Review by Syndee Nuckles

You may look at a transparency and ask yourself, “What can I possibly do with this?” You might also think that you would only use it once or twice because you wouldn’t want to overuse the design, but there really are so many fun ways to use this versatile product!

Some of my favorite ways to use transparencies are:

• Layering it over a paper to tone the color down or deepen it.

• Layering it over a paper to add a distressed or worn look.

• Layering it over a paper to add a pattern or texture.

• Layering it over a paper to add a particular color to the layout that is in your photo, but not on the original paper design.

• Reducing the opacity of a heavily-patterned transparency to create a softer ‘dreamy’ effect.

• Creating a background paper using a transparency.

• Using part of the transparency on a digital or printable card.

• Printing out a small square of it onto an ink jet transparency, then adding it to a hand-made greeting card as a ‘window’ allowing the message inside to show through.

• Resizing and using as a frame for a photo.

• Taking a distressing brush from a brush set (like Distressed Grass Brushes) and adding a worn look to a transparency.

• Some of our transparencies have a corner design, and I love to use these as a corner on my actual photo, or print it out and layer it over a photo in a photo frame and hang it on my wall.

• Printing it out on an ink jet transparency and using it as a rub-on. This technique works great for paper layouts, cards and don’t forget altered projects like frames, tins and more! You can see this technique here in our Scrap Girls University:

  http://www.scrapgirls.com/making_your_own_scrapbooking_rubons.htm

  http://www.scrapgirls.com/tutorial_using_digital_brushes_as_rubons.htm

• Here is another fun article on transparencies in our University: Adding a Gradient Fill to a Transparency. This is great for making your own background papers!

  http://www.scrapgirls.com/adding_a_gradient_to_a_transparency.htm

Using Papers Layered Over Transparencies

As a background, I used the Cream Paper from Day to Day Life Collection Biggie. I dragged and dropped the Day to Day Life Solid Purple Paper over the top of the Beachy Transparency and created a clipping mask (Ctrl+Alt+G). I merged the layers and dragged this onto my background.

I did the same technique with the Day to Day Life Transparency (retired) using the Purple Plaid and Small Square Blue Papers. (It’s a good idea whenever you are altering a paper or transparency to make a duplicate copy, leaving the original intact.)

I cropped the Wide Stripe Day to Day Life Paper to 5x12” and the Solid Purple Paper to 5 ½ x 12” and dragged the Solid Purple under the Wide Stripe lining it up flush with the right side. I added drop shadows to the paper strips and my photo. I added journaling to the Day to Day Life Notepaper Embellishment and cropped. I added embellishments from the Day to Day Life Collection, and, viola, another great use for these versatile transparencies!

Layout by Syndee Nuckles

	Note: Commercial license versions of AMC_Chatty Font and ScrapSimple Transparency Overlays: Beachy are also available.

Syndee Nuckles is a work at home mom to four children ages 6-17. Thankfully, her hubby is very supportive of her digital addiction! Together, they homeschool their kids who are the light, the reason and everything good in their lives.

Digital scrapbooking is...

• Fast.
• Creative.
• Fun.
• And it saves you money.*

Let Scrap Girls show you how surprisingly simple it can be to become a great digital scrapbooker.

* Digital supplies are less expensive to purchase and can be used over and over and over again...

NEW! Discover your hidden scrapbooking talent today! MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop (for versions 6, 7, CS, CS2, CS3) will have you doing the same tricks and knowing the same tips as the professionals! With MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop, you will be creating your own digital elements and enjoying advanced techniques on your digital scrapbooking layouts in no time!

Have a blast doing the more advanced tricks that you see other people and professional digital scrapbookers doing. Learn how with MORE Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop Elements (2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0).

Learn how easy it is to create digital scrapbooking layouts in PSE 6.0 with these easy-to-understand tutorial movies in Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop Elements 6.0 and 7.0.

PSE 5.0 version available here.

PSE 4.0 version available here.

PSE 3.0 (works for 2.0) version available here.

Find out how easy it is to use Photoshop to create digital scrapbooking layouts and edit your photos! Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop. (Versions 6, 7, CS, CS2 and CS3).

Learn how easy it is to create digital scrapbooking layouts with these easy-to-understand tutorial movies for Paint Shop Pro X. (Can be used for PSP XI, too!)

PSP 9 version here.

This great eBook will take digital scrapbookers photos to a new layer. Diane Miller's photographs are amazing and her Photography Simplified eBook shows you how you can get fabulous shots, too!

If you're at all curious about using filters and plug-ins in digital scrapbooking , then The Beginners Guide to Filters and Plug-ins for Photoshop and Photoshop Elements (Windows) is what you need!

Paint Shop Pro version available here.

This ebook was created from the popular online class Creative Brushwork. It is perfect for the scrapbooker who want to go above and beyond basic brushing techniques taught in Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed for Photoshop Elements. Make your layouts shine with the polish that advanced brushwork can bring!

Photoshop version available here.

If you want to take some beginner steps towards improving the type on your layouts, and thereby improving the overall look of your layouts, then this eBook is perfect for you. It's written in a very simple style, focusing on one digitally scrapbooked layout while walking you through ten tips that take type from mundane and awkward to eye-catching and cohesive.

Start to Finish eBooklet - PSE: How to Make a Birthday Scrapbook Page

Nothing could be simpler than learning to scrapbook digitally with Scrap Girls Start to Finish eBooklets. Step by step written guidelines and detailed screenshots will help you learn new digital scrapbooking skills. Included with the eBooklet are the actual digital files you need to create a finished project!

Start to Finish eBooklet - PS: How to Combine ScrapSimple Paper & Photo Templates also available!

Start to Finish eBooklet - PS: How to use ScrapSimple Tools: Custom Shapes & Patterns also available!

Start to Finish eBooklet - PS: The Beauty of Blending Modes: Using them with ScrapSimple Products also available!

Start to Finish eBooklet - PSE: How to Emboss & Texturize with ScrapSimple Templates also available!

Start to Finish eBooklet - PSE: Making a Just Because Card Using ScrapSimple Card Templates also available!

Start to Finish eBooklet - PSE: How to Combine ScrapSimple Paper & Photo Templates also available!

Start to Finish eBooklet - PSE: The Beauty of Blending Modes: Using them with ScrapSimple Products also available!