Scrap Girls Chit Chat Newsletter: August 5, 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_080805_Tues_Flying.htm

What's New in the Scrap Girls Boutique?

Computer scrapbook layout by Theresa Kavouras

Layout by Theresa Kavouras
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Computer scrapbook layout by Debbie Layden

Layout by Debbie Layden
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Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Art and Soul - Paint, Brush Set: Luxe Borders, Dynamic Brush Set: Inky 5001, Brush Set: Oodles of Doodles: Flourishes and Lettering Delights Inclination Font are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Ariadna Wiczling

Layout by Ariadna Wiczling
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Felt, ScrapSimple Layer Your Own Brushes: Parcel Dates, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Stitch 'n Holes 8301 Machine Stitch and AMC_Friendly Font are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Trish Yochum

Layout by Trish Yochum
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Day at the Beach, Brush Set: Stamped Stars and ScrapSimple Layer Your Own Brushes: Parcel Dates are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Brandy Murry

Layout by Brandy Murry
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Sketch It PSE 8501 and ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Timeless are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Erica Hite

Layout by Erica Hite
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Velvet Foliage Biggie, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Lifted Photos Biggie -Weathered, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Forties Buttons Biggie, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Heart's Desire, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Ophelia, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Enchanted, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Stained, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Family Room, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Chic Embroidery Biggie, Dynamic Brush Set: Lace 5401 Biggie and Brush Set: Paint Stroke 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: Flying

Computer scrapbook layout by Ro
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“Climb in,” he smiled, holding his hand out to assist me.

I pulled myself into the tiny plane, buckled myself in and looked about. Smaller than any compact car I had ever been in, the seats were too close to allow me to hold my purse on my lap. Holding it close, I felt like my grandmother in church. All I needed was a handkerchief stuck down my shirt, some pink lozenge mints and I’d be ready to entertain a small child.

He took the bulky item from me and put it behind the seat and asked, “Are you ready?”

I nodded.

“You aren’t scared?”

I shook my head. No, I wasn’t afraid to fly with my brother. I trust him.

He pulled out his laminated checklist and ran through it. I could see he had it memorized and yet, he still took the time to carefully go through each item. No wonder I trust him.

We taxied down the runway and waited for our turn to take off. As we went through the process, he told me about each thing he was doing. He wanted me to understand.

Once we were in the air, I asked him why he decided to get his pilot’s license.

“I went on a scout outing with my son, Paul, and we went flying,” he explained. “The first time I went, I hated it. It scared me.”

That surprised me. Why did he continue when he hated it so much?

“I decided to try it again and then I made friends with the flight instructor,” he explained. “The instructor made it fun. Eventually, I decided to buy my own plane. But, I tossed and turned all night long right before I bought it. I really wondered if I was doing the right thing.

“Want to try flying?”

“What? Me? Fly?” I gasped.

“Sure. Take the wheel. You can do it.”

“I don’t know, Mark. I might crash the plane.”

Laughing, he replied. “No, you won’t crash the plane. I’m right here with you. All you have to do is keep it steady so the speed stays right at 65 miles an hour. See... if we go up or down the speed changes. Make tiny adjustments so the speed stays the same.”

I warily took the wheel. The plane immediately started to dive. “Pull the wheel,” he said. “You have to be at 65 mph.” He took over again and brought us back up to 65. “Try again.”

I tried again, moving the wheel up and down but was dismayed when the plane rapidly went up and down.

“Smaller movements, Rozanne. You’re over-correcting.”

I tried to make the adjustments smaller. It still didn’t work.

“See?” he said, demonstrating. “Look how tiny my movements are.”

I watched him closely. I couldn’t even see his hands moving. He was barely moving his fingers.

I tried again, but was unable to do it. “You take over,” I sighed, taking my hands off of the plane.

He laughed.

As we continued to fly around the valley, I thought about the smallness of the movements of his hands as he flew. I noticed how small the movements of his feet were as he steered the plane. I realized that it would be extraordinarily easy for a pilot to get off course or crash their plane simply by over-correcting.

I believe that our lives are much like flying an airplane. We rarely make big movements. Instead, our lives are largely made up of a series of tiny movements that turn us in one direction or another. If we want to change our course, we have to change the small things we do and the tiny decisions we make as we live each day. Every accomplishment, every failure, is achieved one tiny – almost imperceptible – movement at a time.

We landed smoothly on the ground that day. There wasn’t a bump or a grind or a screech. My brother has practiced and has mastered the skill of tiny movements in an airplane and the landing was perfect.

No wonder I feel safe with him.

- Ro

Layout by Ro
Supplies:




Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Stamped Dates are also available.

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.

Designer Do-Over: Ariadna Wiczling

Note: Article created using Adobe Photoshop CS3 with Windows XP.

The Original

Computer scrapbook layout by Ariadna Wiczling

Original layout by Ariadna Wiczling

I started this layout about a year ago, but never finished it. I was stuck. I'm sure that this happens to everyone from time to time! I usually put a layout down for a couple of days and try again. It took me a little bit longer with this one.

The Do-Over

Screenshot: Place items in sweet spots

I was pretty sure which photo I wanted to be the focal point. I wanted to use the same three photos because they support my story well, but I don’t like the background paper I chose. It doesn’t make the photos pop enough, in my opinion. I chose a darker brown paper from my Gaia Collection Biggie instead. I then drag my photos and resize them. (My focal point photo is large and the supporting photos are small.) I also use the Gaia Photo Mat as my journaling mat.

Notice that I use the 12x12 grid, which comes with the Ten Basic Design Principles eBook, to help position all of the elements in “sweet spots.” Sweet spots are the places where focal points work best. I decide to place my daughter's eyes in one sweet spot, two supporting photos in another sweet spot and reserve the remaining sweet spots for my title and journaling.

Screenshot: Create visual triangles

One of the design techniques I use in this layout is repetition. I use pink, green and cream spots throughout the layout to create visual triangles. They also serve to connect all of the segments. For example, the pink scribbles under the big and small pictures and the photo mat connect all of these elements with each other and with the journaling. This trick guides the viewer's eye and keeps it within the page.

Here is my finished layout:

Computer scrapbook layout by Ariadna Wiczling

Layout by Ariadna Wiczling
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Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Scribbled, Brush Set: Edgy LINES and Brush Set: Stamped Dates are also available.

Ariadna Wiczling

Designer Do-Over by Ariadna Wiczling

What's Happening at Scrap Girls?

Crops and Chats

Life Moments Crop and Chat
Tuesday, August 5th - 4:00PM ET

Join April (April Showers) 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 focus on Anniversaries. Any type will do. Can't wait to see you there!

High Noon Crop
Wednesday, August 6th - 12:00Noon ET

Join your host April Showers 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 August 6, we'll do a 10 photo challenge! Create a layout using any colors, any theme, but 10 photos! Sound daunting? Try a template!

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!

NSBR Chat - Early Edition
Thursday, August 7th - 1:00PM ET

What is NSBR? It's a non-scrapbooking related chat! We talk about everything, including some scrapbooking and usually chocolate. It's a great chance to meet new friends, catch up on what everyone is up to, and just relax! If you have a problem, we'll lend an ear or a shoulder to cry on. Have some great news to share? We'd love to celebrate with you.

So, join me, Shari (PV Mom of 2), on August 7th, at 1 PM ET, in the chat room Lobby! Hope to see you there!

Scraplift Crop
Sunday, August 10th - 5:00PM ET

Join TysMommy and angelaNussbaum for a Scraplifting Crop.

A few hours before the crop, we will tell you the name of a Scrap Girls Team Member, and you will be able to choose one of their layouts to be your inspiration. During the crop, we will also help explain about scraplifting, how to use a layout as inspiration, and the importance of giving credit.

Scraplifting is a lot of fun! So come join us, you're sure to enjoy it!

Aussie Chat & Crop
Monday, 11 August - 8:30PM *Australian Eastern Standard Time*

Please join Jo (ScrappingJo) and Karen (Kazbar73) for our next Aussie Chat. This week we will have an art inspired challenge. On Sunday, 10 August, we will post a picture for you to take some inspiration from. Create your layout then come and meet Jo & Karen in the Chat Room at 8.30pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (Please take note of the time change).

For all our other International Ladies, the chat will start at 6.30am New York time on Monday, 11 July. We look forward to seeing you all at the chat.

NSBR Chat
Monday, August 11th - 9:00PM ET

What is NSBR? It’s a non-scrapbooking related chat! We talk about everything, including some scrapbooking and usually chocolate. It’s a great chance to meet new friends, catch up on what everyone is up to, and just relax! If you have a problem, we’ll lend an ear or a shoulder to cry on. Have some great news to share? We’d love to celebrate with you.

So, join me, Carla (CRS) on August 11th at 9 pm et! Hope to see you there!

Get Published Chat
Tuesday, August 12th - 9:00PM ET

Join Angela (angelaNussbaum), Amy (tysMommy) and Christy (christyVW) for the Get Published Chat on August 12th at 9 PM ET.

Do you want to see your layouts in magazines, but you are not quite sure how? Do you need a little more confidence with your layouts? During the Get Published Chat, we will talk about current calls, give constructive criticism on requested layouts, and we will answer your questions about submitting to magazines.

As with most of our chats, there will also be a challenge. To help you further your chances of being published, we will select a call, and challenge you to do a layout with that theme! Be sure you come to this informative Monthly chat, you will be glad you did!

High Noon Crop
Wednesday, August 13th - 12:00Noon ET

On August 13, we'll do a Kitchen Sink challenge! Create a layout using the color red, a button, three or more photos and a tag! Add any other embellishments you'd like, and any other colors as well!

August Events

August Board Game: BINGO!

It's that time again! Join us for an exciting game of BINGO on the Message Board Forum in August! Pick 25 words from the list provided in the forum and send them in an e-mail to [email protected] with a subject line saying “BINGO CARD” and including your message board user name by Sunday, August 3rd in order to play in the first round which will begin Monday, August 4th.

Each day, members of the Welcoming Committee will call 5 random words from the Bingo list. Match just 15 of those words to win a BINGO. You must be first to call bingo in the forum to win that round. After a winner is called, the boards can be cleared and a new round will begin the following day. All winners receive a $5 Gift Certificate to the boutique! We like to see lots of winners, so please remember that each person can only win one round during the month. Have fun!

If you miss the first round cutoff date, you can still play! Just send in your Bingo card at any time during the month and you'll be eligible to begin playing when the next new round starts. Everyone who sends in a Bingo card will receive a confirmation email that their card has been received. If you do not receive confirmation within 24 hours, please re-send your list of words. We cannot be held responsible for misdirected emails.

Layout Contests:

August Layout Contest: We all have had some magical events in our life. We want to see your layouts that describe a time before or during a magical event in your life like a wedding, a prom, a special vacation, or maybe the birth of a child. Upload your layouts to the August Layout Gallery by August 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
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Designer Freebie by Brandy Hackman coordinates with her ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Pressed Petals 1, part of this month's ScrapSimple Club offering!



Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Pressed Petals 1 and ScrapSimple Layer Your Own Brushes: Stamped Specifics 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