Your Next Stamp - YNS Special Day of Tips and Tricks featuring Autumn Leaves puppy

Hi all, it is my special day at Your Next Stamp's Blog.  I would like to share one of my Tips/Tricks i use when using Your Next Stamps digital images.

Sometimes, when you look at an digital image, you might think it is seasonal and you can only use it for that season.  I try to look beyond the season to see how i can get more usage out of a digital image.

This month for the Your Next Stamp Challenge Blog, i will be using this Tip/Tricks for all of my Design Team cards.  Last Friday, i used the digital image "Kiss Me" and just used the little girl.  Did you wonder how i did that?

Using the image "Autumn Leaves" i will show you how, first here is the finished card using the current YNS Challenge Blog sketch:

First of all, here is the original image Autumn Leaves found here:

1. If you like a white background instead of fussy cutting, i take the digital image to my program that will erase lines, i use Photo Shop.

2. For fussy cutting or if i want a white background, I crop the image to what i will be using. In this case just around the puppy's head and birds.

3. Then using the eraser, i erase all of the background that i don't want.


  *Tip- You will want to make sure that you don't leave any bits of lines that you don't want because if you prefer a white background instead of fussy cutting this will be important.

4. If you are a fussy cutter instead of using a white background, you will not need to erase any lines.  (I am sure there are other ways of removing the background, for now, this is how i've been doing it)

5. I then, bring the image to Word after i crop and erase the background so that i can get the size i want and position it on the paper i am using.  Again, i am sure all of that can be done in Photoshop too.

*Tip- I made this image 3" high.

6. Color your image and in my case i fussy cut it out.

7.  Now you have an image that can be used for ANY season or occasion.

Another example of changing the seasonal images to any season or occasion using the image "Kiss Me":

I hope you enjoyed my Tips/Tricks today..  If any of you have a tip for erasing the backgrounds, i'd love to know!  Thanks!

Challenges:
Scrap-Creations Going Grey- Animals
Inky Chicks- Photo inspiration
Fan-Tastic Tuesday- Anything Goes

Your Next Stamp Digital Cuddles 3 ways!

I want to share with you some Tips and Tricks for using Your Next Stamp's Digital Stamps, as you noticed two weeks ago, Angel from the Digital Design team shared this digital stamp called Cuddles and did some paper piecing.  This week i'd like to show you how to add a text box to your digital images.

I have used the program PhotoShop..there are many editing programs out there and some that are free.  For this post i will tell you how i used my PhotoShop. (Look at the image below)

1. Open up your image
2. Select "T" for text, using your mouse make a box (don't worry where you make the box you will be able to move it where you want it later)
3. On the top toolbar select a font you'd like to use.  I used Silom. Your font is probably black, you can change that by selecting the color box at the bottom left (in my picture it is red because i selected red) A color box will pop up and you can select another color.  If you have already typed your word, you will have to highlight it and pick the color again. To make your word larger you can select the text size at on the top tool bar.  Your size will depend on your image and your size preference and font you decided to use.  If you make your font large and it's not fitting inside of your box, you can use the squares on the corners to make your box larger (or smaller).
4. Once you are happy with your text you can select the top arrow button on the side toolbar.  It will make the "text box" border disappear. Now you can drag your word where ever you want on your image.
5.  Take note..  DO NOT SAVE this image unless you have a copy of the original.  What i like to do, is once i like what i have made i will "SAVE AS" and then i save it as a .jpg..some people like a png.
6.  Let's say you messed up along the way, what i have found to do is i can select edit and it will let me take a step backwards.  Or let's say you want to start over completely..just delete this and start again.
7.  Once you are happy, you can  "SAVE AS" like a said and print off your digi's like you normally do.
PS.  There might be an easier way to accomplish this task, i am giving you the way i learned how to do it.  :0)
For those of you wanting a youtube video, i found this one, it only shows how to add the text box not the font color: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3i1MOngavs
Ok and i found this video with even more detail!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIpX3HtjGSA

Now for the fun...I took a look at this cute bunny and said,  Cuddles, you would make an awesome Valentines, Save the Date or Easter card...i am thinking maybe you could figure out some more idea..if you do please share them by leaving a link in the comments here or entering our challenge this month (Link is here)!  I'd be super excited to see what you come up with!!

Here are my samples using these ideas:
"Kiss Me" Cuddles also using the Your Next Stamp Fry Box Die found here.

"Save the Date" Cuddles also using the Your Next Stamp Photo frame found here.
*Take note*, i would actually add the date to the heart as well!

"Happy Easter" Cuddles again using the Your Next Stamp Photo Frame found here.

So glad you stopped by, have fun crafting!

 Challenges:
 Digi Galore- Monochrome-(Kiss Me bunny)
4 Crafty Chicks- Wedding (second card.. save the date (for wedding)

Cute Card Thursday- Warm It Up (Happy Easter card)
Inspired by- photo inspiration