The Second Challenge is Waiting for You in our Scrap-A-Thon Join the party!

Welcome to the Scrap-A-Thon, scrappers!

This is your second challenge and I love this challenge because for me, it certainly is a challenge and that is the White Space Challenge! I'm terrible at this kind of stuff.  When I first moved to Belgium, I was often accused of being one of those, "American Scrappers"?! Can you believe the audacity?! Hehehe...What can I say? I over embellish!  BUAH!!!! (It's been a long day!)

If you don't know anything about a White Space Challenge, let me help you out.  Most of your page or layout should be white or maybe just the background.  Use as few embellishments as possible or concentrate them in just one small area of your page.

If you are familiar with this blog, then you know how much I love to share layout love.  So get ready for some white space or some kind of white space-ish love or just some silliness in between.  Now, where's my glass of wine?  Got yours?  Hehehe...If you don't agree with my interpretation of white space, too bad!  (Insert emoji sticking its tongue out;) I really want this to be fun.

The first page isn't all that minimal, but I'd let it pass for a white space page.

Minimalist Templates found at GingerScraps

This is one of my templates, Subdued.  It's still available at GingerScraps.  There really isn't all that much on the page. A small cluster in the corner, a cute, small pic of me and my oldest then the neat shape that comes with the template.

Minimalist Template

The page below is quite a good example of white space.  Are you getting the gist?

This one is great as well.

OK, I might be pushing this one, but then again, I might be pushing this super, super fun collection on ya.  My cat is pretty awesome, too.  He's so photogenic! I used Digi Smash goodies.  The papers are in my Studio shop, but I can't seem to find the collection in Gingerscraps.

Now, THIS is a great example of LITERAL white space!

This is kind of white space meets art miminimalist.

White space can be kept simple and the space doesn't have to be white.  I quickly scrapped my parents with the new Very Vintage Collection.  It's such a basic page that may have taken 5 minutes.  Similar papers, layered with a contrasting color.  Then some foliage with dramatic shadows, a splash of gold and those fun typewriter keys for my title. I love looking at those faces.

Isn't that such an awesome part of scrapbooking, sisters? Seeing the faces you love so much and recalling all of those fond and sometimes funny memories?  I really love that.  I always go through my old albums.  Even the paper ones. I leave them right in reach and often switch around the ones from the coffee table.

Hilary did pretty much the same thing with the Very Vintage Collection.  Stacked a few papers.  Used some contrasting/complimenting matting.  Scrapped up a lovely cluster and used the alpha. Check out more vintage scrapbooking in Plus at Design Bundles with your FREE one Month Gold Membership!

These templates are fairly good for minimalist or white space pages. Find them at GingerScraps.

I just love this page below.  I used goodies from Key Lime Digi Design who is also in GingerScraps. It's really just a few small clusters and fabulous paper and those wonderful smiling faces.

These colors below are so awesome and again I'm using Key Lime Digi Designs.  If I were to just select my photo and everything around it and shrink it up just a little more, then it would be more "officially" white space.  Hehehe...

Doesn't Sandy from Key Lime, have the best kits?  Here's yet another one and me and my daddy.  I'd say there is quite a lot of white space there. Wouldn't you?  If you want to be sure, select all of those ellies and that huge cluster and bring it down.  Hehehe...See!  I told you! I'm terrible with white space.  Hehehe...

I'm off to see if I can find some more legitimate white space pages.  If you've got one, hit us up and I'll add it to the bloggo along with a link, if I like your page.  Hehehehe...It's why they call me the sassy scrapper! Wink!  Wink!

FOR THIS CHALLENGE, YOU MAY USE ANY DESIGNER'S GOODIES!  ENJOY!!!

Thanks for joining in on the second challenge.  If you missed the first one and all of the amazing free stuffs, click here.  It has a great explanation of how this whole thing is being run.  (Hopefully, not into the ground!  hehehe...) Sign up for that newsletter.  I don't normally burden you too heavily with mail, but I will for this event.  Besides, a free kit is waiting for you and you are going to need it for one of the challenges.

Happy scrapping, sisters!!!

I'm back with those pages.  I went into my finder and typed in white space and actually found some pages!? They are OLD! Hehehe... but here they are.  I'd say they are pretty good examples of white space.

Wow!  My mom had a rock'n doo!

I can't wait to see YOUR pages!

The Cherry On Top's Scrap-A-Thon Starts Today with Challenges and Free Stuff

Welcome to The Cherry On Top.

I've been wanting to have a huge, scrap-a-licious event for years and I finally just decided, on a whim, to DO IT!  I'm kind of playing it by ear.  So, be patient if you come across a few hiccups. I'm going to pull the blonde card, again.  Hehehe...Design Bundles is also jumping into this event and offering ALL participants in the Scrap-A-Thon a FREE one month GOLD Membership for Plus.  Isn't that amazing? I've got tons of designs in Plus.  Now, is the time to grab them.

We will be giving away parts of the Very Vintage Collection throughout the event.

I'm SO glad you decided to join us. I've got 20 challenges planned including a speed scrap.  I'd like to try and arrange at least one layout contest with voting and prizes, too.  The plan is to have a challenge every few days.  The challenge will be hosted right here on the blog.  Your pages can be dropped off in the albums in our group, left right here in the comments, or via e-mail.  You'll have to give me the privilege of downloading your finished projects and uploading them to the album so they can be a part of the voting process if you want to win the prizes.

We interrupt this broadcast to bring you a NEWS FLASH! (insert smiling emoji ;) Today ONLY, for ONE HOUR, Design Bundles is having a Dollar Sale.  Here's an image of just a few of the design bundles that you can get for A BUCK!  These are my favorite, but trust me.  There are some mega bargains there.

I just love that card for mom and holy wow! 90+ Fonts for $1?! Which is your favorite? Those Easter designs are mega cute.  Love the colors.

Every blog will have explicit details for you to follow.  If you've got a question, hit us up in the group or via e-mail. I've long debated doing something on MeWe because rightly, so many people are getting turned off by FB, me too!  If that appeals to you, let me know and if there is enough interest, I'll definitely get a group started there. Just think, you could have 20 pages in one month!  If you're working on an album, this might really push you through it.

If y'all have been following The Cherry you'll know that I hate deadlines.  To win prizes, you'll need to obey the deadlines, but I'll leave up all of the awesome for a while.  So you don't have to rush.  Rushing through art is never a good thing and if you're rushing, you are more than likely not going to enjoy it, right?

OK, let's get into it!  I'm leaving you with this card to keep track of your progress with the challenges. I'll try to follow the card with the order to make it easier for ya.  You can totally do this personally and with no interaction whatsoever.  I'll spread the love all over so in case you're not on FB, you can still totally play along.

Simply download the card you prefer.  It's 6x6.

This card is without ellies and might be easier to follow.

Here are your tokens.  Use a circle punch if you've got one or do it digitally! I'll have a png version of this along with the cards in the group on FB.

The card lets ya know what kind of challenges are on tap.  So, you can be thinking and planning.  I'll put up a new blog for each challenge and the Speed Scrap will be hosted on FB.  (Unless I can think of something else.) Each blog will host the challenge with full directions. Feel free to start an album in our group with all of your entries.

As you can see, a Template Challenge is first on tap.  That's my specialty!  Download this template and scrap it up with any kit you like.  Feel free to scrap lift if you're going traditional. It does not have to be from The Cherry or Kreative Design Studio.  If you've got nothing, peruse this blog.  It is full of free stuff.  You'll find kits, templates and tutorials on how to digital scrapbook. Share your pages in our group in the corresponding album to be eligible for a prize or leave it here in the comments or send it to me in an e-mail. (lmtroch@gmail.com)

I put up these four templates in our group.  The template that got the most votes is ready for you in the download.  It was a TIE!!! SURPRISE!!!  I'll be giving the rest away and more throughout the scrap-a-thon.

Ok, that's the first challenge!  Come on back for the next one, later this week.  You may want to sign up for the newsletter if you are not already a follower.  I'll be updating you regularly there and also giving free things just for subscribing.

Thanks again for participating!

How To Craft a Digital Tag Tutorial and Free Summer Tag Printable

Awesome designs from the Plus Club at Design Bundles

Welcome, crafters!

As promised, I've got a full pictorial for you on how to design a digital gift tag in PhotoShop Elements as well as a delicious free printable with mason jar crafts.  Check out the step by step tutorial and give designing your own digital tag a try and or download our lovely free printable sheet and get crafty, today.

In last weeks blog, I gave dozens of ideas and craft inspiration including mason jars.  Mason jars are so popular and the ideas and concepts that you can team up with them are really, truly fantastic. I encourage you to pop over to that blog and check it out. I'm sure you'll find something you will love.

Let's jump right into the tutorial.  If you don't have PhotoShop elements, it will still help with PhotoShop and you could just use the ideas and techniques in your own software or even apply them to a traditional style with paper and glue.

If you are a Plus member, it will also be similar.  Use DesignScape for quick and easy scrapbooking and designing.

First, grab a tag shape you like. Of course, you can find awesome ones like the one I used, in the shop. The choices are crazy. Take a visit and see which ones you prefer. I chose a basic yet extensive bundle that might interest you.

Check these out!

Your next step is to clip in your chosen paper.  Drag it over the layer you want covered and right clip/clipping mask in the layers panel.

Third step, slide in any embellishments or digital elements you'd like on your tag and size to perfection by using the corners of the box around your element. It's really important that you use the corners.  Otherwise, you will distort the image.

This next step is optional. I often like to add a stroke or outline when I want more interest, contrast, a sticker effect or if it just needs to stand out more. You'll find strokes under effects. Black is the default color, but it's really easy to change up.  

Go to the layers panel, quickly double click the tiny fx symbol and this box will pop up. Click on the black box and you'll be given the opportunity to choose your own color either with the program's or you can use the color picker and choose a color from your image. I always choose that when possible.

There we go! Another extra step if you are interested is adding a shadow. By adding a shadow you'll give your element lift.  It will make it look like you adhered it to the tag. I just love this realistic effect.  It also lends a touch of contrast, which makes it look great, too.  See the same menu.  Closer to the top are the drop shadow options and boy are there several. Play with the size, distance, opacity and even the color if you like.  Tip: The closer an item is to the page, the smaller and more intense the shadow should be.

Go ahead and merge layers if you want. It might make it easier for you if you're going to add a lot more steps, which I intend to do.  Just note that you cannot undo this once you get further into the process.

I'm going to show you a really cool way to get the perfect sized shape under an existing shape without having to deal with distortions by adjusting the size. Let's give an outline to our tag.  Just like I showed you, above.

Once you've added the stroke in the size you want, duplicate that layer. Then go to your original layer (the one on the bottom) and right click and simply layer.  The little fx will disappear and now you can clip in whatever paper you want. I LOVE this tip and use it all of the time. Especially, for word art.

The yellow paper makes a wonderful contrast to the lime green. Go ahead and clip it in like I explained earlier.

You may want to shadow the second layer, now. That's under effects. Explained above.

Just look at our darling tag! We are going to crop it and then do another one.  Look at the left tool bar and note the highlighted crop tool. Use your mouse, box your element giving it a little bit of room all around and then click the check mark.

You can either make your elements invisible by clicking on the eye in the layers panel or you can delete it AFTER SAVING IT. PSE does not automatically save. I highly recommend saving every few minutes. You can duplicate the bottom or background layer OR you can add a new layer by clicking on the tiny piece of corner folded white paper at the top of the layers panel and then paint bucket whatever color you want it to be. Size it how you want, similar to what I did, below.

Here's another more advanced tip. I didn't think there was enough contrast with the green so I clicked on the circle with two colors at the top of the layers panel and chose levels. Here I can adjust the color exactly how I want. You can see in the pop up menu, that there are a plethora of choices.

Toggle to perfection and then create a clipping mask with it over the exact layer.  This way you won't recolor the entire image.

Shadow the new layer exactly as you did the second. Either by choosing the same shadow or by copying the layer style from the second layer and applying or pasting it to the new layer with the right and left click respectively.

Don't forget to delete your background or make it invisible unless you're printing on white paper.

Now, you know how to design and customize a wonderful tag and you've learned so many useful tips along the way.  Shadowing, adding strokes, changing the color of both and some serious personalizing of color by using levels.

Consider printing front and back or print them separately and hang them individually, but all together on your mason jar or gift of choice.  You've got a lovely blank card to type or write in a recipe or word of thanks or encouragement.

Use a natural kind of string or a sassy bow to go around the jar for further glam bam, if you like.

Feel free to share your projects with us in our craft-a-licious forum.  We'd love to see you there!

 

So Many Crafty and Delicious Mason Jar Ideas

A super warm welcome home makers, DIY'rs and crafty creatives.

Made using some cool designs from our Plus Club!

I'm literally shaking with excitement over today's blog and its corresponding tutorial.  I wanted to bring our readers and fans something really useful, easy and fun.  When I started investigating what one might do with a mason jar, I was so impressed with all of the creative, crafty and wonderful ideas I found out there.  

And to think I was only using mason jars to pickle my cukes and store my homemade jams and salsa?

There is an amazing array of fabulous projects, gift ideas and recipes for mason jars.  I'll be sharing several ideas with you and I'll link you up with a super easy and fun tutorial so that you can apply what you've learned today in your very own project.

I'm the kind'a gal who just loves mixing it up.  So I'll be sharing practical, physical projects and later, digital concepts and then we'll mix the two together in a tutorial for an awesome hybrid project with free printables.  Keep in mind that most of the physical ideas we'll be sharing today are for IN a mason jar.

Creative Gift Ideas for a Mason Jar

Wow!  Oh, wow there are tons of ideas for gifts in a mason jar.  I think it'll be easiest for you to put them in a list format.  So we'll go with that and add a few notes along the way to spark ideas or to give you things to consider.  Keep in mind who the gift is for.  How many times have you received a gift that the giver loved more than yourself?

As I was perusing all of these awesome ideas I got to thinking, that maybe that person doesn't have fresh eggs in the house or vanilla.  Consider the recipients life style and food preferences.  For instance, I'm a health food nut and it bothers me when someone who really "knows" me gives me and my kids unhealthy foods.  If you don't really know the person, keep the gift as general as possible.

1) I wouldn't call this first one easy, but I do know a lot of people just love candles.

2) DIY lotions, scrubs and bath salts and bombs are popular.  Just make sure they own a bath tub!

3) Potpourri was pretty high on the list.  I find it a kind of odd gift, but if you know someone that would know what to do with it and they like it, it would be fantastic.

4) Stuff a mason jar with all kinds of kitchen utensils for a housewarming gift.  Fold and hang a dish cloth if you've got some room left in there.  It looks really pretty and it's such a useful gift.

5) A sewing kit with a pin cushion attached to the lid looked so darn cute!  Put pins, buttons, thimbles and other small sewing items in there.  I love this idea for sewing hobbyists.

6) It might seem terribly impersonal, but who doesn't love money?  Stuff it with bills, gift cards, gift certificates...I thought coins could be cute if you know the person visits vending machines often or maybe for parking meters.  They could leave it in the car or in or on their desk.

7) Pampering items placed in a mason jar is another fantastic gift idea.  Again, consider the recipient.  If they are a totally granola crunch'n, tree lover like myself, then definitely think of organic, natural products you could put in there. Makeup, lotions, scrubs, nail polish, nail cutters, nail files, shampoos...The ideas are endless and if you know the person even just a little, this could be one awesome gift to give and probably cheap if that's something that needs to be considered. 

More fabulous goodies from the Plus Club.

8) If ya know the person likes booze, consider putting in a variety of those tiny bottles of liquor.  It actually looks pretty cool and it could come in handy, too.  Ya never know!  (Insert laughing emoji) They call it a bar in a jar.  Again for in the desk or in the car?  Just kidding!  I saw a post where they put a tiny vodka bottle, tiny can of V8 and a tiny bottle of Tabasco and bag of spice.  Super clever!  A Bloody Mary in a jar.

9) Candy was a big hit.  I will be covering food next, but did think that it makes a great gift for candy lovers.  How easy and inexpensive of a gift is that?  If you're sure they love that kind of candy then it's even sweeter still.  It'll show them that you really do know them.

We're going to switch gears and move on to food ideas in a jar.  Consider what I mentioned earlier about the possibility of the recipient not having particular ingredients that are needed for the recipe.  It is more than likely, that if a person does not own butter or vanilla, they probably won't make that cookie in a jar recipe.  Consider allergies, too.  I know!  I know!  I just don't want you wasting your money.

Scrumptious Recipes for in a Mason Jar

There are more than enough recipes out there for all of these suggestions.  If you find something you like, look it up.  We're just furnishing you with an arsenal of ideas. I will provide a few recipes on the tutorial, however.  Those of the sloshing variety.

10) I will confess, I didn't have a smores until I was in my 30's.  It may have something to do with being raised in Florida.  If you're not sure the recipient knows about them, leave instructions.  They really are a super fun treat!  Ya only need graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate. My boys went nuts over them.  This idea seems sweet, cheap and really easy!  That's a great combination!

This image can be found in our fantastic shop.

11) Other sweet ideas are dry cookie mix in a jar.  This is a great idea for people who bake.  If you don't know if they bake, consider another option.  If you think there's a chance...then go for it.  Dry muffin and pancake mixes are also nice.

12) Another idea for a sweet tooth is jam, jelly, preserves or whatever you call it in your neck of the woods.  (I just had a vision of that commercial with the cowboy at the end of the fancy set dining table asking with a very thick southern accent to, "pass the jelly".)  I love making my own preserves.  I use a lot less sugar and I don't use chemical pectin additives either.  I leave it uncovered and simmering all afternoon and it thickens on it's own.  It costs me cents to make it.  My only real expenditure would be the darn mason jar!  This could be a nice inexpensive gift to give.

13) Moving on to less sweet ideas and one of my favorite foods, SALSA and dips.  There are so many different recipes for salsa.  Maybe look for a really different one and give that.  I recently made green tomato salsa and pickled green tomatoes.  Get rid of all of those darn green tomatoes deliciously. Pair it up with a bag of tortillas chips if you're not sure they'll know how to use salsa. The green tomatoes are awesome for salads and sandwiches, instead of pickles.  As if?!

14) Dressings are a super interesting choice.  You could show off your favorite dressing recipe to a good friend or introduce someone to a healthier recipe.

15) Soup is another popular idea.  The easiest version would be a recipe where you only have to add water.  Most people have that!  I really like this idea a lot.  It's more than likely healthy, easy and inexpensive and who doesn't like soup?

And now for the interesting bit!  It's funny to think that one may have been called brazen for serving a drink in a mason jar 20 years ago and now it's the trendy thing to do!  Grab your glass straws, ice, some fresh fruit and those adorable paper umbrellas because we are taking you to Electric Avenue.

More awesome imagery from the plus Club.

Liquid Bliss for Your Mason Jar

Consider serving beverages in a mason jar.  If this is totally your kind of thing, then check out a few fun ideas here and pop over to our tutorial for an incredible recipe and a free printable.

16) Iced Tea is insanely easy and inexpensive to make.  I make it every other day with organic tea and locally produced honey.  I warned you earlier! (Insert winking emoji.) It literally costs cents to make it and you make it as sweet or unsweet as you like.  (The secret ingredient is a sprinkle of baking soda.)

17) Root Beer or Cola Floats are sinfully delicious.  They would be the perfect drink to enjoy from a mason jar.  Just your favorite brand of soda and some vanilla ice cream and you're set!

18) Iced coffee with or without the liquid kick is another great beverage for in your mason jar.

19) Daiquiris are a no brainer.  Go for one that's totally unique!  Like rosemary rhubarb or passion fruit and guava.

20) Mojitos are still pretty popular and I certainly wouldn't turn one down if offered.  They are easy to make and very refreshing.

21) Margaritas are equally refreshing and pretty awesome, too.  Go with the frozen variety or the liquid.  Both are delicious when you use good quality ingredients.

22) Sangria tops my list of liquid love.  Add some fresh fruit and make it from scratch with your favorite red wine or try white sangria if you've not had the pleasure.

23) Lemonade is yet another refreshing beverage to serve country style sweet and with a lot of ice in your favorite mason jar. 

Fun goodies from the Plus Club.

Plant-Astic Ideas for in a Mason Jar

24) Terrariums are so easy, cheap and surprisingly fun to make.  I made a few this winter in the middle of some winter blues.  I used stuff from around my house and recycled some unused oddities for more interest.  If you've got small enough plant babies in your own home or yard you could use those or if you want to just buy all of the stuff, it's enjoyable to set up.

Taking Mason Jars to Paper

We'll now dive into fantastic digital designs keeping mason jars in mind.  Since they are like all the rage.

As you may know, there are so many fantastic crafts you can create with mason jars.  

I'll admit, I did a bit of research to see which ones were the most popular, but of course, I just had to add others that I thought were totally worth mentioning.

1) THE most popular mason jar craft were actually tags.  I LOVE tags!  You hardly need any materials. You can be finished in a snap and you can use them for so many things.  We've got a full, gorgeous tutorial on how to design a tag and a few free examples for you.  Isn't that just the bee's knees?! That's for next week.

You can grab these lovely mason jar tags from our shop.

2) Next on the Most Wanted list are cards.  Yes!  Yet another great craft.  Whether you're sending it via e-mail or snail mail, cards are a blast to design and craft.  I've already got a template and all of the fabulous goodies I want to use on it, in a folder and waiting for my next open tutorial spot. 

Make your own card using this great template from the shop.

3)  Mason jar kits are next and frankly I'm not even sure what the heck that is.  I'm thinking a gorgeous pack of coordinating papers, a sheet or two of stickers.  OOH!  Planner stickers?!  Some lovely watercolor designs.  It is going to be Eek-A-Licious!  I found this little darling kit in the Design Bundles shop.  You'll be able to design any of these projects with it.

4) Oh!  Sublimation mason jar designs are next.  I love that, too.  As you might guess.  Design Bundles has many mason jar designs to choose from that will look perfect on your sublimation projects.  Being a teacher, I just had to choose this one and I love a play on words.

5) Next on the list is mason jar paper.  That really would be fantastic for all of these projects on the Most Wanted list.  Here is an example of some cute papers.  Just imagine how beautiful your cards and tags will be with these?!  Do some matting with coordinating solids and your craft or digital projects will be jar-mazing!

6) One of the last for the list and I'm sure there is plenty more out there, is a mason jar banner.  I always thought it was called bunting.  Another regional term?  Banners or bunting are so cute and they've been fairly popular for a while now, too.  Use them to decorate your fireplace.  Hang them for special occasions.  I use them all of the time for my digital projects.  Especially, for scrapbooking pages.

This kit has a sweet banner with mason jars.

7) Call me bias!  My main dig is scrapbooking and templates.  It might not top the list according to Google, but it definitely top's mine.  I'll show off a few, fun ideas for you to scrap lift.  The first image in each row is the template.  The three images that follow are the stunning digital scrapbooking pages my team and I designed with the layered templates.  If you are new to templates or don't even know what they are, they are a scrapper's best friend.  They save so much time and you don't have to spend time trying to come up with a page layout idea.  It's all been done for you.  We'll have plenty more to say about those in the future as well as free examples for you to try out.

OK!  We've filled your brains with so many amazing projects for you to try with mason jars.  We'd love to know which idea you plan on trying.  Feel free to visit our Facebook places and show us what you've done or maybe even join us in our crafty forum.  You can ask questions there, too.  If you feel like your stumbling along or if you're a bit intimidated by the whole digital thing, Design Bundles is here to help you every step of the way.  We're one of the few places providing awesome customer and fan support.

Come on back for this next tutorial. Please, do return for more creative and crafty fun.