Oh my gosh! I finally did it! I've been wanting to try it for so long, and now I've actually done it! I created a Too Cool Stamping Blog Banner from the My Digital Studio (MDS) digital papercrafting software!
I'll admit that while I've owned My Digital Studio since it was introduced a couple of years ago, I hadn't used it much since. I kept telling myself that I liked the cut & paste of traditional cardmaking, and digital just wasn't my thing.
But, more and more, I've been seeing cute little hybrid cards and gift tags and lovely personalized items that other stampers had created. And, I knew that I could use it to create some awesome Stampin' Up! graphics for my blog if I would just jump in and try it again. So, last night, I did!
My New Blog Banner
How do you like my new blog banner? (If you're reading this from your in-box, be sure to click over to see how it looks on my actual blog.) For a first-time project, I'm really happy with how it turned out!
I used So Saffron, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Rich Razzleberry and Concord Crush for my colors. The background papers are So Saffron Villa and Soft Suede Dotted Stripe. The flourish images are from the Friends 24-7 stamp brush set. (The Friends 24-7 stamp set is retired, but the digital images are still available for the Friends 24-7 digital brush set. Isn't that cool?)
I'd be lying if I said that there isn't a learning curve for My Digital Studio. But, once you get some of the basics down, it's easy to begin experimenting with layers and colors and images. You'll be like a kid in a candy store!
If you do get stuck, you can find the answer you're looking for at the www.MyDigitalStudio.net website. It's filled with video tutorials, tips & techniques, a discussion forum, and LOTS of project ideas!
Leadership My Digital Studio Project Ideas
And, now that I've gotten my feet wet, I'm excited to see what other fun projects I can create! There were lots of great ideas shown at the Leadership event. Let's see some of them! (The lighting was horrible for taking pictures of Leadership displays, so I apologize in advance for the yellow photos and crazy shadows…)
When I think of My Digital Studio, I think of professionally printed scrapbooks and photo albums. I saw this sample at Leadership and loved the large family photo on the cover. With all of the pre-designed templates available, you can drag-and-drop your photos and complete your album in minutes!
Get started with this Designer Photobook Templates Training Video.
With the easy-to-use calendar downloads, creating a personalized wall or desktop calendar is a breeze! Add your own family photos, seasonal graphics, fun quotes, or journaling for a functional keepsake!
Need some calendar ideas? There are tons of Calendar Samples at MyDigitalStudio.net.
Holiday cards with family photos have never been quicker to create! Choose a traditional card, or try a tri-fold style if you have more photos you'd like to share. More tri-fold ideas…
Once your card is created, you can order as many prints as you like through Stampin' Up! professional printer. Learn more about Printing Services.
Use your My Digital Studio when you need to create lots of birthday invitations, shower invitations, baby announcements, or cards for other special events! Make it one time, then print multiples professionally, or from your home printer.
Demonstrator Deb Valder showed us how she likes to keep some pre-printed blank cards on hand for quick cards. The second card shown above is a sample of her cards—just add a quick sentiment and it's ready to send at a moment's notice!
Speaking of baby showers and birthdays, imagine all of the cute little decorative items you can create for your themed party! Invitations, party favors, name plates, gift tag labels, cupcake toppers, food labels, napkin rings, banners, and thank you cards can all be created to give your special event a fun and consistent look!
Or, try a themed photobook, like a Recipe Book. I love this table-top, flip-style collection of recipe cards! So handy and easy-to-read while you're creating in the kitchen!
And, I love the idea of the "From The Kitchen of…" gift tags! What better way to adorn a plate of homemade cookies than with a personalized gift tag! You could even add the recipe on the back! Great idea!
There are lots of recipe book ideas (and recipes!) at MyDigitalStudio.net.
Deb Valder showed us that she even typed up her presentation notes on MDS! Look how pretty her list of project ideas is! I love her #4 idea of gift certificates! I'll have to create some pretty ones soon!
Simple little detailed touches make a difference…like this instructions tag that was attached to our Leadership Make & Take bag. How cute is that? And, unexpected!
OK—these ideas are making me think of other little ways I could create smaller, everyday projects…hmmm. Let's brainstorm…
- Teachers—Bulletin Board décor, incentive coupons, charts, hall passes, games.
- Moms—Chore charts, flashcards, lunch notes, slumber party stuff, scrapbooks, bookmarks.
- Small Business Owners—Business cards, flyers, promotional signs, pretty price tags, gift certificates, contest forms, thank you cards, order stuffers, bag stuffers, web graphics.
Can you see how versatile this program can be? Woohoo! Now I'm getting really excited about all the possibilities!
Want to join me in my new digital papercrafting world?
- Order My Digital Studio and start digital designing right now!
- Order My Digital Studio Express and customize your digital content!
- Starting February 1, download a 30-Day Trial of MDS! Details coming soon!
Or, if you're already a digital designing guru, I'd love to hear about unique projects you've created with this versatile MDS papercrafting software! Leave a comment below…
Virtually yours,
Angie
Your new banner is very pretty, but the bow is a little crooked – jk, lol 🙂
Looks pretty and fun too! Maybe we can have you do a demo at stamp club??!!!
Kathy