Photography 101

Lets face it, the photos we use for scrapbooking can make or break the project. We thought during tutorial week it would be fun to talk about some great digital photography tips to help you capture those special moments with the loved ones in your life.

First lets talk about the rule of thirds.

The basic concept behind the rule of thirds is to divide your image into 9 parts.

The diagram above illustrates where you want your main focus in your image. As you view your image in the view finder or LCD screen imagine try to imagine this grid and align your main focus up with one of the red circles.


Placing your subject slightly off centered creates more visual interest, and is a more natural way for the eye to interact with the subjects. It also helps create a sense of balance.

Next lets talk about angles.

Angles can create such a different look and feel for your photos. When shooting kids, or animals I often will take many images to try and get the best shot. When doing this try different angles so you don't always have the same image over and over again. See the examples below.



The images above are great examples of what is called "birds eye view". The birds eye view is one of the best ways to shoot children, and also helps your subject to open their eyes wider, and can also eliminate double chins and such (we all love that!).


Next, we'll discuss focus. To help create visual interest, notice what your camera is focusing on.



See how great the focus is on this dog. It really helps the viewers eye look where you intended.

One last tip. Image editing is a huge part of getting the perfect shot! It's a great investment to purchase image editing software such as Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, or iPhoto, or take advantage of using the digital printing machines at your local photo processing store. These can be an inexpensive way to help you edit your images also. And last but not least, don't be afraid to crop your image.

So now that we've gotten that out of the way, lets do a GIVE-AWAY!!!

Leave a comment and you could be the lucky winner of the BLOCK PARTY COLLECTION.

Have a great Wednesday.

Your own private hideaway...

Do you ever want to journal on your layout, but feel it is too personal and you don't want to share it with everyone? Or maybe you just don't like the look of your own handwriting? Whatever the case may be, if you don't want everyone to see or read your journaling, then I have a technique you are going to want to try! I am going to share with you today a way to place hidden journaling on your layout using the Bo Bunny Cut Outs! Nearly every collection contains a set of these fun double sided cut outs that can be used in so many fun and creative ways on your layouts. I choose to use the Petal Pushers collection for my project. Don't the colors in this line just put a smile on your face?!

Supplies: Petal Pushers Doodles, Petal Pushers Bloomers, Petal Pushers Dots, Petal Pushers Stripe, Petal Pushers Cut Outs, Petal Pushers Chipboard, Petal Pushers Combo Stickers, Petal Pushers iCandy.

Start by selecting the Cut Out you want to use and then cut it out.
I like to use images with similar designs as this one because by cutting out the top part of the image you create a tab that can be lifted and pulled on to reveal the journaling piece.Cut along the scallop edge and make a clean cut across the top of the other piece.

Cut a piece of coordinating Double Dot Cardstock to mat the 2 pieces you just cut out giving the images about an 1/8 inch border. Score the edge for the scalloped strip.

Adhere the scalloped strip. This will become the tab that will fold over your layout.

Fold this piece over like so.

Then adhere the other piece of the Cut Out on the inside of the cardstock.

This is what the finished journaling piece will look like.

I find this works best with a layout in which you start with a 12 x 12 piece of background paper and then layer a smaller piece of paper on top of it. On with this layout the journaling piece will slide between the yellow and black paper and the tab will fold over the top of the yellow paper. Between these 2 layers you will create a pocket for the journaling piece to slide between.

Once you have determined the placement of these papers, then determine the placement of your journaling piece.

Here you can see it sliding in/out.

Place adhesive around the outside of the journaling piece on the back side of the paper. This will create a pocket to hold it in place.

Adhere this paper to the 12 x 12 background paper and put the journaling piece in place.

The tab will be held down better once placed in your page protector.
Now the journaling piece is ready to add your journaling and it is time for you to complete the rest of your layout.
.....................................................................

Here are some details images of the embellishments I used on my layout.
I added a little chipboard flower to the journaling tab strip to dress it up a bit.

I cut out the centers for the flowers from the patterned paper and layered them on top of the chipboard flowers using double sided foam tape to give them even more dimension.

And finished them off with a little iCandy!For the strip on the bottom I re-created a longer version of the strip on the journaling piece, complete with staples to match!

I hope you all enjoyed this tutorial and will give hidden journaling using the Bo Bunny Cut Outs a try on your next layout!

Happy Hugs!
Juliana

PS... Leave a comment, tell us what you thought about this little tutorial and you will be entered in a drawing for some Petal Pusher goodies!

It's Blog-A-Versary Week with Bo Bunny!

Today's blog post is brought to you by "Peacock Lane". This happens to be one of my favorite Bo Bunny lines of ALL TIME!!! One of my favorite Bo Bunny products is the sweet little "Clearly Stamps" sets that comes with each new line now and I'm especially loving the cute little bird in the Peacock Lane set.


(Products used: Peacock Lane Ivy, Peacock Lane Stripe, Peacock Lane Clearly Stamps, Peacock Lane Combo letter Stickers, Clover Double Dot Ribbon, Peacock Lane Flowers and Bling)

I thought I would show you a fun and inexpensive way to add color to your stamped images without breaking the bank. (This means bigger scrappy budget! HA!) A lot of stampers use copic markers to color in their images but I actually prefer watercolor pencils. You can pick up a decent set at your local craft store using a coupon for under $15. These last forever and add such a cool affect to your stamping. But be warned.... you may get hooked! You see the cute little bird and feather stamped images in my layout above? I'm going to show you how to create those!

So let's do some watercoloring!






I prefer using brown as the base ink because it's not so harsh. Unless my project specifically calls for black. First, I stamp several images and decide which one or ones looks crisp and cleanest. (See Image 1) Then it's time to color in the image. With watercolor pencils, all you do is color in a thick border along all the lines of your stamped image... or where you want color the darkest. (See Image 2 and Image 3)

Next is the fun part. Using a small paint brush, dip the tip into some water, it doesn't take much, then use the brush to start blending the colored edges towards the center of the stamped image. (See Image 4) This part takes a little playing and practice to get it looking just how you want. I've used lots of different stamps just to play and practice with. I needed two different colored bird images for my layout as well as several of those fun feathers so that's what I created. (See Images 5 and 6) Notice the mutiple colors I added to the peacock feather! FUN!!!
Once I'm done coloring the images in they are ready to be cut out and added as embellishments to my layout. (See Image 7)

Was that fun? What do you think? If it looks pretty easy that's because it is!

Now how about a giveaway? Leave a comment, tell me what you thought about this little tutorial and you will be entered in a drawing for a bunch of new Peacock Lane goodies! How's that for celebrating?

Toodles ♥ Shanna

Second winner for layout challenge

We decided to do announce a second winner for the masculine themed layout.

The second winner is....


Drum roll....




Christine

With this fabulous layout of her husband Matt and my dog Louie fishing on the Chesapeake Bay at twilight, using our Paradise collection.


















Such a beautiful layout.

Thanks everyone who joined.

Layout Challenge Friday

It's that time again!!!

LAYOUT CHALLENGE FRIDAY!!!

But before we get started lets announce the winner of our last layout challenge.


DRUM ROLL PLEASE.....

Astrid from the Netherlands!!!!

Here is her beautiful layout using FLOWER CHILD.

We loved this layout for the pops of color,
and the different way she used the Flower Child Die Cut.
CONGRATS Astrid!!! Email us your information to
thebobunnyblog@gmail.com and we will send you your prize!

NOW FOR THE NEW SKETCH!!!

And here is what we came up with....


Backyard Adventure

Designer: Misty Choate (Home Office)

Products Used: Sun Kissed Adventure, Sun Kissed Splash Zone, Sun Kissed Skies
Sun Kissed Afternoon, Wild Berry Double Dot, Sun Kissed 12" Chipboard




A Summer Evening

Designer: Kristen Swain

Products Used: Petal Pushers 12" Chipboard, Petal Pushers Combo Sticker,
Petal Pushers Doodles, Petal Pushers Greenhouse, Petal Pushers Dot, Petal Pushers Notes




Waitin'

Designer: Tonya Dirk

Products Used: Sun Kissed Chillin', Sun Kissed Splash Zone, Sun Kissed Stripe,
Sun Kissed Squeeze Me, Sun Kissed Cut Outs, Sun Kissed 12" Combo Sticker,
Sun Kissed iCandy Brads, Sun Kissed Clearly Stamp, Sun Kissed 12" Chipboard,
Chipboard Alpha Chiffon, Double Dot Kiwi, Double Dot Clover Ribbon

Designer Tip: Stamp on painted chipboard letters to embellish them.
I stamped with StazOn Ink and then colored in the bird with Copics






Good Times

Designer: Christine Ousley

Products Used: Block Party Fireworks, Block Party Jamboree,
Block Party Good Times, Block Party iCandy Stickers, Block Party iCandy Chipboard,
Block Party iCandy Brads, Block Party Buttons & Bling






H2O - Summer Fun

Designer: Patti Milazzo

Products Used: Sun Kissed Splash Zone, Sun Kissed Summer, Sun Kissed Stripe,
Sun Kissed Squeeze Me, Sun Kissed Adventure, Sun Kissed Buttons & Bling,
Sun Kissed Combo Sticker, Chunky Chips Alpha Chiffon, Flower child Combo Sticker




Good Times

Designer: Shannon Anderson (Home Office)

Products Used: Block Party Celebration, Block Party Chill, Block Party Jamboree,
Block Party Stripe, 12"Block Party Chipboard, Note Worthy Party Notes, Calypso Buttons & Bling



Bliss

Designer: Juliana Michaels

Products Used: Peacock Lane Bleu, Peacock Lane Feathers, Peacock Lane Plumes, Peacock Lane Ivy,
Peacock Lane, Flowers, Peacock Lane Cut Outs, Peacock Lane Flowers, Peacock Lane Combo Sticker




Good Times

Designer: Robyn Weatherspoon

Products Used: Block Party Celebration, Block Party Stripe, Block Party Fireworks,
Block Party Good Times, Block Party Chipboard, Block Party Buttons & Bling,
Note Worthy Party Notes, Blue Berry Double Dot




Splash Zone

Designer: Carole Janson

Products Used: Sun Kissed Adventure, Sun Kissed Chillin', Sun Kissed Dot,
Sun Kissed Skies, Sun Kissed Cut Outs, Sun Kissed Combo Sticker,
Sun Kissed iCandy Stickers, Sun Kissed Buttons & Bling, Sun Kissed iCandy Jewels


So What do you think? Doesn't our design team ROCK!!!

Join us and create a layout using our Sketch

and your favorite Bo Bunny products!

Please email your layout to us at Bobunnyblog@gmail.com

or use the inlinkz to upload.

Layouts will be due in Saturday, July 14th and we'll send the winner some of our

Block Party collection to enjoy!

Join us for a new Layout Sketch Challenge Due July 16th!