This weekend is {inter} National Scrapbook Day, and to help you with your digital stash the Design House Digital designers are giving away this amazing collaboration kit, called Retrospect:
You can get this kit for free! We have made it easier than getting it download by download...just collect the coupon code letters as you hop from blog to blog starting at the beginning.
Now for a quick tip:
MAKING A PATTERN BRUSH IN ILLUSTRATOR
Just for stopping by, I would like to share one of my most used tools in Illustrator...making dotted and scalloped shapes! I am a "self-taught-project-by-project-Illustrator user", so when Carina Gardner shared this quick tip, I decided I had to pay it forward! I did some crazy time consuming work to get a dotted or scalloped shape for many years, I can't let you do it too!
First make a circle and keep it selected.
Make a new brush by selecting the "new brush" button, and selecting "new pattern brush". Click OK.
The pattern brush options will come up. Change your scale to what you would like. I set this brush to scale - 25%, spacing - 100%. Click ok.
Your brush will appear in the brush pallette. Draw a circle without a fill.
With the new circle selected, click on the new circle brush in the brush palette.
(You can change the spacing and size by double-clicking it in the brush palette, and even see a
preview if the preview box is checked.)
I also made a half circle and did the same steps as before to make a scallop brush.
I wanted my scallops closer together, so my spacing came down to 15%.
Make another non-filled circle and keep it selected.
Select your half circle brush for a scallop edge.
I made another circle and changed the size and spacing for the look I was going for.
This is how my decorative circle turned out. I hope this helps you in your creativity. The possibilities are pretty endless with this little tip! I know it makes my work so much more fun!
Now for something to WIN!:
STARS AND STRIPES FABRIC GIVEAWAY
I know it isn't paper, but wouldn't you love to win some of my Stars and Stripes fabric? Perfect for a picnic quilt to spread out and make some memories to scrap about!
Enter to win your pick of 5 different fat quarters from the Stars and Stripes Fabric Collection by commenting here and telling me the song that reminds you most of SUMMER!!!
You can enter again by becoming a liking the Deena Rutter facebook page and commenting that you did!
Entries must be in by May 7th, 11am MST.
Don't forget to grab your letter, you will need it to get the RETROSPECT kit for FREE!
If you are doing the DHD Layout Challenge, my challenge is to use the font league gothic in your layout.
Now, head over to Carey Bridges blog to get some great info from her as well:
My Summer Song is "All Summer Long" by Kid Rock.
Love your fabric!
Posted by: cheryl | May 03, 2012 at 11:02 AM
stars and stripes forever! summer feels so patriotic to me.
Posted by: Michelle Omer | May 03, 2012 at 11:22 AM
And I already liked you on facebook
Posted by: Michelle Omer | May 03, 2012 at 11:23 AM
Maybe because I'm listening to NSR on my computer at the moment but "No shoes, no shirt, no problems" by Kenny Chesney always makes me feel good and summery.
Posted by: DoggiNo | May 03, 2012 at 11:26 AM
way cute fabric! what time is it...the song from high school musical 2! we love those movies!
Posted by: alicia king | May 03, 2012 at 12:21 PM
I would love to win this! My favorite song of summer hmmm is "La Bamba" - Los Lobos
Posted by: Jennyfer | May 03, 2012 at 12:51 PM
LOVE the collab and your design work so much!!! Thanks so much for the chance to win this awesome fabric!
Posted by: Arielle | May 03, 2012 at 12:58 PM
My guys make me listen to country music so my choice is Mayberry by Rascal Flatts
Posted by: carol barol | May 03, 2012 at 01:18 PM
thanks for the Illustrator tips :)
Posted by: Janka | May 03, 2012 at 01:23 PM
Great tips! I did not know that at all :D
My fave summer song is Soak Up the Sun by Sheryl Crow
Posted by: Maria | May 03, 2012 at 01:26 PM
I LOVE those fabrics!!!
The song that most reminds me of summer is any song by the Beach Boys, but Surfin' USA is probably tops of that list.
Posted by: Liz J | May 03, 2012 at 01:45 PM
Love the fabric! I like the Beach Boy songs that talk about summer in California and about the beautiful beaches.
Posted by: Deb C. | May 03, 2012 at 02:53 PM
I already like you on FB!
Posted by: Sandy H. | May 03, 2012 at 02:53 PM
Rod Stewart-Some Guys (Have All the Luck)--it reminds me of my freshman summer term away from home.
Posted by: Sandy H. | May 03, 2012 at 02:56 PM
Beautiful fabric! Thanks for the chance to win! The song that reminds me most of summer is "Summertime" by Gershwin.
Posted by: Amber | May 03, 2012 at 03:35 PM
I liked you on Facebook!
Posted by: Amber | May 03, 2012 at 03:36 PM
I like the song "Summertime" by Will Smith!! Would love to win some fat quarters ... they look great!
Posted by: missyb | May 03, 2012 at 04:04 PM
I would have to say the sing along songs that are sung around a campfire. Those always remind me of summer.
Posted by: LeeAnn | May 03, 2012 at 05:53 PM
I posted on Facebook.
Posted by: LeeAnn Snare | May 03, 2012 at 05:54 PM
I have subscribed to your blog
Posted by: LeeAnn | May 03, 2012 at 05:57 PM
A song that reminds me most of summer is Commodore's EASY (easy like a Sunday morning...). It reminds me of a summer spent painting my bedroom while listening to this album.
Posted by: LindaHagerty | May 03, 2012 at 10:49 PM
Well, you'll know how old I am, but I would say there are several Beach Boys songs that remind me of summer activities. I guess California Girls and Good Vibrations come to mind first. And that's a great fabric line!
Posted by: Bonnie | May 04, 2012 at 08:46 AM
Oh no! Now I have "Summer Nights" by John Travolta and Olivia Newton John in my head! Grease is my sister's fave movie, so we watched, listened and sang along almost daily when we were younger! Ahh, those where the days! No, not of singing along, but as KIDS! Great memories!
Posted by: Melinda T | May 04, 2012 at 11:38 AM
I like you on fb!
Posted by: Melinda T | May 04, 2012 at 11:39 AM
I like you on Facebook!
Posted by: Wendy | May 04, 2012 at 03:14 PM