Make sure you check out the MyMemories Blog  for a VERY fun Challenge that is set up especially to celebrate National Scrapbooking Day!  Since it falls on Saturday, 5/05/12 – we are going to jazz it up and celebrate Cinco de Mayo style!! So welcome to a FUN week of

CINCO de SCRAPO!!

Thanks for looking and Happy Scrapping,
Cheryl

I've created a little gift for you called "Dogwood".  It was created from a photo I took of the pink and white dogwood trees in our neighborhood.  I hope you like it and will be able to create some lovely layouts with it.

Do remember to stop back on Friday, as there will be even MORE surprises (FREE kits, FREE photobook, and lots of Challenges) coming your way for the weekend from My Memories!

EVERYTHING in the Scrap Your Life Shop is 35% off through May 6th!  EVERYTHING!!

EVERYTHING in my store at E-Scape and Scrap is also marked down 35% now through May 6th. NO COUPONS NECESSARY AT EITHER STORE!   See the ADs HERE.

You can grab the Dogwood Gift in the righthand sidebar under Downloads and don't forget to visit Robin's (Old Hag Scrapping) blog for yet another Gift for NSD!!

Thanks for looking and Happy Scrapping,
Cheryl

All you need to do to collect the parts of this kit is visit ASE (Art Scrap Emporium) and instructions are right there to help you on your journey.

Thanks for looking and Happy Scrapping,
Cheryl

Thanks for looking and Happy Scrapping,
Cheryl

Today is the Grand Opening of my Cheryl McCain Photography STORE!  You simply MUST go take a look!

And when you get there, you'll find

There are currently 15 prints available for purchase in the Store and many more that I'm working on.  AND the best part for you is………..on the homepage of the Store, there's a 25% OFF coupon code for all my customers as an introductory offer to my art.  And FREE shipping with orders totaling $75.00 or more.  Don't let that scare you, there are a variety of sizes available and I PROMISE you'll LOVE them. 

I could go on and on, I'm so excited but I'll let you see for yourself.  Cheryl McCain Photography

Oh, and be sure to click on Template Tuesday and get your double page templates while you're here!!

Thanks for looking and Happy Scrapping,
Cheryl

I've created a template for you to start with and here it is.  You can download it from the righthand sidebar under "Downloads".  Further instructions to follow explaining how you can WIN!!

And here's my layout following the template.

INSTRUCTIONS TO PLAY:

Using the template and ANY Designer's kit, create your layout and post it to either our Flickr Group or leave a comment with a link to your layout if you've posted it in your favorite gallery or on your blog.  Using ANY Designer's kit will entitle you to ONE of the Quickpages from the "Life's Medley Quick Pages" pack.

Use any of my kits from the Scrap Your Life Store and get the entire set of "Life's Medley Quick Pages". 

Paper Scrappers……..you can use the template as a sketch in creating your layouts so now there's NO excuse for not joining in!  LOL

No matter how you link up, please also leave a comment so I'll have a valid email address to send your posting gift to you!!   Challenge deadline is Wednesday night 11:59 PM ET.

I'd REALLY love for you to join in the fun!!

Thanks for looking and Happy Scrapping,
Cheryl

Open a new document.  This first screen shot shows you where to find the pencil tool. 

After you've chosen your pencil tool, choose a color that you want to make a straight line with and then choose the size of your line, much as you would choose the size of your brush at the top left of your screen.  I'm using size "18" for this tutorial BUT if you're going to print this, I'd suggest viewing your line at 100% after it's drawn to see just how big it's really going to be.   Place your cursor at the area where you want to draw your straight line.  Click your left mouse button and hold.  Before starting to drag your line, also hold down your shift key and THEN drag out your line to the length you want it.  Holding the shift key ensures you're going to get a perfectly straight line.

Now stick with me because the next step is the coolest part of this tutorial!!

NOW comes the interesting part…………..you can also create more lines off this one single line as shown below.  Once you've drawn your first line, let up on the mouse key BUT continue holding down the shift key.  Reposition your cursor and click the left mouse key and there's your 2nd connected line!  You can continue this step and create as many lines and in any position you want.

Now I know there's also a line tool in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements, but it doesn't let you connect lines such as this using this technique.  So again, I'm using the pencil tool to do this.

I hope you enjoyed this little tutorial.  If you have any questions or if you found it interesting and helpful, I'd love for you to leave a comment for me!  Have fun playing!!

Thanks for looking and Happy Scrapping,
Cheryl

1) I was able to have 40 of my 12×12 digital layouts printed.  I'm almost caught up with my "My Life Before I Was Your Mother" album printings.  Here's just 1 that I got printed.

2) I opened my OWN digital scrapbook store – Scrap Your Life/Shop – and I invite you all to take a look around.  We even have a line of printable cards.  AND a new customer coupon!

3) I also opened a new site with Teri Hanson of DigiZines Studio called "Art Scrap Emporium" where all types of Artisans can advertise their wares and the public can sign up too.  You'll have the opportunity to search for anything your heart desires.  We invite Artists from the scrapbooking world, photographers, mixed media artists, Etsy shops, etc. etc.  Stop by and look around!  We're just getting it built up but there will be gifts and/or coupons from ALL the advertisers!

4) I finished up "Art of Texture" classes at Kim Klassen's Cafe and now offer handmade mixed media textures in my shop.

5) I captured some photos of spring blooms from my garden.

6) My birthday was in March and I got this wonderful fruit boquet from my daughter and son-in-law from Incredible Edibles!  Mmmmm, was it ever delicious!

7) I managed to lose 6 pounds last month for the Move More Eat Well class with Cathy Zielske!  Whew hew!!

I signed up to take a "Garden Challenge" class at Hummie's World and will have enough layouts for a 20 page photobook when I'm finished, all about my flowers and vegetable garden.  Here's just one of the layouts I've made so far.

9) I read two books in the month of March.  I LOVE the historical romance novels.  Guess I'm a romantic at heart!

10) I've refined my digital brush making technique through Kim's Art of Texture class as well and have a set in the Scrap Your Life Shop.

Whew!  If you stuck with me through all that, I appreciate it sooooo very much!

Thanks for looking and Happy Scrapping,
Cheryl

Teri Hanson and I have started a new venture and we know you all are going to LOVE it! It’s called the ArtScrap Emporium and it offically opens April 1st. Here’s just a tad about it . . .

The ASE (ArtScrap Emporium) is a directory for various Artists with an internet presence. A place where potential customers can come and find new and favorite artists/designers as well as see new products and learn about some great sales, discounts and more. It’s a combination of a toplist site, a blog, a forum and even a store in a mild form. While we are geared mainly to the Scrapbooking community, we welcome artists of all trades!

I've invited and am still in the process of inviting Artists in the Photography, Mixed Media,  and Traditional Scrapbooking fields.  You'll find categories for ALL Artists at ArtScrap Emporium!

Best of all to you my friends is that all participating artists will be offering wonderful Gifts for those of you who choose to visit, take a look at their ads, blog posts and such!!! WOOOHOOOO for you all.

It will take a bit for the directory to fill up but we hope to see you stop by, check it out, and grab our very special Grand Opening Gift to those who register on the site!!!

In the meantime . . . help us spread the word and send this link to your favorite designers . . .

ArtScrap Emporium

Grab a Blinkie and show your support . . .

Or pass around our Banner . . .

We’d love to have your favorite designers participate in the directory!

Thanks for looking and Happy Scrapping,
Cheryl

Check out her very first card pack.

A Colorful Day Card Set - regularly $3.50, on sale $2.63

Robin is using my designs to create her Greeting Card line of products.  There will be cards of all types and themes.  I know I can't wait to see more as I'll have family birthdays coming soon and these will be so handy to just download, print and mail.  Maybe I'll get some birthday cards out on time this year!! 

This particular set of cards were created using my new "A Colorful Day" Collection.

Colorful Day Scrapkit – regularly $5.49, now on sale $4.23

A Colorful Day Clusters – regularly $3.49 – on sale $2.62

A Colorful Day Photo Mask Layered Templates – regularly $4.29, on sale $3.22

OR SAVE 30% ALL THE TIME WITH MY BUNDLES

A Colorful Day Bundle – regularly $13.29, on sale $9.30

Stop by the Shop and see what else has been added and catch all the sales!!

And you can always visit Robin at Old Hag Scrapping to see what she's doing.

Thanks for looking and Happy Scrapping,
Cheryl