Baptism Decor using Photos and Clip Art.

I'm a member of the Designer Crafts Connection Blog group and we post projects on the First Monday of each month.  Click the 365 Days of Crafts Logo on the right to see all the creative ideas that we have to share.  To celebrate we also have a giveaway! Read through to the end of the post for information on how to enter.

The theme for the month of September is parties, baby showers, wedding showers, etc., basically anything to do with decorating for a celebration.  I chose to share the quick and easy decorations that I made for my nephew, Cash, at his Baptism party.  This was a picnic and the decor was casual but I still wanted it to be special for Cash and his family.

I saved a small picture of Cash, added wings with Photoshop, and printed a whole sheet of them.  After cutting out circles of glossy blue cardstock, I layered the photos (cut just a bit smaller) and cardstock with Glue Dots. 

I printed a Bible clip art image for some of the flower centers to reinforce the blue and white theme. After all the circles were finished I glued them to the centers of inexpensive daisy flowers with Glue Dots.  The daisies were sold as a bunch and I just popped them into the vases. Light blue twin sheets from Walmart ($4.00 each!) worked perfectly for tablecloths.

I used the same card stock to make the cupcake toppers.  Again, I used Glue Dots to attach the images.  This time I glued them to lollipops after trimming the excess cellophane around the candy.  So cute!  I wish my cupcakes were as tasty as they were beautiful.  I tried to be creative with the recipe and they turned out to be more like heavy brownies than light and fluffy cake.  Lesson learned !  Test and Taste before you serve dessert to a large group of people!

SEPTEMBER GIVEAWAY!

We have something special this month - a set of Scrapbook Soup, Series 100 DVDs!  Scrapbook Soup is now airing on your local PBS TV channel.  Check your local listings and if it isn't listed, call the station and request it!  Program managers always like to hear what their viewers want to watch.

TO ENTER: Visit all the Blogs on the DCC Hop and stop at Life in the Craft Lane for the details on entering for a chance to win this wonderful set of DVDs.

I'm joining A Stroll Thru Life: Tabletop Tuesday  and

this week.  Stop by for a visit!

Art and the Computer

I haven't been able to work in my studio for a while. However, I've spent lots of time learning ways to use my computer and the internet to bring you creative projects and inspiration. I've finally had the time to actually understand Photoshop a little better. It's been on my "to do" list for years but I never really gave it the time needed to learn. Don't get me wrong, I've actually been using it AND creating projects with it off and on over the years, but I was doing everything the hard way. I've even spent time and money on classes (once a spent $100 for a one hour lecture that apparently was over my head at the time). The trigger for me to finally "get it" was through the world of Digital Scrapbooking. You can find lots and lots of free tutorials and downloads of digital elements to work with. You don't need to own an expensive software program either. There are many recommendations on the sites. I just happen to own Photoshop. The Digital Scrapbooking sites are filled with beautiful things created by artists that design themed kits. You can buy kits with background paper, journaling tags, elements (such as bows, brads, flowers, etc) to create an entire scrapbook for very little money. I've downloaded lots of free files to practice on. If you've ever resized or edited a digital photograph you understand the idea of cropping, lightening, darkening or fixing a digital file. So, you too can "do it"! I haven't really been "Scrapbooking." Mostly I create invitations and party decor and I love all the traditional scrapbook supplies I've purchased over the years so I've been combining the digital project and embellishing it with things that I glue on, or attach to the printed project. I can stamp, paint or draw on a printed digital image depending on the paper I've used to print it on. This isn't really a new concept. Many scrapbookers type their journaling on the computer, download new fonts, or print their photos at home anyway. I found out that it's called "Hybrid Scrapbooking" when you combine the digital and traditional. Ahh....the perfect combination for my love of the computer and art. So..........my point is...........I'll be adding links to some of my favorite sites (as a thank you for the free practice items) and creating projects that you can make for entertaining and special events. Just think of the possibilities! Invitations, place cards, favors, and more! You'll be able to personalize the decor and theme of any party.