Digital Art Journaling ~ End of Class

Sunday was the final day of class for Digital Art Journaling at jessicasprague.com. It is always bittersweet to reach the end of the class - I am excited to have completed all lessons, assignments and layouts. Yet, I will miss the daily inspiration and classes.

Saturday our prompt was Listen!


On Sunday, our final day ~ we reviewed actions. While I have used them before, I tend to forget they are available. I used actions on the following layout to give the picture a vintage feel. This prompt was Escape.


And our final prompt for the class was Strength. It is sometimes difficult to identify one of our own strengths as we often see what we are weak at...I finally chose to focus on a positive attitude.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. Digital Art Journaling is a wonderful form of personal expressions - and I look forward to adding to my album throughout the year (just not on a daily basis) My next class at jessicasprague.com will begin in a few weeks ~ the Art of Poster Design. This is sure to be another opportunity to move out of my comfort zone and try something new. I cannot wait!

Happy Day! Smile ~ it can be contagious!

Project 366 ~ Week 4

I love completing pages - and I really love staying current on a project. This is week four of my personal Project 366 ~ through January 28th. Throughout the year, I will rotate through the four double layouts that I have shared thus far. For me, simplicity is the key to staying current on this album.

These four double layouts are now available as a set of quick pages at MyMemories (and will soon be available at Natural Designs in Scrapbooking - NDISB.)

Wishing you a great week! Enjoy all of your blessings....by the Shore

PhotoShop Friday - Week 4

If you are looking for the January 2012 Blog Train Post and freebie - it is here


Four weeks into the new year - and I have completed another Photoshop Friday! These weekly mini-lessons are super simple, relatively quick and the finished product looks great. Sure, I may know the techniques, but I love refreshers on what can be done in photoshop - and another finished layout in my "to be printed" folder brings a smile to my face.

This layout feature a template and a few elements in week 4 of PhotoShopFriday 2012 over at jessicasprague.com. The papers are from my Beautiful Music Collection - available at both NDISB and MyMemories.

Enjoy your weekend...by the Shore.

Digital Art Jounrnaling - Five More

If you are looking for the January 2012 Blog Train Post and freebie - it is here

We are in our final week of Digital Art Journaling at jessicasprague.com ~ and I have five more layouts ready to be printed. There have been a few new techniques I have not seen before as well as refreshers on techniques I have not used in a bit. I love looking in the gallery at all of the beautiful layouts - each one shares a bit about the artist and their life. We all start with the same prompt and are introduced to the techniques - but where we go from there is up to us. Some of the participants have talked about how therapeutic and relaxing this form of art can be. Sometimes there are hidden symbols within a layout which the artist places there as a form of self-expression. I have a few items I carry from layout to layout (can you figure out what they are - there are three)

Mondays prompt was Time - the Jim Croce song - Time in a Bottle - kept playing through my head - this one was created with my husband in mind.

Tuesdays prompt was halcyon (yes, I'll wait while you pull out your dictionary - I know I had to look it up)

Wednesday's prompt was "inherited" or "legacy"

Thursday's prompt was FOUND ....

And Friday's prompt was Music.....

We have two more lessons/prompts and then we reach the end of our class. I hope to continue this form of artistic expression - perhaps not daily but periodically as I do find the overall journey an enjoyable one.

Wishing you a great day...by the Shore.

Digital Art Journaling - the journey continues

Comfort Zone ~ who me? I am loving this class - it is stretching me outside of my own comfort zone and enabling me to try new techniques. A new style is emerging and I like it.

Friday's prompt was FAVORITE!

Saturday's prompt was FEAR (and I immediately though about this class and my new journey in Digital Art Journaling)

We are moving into our final week of the class and I cannot wait to see what Jessica has in store for us. When the class is offered again (and I am sure it will be) I encourage you to consider this investment in yourself!

Until next time...have a great day...by the Shore.

Photoshop Friday and Week 3 of Project 366 2012

If you are looking for the January 2012 Blog Train Post and freebie - it is here

The third week of Photoshop Friday at jessicasprague.com featured a fun layout that used a bit of grunge to highlight journaling. I love the way my Photoshop Friday layouts come together so quickly using the template and techniques that Jessica provides. Another layout in my "to be printed" folder. Woohoo! (Whether you are a seasoned Photoshop or Photoshop Elements user - or a beginner, I encourage you to check out these weekly 'mini' classes)

Week three of 2012 is in the rear view mirror and my double layout is already done. (Yay me for staying current) Using these quickpages is going to make it super simple to keep up with Project 366 this year. My set of 2012 Project 366 is currently available at MyMemories and will soon be available at Natural Designs in Scrapbooking.

Last Sunday I uploaded several layouts and pictures to Persnickety Prints. The order (which included my first two 2012 Photoshop Fridays and my first two weeks of P366) arrived at my doorstep on Friday and I was tickled pink! Persnickety Prints is the only place I print my layouts - the quality is amazing as is the customer service.

Have a wonderful day enjoying all of your blessings...by the Shore.

More Digital Art Journaling

If you are looking for the January 2012 Blog Train Post and freebie - it is here

My class at jessicasprague.com continues and I am excited that my comfort zone is really being stretched. I can honestly say that I really love art journaling - it is fun, therapeutic, relaxing and a great way to express oneself.

Tuesday's prompt was "friends"

Wednesday's prompt was Introspect - a bit more challenging.

And Thursday's prompt was Travel/Journey.

I love waking up in the morning - knowing there is a lesson and/or prompt to work on.

The weather here in Colorado was simply wonderful today - no jackets and the wind died down a bit. I even had the windows open for a short while. I know that cold weather and "white" will be back in the forecast - but it was great to enjoy the sunshine while it was here.

Wherever you are...whatever weather is outside your front door...have a great day, by the Shore.

Digital Art Journaling - continues

And my journey through my latest class at jessicasprague.com continues....Digital Art Journaling is so much fun. I find it relaxing to doodle and play; empowering to be "messy"; and I simply have a ton of fun! I can only imagine how what a blast this would be with traditional media and elements - paper, water colors, paints, chalks, inks.....

Friday's prompt was family....

Saturday's prompt was beautiful.....this theme was a bit more challenging for me, but I like the finished product.

And today's prompt (Monday) was Desire/Goal

Yesterday, I sent my first six layouts off to Persnickety Prints - they should be here in just a few days - I can't wait to see what these look like in real life. I am pretty sure I will bind these with my cinch binder when the class is done. (And then continue digital art journaling on my own - this really is a wonderful way to express myself and a great stress reliever!)

Wishing you a wonderful week....by the Shore.

Project 366 2012 - Week Two

Week Two of 2012 is over - and my Project 366 layout is complete! It is so easy to stay on top of this fun project when I have the templates ready to go - I simply add the photos, dates and a touch of journaling. Can't wait to see what the next week has in store for us!


Wishing you a blessed weekend.....by the Shore.

Photoshop Friday 1/13

If you are looking for the 2012 Blog Train Post and freebie - it is here


It's Friday! And that means another PhotoShop Friday at jessicasprague.com and yet another layout in my "to be printed" folder.

Each Photoshop Friday lesson arrives in my class folder with a video lesson (today's lesson was on adding paper to text) and a 12x12 template (isn't this one simply adorable) I really love the quick review on techniques that I know but may have forgotten about. And I am sure as the year progresses, I will discover new techniques that will be simply awesome.

Have I mentioned how much I love Photoshop Fridays? Yes, I do!

Have a wonderful day....by the Shore!

Days Two and Three ~ Digital Art Journaling

Comfort Zone? Not me? At least it is not as small as I thought it was. I have completed two more days of my Digital Art Journaling class at jessicasprague.com and I am totally loving it.

Wednesdays assignment included a prompt of "home"... I used a few photoshop techniques I had not explored in a while (inking edges of my page, extracting text from a scanned page and a few more).

Thursday's prompt was "I SEE"....
If you have not explored Art Journaling, I encourage you to do so. I could get lost in this art form and spend hours creating- a great way to express yourself!

Happy Thursday! Enjoy the day....by the Shore.

Digital Art Journaling

I am tickled pink to be in Jessica Sprague's newest class - Digital Art Journaling. I tend to be a "clean" crafter - both my traditional layouts & digital layouts in addition to cards and hybrid projects are relatively simple without a lot of fuss. (Note that clean does not refer to the state of my craft studio.) Today was day two of this class and I have slowly started moving out of my comfort zone.

I have never created an art journal the 'traditional' way - so the overall concept is very new to me. I am enjoying the opportunity to express myself and to be creative in such a fun way!

The class lessons are fabulous and the inspiration that is being shared is fabulous. Our first prompt was 'heart', here is my completed page. There are subtle images throughout this page which relate to my family and home.....which is where my heart is.....(another really fun partof the class is that we had a custom font made of our own handwriting, mine is shown below in the four lines of text next to the "sun")

Today's prompt was "treasure" - following up on yesterdays heart prompt, I immediately thought of Matthew 6:21 ~For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

I am looking forward to future lessons over the course of the next 4 weeks. When the class is over, I should have 20 pages and will create a printed book.

If you have not taken classes at www.jessicasprague.com, I strongly encourage it! She offers wonderful online digital classes for the beginner all the way to the advanced 'scrapper'. There are also some great photography classes (one of which I am waiting to be offered again)

I hope that you find time during the week to express your own creativity. And take time to enjoy all the treasures of your heart...by the Shore.

Project 366 Week One - 2012

The January 2012 REFRESH Blog Train and digital freebie can be found here

PROJECT 366 (yes, 2012 is a leap year!)

In 2009, I was excited to begin Project 365 - a year of capturing everyday life through daily photographs. The concept was introduced by Becky Higgins and is one that I have fallen in love with. So often, we 'scrap' events and occasions, but it is just as important to document the little things in life - not only for ourselves and our family members - but for those that come after us.
In 2009, I purchased page protectors and used my paper stash for journaling cards and backgrounds. In 2010, I used my own digital template. In 2011, I purchased the Project Life Kit from Becky Higgins. 2012 is my fourth year and I am back to digital. I created this template using one of the basic page protector designs that is found in the Becky Higgins Project Life kits.

And now....presenting....my week one! This year I will be using papers from my Beautiful Music Collection and will alternate between 5-6 different color combinations throughout the year. My goal is to stay current by keeping both the design and overall process simple.

I will print these layouts and place them in 12x12 page protectors in their own album. (My printer of choice is always Persnickety Prints as they have the best quality and customer service that I have found)

I will share each of my weekly layouts with you to hopefully give you ideas for your own Project 366 (and to keep me accountable and on track!)

P366 Week One Tip! Keep a camera in a prominent place to remind you to take a picture. I keep one on my kitchen table - and a point and shoot in my purse.

Hope you have a wonderful week...enjoy each of your blessings....by the Shore.

Photoshop Fridays are BACK

The January 2012 REFRESH Blog Train and digital freebie can be found here

HAPPY DANCE - PHOTOSHOP FRIDAYS ARE BACK!!!

What a treat to open my email this morning and discover that today's PHOTOSHOP FRIDAY class over at jessicasprague.com was ready and waiting for me. I enrolled for the entire 2012 series of these fun classes! I simply cannot miss any jessicasprague.com class. And while I know most of the techniques presented, the refresher is always appreciated - and I love being able to add another layout to my "to be printed" folder.

Today's class focused on using a single picture that is enlarged to fill the page. My daughters and I had a "secret" photoshoot as a birthday surprise for my husband. This large vertical photo was perfect for this layout!

(template provided with 1/6/12 Photoshop Friday class. papers and elements courtesy of the fabulous designers at jessicasprague.com, fonts used were Kristen and Lucida Handwriting)

You can purchase your Photoshop Friday classes at jessicasprague.com indivdually or in bundles or the entire year (like I did).

I will post my new layout each Friday(or shortly thereafter) ...be sure to come back for inspiration...by the Shore.

One Month and Counting!

If you are looking for the 2012 Blog Train Post and freebie - it is here


A month from today I will be in Beautiful Salt Lake City attended a fabulous Designers Workshop presented by Carina Gardner. "Can't wait" is an understatement! Looking forward to new inspiration and 'stepping it up a notch'.



It's a beautiful, sunny day in Colorado....wherever you are, enjoy all of God's blessings that surround you.

Have an awesome day...by the Shore.