Two of our sponsors are having parties and I don't want you to miss out!
Gina Miller Designs turned 2! And, yep, there's a party over in dat house!
DAM - Digital Artist Magazine - also turned 2! They are having a make-over party. You should check the DAM Blog because there are lots o' fun quizzes and prizes being given away.
Congratulations GMD & DAM! We light 2 candles in your honor!
Gallery Standouts
To provide an environment of reflection and growth in the art of scrapbooking
Contributors
Lauren Pieters
average joe
Amy Wolff
designer
Madame Mim
designer-
Colleen
creative artist 
Sabrina
creative artist
Catherine
creative artist
Annie Manning
designer
Amanda Resende
creative artist
Amy Martin
guest designer
Tutorials
Sponsors
It's August!!
Did you know that GS just completed it 6th month?!! Who would of thought.
Thank you so much for your support and open arms. We would not be here if it wasn't for you.
In the next 6 months you can look forward to more growth challenges, finger pointing and...wait for it...our own gallery!! Isn't that exciting!
As we said goodbye to Gina Miller we let our new guest designer in the back door. She's one of my personal favs. Yes, I am biased.
It's Amy Martin! Welcome Amy.
There will be no guest creative artist this month because we loved Amanda so much we asked her to be a permanent part of the team. Maybe next month there will be another guest artist.
Stay tuned! There's a big growth challenge this month!
Thank you so much for your support and open arms. We would not be here if it wasn't for you.
In the next 6 months you can look forward to more growth challenges, finger pointing and...wait for it...our own gallery!! Isn't that exciting!
As we said goodbye to Gina Miller we let our new guest designer in the back door. She's one of my personal favs. Yes, I am biased.
It's Amy Martin! Welcome Amy.
There will be no guest creative artist this month because we loved Amanda so much we asked her to be a permanent part of the team. Maybe next month there will be another guest artist.
Stay tuned! There's a big growth challenge this month!
Getting to know Gina Miller
Our guest this month is designer, scrap artist, website owner Gina Miller.
I’ve known Gina since the beginning of my own digi days…
Let’s walk down memory lane with her…
I found digital scrapping via 2Peas in January 2005 (I was a paper scrapper prior). I had Andrew, who was only 3 months old and Emily who was barely a year & a half so I liked the fact that I could play on the computer and not have a mess laying everywhere with two little ones underfoot. That summer, I decided to try to design my own papers. I started selling my first designs at The Digi Chick in July 2005. I then moved onto Scrapbook Bytes for a while and opened Gina Miller Designs on July 31st 2006!
You are a designer, an artist, a website owner, a mother and a wife. How’s that working for you?
Fabulously. :) First and foremost is my family, so that would of course be the wife and mother hats! I have always been an artist so I am happy to have an outlet to share my creativity, both via layouts and designs. I love that I can turn off the computer if I don't have the time or energy and just focus on my family. But when I want that creative outlet again, it's right at my fingertips. This little wife-mother-website owner-artist life I kinda created for myself on a whim a few years ago works very nicely for me. ;)
Could you take us through your creative process when making a layout?
95% of the time, I start with a picture but every once in a while, I start designing a page with no picture in mind. lol! This is usually when I love a kit and really want to play!! I get about 75% of the layout done, and then I start shadowing everything to see how it all looks. I finish off any remaining elements the page may need. Titles and journaling is always last!
What is your favorite layout? And, your favorite kit?
It's hard for me to pick a layout because I usually like something, then create a new page and end up making that my fav, etc etc etc. Looking at my recent layouts, I would say I really like the way this one of Andrew turned out:
As for my favorite kit, that's going to be released on July 31st! I just love the colors and the element set especially. Sneek Peak of Savoy Truffle
It's kind of old-fashioned I feel like. LOL! But it totally works for me! Of course to use my folder method, I think you also have to have a pretty good photographic memory. I have a knack for remembering what kit contained what little elements I want to use. (Click here for Gina’s system in detail)
When do you think digital scrapbooking really caught on? Where do you see digital going?
Well when I started, the 2Peas digital board wasn't even created yet!! I'd say it probably really caught on late-2006. I remember getting an e-mail about joining the Creative Board for the new Simple Scrapbooks digital magazine and thinking "Wow. This is really going someplace!" And since then, the industry has grown at an astronomical rate!
I don't see digital going anywhere but UP!! Everyday there are new stores popping-up, new designers being unveiled and best of all, new scrappers joining the community! I think the hybrid movement has definitely helped bring some of the paper scrappers over to "our side" and even many of the digital girls are working on half-paper / half-digi projects now. It's very fun to watch this craft evolve and see the different ways in which we can mold it to suit our own needs and desires.
Let’s talk about My Scrapbook Art. That was a pretty big venture. What would be your number one “do” and “do not” for owning your own digital website?
Regarding My Scrapbook Art, I would say the number one "do" it's to keep an open and friendly place, but stick to your guidelines and have rules in place. (The "don't" would be: don't bend the rules and don't not have a game plan and direction in mind.) Traci and I are proud that MSA is going to be celebrating its first birthday shortly, and we think we've reached that milestone so successfully because we won't tolerate any nonsense being brought to the board. We really keep it focused on the art.
Congratulations to Traci and you on MSA’s upcoming birthday!
And finally, for a fun question. If you could hold the magic wand for one thing what would it be?
I've been thinking a lot about this (probably too much for a fluff question! lol) and I think I want a wand to decorate my home! I mean, it's decorated and it's cozy and we love it. But there are so many little things I'd love to do around the house and either time or funds escape us. New bathroom? Give me the wand! New living room couches? Pass the wand! =D
Thank you so much Gina for helping us out here at Gallery Standouts this month! Best to you and your continued success.
Copy Cat Winners!!
Yes, I said winners! As in plural! We decided to have two winners - one for the straight out hands down best entry and the other for best over all improvement from the constructive criticism.
Drum roll...and they are
Carina Schirrmann's Quintana and
Jen J's Romantic Getaway.
Now look quickly at Jen's layout because I promised to pull it down today. Her art piece as been picked up for publication! Woo hoo Jen!
Ladies please contact me at mpieters1 at yahoo dot com with your email address!
Thank you all so much for participating. It's hard to subject yourself to the scrutiny of others.
And lastly, a big shout out to Jofia for sponsoring!!
Drum roll...and they are
Carina Schirrmann's Quintana and
Jen J's Romantic Getaway.
Now look quickly at Jen's layout because I promised to pull it down today. Her art piece as been picked up for publication! Woo hoo Jen!
Ladies please contact me at mpieters1 at yahoo dot com with your email address!
Thank you all so much for participating. It's hard to subject yourself to the scrutiny of others.
And lastly, a big shout out to Jofia for sponsoring!!
Copy Cat is officially closed
All entries are in and posted! What a great turn out!
I will be adding our constructive criticism by the end of today, Saturday.
Thank you so much for your enthusiasm and creativity!
I will be adding our constructive criticism by the end of today, Saturday.
Thank you so much for your enthusiasm and creativity!
Copy Cat Entry No. 24
Our last and final entry...
Hasmandka's feeding a horse
she lifted malu's About Me
Great layout! love the tones in the photo - how well they match the background. You might want to darken your alpha a tad to match the darker parts of the wood horse.
Also, the piece brings up symmetrical design ("Symmetrical balance is seen in perfectly centered compositions or those with mirror images. In a design with only two elements they would be almost identical or have nearly the same visual mass." from ask.com) Your weight is close enough to imply that you were going for symmetry but it's not quite there. Of course I often do things that I have no intention of doing - it just works out that way!
To make the layout symmetrical you would want to play with both element clusters and bring a cohesive weight. Otherwise you can go for asymmetrical by lowering the size (or weight) of one side.
Let us know what you think!
Hasmandka's redo
Hasmandka's feeding a horse
she lifted malu's About Me
Great layout! love the tones in the photo - how well they match the background. You might want to darken your alpha a tad to match the darker parts of the wood horse.
Also, the piece brings up symmetrical design ("Symmetrical balance is seen in perfectly centered compositions or those with mirror images. In a design with only two elements they would be almost identical or have nearly the same visual mass." from ask.com) Your weight is close enough to imply that you were going for symmetry but it's not quite there. Of course I often do things that I have no intention of doing - it just works out that way!
To make the layout symmetrical you would want to play with both element clusters and bring a cohesive weight. Otherwise you can go for asymmetrical by lowering the size (or weight) of one side.
Let us know what you think!
Hasmandka's redo
Copy Cat Entry No. 23
Dani's Going Out
she lifted Catherine's Glamour Girl
Dani - how fun! A lift of a lift! Kate Hadfield does great work. Now on to your piece. So many great things going on here - the wording down the sides - the metal 'happy' -- our one big issue is that although you have the same color scheme throughout the layout - the color tones are different. Is it possible for you to modify the elements so that the greens are the same - as well as the pinks? You notice in Catherine's layout she has done this - You have a great start here!
she lifted Catherine's Glamour Girl
Dani - how fun! A lift of a lift! Kate Hadfield does great work. Now on to your piece. So many great things going on here - the wording down the sides - the metal 'happy' -- our one big issue is that although you have the same color scheme throughout the layout - the color tones are different. Is it possible for you to modify the elements so that the greens are the same - as well as the pinks? You notice in Catherine's layout she has done this - You have a great start here!
Copy Cat Entry No. 22
Zelwa's You
she lifted You
Zelwa - oh my goodness such a great lift! Love that you've worked the red in the photo to match the reds of the elements - just perfection. Our only concern is the wing element. Not quite sure exactly how to work it - but the suggestions were: making it smaller; or, placing them under the child but on the photo; or, reducing the size and moving them to the left. Bottom line is where the wings are is just not working for us. Can't wait to see what you do!
Zelwa's redo
she lifted You
Zelwa - oh my goodness such a great lift! Love that you've worked the red in the photo to match the reds of the elements - just perfection. Our only concern is the wing element. Not quite sure exactly how to work it - but the suggestions were: making it smaller; or, placing them under the child but on the photo; or, reducing the size and moving them to the left. Bottom line is where the wings are is just not working for us. Can't wait to see what you do!
Zelwa's redo
Copy Cat Entry No. 21
Pran's Carefree Moments
she lifted Amanda's Carefree
Pran - the composition and color scheme on this piece is just awesome! But just not with the photo. Possibly a green grass photo - play yard or something? The photo is such a soft serene moment that it just doesn't quite fit. Hopefully you have another photo that would match - or would consider taking the whole scheme in a lighter direction?
Pran's redo
she lifted Amanda's Carefree
Pran - the composition and color scheme on this piece is just awesome! But just not with the photo. Possibly a green grass photo - play yard or something? The photo is such a soft serene moment that it just doesn't quite fit. Hopefully you have another photo that would match - or would consider taking the whole scheme in a lighter direction?
Pran's redo
Copy Cat Entry No. 20
Timkova's Moment
she lifted Bubaczik's girl
Such a sweet photo and great composition. Our only concern is that the aqua green is fighting with the green in the photo - because you have such great lighting in the photo we think a conversion to black and white would be perfect!
Timkova's redo
she lifted Bubaczik's girl
Such a sweet photo and great composition. Our only concern is that the aqua green is fighting with the green in the photo - because you have such great lighting in the photo we think a conversion to black and white would be perfect!
Timkova's redo
Copy Cat Entry No. 19
Milky's Surikata
she lifted mlewis's Beautiful Day
Great blending here - also, love the choice of elements and colors! Would you consider scooting the title over abit to fit in with the elements? Also, a little more shadowing to the extraction would really make it pop!
Milky's redo
she lifted mlewis's Beautiful Day
Great blending here - also, love the choice of elements and colors! Would you consider scooting the title over abit to fit in with the elements? Also, a little more shadowing to the extraction would really make it pop!
Milky's redo
Copy Cat Entry No. 18
Janie's W
she lifted Beach Bride
Great start Janie! He's such a cutie!
If you notice - we remarked in entry no. 4 that the cropped photo just doesn't work for us - if you have 2 photos of him or want to repeat the photo that would work. We noticed that you picked up the grey in the photo for your background - and although that would normally be a good choice - how about trying the blue? the blue that is in the elements as well - that might really pull it together for you.
Love the "w" -- it fits the tone of the layout very well. On your other elements, although they are the same color family they are not fitting quiet as well because of the brightness - if you can recolor them to a more muted version - or perhaps you have other elements that have the muted colors? Not quite sure that you need the acrylic element at all. You have a nice earthly, textured theme going on here and the acrylic is smooth - does that make sense?
Can't wait to see what you do!
she lifted Beach Bride
Great start Janie! He's such a cutie!
If you notice - we remarked in entry no. 4 that the cropped photo just doesn't work for us - if you have 2 photos of him or want to repeat the photo that would work. We noticed that you picked up the grey in the photo for your background - and although that would normally be a good choice - how about trying the blue? the blue that is in the elements as well - that might really pull it together for you.
Love the "w" -- it fits the tone of the layout very well. On your other elements, although they are the same color family they are not fitting quiet as well because of the brightness - if you can recolor them to a more muted version - or perhaps you have other elements that have the muted colors? Not quite sure that you need the acrylic element at all. You have a nice earthly, textured theme going on here and the acrylic is smooth - does that make sense?
Can't wait to see what you do!
Copy Cat Entry No. 17
Vivie's Going Topless
she lifted Debsterchen's Celebrate Life
Vivie - love the photos and your title wording!
The general consensus is that that yellow background is abit too much - maybe a tan or white would be better? You might want to consider a different alpha as well. The eye needs a place to rest - one suggestion is to make the entire grouping abit smaller - allow yourself some white space on the sides.
she lifted Debsterchen's Celebrate Life
Vivie - love the photos and your title wording!
The general consensus is that that yellow background is abit too much - maybe a tan or white would be better? You might want to consider a different alpha as well. The eye needs a place to rest - one suggestion is to make the entire grouping abit smaller - allow yourself some white space on the sides.
Copy Cat Entry No. 16
Didee's Snap
she lifted Holly's Badass
Didee - just great grungy work! Now the only issue we have is realism vs non. If you want realism the stitching on the broken glass does not work for us - maybe a switch to a painted circle? Now if you don't want realism - just leave the stitching! Your choice.
she lifted Holly's Badass
Didee - just great grungy work! Now the only issue we have is realism vs non. If you want realism the stitching on the broken glass does not work for us - maybe a switch to a painted circle? Now if you don't want realism - just leave the stitching! Your choice.
Copy Cat Entry No. 15
Miloslava's cute girl
she lifted Hana's Dreamy
Oh my goodness - such sweetness here! Very precious indeed. Our only concern is the drop shadow work. Now we understand that your background paper came with the drop shadow on the edge - to portray a nice lift - however the piece of paper you've placed over the background doesn't have the same amount of lift - it doesn't match. Also, is it your intent to have the feathers floating as high as the drop shadows show? Just curious on that one. The tone on your photo and the subject is awesome!
Miloslava's redo
she lifted Hana's Dreamy
Oh my goodness - such sweetness here! Very precious indeed. Our only concern is the drop shadow work. Now we understand that your background paper came with the drop shadow on the edge - to portray a nice lift - however the piece of paper you've placed over the background doesn't have the same amount of lift - it doesn't match. Also, is it your intent to have the feathers floating as high as the drop shadows show? Just curious on that one. The tone on your photo and the subject is awesome!
Miloslava's redo