DHD Mad March Memories Blog Hop

For the first time in a long time, I'm really excited about March Madness because my Murray State Racers have a chance to make some real noise in the big dance! We're making some noise over at Design House Digital this month as well, kicking off our own version of March Madness, digiscrap-style!

The shop has been just overflowing with great products recently, and one that I'm personally excited about is a new one I released last week called See-Throughs.

Essentially, these are 12x12 clipping masks that create a fun peek-a-boo effect on your layout backgrounds. They are an easy way to add an extra bit of pattern to your page, and they can be used in so many different ways.

Here's how to use them: 
NOTE: I am using Photoshop Elements 5.0, so if you are using a newer version of PSE or CS, then things might look a little different, but the steps will essentially be the same. Also, I know that there are multiple options for achieving this same effect -- this is just the way I've always done things. Feel free to share your shortcuts and suggestions in the comments section of this post.

Step 1: Open the See-Through in your program.

Step 2: Select a pattern paper and drag it onto your canvas. Move it to the layer BELOW the See-Through. Resize the patterned paper if necessary.

Step 3: Select a different patterned paper or a solid paper and place on the layer ABOVE the See-Through.

Step 4: "Clip" the second paper to the See-Through by first using the keyboard command CtrlG (Layer > Group with Previous). Then merge the two layers by selecting the keyboard command CtrlE (Layer > Merge layers).

Step 5: Add a drop shadow to the top layer now. Finish off your page by adding photos, embellishments, journaling, and a title. 

credits: star paper from Robyn Meierott's Everyday papers, kraft paper from Robyn Meierotto's Let's Go papers

There are lots of different ways you can modify this product to fit your needs. The masks are easily resizable, so you can clip your photos to them, or cut out portions of them to clip to journaling cards, accent papers, tags, and more. Play around with your background papers too -- use three or four different patterns. Embellish them with stitching, glitter, buttons or brads. You're really limited only by your own creativity. Here's how our Design House Decorators have put them to use on their own layouts.

Katherine

Aria

Celeste

 I'm offering up the See-Through from my tutorial as a freebie for you all; just click on the link below to download it.

Download An-dhd-freebie-seethrough

But wait! That's not all! Hopefully you made your way here from Aria's wonderful blog, which is the 3rd stop on our blog hop. (If you've gotten lost or mixed up, you can always head back to the beginning at the DHD blog.)

If so, then you know that your goal is to gather a letter from each blog post (along with whatever great freebies are available) and then head back to DHD to enter them for a great prize: this gorgeous collab from some of our DHD designers! Plus, you can enter to win a new Wacom tablet (details here).

As one final thank you for being so wonderfully supportive of my designs, I'd like to offer one person a chance to win a $10.00 gift certificate to my shop.  (UPDATE: Winner announced here.) (I've got an awesome collab coming out this week with Robyn Meierotto that you don't want to miss, so a GC sure would be nice to have right now!)

To enter, just leave a comment here on my blog. Want to earn additional chances to win? Here's how:
1) Tweet about the giveaway (with a link to this blog post); come back to the comments and link me up to your tweet.
2) Post about it on your favorite message board; come back to the comments and link me up to your message board post.
3) Share the news on Facebook; come back to the comments and link me up to your status update.
4) Follow me on Twitter and/or like my fan page on Facebook.   

You've got until Wednesday night at midnight CST to comment; I'll use random.org to draw a name on Thursday. After you comment, don't forget to head over to Carey's blog to find your next letter!

Comments

[Mirtabeatriz Esteban]

thank you! love your new templates!

[Mendie]

Yay another cutout! I've been playing with your kit all week!

Thank you!

[Meagan]

sounds like a great collab coming up! Thanks for the freebie. I am going to see if I can make it work for us lowly SBC users.

[Meagan]

I also "liked" your facebook page

[Meagan]

I also shared it on my own facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/meagan.bringino

thanks for the extra chances to win!

[Tiffany]

Those cutouts look fun! Thanks for the chance to win!

[Shelle @ DreamyNest? {not!}*]

Thank you for the cutouts, they're really cool! Thank you for the chance to win. :)

[Deloris]

Love the new cutouts! Thanks for the chance to win!

[Sandy H.]

Thank you so much! I already bought your cut outs, so I look forward to seeing what else you'll have to share in the store. I've shared your site on my FB page!
https://www.facebook.com/sandy.saxtonhenderson

[manda]

Thank you for the chance! I love the cut out templates!

[Tammy Davis]

Thank you for the cutaway! I actually used the chevron cutaway last night in the Speed Scrap! (Daddy's Boy - tlcd1961). Thanks for helping me make a page that I really love! Thanks for the chance to win the gc!

[Tammy Davis]

I liked you on Facebook. Now to try Twitter. I am too new on that one!

[Tammy Davis]

I am now following you on Twitter & I retweeted. I will be glad when I am more comfortable with what I am doing there! Thanks again for the multiple chances to win!

[CraftyLindaAZ]

I'd love to win a gc and excited to see the upcoming collaboration! I'm sure it will be awesome!! Thanks for the freebie.

[Tiffany Rogers]

I liked you on facebook! Thanks for the chance to win!

[Sarah]

Thank you for the freebie and the chance to win a GC!

[anna]

I would love to win!

[anna]

I follow on Twitter

[anna]

I'm a facebook fan

[Teri Owens]

Thanks for the freebie!

[Teri Owens]

I followed you on facebook!

[Teri Owens]

I also followed you on twitter!

[Beatrice]

Thanks so much for the freebie! Love the cutouts.

[jennybean]

Thank you for the freebie!

[Sarah C.]

Fun! Here's my tweet -
https://twitter.com/#!/2pawsdesigns/status/178945625340121089

[Sarah C.]

I follow you on Twitter - @2pawsdesigns

[Sarah C.]

Like your fan page on FB - Sarah Coggins

[JenRay]

Thanks, this looks like fun!

[Lory78]

Thank you !

[kym]

Thanks Audrey! I can't wait to see what you and Robyn come up!

[kym]

I also "like" you!

[Melissa Rhodes]

I bought the kit and thanks for the freebie! I am so excited to use them!

[Melissa Rhodes]

I followed on Twitter and Facebook!

[Melissa Rhodes]

https://www.facebook.com/#!/scraphappyrhodes

I shared on Facebook!

[Melissa Rhodes]

https://twitter.com/#!/scraphappyrhode

i tweeted!

[Margie Visnick]

Thanks for an awesome freebie, and such a fun tutorial!

[Margie Visnick]

I follow you on Twitter

[Margie Visnick]

I retweeted your tweet about the blog hop and giveaway!

[Rachel P]

I love cut out! Thanks for the freebie!

[Wendy]

Thanks for the freebie! I've already made good use of your See Throughs on last night's Speed Scrap. :D

[Wendy]

Liked your Facebook page. :D

[Rebecca]

Thank you! I really adore those cutouts!!

[janfrn]

Audrey, the cutouts are so awesome. My brain is just ticking away coming up with ideas for using them.

[Karen Freeman]

Love to see the collab coming.Thnaks for the chance to win.

[Melanie C]

Thanks so much for the freebie and the tutorial. I bought your other masks this week and LOVE them!

[treasureBachs]

Thanks for the awesome cut out!

[Mandy R]

Thank you! The cutout and tutorial are great.

[Karyn A.]

Thanks for the opportunity and for the freebie. As always - awesome stuff.

[Demetria]

thanks for the awesome addition to the see throughs
Demetria

[Demetria]

following you on twitter @thedigilady and luving you facebook.

thanks for the chance

[Demetria]

facebooked it:
http://www.facebook.com/demetriasw1/posts/244820985612986

thanks for the chance
Demetria

[Demetria]

Retweeted it:
https://twitter.com/#!/audneal/status/178898369257799680

thanks for the chance
Demetria

[Deb]

Love your See Throughs! Can't wait to try them.

[Janneke]

Thanks for a chance to win!

[Janneke]

Following you on Facebook!

[irene]

thank you! love your designs!

[RJ]

Hey There!...

This Is Awesome!

Thanks For The Chance!

Smiles,RJ

[RJ]

Hey There Again!

"Liked" You On Facebook,Too...

Smiles,RJ

[Judy]

Thanks, love the new cut outs.

[Judy]

Facebook fan, Clive Scrap.

[Amber]

Thank you so much for the cut out freebie and for the tutorial as well. Looks like a really fun product!

[Onnila.blogspot.com]

Thank you!

[Cat]

thanks for a great tutorial!

[Sara B]

Thanks for showing how to use your see-throughs. I'm new to digi scrapping so I didn't understand how they worked 'til I reaed your post. :) Thanks for the freebie and giveaway too. :)

[Andrea]

Thanks so much for the chance to win! Great blog hop!

[Tiffany]

Thanks so much for the tutorial, template freebie and a chance to win!

[Tiffany]

I like you on Facebook!

[Jan]

Thanks, you girls are great!

[Candice S. in Colorado]

You are simply awesome! Thank you so much!!! :)

xo,
Candi
candice1973(at)comcast(dot)net

[Candice S. in Colorado]

I am following you on twitter!!!!

xo,
Candi
candice1973(at)comcast(dot)net

[Candice S. in Colorado]

I am now following you on facebook!!! whoohoo!

xo,
Candi
candice1973(at)comcast(dot)net

[flowersgal]

Thanks for the freebie cutout. Looks like fun.

[Darlene]

Thanks for the freebie and tutorial! Can't wait to see the collab!

[Darlene]

I'm follwing you on Twitter! Would love to win :)

[cheryl]

I love the cut outs and thank you for the free one.

[Colleen E]

Thank you for the freebie, I love the cutouts! My favorite page above is the Australia page.

[Jan]

Thanks for the freebee and tutorial!

[Becca Dickson]

Thanks for the freebie! I have the See-Throughs and they are just fabulous! I'm trying to figure out how to incorporate them into my PL layout this week. :) Also- collab with you and Robyn... how fabulous! I am excited! :)

[Becca Dickson]

I follow you on Facebook!

[cheryl]

Following you on Twitter!

[cheryl]

Liked you on your Facebook page!

[Cathy]

Hi Audrey! Can't wait to see the new collab kit!

[Wendy]

Talked about you on Facebook. :D

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1589435191

[Bobbie (aka claysmom)]

Thanks for the letter and the tut!

[cheryl]

Tweeted about the give away!

https://twitter.com/#!/latajava/status/179217833966837763

[Bobbie (aka claysmom)]

Thanks for the freebie and also liked you on facebook

[cheryl]

Talked about you on Facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/callen2571?ref=tn_tnmn

[Tara]

amazing tutorial! I am prety new this this and LOVE the idea!

[Jane D]

I had missed these in the shop but saw several layouts using them on boards last week and thought - what a great idea!! Off to the shop now!

[Pitty Pat]

What a fun trip this is. Thanks...

[Dawn M]

Thank you! Love the new see-throughs! Will be adding them to my cart pronto!

[Emelyn]

Can't wait to play with the se-through!! Thanks so much for all the inspirations!

[Else de Groot]

Where were you for the speed scrap on Saturday I could have used your overlays. I will now go to your store and purchase the ones above just in case!

[LinhC]

Thanks for the freebie. Also, this is another "trick" for me to try!

[Bethany]

wow $10 would be great, thanks for the chance and the great freebie, too

[Bethany]

I posted on Pinterest at http://pinterest.com/pin/71705819037080145/

[Bethany]

I share on my Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003010542715

[Rhadonda]

Thanks so much. These see throughs are awesome.

[Bethany]

and I liked your facebook, too

[Vanessa Austin]

Thank you for the chance!! I LOVE your see throughs!! Way cool!