Ztampfilicious

In the previous post we have learned a bit more about Tracy and Lynn – the fabulous Z!Girls. Today, they will talk about their scrapping time and share with you some of their favorite techniques! Starting in March, you can hear more from them as they will post here at Ztampfilicious Blog themselves!

Q: How/where did you learn digital scrapbooking? Best way/place to hone in your digi-skills?
Tracy: Trial and Error has been a huge part of my learning Digital Scrapbooking. When I first started Doin It Digi, I purchased a scrapbook program from our local computer store, it was fun and easy to use, but it was too restricting. A friend of mine then sent me Photoshop CS, I struggled with it at first but then started doing tutorials and ended up buying Scrapbook Secrets Revealed at Scrap Girls. Over the years I have become a bit of a course junkie and have done quiet a few classes at Jessica Sprague, Renee Pearson and Lynda.com. I love to learn and when it comes to this art it continuously evolves so there is more and more to learn.
Lynn: I read and tried a lot of tutorials at Scrapbook-bytes when I first started, but they were mostly for making your own elements. I pretty much just played around until I liked what I saw.

Q: What program do you use to scrap with? Is there any certain scrapping tools that you found yourself using again and again?
Tracy: When I first started Doin It Digi, I used a HP Laptop with Adobe PSCS, I ended up purchasing Adobe Photoshop CS2 and have since upgraded to CS4. I also loved ACDSee for organising my Digital Supplies and Photographs. I had a 500GB EHD to house my supplies and photos. In September 2009 I purchased an 27 inch iMac – Adobe thankfully did a platform swap of my Photoshop CS4 but unfortunately ACDSee is still in BETA format for Macs so I am using Finder for sorting my digital supplies and photographs.
Lynn: I started scrapping with PSPX, but I later bought PSE5 so that I could run actions. The clipping masks on PSE5 make scrapping with templates a breeze, and I use Atomic Cupcake actions on my alphas again and again.

Q: What is your ideal scrapping time/space would be? Any certain gadgets/programs you are coveting right now?
Tracy: When I was using the laptop to create my art, I could do it anywhere, it was awesome and portable and is the only drawback of buying an iMac. Now I have a large “L” shaped desk set up in the back of our lounge. The desk houses all my gadgets for creating – my latest toy is my Wacom Touch Tablet, I also have a Scanner, Printer, and 2 EHDS. My Camera is normally sitting on my desk somewhere. I don’t have a particular time set aside for creating, I just go with the flow.
Lynn: I like to scrap while my DDs are at school. I can actually get some things done.  :) I’m not fond of change, so I’ve stuck with my programs for years now. I really should put a printer on my wish list because I can longer print in color on mine. There are so many hybrid projects that I would love to try, but I just can’t print any of them at home.

Q: What is the single most useful scrapping technique you found so far?
Tracy: Extraction.

Spider by Tracy

Water Boy by Tracy

Rugby by Tracy

Lynn: I have found clustering to be my most useful technique. My elements were scattered all over my pages when I first started scrapping until I saw layouts in the galleries that had everything clustered around the photos. It gave the layouts such a beautiful look and really drew the eye to the photo.

Asia @ Disney by Lynn

Sledding by Lynn

Tigers by Lynn

Q: What do you love most about Ztampf! products?
Tracy: ARTiStitches & ARTiStrokes – Both are practical and can be used over and over again.
Phrench Phoebe – One of my absolute favourite kits, as I love the colours and elements.
Compilation One – I tend to reach for this all the time as it has a great selection.
Soaring – I adore the gold and the accents are multifunctional.
Whimzy Overlays – I just can’t resist using these to make more magical art.

Phrench Phoebe

Compilation One

Soaring

Whimzy Overlays

Lynn : The unique designs and classic elegance of Ztampf! products kept me coming back again and again.  They layouts that I did three years ago with Ztampf! products do not look dated to me (except that maybe my scrapping has improved), and the designs work well with almost any scrapping subject from wedding to heritage to everyday life. Two products that I’ve used repeatedly are the staples in Soul Searching and the Alphas in Phrench Phoebe.  I just adore those and can’t stop using them.

Soul Searching

Phrench Phoebe Alpha 1

Phrench Phoebe Alpha 2

Phrench Phoebe

I hope you enjoy reading this post! If you have any questions you want to ask Tracy and Lynn or me, please do not hesitate! Just submit them to the comment field below!

And don’t forget that the Second Part of Ztampfever #53 is coming up this Sunday, Feb. 28th when I will reveal all about the exciting brand new “Adventouriste Collection“! Until then!