Want a template?

I've got two template freebies out.  Want one?  or both?

First up, there is a free template on KristinCB's blog.  You can pick it up here.



I love how the mix of circles and triangles worked out on this template.  Here is the layout I made.



I used this super cute kit by KristinCB.




And second, I'm hosting the December Template challenge on WM[squared]'s blog here.



Here is the layout I made.  My kids made "We Love the Coach" signs like they use in the movie Cheaper by the Dozen to cheer on their dad at his tennis match.



I use what is turning into one of my most favorite new kits:




Hope you enjoy the templates.  Keep scrapping your memories!!

Template Challenge

I thought I'd let you all know that I'm hosting a template challenge over at WM[squared]'s site.  You get a free template and a chance to win a gift certificate to her store.  I'd love for you to play along.

Click here to see the challenge:

Warping shadows in PSE

One of the challenges at ScrapOrchard this week is about warping shadows.  AND they have a fabulous tutorial for PSE users.  The trick for PSE users is that you have to create a shadow on a separate layer which takes a few extra steps, but then it is easy to stretch the shadow around and get it to look like parts of elements are lifting further off the paper than others.

Let me show you what I mean.  Here is the layout I did for the challenge:



Can you see the string at the bottom of the layout?  I stretched or warped the shadow at the tips to make it look like they float above the page higher than the parts of the string that tuck under the photo.  This really helps it look more realistic.  I also warped the kite string and the butterfly shadow.  On the butterfly you can really see it - the left wing looks bent up a bit higher than the right.

Oh, and I loved how the layout turned out.  They are some of my favorite pictures from last spring and I used this great kit by WM[squared]:



If you would like to try this out or play along with the challenge at ScrapOrchard, here is the great tutorial I mentioned:
http://scraporchard.com/forum/showthread.php/20732-Warping-Drop-Shadows-in-PSE