Designer Chat with Jen Allyson! 9AM MST Saturday July 24th

Hi everyone! And happy 24th of July! What is everyone up to today? I've got to make rice crispy treats for a BBQ later and also get some projects done for CHA.

I want to know what everyone's favorite "type" of product is - papers, word art, stamps, frames, alphas etc. What are you drawn to?

I'm also planning to give a little freebie to everyone who posts here, so don't be shy! Come and chat!!

Oh I also wanted to let you know a little quirk about our forums. I actually like it when I'm hosting a chat -- but when posting to a chat it can be a little frustrating. What happens is when you post, before it will make your post live, it will show you any other posts that have occurred between when you started your post and when you hit submit. On a fast moving chat, that can be quite a few. So the best thing is to just hit submit a few times and as fast as possible so that the forum doesn't keep stopping you to tell you whats new!

Hi Jen!!!!

I'm totally new so of course everything is my absolute favorite. I've downloaded a few freebies for practice, but there's so much to learn and buy!

I really like the idea of putting a personal touch to photographs for clients. I'm a photographer and going to your blog and DHD is like inspiration overload! I never know where to begin because it's all so fab.

Can you suggest some basic purchases? The tutorials are very helpful already.

Jen, Do we post here?

Hello, hello! I have a little time until my kids find me on the computer

I have lots of papers, so I am not drawn towards them as much now. I use a lot of masks, tags and journalers, plus some little decorative touches (butterflies, buttons, shells, etc) that aren't too hard to shadow.

I am also crazy drawn to alphas, though I don't use them nearly enough lol

Yep! Post here

Denise - I absolutely recommend carina's essentials line for people getting started. I also love templates because it gives you a great starting place -- you don't have to worry about composition yet just about arranging designs that you love around a design that is already pre-made. It definitely helps you to get your feet wet and feel confident in all the how-tos.

I'm a paper person too. and I love masks -- probably because I can use more papers with masks! I also find that when I use a template I can use a lot more patterned papers than when I start from scratch.

Does everyone know how to use masks? I think they are the greatest things since sliced bread!

For me, my "likes" change. Currently I am loving, clean layouts, white space... everything you do!
(this is Chari from Persnickety.. not enough time to update profile.. but I will!)

Oh, and I still am buying templates + kits

lol for a good month or two after starting to digiscrap i never used templates bc i didnt know about how to clip items to them. basic, basic but i somehow missed it lol

BASIC yes, but I had to take LOTS of photoshop classes for this! Would never have figured it out on my own!