Have you made a custom header for your Facebook timeline?

It’s quite easy to do and it makes your Facebook timeline look a bit more unique than just using a photo like everyone else does.

Here’s how you do it.

Fundamentally your header is just a specialised digital scrapbook layout. You just need to remember that your Facebook photo will overlap on the bottom left hand corner so you need to design your header allowing for that.

The other thing you need to remember is that there’s not a lot of space available so I suggest you keep your design simple  and relatively uncluttered. Here’s mine so you can see what I mean.

I made this using The Garden Party Mega Kit. And you are welcome to use the kit to design your own headers (I’d appreciate it if you would give Scraps of Mind a credit on your page) as long as it’s for a personal header and not for a commercial one.

If you have a graphic editing software program such as Photoshop Elements…

1. Create a new file 860 x 300 pixels and 72 dpi resolution
2. Choose the digital scrapbook elements you want to use for your header and open them into your graphics editing program.
3. Drag them onto your header file and arrange to form your design. Note: because we’re working in such a low resolution your elements will be a lot bigger than your file and you’ll need to drag them smaller to fit on your header.
4. When you’re happy with your design save your file (choose the Save for the Web option)
5. Note the folder where you are saving it to so that you can find it when you upload it onto your Facebook Timeline.
6. Now open your Facebook Timeline in your browser and click on Change Cover then choose Upload Photo.
7. Select your header file from the folder where you stored it.
8. Your header should fit snugly into the available Facebook space.

If you don’t have a graphic editing software program…

If you don’t want to invest in a full sized graphics editing program there are a number of other more simple options available to you. I recommend the My Memories Suite as worthy of consideration.

It’s easy to use (especially if you’re not familiar with digital scrapbooking) and low cost. You can read my review of My Memories Suite here.

And when you use my special code  you get an even better bargain.

All you need to do is paste my special Scraps of Mind promotion code into the Promo Code box in the shopping cart

and you’ll get a whopping $10 discount of f the price of your My Memories Suite

PLUS you’ll get a $10 gift certificate to spend in their store.

So click here to go to My Memories Suite

And paste this code into the Promo Code box to get your Scraps of Mind Discount:

STMMMS70328

And here’s how to create your Facebook Header with My Memories Suite

1. Open your My Memories Suite software and  create a new album and choose design your own.
2. Then choose the ›Custom Size tab in the middle of the screen.
3. You can set the size by inches or pixels. For your Facebook Header choose 860 x 300 pixels.
4. Add whatever content you want, including papers, pictures, text and embellishments.
5. Finally, click on Share Album in far right column and select Export
6. In the Export Wizard, make sure that the image type is jpeg and the image size is the size you chose for your header and click finish
7. Now open your Facebook Timeline in your browser and click on Change Cover then choose Upload Photo.
8. Select your header file from the folder where you stored it.
9. Your header should fit snugly into the available Facebook space.

Blog banners

And you can use these methods for creating your own blog headers too.

Just change the size of the file you’re creating. Usually a Blogger header is around 1000×300 pixels and a WordPress header is 904×160 pixels.

So now there’s nothing stopping you from having a beautiful custom designed header on your Facebook Timeline or your Blog. Have fun with this and let me know how you go.

And if you think this is a good idea please share it with your Facebook friends or share the link to this article on your blog.

Scraps Of Mind - All about scrapbokking, digital scrapbooking and hybrid scrapbooking

I have been having mojo issues off and on for some time now.

But it’s been a particular struggle in the last few months.

I don’t have any particular reason to offer… unless you count my addiction/obsession with Castleville on Facebook as a reason. But there is it is; creativity brick wall.

So this post is for all of you who are having similar creativity brain blocks.

Here are some articles I’ve written on ideas that might help you to get firing on all cylinders again.

When Your Mojo is No-Go

10 Top Ways to Rekindle your Scrapbooking Inspiration

How to beat Scrappers Block

10 Speedy Scrapbook Ideas

And for me?

Well I’m going to start making some Christmas cards!

Yes I realise Christmas is over half a year away but I think it’s a gentle way to try and ease back into the creative stream again. Christmas cards aren’t too demanding and I have plenty of stamps and embellishments etc. to get me started.

But most of all – I don’t feel pressured to make the perfect card.

I’ll be making over 50 cards so I can try different things and different techniques or do a bunch of simple cards all the same. No pressure.

So wish me and my missing mojo luck.

And please let me know in the comments section below if you have any mojo generating ideas of your own that we can share.

Scraps Of Mind - All about scrapbokking, digital scrapbooking and hybrid scrapbooking

If you’re a writer and you can’t come up with the right words to get started on that blank sheet of (virtual) paper it’s called Writers Block.

And if you’re a scrapbooker and you just can’t seem to get any ideas to get you started on that next scrapbook layout it’s called Scrappers Block.

And let’s face it, we’ve all experienced it. I defy any scrapbooker to tell me they’ve never had Scrappers Block at some time in their scrapbooking life. But if you’re that person feel free to share in the comments section below. I’ll happily bow down to you. My friend Antoinette is going through a severe case of mojo collapse at the moment and that has inspired me to write this post.

So getting past your Scrappers Block and into the land of free flowing creative juices is the challenge. And here are some ideas you might like to try to help you smash through the block.

1. Take a browse through your scrapbook albums. A stroll down memory lane will not only help to relax your mind but it rekindle your enthusiasm, and hopefully your creativity, as you revisit some of your favourite moments and scrapbook layouts.
2. Take a browse through someone else’s scrapbook albums. Check out your friend’s scrapbook layouts. Some may just reach out to you and plant little seeds in your creative mind. And if you don’t have a handy scrapbooking friend to turn to you can always turn to the Internet. Many scrapbooking sites host layout galleries and scrapbooking blogs like this one are a great place for creative information. You can check out all the Scraps of Mind articles which feature a scrapbook layout here.
3. Scrapbook magazines can also provide a wealth of ideas. You can relax your mind as you flick through them and see what you’re drawn to. Try not to be too focused as this can inhibit your creative side from being receptive to any ideas.
4. Try looking at magazine advertising with new eyes. Some of the best graphic layout artists around are behind the design and layout of the advertisements that you see in your magazines. Try looking at some which catch your eye and think how they might be adapted to make a scrapbook layout. The scrapbook layout on the left is an example of how I have used this scrapbooking blocker buster.
5. Learn a new technique. Often I find that the inspiration for a new scrapbook layout design will come from learning how to do something new and then building the design around the new thing I’ve just learned. You’ll find plenty of ideas on Scraps of Mind. Just check out the Articles tab at the top of the page. And if you’re a digital scrapbooker (or would like to become one) take a look at my Step by Step Digital Scrapbook Tutorials. There is something for everyone from Beginner to Advanced.
6. Make a card or an ATC. Working with a smaller canvas and without a focal photo will give your creative brain a different direction. And once you’re in the creative mode again it’s much easier to come up with ideas for your scrapbook layout.

All of these ideas have one thing in common: move away from trying to force your way through Scrappers Block and move your mind to a more relaxed state by taking the pressure off. It’s hard to be creative when you feel you’re under pressure.

And if all else fails, give yourself a break. Sometimes just going away and throwing yourself into doing something else, even if it’s something like cleaning out the linen cupboard, can provide your brain with the break it needs to enable it to be receptive to creative ideas again.

Do you have any particular things that you do to break through Scrappers Block? I’d love you to share them with us in the comments below. After all it’s something we all suffer with from time to time. So all ideas are welcome.

And if you enjoyed this article please share the link with your scrapbooking friends and click the Facebook Like button. Or maybe give it a thumbs up on Stumbleupon.

Other related Articles:

Madison Avenue Scrapbooking

ATC Swaps

Try some Repetition in your Scrapbook Layouts

Scraps Of Mind - All about scrapbokking, digital scrapbooking and hybrid scrapbooking

I’ve written before about AZZA scrapbooking. You might remember it’s a European style of scrapbooking which uses very few embellishments. The design of the AZZA scrapbook layout is based on creatively cropping your photos.

To do this you often have to buy special AZZA scrapbooking templates which you can place over your photos to help you cut them into the design you want. And these templates can be quite expensive.  Plus, let’s face it, you don’t want all your scrapbook layouts to have the same look to them, so you’ll need to buy quite a few templates to give yourself a variety of choice.

But there’s actually another way you can do this.

I’ve been using the AZZA scrapbooking style to create a digital scrapbook album of a trip I took a couple of years ago. And it lends itself brilliantly to digital scrapbooking.

But if you’re a paper scrapbooker you can use this idea too.

Make your own AZZA scrapbook templates.

Now if you have a photo editing software program such as Photoshop Elements (or Paintshop Pro, or Photoshop or any of the other programs that let you work with layers) you can do this easily:

1. Open a file in your editing program that’s the same size as your scrapbook page. I suggest you make the resolution 200-300 pixels per inch for good quality printing. I usually go for 300ppi.
2. Now create a new blank layer and fill it with a color. The color doesn’t matter so any one will do.
3. Go to you cookie cutter tool and select a shape that you want to use for your AZZA design. It might be a diamond, a star, a hexagon. Whatever.
4. Drag the cursor across your colored layer and release when it’s the sort of size you want.
5. Now you can duplicate the layers; move the shapes around; change some of the sizes on the shapes; or follow the above steps to add a complementary shape and just play around until you have a design that you like.
6. So now you bring your photos on to the file and position each photo layer directly over a shape. You can do this by dragging the layers around in the Layers Palette
7. Go to the Opacity Slider in the Layers Palette and reduce the opacity of the photo so you can see the shape behind it.
8. You can drag the photo to reduce its size so it better fit the shape you have created or you can position it so your crop only includes what you want.
9. When you’re happy with the positioning of your photo bring the opacity back up to 100%.
10. Now click on the photo layer in the Layers Palette and crop it to the shape underneath it using the clipping mask. Ctrl+E should do it. If you’ve made a mistake just Ctrl+Z will step you back.

Now all you have to do is print out your pre-shaped photos and cut them out. I suggest you open a new file in a paper size that your printer accepts (eg. A4 or Letter) and the same resolution as your other file. And then drag your shaped photos onto it, print (best quality) on good photo paper and cut out.

Job done.

By shaping your photos this way you can create as many different shaped templates as you like at no cost. Plus you can make sure that you get the best parts of your photos into the shapes regardless of the size.

And if you save each template as a layered file then you can use them and modify them over and over again.

If you need some extra help in creating your own digital templates pop over to Step by Step Digital Scrapbooking and check out Intermediate Tutorial 11 (you’ll find it at the bottom of the page). This tutorial will show you how to do a number of  techniques including how to make a digital template using one of your favorite scrapbook layouts as a base.

Other related articles:

Azza Scrapbooking

Create Word Art Yourself

How to Digital Scrapbook – from Soup to Nuts

Scraps Of Mind - All about scrapbokking, digital scrapbooking and hybrid scrapbooking

I was talking with my sister at the weekend and she shared this great budget scrapbooking tip with me.

Both of us make greeting cards and love messing around with stamps, embossing powder and paints and chalks.

Anyway my sister had made this card for a friend’s 50^th birthday. She’d used some chalk to color in a background and it came up with a nice soft mottled effect. But if you’ve ever used chalk on your cards or scrapbook layouts you’ll know how messy things can get. Every time you touch your card you end up with chalk all over your hands.

When it’s only in a small area I find that pressing down with a clean sheet of paper helps to set. But for a large area, such as a background that’s just not going to be enough.

Now you can buy spray cans of fixative that will do the job. But they usually come in larger cans than you need and are fairly pricey unless you’re going to use them a lot.

But here’s a budget scrapbook idea that you can find on your bathroom shelf.

Hairspray is the answer!

Just give your chalked area a light spray with your can of hairspray and set it aside to dry for half an hour.

One thing you do need to watch out for though. The hairspray will have a strong smell. It’s a good idea not to use it on the same day that you’re intending to give the card to your recipient. Leaving the project out in the air overnight will dissipate the smell and then you’re good to go.

Other sort-of similar articles you might enjoy

Hybrid Scrapbooking a 50^th Birthday Card

Digital Scrapbooking on a budget

Tips for making your own embellishments

Scraps Of Mind - All about scrapbokking, digital scrapbooking and hybrid scrapbooking

Scrapbooking embellishments can be used in many different ways. You don’t need to stick just to the purpose for which they were designed.

This applies to both digital scrapbooking elements as well as traditional scrapbook embellishments. Although with digital scrapbook elements you can get lots of extra mileage because you can duplicate an element as many times as you want.

Let’s take a look at a few of the ways you might use your embellishments to create different elements.

Frames

Although frames exist as scrapbooking elements in their own right, you can create your own frames by grouping other elements around your photo. This works especially well with flowers or ribbons but you can use pretty much any small sized element to do this. Digital scrapbooking makes your choice even wider as you can easily reduce the size of an element to however small you want it and then duplicate it as many times as you need to.

But if you’re a traditional paper scrapbooker try surrounding your photo with small flowers and leaves for a beautiful Spring-looking frame. Or a collection of buttons mounted around the photo makes another striking frame.

Borders

You can make borders out of pretty much any element you want to as long as you have enough of them to line up across your page. Borders made from unexpected scrapbook elements can be great for making a statement or reinforcing the theme of your scrapbook layouts. In the scrapbook layout on the right (making this layout is demonstrated in Step by Step Digital Scrapbook Advanced Tutorial 7) I’ve used a wreath element combined with a bow element to create a border which echoes the woodland theme of the scrapbook layout.

Flowers

Flowers are a wonderful addition to most scrapbook layouts. And you can design your own easily by combining other elements together. Heart shaped elements positioned in a circle with their points to the centre form a terrific base for a flower design. You can layer a circle of smaller hearts on top and finish off with a fancy brad or a button. And you have a unique flower that no one else has got.

Matts

You can make photo matts out of so many things. Try collecting all your ribbon scraps and weaving them together to form a matt for your photo or for your journaling tag. You can do the same with left over strips of cardstock and patterned paper.

Old CDs can make very cool photo matts for teen scrapbook layouts. Even a torn sheet of lined notepaper can look good as a matt for your photo. Just remember that most lined notepaper is not acid free and over time it may degrade your photo so be a bit careful if you choose this or use a protective spray.

Backgrounds

Why not try making your own backgrounds? Something I like to do is to blow up a photo and print it in black and white or sepia on a large sheet of paper. use that as your background and place smaller photos on top. I use this technique both with digital scrapbook layouts and also with paper ones.

And another very good look is to stick several strips of the same ribbon across plain or lightly patterned paper to make a textured stripy background.

Photo Corners

There are heaps of different things you use to make photo corners.  A couple of short strips of ribbon across one or two corners of your photo can make a very effective accent. Even the humble strip of masking tape can be a great grungy looking photo corner. Just watch out for the acid free thing again here.

Groups of three brads or buttons in a corner of the photo make a simple but striking photo corner accent.

Once you get started combining your scrapbook elements in different ways you’ll come up with lots of ideas of your own which will help you get even more use out of them. And it’s fun to create something that looks so good and that someone else hasn’t done exactly that way before.

Making your own scrapbook elements is very satisfying.  Plus I find that this can be a good way to kick start my mojo if I’m feeling a bit creatively sluggish. Developing an idea for creating a new scrapbook layout element can lead me onto designing the layout based on that idea.

So how about you? Do you have any favourite ideas for using scrapbook elements in a ‘non-standard’ way. Please share in the comments below. Like everyone else I’m always eager to hear new ideas.

Other roughly related Articles:

How to Digital Scrapbook – From Soup 2 Nuts

AZZA Scrapbooking

10 Speedy Scrapbooking Ideas

Scraps Of Mind - All about scrapbokking, digital scrapbooking and hybrid scrapbooking

Digital Scrapbook Freebie time again

If you live in the Northern Hemisphere then you’re probably celebrating the arrival of Spring by now. We in the Southern half of the globe are settling into Autumn of course, and in Australia we managed to dispense with Summer altogether this year; especially in the southern states.

Anyhoo, let’s stay focussed on Spring. I’m looking forward to coming over to Europe in a few weeks to sample some of your northern Spring weather. So if any of you have influence in high places, please put in a good word for excellent weather throughout May across the UK, Ireland, The Netherlands and Northern Italy.

And to help things along and set the mood here are some Spring quotes for your scrapbook layouts and cards. And some word art digital scrapbooking freebies for you too. Just right mouse click on the word art image and select Save File As… or Save Target As…

Hope you enjoy them.

Other related articles you might like to explore:

How to Download and install free fonts

How to Digital Scrapbook – from Soup 2 Nuts

Create Word Art Yourself

If you found this article useful please share it with your friends on Facebook, Twitter and wherever you hang out online.  Or give it a thumbs up on Stumbleupon. Thank you muchly.

Scraps Of Mind - All about scrapbokking, digital scrapbooking and hybrid scrapbooking

We all get those ‘no mojo’ days don’t we? Hey sometimes it’s more like ‘no mojo’ weeks even.

So here are ten speedy scrapbooking ideas which I hope will intrigue and inspire you and maybe just kick start that mojo again.

1. Attach a transparent sheet over your photo with a couple of brads and doodle onto the sheet with marker pens to dress up your photo without accidentally ruining it.
2. Layer a couple of scrap ends from your ribbons over each other at right angles to make funky casual photo corners. You can dress them up even more with brads or flowers to make a great corner accent for your photo.
   

   This scrapbook layout is from the Step by Step Digital Scrapbook Intermediate Tutorial 5

3. Let your journaling flow onto your photos where there is a blank space on the photo. This will help to anchor both the journaling and the photo.
4. Use your computer to create unique and funky titles instead of buying alphabets. If you have photo editing software you can apply interesting styles and filters to the letters but even in Word you can dress them up or use the Word Art feature. Print out your title and add embellishments and you’re done. It’s best to choose a chunky style font for your titles. Check out my Downloading and Installing Fonts video to show you how easy it is to get a collection of free fonts.
5. Use your kids words to create the inspiration for your scrapbook layout. Ask them what their memories of an event were and use their words as your title to create your journaling.
6. Make your own rub-ons by printing your design onto a transparent sheet using your home computer. You can read how to do it here.
7. Make the key words and phrases in your journaling stand out to add visual interest and emphasis. If you print your journaling use the bold feature on your key words or change the font and font-size for those words. If you hand write your journaling choose a different color for your key words or print them in upper case. You can use a highlighter to make them stand out and even a simple underline will add emphasis.
   

   This Scrapbook layout is from Step by Step Digital Scrapbook Tutorials - Intermediate 6

8. Run a piece of sand paper lightly over the top of embossed paper to make the pattern really stand out. It also gives the paper a slightly vintage or grungy look.
9. Make multiple copies of your focal photo and fan them out slightly behind it. This makes a lovely matt to frame your photo. It looks good if you print the matt photos in monochrome and leave the top one in color.
10. Try out a completely different style of scrapbooking than you’re used to. If you’re a simple scrapbooker try using lots of embellishments, If you’re a collage scrapbooker try making a minimalist layout. If you usually only use one photo on a scrapbook layout try making one with multiple photos. I became interested in the AZZA scrapbooking style and tried out making an album of a trip down the Rhine River using this style. I found focussing on learning a new scrapbooking style really helped me kick off my mojo meltdown.

Scraps Of Mind - All about scrapbokking, digital scrapbooking and hybrid scrapbooking

Give the Gift of Creativity.

Want to give something a bit different this Christmas?

Something a bit special.

Why not give the Gift of Creativity to your Mom or someone else special to you.

Step by Step Digital Scrapbook  is a ‘soup to nuts’ digital scrapbooking course which will take the happy recipient of your gift from absolute beginner to advanced digital scrapbooker in 25 easy lessons.

You’ll get 50 videos (2 per lesson) which will take you by the hand and guide you easily through all the tricks and techniques to creating your own fantastic, unique and super-personal digital scrapbook layouts in Photoshop Elements. And these special creations can then be easily shared with all your family and friends.

As well, each lesson comes with a full sized complementary digital scrapbooking kit which includes all the elements that are used in making the demonstration scrapbook layout as well as many more so that you can customize and personalize your own versions.

Plus you’ll get a Techniques Sheet which you can print out and keep handy as you create your own digital scrapbook layouts .

When you purchase this Special Christmas Gift you’ll also get this Gift Card which you can print out and give to your Special Someone.

Each of these tutorials sell for $4.50 when purchased individually but if you purchase the whole course before 24 December 2010 you can get them for the Super Christmas Gift Price of $89.00

On Christmas Day the price will bounce right back to $112.50.

Don’t miss out because the price will definitely be going back up again on Christmas Day.

Scraps Of Mind - All about scrapbokking, digital scrapbooking and hybrid scrapbooking

Ribbons can be one of the most challenging areas of your stash to apply some scrapbook organization to.

As scrapbookers we love our ribbons. I know I certainly do. And trying to keep them organized as well as being able to see what I’ve got when I want it has long been a challenge for me. And they’re so pretty that I like to have them on display to brighten my scrapbooking space.

In my previous article on Scrapbook Organization on a Budget I suggested a few ideas for how you might store your ribbons. And here are two more really fun things you can try which’ll look great in your scrapping space.

Scrapbook Organization for Ribbons 1

For this scrapbook organization idea you will need a shoebox.

Paint or cover the box and lid with pretty paper to decorate. I painted mine and stamped some butterflies to decorate it.

Using  the pointy blades of some scissors or other sharp implement and a great deal of care, punch a row of holes in one of the long sides of the box,  about an inch apart and about an inch from the bottom.

Now punch a second row an inch above the first and stagger the holes so that they fall between the first row.

Repeat for a third row , creating a sort of diamond pattern of holes. And if you have enough room you can do a fourth row. You need to make sure that there is enough room for the lid to go on the box without covering up any holes.

Now you can take all your bits of thin ribbon (usually the bits that are about 1-2 metres) and poke them through the holes where they can easily be seen and pulled out when needed.

I made some of the holes in my box a little wider on a couple of rows so that I could store medium width ribbons too.

Scrapbook Organization for Ribbons 2

This one is more complicated than the previous scrapbook organization idea but it does make a very pretty presentation for your favorite ribbon spools.

This also requires a shoe box.

Leaving the lid to one side, paint it or cover the storage part of the box in paper to dress it up. On mine I’ve done both. Make sure you paint or line the inside too.

Now, using some polystyrene foam or other substance you can cut to shape, cut two or three thin wedge shapes that are one inch shorter than the inside of the box from the edge to the base. Position against the inside of the box with the thin edge pointing to the back. Glue in place.

Cut off one of the long edges of the lid and trim so that it fits inside the box, up against the wedges. Cover with matching paper or paint and glue in place.

Cut a strip from the main part of the lid that will sit over the wedges and overhang the trim you have just glued in place. Cover in matching paper or paint and glue onto the wedges so that it slopes down to the back of the box.

You can now line up your favorite spools of ribbon on this ‘shelf’ where they will be handy and look good too. The angle of the shelf will keep them in place and stop them from rolling out of your storage box.

Bonus Scrapbooking Organization Ideas

As you can see in the comments below, reader Sue has a couple of ideas for organizing her ribbons which are really cool. She’s sent in the pics to share with us.

Don’t they make a beautiful display? And I really really like this one below using one of those undies drying racks. Big thanks to Sue for these ideas.

Are these ideas something that you might try?

Or have you got some other scrapbooking organization ideas for storing your ribbons?

Let us know in the comments section below. Sharing ideas is what Scraps of Mind is all about so I’d love to hear yours.

More Scrapbooking Organization Articles:

Spring Clean Your Digital Scrapbooking Stash

Scrapbooking Organization on a Budget

7 Top Scrapbook Organization Tips

Scraps Of Mind - All about scrapbokking, digital scrapbooking and hybrid scrapbooking