During a recent trip to the Apple Store, I was able to get my most frustrating iPhoto question answered:

How can I create multi-photo prints and collages in iPhoto?

I've been trying to do that for about 2 years.  I did it once, by accident, and couldn't ever do it again. The only other way I could figure it out was to 'create' a card, but I could only print it, not save it or send it out to print elsewhere.  I was fortunate enough to get connected with an iPhoto expert. He knew exactly what I wanted to do.  He also told me I wasn't far off from the way I was doing it.

First, to create a multi-photo collage, you do it by using the templates available when creating a Book.  He recommended using the Photo Book or Photo Essay, but play around with all the different options.   Once you've selected the design, you'll see all the page templates on the screen. Play around with the page templates, then go to Layout to choose the number of photos you want to use. The template will re-populate for that amount of photos! Also, if you know you need x amount of 2x2 or 2x3 photos (for example), you can manipulate the template by changing the amount of photos on the page.   You can change the size of the paper to print to accommodate this as well. (if you want to be fancy, play with the 'options' and also all the color palettes and type options at the top)

Second, to save, upload or print your project, take a screen shot of the selected area!  Brilliant!  But before you do that, go to the zoom in the lower left corner and zoom in your project on the screen as much as you can and make sure the navigation tool is not hovering over your project. Use Shift+Command+4 and a crosshair will appear. Click & drag that over the area you want to print.  When you release, the project is automatically saved to your desktop. Drag it in to iPhoto and you now have a .jpg to print in what ever size you need!

This is what I did at the Apple store just playing around.  I constrained this photo to print as an 8x10. You can see I forgot to remove the zoom tool and unclick the bottom right photo.

This is a 4x6 I created in Book using a colored background

I played around some more today and found that if I want to print 2x3s or 3x4s on one 4x6 photo, it is easier to create it in Card, not Book.  All the Layout options are still there. It's already set in the correct aspect ratio to a 4x6 print and less editing is necessary.  Book is better for a multi photo collage, or for larger prints.

Here are step by step instructions

1. Select your photos

2. Click the Create button and select Book

3. Select Design of book

4. Go to Layout, choose number of photos

5. Create photo collage using template

6. Zoom into collage

7. remove all tools from screen shot area

8. Shift+Command+4 to take screen shot 

9. Import into iPhoto

Yes, it's a "work around", but it's also putting iPhoto to work for me in a different way.  I'm so excited to be able to do this!  

Bath Time Bliss

Alrighty! I'm home from vacation, the family visitors have gone, so, I am finally back in my scraproom.  That means a new LO to share.

Oh, but first some fun news to share.  You know that fun new challenge site I've been mentioning, Childs Play Challenges? Well, I'm excited to be joining their design team beginning in August!  I hope you'll join in on the fun over there.  I think the challenges are very inspiring and easily adaptable. They should appeal to a lot of you!

Back to my LO.  Well, this is for Childs Play Challenges, inspired by good, old fashioned, Watercolor Paints.  There are a few things here that came form the paints.  The photos are of my younger son in the bath (water), the blue glitter circles are like the shape of the paints, and the clear beads are like droplets of water. Then there is the literal paint splatters as well.

I tried something new on this LO.  A while back I saw a demonstration using a Glue Pad and glitter. Well, I recently bought a glue pad thinking I would use my stamps and glitter.  That's what I did here.   The 2 sizes of circles were stamped with the glue pad, with glitter applied afterwards.  You might just be seeing glitter on my pages more often.

Let me in!

If you are looking for the Independence Day Blog Hop, please go here.


Ooh, there are so many other things I should have been doing but I needed some down time.  So, up to my room I went.  45 minutes and Poof! A new LO.  This one is another fun idea from Child's Play Challenges!  This idea is based on sidewalk chalk. Well, that's something my son has never been interested in.  But oh well.  I have these cool chalkboard alpha stickers that I could use in a title.  And Oh, I have these awesome photos of him trying to get back into the classroom after meeting his teacher.  He really didn't want to leave.  I had to drag him kicking and yelling OUT of the classroom.  He turned around and starting banging not he door to get back in.  His teacher poked her head out to ask if everything was ok....

I had a chance to play with a new chevron mask by Studio Calico.  The blue Glimmer Mist and Doodlebug twine pick up the blue in his shirt.  The big Basic Grey red brad,  Echo Park PP and red question ,ark pick up his red shirt and the red door.  Definitely fun and a great way to use these alpha stickers!

Fun on the 4th

Welcome to the Independence Day Blog Hop.  If you didn't get here from Robyn's blog, go back to Amanda's blog and start from the beginning.

I love the Fourth of July.  I'm a history buff, so the significance of the day itself is important.  Everything is red, white and blue! But I also like a good reason to spend the day with the family doing something fun.

I  didn't have a lot of 4th of July photos printed, but I did have this one.  It's from a few years ago, and the coldest 4th I can remember.  We wore long sleeves all day.  It was cloudy.  We weren't sure we'd be able to see the fireworks.  It's a good thing there were Sparklers and Screamers!

I used a sketch by Lain Ehmann and kept it fairly simple.  I do have to say though, that I'm really enjoying making pinwheels lately.  They were the right accent for this page.  I fussy cut the small ones on the banner from the PP and made the larger ones.    I used red buttons to pick up the the red "4th" (which I made from a sheet of Thickers numbers). 

Supplies: PP-Best Creation and MME, Twine-Doodlebug, alpha letters/numbers-Thickers, Cosmo Cricket, Melissa Frances, random buttons.

Thank you for stopping by.  Hope you enjoy a fulfilled and safe Independence Day!  Please head on over to Mandi's blog from here.

***C*O*L*D***

If you are looking for Child's Play Challenges Design Team entry, please go here.

Good Thursday morning!  You know what that means...Thoughtful Thursday at Thinking*Through*Design.  Today's thought is about grounding photos.  I have to say, I am learning as I go along here.  I don't think I gave much conscious thought to what I was doing to make my photos stand out on my pages.  I did realize while working on this LO, that my photo was getting lost on the page.  It was too close in color to the PP.  Aha!  I needed something to make the photo stand out, to ground it.  I chose a transparency with a framed edge in a darker, brighter color.  Now the photo is the focus.

 I do want to share that I almost ruined the whole page.  I tried to splatter some ink and it didn't come out right. I used a paintbrush to smear it around and it looked worse.  I added some watered down white paint then misted with white and was able to make it look frosty.

Popcorn Passion

Ohhh, I'm really excited about this page. It's my Design Team entry for Child's Play Challenges. I recently found this challenge site and am having so much fun playing along.  Oh, how the prompts are taking me back.... Anyway, it's great for me to be able to grab inspiration from any part of the prompt and run with it.  I really work well that way.  I think these challenges are made for me.  I can be silly and serious at the same time.   Wish me luck!   The inspiration for this entry comes from this photo:

I'm sad to say, my children are way past this toy.  I took some time to decide how I was going to approach this.  I thought about color.  Then I thought about circles.  Then I thought about the sound the toy makes.  *POP* *POP* *POP*!!!  Yup, my LO is inspired by the sound this toy makes as it's rolling across the floor.

This LO makes me giggle, and for a few reasons.  First, the photos.  My son had so much fun discovering, playing with and eating the popcorn.  Second, this piece of Basic Grey popcorn paper!  When I saw it in the paper pack, I thought to myself, "nah, I'll never use this".  Never say never.  I couldn't have asked for better paper.  Combine those two with the pop-pop toy and there you have the giggles.

I fussy cut some of the popcorn, used pop dots and some small beads to give the effect of the popping sound.  I used some of the colors (red, blue, yellow, white) in the toy as well and outlined the blue circles on the PP to replicate the popping balls in the toy.  I replaced the 'O' with a piece of popcorn, again to replicate the sound and the action of the toy.  Thank you again Child's Play Challenges, for another fun inspirational idea.

Tree Hugger

Ahhh, a day to myself.  That always means scrap time.  I didn't plan on creating this page today. I was looking for some other photos and came across this one of my son in the tree.  As I was looking through this paper pack, I saw the large tree sticker on the page.  Club Ck May/June Issue Challenge #8 is using a tree element on your page.  Since it accidentally fell onto my desk, I went ahead with it.  Let me tell you, it is not what I had planned on for this challenge.  None the less, I am very happy with the way it looks.  I like the subtle colors and the simple design.  I probably never would have used this sticker if it wasn't for this challenge.  Thanks again CK for pushing me outside my box.

PP/sticker-Basic Grey, fabric border-LYB, twine-Doodlebug, Chipboard pieces-MME, letters-Thickers, ink-colorbox, pen-EK Success

When the Wild Things Come

Yup, another 2 pager! Thanks again to Child's Play Challenges!  The inspiration for this page comes from the book, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.  I had to think hard about the photos I would use.  I have a stack of photos on my desk that I pull from when I scrap.  I try really hard to use those first, before I print others.  When I looked at these Halloween pictures, I actually giggled to myself.  What could be better than Wild Things and Halloween?

My guys weren't scary, but they sure were little monsters!

I adapted a Scrapbook Generation sketch for this LO.  All PP and stickers are BoBunny. Flag banner, SEI. Title stickers, MakingMemories and Thickers, Souffel pen.  I added some Stickles to the eyes.

2 Page Frenzy

I've been on a roll lately creating 2 page layouts.  It's been fun to get so many photos scrapped so quickly. While working on them, I've found I take a more simple approach.  Less is more.  With more photos on the page, there is already a lot going on.  Since I want to focus on the photos, I find myself using fewer embellies and simpler designs.  When working on single page layouts with less photos, I have more room to 'play'.

Here are 2 that I finished last week.  Both are definitely more simple.

 

This was our fist time going to an Apple Orchard/Pumpkin Patch.  We all had a great time.  It was a beautiful, warm, fall day.  We picked apples, chose our pumpkins and snacked on fresh pressed apple cider and apple donuts.  We decided to make it an annual event.

I stitched to make it look like the pumpkin vines.  I only had 2 pumpkin stickers, so I dry embossed the negative space of one of them and cut it out to make the third.

 We were visiting my Mom.  In her front yard is this huge Coral Tree.  Evan sat there for hours reading Calvin and Hobbes comics.  I see the Calvin and Hobbes font for the title. Sketch by Scrapbook Generation.

A Disney Date

Yippee, back to regular blogging!  I found this great new calling site called Child's Play Challenges.  The challenges are based on children's books, toys, games etc.  How fun!  I like it because I can choose any element from the item for my inspiration.  I think that really works for me and the way I scrap.
This is my first LO for Child's Play Challenges.  Here is the inspiration photo:

and here is my LO

I have already finished scrapping all my photos of my boys in their Cozy Coupe, so I took my cue from the colors in the photo, red, yellow and blue with a bit of black. I had these photos of my older son and I at Disneyland.  The red shirt and blue balloon were easy to work with.  I love primary colors, and having boys, I use them frequently. I spent a lot of time making the pinwheels.  Iused them because they move like the cozy coupe!

I started with a Scrapbook Generation sketch.   DCWV Cardstock, Echo Park and TPC Studio patterned paper, Doodlebug twine, random buttons and Authentique letter stickers.

Water Works

I need to get back in the swing of things and begin posting more regularly.  I've been scrapping, just not posting.  School is almost out for the summer.  I'm not sure if that will mean more or less time for scrapping and blogging.  I guess I'll find out in 7 more days.

Speaking of summer. I worked on this LO yesterday for the Club CK May/June Issue Challenge #7-wrap twine around something.  I struggled coming up with a design.  I was inspired by Joannie McBride's LO on page 86 of the Creating Keepsakes Special Issue, Simple Scrapbooks.  I liked the photo placement and the journal spot in the middle of the left page.  Then, it all came together very quickly.

I loved the brightness of the blue, orange and turquoise and wanted to play that up.  I used scraps of SEI, Echo Park and Fancy Pants PP and attached them with blue MM staples.  I couldn't pass up another chance to use Queen & Co wash tape with the same colors.  I thought the chevron added energy to the page.  I grabbed some Doodlebug twine and wrapped it around some colored paperclips from Target. I added some small Sassafrass stickers to create the clusters.  I used the Graphically speaking Cricut cartridge to create the title, with some blue bling and orange Zig pen to define it. Lastly, a Scenic Route journal spot. Finished. A fun, happy, bright page that i think highlights the photos well.

Oh, the paperclips?  Saw them in the July/Aug Issue of CK Magazine.  A little tip about the paperclips...  Attach the paperclips first, then wrap the twine around them.  Super easier that way!

Holy Super Sketch Club!

I broke down NSD weekend and Joined the Scrapbook Generation Super Sketch Club.  They had a special so how could I not?  I'm so glad I did!  The sketches are incredible and the paper selection is fresh, new and flexible. By flexible, I mean it works for all types of pages; boys, girls, events, etc.  The directions are clear and easy to put together.   I have gotten so much done in a fraction of the time it usually takes me.  Here are some of the LO's:

These 3 I followed the directions exactly, not varying at all.

This LO, was perfect for these vacation pool photos

This is not how I had envisioned using these photos, but I like them with this PP. (Hold that thought)

Ha!  I was wearing a pinkish shirt, but really, the pink matched their skin!

These LO's I altered slightly from the sketch given to me.  It came down to the photos I had printed. I had to adjust the sizes and placement of some of them.  Regardless, the LO designs are great for multi photo pages.

I added some things to the embellie cluster and changed photo sizes

I added the flags, wash tape, and mist to this LO

I changed the LO directions and added 2 photos

I loved that this sketch called for 8 photos in a variety of sizes.  I had the two collages already printed.  I was going to cut them to fit the sketch.  After looking at the design again, I decided to exited it out to each side and use both collages as is.  I changed the embellies a bit and am thrilled I was able to work this out.

I will definitely play around with the next group that comes.  I've realized there isn't a place for a title or for journaling.  But I'm having a lot of fin with them so far.  If you are looking for a kit club, or just a way to work faster, I recommend this one.  It's 5, 2pg LO's and an extra sketch for about $25 including shipping

Smiles and Rainbows

Welcome!  I am so excited to share this LO today!  Not only and I proud of it, but it is my first LO reveal for thinking*through*design.  Today our *thought* is Stitching.  I love to stitch on my LOs.  I only hand stitch.  I do not own a sewing machine.  There are so many choices win it comes to stitching.  Because of this, I think stitching can add so much to a page without overwhelming it.  But it can ask be a focal point, as I've made it on my page.

I have an "idea book".  In the section for stitching, I have a page where the title letters were stitched. I knew I wanted to try this.  It was harder than I thought to find a font wide enough to sew on, but small enough for the page.  (I did that to myself though with a big word like 'rainbow'!) 

Over all, it is a simple page. I looked for photos of my family smiling to showcase.  The title is part of the journaling, the journaling part of the title.  "your smiles are like a rainbow, they color my world.

Products are Sassafrass, DMC floss, Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type, American Crafts, EK Success, buttons and Basically Bare. 

Me Too & Life is Better...

Well, LOAD has thrown me off my game this time around.  The month of May is just crazy for me.  I often wonder why the schools plan so many events in May. I've barely had time to do what I need to, let alone scrapbook everyday! Or maybe, I shouldn't have tried to do LOAD this month.  But, believe it or not, I have completed a LOAD so far.  Some days, even multiple pages.  I've just not had or taken the time to blog them all.

Here is one I am really happy with.  It was for Day 21, 5-5-5, (choose your photos, Products and journaling in 5 minutes each) well as the Club CK May/June Issue Challenge #3-use a CK download from the CK blog, and also ScrapFit Mist Mana Challenge!  Phew, that's a lot for one LO! These are 2 of my favorite pictures.  It was one of the first times he stood up by himself.  This was one of the first times he ever tried to really get close to big brother.  They look like brothers and that makes me smile.

I think the reorganization in my scrap room really helped me on this.  I had printed the download as soon as I read the CK challenge. I grabbed the photos in about 3 seconds. I grabbed my Echo Park and my "kids" PP and some red/white/blue CS.  It took me all of the 5 minutes to choose the papers, Mr. huey mist and mask, twine and less than 5 to write the journaling.  There were no time restraints on creating the LO, thank goodness! 

I liked the pennants but didn't want to use them as is so I decided to use them as part of a banner.  They were a little too white, so I doodled on them with markers.   

I am WAY into mists and masks right now.  In my identity crisis, Im trying to decide how much white space I like.  Mist is helping me with that!  It covers and leaves space at the same time.  Here is another LOAD LO that also uses mist, but in a  much more subtle way.  I was given the PP by Ben Franklin for their monthly Paper Mania class.

It's Launch Day!

Good Morning!  Yes, I've said it before, but I am so thrilled to be part of thinking*through*design!  Today is launch day which means we have our very first *thought* posted and ready to go.  Are you interested in knowing more about Analogous Color? That is this weeks *thought*.  There is a wonderful description about color and some amazing LO's to demonstrate the *thought*.  Please go check it our and I hope you'll join us in putting these *thoughts* to work for you!

One More Day!!! (and a new LO), and a WINNER!

I am so excited to be a part of thinking*through*design! I think the concept behind this particular challenge blog is brilliant.  A safe environment to share and learn from your creations.   If you have ideas for us, or questions for us, please send and email to thinkingthroughdesign@hotmail.com.  We want to hear what you have to say.  Your feedback lets us know what you want from us!  Can't remember the email address?  "Like" us on Facebook

Tomorrow is launch day!!!!!  I hope to see many of you *thinking* along with us.
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Yes, I have been doin' a bit o' scrappin' as I am on Day 9 of LOAD.  Not loving all of my LOs this week because I've been pressed for time.  Here is one I did on Sunday for Day7 that I do really like.  We had to use the sketch that was provided, but we couldn't use it as is.  We had to switch it up.  Here is the sketch:

and here is my LO:

I moved just about everything while keeping the "centered square". The PP strip is on the left, I used 2 4x photos, moved the title and added the flags under the block.  I love this Basic Grey funky print PP.  I challenge myself to find places to use it.  I kind of feel like I am mastering orange too!

Lastly, thank you to all that stopped by during the Mother's Day Blog Hop.  I had my son pick a random number between 1 and 15.....He chose......13!  that means DANAMK!!! You are a winner!  I have a 6x6 paper pad from Making Memories to send you!

Mother's Day Blog Hop

Welcome to your last stop along the Mother's Day Blog Hop.  If you did not get here from Ashley's Blog, please go back to the beginning, Amanda's Blog and start from there.

Now that the business is taken care of, I'm glad you are here.  This Blog Hop is about Mother's Day.  I really struggled coming up with a project!  I have some pages of family generations.  Both boys' baby albums are finished.  Mini albums are not really my thing.  What to do?  I grabbed a box of baby photos,  which got me thinking and reflecting about how I felt when my older son was born.  I seem to do that a lot about this time every year.  Well, fancy that.  His birthday is tomorrow!

I'm also doing LOAD again this month. Oddly enough, the very first prompt was a self portrait.  Blah!  I just finished a whole class about me.  But some of the ideas were a favorite body part, a cartoon, or an avatar.  I decided to go with the body part.  Fair warning to you...swallow whatever you are drinking!

The colors in the photo are awful to work with, so I pretty much ignored them. I never do that! I thought the Simple Stories Life Documented Collection had some fun colors.  Somehow, they seemed to complement the photo, with out overpowering it. The calendar I cut out from a Sassafrass PP. I used black Stickles to circle the 5.  I outlined the 5 at the bottom of the LO with black pen.

I have some goodies to give away!  Please leave a comment.  I love new followers.  So if you aren't already a follower, please follow me and let me know that you are!  Thanks for stopping by and following along the Mother's Day Blog Hop.     Happy Mother's Day!

One last thing....Here's my baby and I, 12 years ago!

Exciting News! and Sweet Dreams

First the exciting news!  If you haven't been over to Thinking*Through*Design this week. You need to head over there and read about the new format.  I am thrilled to say that I will be part of the new team, a Thoughtful Girl.  I hope you will come and join in.  Thinking*Through Design will be a safe place where scrapbookers of all kinds and abilities can learn and grow; where they can be inspired and encouraged.  The mission statement says it best:

"Our mission is to encourage designers to become strong, thoughtful artists who create with purpose. We want to provide a place that allows the individual artist to grow as scrapbookers and as individuals.  We are excited because the idea that is the driving force behind this blog is to put “thought” into our art and encouragement into others. Together we considered several artists for possible positions as a "thoughtful girl" (TGs), our team that will be leading the movement to empower and encourage growth in other artists."

I hope to see many of you visiting.

Well, Day 3 of LOAD brings me a prompt of using holiday colors on a non-holiday page.  So, I chose "New Years Eve" colors of black, silver and gold.  I don't know why, but I love taking photos of my guys when they fall asleep in funny positions and funny places. These were all taken during a summer trip to visit family in California.  

Pretty simple, nothing fancy.  I used a mask with black and diamond mist, grey CS, DCWV PP, Fiskars border punch, Melissa Frances and Sticko alpha stickers, MME twine, and a gold pen.
I had these Melissa Frances cool, moon shaped 'crystals' that I thought picked up the theme

LOAD512-Day 2

No, I did not forget about Day1.  I did it yesterday, but I can't post it yet because...I will be using it for the Mother's Day Blog Hop this Fri and Sat, May 4 & 5.  Please join in!  We'll be starting at Amanda's blog

But back to today.  Lain is calling today 'Wicked Wednesday', and we had to create a LO with NO PHOTOS.  Not sure where I was going to go with this.  Well, I spent some time on Club CK this morning, and found my inspiration in 2 challenges.  I used the May Sketch it Out sketch by Ashley.  Once I had my ideas down, I found that the May/June Issue Challenge #1, use staples.

This is not how I thought I would be using the sketch, but it really gave me a way to save these emails from my son's teacher.  I copied and formatted them into a word doc then printed them on white CS.  The background CS is SEI and the rest of the PP and embellies are EP A Boy's Life.  I used the Making Memories staples as photo corners around my printed emails, then also added them on the journaling strips and near the small clusters.  I added a touch of Mister Huey white mist at the edge of 3 corners.  They felt naked to me.  I thought this particular stitch kept the LO fun and youthful, because the words are all about a little boy. I'm thinking of going this to his teacher as an end of year gift.  Let me know what you think!

One last thing I need to mention!  You should really check out Thinking*Through*Design all this week.  Big changes are going on over there and I wouldn't want you to miss out on the excitement!

How Exciting!

One of the things I like most about scrapbooking is it's endless possibilities.  It's also the thing that I find the most challenging.

With so many possibilities, where do I start?  What PP do I use?  Do I stitch or mist?  Is this title too big and in the right font?  How come my pages don't look like everyone else?  How do I get them to look that way?

Where do I go to learn what I want to know?

I'm extremely excited to share something I read on my friend Erika's blog today.
 http://www.thinkingthroughdesign.typepad.com/

Please go check it out. I think you'll be excited too!  Let me know your thoughts.  I'm interested in hearing them.