Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Shadow Box digi "Layout"

Here is something I have had in the works for a day or so. Actually, it's sort of the backup of what I intended to create, but I really like the end result.

The story behind the creation of this is kind of convoluted, and those who know me will probably chuckle as I explain. You all know how I have fallen in love with Kay Miller Designs and Nitwitcollections. I recently started checking out the combined gallery they have for layouts using either or both designer's products. (The designers are good friends). WEEEEEELLLLLL...one of the layouts posted was a shadow box showcasing Nitwit Collection items. I thought the layout was adorable and I wanted to try my hand at it. But I had to find that shadow box. So, I tried searching for the designer (Raechel Knight). Found her blog and found the store where she sells her products. But the only shadowbox I saw was used to showcase the product. Nowhere did it say that the box came with the item. I tried emailing her, but to date haven't gotten a response. I tried finding an email for the creator of the layout posted in the gallery, but none was listed. I ended up posting a second comment under the layout asking the creator if she'd be willing to contact me with where she got the shadowbox. In the meantime, I even posted on the Jessica Sprague message boards and got a couple of responses for products that were open boxes (although not what I was specifically looking for...cool enough for me to purchase). The gal who created the layout I liked DID email me! But the shadowbox was only available if you were a paid subscriber to the site. The cost was reasonable, so I signed up for a month (and have access to lots of downloads) grabbed the file for the shadow box.

At the same time, there was a new challenge posted on the Spraground (as the girlfriends are now calling Jessica's website) using a 9 square grid to create a layout. I wanted to try the challenge, and decided to use the boxes I just picked up (not the shadow box, since it's not a grid). I wanted to practice extractions as well. So that is what I worked on most of today. It was looking okay, my extractions were fine, but I couldn't get the shadowing to look right. Just as I was going to save my work....I shifted in my seat and my shoe hit the reset button on my computer! (can we say a collective OOOOOOOHHHHHHH NNNNNNOOOOOOO). Sigh....I had worked painstakingly on the extractions...and they were gone. I was disheartened to say the least and also kicking myself for not saving two minutes earlier. Since I wasn't liking my shadows anyway (something I will need to figure out) I decided to go for plan B, which was to create something using the shadowbox.

You still with me? :o) Thanks, if you are!

Now, after all that, here's the layout...



I used the shadowbox from Raechel Knight, from a subscription program at Scrapbook-Bytes.

The papers and elements are from a huge collaboration effort by Mary Fran at Nitwit and Kay Miller. The whole kit is called Happily Ever After and there are several components one can purchase. I used things from several of the components.

Whew! A lotta work went into getting this end result. I did learn a few things, not the least of which is to save more often. Yes, I know I should and usually I'm good about it, but I was engrossed in making my extractions look better. (paperscrappers-this would be the equivalent of cutting out only the person or object you want from a picture... a silhouette I think it's called). I know how to do the extraction now, even though I ended up NOT using any in this layout, so that's good. And as I said, I really DO like how this came out.

Thanks for reading if you got this far!!!!

10 comments:

Erica said...

oooh, lala! That is very cool...I like the shadow box. I just printed off 6 layouts last week @ a local print shop. $5 per page...still probably cheaper than traditional scrappin!

Kathi Carlson said...

OMG . . . I am thinking this is a wood box. Having dabbled in Fimo clay, I'm thinking those little figures are cute, particularly the dragon. I read everything you wrote and still didn't catch on that this is a layout - a VERY cute layout. And extractions? Only at the dentist's office. Now that it has all sunk in, I love everything about this! Amazing.

Kim Burmeister said...

OMGosh! This is so stinkin' cute! I really appreciate your digital layouts. I went to the site you posted a couple of weeks ago and looked into it, because I would love to make my own blog banners. Holy Moly! It is so complicated! I gave up and just changed the picture on my site. You do a great job and now I really know how gifted you are. Thanks!

Inky hugs!

Dawn said...

Looks great!!!! love Scrpbook-Bytes! Isn't all of this so much fun!!
dewnie

Felicia Fernandez said...

Oh, you poor thing. I'm sorry to hear you lost your work, but hey at least it's good practice. My packers are coming tomorrow and I've packed all my papers and ink pads and other stuff, again, so they won't mess any of it up. Just a few more days and I can relax!

Carol said...

Wow Jeanne that was a lot work you have had to do for this layout but so worth it. The layout is absolutely gorgeous.
I will have to go check out Scrapbook-Bytes.
Carol :-)

Angela2932 said...

This is beautiful, Jeanne! Oh, I'm so glad to hear I'm not the only one who can get almost tunnel vision and absorbed in digiscrapping for hours! It can be such a guilty pleasure! I'm going to have to check out your references for Scrapbook Bytes!

Jackie said...

Great job....love that shadowbox....

Jackie said...

oh ps...love nitwit too.....great stuff

Jackie said...
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