Scrap Girls Chit Chat Newsletter: July 16, 2008

If you are using an online mail client such as GMail, you will find the newsletter far more enjoyable to read if you view it online.
You can find it here:
http://www.scrapgirls.com/NL/Chit_Chat_080716_Wed_Cupcake.htm

What's New in the Scrap Girls Boutique?

Computer scrapbook layout by Amanda Sok

Layout by Amanda Sok
larger view




Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Circles Couture Biggie, Brush Set: Mixed Months Super Biggie and Brush Set: Mixed Years 2000-2010 Super Biggie are also available.

Computer scrapbook card by Sarah Batdorf

Layout by Sarah Batdorf
larger view




Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Stacked Photos 6501, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 and Lettering Delights Mother's Typewriter Font are also available.

Computer scrapbook project by Durin Eberhart

Layout by Durin Eberhart
larger view



Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Faux Finish 3, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Darling Biggie and Brush Set: Flowers in Silhouette 1 are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Mandy Steward

Layout by Mandy Steward
larger view



Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Scribbled and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Inked Edges 1801 Mini are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Cherise Oleson

Layout by Cherise Oleson
larger view



Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Robomania, ScrapSimple Digital Layout Album Templates - Layered: 12x12 Round Up, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Stitching And Holes 4103, Brush Set: Crayon Basics and Brush Set: Edging 1 Grunge are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Armi Custodio

Layout by Armi Custodio
larger view




Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Torn Photos, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Photo Basics PSE 5001 and Brush Set: Stamped Dates are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Sarah Batdorf

Layout by Sarah Batdorf
larger view



Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501, Lettering Delights Noodge Font, Lettering Delights Grunge Font and Lettering Delights Eyeliner Font are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Keri Schueller

Layout by Keri Schueller
larger view




Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: In Bloom 2, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: In Bloom Biggie and ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Curled Edges are also available.

If you have praise, comments, or questions for any of our Product or Layout Designers, did you know you can send them a PM (private message) using the message board? It's easy!

If you are a registered user of the message board, just click on the “PM” box at the bottom of any of their posts to send them a message. Or, to check out more of your favorite designer's layouts, visit the Scrap Girls Design Team section of the Layout Gallery.

Life Muses by Ro: The Great Chocolate Cupcake Debacle

Note from Ro: I'm still on my adventure. (See yesterday's muse, if you don't know what I'm referring to.) I'm going to share one of my favorite posts from my blog, if you don't mind.

Chocolate party 1
Originally uploaded by victoria0805

Bird 1: Get out of the way, I was here first.

Bird 2: No, I was here first. You're delusional.

Bird 3: (If they keep arguing, I'll get more cupcake.)

Bird 1: I was here first. I'm the first bird in the photo. Anyone can see that. So get out of my page and let me eat.

Bird 2: If you would just scooch over a little bit, there would be enough room for everyone.

Bird 3: (Keep arguing fellas...)

Bird 1: Scooch over? What is that... scooch? Oh, I get it. You're trying to show off your intelligence by making up big words.

Bird 2: That's right. That's what I was doing. NOT. Will you quit distracting me and let me eat some of this chocolate cake?

Bird 3: (I wonder if they have noticed that they are dropping crumbs on the table. Maybe they won't and I can polish them up, too.)

Bird 1: Chocolate cake? This is cake? Blech. I thought we were eating cupcakes. It's embarrassing to eat cake in public.

Bird 2: You see, that's what you get for watching television. I tell you, Harry, you have got to stop believing everything you see on the tube. Cupcakes are so... “Leave It to Beaver”... and cake... well... cake is for real men like Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor. Urrr Urrr Urrr.

Bird 1: Urrr Urrr Urrrr.

Bird 3: (They're losing it.)

Bird 1: I see what you mean. Yeah... Cake is for guys and cupcakes are for girls.

Bird 2: And since you are a....

Bird 1: ....guy....

Bird 2: You aren't allowed to eat....

Bird 1: ....cupcakes....

Bird 1 and 2: Urrr urrr urrrr.

Bird 3: Hey, fellas... Is that a soccer ball on that cupcake paper at the bottom of the bowl?

Bird 1 and 2: Uh? Cupcake paper?

Bird 3: Of course. Cupcakes generally come in cupcake papers.

Bird 1: Man, it's getting late. I've got to get home. Better fly.

Bird 2: Me, too. If I don't pick up a worm or two before I arrive at the nest, the wife gets kind of bugged.

Bird 3: (Waves) See ya later, fellas. (Not.)

- Ro

Muse: To be absorbed in one's thoughts; engage in meditation. Not intended to solve the world's problems, another person's problems, or to cover topics completely. One does not have to agree with musings to enjoy them, just as one does not have to be the same as someone else to appreciate who they are.

Note from Ro: Would you like to earn a $20 Gift Certificate? Send your own muse to [email protected]. If it is selected for publication in the Scrap Girls newsletter, you'll get to have fun shopping!

Ro is now spotlighting various Scrap Girls members, showing layouts, and running contests in her blog. If you end up being spotlighted in it, you'll get a little gift from her. Subscribe to her blog so you don't miss what is going on!

Ro has recently spotlighted Pireps, CharleneJ and Soozlou.

Digital Scrapbooking Tutorial: Using Layer Modes with ScrapSimple Templates

Note: Tutorial created using Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0 with Windows Vista.

A couple of questions I often get from customers, especially if they have just started digital scrapbooking and are working with the ScrapSimple Templates for the first time, are, “How do I get color on my templates?” And, secondly, once the color has been added, “How come I can no longer see the detail of the template?” What I’m going to show you in this tutorial is a quick and easy method to use the ScrapSimple Templates. In this tutorial, I’ll be using the ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Crumpled Corners.

First, open the template you want to use, create a new transparent document at 12x12 300 dpi, and then drag your template over to this new document.

Screenshot: Correct layer placement

Next, you want to add color. You can do this a couple of ways, by either dragging over an already finished paper or creating a new color fill layer. What I’m going to do for this tutorial is drag over an orange paper from the Feeling Free Collection. As you can see by the screenshot, you should have your template layer and then your paper/color fill layer above that.

Screenshot: Create clipping mask

Once you have done that, with your paper/color fill layer active, hold down the Ctrl key and press the G key. This will merge the paper/color fill layer with your template. After you do this, you’re going to see that your paper or embellishment template has lost all of its detail.

Screenshot: Select layer mode

The next step is where we are going to fix that. Down in the Layers Palette, next to the Opacity, you’re going to see another drop-down arrow. If you click on this arrow, you’ll be able to change the Mode of that layer. Changing the Mode of that layer will allow all of the detail in your template to show through. There are three that I usually start with: “Overlay,” “Screen” or “Color Burn.”

Screenshot: Adjust Hue/Saturation/Lightness

Each of the Layer Modes will give you a different look, so play around until you get one that you like. On this screenshot, I found that the Layer Mode “Multiply” gave me the best result in the end, but the paper was still a little dark for me. I then went to Enhance> Adjust Color> Adjust Hue/Saturation and adjusted the color of the paper layer a bit until it lightened up enough for me.

The same steps I mentioned above also work great for any of the ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates. So, the next time you want to recolor one of the templates, don’t be afraid to play around with the Layer Modes and see what you can come up with.

Computer scrapbook layout by Angie Briggs

Layout by Angie Briggs
larger view



Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Crumpled Corners are also available.

Angie Briggs

Tutorial written by Angie Briggs

What's Happening at Scrap Girls?

Crops and Chats

High Noon Crop
Wednesday, July 16th - 12:00Noon ET

Join your host Betsy for the High Noon Crop every Wednesday at Noon eastern time. These crops are designed to allow you to work on your own photos and themes, simply giving participants a one hour goal, and a fun, new challenge each week!

On July 16, we'll do a stripes challenge! Create a layout using stripes! Either in your photo, or papers, visible journaling lines, whatever you can think of... find a way to use stripes!

You'll have one hour to create a layout and upload to the special High Noon Crop gallery. You'd be amazed what you can get done in just one hour! Meet new friends and have fun in the chat room! We hope you'll join us!

Keeping Current Crop
Thursday, July 17th - 4:00PM ET

Join AngRoCamp for the Keeping Current Crop on the third Thursday of each month. In July, we'll enjoy an afternoon crop beginning at 4 p.m. ET (3 p.m. Central, 2 p.m. Mountain, 1 p.m. Pacific).

Don't let those photos pile up and become frustrating or overwhelming. Join us in the chat room for fun and focus on "keeping current" as we each tackle our most recent pictures and stories. So grab the last photos that are still hanging out on your camera's memory card and get to work, so you can say with confidence, "I'm current!"

Heritage Crop
Thursday, July 17th - 8:00PM ET

Do you have boxes of heritage photos just waiting to be restored and scrapped? Are there family stories just waiting for you to write down and preserve? Then this is the crop for you!

Join April (April Showers) and Carla (CRS) for the Heritage Crop and Chat! We'll help you get motivated to scrap those heritage photos and record your family stories for future generations to enjoy.

Faith Journey Chat
Thursday, July 17th - 10:00PM ET

Join Danna (scrappylibrarian) and Shalae (satippetts) in the Chat Room at 10 pm for our Faith Journey Chat. We were MIA for a while, but are ready to get back into the swing of things.

All members and faiths are welcome to this time of sharing, so we hope to see you there!

Quote/Word Art Crop
Sunday, July 20th - Time TBA

Come join angelaNussbaum for the Quote Challenge Crop!

Here's how it will work. On Sunday, I'll post a thread on the chat section of the board giving you the quote that you will use to make your own word art. It's not hard, and I will even have a layout with a Word Art example. Then we'll meet in the chat room to have fun, chat, and create our Word Art layout!

We'll post the time on Sunday, as the time changes around each time to allow participation by our international folks. Everyone can participate and create a layout, even if you can't make the chat. Hope to see you there!

ATC Swap Crop
Sunday, July 20th - 7:00PM ET

Please join me, Pat Bowman, in the chat room for our monthly ATC Swap Crop and Chat at 7:00 PM.

Last month, we created ATCs to introduce ourselves. Continuing on, this month's theme will be STATES. Create an ATC that represents your state (either your current state or maybe a previous one you lived in). You can interpret that theme in any way you see fit! You can be serious or quirky - whatever you decide!!

If you are a beginner and don't think you can play because you don't know how - think again. We welcome newcomers and will be glad to show you the ropes. Remember, the only real rules for ATCs are that they must be sized 2.5 x 3.5 inches. Let's have some fun!

Life Moments Crop and Chat
Tuesday, July 22nd - 2:00PM ET

Join Shari (PV Mom of 2) for our next Life Moments Crop and Chat. These crops are about building a scrapbook all about you, one layout at a time.

This week, we will be scrapping our hopes and dreams for our children. If you don't have kids, or your kids are grown, I've got some ideas for you too. So please join us! Can't wait to see you there!

High Noon Crop
Wednesday, July 23rd - 12:00Noon ET

On July 23, we'll do a pattern challenge! Create a layout using a patterned paper, or photos with strong patterns in them, or arrange your photos to form a pattern - anythng you can think of!

July Events

July Board Game: Layout Reveal

Whether you travel on vacation or entertain right in your own backyard, summertime means fun! This month, we'll be having some fun as we play Layout Reveal!

Every day, a member of the Welcoming Committee will post a layout that is partially covered in a message board thread. A new section of the layout will be revealed each day until someone correctly guesses which layout it is. Once a layout is correctly identified, a new layout will be featured starting the following day.

Layouts will be found in the boutique on product details pages.

If you are the first to guess one of the layouts correctly, you will win a $5 Gift Certificate to the boutique!

Layout Contests:

July Layout Contest: Is the high cost of traveling keeping you close to home this summer? For this layout contest, we want you to be a tourist in your own town. Do a layout of your favorite place to visit in or near your town, a place you like to take out-of-towners when they visit, or an historical landmark. Upload your layouts to the July Layout Gallery by July 31st at midnight and if your layout is chosen, you will win a $10 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique!

Mid-July Layout Contest: Do you have a dream destination to which you would like to travel in the future, or maybe a dream place where you’ve already been? We want to see your layout of this dream destination. Upload your layouts to the July Mid-month Layout Gallery by August 15th at midnight and you could win a $10 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique if your layout is chosen!

Check our message board calendar if you have any questions about what is happening at Scrap Girls. All event times are given in Eastern Time Zone unless otherwise noted. Need help converting time zones? Check out the World Clock - Time Zone Converter. (Use 'USA-New York' as the location for the Eastern time zone.)

Today's Freebie

Computer scrapbook layout by Brandy Hackman

Layout by Brandy Hackman
larger view

Designer Freebie by Brandy Hackman coordinates with her ScrapSimple Layer Your Own Brushes: Stamped Specifics, part of this month's ScrapSimple Club offering!



Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Layer Your Own Brushes: Stamped Specifics, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Expressive Pages, Brush Set: Sketchbook Dotted Biggie and ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Lifted Photos Biggie -Weathered are also available.

* There is a “free download” button on the details page for each gift. You don't need to put them in your shopping cart unless you are shopping for other items. Also note that if you are slow reading your newsletter, you may find this freebie has already been retired, as the freebies are only available as gifts for about two newsletter cycles.

Create your own digital scrapbook layouts using the latest, most popular techniques

Manage all of the important basics that digital scrapbook enthusiasts need to know to get started

Understand how to save your files for printing or sharing them with your friends and family over the Internet

Make your own textured brush

Learn how to install and use purchased brushes

Make your own simple backgrounds

See how easy it is to manage transparent embellishment files that allow digital scrapbooking layouts to look like they are “real”

Become a pro at managing the drop-shadowing techniques

Learn about transparency and lighting effects

Make your own digital torn paper edges

Be able to isolate a single item in an embellishment or alpha and be able to change the color to suit your fancy

Become a pro at repairing damaged photos

Know the secret of putting text on a curve or in a circle

Laugh at how simple it is to make rounded edges on your photos

Use keyboard and tool shortcuts that make digital scrapbooking a breeze

Be able to place digital embellishments on your digital scrapbook layout with ease

Unlock the mystery of how to clip a digital paper clip onto your layout so that it looks real

Learn how to install and use purchased textures

Understand some advanced techniques such as how to keep blue eyes blue on a black and white photo

Learn how to adjust black and white photos to sepia

Take the world's easiest shortcuts to creating your own backgrounds, embellishments, and alphas.

Make sure that you don't make the biggest mistakes that digital scrapbookers make when they create layouts.

Learn fantastic tricks for using Scrap Girls ScrapSimple products.

Dip your digital scrapbooking self into some of those “other” cool tools that are sitting there waiting in your software for you to use such as paths, masks, the drawing pen, and more.

See how easy it is to install and manage new Custom Shapes and Styles in Photoshop so that you can make things that are creative and unique.

Learn advanced tricks for using tools that you already know and love.

Watch me make some beautiful papers and get a chance to peek inside of my layers. (Oh dear... That is the last frontier and I might be out of my mind to let you do it... NOBODY likes people to see inside of their layers. It is like having visitors peek inside of your dresser drawers. Very private stuff.)

See a new way for coloring doodles. (I'm betting that it will surprise you what tool I've used to do that with, too...)

Get “IN” on creating your own brush sets. (You do NOT have to have those impossibly long brush sets frustrating you anymore. In fact, when you learn this trick, you will wonder why you haven't been using it all along.)

Find out why Custom Shapes are so importantto you. (Bet you didn't know...)

Learn how to cut out a title from a background or a photo.

1 8.5x11 Sheet of Word Art

1 Assemble Your Own Zoom Page Set

1 Designer's Choice Item

1 ScrapSimple Paper Template Set

1 ScrapSimple Embellishment Template Set

1 ScrapSimple Layer Your Own Brush Set

1 Designer's Choice Item