One of the best parts about writing posts here at The Daily Digi is the opportunity to teach a new trick or skill to help someone feel more comfortable with digital scrapbooking. I (Katie) love those “AHA!” moments that come when you learn something new, and it is such a great feeling when you try it out for yourself and it actually works!

I remember feeling mystified by brushes. I didn’t know what they were, and I really did not understand why I would want to use them. Now I even know how to make my own brushes! I thought it would be fun to show you how to turn a .png file image into a brush and explain why you would want to do that. Before I begin, here are a few previous posts on brushes that will be helpful to review:

• Brush Basics
• Brushes – Beyond the Basics

Let’s get started on making a .png file into a brush. You will need a photo editing program that supports brush (abr.) format. Photoshop Elements, Photoshop, and Paint Shop Pro are all good examples of programs that work with brushes. I currently use Photoshop Elements 7 so I will show you the steps in that program.

I am going to use a piece of word art from the Family Ties kit by Kristin Cronin-Barrow

Open the .png file you want to use in Photoshop Elements

Go to “Edit” then select “Define Brush”

I keep the name of the brush the same name as the file. My program automatically chooses that name for me.

Select OK to keep the name. Repeat this process with the other files you want to include in the brush set (I could do this with all word art in this kit if I wanted to). After the set is made go to “Edit” and select “Preset Manager”

Select all the brushes you want to include in the brush set by clicking on each one while holding the shift key at the same time (this is the way to select multiple files at once in many programs). Then choose “Save Set” and name your set accordingly. I used the name of the designer and kit.

At this point you will need to close Photoshop Elements and reopen it to fully load the brushes.

Here’s the layout I want to use the brush on

Still using the kit by Kristin. Template is by Yin.

With that layout open in Photoshop Elements select the brush tool from the left sidebar menu (toward the bottom right below the pink eraser). After selecting the brush tool, you will see the brush selection window visible in the options bar on the top of the screen.

Click on the arrow next to the top brush selection window in the options bar and find the brush you have created. Then just click on it and click on the area of your project where you want the brush.

For this layout, I just used the brush on the standard settings, except that I adjusted the size of the brush in the slider on the options bar. This is where you can have all sorts of fun so feel free to play around and try different modes and opacity settings.

And don’t worry if you “mess up” – just click on this little black triangle in the very top left corner to reset the tool.

Why use brushes?

• Brushes give your page a hand-stamped look
• Brushes can soften up a background, create a journaling space, or add visual interest and texture to a layout.
• There are loads of options for customizing brushes with different settings for many creative variations.
• Brushes are loaded right into your program so they are easier and quicker to find than looking through several files in your stash.

Have fun making and using brushes from .png files!

Many of our readers mentioned that they hope to start or keep a blog this year so they can share their projects such as Photo 365. Having a blog is a wonderful way to document the ongoing events and memories in daily life, and it comes in very handy later on when you are ready to recap those experiences on a scrapbook page. Last week in the first episode of the Paperclipping Roundtable podcast guest Stacy Julian talked about how there are many forms of scrapbooking these days (including blogging), and that every one of them “counts” (love that!) Blogging is simply another way to record your life experiences, and that certainly is an important form of memory keeping.

I (Katie) have been blogging nearly every single day since October of 2005, and now I’m a regular blogger here at The Daily Digi as well. I have discovered a lot of useful tips along the way to help me become a better blogger. Whether you are a long time veteran of the blog world, or you are hoping to start one in the future, I’m sure you will find something helpful in this post.

Getting Started:

• Find a site to host your blog. I would suggest you start with a free site like blogger to get the hang of it, unless you know you are opening a business related blog. Then you might want to hire some help getting a blog set up through wordpress or typepad that will integrate directly in with your own website. I have used all 3 of those services and feel comfortable recommending any of them. There are a lot of other options out there as well so you may want to do search on “blog hosts” if you are looking for something different.
• Decide on a purpose and a name for your blog. Of course you can change this later one if you want (it’s your blog) but it’s helpful to have an audience and a general direction in mind from the start. If the blog is for family and select friends then you are fine to keep your posts centered around the daily thoughts and doings of your life. If you are hoping for a larger audience, you will find more success in having a broader topic as well such as; reading, crafting, scrapbooking, baking, history, traveling, etc. Are you hoping to make money on your blog? (it’s not easy to do that!) Or do you just want a forum for sharing ideas and connecting with others. These are things to consider.
• Have a privacy plan. These tips also apply to posting photos and/or scrapbook pages on any online site. Don’t post information that would allow others to invade your privacy. Even on a family blog, you should never post your address (even in a picture of your house or mailbox). Be cautious about posting where your family works as well. Also, realize that everything that is put on the internet can stay there forever (even if you delete it) so be careful about bad-mouthing someone at work or sharing something really embarrassing. Of course a lot of these decisions are personal choices, but if you are blogging, chances are you would like at least one other person to enjoy what you are posting, so it helps to play nice and keep those you love comfortable and protected. If you are posting pictures and information about children, be especially careful since there are a few unsavory characters out there. Some sites do offer password protection for blogs. I have a password protected blog for my own immediate family, but I still follow the above guidelines. If something ever happened to the security of that blog, I won’t have to worry that I’ve given away to much specific information.

Creating and Keeping a Great Blog:

If you are going to take the time to post to a blog, you might as well make it something to be proud of. While you can customize your blog any way you want, there are a few tips that will increase readability and make it more enjoyable for you and your readers.

• Busy backgrounds make it hard to read text and/or see the photos and content you are sharing. Another thing to avoid is light text on a dark background – it is very hard to read! Think of your blog as a giant scrapbook layout (or poster) that you are placing in front of someone and expecting them to read. Would you fill that page with a ton of blinking ads? Would you put all of your text on a wildly flowered background? Always keep the reader in mind (even if you are the only reader).
• Blog regularly. It doesn’t have to be every day, but if you blog twice and then don’t post anything for 2 months, don’t expect anyone to be interested in your blog. Unless you are a huge celebrity, people generally aren’t going to take the time to visit over and over in hopes that you might have blogged.
• Enable an RSS feed (your blogging program will have information on this). Be sure to make it a full feed so people can read posts in their readers. (See Steph’s post on subscribing to feeds) Some people think that by posting a partial feed it will force people to visit their website and click on ads. It just forces me to delete the feed because I don’t have time for that. Based on a recent poll on the epic edits photography blog, I have proof that I’m not alone in that opinion.
• Don’t steal. Don’t take someone else’s content and claim it as your own (or repost in your own words). It’s common blog etiquette to link back to where you found the original idea. Feel free to borrow inspiration from other bloggers though, it’s a compliment, just like scraplfiting is in our community. Just be sure to credit the source.

Make it Fun and Interesting:

• Share stories and experiences. One of the greatest things about reading blogs is finding out that others out there have the same joys and struggles.
• Post photos or images when possible. Make your blog visually interesting as well. You don’t have to be a professional photographer, but take a little time to learn about your camera and put some effort into capturing good photos. Explore the photography section here on The Daily Digi for tips and ideas. You may want to consider editing your photos a bit as well (here’s where those digital scrapbooking skills really pay off!) If you have ever seen a really spectacular photo on a blog, chances are it’s been tweaked a little in photoshop. That’s what great photographers do – they use the tools available to them to make their photographs shine. (Read about a simple trick Janet uses to make her photos and layouts really look great on the web using the Scott Kelby approach.)
• Be yourself. Don’t try to be something your not. Remember that a blog is another way to express yourself and document your life. Keep it real and you will be happier in the long run. So will your readers.

Finally, I just wanted to say how fun it is when you include links to your own Daily Digi inspired projects on your own blogs (or in forums). It’s so fun to see what YOU are creating with the amazing kits available each month in The Digi Files! Thanks for all your support and inspiration!

Katie and I will be presenting a beginning digital scrapbooking workshop at The Casual Blogger Conference this spring.  If you are a blogger or would like to start a blog, you would enjoy this conference.  Here’s what the site says about the conference:

“The Casual Blogger Conference was born late one night, when we were lamenting the fact that we couldn’t go to those big conferences. We’re “just the mommy blogger” we thought, and we will never fit in with all those famous people, and we don’t have much to offer.

We realized that there were probably a lot of other people just like us who wanted to learn more about their favorite hobby, but just couldn’t justify the expense–the ticket, the babysitters, the hotels– and were a little intimidated by the whole idea.

We understand the power of the casual blogger. They stay home with their kids. They juggle a full time job and soccer practice. Sometimes they’re married, sometimes they’re not.

But they ALL find time to fit blogging into their lives.”

You can read more about the purpose, the services they will be offering,  and the really cool facilities on their site.

The Casual Blogger Conference is giving away one pass to a lucky Daily Digi reader.  Leave them a comment in this post telling them why you want to go to the conference by Monday at midnight EST.  A random winner will be chosen from the comments and posted on Tuesday!

P.S. Congratulations to Candice W. who is our random GIFTaway winner she was chosen from those that have purchase THE DIGI FILES so far this month!! Candice won a $10 gift certificate to Digital Design Essentials, check your email Candice!

Digital scrapbooking has so many perks and advantages to enjoy, especially in the areas of space-saving benefits and great portability. The extended use of a computer can cause some ergonomic issues however; specifically stresses and strains on the back, the neck area, arms, and wrists. Even legs and feet can suffer if you sit for too long. Anyone who uses a computer will benefit from following a few tips to stay healthy, and digital scrapbookers will find their creating time to be much more productive and enjoyable if they are careful to work in an ergonomic environment.

What is the right way to work at a computer? This is not an easy question to answer as it may be different for everyone. I (Katie) have learned through a lot of trial and error that certain chairs, tables, and sitting positions can easily wreak havoc on my body and end up causing me a great deal of pain. I have a few tricks that I have learned as well as some great links to share with you to help you feel healthier and happier while you are working on your computer:

• Screen level – Pay attention to your posture. If you are slumped over, or straining in any way, your body will pay the price for it. I was so excited to get a laptop computer, but I soon found that I was hunching over to see the screen. One of the big advantages of a desktop monitor is that you can adjust the screen height to be closer to level with your eyes. I found that using a laptop stand for a good portion of my computer time has helped ease my neck strain. The laptop stand is something I picked up at Costco, but I know you can find them at just about any office store. This does cut down on my portability, but I can also lift my laptop out at any time and move to another location.The ideal setting for a screen is within your line of vision (and slightly tipped back is even better). See this link at office-ergo.com for a full range of tips like this one.

• Mouse & Keyboard – My laptop stand also came with an extra wireless keyboard. With as much typing as I do, this comes in very handy for me.  I wouldn’t be able to type on the laptop while it was on the stand. Our family desktop computer has a cushioned and curved keyboard which is even more comfortable for lengthy typing sessions (once you get used to it). The biggest key to comfort when using a mouse or a keyboard is having adequate wrist support. Your wrist should be straight and not feel strain when you are working. Some people find that a wrist rest cushion really helps. I actually have to wear a brace to keep my wrist from hurting. I injured my wrist by tearing about 400 fabric strips for a church project and it has never been the same since. If I wear my brace though, I don’t have any problems.

One of the most frequent complaints from digital scrapbookers is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. This can get very serious and require an extended break from the computer (gasp!) and even surgery (double gasp!) so this is something to take seriously. Women are much more likely to suffer from Carpal Tunnel. After browsing through some online forums, I found some innovative computer mouse designs meant to help with Carpal Tunnel symptoms. Logitech has a Track-Man wheel mouse and Evoluent specializes in ergonomic equipment. Many digital scrapbookers swear by the pen and tablet system over using a mouse so that might be a good option to explore as well.

• The right chair – I have tried several different chairs over the years and I found one at Office Max a few years ago on clearance that seems to give me the right amount of cushioning and back support. It is not an expensive chair, but it works for me. I can’t work sitting at our dining room table because the chairs don’t have arms and the table height is uncomfortable. The very worst position for me is sitting at a high counter or bar. When my legs are not resting on the ground, I end up with a lot of knee pain. My back also suffers in high chairs. I need to have back support so a stool would not work for me. I would encourage you to pay attention to your own body’s signals when determining what chair and table combination works for you. The chair doesn’t have to cost a lot, but you usually will do better if you invest in a nicer chair instead of using a folding chair. If money is not an object, you might want to check out Herman Miller. They are supposed to be the most amazingly comfortable work chairs!

• What about the couch? If you are like me, you want to move around a bit. One of the best things about having a laptop is that I can sit and watch tv with my kids or hubby and edit photos. The best thing to pay attention to is making sure your back and arms are supported. Prop up a few pillows on each side of yourself to create some arm rests. Make sure your back feels comfortable and supported. You might want to consider using a portable lap table to keep the heat from the laptop away from your legs. I still use a cordless mouse wherever I sit because the touchpad causes me wrist and finger pain.

• Take breaks – Medical experts agree that the best thing you can do to avoid repetitive stress injuries is to be cautious about not overdoing it. Our bodies are not built to do only a few movements over and over. Variety in movement, and taking regular breaks will extend the life of your muscles and joints.

Each person will find that they have different needs so be sure to pay attention to what works for you. I also asked some of our team members if they had any advice on this topic and here is what they said:

Jacki -Oh, dear, I need to do better at this. I do have a really good office chair that swivels so I can lean forward and backward as needed and my screen is big so I don’t have to be quite so close to the computer. I rest my feet on a box so they don’t swell up (I don’t have air conditioning and it gets really hot!). I also use a cordless mouse so I can move it around as I sit in different positions.

Steph – I have a bad back and my husband was convinced it was caused by me sitting on my couch (I sit in the recliner part, with my feet up…lol). The Physical Therapist said that sitting in the recliner would actually be better for my back than sitting hunched over at a table or desk.  I have since found this to be true, sitting with my feet up relieves a lot of the pressure on my back.

Janet - I found that changing the height of my chair made a huge difference.  My mouse arm was getting really sore and once I raised my chair so that my arm goes with gravity — so that it is above the desk rather than at the same height, I feel much better.
I know a lot of people choose to use a tablet…I could never really get into them. I should though…maybe I wouldn’t have a callous on my hand where my hand hits my desk 

For some wonderful resources on how to create an ergonomic work space, be sure to check out the following links:

• cdc gov ergonomics
• office ergomonics training
• Cornell University ergonomics web
• OSHA

P.S. Kelly is our winner in today’s GIFTaway.  She was randomly chosen from the comments left in yesterday’s post about Michelle’s products, here’s what she said:  “I’m a long time Michelle fan too! I have to agree with everyone that the Vintage Holiday Memories kit would be my first choice but right behind that would be the Trendy kit. I really enjoyed the sample layouts using Michelle’s kit too! Thanks again you guys!”

Thanks Kelly and thanks to everyone who is taking time to submit comments, we read them all and truly appreciate it!!

I LOVE scallops and zig-zags!!  I love having them on my layouts!  I have found when I want to add one scallop or zig-zagged edge to a layout that it is much easier to do it myself than finding a template in my fold and dragging it in.  Now, when I want a frame with a scallop or zig-zag edge, that is a different story…lol…I usually use someone else’s for that!  I thought I would share with the method I use for getting that scallop or zig-zag edge.

I have this layout almost done, but I want to add a scallop edge under the blue paper and above the stripe.

1) I click on the striped paper layer and ctrl+shft+n to create a new layer right in-between.

2) Now, I need to select a hard-edged round brush.  First, select the brush tool and then you can adjust the shape, size, and spacing.  I want this to be a smaller scallop, so these are the settings I chose:

The spacing setting is important, because that is what will give you the scallop shape instead of a straight line.  You might want to test this out once or twice before finding the settings you like most.

3) Make sure that your new layer that you just created is selected in the layers pallet.  It doesn’t matter what color you use because you are just creating a clipping mask and will be covering it up with paper, I am going to use black.

4) Next, line your brush up so it is a little more than half-way under the paper it will be under.

5) While holding the shift key down, click and drag to the bottom of the page or the point you want the scallop to stop.  This will create a perfectly straight line.  Here is what my scallop edge looks like now:

6) Now, I am going to duplicate that brown paper layer at the bottom of my layers stack, drag the layer up so it is above the scallop layer and ctrl+alt+g (or ctrl+g in PSE) to clip my paper to the scallop shape.  You might need to bring a new piece of paper into your layout.  Here is what it looks like now:

7) Now, all it needs is a little drop shadow, so I am going to right-click on my black rectangle below the strip paper, select ‘copy layer style’ then, go back to my scallop edge, right-click, and select ‘paste layer style’.   Here’s how it looks now:

Now, let’s make it a zig-zag!  I will delete the scallop layer and repeat step 1 above.

2) Select the brush tool again, but this time we will select a square brush.  We will want to change the diameter, angle, and the spacing this time.  Here is what I did:

3) Now, we need to line our brush up in a similar way to the circle brush.  Something like this:

4) Again, we will click and drag while holding the shift key down so that we get a nice straight line.  Here’s what mine looks like now:

5) Now, I am going to repeat steps 6 and 7 from above and this is what my layout will look like with a zig-zag:

Supplies for layout: Snow Day by Tracey Howard (TDF10), fonts are Feel Script and Printing Primer.

It’s a pretty easy thing to do, but adds quite a bit to a layout!  We would love to see you give it a shot!