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Picklemama Report
written by
Annette (fazzbech)
August has been a big month for us, as not only did we continue celebrating PBP's 4th Birthday, but we kicked off a brand new challenge system which saw the number of challenges on offer per month triple, as well as introducing a new reward system! Participation has been fantastic so far, thank you to all of you that have joined us, and there is still time to jump in if you're keen! Thanks also to our Creative Team for pulling it all together, they are such wonderful hosts!
Read on for the full scoop and check out the great variety of new challenges on the right-hand side of this newsletter!
We are lucky to have Anna Forrest Designs in store at PBP, talk about cluey! She has been busy making the most amazing Photoshop scripts, one of which we feature in this month's newsletter. If you do nothing else today and you are a Photoshop user, click through to Anna's store and check out her time-saving, functional, so-easy-to-use scripts, you will not be disappointed!
Pop Deals!
Click
on the images to grab a bargain!
For two days only, as a special newsletter
promotion, the following items are ON SALE at 25% off!
A new system, new rewards, and loads of new challenges!
written by fazzbech
August marks the end of our old challenge system, and the start of our NEW and IMPROVED challenge system! Here is what is new...
- MORE challenges each and every month!
- NEW rewards!
- FAIRER system so that everyone can earn rewards
The August challenges are posted in the forum, but before you check them out, please familiarise yourself with the new Challenge Rules first to avoid any confusion or disappointments. You can track where you are at for the month in the post that is stickied to the top of that month's challenges section.
We hope you enjoy our new system, and most of all, have fun scrapping!
Member review: Bamboo tablet
written by Sharyn (thecharmed01)
I have both the Bamboo and the Bamboo Pen & Touch and they both have pluses and minuses. Wacom do THE most sensitive tablets period. No other brand can compete and I've used a LOT. For digital scrapbooking and photo editing, the Bamboo series are more than adequate! They allow pressure sensitivity and all the motion you need.
I've used as big as A4 tablets and to be honest, I think a smaller space is better for you because it means less arm and hand movement, reducing the development and symptoms of OOS (Occupational Overuse Syndrome). I now only purchase the 6x4 as that's all I need! Between the Touch Series and the standard Bamboo, the things that I have noticed is that there is NO difference in the behaviour or quality, the main differences are aesthetics. For example, the layout of your desk and space might affect which you buy - as I'll explain.
Standard Bamboo
Has the USB cable mounted at the top of the pad. It's also removable and replaceable - it's just a standard USB cable. I like that as I travel a bit, so being able to remove the cable and pack it neatly is a huge advantage - I know the cord won't get damaged, and if it does, it's cheap to buy a new one at about $5 each! It also means that it fits my desk well as along my desk I have Keyboard, Mouse Pad and Tablet. The cable tucks over the back and to the back of my desk, then up into the computer. The buttons are at the top of the pad, which is handy as it leaves them well out of the way, I never bump them accidentally. The pen holder is totally seperate which is a bit of a pain to be honest.
Bamboo Touch
The USB cable is hard-wired into the left side of the tablet. I'm not so happy with this as it means any damage to that cable and the unit is rendered useless. This cable is not replaceable. Being mounted on the left-hand side means that on my desk, the cable is actually a real hindrance when I'm working as I switch from mouse to pen often and I have to push the tablet aside to use the mouse, then get it again when I need it back - but a different desk layout would be fine - oh and a left-handed person would LOVE it, other than the button thing.... onto that next. The buttons are on the left-hand side which again makes them way too easy to bump accidentally and is a bit of a pain. I also don't think the whole touch/pen combo is a great idea. In theory I got it as I use a touchpad on the laptop, but the reaction time when you have pen in hand and go to use just the pen is far too slow (Windows 7, 64 bit) and I have frequently 'accidentally' moved things, or done things I didnt want to as the pen didnt kick in quickly enough. I do love that it has a built-in pen holder on the right-hand side though! I would never have this anywhere but on a desk as I'd be too afraid I'd damage it, and it was more expensive than the Standard Bamboo so I don't want to replace it.
Amanda's Fabulous Font Find!
written and sourced by Amandac
Illustration © Jellyka Nereva
This newly released font, Cutty Cupcakes is just too cute! It is a nice, thin, hand-written font that has just the right amount of flourish to lift it out of the ordinary everyday. It comes in upper and lower cases, numerals and symbols including two adorable pieces of cake! I hope you enjoy using this fun font and don’t forget, if you use it in a layout we would love it if you would share it with us in the Pickleberrypop gallery! Until next time… happy font addiction!
Quick Tip: Interactive Photoshop Tutorial - Eyes!
sourced by fazzbech
Create amazing eyes in Photoshop with this interactive YouTube video by IceFlowStudios! Click on the image above or HERE to view. The video covers Vivid Eyes, Eye Colour, Eye Makeup, and Red Eye. Make sure Annotations is turned on in the YouTube video settings to be able to click on the thumbnails. Enjoy!
A Revolution in Keeping Track of Credits!
written by fazzbech
Any digital scrapbooker who has even just a handful of kits in their collection would soon find out the importance of keeping track of what they used on their layouts. If you share your pages in online galleries it is always a great idea to list what supplies were used to create your page, so that other people can hunt them down if they are interested in purchasing them, as well as just being a small courtesy to the designers who created the products. Even if you don't share your pages online, wouldn't it be great to have a list of supplies and where you got them from for every layout you create, just in case you want to reference what was used years down the track? If you are on one or more creative teams for designers, it really is essential and part of your job to list the credits. So if any of the above describes yourself, then the tool I am about to show you is absolutely essential in every digital scrapbooker's stash!
We are excited to bring to you Anna Forrest Designs Credit Tracker, a script available in two versions for PSCS3+ and PSE6+!
Just build your layout as usual and when you're finished get a nicely formatted list of all your supplies and fonts ready to post! Credits can be formatted in plain text, BB code, or HTML. They can be saved to the file's document info, a text file, or in a text layer! Product links and store names can be included if desired. Don't compile a list of credits manually ever again!
Don't let the word script scare you, Anna has thoughtfully and carefully made this application so easy to install and use, and it comes with a User Manual for instructions and reference. You'll be on your way to tracking your credits in just a few easy steps! Once the script is installed and configured, simply start scrapping and the Credit Tracker will prompt you along the way:
When you are done, or anytime along the way, you can get a summary of all the supplies you have used, see a detailed view of each item, or save your credits in a variety of formats:
You can even modify the credit data to fix up the designer, kit, shop and/or link!
This seriously has to be one of the most useful applications ever developed for digital scrapbookers! If we didn't believe in it, we wouldn't be promoting it, it's as simple as that. Anna has put a lot of effort into this product, and probably could have charged double or triple for it, but because it really should be a part of everyone's toolbox, she is selling it at a very affordable price to suit everyone's budget! If you grab it and love it...tell your friends and help spread the word!
Gallery Standouts!
Check
out the gallery for more inspiration!
Have you seen the amazing work that is popping up all over the PBP gallery of late? Here are just a few layouts that really caught our eye over the last few weeks!
Keep on scrapping and uploading to the gallery, you never know when your layout might be featured here!
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In
This Issue :
Picklemama
Report
Pop Deals!
A New challenge system
Review - Bamboo Tablet
Fabulous Font Find
Photoshop Quick Tip
Keeping Track of Credits
Gallery Standouts
Challenges!
Pickle
Pick of the Month
FREE Universal Desktop Wallpaper!
Photography Corner
My Reflections Photo Books
Quotes
Great Savings!
Challenges!
Love a good challenge? We've got lots of them! So come on in to see the August Challenges, join in the fun, and earn rewards while you're at it! Make sure you stop by the Challenge Rules first to see how to play and what you are playing for.
All or Nothing Challenge
(hosted by mom2peanuts)
Scraplift Challenge
(hosted by Nee)
Music Challenge
(hosted by amandac)
Alpha Challenge
(hosted by Sundri)
Girly Challenge
(hosted by Netty)
Template Challenge
(hosted by LorieM)
Picture it Challenge
(hosted by mummyd)
Colour Challenge
(hosted by nzmumof4)
Pickle Jar Challenge
(hosted by nockosh)
List Challenge
(hosted by Teresnlilly)
Photography Challenge
(hosted by kimberley)
Pickle Pick of the Month!
Thoughts in Profile - kathitownz
This beautiful and artistic page is definitely the stand-out in the gallery this month. Kathi has shared with us a page that is deeply personal and very thought-provoking. Using various pieces from PST designs she has wrought a page that portrays her struggle to gain perspective in her life. The use of dream brushes and wonderful blending gives the page a very introspective ambiance as she takes us on her journey of self-discovery. To get the most from the symbolism contained within this page please follow the link and read about it in more detail, there is much more hidden within.
Congratulations Kathi Please PM fazzbech via the forums to
receive a special gift certificate for your next order in the pop shop!
FREE Universal Desktop Wallpaper!
Not only can you resize to suit your screen size, but you can place the photo cluster wherever you like, so as not to interfere with important items on your desktop!
This desktop wallpaper was created by Carolyn Rose Kite using Cake and Presents.
You can download HERE or click on the image above, no coupon required!
Instructions for use can be downloaded HERE.
Photography Corner
written and sourced by fazzbech
(Photo via Flickr, taken by Wil Hughes)
Fantastic short tips to help you take some creative photos!
Graffiti...the bain of every council's existence! But who knew graffiti walls could look so cool as a backdrop?! Next time you're out and about and come across a graffiti wall, maybe stop and take some pics for a moment or two!
My Reflections Photo Books
Pickleberrypop are supporters of My Reflections, an Australian company who produce quality and affordable photo books. Recently, My Reflections made a few exciting new changes in response to customer feedback that we thought we would share with you:
- The most popular request was for completely personalised covers. Dust Jackets have been replaced by all new ‘Photo Covers’. This is an image wrap (all the way around) that is directly adhered to the cover of your book with a protective gloss coating. You are now able to design both the front and back cover of your Photobook.
- Our second most popular request was two-fold, 'more pages' and 'only pay for the pages I use'. So most of our books have now been upgraded to a new maximum of 200 pages. We have now also introduced per-page pricing so you only pay for the pages you use.
- With some of the manufacturing changes we have made we have been able to re-visit pricing and we have implemented pricing changes. We are happy to announce that in most cases prices of our new books have gone down.
Birthday Quotes!
by Amandac
Everyone has some birthday photos that need scrapping! Here are some quotes to inspire you!
We know we're getting old when the only thing we want for our birthday is not to be reminded of it. ~Author Unknown
There is still no cure for the common birthday. ~John Glenn
A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun. Enjoy the trip. ~Author Unknown
Believing hear, what you deserve to hear:
Your birthday as my own to me is dear...
But yours gives most; for mine did only lend
Me to the world; yours gave to me a friend.
~Martial
Because time itself is like a spiral, something special happens on your birthday each year: The same energy that God invested in you at birth is present once again. ~Menachem Mendel Schneerson
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional. ~Chili Davis
Thanks to modern medical advances such as antibiotics, nasal spray, and Diet Coke, it has become routine for people in the civilized world to pass the age of 40, sometimes more than once. ~Dave Barry, "Your Disintegrating Body," Dave Barry Turns 40, 1990
Inflation is when you pay fifteen dollars for the ten-dollar haircut you used to get for five dollars when you had hair. ~Sam Ewing
Youth is a wonderful thing. What a crime to waste it on children. ~George Bernard Shaw
In childhood, we yearn to be grown-ups. In old age, we yearn to be kids. It just seems that all would be wonderful if we didn't have to celebrate our birthdays in chronological order. ~Robert Brault, www.robertbrault.com
The first sign of maturity is the discovery that the volume knob also turns to the left. ~Jerry M. Wright
When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it had happened or not; but my faculties are decaying now and soon I shall be so I cannot remember any but the things that never happened. It is sad to go to pieces like this but we all have to do it. ~Mark Twain
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