Digi Scrapping Meets Techno-Geekery: A Tutorial

The last time I had a cell phone was about 2 and a half years ago. 

No. I'm not kidding. 

And honestly, I think it was just me being stubborn. And a bit stupid. Well, considering that I sometimes get a message from my sitter a little later than I should and my winter commute can be fairly treacherous, particularly this past winter, I figured that maybe it was time to cave in. 

And well, since I like staying atop of of all my forms of communication, I caved and got myself a smart phone. In fact, I got myself a pretty, girly Blackberry Curve 8330. 

And I am in love. There is a lot to this little machine and to learn to master it, I have been spending a little time at Crackberry.com. I learned how to do many things and one of them is to get my Blackberry looking exactly the way I want. 

And then as a digi scrapper, I pondered the idea of bringing the two together. How can I apply my scrapbook geekery to my techo-geekery. Surely the two could be harmonic. Of course, the answer to this is a resounding YES!

Here's my wallpaper......you like?

Want to learn how to make your own personal scrapbooked wallpaper for any type of smartphone?

I am going to show you how to do it on Adobe Photoshop Elements. To start, you have to have a little bit working knowledge of this program and know how to place digital elements on a page. If you don't, you can get a crash course by watching SIStv webisode #63. 

You also need to gather your some digital paper and embellishments. All my digital elements are courtesy of Prima Hybrid but if you want some free digital elements, I suggest taking a look through the Ikea Goddess blog.

Once you have some digi elements, you can get started. Here we go!!!!!

Open up Adobe Elements.

Go to "File", then "New" and click on "Blank File". 

Next you need to name the file.

Then, you need to set the pixel width and height of the picture. My Curve has pixel dimensions of 320 x 240, so for this example, that is the size I am using. However, you will size your file to fit your smart phone screen. 

To find your screen size for your Blackberry, go here.

If you don't have a Blackberry, a good reference for other phones is right here.

Start assembling your design. 

Lay down the digital paper, your photo and the digital embellishments. 

Considering that I have a tool bar that defaults on the left side of my screen, I made sure that I didn't place much detail in that particular spot. 

Once you are done creating your design, click on "File" and then click on "Save for Web".

 

This is where we will make your creation's file size as compact as possible without losing its crisp appearance on your phone. 

On circle #1, ensure 2 things:

1. The height and the width matches your screen proportions.

and

2. "Constrain Proportions" is checked off. 

Then press "Apply". 

Next, go to the "Quality" portion as shown in circle #2. Click on the number and a slider will appear. Move the slider so that the quality of the picture increases. As you do this, your file size will increase in circle #3. Slide the slider so that the file size is about 100KB. 

Then press OK (circle #4), name the file and save it on your computer. 

Lastly, send the picture to your phone and make it your new wallpaper according to manufacturer instructions. 

This Is What We Do In Sylvan Lake on a Nice Winter Day.

This past weekend has been absolutely gorgeous and so was the weekend before that. I am more than happy to have a little reprieve from the deep cold that we have been experiencing, as cabin fever tends to set in just a little too easily. 

This past weekend, Jake and I joined the neighbors for an afternoon weenie roast in the backyard, which was filled with good conversation and screaming children running and screeching in delight as they wore themselves out. But last week we ventured a little bit further than just our back yard. It was time to head out to the lake. 

So, I donned my trusty winter boots. 

They aren't too girly, are they? I guess this shoe shot is a far cry from the majority of the she shots you see. Usually they are a little more dainty and colorful, and trust me, I miss those kind of shoes, because these bad girls are about 5 pounds each!

Off to the lake we went. And I love seeing the lake during the winter, because it is the one time of year that you see a true sense of community. In the summer, we are there, but being a busy tourist destination, that sense of community tends to be masked. It is only winter, when the tourists seem to hibernate that we town folk emerge and take the lake to ourselves. 

This year, besides the ski-dooing, ice fishing and skating, there is a new landmark in town that we are enjoying..........

 

AN ICE CASTLE!!!!!!!!

This is the first time I have ever seen one and it is cool, literally and figuratively. 

The creator of this beautiful structure is an Edmonton sculpturer named, Delayne Corbett. 

The ice castle made from 300lb ice blocks that had to be imported from Vancouver. They are specially made in a special flash freezing process. 

The optimum temperature to construct this is approximately -10 Celcius. Any colder and the ice becomes too brittle to work with. The mortar to solidify the structure was a mix of water and snow, and its windows, doorway and detailing was created using chainsaws, chisels and torches. Cool, huh?

It even came complete with ice benches to rest our weary behinds! Made for some chilly and damp butt cheeks, but that is always cured by several things. Walking in my 10 pound boots, having a nice steaming cup of hot chocolate and sinking into a warm bath. 

So, no harm. Sit. Watch the town marvel and laugh and enjoy. 

And now, I must escape outside again. It is another beautiful winter day that we have been granted. I must go seize it! Later! 

If You Are Off to CHA.....

I have to admit, I am a little sad this winter that I won't be at CHA. I love going to the show to connect with friends and colleges, to do a little bit of business and see the products, of course!!!! What fun is CHA if you don't stop and take in all the goodies! 

Speaking of goodies, Prima has a promotion during CHA

Here is the SCOOP..........

Come by the Prima booth at CHA (#3535)for your chance to scoop as many flowers as you can in 10 seconds!!!

Who will be scooping?

Everyone who places an order PLUS... Every 2 hours we will do a random drawing and 5 people in the crowd will also get to scoop.

We will be handing out Prima brag bags to carry your flower loot in. Come back by the booth often for a second, third or fourth opportunity to FILL YOUR BAG!

Stop by the booth at any time to pick up a ticket! Get to the booth early for the best odds of winning! 

See? I wish I was going! 

Have fun, say hi to Paris Hilton too. Yep, she'll be there!

Lucky Seven

So....... they say that this is the year that we get antsy. Restless. A completely tough and tumultuous year. 

I think I need to shout it from the rooftops! I love that man of mine. 

A week after New Year's, Trevor and I will have been together for seven years. And I can't complain one iota. I think this is our lucky year. Yep, lucky seven. 

Lucky in love. Lucky to understand and respect and have the same in return. Lucky to have a child with this man. Lucky to not want for nothing. Lucky to be with my best friend. 

And it keeps getting better. 

Prima Products Used:

Patterned Paper: The Pulse Collection in Crew, Tagged, and Pulse

Paper Paintables

Flowers: Whispers in Black Tie Event, Belle Fleur, Sweethearts and Lollipops in Frosty Aqua

Brad Nails: Pulse and Morning Song

Chipboard Letters: Dude Chipboard Monograms and Journalist Chipboard Alphas in Aqua

Ribbon: Velvet Flower in Black

Say It In Crystals Swirls

Other Products Used:

German Paper Trim - Papier Valise

Punches: Notebook Paper and Scalloped – Stampin’ Up

Cardstock: Coordinations Cardstock

New Primadonna Classes while Helping Out a Great Cause!

Hey everybody! I am so excited, I can finally shout it from the rooftop, I have some new Upcoming Primadonna classes coming up.
I am happy to announce my participation with the Okotoks Scrapbook Convention on Saturday March 14, 2009 at the Foothills Centennial Centre from 10 am to 11 pm. Prepare for a full day of cropping!

Proceeds for this event are going to Rowan House Women's Emergency Shelter. It is an excellent cause and an important organization. There are many women and children here in Alberta that have been forced to leave their homes and have no where else to turn. So, please come out and show your support.  

So, I am thrilled to be participating in this event with participating with  a couple of Primadonna classes. 

SOLD OUT!

Class price is $20 (materials subject to change based on availability)

SPOTS STILL AVAILABLE

Class price $25 (materials subject to change based on availability)

Sign up and come have some fun and support a great cause. Registration starts on January 12th. 

Holee Crow Ma, I am on YouTube!!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!! 

Hey everybody, 2009 is now upon us. With a new year comes new things to do. 

So.........I thought that I would try some new things this year and this is one of the first. 

I am testing the waters, sort of speak. It's a little rough around the edges, oh, and please ignore that the freeze frame is a horrid shot of my gob hanging open and my eyes bugging out. That is courtesy of YouTube and their uncanny ability to catch you at the worst possible frame of your movie.
Let's all give them a round of applause just for that!