Cluster Tutorial Challenge

[April Showers]

One of the easiest ways to speed up your scrapping and simplify the process is to use pre-made clusters. I have two tutorials for you to use. The first Using Clusters to Create Quick Layouts shows several pages made with clusters, as well as a tip for changing the word art on an existing cluster. The second, Changing Up Embellishment Clusters – shows another way to make clusters work better with your pages.

TIP: Re-use your own clusters!

When I create a particularly satisfying cluster on my layout, I select all the layers and drag in into a new document. I then crop it and save it as a .tiff file. I can reuse them on my pages by dragging the .tiff file into my layout. It goes in like a png file, but when you double click on the layer, you can still move things around.

Since most of the pages I print are two-paged spreads, I often create coordinating clusters for pre-made clusters using the same collection. I will save them- the same way I mentioned above.

TIP: I have a folder filled with most of the clusters in my stash. When I create a new cluster using a variety of collections, I’ll put my own initials on the front and then put “Christmas” or “Yellow and Blue” so that similar and season clusters will show up near each other in the folder. When I create a coordinating cluster, I name it with the designer’s initials and kit name so it will sort next to the cluster(s) it goes with.

 Your Challenge is to use one or more clusters on your page! Extra credit for changing one up a bit to fit your page, or for re-using one of your own favorite clusters.

Post your completed layouts in the iNSD Scrap-a-thon Gallery. Make sure to label your challenge layouts (in the title or details) so they are identifiable. There will be a $5.00 Gift Certificate winner drawn from those who participate in each of today’s iNSD challenges.

Freebie: http://store.scrapgirls.com/Harmony-Crush-Eazy-Page-4.html

NOTE: The Easy Pages were made using Brandy Murry’s templates
http://store.scrapgirls.com/ScrapSimple-Digital-Layout-Templates-Primavera.html
http://store.scrapgirls.com/ScrapSimple-Digital-layout-Templates-Saffron.html
and http://store.scrapgirls.com/Harmony-Crush-Collection.html (which was a free with purchase, so many of you may already have it).

[Florida granny]

Here's mine: Hi, There.  I used a pre-made cluster from Angie's Simplify then added a little extra greenery to it. Thanks for the challenge!

[Celestine]

Here is Leona Blue. I layered two different frame clusters and added a few elements to fill out the clusters. Blue was my grandmother's favorite color, so she would have loved this.

[englishrose]

Here is my cluster LO. I duplicated part of the red ribbon in the frame cluster in order to "thread" the number tags through it.

[wvufan04]

Here is my page with clusters
I actually used 2 clusters that were email/blog freebies from Blue Heart Scraps - the top one I took off a journal card and added some other elements to tie it in. I keep a folder for each designer of some of the premade clusters that are gifted (or if I make one of my own that I really love)

[H Keith]

here is mine iNSD Cluster Challenge (scrapgirls.net)