MLAS update, challenge details & a freebie

Everyone is still working like mad behind the scenes to get My Life and Scrap back up and running. We've hit a few snags due to it being Labor Day weekend, so it's taking a little longer than we initially anticipated. But look out! When we come back up it will be EXCITING! You won't want to miss it! So stay tuned!

In the meantime, I don't want you to forget about working on the Mystery Lift Challenge. I know you will all be flooding the gallery with your Mystery Lift layouts in a few days when MLAS comes back up. (Scroll down to the post from September 2, 2009 for more info.) Here are the details about the September 1-15, 2009 Mystery Lift Challenge so you can be working on it over the next few days:

YOU WILL NEED:

* 1 neutral (solid, texturized) background paper

* 1 horizontal photo (Duplicate it two times and close the original.)

* Enlarge the first copy of your photo so that it covers the entire layout.

* Place the photo over your background paper.

* Play with the blending modes of the photo layer to blend the photo with the background paper until you achieve a look that you like (the "soft light" and "overlay" blending modes are often a good place to start, but don't be afraid to play!)

* Resize the second copy of your photo to 4x6 (horizontal).

* Put the 4x6 photo near the lower right corner of the layout.

* Tilt the photo slightly (left side down, right side up so it's not sitting perfectly horizontal).

* Put a frame around the photo.

* Add some elements, ribbons, ric rac peeking out from behind the photo and frame.

* Attach one element to the upper right corner of the photo.

* Attach two elements to the lower left corner of the photo.

* Then place a tag over those two elements. (One should be peeking out from above the tag, and one should be peeking out from below the tag.)

* Put your title on the tag.

* Begin your journaling in the upper right corner of the layout (2-3 inches from the edge) and continue down the side of the page, stopping slightly above the photo & frame. (The journaling is a 2-3 inch wide column of text, right-justified.)

* Don't forget to add the drop shadows!

And now that you've completed your MLAS Mystery Lift Challenge, you've earned a little gift! :) ***SORRY, LINK EXPIRED.***

I created a template for you to use to help pass the time while we wait for the site to come back up. Be sure to grab the template now because it will only be available as a freebie for a limited time. Then it will be going into my store. (***SORRY, LINK EXPIRED.***) Please leave me some love if you download the template, and of course come back and link me up to any layouts you create with it so I can see what you've done!