Hello all, Stefanie here with another All About Me post. I love to create happy, pretty pages and generally shy away from sad topics or confrontational things like politics or teen aged tantrums in my scrapbook pages. Back when I paper scrapbooked I could hide my journaling away behind the layout or in a pocket. With digital scrapbooking there is still a way to get these stories told.

I created my layout, “It’s become a tradition” with a collaboration called All Bundled Up by Studio Flergs and Digital Scrapbook Ingredients. I chose this kit for the pink and grey colour pallete, less for the Wintery theme, even though it depicts a sad time in my heart.

One of my favourite fonts to pair with an alpha is Pea Mily Mix by kevinandamanda.com. I make it big (>70 points) Once I have it the correct size and looking like I want it too, I simplify it. (Right click on the icon of the text and choose simplify) Then in Photoshop Elements you type the Ctrl and click on the text layer in the layer palette. This chooses a selection. Then from the top menu I choose selection – modify – expand and then create an expansion of 10 pixels. (This is my preference, you could go bigger or smaller) I create a new layer under the existing text layer and with the foreground colour white and type K (paint bucket tool) and fill the selection with white. This adds a white border under and around the text, creating a sticker affect. Next I add a drop shadow, only on the white sticker layer, a slightly smaller one than a standard one for paper shadows, because a sticker is usually flatter than a piece of paper. I layered it under the alphas and added a small pink bow for added dimension and a feminine touch.

I love creating layouts with flowers and choosing colours that make me happy and this layout does that. I tell the story of our tradition, with photos and pretty papers and embellishments because it’s important to me that years from now people going through our family albums get a feel of who we were, the ups and down and not just the flat dimensional smiling people that the photos may depict. I hope that sharing a piece of my heart allows you to create layouts that address the less than perfect, happy parts of your own lives.