The Next Step - Ideas

[Meg]

So we've decided that we need to push ourselves to the next step creatively, now what? Where do you feel like you've stalled out? Are there techniques you'd like to explore or are you looking simply for new sources of inspiration?

Remember, this forum is geared towards advanced scrappers, so let's look for skills and styles that aren't already covered by the tutorials (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/university/tutorials/tutorials.shtml)or beginner's classes (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/university/classes.shtml).

I'll get us started with a few ideas sent to me by Janet, inspired by her Journey challenges (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21114).

Concepts - illustrate ideas (through words, photography, scrapping)

Find a link - search for sites that are along the lines of where you might want to explore and expand your creativity - might be mixed media, dance, painting, photography. Find one that speaks to your heart.

Inspiration Infusion - can be from DET, ad inspired, art work inspired, techniques, etc.

That last one we're already working on through the ad challenge (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21644)and 2 page sketch (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21689), but what other inspiration sources would you like to use?

[BethyNixon]

Well, first, I'd like to see another 2-page sketch. I've done several matching layouts but very few 2-pagers and I'm having fun with that one!

I'd like to see more challenges that make us think differently about a layout . . . like the Hip Heritage challenge Z and I are running. Taking a layout we'd traditionally scrap one way and challenge us to do something unexpected.

Graphic style layouts are lots of fun and something I know I'd like to experiment with more.

And definitely emotions. Have that emotion reflected in the journaling, the title, the photo, the kit choice(s). So that it resonates in every piece of it.

Most advanced scrappers know the basic design concepts . . . are there ways we can break those "rules" and still have it work? How do you break the rules and make a WOW layout?

Ok, just some random thoughts . . . love this area Meg!

[Meg]

Great ideas, Beth! I plan on doing a 2 page sketch and ad inspiration every month, so you'll see a new one soon!

I love the "break the rules" concept!! I'll start thinking on that one right away!

[BethyNixon]

A new 2-pager!! Eeek! Then I'd better finish up this one and get it posted!! LOL

[Tara]

Yeah - let's break the rules! That's what draws me into freestyle layouts...and I'm not so good at it! I always feel like I make a mess when I break the rules (even though sometimes it turns out good!). So let's break the rules!!!!

[sammdc]

the other thing too that I see a lot in magazines and also on here is that ppl very much tend to jsut use 1 photo per layout so for me to extend myself would be to use more than 1 photo per layout.

[Meg]

How about challenges involving 4 or more photos? Are you interested in finding effective ways to get lots of photos on a page?

[BethyNixon]

Yes!
Definitely! More photos on a layout would be a good challenge!

And something Maureen (bentrdr) mentioned in the Beginnings with Bethy thread this week . . . the new trend is to smaller photos . . . it's very hip, very cool but in generations to come, will our grandchildren be squinting and wishing we had bigger photos? Here's her quote:
"One thing I struggle with is that so many of the layouts now are very artistic and gorgeous, but you can't really see the photos very well because they are so small (especially if printed 8x8). It seems to me that in the future what our descendants will want to see is the photos. For example, this is a gorgeous layout, but I can picture my sister and I taking off our glasses and squinting to try to see the people's faces better.

http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=163838&cat=3466

The layouts I most admire are the ones that have larger multiple photos and are artistic. That seems to be a huge challenge. Any thoughts on this topic?"

I would like to explore this more as I don't really have any good thoughts on this except that I hope I do SOOO many layouts that there will be a good selection of photos for them to see!

[Sandersmr]

There are so many ways to blend photos and backgrounds. I know that Emma is teaching that in her Montage class, but it's something that I would really like to explore more. And so many of the different blending modes that are used.

[nancyr]

For me the hardest part of a LO is trying to decide what fonts go with a LO. There are so many fonts and I know the basic categories. But I would like to know how you select within a group. I feel that the font selection really takes the LO to the next step.

[Meg]

The Next Step forum will be hosting a lesson on blending photos and backgrounds by our own Karen Bowers (http://digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=4086)! She will be posting it next week, so be sure to watch for it!

Thank you, Karen, for volunteering your time and expertise on this subject!

[Karen Bowers]

yup, i've got my layouts picked out for explaining, but i need some time early next week to write up the article/tutorial/whatever you want to call it! but first i'm going away on a chick weekend! :D

[Tara]

Yippee!!! Yippee!!! I'm so excited that you will be teaching us, my dear-fake-aunt-because-you-two-have-the-same-name-and-shop-at-the-same-LSS! I can't wait to see what you come up with. I'm ready to learn something new!!!

[shazzt]

Sounds cool :)

[Fulltime RVer]

This sounds like a great forum to get involved in! And all the suggestions sound good to me, but I especially would like to learn more about fonts and painting. I'm not a painter, but I bought Art Rage. :-)

One thing I am dealing with lately is getting rid of the last of the stuff I've kept in storage since we sold our house and began to RV full time. This is the really hard stuff to get rid of - the family photos, the cards my MIL received when my DH was born, love letters my DH sent me when we were dating over 40 years ago, 30+ years of my journals, our daughter's drawings, etc. I'm still in the photographing and scanning stage, but will need ways to creatively scrapbook my "treasures" in the not too distant future.

[ebears]

I would love to learn more about blending - I have just tried this but am not happy with the result. I would also like to leanr more about altered art to use in LO's.

[luv2stamp82]

I am another who would like more photos on my layouts and still have it look nice. So any challenge for more than 1 photo would be great! I would also like to try more freestyle layouts, I never like mine when I do them. This is a great forum, thanks for starting it!

[sailingsue]

This challenge really sounds interesting!!! Can't wait to get going with it. Love the 2 page concept and really like to tell a story with my photos. Sounds like a great learning opportunity. Count me in. Sue

[sssnoo]

I just found this forum and the challenges - just what I am looking for.

[Greenfingers]

Did I hear "blending photos and backgrounds"? Oh yes please- I'm adding my comment here to be sure to see the latest posts:)

[Karen Bowers]

The Blending Tutorial (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/showthread.php?p=257785#post257785) is posted!

[BethyNixon]

I'd like to see a challenge to create a layout based on the "divine proportion" or the "golden proportion."

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/FakeRealLogSpiral.png

There's an article in the March/April issue of Layers magazine and I know there was an article about it several months ago in Creating Keepsakes. Just can't find which issue!!

But I thought it would be an interesting concept to explore!

[Fulltime RVer]

I'd like to see somebody else try it before I do. LOL!!! This does look quite interesting though.

[shazzt]

I remember that article Beth - it was very interesting. I wonder if I could find it again?

[ScrapMel]

HUH??? Sorry, but never heard of it - someone give a heads up on it? It looks interesting actually, but ?

[shazzt]

Here is the wikipedia entry on the golden spiral (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_spiral) which is supposed produce a visually pleasing image.

[Sonesta]

This forum sounds really wonderful! I know I am definitely feeling like I'm past the beginners tutorials and basics. I am literally craving new stuff...techniques, tips, etc. I have been playing around with gradients, blending modes, and layer masks lately. But I want more!!! :) I feel like a voracious (sp?) monster! Hungry, hungry, hungry! BTW...LOVED Karen's blending tutorial! Awesome! More of those types of things would be great!

[Whisper Pink]

Here is the wikipedia entry on the golden spiral (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_spiral) which is supposed produce a visually pleasing image.


OH MY that has alot of math in it from the looks of it...:eek:

[Meg]

I LOVE the idea of working with the golden spiral!! I bet some of you have used it without even being aware of it.

Just a heads up for April, we have another great tutorial in the works, this time from Sharon (Shazzt)!

[Sonesta]

Oh I'm glad to hear it! I was beginning to think that this forum had fizzled! Can't wait to get that next tutorial! :)

[Meg]

Nope, it hasn't fizzled away! Real life just got in my way a bit during March, LOL! I had just enough computer time to do my chores, but not enough to come play with you all!

So far for April I have prepped the usual Ad Challenge and 2 Page Sketch challenge, plus the tutorial from shazzt and possibly another fun challenge!

Remember, I'm always looking for ideas that will inspire all you advanced scrappers! If there's something you wish DSP would offer or a new technique you've seen in a magazine or somewhere, post it here! We want to get this forum hopping with excitement!!

[omiof5]

OH MY that has alot of math in it from the looks of it...:eek:

Re the Wikipedia article on the Golden Spiral, be sure to notice that it's not properly documented. Also, it's obviously written by a true math geek!! Boy, it burns me when convoluted explanations scare people off from the true fascination of patterns in math! :lol:

For the purpose of this thread, my "definition" of the Golden Ratio, Golden Triangle, Golden Spiral, Fibonacci's Sequence, etc., is that they're all mathematical patterns that are found in almost anything that's pleasing to the eye. If you want to approach the world from a mathematical perspective, you can research and find that these patterns are consistently repeated in great art, architecture, nature, music, poetry, human body, and so on. Da Vinci recognized the pattern and called it the divine proportion.

The Fibonnaci Sequence is especially fun and easy once you see it: it goes 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13....... All Fibonnaci did was to create a pattern by adding the last two numbers in the sequence. So, 0+1=1, 1+1=2, 2+1=3, 2+3=5, 3+5=8, 5+8=13, and continuing. People love learning about this sequence because the Fibonnaci numbers are found in nature (sunflower has 55 rows and 89 rows of seeds spiraling in opposite directions; pine cones have 8 rows spiraling in one direction and 13 in the other; many, many flowers have petals that match a Fibonnaci number); music (5 black keys, 8 white keys, etc.); and even proportions of the human body!

If any of this interests you, there's a great set of examples of Fibonacci sequences at this quilting site: http://www.susansfiberstudio.com/fibonacci.html. When I was quilting, I loved it when incredibly talented quilters would shudder and say they were terrible at math. They may not have recognized how much math they were using but creating beautiful quilts without math is an impossible thing to do. :yes: When I was taking classes (and at everyone's request!!), I used to give simple explanations of the math in each quilting method we learned. Even the teacher was amazed to see how GOOD at math she really was. :lol:

Well, I'm sorry for this book but -- boy -- it feels good to get all that out!!!!!! :yes: Anybody want to take a guess at my pre-retirement profession? :lol: :yahoo: :yes: Oh, and if you want to explore this with your kids (they love it!), you can find simpler explanations and problems at Ask Dr. Math: http://mathforum.org/dr.math/.

Also, the computer geek in me found a plug-in that helps with all this: http://powerretouche.com/Golden_Section_introduction.htm. Have no idea if it works (it's definitely beyond my PS skills, I'm sure) but it looks interesting. Works with Paint Shop Pro, Corel Draw, Illustrator, Fireworks and other graphic software or photo software (Mac & Win) according to the site.

If you've gotten this far and no drool is dripping down your chin, give yourself an "A" for today's geometry lesson. :yahoo: :clap: :wave:

[Whisper Pink]

Great Lesson and some great links...thanks omiof5!!!
Gonna have to put "Ask Dr Math" in my must look at everyday file!!! Maybe it will help me become a better scrapper, since we do use math in our scrapping everyday...but I have to say...I am still trying to get this thirds thing down!!! LOL!!!
off to save each of the links to my Favs for future reference!!!
thanks again!!!

[ScrapMel]

Thank you thank you thank you for that! Now this sounds very interesting - patterns and reps are visually pleasing and I want to take the next step in harnessing those 'powers' so to speak, so bring it on!
Oh, and Sharon is teaching next! Wonderful!

[BethyNixon]

What I find interesting is how these patterns are found in nature . . . how what is naturally pleasing to our eye can be explained mathmatically! As a former science and math geek looking for my artistic side, this completely thrills me!!

Thanks!!

[ArcaneFaery]

The only reason I drooled during the lesson is because i dodn't have any coffee sitting here with me. That's my story, and I am sticking to it.


I am in love with 2 pagers so that's where you all will find me.......I have to go try those out!!!!

[omiof5]

What I find interesting is how these patterns are found in nature . . . how what is naturally pleasing to our eye can be explained mathmatically! As a former science and math geek looking for my artistic side, this completely thrills me!!

Math teachers keep preaching that link between math and the arts -- this is why sacrificing art, dance, theater, and music classes in schools for "The 3 Rs" is beyond frustrating for educators!! It's so incredibly short-sighted because one hand definitely washes the other! :yes:

Even though we've always known about the connection, about 700 secondary- and college-level math teachers were absolutely amazed at a conference I attended many years ago. The presenter asked us how many played a musical instrument and more than 90% of us raised our hands! :eek: He said that he had gotten the same result all over the world and he couldn't believe that the arts still have to struggle to stay alive in education.

Glad you guys liked the "lesson." It's so important for artistic people to understand that they ARE good at math -- even if they don't know it. :clap::love3:

[Sonesta]

Very, very fascinating! Gives one lots to think about! Thank you for that explanation! I loved it!

[cherebus]

I've always loved math, so it doesn't surprise me that creative people actually use it a lot, thank you for that wonderful lesson on patterns and sequences.

[Meg]

I've already thanked omiof5 privately, but let me say it again here....THANK YOU!! What a great lesson and I'm so excited to see the exchange of information and ideas happening here!!! You all inspire and challenge me!

Keep your eyes open tomorrow for Sharon's tutorial! I got to take a sneak peak and it's great! I asked her to write about using multiple photos effectively in a layout and she has done a fabulous job explaining some design techniques! I'm looking forward to seeing what her tutorial inspires in YOU!

[shazzt]

Oh Meg - you are very sweet. Hope it can live up to that build up!!

[omiof5]

Just want to thank all of you for the posts and PMs and to let you know what a boost this has been for me during a stressful week. I'm retired (happily) but can't tell you how much I miss these "aha!" moments with people who are struggling to understand something new. :love1: :love1: :love1: When this happens in a classroom, I'll swear the teacher is able to see light bulbs popping up above students' heads -- it's just the most wonderful experience you can imagine and the part of teaching I miss most!! :yes:

Actually -- and my apologies that this is totally off-topic -- this experience has highlighted how overcommitted I am to things I "should" do (all great causes, so very difficult to disengage) -- I've left very little time for fun things like DSP and scrapping and offering my mature and unsolicited "wisdom." :love2: The regulars at DSP are like sponges -- always open to new ideas -- intelligent -- curious to learn -- eager for constructive criticism -- follow through on suggestions. Yep, need to schedule more fun time with DSP -- you're all just awesome!! :hug:

[BethyNixon]

Two ideas I had . . .

First one . . . take a kit and turn it into something completely different.
For example, I did this layout (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=183819&cat=500&ppuser=15651) using Suzi's very soft and pretty Stars and Stripes Soft Yellows (http://store.digitalscrapbookplace.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=5409) kit. Making her gorgeous kit kinda harsh really had me exploring some settings and modes! It would be fun to challenge ourselves to take a kit and show how we can manipulate it with our programs.

Second one . . . I know Ann-Maree is starting a new Out of Bounds challenge in the next week or so. I think we should all try the challenge! It's not an easy challenge for me as I don't see things in 3D like that but it's an excellent experience on perspective and shadows. Two things that can help push your layouts to a new level.

I'll try to hop back in with the link when I see the challenge started. (oh, and Elizabeth Weaver will have a kit in the store on the 4th that I had a peek at. It is SOOO totally awesome for the Out of Bounds challenge . . . in fact, it's called the Out Of Bounds page kit! It was SO fun to work with! I love looking at the OOB layouts but I had a hard time wrapping my mind around how they work. It was really fun to try!)

[ChristineG]

Sounds like some fun ideas Beth.

[ScrapMel]

Yeah, I have never tried an OoB layout before - I am 3D challenged myself! lol!
And as for playing with a kit and changing - YES! I love doing that (okay yes, I sit on the puter and apply blend mode this, blend mode that, and never actually scrap with them!) So this would get me out of my shell!

[Meg]

Great ideas, Beth! I'll add them to the list!

Watch for a new challenge coming to the TNS forum next week! Led by Whisper Pink, we'll have a scraplift (with a twist) challenge this month. I haven't seen what LO she's chosen to lift yet, but I'll give you a hint.... I'm both flattered and REALLY nervous about it!

[angeluvie]

i still get problem to know the result size. mostly i made in half A4 paper and some things just too tiny and other are over size. mostly i found out that the photo and fonts are too big and other things is to small. i mean, mostly we use 12 for fonts in when typing in program like microsoft words, right, but how come it become so tiny in photoshop?