Glyph, Serif, Leading, Kerning? What does it all mean? Darcy brings some meaning to words we often hear used with fonts.

While we’re probably all familiar with the words “font” and “typography”, we may not be so familiar with the words that make up the skeleton of how fonts are created and used, even though we hear the words thrown around often, so let’s put some meaning behind those words.

A Mini-Glossary of Typography Terms

Ascender: The part of the glyph that extends above the common top line of the font  (think d, b, etc.)

Baseline: The visual line a font sits on…the blue line on your notebook paper, the chalk line from that cool tool teachers used to help you write straight on the board..

Descender: The part of the glyph that extends below the baseline (think g, y, etc.)

Font: A collection of letters, numbers, characters in a program to create text.

Font Family: The collection of fonts that are built similarly, but that have different characteristics – Century is a famous font family.

Glyph: An individual character within a font, though a single character may have a few different glyphs.

Itallic: The slanted look of a font. This is usually manipulated by the software program to take a straight font and slant it and used for effect and for proper grammar usage in titles, etc.

Kerning: The spacing between any two characters of a font. In some editing programs, fonts can be adjusted to give you a look like this   l  o  o  k    l  i  k  e    t  h  i  s . Proper kerning of a font doesn’t create a character combination like T here.

Leading: The vertical spacing between lines. While conventional wisdom says leading = 2x point size, actual leading may need to be adjusted for the space you have to work in. Most editing programs automatically give you the corrected space needed, however, because of the way fonts are made between different foundries, you may need to adjust according to your needs on your page.

Ligature: A special glyph created for letters that have special spacing considerations when they are combined. This is different than kerning as the combined pair is its own special character.

Open Type Font: Font system developed by Microsoft and can work across platforms and contain many more glyphs than found in a standard true-type font. This doesn’t mean that .ttf fonts aren’t useful, but this is a newly developed format that gives more flexibility and usability for the modern digital age. This can include post-type fonts and true-type fonts.

Point Size: The measurement of the body of a font – characterized by the size of its ‘x’ character. This is why you have fonts that look different at the same point size. Their “x” character determines the size of their ‘body’ .

Rasterize: The point where the vector of a font is changed to a pixellated image to use in printing and publishing.

Serif: the tiny little bit of add-on to a character that gives it character.

Opp: Sans-Serif: a character that does not have the extra little bits on it

True Type Font:  (.ttf) This is a font format developed by Apple licensed to Microsoft. It’s the basic font used by Windows systems, but can also be used by MACs.

Typeface: The way in which a font looks. The font is the software, the typeface is how it looks (though most of us tend to use font with both contexts).

Fun Fact: Upper Case and Lower Case are named from ancient printing organization! When manually setting type for use on early printing machines, a characters stored in the “Upper Case” were the tall characters not used as often as the smaller characters stored in the “Lower Case”.  Now you know!

For even more information, try this tutorial by Lynnette Penacho: Making the Most of Your Typogrpahy

Nikki shares some fabulous typography resources from around the web.

What did we ever do without the amazing World Wide Web? These days countless resources for just about any thing or any topic that we may need are right at our fingertips. I remarked to my husband just the other day about how incredible it was that most of us walk around with the internet literally in our pockets. Today I’m going to share some fabulous Typography Resources I’ve come across using that amazing World Wide Web.

TYPEinspire

This site describes itself as “a showcase of typography and text effects.” It’s a great visual site for inspiration and also has links to other typography resources.

Typetester

This is a cool site for testing different fonts side by side. You can type in your own sample text and then choose up to 3 fonts to get a side by side comparison of how they look.

ilovetypography.com

This is another great website for visual inspiration. It also has great articles on different aspects of typography. If you’re a font nut, this website is for you!

wordle

Wordle is a fun site that most of us are familiar with. But if you’re not, you should really check it out. Basically, it’s a word cloud generator. You can enter in the url of your blog, etc. (as I did at the top of this post with the Sweet Shoppe Blog) or enter in any words you want. It’s very easy to customize and a fun way to use type on your scrapbook layouts.

Ransom Note Generator

This site is just what it says it is. You enter in whatever text you want, and it generates an image of those words using various “cut out” letters . . . kind of like you see in ransom notes.

Tagxedo

This is another cool word cloud site. Their site states:

“Tagxedo turns words — famous speeches, news articles, slogans and themes, even your love letters — into a visually stunning word cloud, words individually sized appropriately to highlight the frequencies of occurrence within the body of text.”

Pretty cool huh? And you can also add them to t-shirts, mouse pads, coffee cups, etc. and have the option to buy.

Of course these are just a handful of the typography resources out there. There are countless sites where you can download free fonts, get visual inspiration, or anything else font/typography related.

Rebecca shows us some beautiful uses for Typography in home decor and more!

I don’t usually keep up on trends. But, there is one trend that you can’t ignore, and that is typography! Everything from quotes, to alphabets, to monograms . . . there is a print for everyone’s style.  These prints aren’t just for walls. I found them on pillows, towels, cards, tote bags, and jewelry!

Here are some examples I found at Etsy . . .

All You Need is Love by Almost Sunday Inc

You are My Sunshine Subway Typography Word Art by Words For the Soul

Custom A-Z Alphabet Soup Print by Modern Pop

Paw Print Pillow by Brandi Fitzgerald

Flour Sack Towel by Sweet Magnolias Farms

Bridal Shower Invite by A Fine Time Invitations 

Typography Cuff Bracelet by Accessoreads

Country Chic Flower pots by Onion Skin Designs

Pride and Prejudice Typography Tote Bag by Bookish

So many things can be decorated by type . . . it’s a simple and elegant way to dress up any room! So the next time you see a cool quote on a journal card or a favorite alpha, why not create a stunning piece of art for your house!

Nikki shares different ways to use lists to help you organize your scrapping goals.

One of the best ways to stay organized is the use of lists. Most people use lists for the typical things . . . grocery shopping, trip planning, daily “to-dos.” Lists can also be a great way to help you organize your scrapping goals.

Using Lists to Keep Track of Daily Goals

This is probably the way I use lists in my scrapbooking the most. As my kids have gotten older I seem to have less and less hours in the day because we are so busy. I’ve found that setting aside particular mornings to scrap is the only way I have time these days. So when I sit down at the computer, I look at what layouts I need to scrap for that particular amount of time and make a list. This is particularly helpful in getting Creative Team Assignments done. I’ve also found myself adding in things like “organize my to scrap folder” or “spend time in the gallery leaving comments.” I keep these short lists on my “sticky pad” on the PC, so it’s there in front of me the entire time I’m at the computer.

Using Lists to Keep Track of Weekly Goals

I think weekly goals are pretty essential if you are a member of any Creative Team. Most designers have new releases once a week, and I know when I myself was on several different teams the only way I could keep up with what was needed for what day was to make a list. But even if you’re not on a Creative Team, making weekly lists for your goals would be a great help. I do a weekly P365 layout, and to keep up with what photos I’ve taken and what happened each day, I keep short lists on my iPhone’s notepad. Another great idea is to list what kits you purchased that week and what photos you might have to go with them. That way you can get those scrapped and get your folders all ready for the next week’s purchases.

Using Lists to Keep Track of Monthly Goals

Each month there are specific holidays or events that we want to get scrapped. Make a list each month of those dates and even jot down ideas for kits/templates, etc. that you could use for those layouts. If you do a monthly “in review” layout, you could also list particular photos you want to be sure to snap. Many of us are Creative Team members with monthly assignments. I’ve found that keeping a sticky note close by with each assignment and when it’s due each month is essential for me to remember them all. Of course these types of lists could be as detailed or simple as you like.

Using Lists to Keep Track of Yearly Goals

There are several year-long projects that many people are involved with, and using lists to help get those organized is essential. If you are doing Project Life, there are countless ways you could use lists to keep track of what you want to include on each layout . . . and you can even include lists ON your PL layouts. I’ve seen examples of this in the galleries, and I always think it’s a cool addition to those pages.

You can also use lists to simply have a visual of what types of projects you want to accomplish for the year . . . Project Life, P365, P52, year books, baby birth books, etc. Make those lists and then get ‘em done!

Today we are going to talk about another aspect of organization—organizing your photos!! I have never been good with keeping things organized. I do it for a little bit, and then I get lazy. I notice that when I let my photo organization get away from me, my scrapping suffers. If I can’t easily find a photo to scrap, then I get stuck in the rut of using the same pictures over and over because they are what I can find!! Today we’re going to look at a few ways to organize your photos so you’re never left wondering where those awesome photos are hiding!!

Here is the breakdown of how I organize my photos: I have a master folder for each year. Inside the yearly folder, I have a folder for each month. This is such a simple way to organize. If I have a pretty good idea of the kind of photo I’m looking for, then I just go to that particular folder and search for that photo. The only thing that I find lacking in this particular method is that if there are months that you take lots of photos, finding that one perfect photo can definitely be a challenge, Especially if you’re like me and don’t weed out the duds (photo is out of focus, someone is blinking, etc)!! Sugarbabe Rebecca also organizes by Year > Month > Date, and then she adds key words of the pictures in that folder.

SugarBabe Lydia is one of my organizing gurus!! She also organizes photos by date but tags her photos with keywords. She even uses tags like “silly,” “fun,” or “siblings.” When she is looking for photos to use with specific kits, she can just search for that tag and she has a great array of photos to choose from!!  She also tags her photos with “2012 to Scrap” and “2013 to Scrap.” She has smart folders that pull in photos with those tags. After she scraps the photo, she can remove the tag and the photo is automatically removed from the folder!!

SugarBabe Kim does most of her photo organizing in AcDSee. Here is her folder structure. To Scrap > 2012 > 0325 party grandma. When she clicks her folders, she can see all of the photos she has tagged for that category. From there she is easily able to search for a template or kit to go with her photos.

For those of us with YEARS of photos to scrap, designer Julie has a WONDERFUL idea!! When you are overwhelmed with which photos you want to scrap because there are just so many to choose from, create a folder and put a maximum of 10 unscrapped photos for each year in the folder. That’s not to say that your other photos aren’t as important, but if you could choose just 10 memories for a specific year, you wouldn’t have to be so overwhelmed with getting every memory scrapped. When you have just 10 photos in that folder, you can be on the lookout for specific kits to go with your chosen photos. I am in love with this idea!! There are so many times I want to catch up on certain years, but I don’t because I’m never sure which photos to scrap! Sadly, I end up not scrapping any from those years because it can be so overwhelming!!

Do you print your photos? Before I started digital scrapbooking, I spent SO much money on printing photos. I only print the photos that I frame around the house. While considering Project 365, I found a website that has a really awesome idea. With Shuttercal, you can upload your daily photos and journaling. At the end of the month, they print and ship your photos to you and at the end of the year you have a cute little box full of photos. If you don’t do Project 365, you can still implement that sort of idea. Buy some cute storage containers and print your very favorite photos!!

Really, there is no right or wrong way to organize photos. Everyone has their personal preferences. Hopefully, you were able to pick up a few tips and tricks to implement into your photo organization.

Lydia introduces our April Blog Theme . . . and a bonus challenge

It’s finally spring here in my part of the world. We are enjoying the sunshine, warmer weather, and afternoons at the park. Ahhh . . . I love it!

This time of year always makes me want to do some deep cleaning and get my house in order. I think I’m pretty normal in that regard. There’s just something about spring that makes you want to freshen up all areas of your life. I even got a good start on my spring cleaning by clearing out my closet last weekend. It felt so good to get rid of some old things that I don’t need anymore. And, every time I’ve walked into my neat, clean closet this week . . . well, it just feels good.

We’d love it if everyone in our wonderful community could have that same good feeling . . . free of clutter and feeling organized. So, this month on the Sweet Shoppe blog, our focus is going to be on organization and spring cleaning. You’ll find posts about organizing your scrap supplies and fonts, organizing your time, recycling and repurposing, and so much more, including plenty of layout and product inspiration. Be sure to take an occasional break from your own organization and cleaning projects this month to see what the Sweet Shoppe staff has in store for you here on the blog.

To kick things off, take a look at our image board below and then read on to learn how you can earn a bonus point for your April Challenge Portfolio.

Blog Bonus Challenge: Earn 1 bonus point for your April Portfolio by using the image above as inspiration for a layout of your own. You can use anything from the image . . . the grid design, the colors, or something about one of the individual images . . . as your inspiration. Then, upload your layout to the Pinterest Portfolio Challenge Gallery and list it as a Blog Bonus Challenge in your tracker post.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a fantastic day!

Nikki highlights all the amazing tutorials that have been added to the site this month

Once again this month the Tutorial Team has been hard at work adding some fabulous tutorials to the blog. Check them out!

Creating a Template for those Mini Albums!

Do you love mini albums? If so, Rebecca has an awesome step by step tutorial on how to use your photo editing software to get your albums completed.

How to Partially Color a B&W Photo

Kim has an easy tutorial up on how to do selective coloring on black and white photos.

Noted-Make Your Own Notepads

Do you obsessively hoard notepads the way I do? Did you know there’s a cute and easy way to make your own? Keely has an awesome tutorial showing you just how to do that very thing!

Scrap Like A Sugarbabe: Tronesia Derrico

Tronesia is one of my very favorite scrappers! I love her style! Check out her Scrap Like a Sugarbabe post and find out how she goes about creating her amazing pages!

Playing with Text in an Art Journal Layout

Art Journaling is very popular right now and Lex has a fun tutorial on how she likes to play with fonts and text on her pages.

These new tutorials are just the newest added to our amazing Tutorial Blog so if you haven’t checked it out before be sure to!

Rebecca provides us with a handy reference for keeping up-to-date with all the Sweet Shoppe designers

Don’t miss another new release, freebie, or sale from your favorite Sweet Shoppe Designers . . . get connected! To ensure you are following everyone, this post is a handy reference of all the different ways to connect with the Sweet Shoppe designers . . . Facebook, Twitter, newsletters, etc! Also, did you know that our very own Darcy Baldwin put together a Facebook List of the Sweet Shoppe Designers? Love that girl! And, if you would like to follow the Sweet Shoppe SugarBabes, check out the Sweet Shoppe Staff page!

Designs by Cindy Schneider

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Lliella Designs

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My Digital Art Studio (Mari Koegelenberg)

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Wild Dandelion Designs by Meghan Mullens

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Melissa Bennett Designs

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Nikki offers a few suggestions for moving forward in your Scrapbooking Journey this year.

When I first began Digital Scrapbooking way back in it’s early days circa late 2004, my goals were simple. Create a scrapbook to document my son’s first year. As my love for digi grew, my goals changed. It was slowly becoming my favorite hobby, my creative outlet, and a way to connect online to other people who shared my feelings and interests.

It took me a few years to nail down my own personal style. I experimented and followed the trends, and like most of you, I look back at my early pages and can’t imagine what I was thinking. But those pages are part of my journey, and they brought me finally to where I am now. I’m comfortable with my style. I’m a traditionalist, and although I love to get grungy and artsy sometimes, mostly I love to mimic paper pages as closely as I can. The best compliment I can get is when someone can’t tell if my layouts are digital or paper.

So as 2013 begins, I find myself setting different types of goals for my personal scrapbooking, and I think no matter where you are on your own journey–whether you’re just starting out or have been scrapping for years–you can benefit from a few of these ideas.

Simplify

By this I don’t mean to simplify your layouts. If you love layering and clustering, then keep piling it on. What I mean by simplify is to think of all the projects and ideas you’ve seen or thought “I need to do that” and determine which are the MOST important to you. For example, I would love to do Project Life, but the past few months my scrapping time has had a huge dent placed in it and I don’t have nearly the time to commit to a big project like that as I used to. So I decided to continue with p365 the way I’ve always done it, and I’m happy with that. The point is to get the memories saved.

Work on a Technique

Shadows need some work? Photos looking blah and need some tweaking? Choose one thing you really want to improve with your scrapping and work on it. (Our Tutorial Blog could be a great place to start!)

Photographs

I always feel like the photos make the page. Now I’m all about scrapping ALL those photos, and lately I scrap photos I take with my phone as much as I do my 7D. But no matter what camera you’re using, you can always improve, right? Work on it. Figure out what works best with your camera and practice until your photos are just popping off the page.

Journaling

I know sometimes there just isn’t much to say on a particular layout, but try challenging yourself this year to journal more on your pages. I myself used to be much better at this than I am now, and I’m definitely going to try and get back to that this year.

Sometimes we all get caught up in the current trends and the enormous amount of amazing products out there that we get away from the real reason we all love Scrapbooking.

This layout was one I did many years ago. Obviously the shadows are not so great, the photo is slightly overexposed and kind of blah, and the design really needs some work.

And here is a recent one from me. Over the years I’ve worked really hard on my shadows and especially my photographs. They still aren’t perfect, but they’re much improved from when I started out.

Sometimes we all get caught up in the current trends and the enormous amount of amazing products out there that we get away from the real reason we all love Scrapbooking. Maybe this day is a good day to step back and reassess what you’re doing and where you want to go with it.

Laura reminds us to take a step back and evaluate where we are in your scrapbooking journey and how we got here.

As much as I hate to conform to any sort of trend or fad, we are all influenced by these trends somehow. This year, in July, marks my 8th year of digital scrapbooking. In those eight years so much has changed with my scrapbooking, but aside from a few minor changes, I think I’ve finally settled into a groove that makes all of my pages uniform in some way.

Whether you have just begun scrapbooking or you are well into that journey, there is always something to learn and definitely many things to step back and reflect on.  

One thing that has remained as I look back on my pages is that the focus is on the journaling. It could be a lot or it could be a little, but the emphasis of the page is definitely in the journaling.

For example, one of the very early layouts I did told a story to my daughter:

Flash forward six years to a page I just posted in the gallery this weekend:

The style of my page has most definitely changed (and thank goodness so have the shadows and element placement). But, even though I’ve added just a small snippet of journaling, that is definitely what I want my daughter to get out of the page.

There are many, many options available to digital scrapbookers nowadays. If you’re looking for a long term project to unify your layouts, that is definitely available. Some of these options are:

• Project Life
• Project 52
• Project Love Me
• By The Numbers Album
• Alphabet Album

The possibilities are endless. But, if you are looking for something to unify your pages, these are always great options.

If you’re more into scrapping with current trends, some options that seem to be popping up now are:

• Art Journaling
• Shape Use (i.e., hexagons)
• Washi Tape
• Banners
• Hybrid Projects

Where are you in your scrapbooking journey? Is that portrayed in your layouts? Is it where you thought you would be at this stage in the game?

I believe Ernest Hemmingway said it best, “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”

While you may not feel that your early pages are “works of art,” in the end, no one else is going to feel that way. So I ask you, what is your one cohesive element that has stayed with you? Are you a big event scrapper or an everyday scrapper? Is this where you thought your scrapbooking journey would take you?