Designer Spotlight: August 2026

August 4, 2026 by 1 Comment

Connie Prince

It’s been awhile since I had a chat with Connie Prince, although she pops into the Spotlight fairly often. I think most of us already know her and her design work, so we didn’t spend much time on the work angle. Here’s how our visit went.

J: Connie! It’s been a minute. How are you? I know you’ve had some not-so-happy times recently so let’s not go there. How about a softball… what are your favourite/not favourite colours?

C: I love primary, bold colors. Pastels are my least favorite!

J: Pastels can be quite insipid, and if you don’t like them, it’s really hard to make them work for you. You do bold primaries very well, so don’t change! Honestly, you set quite a pace with your designing, I don’t know how you do it. What do you do for you?

C: I play piano and it soothes my soul so much!

J: Music is such a wonderful form of expression, and can evoke all the moods. I enjoy having it playing, even when I’m in the shower. Thankfully, I’ve got good antiskid strips in there. Lord knows where I could end up when I get right into it. Do you sing, or maybe dance in the shower?

C: Definitely dance!

J: Getting a workout in while taking care of hygiene… great multitasking! What would you do if you won the lottery?

C: Travel, travel, & travel some more!

J: I haven’t been anywhere special in a long time. Travelling with our son is quite challenging, so we tend to stay put. But when we’re not on fire, there’s so much to see and do around here, it’s not such a bad thing. What does your dream vacation look like?

C: Anywhere tropical works for me!

J: Not for me. Must be my Scandinavian and Irish genes coming through. As long as I’m not expected to eat herring….. Oh, I had some absolutely scrumptious Irish-style fish and chips the other day. I could eat that all the time. If you had to choose, what would you want on your plate every day?

C: Steak and salad

J: I do enjoy a good steak. If only beef wasn’t so darned expensive. I need to find a farmer who’ll sell it to me without the middle man. Win-win! But I’d need to get over my aversion for making those kinds of contacts. Do you have any trait that you’d change if you could?

C: I would love to master the art of being patient. I’m working on it, but it is for sure a big struggle!

J: Patience I have. No one believes I’m as introverted as I am. Sigh. Most people see me as self-assured and confident. I’m really not. How would your friends and family describe you?

C: Loyal.

J: That’s a wonderful thing to be! there are so many other adjectives that are loyal-adjacent that probably also fit. If you could have a super power, what would you choose and why?

C: Manipulate time, I’d definitely make use of that one!

J: That would be pretty handy. Speed through the bad things, slow down the good things. Maybe go back and do some things differently. I see the benefits! I don’t think I’d want to see the future though. Life moves too fast as it is. Aside from necessities, is there anything you couldn’t live without?

C: My phone!

J: Hahahaha! Me too! My friend accidentally left her personal phone and her work phone on top of her car after work the other day. She got about half a block when she heard them fall off. Her work phone was totally fine… and she spent most of her day off replacing her personal one. Speaking of phones, I’m sorry mine keeps pinging with news about our wildfire situation. I’m going to have to go through them soon. Thanks for chatting! I’m not going to keep you in this smoky air any longer. Have a great Spotlight!!

Have you seen Connie‘s Daily Download? (I mean, of course you have. It’s right here on the Blog…)

But maybe you haven’t checked out Connie‘s regular monthly #2026 Challenge. She creates a mini-kit for that one every month!

Then, of course, she’s also hosting the other Designer Spotlight Challenge for August. And she has a sale too.

I hope you’ve budgeted for this!

 

 

Filed Under: Be Inspired, Behind the Scrapbook, Creative Style, Daily Download, Digital Scrapbooking, Digital Scrapbooking Freebies, Feature Designer, GingerBread Ladies, Product/Designer Spotlight Tagged With:

Designer Spotlight: August 2026

August 3, 2026 by 1 Comment

CarolW Designs

Our first Spotlight Designer for August is CarolW Designs. I had planned this conversation for yesterday, but ended up a little preoccupied by three wildfires that popped up in our area on Saturday. The evacuation notifications were coming thick and fast. We’re fine, not at risk from them other than some ash and a lot of smoke in the air, but my mind was definitely elsewhere yesterday. Carol was most accommodating. 😉 She’s quite chatty, as you may remember from her first Spotlight awhile back. A little insider info: the Designers have a long list of topics provided and they choose what we talk about. (I want them comfortable with sharing themselves with us.) So let’s get into it!

J: Carol, it’s nice to chat with you again! Shall we talk work first? I know we’ve covered this before, but let’s review. Is there a story behind your brand name?

C: Actually, I don’t have an English name. But Carol is the name given to me by my high school English teacher. I have been using it ever since. The “W” stands for the last letter of my surname – WEN. It also represents the feeling that my design is wonderful.

J: I remember you saying that last time too. Do you have a favourite colour or palette that you love to work with?

C: I really like purple. So when I see the purple color scheme, I will stay for a long time.

J: I love purple too! Just bought a purple tank top the other day. I choose to ignore those people who say women of a certain age and with a certain body type shouldn’t wear sleeveless tops. It’s too hot here in the summer! So is there a design element or style that you’re really attracted to but haven’t tried yet?

C: Chaotic line style. Hand-drawn style! ~ I’ve always wanted to try it. But I’m still in the exploration stage.

J: OMG! I think that would be a great addition to your style of design. I can’t wait to see what you come up with!! Now, I know how I define your design style, but I’d like to know what three words you’d use to describe what you do.

C: Beautiful. Exquisite. Traditional.

J: So we’re on the same page. Do you have a favourite season or holiday you like to create for? Bonus points if purple can be featured. 😀

C: I like the collections for summer and autumn. Because I have always loved these two seasons!

J: Well, they each lend themselves to both your particular style AND purple. What do you enjoy most about being part of the GingerScraps community?

C: Friend. I want to be friends with all the community members. Maybe we can’t meet in person, but we are friends!

J: I’ve always said that GingerScraps is the FRIENDLIEST digital scrapbooking community there is. I’ve been involved with quite a number of them, so I’m qualified to make that assessment. 😉 Can you share any sneak peeks or hints about what you might have planned for the coming months?

C: There will be monthly series coming up. And I’m also working on a series about giving something to my mother!

J: I just love monthly series! I’ve been collecting them from different Designers whose work I particularly admire. Can’t wait! Okay, enough about business. Tell me about Carol… if you could have any animal – real or imaginary – for a pet, what would it be?

C: Nine-tailed Fox. I really enjoy mythology. In ancient Chinese mythology, there is an animal that symbolizes good luck – the Nine-Tailed Fox.

J: Who couldn’t use some guaranteed good luck? Since you mentioned mythology, if you could time travel, would you? Would you go into the future, or back into the past?

C: I want to go back to the ancient times. Go and see the dinosaurs!! Jurassic!!

J: Take your Nine-Tailed Fox with you for protection. Is there a skill you’d love to pick up instantly?

C: Driving. Because of my car accident, I still haven’t dared to start learning to drive up to now. But I think I need this skill.

J: My mom didn’t learn to drive until she was 41 years old, so it can be done. PTSD is real… Don’t let fear make your choices. How do you unwind after a busy day?

C: Lying on the sofa, eating snacks and watching TV.

J: Yes! I don’t lie down but there’s nothing better than snacking in front of the TV. What’s your guilty pleasure?

C: Batman. I really love this series of movies. I love Gotham City!

J: Oh, dark! I’ve been gobbling up all the true crime lately. Goodness. Is that the time?! I need to make supper for the guys already!! They can wait a few minutes while I wrap up. Carol is providing us with one of the Daily Download kits for this month, and it looks like this:

Coincidentally, she also hosts the Daily Download Challenge each month, as well as the Inspiration Challenge. And, of course, this month she’s also hosting one of the Designer Spotlight Challenges. Make sure you have a look! But there’s more… a coupon!

Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to play along with the Challenges AFTER you visit Carol’s Store.

Filed Under: Be Inspired, Behind the Scrapbook, Creative Style, Daily Download, Digital Scrapbooking, Digital Scrapbooking Freebies, Feature Designer, GingerBread Ladies, Product/Designer Spotlight Tagged With:

Tutorial Tuesday (Individual Style)

July 21, 2026 by 1 Comment

Challenge Spotlight: Memory Mix-Up

Before I launch into this month’s Challenge Spotlight… anybody else out there getting body-slammed by Mercury in retrograde? I don’t usually pay attention to that kind of thing, but this time it’s inescapable. I found myself suddenly locked out of half the websites I use for various purposes and was told the only solution was to change browsers. Which meant setting up a new one, complete with having to reset at least a dozen passwords – including this one. I’m over it!! With that on top of my suddenly garbage vision, I’ve hardly accomplished anything this month. However, I have persevered and DO have a Challenge Spotlight for you. And this month, it’s the Memory Mix-Up Challenge, hosted by Twin Mom Scraps. The prompt for this month’s Challenge was a phrase: a day at the zoo. So far, there are 9 layouts posted to the Gallery and I’ll share them all with you. As usual, each layout will be linked to its spot in the Gallery so you can take a closer look and/or leave a comment. Just click on the Scrapper‘s user name.

First up is this layout from scrapmevrouw. Her photos are precious! Each one shows a mom and baby pair. The layout itself is well-composed, with a strong diagonal aspect between the photos and the large cluster of animal elements. I like how the paint element behind the cluster grounds it perfectly.

GrannyNKy has created two layouts for this Challenge. Her photo focus is on the family outing, rather than primarily the zoo angle, and that’s a perfect definition of scrapbooking right there… Preserving memories! To tie in with the prompt she has some prominent critter elements. LO 2 can be found here.

For her layout, jenniferl75 described how their visit to the zoo came to be, and included some exotic animal photos to document the event. She used the very same collection as the previous two Scrappers, a detail that escaped me until I took a better look. I like that she framed her photos with black, making them draw the eye.

CathyS has created a grid-style layout filled with photos of the inhabitants of Kruger Park. Her title is smashingly well-done! And I enjoy how she’s used matching animal elements to draw attention to some of those inhabitants.

Look at the animal print papers sarahm172 has used to anchor her photos. They really carry the layout. Don’t you love that little rhino element?

Tbear‘s layout is about a zoo I’ve actually seen with my own eyes. I appreciate the way she’s used a large photo as her background and has the elephants appearing to be walking out of another photo. The out-of-bounds treatment of the giraffe actually leads the eye to that little vignette. Clever!

I’m glad RobynC included a bit of journaling to clarify which zoo has sabre-toothed tigers. 😉 The cheetah print background paper and small slices of other animal print papers definitely whisper “zoo”, don’t they?

Our last layout is from twizzle. The little man in her photos enjoyed the inanimate animals a lot. I like the distressed animal print alpha she’s used for her title, but I swear I’ve seen that monkey somewhere before. 😀

If you’re new to GingerScraps and haven’t participated in any of our Challenges, you really MUST check them out! They’re like an instant shot of inspiration and there’s a lovely bonus kit every month for everyone who completes 10 Challenge layouts in that month. This month’s Challenge Reward is this beaut…

Filed Under: Be Inspired, Behind the Scrapbook, Challenge Spotlight, Creative Style, Digital Scrapbooking, Digital Scrapbooking Freebies, GingerBread Ladies, Tutorials Tagged With:

Designer Spotlight: July 2026 – Part 2

July 5, 2026 by Leave a Comment

Cindy Ritter Designs

Are you all recovered from yesterday’s bisesquicentennial celebrations? (That’s 250, if you’re furrowing your brow.) We did our part and had hotdogs for dinner last night. 😉 If you’re wondering, we had homemade poutine for Canada Day. 😀

Cindy and I had a little visit recently; it was lovely chatting with her again. We did squeeze in some business talk at the beginning and then got on to the fun stuff.

J: Cindy, tell me about how you chose your designer name and logo.

C: The name is simple enough, but if you look closely you’ll find a zebra hidden in my logo. The zebra is the mascot for people with rare medical conditions. I have 3.

J: Ah yes, the old “when you hear hoofbeats, think horses and not zebras”, or “common things are common”. I’m sure there are a bunch of our readers who have walked the same path, having their symptoms downplayed and their concerns ignored before finally having a diagnosis. I see you. I feel you. <screech> Back to business. Do you have a favourite colour or palette that you like to use for your designs?

C: I love the colors of summer! Warm, sunny, happy colors. Green, yellow and orange are my favorite colors.

J: There was a lot of smoke in the air last night from a wildfire some distance away, so everything took on a warm, red-orange glow. That’s what summer here usually looks like. It’s still early in fire season, and we’re holding our own for now. Now, what are the 3 design tools you never want to be without?

C: Photoshop, Acrylic paint, scanner.

J: Your use of paint sets you apart a bit from most other digital designers. It’s something I appreciate about your collections. Has your approach to designing evolved over the years?

C: I’ve fallen in love with the Art Journal style and love making really artsy, messy, unique designs filled with color and feeling.

J: I feel like getting it right with Art Journaling is a real skill. Good for you! It must be quite therapeutic too. Do you have a favourite kit or collection? One that makes you really proud?

C: I’m torn between “Not Today” (hyperlink!!) and “Reflections” (hyperlink!!) -both are part of my personal journey to mental wellness. Art therapy in digital form.

J: Well, I have BOTH of those collections in my stash, so clearly I agree with you! So, they both lead to this: if you could instantly acquire a new skill, what would you want it to be?

C: How to let myself relax and be comfortable with not being productive.

J: Oh… you must be an eldest daughter. I SO relate! I sometimes wish I could just switch places with my husband, who happily amuses himself for hours without giving a thought to things that must be done. Or become one of those Real Housewives who sit around gossiping all day. It’s just not how I’m made. But hey, if you could live in a fictional universe – let’s face it, RH is a make-believe world – which would you choose?

C: That’s easy! Discworld!

J: Lemme just look that one up. <plays intermission music> Okay, I can see the attraction! Who wouldn’t want to have magical powers? The premise sounds like it was built on North American aboriginal beliefs. Fascinating! If you had the magic, and could teleport anywhere, whare would you go?

C: A remote tropical island. I need a vacation!

J: Hmm. Yeah! Maybe if you had the chance you could take up paragliding! I remember you mentioned wanting to try it. I don’t like heights, so it would be a hard pass for me. You know those silly social media quizzes like “how many of the things on the list have you done”? I can usually check off most of them. The ones I’ve never done include paragliding, ziplining, bungee jumping… there’s a definite theme. I’m not much of a daredevil, but I have done some… um… risky things in my life. And eaten some odd things. What’s the weirdest food combo you’ve ever partaken of?

C: Green olives & Jelly Belly jellybeans. I was pregnant. 😀

J: I just had a handful of Jelly Bellies before we sat down. Without the olives. Were you peeking? Thanks for the chat, Cindy! I’m just going to wrap things up and check on my friend’s cats – I’m cat-wrangling while she polices the World Cup events in Vancouver. Have a great Spotlight month, Cindy!

M’kay. Of course, Cindy‘s hosting the other of the July Designer Spotlight Challenges, and also of course, providing us with a Daily Download kit. I hope you’ll check out her store, since it’s on sale this month AND she has a coupon code too!

What are you waiting for? Go check it out!

Filed Under: Be Inspired, Behind the Scrapbook, Creative Style, Daily Download, Digital Scrapbooking, Digital Scrapbooking Freebies, Feature Designer, GingerBread Ladies Tagged With:

Designer Spotlight: July 2026 – Part One

July 2, 2026 by Leave a Comment

Designs by Lisa Minor

July. Already. Oy!! Half the year is gone. But I must say, things chez Jan are better now than they were this time last year, so I’m okay with time flying. I guess. Anyway… this month we have two Designer Spotlights. Part Two will appear on Saturday if all goes well. 😉 Because Lisa was a true early bird, visiting me back in May, she has the first spot. 😀 We decided not to talk much business this time, and went right for the fun. Check out Designs by Lisa Minor! <hyperlinked – look for the coloured, bolded, underlined text!>

J: I hope you don’t mind that I have some music on in the background, Lisa. I like a little something to drown out the golfer profanity from the second tee. We could sit on the deck, but some of those golfers lack manners and have weak bladders. ;( Nobody wants to see that! But on the topic of music, if you have a theme song, what would it be?

L: Good Riddance by Green Day

J: Hmm. There are so many ways one could take that. Green Day does have some accurate insights though. I think mine would be something by Ashley McBryde. Maybe Light on in the Kitchen. The people in her songs might be fictional, but I think we all know somebody that fits the profile. If you could spend a whole day with a fictional character, who would you choose?

L: Wolverine, but only if it’s Hugh Jackman all dressed up.

J: Ooh, he’s fiiiiiiine! I loved him in Real Steel (which I’ve watched far too many times), and The Greatest American Showman. Mad acting skills! But speaking of skills, we should talk a wee bit about design. Right? Do you have a favourite holiday or season to design for?

L: Spring. I love that everything around that time of year feels so fresh and new.

J: I love spring too, watching my garden waking up and seeing the birds return. Those rituals are comforting. Do you have any traditions or rituals you follow when starting a new collection?

L: I have a form that I fill out for each kit, so that anytime I think of an idea or get inspired by something, I can jot it down.

J: Oh, smart!! I’ve developed some routines for creating my tutorials, and for how I construct the other Blog posts I’m responsible for. It really helps to have that process. I’ve really enjoyed the tutorials, since they’ve pushed me to learn a bunch of new ways of looking at things, picking up new skills along the way. Is there some skill you don’t already have that you’d like to learn?

L: Honestly, EXCEL. I’ve taken the public classes, and I still use it with the skill of a Kindergartener.

J: Urk. No. Not me! I feel like it’d be teaching an old dog new tricks and I kinda like retirement. Although… it would be more fun if I had a younger body. Even just for a week. If you could be any age for a week…?

L: 30. Honestly, I would love to be 30 again and know everything I know now!

J: That would be AMAZING! There are so many things I’d do differently. I’d make sure I had more fun. Have you ever played a really great prank on someone? Or had one played on you?

L: I put Kool-Aid Mix in the shower heads at a women’s retreat. It was RED and did not go over well when they turned their showers on.

J: OMG. I just had a mental image of the prom scene in the Sissy Spacek movie Carrie. I think you know the one I mean. Can’t understand why they’d be irked. 😀 I’m guessing you weren’t invited back. Too bad you couldn’t have turned into a bird or something and gotten outta Dodge. If you could swap places with any animal for a day, which one would you choose?

L: A Sloth! I would love to be able to turn my brain off and just sleep.

J: I can definitely relate!

L: I could stay in pajamas, all day every day.

J: SAME! But my son’s Handi-transit bus driver might have questions. No visits from the RCMP please… especially now that I have a family member at the detachment. 😉 Which reminds me, I have a housewarming card halfway constructed. Car making has become my number one hobby. Is there a hobby you wish you had taken up?

L: Crochet. I wish I had paid more attention when my Grandma did it. My daughter taught herself and does a pretty good job!

J: Hmm. I can teach you! Do you think my daughter would like me to crochet her a housewarming afghan? HAHAHAHAHAHA! That would be a hard pass. Lisa, thanks for the chat! I’ll fill our readers in on what you’ve got going on for your Designer Spotlight and then I really do need to finish that card before it’s time to make dinner.

As usual, Lisa is providing us with a Daily Download kit.

And she’s one of the Designer Spotlight Challenge hosts. To make it even more awesome, she’s done this!

And before I forget, she also hosts the Pinterest Challenge each month. Check it all out! So many opportunities…

 

Filed Under: Be Inspired, Behind the Scrapbook, Creative Style, Daily Download, Digital Scrapbooking, Digital Scrapbooking Freebies, Feature Designer, GingerBread Ladies Tagged With:

Tutorial Tuesday (Photoshop Elements)

June 30, 2026 by Leave a Comment

Zen Doodling Wrap-Up

Once again, Best Laid Plans were scuttled… but this WILL post before Tuesday is over. Thanks for the grace you all provide me, it’s deeply appreciated!

I’m finally wrapping up that Zen doodle project. Have you guessed what I put in the centre? Let’s see! This is where we ended last time. I acted on a hunch and took a look at the Custom Shape (aka Cookie Cutter) library. Whoa!! There’s a Yin-Yang symbol in there! To ensure it’s an actual circle, I selected Defined Proportions, which defaults to 1:1 and dragged out a symbol. Elements puts these shapes on their own layer, so once it’s been Simplified, it’s easy enough to resize and reposition.

As you can see here, I have a doodle layer, a yin-yang layer and a black outline layer that has a Cloak of Invisibility on it at the moment. Centering an object is simple: activate the two layers (doodle and yin-yang) then Align to both Center and Middle.

I should point out that the Brush I used for the basis of my doodle isn’t perfectly symmetrical. So when I Duplicated finished segments and moved them into place, they didn’t fit precisely over their spots. That means I have some… gaps. But… moving the black outline layer down to the bottom of the stack and Filling it with the Paint Bucket didn’t make them go away. What to do?

 

First I had to figure out where the problem actually existed.

I tried a *few* things that didn’t work. Then I Merged the doodle and black background layers together.

Then I just dumped black Paint until the gaps disappeared.

Other than Filling in the centre of the doodle with white, the remaining steps are completely optional. I wanted some catchlights and a bit of dimension so I went into the Styles menu and chose Wow Plastic. It’s one of Elements‘ core Styles that is part of the basic software. The one I’ve outlined in the screenshot is a CLEAR plastic Style so the colours below it will be unchanged. But… if you apply it to the actual doodle or yin-yang layer, the colour will disappear. So… Copy Layer it is!

It’s not really obvious in the screenshot, but the effect is a bit much. Too much. So I’ll adjust it.

This is a good skill to develop. You can pretty much always make adjustments to Layer Styles. And you can see what you’re doing as you do it, which really helps. To get into the Style Settings menu, double-click on the fx icon on the right side of the Layer.

I changed the Lighting Angle to 60°, tweaked the Drop Shadow Size and Distance to 16 pixels each, lowered the Opacity to 46%, set the Outer Glow to 54 pixels at 39% Opacity and decreased the Bevel to 35 pixels. That gives it a nice 3D look without being overpowering.

I think I’ll apply the same Style to the rest of the doodle. I don’t need to remember what those settings were, I can just Copy Layer Style to Paste it onto the doodle. But not THE doodle… a Copy Layer. To Copy the Style, right-click on the Styled layer and choose Copy Layer Style from the dropdown.

Making sure you’re on the Copy of the doodle layer, right-click again and select Paste Layer Style and Elements will apply those same settings to the doodle.

I Saved my doodle as a layered PSD file so I can make other adjustments when I decide to use it for a card or a layout. It can be a background, a frame (pop a photo into the centre instead of a yin-yang) or even a 3D element. For those purposes I’d want to Save it as a PNG file so the transparent background is preserved.

Now, you may NEVER attempt digital Zen doodling, but these techniques can be put into play in so many other ways. Don’t be afraid to experiment!! If something doesn’t look like you want it to, just Undo [CTRL/CMD>Z] as many steps as you need to (my fingers just find that keyboard shortcut naturally, from so much practice) and try something different. All you’ll lose it a bit of time. 😉

I’ll be back on Thursday with a July Designer Spotlight. Care to guess who that might be?

Happy Canada Day to all the Canucks out there. And happy 12th birthday to my first grandchild, Jonathan.

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Be Inspired, Behind the Scrapbook, Creative Style, Digital Scrapbooking, Digital Scrapbooking Freebies, Tutorials Tagged With:

Designer Spotlight: June 2026

June 2, 2026 by Leave a Comment

Aimee Harrison

Aimee and I didn’t manage to squeeze in a chat… too much on the go for both of us. But I decided I really should do at least a little blurb for all the Designers with whom, for whatever reason, I don’t get to chat with – instead of just not doing anything. From today forward. 😉 And I’m late-ish today, having spent the morning at Urgent Care. (Nothing to worry about, just one of those old-lady problems that needed to be promptly addressed.)

Of course, if you’re here, you know Aimee is providing the June Daily Download, and can collect all the mini-files that make up the full kit.

You can find her Store here.

Aimee is hosting the Designer Spotlight Challenge as well as her usual Color Challenge. Give them a look!

I don’t have a coupon code for you today, but it looks like most of Aimee’s Store is currently 50% off. (Bundles and some Styles are excluded.) Aimee is one of my favourite Designers, so I highly recommend you check out her deals!!

Filed Under: Behind the Scrapbook, Creative Style, Daily Download, Digital Scrapbooking, Digital Scrapbooking Freebies, Feature Designer, GingerBread Ladies Tagged With:

Designer Spotlight: April 2026

April 7, 2026 by 1 Comment

Twin Mom Scraps!

Before I get started I’d like to apologize to Rebecca (Twin Mom Scraps) for the great delay in getting this port written. It’s been rather chaotic chez Jan et al the last week or so; every time I sat down to compose my thoughts, somebody or something interrupted me. And my new glasses are… not right. I have another appointment tomorrow to get that sorted out. 🙁 Anyway…

If Rebecca seems familiar, it’s because she’s a Spotlight frequent flier! Here’s something you might not know about her: her mom Lydia was the lead Sugar Cookie for a long time before her health led her to step down. She was also my friend. Lydia left this world 2 1/2 years ago and she’d dearly missed. Now, onward!

J: Rebecca, how nice to see you again! What wonderful little snippets do you have to share with us this time? Given that I’m way behind with this conversation, tell me how you keep track of all the things, between designing, personal life, and other commitments?

R: Lists! And more lists! I use a google calendar which keeps track of all my recurring responsibilities, upcoming deadlines, etc. It has really helped keep me organized.

J: I use lists too, but for some reason, my process has fallen apart. Good for you staying on top of it all! So, tell us about your favourite part of seeing our GingerScrappers using your designs?

R: I love seeing the versatility of my designs in layouts. It’s flattering to see a really beautiful page!

J: I like thinking outside the box with my scrapping, (not that I’ve done much of that lately!) and using kits for layouts that are really off-theme. It’s fun! When you’ve finished a big collection, do you have a ritual celebration?

R: Nope! I start the next one!

J: I’ll have to start calling you Queen of Hustle! 😉 What do you do to unwind from all that busyness?

R: Some eyeball reading on my beloved Kindle!

J: Me too! My Paperwhite is starting to show ghosts of books past on the screen behind books present, but I don’t want to replace it yet. I like it because it fits in my purse. Do you have anything… unusual in your purse or pocket?

R: A painted rock – I found it the morning after my Dad passed away, and have carried it with me ever since.

J: That must bring you a lot of comfort. I remember when your dad passed. I don’t have anything sentimental like that in mine, but I do have a screwdriver and a multitool. 😀 I like to be prepared. My dad loved pizza, so whenever we eat it, I think of him. That’s my painted rock. 😉 Do you have a specific comfort food for those moments when you really need to feel better?

R: Really, anything sweet!

J: A gal after my own heart! But I’m trying to keep my hemoglobin A1C in the green zone, so I’m cutting back. I think it’s working, because I’ve lost 17 pounds. What would you choose if you could only eat one food for the rest of your life?

R: Probably pasta

J: I love pasta too, but I don’t think I could eat it every day. Did you know that if you chill pasta before you eat it, then reheat it, the carbs aren’t as readily converted to sugar? PSA for the day, <snicker> I need some new clothes; do you have an outfit or item of clothing that you’d be happy to wear every day?

R: I’m happy as long as I’m wearing flip flops.

J: SAME! We had a really mild winter and I’ve been wearing mine for a couple of weeks already. It messes with my brain to be outside with bare feet this early in the year, but I’ll cope. It’s been a lot of fun taking note of all the early migratory bird arrivals. I’ve been a birdwatcher for my entire adult life, and I’m learning to identify bird sounds too, using the Merlin app on my phone. Is there a hobby that you’ve always wanted to try but just haven’t yet?

R: I would love to learn how to make pretty soaps…I get stuck watching videos on Tik Tok and it’s so relaxing

J: I watch card-making videos on You Tube while I’m brushing my wheaten terror (not a typo) and the two together really relax me.

R: I would definitely switch places with one of our dogs…they are living their best life, like they pay rent

J: Right?? Well, I’m not going to keep you yakking because I know you’ve got irons in the fire. I’m going to fill our readers in on all the big plans for your Spotlight month (what’s left of it) but first, I want to wish you an early Happy Birthday! Now, back to business…

Rebecca is, of course, the provider of this month’s Daily Download. Here’s a sneak peek.

She’s so generous, she also has a Fan Club Freebie on Facebook! Click on the link!!

But wait!! There’s more! Because in addition to her regular Memory Mix Up Challenge, she’s also hosting this month’s Designer Spotlight Challenge. And if all of that isn’t enough…

ANDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!

Sp what are you waiting for?? Go shopping, get scrapping!!

 

Filed Under: Be Inspired, Behind the Scrapbook, Creative Style, Daily Download, Digital Scrapbooking, Digital Scrapbooking Freebies, Feature Designer, GingerBread Ladies, Product/Designer Spotlight Tagged With:

Tutorial Tuesday (Photoshop Elements)

March 31, 2026 by Leave a Comment

Digital Zen Doodling (Part One of ??)

When I embarked on this endeavour, I had no idea how quickly it would run away with me! I looked at the screenshots I’ve compiled so far and knew immediately this would have to be a multi-part tutorial. It’s really not that complicated, and once you get the steps down in your mind, it goes fairly quickly, but there is a learning curve. I’d call this an intermediate-to-skilled technique, but I do think with some experimentation, it’s achievable by all. So let’s get into it.

It’s been awhile since I posted a new, detailed tutorial so I’ll just make some pre-departure announcements. I make no assumptions regarding the level of expertise my tutorial readers may have. They’re written in deep detail so that even a beginner can follow along. If you’re a rockstar digi person and already know how to accomplish something, I’m not going to know if you skip that part! For keyboard shortcuts, I will always include both Windows and Mac commands; I use Windows so it always goes first. Any time you see coloured, bold, underlined text, that’s your signal that there’s a hyperlink there. And finally, any conversion to PDF format is a Ginger job. I don’t want to use any app or software that could create problems for her business, so that’s the work-around we came up with. Now, back to creating!

What better place to start a Zen doodle project than with a mandala? I found a set of free mandala Brushes at Brusheezy and downloaded them. You can get them here. I chose this particular one for its large areas just crying out to be filled. These Brushes are 2500×2500 pixels at their largest, so I put the Brush on its own layer so I can make it fill my page. One thing to know about Brushes: they aren’t “vector” images so they have some jaggedy edges when you Zoom in, but don’t worry, I’ll show you how to hack that.

I realized I’d need a solid background to make the actual doodling part easy to see. So I Filled the background layer with white.

I wanted to isolate the various shapes to make doodling in them easier, so with the white background layer active, I CRTL/CMD>clicked on the brush layer to Select the outline of the mandala. Then I just Cut the mandala outline out of the background: Edit>Cut or CTRL/CMD>X.

I turned visibility for the outline off and this will form the basis for all the doodle-y layers. I can use the Magic Wand to isolate any of the cells in the mandala from the rest, jaggedy edges notwithstanding.

Zen doodling usually involves lots of dots of various size and colour. So the first thing we’ll do is create a 3D dot! Things like colour choice and image size are completely within your control – my stuff is simply for guidance. That said, I used a pretty magenta colour as my base. The hex code for it is ab0d93 if you’re a fan. I chose a hard round Brush from the integrated Basic Brush set in my version of PSE, sized it to 80 pixels and clicked it on its own layer. We want to be able to Duplicate these little elements so they need to be built up then Merged. You’ll see what I mean.

I wanted my dots to have a domed look, so I played around until I figured out the easiest way to do it. I went back into the Color Picker and lightened up the magenta a bit. Then I enlarged the Brush to 110 pixels and clicked it on its own layer at an offset so that it overlaps the darker dot with only a sliver of the darker dot visible.

Your eyes are going to start glazing over when I talk about Selecting edges, and once you know how to do it, you can skip ahead. 😉 With the lighter coloured layer active, I CTRL/CMD>clicked on the darker coloured dot layer to Select the edges of that smaller dot. Then I Inverted the Selection: Select>Inverse or CTRL/CMD>Shift>I

To remove the part of the larger, lighter dot from where it extends past the edge of the darker, smaller dot, Edit>Cut or CTRL/CMD>X

It looks a little harsh, so I’ll soften up the lighter area using a Blur. Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur

It’s cool that as the Filter is applied, the result is visible in real time. After some dithering, I decided that 4.0 pixels was the right amount. But now the lighter magenta blur sticks out…

So I Selected the edge of the darker, smaller dot AGAIN, and Inverted it AGAIN with the lighter layer active so I could cut away that overflow.

Now it needs a highlight! I added a new layer to put a 25 pixel white dot onto, positioned at the same angle as the middle layer.

It’s too harsh, so I’ll use that Gaussian Blur again. Here’s a Pro Tip™: as long as you haven’t made any setting changes since the last time you used a Filter, you can just click the F key and it’ll apply the identical Filter to the new layer. Very helpful for custom shadowing!

This is a review……….

It really felt a little too bright to me, so I decreased the Opacity  of the white dot layer to 75% and liked it a lot better. Gives a bit of a pearlescent look!

I want to be able to Duplicate this 3D dot, so I activated all 3 layers (click>shift>click on each) then Merged them: right-click and choose Merge Layers or CTRL/CMD>E

As you can see, I Filled one of the petal-shaped segments of the mandala with the Paint Bucket and black. Then I made another dot, this time  a bit bigger and with blue shades, Copied (CTRL/CMD>J) them all a few times, then distributed them inside the black petal. Don’t be too concerned with perfection here! Zen doodling done with ink, marker or paint is never going to be exact. Eyeballing is all good!!

Remember those jaggedy edges on the mandala Brush? Let’s deal with that now before we move on to the next phase. Select the edges of the black petal: CTRL/CMD>click on the layer, then go up to the tabs. Select>Refine Edge. The screenshot below shows that the black segment is on the main, background layer and each of the coloured dots are above that in the Layers Panel.

This menu pops open. Some of the settings you see are defaults, and as you adjust the sliders, you can see the effect in real time.

Edge Detection: Smart Radius>0.0 pixels

Adjust Edge: Smooth>17   Feather>0.4 pixels   Contrast>3   Shift Edge> -1

Decontaminate Colors: Amount>50%

Output to: New Layer with Mask

Remember Settings

Make sure to Simplify the new layer so it can be Duplicated! Right-click on the layer then choose Simplify Layer.

That’s where we’re going to stop for today. I want to keep the screenshot load to a manageable number; 20 (plus the starter) is good for today. I’ll pick this back up next week as we create a Zen doodle trademark ring of white dots around each 3D dot!

 

 

Filed Under: Be Inspired, Behind the Scrapbook, Creative Style, Digital Scrapbooking, Digital Scrapbooking Freebies, Let's Get Crafty, Tutorials Tagged With:

Designer Spotlight: March 2026

March 3, 2026 by Leave a Comment

Magical Scraps Galore

Yes, you read that correctly. Marina, aka Magical Scraps Galore, is once again in our Spotlight! But don’t worry, there’s still lots to learn about her. Let’s dig in!

J: Marina, it’s clear that you’re happy here at GingerScraps, since you’re taking on the responsibility of Designer Spotlight again so soon. What is it about the GingerScraps community you enjoy most?

M: GingerScraps is such a wonderful, welcoming and supportive community that feels like family to me. And it’s a wonderful place for us designers because we don’t just sell products, we build relationships with scrappers. And Ginger is the best!

J: That’s exactly how I feel too. I’ve always felt like GS is home, ever since I first jumped in back in April of 2013. And of course, Ginger is brilliant and generous to a fault. We have a special cadre of Designers too, who make digi-scrapping a real pleasure. What inspires your creativity when you’re beginning a new kit?

M: I’m mostly inspired by the photo gallery on my phone. I always design collections that I can personally use.

J: I’m almost afraid to look at the gallery on my phone… I take way too many sunset photos, and I save at least ten times the project ideas I could ever use. I’ll never suffer a lack of inspiration, right? Do you have a favourite theme or occasion to design for?

M: My favorite theme is traveling, it gives me an excuse to visit new places to do some research and find inspiration.

J: So, how many times have you been to a Disney park, again? 😛 Ignore me… What about seasons or holidays? Do you have one that lights you up more than others?

M: I love designing winter and fall collections; I guess it’s because I’m drawn to winter and autumn color palettes.

J: I thought I saw a new winter collection in your store! I’m drawn to those palettes too, and part of me is sad that we really haven’t had winter this year. Another part of me is kinda happy, because my hubby has had lifting restrictions for several weeks, and I would have been on shovel duty. 😉 Do you have a kit or collection that you’re especially proud of?

M: Can I pick two?

J: Of course!

M: My most special collections are “Historic Route 66” and “National Parks”. I did a lot of research for both and I included lots of unique elements that I specially created for them. And they bring back amazing memories of my road trips.

J: Oh, I see why you love them! What are your three go-to tools for designing?

M: Photoshop, Illustrator and Procreate.

J: I feel like the learning curve for those three is pretty steep. I’ve watched a bunch of Photoshop YouTube videos to see if I can transduce them down to Photoshop Elements, and usually I just end up with a headache! So I default to either cooking shows or card-making videos. Those I can follow. 😛 What’s your favourite way to unwind?

M: I take a long shower, jump into bed and watch my favorite series.

J: Sounds so lovely! I can’t shower in the evening – it makes it hard to get to sleep. But maybe I should try it again. Maybe age has reset things? I also can’t eat in the evening any more, which is good for my waistline but not so good for my mental health. I enjoy a good dill pickle chip from time to time. 😀 If you were only allowed to eat one thing for the rest of eternity, what would you choose?

M: Spaghetti and meatballs with tons of parmesan!

J: Mmmm! Pasta! I watched my husband devour a huge plate of spaghetti and meatballs at the Old Spaghetti Factory recently… while I ate a salad. 🙁 Then he needed a nap. 😀

M: I’d love to swap places with one of my cats; I’m jealous that they get to sleep all day and get tons of love from me, LOL.

J: Looks like we missed National Spaghetti Day – it was January 4th – but we could still make National Meatball Day… it’s March 9th! Do you have a favourite random “holiday”, like one of those?

M: National Cat Day, since I get to give my kitties an extra dose of cuddles.

J: Unless you make EVERY day National Cat Day, you’ll have to wait awhile – October 29th. I’m not a cat person, so thank you for leaving them home. <snicker> Before we go, I’ll give our readers all the rest of the scoop. Marina has created a very sweet Daily Download for us, so make sure you check in here at least every couple of days to collect the pieces. Here’s a sneak peek:

She’s also hosting one of the two Designer Spotlight Challenges this month in addition to her monthly Surprise Challenge. Oh, and she’s giving everybody 30% off!!!

If that doesn’t get you into her store, I don’t know what will!

This month we have two Designer Spotlights; the other is North Meets South (Connie Prince and Trixie Scraps), who have chosen not to participate in the Blog Spotlight, as is their prerogative. You can find their Challenge in the Forum.

On a personal note, I received some… interesting news yesterday. I’ve been having some issues with my vision and had it checked out. I have a new posterior subcapsular cataract (not actually new, it was there a year ago, I just wasn’t told about it) in my right eye that is advancing fairly quickly.  So, surgery might be needed in the next year or so. I also have an epiretinal membrane in that eye, which won’t need treatment unless it changes. I love that for me. 🙁 But I’m getting new glasses that will make a HUGE difference and can’t wait! Stay tuned.

Filed Under: Be Inspired, Behind the Scrapbook, Challenge Summary, Creative Style, Daily Download, Digital Scrapbooking, Digital Scrapbooking Freebies, Feature Designer, GingerBread Ladies Tagged With:
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