Pixels and Company: A New Beginning Freebie

Have you seen the new freebie from Gennifer Bursett and Mye De Leon?

A New Beginning is available for a limited time on the Pixels & Company Facebook page, just look for the exclusive tab!

My Save it all Action- Create your own

This tutorial may seem long, but just go step by step and it should come together.

Here's what my action looks like:

Let me walk you through so you can record your own action, all you have to do his press record and follow the steps. Then press stop and you have your own action.

You'll need to have a completed layered layout open while we create the action, we will perform each of the steps on the layout and record them as we go along.

First you're going to want to press Create a New Action

Name it whatever you like, as you can see, mine is named "Save it all Sarah" (catchy right?)

It should automatically start the recording, if not press Record.

First we will remove the unused/hidden layers on the layout.

Select File; Scripts; Browse

Now remember where you saved the scripts and select CVW_DeleteNonVisible

A dialog box will pop up confirming you want to delete the non visible layers, click yes.

Now we are going to run a supply tracker- 

NOTE: this only works if your layers are named appropriately. So make sure your layers are named with the designer name, kit name or any other info that will help you track the credits. If you need to name your layers, press stop, name your layers, then press record and continue on with the directions.

Select File; Scripts; Browse

Now remember where you saved the scripts and select CVW_SupplyTracker

A dialog box will pop up confirming you want to track visible layers, click yes.

The script will run, and place a new text layer on your document, your supply list will also be inserted into the metadata of the file.

Now lets look at the next step in my action

My action says play action for the first two steps, but yours will say Scripts instead.

Now we are going to call another script

Select File; Scripts; Browse

Now remember where you saved the scripts and select CVW_FileSave1

This dialog box will pop up:

I change the selections like so:

Now I just figured out last weekend that you can change the numbers in the boxes! So if you want to save at a specific size, either for printing or for web, you just check the box and enter your desired size. For example an 8x8 layout is 2400 pixels. The DHD blog is currently 450 pixels wide so I can save my layout for the blog easily. Thanks Erica and Sandy for helping me figure that out- seriously saving me time on my process!

Back to the action:

Find the side menu for the action palette:

Click insert Stop and

 paste the following into the dialog box that comes up, also check the box that says allow continue.

Paste this:     Now open the 600 Pixel file that was previously saved

Click the side menu for the action palette again, now select insert menu item:

You will see this dialog box:

Don't click that blue OK yet!

Select File; Open

Now click the blue OK button.

Press the stop button on the action player, we are going to take a break here to talk about saving for the web. I like to resize my web previews, sharpen and export for the web. In order to do this I use part of someone else's action (did you know you can load actions and copy parts of them to customize your actions?) I use part of the resize for web action from Paislee Press. Download, unzip and install the action.

Here's what the action looks like installed in my program:

We are going to move the commands: Image Size, Convert to Profile current document, Unsharp mask, and Export. (we don't need the Stop command) Add these after the open command we recorded earlier.

Marlene asked how to move- highlight the parts we want, click and drag them to the correct position in our new action + I forgot to say, you should probably delete the remaining parts of the action, just to keep things neat and clean :)

Now double click on the unsharp mask command- enter the following values:

Click OK

I have a final command at the end of my action to close the 600 pixel file. So, click once on the export command, then press record and close the file that is open. Click the stop button.

We're done!

I know this is an involved process, but I love the results and it really does save me time because I'm not having to go through a saving process for each of the sizes that I need.

Let me know if you have questions and I'll do my best to answer them! 

iNSD Bloghop - Design House Digital

Welcome to the DHD iNSD Bloghop. (enough acronyms for you?)

As you hop along the blogs, make sure to gather up the letters, when you enter them in the coupon code area of check out you will get this great kit for free! (just add the kit to your cart first)

Not only do you get this fab kit, but you can enter to win other amazing prizes!

I will be giving away a DHD gift certificate. Make sure to enter using the Rafflecopter widget so all your entries are counted.

If you participate in the DHD iNSD layout challenge, you can be entered to win a digital frame. 

At DHD we really know how to throw a party!

Today tutorial is part of my process of saving my layouts. I have a rather involved process for saving my layouts, but I recorded it all into an action and now all I have to do is push one button and everything is done for me.

The biggest secret to my whole process are the scripts from Speed Scraps. 

I use: 

Delete Non-Visible

Supply Tracker

File Save 1 

After you download and unzip these scripts take note of where you have them saved, you'll need this to make your action. 

The other script that is a huge help is Copy Close.

This script will take all our open PNG and JPEG files and add them as layers to your PSD document. While it is copying them into the PSD it is also naming the layers, it copies the filename of eachPNG or JPG and uses that as the layer name. This is really helpful for tracking your credits. 

I'll continue this tutorial in another post so you can get hopping on the blog hop, but make sure to check back so you can create your own saving action.

Your instruction for the layout challenge: 2 or more lines of journaling

Enter to win the Gift card: (make sure to use the rafflecopter widget so all your entries count)

Enter up to 5 times

Mad March Memories Blog Hop- a Giveaway & a Freebie Take 2!

Welcome Blog Hoppers!

(The Giveaway is now closed, but you can still collect your letter and receive a code for the collab kit until the end of March 2012)

I have great stuff for you here today- A tip/tutorial, a giveaway and your Super Secret Letter!

First up here is my tip:
We are going to combine 2 or more templates to make one completely unique template.

The first thing you need to do is pick out templates that you like elements of, I pick 2-3, but you could pick more. I think it might be hard to do more than 5.
Here are the templates I picked out:
Two are from Tiffany Tillman's 52 templates series, #29 and #31 the other one is from the DHD TNT collection.

After your templates are open, create a new canvas/document in your preferred scrapping size. I scrap in 12x12 so that's what I've created

Now we'll begin selecting the elements of the templates that we want to keep. I want the dark strip from  #31 so right click on the layer in the pallete and you should see this:

See the option on the third line down? That's what we want.
Now this dialogue box will open:

I haven't renamed my canvas yet so I want to pick Untitled-1

Keep selecting the layers you want and duplicate them onto your canvas.

If you prefer to drag and drop, you can drag the layers while holding shift and alt/option this will make the layer drop into the same place it was on the previous canvas. 

After all my layers are on my canvas, here's what it looks like:

Now move things around until you like the placement, think about things like balance, visual weight and creating flow on your layout. (or just make it look good, and that stuff will happen)

Heres mine:

I realized I needed journaling so I jumped back onto one of my templates and grabbed a journaling block. Now I'll save it, but first I will rename 3 layers with the names of the templates so I have a record of which templates I used and can give credit later on for the inspiration.

Here is my completed page:

I used the Sweet Bee collab from Jen Allyson and Celeste Knight

Next up is the giveaway! I have a Gift Certificate to Design House Digital to give away! You can enter up to 5 times. One comment, like me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, and post to Facebook and Twitter. I tried to make it easy on you- just use the Rafflecopter widget below to submit all your entries! :)

Mad March Memories Blog Hop- a Giveaway & a Freebie

Grrr- Blogger ate my post! SO...I will attempt to recreate it! here goes!!

DHD November Freebie

Did you know that there is a free mini every month at DHD- this is on top of the regular free kits as part of 4Play and Mad Monday!

Last month was a beautiful kit by Agnes Biro, this month is this sweet mini by Jen Allyson:

You will have to be registered in the store and "purchase" the kit for 0.00

I highly recommend signing up for the DHD newsletter, awesome tips, sales and freebies!

Digital Scrapbooking Day-A bloghop!

The Designers of Design House Digital have given away the sweetest kit ever, and as decorators we couldn't wait to get our hands on it...

For this blog hop, the Decorators have made a quick page (in both 12x12 and 8.5x11 sizes) from the DHD Designers' DSD Collab Kit

If you get lost, here is a complete list of all the participants: 

Janell Nugent, Jennifer Valencia, Liz Jutila, and Missy Backues

Allison Waken
Anna Drozd
Aria Andrus

Carey Bridges
Celeste Smith & Gennifer Bursett
Christy Carlson
Crystal Livesay
Jen Papadimitriou
Jennifer Hignite
Jen Flaherty
Jeryn Carlisi

Katherine Hansen
Lori Pickens
Mandi Buchanan
Mary Rogers
--------------------- Sarah Hemmert-------You are here
Shannon Dombkowski
Tiffany Bodily

Before we get to my pages, here is a bit of information to help you plan your weekend.

Design House Digital Schedule of Events:

Everything in the DHD shop is 25% off! Everyone loves a deal and now is a great time to get all your wishlist items that you’ve been waiting for! Sale ends November 6th.

The Bloghop to pick up the DHD Designers DSD collab kit started Yesterday, so hop over to the DHD blog for more information.

I am co hosting a chat on Saturday, join me at 8 pm MST in the DHD chat room

 Here is the full chat schedule:

2:00 – Mandi
3:00 – Liz & Wendy
4:00 – Jen Allyson
5:00 – Robyn
6:00 – Kat
7:00 – Mary R & Jennifer H
8:00 – Karla & Sarah
9:00 – Gennifer

All chats are MST and take place in the DHD Chat Room

Now you get to see my pages and pick up your Quick Page freebies. 

I love the teal and yellow, this is my favorite color combo lately, the addition of gray is the perfect balance!

I've made 2 layouts with the DSD kit, and you get them both as free Quick Pages!

Out of Bandwidth please use the next link 
Download your Quick Pages 


Back up Link 




And yet another Back-up Link
(Just in case the second link runs out of Bandwidth too)
(use this link only if the first one doesn't work, it is the same zip file)

Freebie Card- Fall Festival

Want a little freebie?

Head over to A+ Designs and pick up the freebie I posted over there today.

I used Fall Festival:

I also posted a little tip on how I created my layout.

Freebie Cluster- Fall Festival

Want a little freebie?

Head over to A+ Designs and pick up the freebie I posted over there today.

I used Fall Festival:

I also posted a little tip on how I created my layout.

Limoncello Free Card

Pick up this free card from Facebook: 

Using Limoncello

Download includes the card and an envelope on a letter sized sheet.

~Go to Facebook~

You can still pick up a Funky Club Subscription for only $10.00 for all 16 mini kits!

New Free Card on Facebook

I just posted a new card using Sisterhood, Forever by Siamese Studio and Trixie Scraps Designs

Get the kit free with any purchase over $12 at Funky Playground Designs

Your download includes a card and an envelope on a letter sized sheet, ready to print.

Go to Facebook-Click Here

Serendipity Card Freebie

Serendipity worked so well on my beach page, I knew I wanted to use it to make a card set. 

Image linked to store

This download will include the card, and a coordinating envelope on a letter sized sheet. 

Click Image to Download




Comments are always welcome!

Beautiful Freebie Card

Image linked to store

I have made a couple of pages using beautiful, then I realized it would be a great kit for making some cards. I want some all purpose and holiday specific cards. 

I put this card onto Letter sized sheet and added a coordinating envelope(this makes the card a little smaller than 4.25x5.5).

Enjoy!

Click image to download

Serendipity Freebie

I love the soft tones of Serendipity

I immediately wanted to make a beach layout, my picture ended up having very little beach, but lots of water. I altered the colors of the photo slightly to bring up the blues and tie in with the circle stamp.

I made this page into a Quick Page for you- Enjoy! (remember Personal Use Only- Don't claim as your own)

Click Image to Download

Destination Unknown Freebie

I recently picked up Destination Unknown- by Duo-Licious (A+ Designs and Dani Moy Designs). 

On sale now for $3.00

I was instantly drawn to the variety of papers. The elements are amazing, but I love good patterned paper. I wanted to use a few of the papers form the kit, and in my quest to fill out my card stash, I made this fun little card:

Click Image to go to A+Designs for the download

Your download will be a JPG image that includes an envelope and the card. If you would like just the card front in a slightly larger size (a4), send me a message at pinklimecreations (at) gmail (dot) com.

This post also appears on the A+ Designs Blog (the download link is located there)