night In October Fundraiser

Well ladies the Fundraiser is not that far away so I thought that I would try and give you an update on the progress.

When: Saturday 24th October 2009

Where: Edgeworth Bowling Club,

Edgeworth

Time: 9am to 9pm

We will be holding 2 classes during the 12 hours.

These will cost $12.00 for each class and the whole of proceeds from the classes will be donated to the Gilrs Night In. The kits for both classes will be $25.00 per kit or the 2 kits for $45.00.

These will be available soon in the Divas shop or on the day. If you wish to purchase the class and kits now you can by going here. Once Marion and Jen have done their samples I will post sneaks and I will also post a copy of the kit when I get them.

The first class will be with Jen Hall from 10am to 12pm using the Cosmo Cricket Earth Love papers and during this time she will be making 2 layouts. Further details will be coming soon as well as the kit to complete this class. To view Jen Hall's work you can check out her blog.

The second class will be with Marion Werren from 2pm to 4pm. Marion is planning a Christmas project that I am sure will be stunning. She will be using the Bo Bunny St Nick and Tis The Season ranges. Further details will be coming soon as well as the kit to complete this class. To view Marion's work you can check out her blog.

We will also be conducting a raffle with all the proceeds going to the Girls Night In.

The major prize for this raffle will be the Making Memories Limited Edition Pink Slice with a RRP of $416.90. This comes

with the Starter Kit and the bonus Think Pink Design Card.

Another prize will be 4 x $10 gift vouchers from my friend Kim Archer from Kim Archer Workshops at Home http://www.kimarcher.com.au/.

If you have any questions or queries please do not hesitate to contact me at michelle@scrapbookdivas.com.au.

World Card Making Day

Yes it's world card making day this Saturday, 3rd October.

Card making apparently goes back to ancient Chinese times ... and today there at least 1 in 6 American households that participate in card making and over 80% of scrapbookers are also card makers.

So join the SCRAPBOOK DIVAS girls this w/end for some quick and easy card making challenges ... and there are RAK's up for grabs.

Check out the forum here for all the information.

Diva Rach has already whipped up a sample for us ... here's a sneek to whet your appetite.

Crazy Crop Winners

Announcing our next QUEEN OF THE CROP ... KAREN !!!
Congratulations Karen, you've completed all our challenges and they are all gorgeous and inspiring. You will be joining boss lady Michelle, Rach and myself for the next 3 months (yep, extra month in there this time) as our Guest Design Team member. Cant wait to see more of your lovely work gracing the gallery and inspiring us in the forum.

Congratulations also to the winners of each challenge ...

Rach's Challenge 1 - Jacqui

Dannielle's Challenge 2 - Karen

Rach's Challenge 3 - Lyndal (allacallyn)

Dannielle's Challenge 4 - Tam

Boss Lady Michelle's Challenge 5 - Amanda

These lovely ladies all receive $10 shopping vouchers ... go nuts in the shop girls :o)

Congratulation again to the winners, and the Honorable Mentions, and the EVERYONE for participating and the DT for coming up with all the challenges and samples.

Crazy Crop Week now over

Yes our crazy week of challenges and lots of fun has now finished but the hardest task of all has only just begun ... choosing winners !!!

Stay tuned for the announcement of the challenge winners and Queen of the Crop.

In the mean time, check out the awesome display of creativity and inspiration in our gallery HERE.

It's on ... right now ... today ... and all week!!!

CRAZY CROPPING WEEK has started ... check it all out here.

Rach and our Guest Designer Dannielle have some wonderful challenges for us this week, and the Boss Lady herself is posting a challenge on Friday.

Shopping vouchers, prizes and RAK's up for grabs PLUS a 3 month Guest Design Team spot for Queen of the Crop. What a great opportunity, so get Crazy with us this week :o)

Happy Scrapping ...

The next Crazy Crop Week ...

Mark your calendar for Divas next CRAZY CROP WEEK commencing Monday 7th September.

5 challenges, 1 each day
Friday night Games & Chat
Prizes and more prizes
Queen of the Crop

Register HERE and keep checking for hints.

FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN

Welcome to the "Queen Team" ...

Another CC done and dusted. OMG it gets harder each time to chose not only winners for each challenge but the Queen of the Crop too. The scrapping world has such a diverse range of people with such a diverse range of talents - I find it constantly amazing at the endless designs and styles people come up with on their pages. Rarely is there any pages alike.

But I digress ..... my apologies.

I'm here to announce the winners and QOTC. So firstly, a big round of applause to DANNIELLE who has been chosen as the Queen of the Crop. Well done Dan and congratulations. We look forward to working with you over the next 2 months in your Guest Design Team role.

How much work is in this lovely mini pizza box and card set. It's just gorgeous isn't it.

Dan is the winner of Mel's Challenge 1.

And the other winners are ...

Mel's Challenge 2 - MANDY

Rach's Challenge 3 - KARENF

Rach's Challenge 4 - MILLYMOLLY

Amanda's Challenge 5 - AMANDA (yes, a different one LOL).

Blind scrap challenge - KEZOD

You can see all the winning entries HERE.

Thank you EVERYONE for joining in our Crazy Crop week. We hope you had lots of fun and mostly importantly, got lots of pages and projects done.

Another CRAZY CROPPING week is on

Yes it's time for another of our fabulous CRAZY CROP weeks over at Divas.

Starting Monday 13th July, there will be a challenge each day Monday-Friday. There is lots of fun and chat on Friday night 17th in the chat room and the forum and then you have all weekend to scrap and catch up on the challenges - entries are due in the gallery by MIDNIGHT MONDAY 20th July !!!

Shopping vouchers for each winner of each challenge, RAK's up for grabs during Friday Night Fun and of course, there's the overall winner who will be named QUEEN OF THE CROP and given a 2 month spot as Guest Designer at Divas.

Sign up now and get ready for a FABULOUS and FUN crazy week of scrapping :)

Hurry ... Sale is ending soon

Yes I said a SALE !!! But you need to hurry, because it is ending at midnight Monday 29th June.

Michelle has been having a HUGE end of financial year sale (EOFYS) and would you believe, there's up to 60% off. You will find all the sale items HERE.

Lots of ladies have already nabbed themselves a box full of bargains (myself included) so dont miss out.

Happy shopping ... and happy scrapping :)

More in the gallery

Just uploading 2 more closeups for you all.... Using the AC papers which are running out of the shop that fast! Get in quick. Call in at the gallery too to see the full images of these ones ...

15 mins of creating

and I get this...

One sheet of black card, some leftover scraps and a few simple standard embellishments. Its been a while since I've done things this simple but I'm really happy with it. Pop into the gallery to see better photos of both projects.

closeups

Hiya, Diva Rach here.

I've actually completed some scrapping this month already!!!

I picked the colour challenge to start me off and my sample is now in the gallery - come check it out!! I'm uploading the closeups here for you all.

Queen of the Crop

The race has been run and won ... by AMANDA (aka fatfrumpette).

CONGRATULATIONS Amanda, and everyone who joined in our week of crazy fun.

I'm sure Amanda will have a great time over the next two months working with Michelle, Rach, Mel and I and receiving lots of yummy new products to play with and inspire us all with her creations.

On that note, I would like to offer a huge THANK YOU to Nat for her efforts and contributions over the last 2 months in her Guest Designer role. It's been fabulous having you on the team Nat, well done :)

Now it's time for some eye candy, yes, new goodies in the shop. I reckon it must be like Christmas at Michelle's place every time a new order arrives LOL. I would love to be opening the boxes and drooling over everything.

Fancy Pants ... (would you believe the Kraft Kits sold out instantly so Michelle has already ordered more of these ... stay tuned). See the whole range HERE.

Kaisercraft OTP kits ... fabulous value with EVERYTHING you need to make a beautiful album. There's the butterfly album or the train album to chose from. Go HERE to check them out.

And Heidi Swapp Mega Masks have arrived as well. Check these out. Can you believe they are 12x12 in size. Fabulous value.

Lastly, some more gorgeous and delicious ranges from My Minds Eye are in store now as well. Find them all HERE.

Crazy Cropping Winners

What a wonderful, crazy week we've had. Thank you so much to EVERYONE for joining in the challenges, chat and fun. So here are the winners for the 5 challenges ...

Rach's Challenge 1 - Spring Card ... KARENF


Mel's Challenge 2 - Mum themed LO ... GAIL


Rach's Challenge 3 - Inspiration challenge ... DAN

Nat's Challenge 4 - Inchies LO ... FATFRUMPETTE (Amanda)

Nat's Challenge 5 - card with decorated inchies ... TAM

Each of these ladies will receive $10 to spend in the Divas store - happy shopping ladies :)

And what better time to go shopping than with lots of exciting new stock arriving this week ...

Check it out HERE :)

And stay tuned for the QUEEN OF THE CROP announcement ...

Yes, it's Crazy Cropping Week at Divas again.

Please come on over and join us, it's not too late.

Monday's and Tuesday's challenges have been posted and there'll be another one each day til Friday, then on Friday night, join us in the chat room for lots of fun and games and chat, oh, and maybe something special in the shop??? Ooops, I've said too much LOL ;)

This is where you'll find everything you need to know about the Crazy Crop.

See you there ...

April Winners & May Happenings

Firstly, the line up of entries for our April challenges was wonderful, thank you everyone. It made judging by the DT very difficult, let me assure you :)

So, CONGRATULATIONS to (and happy shopping with your $10 Diva voucher) ...

Colour Challenge - Dan

Challenge Tuesdays - Kezod

Scraplift the Master - Di

The May challenges are all up and can be found here. We would love to see lots of entries again this month so get scrapping girls :)

May is also the month for our next CRAZY CROP, yes it's rolled around yet again. Nat has been doing a wonderful job in her spot as Guest Designer for April and May - would you like the chance to join the DT for June and July? Then you need to register here. There's also vouchers and prizes up for grabs.

Mark your diary now, a week of challenges, chat and general craziness (LOL) from Monday 18th May at Divas. You also need to make sure you are here for our Friday Night Games - Diva Style.

Finally, here's the round up on our new products for May.

The funky Lime Ricky from Basic Grey ...

And look what's coming from Kaisercraft ... how cool are these and GREAT value.