Welcome back to another 3 kits 3 ways challenge! This week’s challenge involves something things old, and somethings new, some things borrowed….oh wait…:) But we did decide to use some new Ali brushes this week just for fun. Sure are loving to have her stuff in the DD store!

The rules of 3k3w are simple. Every other week, we pick 3 kits and have 3 designers play with them. They are allowed to add other products, recolor, cut, etc. The whole idea is to show versatility of the kits and to maybe refresh your memory about a kit you forgot you owned (sometimes we need to dust older products off our invisible shelves) or inspire you to buy something you might have missed in your shopping expeditions (and with over 4000 products, that is easy to do!)

So, here are the 3 kits for this week’s challenge:

Indian Summer Kit by Jesse Edwards

Carded Stacked Frames by Katie Pertiet

Hello Summer Brushes by Ali Edwards

And here are this week’s pages:

Page by Jess Hunt
This is so quintessentially summer. I just love how Jess worked the kits here! Of course there are a few more products on here besides the 3 kits. Jess also used; Shells, Doubled Up Stitching by Katie Pertiet and Winter Surf Kit by Kellie Mize.

Guest CT member Kayleigh Wiles got into the act this week as well. Spencer was having way too much fun with these glasses. I love the white space and Kayleigh is rockin’ the stitching and stitching holes lately. Here are the links for the additional products that Kayleigh used; His Valentine Mini Kit by Anna Aspnes, Simple Spots No. 02, Assorted Tapes No. 02, Stitching Holes Brushes -n- Stamps by Katie Pertiet.

Page by Wendy McKeehan
Ok, I have to make a confession. I didn’t actually use the Hello Summer brushes on this page. See, I found this photo of my daughter and the lavendars almost matched perfectly (and a quick hue saturation made them match…heh) and I fell in LOVE with this background paper with this photo and well, I ended up making the whole page and then I realized that it didn’t fit the “summer” theme of the words. So I used Ali’s CK handwriting font for part of my journaling. I know, that’s a bit of a cheat, but I did use the word “Day” in the journaling and that is in the brush kit. Anyway, the only additional product I used was the black background which is from La Cremerie - Fruit Noire by Katie Pertiet.

Thanks for stopping by and please play along and post your pages in the 3 Kits 3 Ways Gallery.

Many traditional and digital scrapbookers would like to try hybrid but don’t know how to get started.  This week we’re going to show you how to do a simple page using easy directions written by Jessica Sprague and taken from her latest book, “Computer Tricks for Scrapbooking 2.” 

This challenge will show you how to create a photo block that includes space for patterned paper.  Now if you’re a solely digital scrapbooker, it will show you how to perfectly size your photos and incorporate patterned papers.  If you’d like to try hybrid, it will teach you how to leave space for traditional papers (remember,you can print your digital papers without spending an additional dime).

Here’s our inspiration layout created by Jessica:

Next, here’s a wonderful summer page that Sara Horton created (using all digital paper but using foam dots for some additional dimension) In the inset photo, you can see the effect:

Come check out the challenge on the IdeaBooks4u blog, then create your own page and post it in the IdeaBooks4u Inspiration Gallery at Designer Digitals. 

Have a great week! 

Jill Hogan

I’m so excited to see so many participating in the gallery! wow! Looks like we’re going to have some amazing books when we’re all done!

It’s week two!
And we’re on to pages 3 & 4 of our books!

with Create-a-Book No. 2

For the book I’m creating from Jack’s visit I’m documenting all the things we did while he [and my sister] were visiting! I can’t wait to have this book done—and bring it to my sister in August when we get to visit Omaha to meet Jack’s new little brother that will be arriving soon! And then it will be time for another book!

Layout details page 3 & page 4

Loving re-living our trip to Ireland with this book!

Layout details page 3 & page 4

Since we’ve moved I still haven’t found the box with the diary I kept on the trip but I did find a map that I had drawn out our journey on so, through the pictures, I am remembering the trip! I’m sure I packed that diary away somewhere safe where I wouldn’t lose it LOL!

Be sure to Link us up to your pages! I look forward to seeing how everyone’s pages are progressing!!

I love the way Anke cropped the photo on this gorgeous layout, which is our inspiration for the Saturday Scraplift this week:

There are times when a really tight crop on a photo can add so much to its impact.

The other thing I noticed about Anke’s lovely page was how the empty space on the right-hand side of the photo is balanced so effectively by the patterned paper squares. It might have been tempting to crop the photo so that the area of sky was left out but it wouldn’t have been so satisfying to the eye.

The layouts that Anke has inspired are certainly easy on the eye! Here’s what Katrina, Kim and Steph came up with:

Credits: layout by Katrina, Hello Summer Hand-drawn brushes by Ali Edwards, layered tissue paper by Anna Aspnes (coming soon)

Credits: layout by Kim, Title and journal box by Ali Edwards, Baby Buddies kit and Add-on paper pack, Naturally Krafty paperpack, Love dots, Spring Wings, Expressions tape, Hanging tags, Open up frame and Doodle Do Whimsy rub-ons and brushes all by Katie Pertiet.

Credits: layout by Steph, White washed paperpack, Notebook paperpack, Fresh botanicals paperpack, Scribbled and scripted shapes all by Katie Pertiet.

Looking forward to seeing your takes on this great design in the Saturday Scraplift gallery - which was full to bursting last week! Take a look at all these great pages:
montagjune21.jpg

~ Lynn

I would imagine y’all have heard the exciting news that Ali Edwards is now a part of Designer Digitals! Yep… great news for sure! And, this week’s template challenge showcases Ali’s first five templates that are now available in the DD store! The Creative Team has had so much fun with all these templates… and you may have even bought one or two (or more!) yourself! As an extra treat, I’ve created a layout using Ali’s “Layered Template No. 6” coming this weekend!

Template #1 is a simple blocked layout, showcasing one main photo and using multiple sheets of paper. Kayleigh took the basic template and reduced it a bit, layering it over a white sheet of cardstock! This allowed her to add word stickers to the right and a new overlay from Ali along the bottom! Such a clever way to use a template!

Using four offset blocks, Template #2 allows for four photos, if you choose! Or, you can copy Lynn’s idea and use two of the blocks for coordinating patterned paper! This helps keep the focus on her two photos, but allows room for some additional color and pattern!

Ali’s third template showcased a great “stamped” grid, alongside three wide photos. But, look at Sarah’s clever take on Template #3... she’s filled part of the grid with smaller, supporting photos! Adding some cute elements to the other parts of the grid finishes off the layout perfectly!

Template #4 includes a variety of paper layers, topped with one square, focal photo. Crissy layered neutral papers, using a pretty floral right under the photo. She added a scalloped frame and replaced the circle accent with a pretty butterfly! All perfect w/her cute photo of her daughter swinging!

Merrilee also used Template #4 to showcase her beautiful floral photos! And, look… she used one of the paper blocks for a large vertical photo of the gorgeous flowers! I just loved that idea! So creative!

I love the simple blocks and clean lines of Template #5. The two blocks, with rounded corners, can be filled with photos or paper, making this template pretty versatile. And, look what Katrina did! She had a horizontal photo she wanted to use (her young son took the photo, so she didn’t want to change it in any way!). Turning the template on its side allowed her to use the photo… she added a smaller, supporting photo next to it. Another clever use of a template!

And, here’s a little sneak peek at Ali’s Template #6, coming this weekend! This is a new double-page layout, showcasing photos, papers, embellishment and journaling. Yet with all of those things, Ali’s template still maintains clean lines and keeps the attention on the photos. I used this template to showcase four photos of my daughter, using the right hand page’s photo block for three photos, not just one. I also moved a couple of the tabs, replacing the flower accents. And, yes… that’s “CK Ali’s Handwriting” font! *wink*

Templates #1 through #5 are all in the DD store already, with three new ones (#6, #7 and #8) coming this weekend! So, there are plently of templates to choose from so you can join in the challenge this week! And, remember to post your layouts in the “Template Challenge” gallery at Designer Digitals! Can’t wait to see your layouts!