Sunday, July 13, 2008

Right Size Photos for every Scrapbook Layout

Here's the last of the Willoughby designs I did for the new TAC Inspiration Book. It's a 6x9, which is a fun size, and if you follow my blog, you know I love to scrapbook in a variety of sizes. I especially love making mini scrapbooks.

People often ask me about how I get all the different sizes of photos for my layouts. I'm the kind of person who gets up really close with my camera, so inevitably, faces fill right up a 4x6 print. Some services offer a wallet size, but I'm too thrifty to pay more for prints.

That's when I discovered Shutterfly's free "Studio" software. Download it here. It organizes and enhances your photos like other programs, but the Collage function is really great. You pick a template and just drag and drop pictures into it. When you export the collage as a jpeg it can be printed with your other regular prints. I use the 4x6 template most of the time, so it costs the same as regular pictures.

You can add titles to the collages as well, so I use them for my family blog and even holiday cards. If you've been timid about trying digital scrapbooking, these collages might be a good compromise. I've made little books entirely out of 4x6 collages. They are fast and fun! Check out my Easter one here and my Oblinski books here.

Drop me a line if you have questions or leave a comment with a link to your favorite mini book or scrapbook layout.

All Supplies from The Angel Company: Willoughby paper and cardstock, Willoughby Ribbon, Antique Copper Hardware, Palette Burnt Umber ink, Stamp Sets: Artsy Elements, Decorative Corners.

7 comments:

Angela K said...

Thanks for the photo tips, I will have to try that out! Love you blog, always find something to inspire me, TFS your creativity with all of us!!

Teresa said...

WOW- what a great tip! I use shutterfly but never thought of that- THANKS!!!!

Susan said...

This is the best tip ever! I love the photo collages, but didn't know shutterfly offered a software. I am going to download it now. Thanks so much.

BarbL said...

Jewels - fabulous as always!!
You deserve an award!!
You've been nominated for the Brilliant Weblog Premio 2008.
Barb
http://barbscraftcave.blogspot.com

Dianette Seda said...

Thanks for the link to the program. I've wanted to do this for SOOOOO long and didn't know how to do it!

Anonymous said...

Julie, I was so hoping you would post this tip. You told us about it at Seminar, but I couldn't remember how to do it. Thanks so much!
Leah :)

Emily said...

OMG!!! That is an awsome tip. THANK YOU.