Scrap Girls Chit Chat Newsletter: August 13, 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_080813_Wed_Honeybees.htm

What's New in the Scrap Girls Boutique?

Computer scrapbook layout by Keri Schueller

Layout by Keri Schueller
larger view

The last product is included in this month's Scrap Girls Club offering. Members receive a substantial discount on these club supplies. They are also available elsewhere in the Boutique at regular prices for those individuals who would rather not join a club.




Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Playful Swirls, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Flat Ribbons and ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Spiral Bound are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Debbie Layden

Layout by Debbie Layden
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Borderline 2, Brush Set: Nearly Taped, Brush Set: Stamped Dates, Brush Set: Made With Love and Lettering Delights Dear Diary Font are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Paula Wright

Layout by Paula Wright
larger view



Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Sew Torn Up are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Armi Custodio

Layout by Armi Custodio
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Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Typographic, Brush Set: My Descriptions, Brush Set: Stamp A Date, Brush Set: Grunged Geometrics and ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Photographic are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Syndee Nuckles

Layout by Syndee Nuckles
larger view


Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Recess 6301 and ScrapSimple Digital Layout Album Templates - Layered: 4x6 Alphabet Super Biggie 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: Honeybees

Note from Ro: I have been hijacked. Heidi, our newsletter editor, noticed how quiet I have been for the past few weeks, and she decided to force me into taking a break from writing muses. I gladly accepted! She will be sharing some muses of her own this week while I take some time to catch my breath.

A wonderful benefit of having a garden of sunflowers that I have only discovered this summer is that I get honeybees buzzing around my yard. You might think this is a strange benefit, and I did too at first. After all, nobody wants to spend time in the outdoors worrying about being stung, but I have become so enamored of these little creatures.

When I first noticed them hanging around, I thought they were wasps. We have had problems with wasps in our area before. They like to build their nests in the nooks and crannies of my 1914 bungalow’s weather-beaten wood siding and crumbling brick. But when I became brave enough to look closer, I realized that these were indeed honeybees. Of course, this did not immediately alleviate my concerns, as I have been stung by a bee before, but never by a wasp.

The summer I turned six, my best friend and I wandered into a vacant field near our homes. The weeds grew taller than our waists, and we bravely ventured forth, blazing trails in search of wildflowers to bring home for our mothers. I reached out to grab a pretty bunch of wild purple blooms when I was startled by a sudden burning in my hand. I was confused; I knew that these flowers didn’t have thorns, and stood there for a moment in painful thought. When the shock faded, I pulled my hand out of the shelter of the flowers and leaves to see a bee stuck in the webbing of my hand between my thumb and forefinger.

The writhing and angry buzzing of this tiny animal horrified me more than anything. It was no bigger than my six-year-old thumb, and I was I was afraid to shake my hand for fear I might hurt the bee. It was already in so much pain, I didn’t want to add to it. So, I did what any sensible six-year-old girl would do. I dropped my bouquet and ran for momma! While we were unable to save the bee, I was always more careful around flowers after that.

Over the past year and more, my interest in these animals has increased. I have heard many reports about the collapse and disappearance of honeybee colonies all over the world. Scientists are at a loss to explain how whole hives of bees go missing, without even leaving any bodies behind to examine for answers. Beekeepers and farmers alike are worried about what the loss of colonies will mean for agriculture. Without bees to pollinate crops, there will be problems producing food in the same way we do it today. Many other issues are tied into the well-being of honeybees, most of which humans take for granted.

Imagine my absolute delight then when I started to see honeybees visiting my sunflowers. Their tiny striped bodies held aloft by wings to small to support their weight are a miracle of willpower. I watched them all summer, buzzing around my flowers, gathering their fill of nectar and lazily sunbathing in groups in the bright yellow, pollen-dusted centers of the flowers.

I have been inching closer and closer to them every day to watch them work. They wiggle their bodies and dip their heads and buzz and circle around and come back for more. My fear of being stung is lessening day by day. I even had the magical experience of having a bee land on my hand for a moment before taking off again. I held my breath in wonder at its tiny weight and forgot to be afraid until it was gone. I want to cheer them on, this little colony, and hope that my sunflowers can bring them enough of what they need to make it to next summer.

- Heidi

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: Layered Text

Note: Tutorial created using Adobe Photoshop CS3 and Windows XP.

When creating a digital scrapbooking layout, there are many times a simple text layer for the title is not as dynamic as the layout. In those situations, the use of layers can make the difference between adequate and fabulous.

To begin, we will create a basic title.

Screenshot: Type your title

Select the Text Tool and click on your layout where you want the title to appear. A flashing cursor will be visible. For this technique, you will want to use an open font (without fill). Select the font, font size and font color from the options bar. Type the title.

Use Ctrl+T (Cmd+T on Mac) to rotate the title to a pleasing angle.

In this example, I use the Lettering Delights Holiday Rock Font at 42pt.

Screenshot: Use the Magic Wand Tool to select parts of your title

Select the Magic Wand Tool. On the options bar, set the Tolerance to “0” and check the box for “Contiguous” (this will allow you to select individual parts of the layer).

Shift+Click inside each of the letters. The “marching ants” will be visible.

Add a new layer to your layout using Ctrl+Shift+N (Cmd+Shift+N on Mac).

Screenshot: Add a fill

To make the font more visible, we will add a fill.

Select the Eyedropper Tool. Click on a color within your layout. The color will now be your foreground color.

With the new layer active in the Layers Palette, use Alt+Delete (Opt+Delete) to fill the selection.

Leave the selection active (leave the marching ants).

Now that the font is filled, we are going to add a border.

Screenshot: Expand selection

Go to Select> Modify> Expand. A pop-up menu will appear. Choose the amount you want to increase the selection and click “OK.”

In this example, I expanded the selection by 15 pixels.

Screenshot: Add a stroke

Go to Edit> Stroke. A pop-up menu will appear. Choose the width of the border and the color. To change the color, double-click on the color sample. A second pop-up menu will appear. Use the color menu to select the color of your border and click “OK.”

Choose the location of the border and click “OK.” Use Ctrl+D (Cmd+D on Mac) to deselect (turn off the marching ants). In this example, I use a stroke width of 5 pixels and a location of “Ooutside.”

The title is really starting to shine at this point, but I want to take it a step further by adding a subtitle.

Screenshot: Add a subtitle

Use Ctrl+Shift+N (Cmd+Shift+N on Mac) to add a new layer to the layout. Choose the Text Tool and type out the subtitle.

In the example, I use Lettering Delights Scrap Casual digital scrapbooking font at 24pt.

Screenshot: Position subtitle

Use Ctrl+T (Cmd+T on Mac) to rotate the subtitle to a similar angle as the title. Use the Move Tool to align the subtitle over the title.

After a few simple steps, the title to my digital scrapbooking layout is much more interesting and is as colorful as the other elements on the page!

Computer scrapbook layout by Marnie Adams

Layout by Marnie Adams
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Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Sketchbook Pencil Biggie, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Photo Transfer Frames, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Fibers 4901, Lettering Delights Holiday Rock Font and Lettering Delights Scrap Casual Font are also available.

Marnie Adams

Tutorial written by Marnie Adams

What's Happening at Scrap Girls?

Crops and Chats

High Noon Crop
Wednesday, August 13th - 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 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!

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!

Textile Inspiration Challenge/Chat
Wednesday, August 13th - 9:00PM ET

Join Launa & Zaz, for a Textile Challenge and Crop, we will meet on Wednesday, August 13th, at 9pm EST in the Scrap Girls Chat Room!

Do the patterns, textures, and colors of textiles fascinate you? Do you get inspiration from anything from pillows to your grandmother's apron? Then this challenge is for you! A few hours before the challenge begins, I'll post a textile for you to use as the starting point for your page. You may be inspired by the colors, placement of patterns, textures... just let it be your inspiration!

I can't wait to see what you come up with!! See you there!

Sketch Crop Challenge
Thursday, August 14th - 9:00PM ET

Join me, sprinklz, for the Sketch Challenge and Crop, Thursday, August 14th, at 9pm ET in the Scrap Girls Chat Room!

Like getting a little jump start on your layouts? Then this challenge is for you! A few hours before the challenge begins, I'll post a sketch for you to use as the starting point for your page. You can be inspired by the basic arrangement, the amount of photos, or copy it literally. All interpretations are welcome and encouraged!

Looking forward to seeing you there! We'll be meeting in the "00_Room_1" room of the chat. To join, click on the "Chat Room" link (above). Once you are in the lobby, click on the "Show Rooms" button (on the upper left), then select "00_Room_1" from the list on the left side.

If you have never been to the Scrap Girls Chat Room before or have questions about it, this tutorial, Chat Basics, will provide lots of helpful information.

Quote Chat & Challenge
Sunday, August 17th - Time TBA

Come join Pat (PBarnes) for the Quote Challenge Crop! Including a quote on your layout can be a touching and meaningful addition, especially if you use the quote to create your own word art.

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!

Keeping Current Crop
Monday, August 18th - 4:00PM ET

Join AngRoCamp for the Keeping Current Crop on the (NEW DAY!!) third Monday of each month. In August we'll enjoy an afternoon crop beginning at 4 p.m. Eastern Time.

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!”

High Noon Crop
Wednesday, August 20th - 12:00Noon ET

On August 20, we'll do a color challenge! Create a layout using blue and green. You can use other colors as accents, but primarily your color scheme should be blue and green!

Ad Inspiration Crop
Wednesday, August 20th - 9:00PM ET

Join Pat & Launa for an Ad Inspiration Chat and Crop in the Scrap Girls Chat Room Wednesday August 20th at 9:00 ET.

We will use a magazine ad to inspire a LO, there is no wrong answer!! Come join the fun! The Ad will be posted a couple of hours before the challenge. Come join us for some chattin', croppin', and FUN!

NSBR Chat - Early Edition
Thursday, August 21st - 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 21st, at 1 PM ET, in the chat room Lobby! Hope to see you there!

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 Sarah Batdorf

Layout by Sarah Batdorf
larger view

Designer Freebie by Angie Briggs coordinates with her His and Hers Collection, part of this month's Scrap Girls Club offering!


Commercial license versions of Lettering Delights Mother's Typewriter Font 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