Scrap Girls Chit Chat Newsletter: September 4, 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_080904_Thurs_Progress.htm

Cute Stuff

Computer scrapbook layout by Trish Yochum

Layout by Trish Yochum
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These first four products are included in this month's ScrapSimple 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 ScrapSimple Layer Your Own Brushes: Tuscan Label, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Tuscany, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Tuscan Menu and Brush Set: Grapevines are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Thao Cosgrove

Layout by Thao Cosgrove
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates - Layered: Sectional are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Sarah Batdorf

Layout by Sarah Batdorf
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Commercial license versions of AMC_Quirky Font are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Cherise Oleson

Layout by Cherise Oleson
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Digital Layout Album Templates - Layered: 4x6 Stitches and Tags 1 and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Paua Shell Super Biggie 4104 are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Mandy Steward

Layout by Mandy Steward
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Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Stamped Dates are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Brandy Murry

Layout by Brandy Murry
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Extra - Ribbon Toppers Biggie and ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Fabric Curls are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Melissa Renfro
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Computer scrapbook layout by Melissa Renfro

Layouts by Melissa Renfro
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This 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.

Assemble Your Own Zoom Pages: Well Loved

Computer scrapbook layout by Syndee Nuckles

Layout by Syndee Nuckles
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Commercial license versions of Brush Set - 4x6: Word Frames are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Erica Hite

Layout by Erica Hite
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Computer scrapbook layout by Amanda Sok

Layout by Amanda Sok
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Assemble Your Own Zoom Pages - 4x6: Charisma

If you have praise, comments, or questions for any of our Product Designers or Layout Artists, 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: Aim for Progress, Not Perfection

Note from Heidi: Gillian Hurst wrote this great post on the Scrap Girls blog a few weeks ago. Everybody seems to struggle with the idea of perfection at one time or another and this reminder is one we can all take to he“art.”

A few months ago, I hit a complete and utter creative block. I couldn't paint, design or write. The more I tried, the harder it got and the harder it got, the more frustrated I became. A friend I paint with recommended a book she loved called Art and Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking by David Bayles and Ted Orland.

Willing to try anything, I duly ordered the book on Amazon. When it came, I was surprised to find it to be a pretty small book - I had been expecting something matching the mammoth size of my creative brick wall! I read it from cover to cover in just two sittings and have not looked back since.

The single most important lesson I took away from the book is that it is the quest for perfection that makes us hesitant to create, that puts barriers in our way. As creative people, and every single one of us is a creative being, we have to do something at every opportunity, aiming for PROGRESS, not PERFECTION and that is the single most important key to being creative.

Let's leave perfection up to nature, the journey is what it’s all about for us and things will unfold for us as they should, in their own time.

- Gillian

Photo: flower

Gillian Hurst

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.

Way Cool Stuff Product Review: Embellishments

Note: Tutorial written using Adobe Photoshop CS3.

I can’t imagine scrapbooking without embellishments – can you? Even in my old paper scrapbooking days I was all about the embellishments. I just can’t seem to get enough of them. Pretty ribbons... flowers in all shapes, colors and sizes... frames... staples, brads, jewels.... I could go on and on. Luckily, here at Scrap Girls, we have no shortage of embellishments to keep even the greediest of embellishment collectors happy!

Today, I am going to show you how I built a layout starting, as we all do, with just a photo and a background paper and then how I finished it off with embellishments. Sometimes, I have a tendency to get carried away with embellishments and then the layout becomes more about the embellishments than the photo. They key is to hit a happy balance between the two and to pick embellishments that don’t overshadow your photo, but help to portray the feeling of the layout.

Digital Scrapbook Tutorial Screenshot: Initial layout

For this layout, I will start with a paper from Amanda Sok’s beautiful Frippery Collection Biggie.

Digital Scrapbook Tutorial Screenshot: Layout with border added

There is a border in this collection that I absolutely adore because it is already embellished! Amanda has done all of the hard work for this one. I drag it onto my layout and add a drop shadow. Isn’t this a beautiful border?

Digital Scrapbook Tutorial Screenshot: Double frame added

I really like one of the frames from this collection so I drag it onto my layout. Since it is a double frame, I have to make a decision about what to do with my photo. Here is what I decide to do.

Digital Scrapbook Tutorial Screenshot: Ribbon heart added

Since this is a picture of my granddaughter and me, I want to make this layout about my love for her. I really love the ribbon hearts that are in Angie Briggs’ Scenic Route Collection Biggie so I select one of them and add the stamped sentiment “I love you” from the same collection. I am able to position the ribbon heart in such a way to cover the little part of my face showing in the picture on the right. I then make the ribbon heart look like it had been woven through the frames.

For the final touches, I add a brad from the Frippery Collection to the ribbon heart, a clipped flower from Amanda’s Digital Stickers: Folded Flowers, a frame underneath the frame on the right from Melissa Renfro’s Sweet Holly Embellishments, and staples from Brandy Murry’s City Park Embellishment Biggie.

Now, go forth and embellish!

Here is my finished layout:

Computer scrapbook layout by Pat Bowman

Layout by Pat Bowman
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Pat Bowman

Pat Bowman lives with her husband of 12 years in the Cleveland, Ohio area. She has been scrapbooking digitally for over five years and loves being a member of the Scrap Girls Layout Artist Team. Working full-time as a systems engineer for a global process automation firm, she travels frequently, but is able to take her scrapbooking with her on a laptop computer. Pat is also a serious hobby photographer and uses a Nikon D50 Digital SLR.

What's Happening at Scrap Girls?

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.

Crops and Chats

NSBR Chat - Early Edition
Thursday, September 4th - 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 September 4th, at 1 PM ET, in the chat room Lobby! Hope to see you there!

New Member Chat
Thursday, September 4th - 9:00PM ET

Join Pat (PBarnes) and Carol Ann (Zaz) for the New Member Chat at 9 PM ET in the Live Chat room lobby.

This is a great place to ask questions about getting around the Scrap Girls site or about digital scrapbooking in general - and a great place to make some new friends. All are welcome, new and long time members included.

You do need to have Java installed on your computer to access the Live Chat.

Scrap Girls Stand UP 2 Cancer Chat & Challenge
Friday, September 5th - 8:00PM ET

Please join Dee Decker from 8:00 - 10:00PM ET for a two hour chat and challenge. The theme is "How Scrap Girls and their families stand UP to cancer and don't back down in their love of life."

Dee's husband is a 15-year cancer survivor and lost his father to Malignant Melanoma in January 2003, so this is a cause close to her heart. On September 5th at 8:00 PM ET, ABC, NBC and CBS are joining together to raise national awareness through the "Stand Up To Cancer" program. The goal is to share information and inspiration with millions of people and to encourage contributions to fund a cure.

Viewers will be educated and inspired to help fund research and treatments that will save lives and help us win this very important fight. Cancer is a disease that doesn't discriminate, touching all families and, more than a campaign, this initiative is a movement we hope will ultimately help end cancer forever.

Scrap Girls SU2C team page: http://su2c.standup2cancer.org//mysu2c/team/view/2628.

Quote Chat & Challenge
Sunday, September 7th - 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!

Aussie Colour Chat and Challenge
Monday, September 8th - 8:30PM *Australian Eastern Standard Time*

Join Karen (Kazbar73) and Jo (ScrappingJo) for a Aussie Colour Chat and Challenge. Watch the boards on Monday for the colour, then complete a layout and join us in the Live Chat Lobby at 8.30pm Australian Eastern Standard Time. Hope to see you there.

PS - For all you American Girls, who are more than welcome to join our chats, it will be on Monday, 8 September, at 6.30am New York time.

Leavin' Love Chat
Monday, September 8th - 1:00PM ET

Come join me (Launa) and leave some love in the gallery. Bring a link to a layout of your own that needs a little love and two links of layouts that belong to someone else that need some love! Let's recognize all that awesome talent we have out there! I'm sure at some point chocolate will be discussed!

So join me on Monday, September 8th at 1:00 ET in the Scrap Girls Chat Room! See ya there!!

NSBR Chat
Monday, September 8th - 9:00PM ET

High Noon Crop
Wednesday, September 10th - 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 September 10, we'll do a geometric challenge! Create a layout using at leat one triangle somewhere on your page!

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!

September Events

September Board Game: Guess that Scrap Girl!

It's Back-to-School time and with it come memories of our own childhood. What did you want to be when you grew up? Did you dream big? This month, join us on the Message Board for a game of "Guess that ScrapGirl!" and find out what our ScrapGirls team members dreamed of becoming when they were little girls.

Every day during the month of September, a member of the Welcoming Committee will post a school-aged photo of one of the ScrapGirls team members. Identify the team member and then create and keep an ongoing list with your answers on it, and send your completed list to [email protected] no later than midnight October 2nd. (You can find current photos of all team members in the About Us section of the ScrapGirls home page.)

Everyone who correctly identifies all 30 team members will be entered in a drawing for one of three $10 Gift Certificates! Correctly identify 20+ team members and be entered in a drawing for one of two $5 Gift Certificates! Identify 10+ and be entered in a drawing for one of two $3 Gift Certificates!

Layout Contests:

September Layout Contest: All too often we get caught up in the things that bring us down in life. We sometimes take for granted all of the fun and wonderful things that happen on a daily basis. Here’s your chance to stop, smell the roses and appreciate the good things you have in your life right now. It might be the warm smile of a child each morning, or seeing your best friend on a fall afternoon to reconnect. Let’s pay tribute to the good things in our lives. We want to see your layouts about something positive in your life right now uploaded to the September Gallery. If your layout is chosen, you will win a $10 Gift Certificate to the boutique!

August Mid-Month Layout Contest: The story of your life is unwritten. We’d love to see a layout that has a story of something in your life most people don’t know about you. Do you have a hidden talent to share, a special award you received, or maybe an embarrassing moment? Upload your layouts to the August Mid-month Layout Gallery by September 15th at midnight and you will 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 Theresa Kavouras

Layout by Theresa Kavouras
larger view

Designer Freebie by Theresa Kavouras coordinates with her Combat: Marines Collection Mini


Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Combat: Marines Mini 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