“Family” layout by Pat Bowman
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

I used one of Melissa’s ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Downtown as a transparency overlay on my layout. In order to give some more depth, instead of recoloring it, I layered one of the papers from the Treasures Collection Biggie over it and used a clipping mask. Then I applied a Blend Mode that I liked.

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Photo Masks - Downtown, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Downtown, Brush Set: Fanciful Frames and AMC_Thoughtful Font are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS3

Name of challenge: Free Scrap

“16 Weeks” layout by Jennifer Labre
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

One of my absolute favorite techniques to do on a page is to blend a photo into the background. I love the look it gives to my overall page. To do this, place the photo layer above the background paper layer. Then, using your Blend Modes, select the one for the effect that looks best to you. One of my favorites (and the one I used in my layout) is “Multiply.” Once you have selected the Mode you like, try varying the Opacity a bit to make it more subtle. Here, my opacity is set to 53%.

Next, because I don’t like harsh lines and want a softer look, I use a layer mask. Click on the little square with the circle in the middle at the bottom of the Layers Palette. This will add a mask to the photo layer. Then, make sure your default colors are showing (Ctrl+D) with Black as the foreground color and white as the background color. Select the Gradient Tool and choose “Foreground to Transparent” gradient. Next, simply drag that gradient near the harsh lines on the photo layer, making sure that the layer mask is highlighted. Repeat as necessary, using small strokes, until all of the harsh lines have simply faded into the background.

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Bows Biggie are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS

Name of challenge: Free Scrap

Other Ingredients:

• Font - King & Queen

“Adventurers” layout by Kim Meeder
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

To create the blended photo effect, I opened the JPEG file of my photo and created a duplicate to work with. First, I applied Melissa Renfro’s Photo Basics 5001 (Chocolate with Color) action and merged the layers. Next, I dragged the merged photo onto my layout, placing it on its own layer above the orange background paper. Being careful to highlight the paper layer, I used the Ctrl+J shortcut to duplicate the orange paper layer. I moved this duplicate layer above my photo so my photo was sandwiched between identical paper layers. Finally, I selected the Eraser Tool, chose a soft brush (Opacity 55%, Flow 65%) and carefully erased portions of the top layer of paper to reveal the photo. To make this process easier, I lowered the opacity of the paper to allow me to see my photo while working.

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Photo Basics 5001, Brush Set: Grunge Patterns and ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Fancy Folds 4 are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS3

Name of challenge: Free Scrap

“Snacking with Attitude” layout by Stefanie Harris
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

I wanted to create a layout that was fun, and suited for a girl – but not use “traditionally girlie” supplies. I thought Melissa Renfro’s Sun Kissed Collection Mini was perfect for this... it’s so warm, and just feminine enough to highlight my daughter having a “Diva” moment.

After establishing the basic color scheme, I decided her dress had WAY too many colors going on, so I used Melissa’s ScrapSimple Tools – Actions: Photo Basics 5001 (I used the “Classic Sepia with Color” action in particular) to tone down the colors, and make the photo “earthy” enough to coordinate well with the papers and elements.

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Stylish Stars 5001, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Aged Folds 5001, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Photo Basics 5001, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Calendars, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Gold 5101 Super Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Inked Edges Metallics Mini 4103 and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Chipboard Textured 4107 Mini are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS2

Name of challenge: Free Scrap

Other Ingredients:

• Font - LD Portent
• Font - LD Softy

“Amicus Est Tanquam Alter Idem” layout by Kelly Favor-Chronister
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

To give the lace a more realistic look, I brushed a single stroke from Angie Briggs’ Brush Set: Yesterday Lace onto a new layer and added the white canvas paper from Brandy Murry’s Yesteryear Collection Biggie above it. I grouped them together using a clipping mask (Ctrl+G, Command+G on Mac, or go to Layer> Group with previous). I added Erica Hite’s ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Beveled 5401 to the lace layer and lowered the bevel to bring out the detail in the brush. Then I added Erica Hite’s ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Colored Vellum 5401 to the paper layer. It added the transparency of lace and gave it a nice shadow as well.

Commercial license versions of Lettering Delights Painter's Hand Font, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Iridescent Glass 6401, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Micro Glitter 6401 Super Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Aged Folds 5001, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Forties Buttons Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Felt Biggie 6501, Brush Set: Yesterday Lace, Lettering Delights Mother's Typewriter Font, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Paper Tears PSE 5001, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Photo Basics PSE 5001, ScrapSimple Tools - Patterns: Graffiti 1801, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Beveled 5401, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Colored Vellum 5401 and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Neutral Shadows 2801 Super Biggie are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0, iPhoto

Name of challenge: Free Scrap

Other Ingredients:

• Font - Apple Garamond
• Font - Century Gothic

“Wonder Years” layout by Janine Buckles
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

After placing the picture of Evan on my layout and adjusting the background colour to a shade of blue that coordinated with it, I played with the Blend Mode in the Layers Palette. “Colour Burn” created just the look I wanted and allowed the “folds” in my background to show through.

Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Windy Day, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Downtown, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Photo Basics PSE 5001, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Stitching And Holes 4102 and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Aged Folds 5001 are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0

Name of challenge: Free Scrap

Other Ingredients:

• Font - JaynePrint
• Font - SaturdaySans
• Font - EdwardianScript

Journaling: You will soon be a teenager and I so enjoy watching as you grow and continue on your journey of discovering who God has created you to be. You are a compassionate and loving young man with a heart that is tender and sweet. At the same time I see a strength in you that many adults don’t have. It is going to be a joy to watch as you enter... the wonder years.

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.

It's getting close now... can you believe there are less than 28 days until our Convention starts? The excitement is really building around our message board. We have some wonderful things lined up to share with you, and we're excited to tell you a bit about them here!

One of our special guest instructors will be none other than Nichole Van from nicholeV photography. She will be presenting, “Making Art Out of the Ordinary: Mastering Light, Location and Composition.” Here's a short description:

Ever wonder how those professional photographers manage to find such incredible locations? And how do they always get that amazing light in their photos? Wouldn’t it be fun to create art out of the everyday, ordinary things you see? Nichole will discuss how to assess and best photograph any given location and how to “see” and use natural light effectively, getting perfect light in your photos. She’ll also discuss how to compose artistic photographs based on principles of classic composition and then how to bring all these elements out when editing in Photoshop. Come learn how to create art out of your life!

Nichole has such wonderful photography skills, we know you'll be as excited as we are to have her come share her expertise with us!

If you'd like to come and learn from Nichole, in addition to all the other great things we have planned for you, hurry and sign up now! We only have SIX spots left! Stay tuned to hear more about our Convention!

Consider the Lilies

During high school, I had the hopes of going on to study art at a prestigious art school. I knew my family couldn’t afford it and so my only chance was to receive a full ride scholarship at the state art competition my senior year. For four years I had been preparing for that competition. There would first be a preliminary judging within our school to determine who would compete on the state level.

I found out right before the preliminary competition that the big senior trip to the temple for the youth of my church was scheduled for the same dates as the state art competition. I was so bummed. I had been looking forward to having this faith building experience with my friends and classmates. I did not want to have to choose between the two.

I thought I could decide after the preliminary judging to see if I even qualified for the state competition. When my art teacher informed me that I had to make a decision before the preliminary competition I was furious.

I remember going home mad, frustrated, and discouraged. I wanted each of the trips so badly and knew I couldn’t have them both. I had to choose. Although I had been working toward the state competition for four years, internally I knew I should put God first in my life. As stayed up crying that night, I read my scriptures and prayed, hoping for some answers. How will I pay for school if I don’t have a scholarship? How will I be able to pursue art? I know I should put God first. Isn’t this an exception where He’ll understand? It was then that some particular verses of scripture jumped out at me.

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore, I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink... Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet, I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more cloth you, O ye of little faith? Therefore, take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? Or, what shall we drink? Or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But, seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow; for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself...

It hit me. I felt Him telling me this personally. “Shalae, do not worry about it. Do not worry about how you will pay for school, do not worry about your art. I am in control. I know that you need these things. Seek Me first, do My will and I will take care of you.” I have never forgotten that moment and I’ve never forgotten how I felt. I felt peace. It would be OK.

I returned the next day and told my teacher I would not be competing. I went on my youth trip and had a wonderful experience.

Now did it work out? Did He take care of me? Yes, in more ways than I could have ever dreamed of. I went through five years of college with school paid for in art scholarships and other means that I never had considered or anticipated. I have seen His hand numerous times. Since I have been married, we have seen these same blessings when we have had trying times and tried to do His will, instead of worrying about the money. We have had checks just arrive in the mail from anonymous sources. We have had opportunities here and there to earn a little money on the side. We’ve been able to sell vehicles or land that we owned when money was tight. We found Scrap Girls. We’ve made it through another five years of school, four kids and have had all of our needs taken care of.

He keeps His promises. In this world of competition, of financial stresses, and of overworking, all for the money to “take care of our needs and wants,” He promises us the same. Do not worry. I’m in control. I know what you need. Seek Me instead and you’ll be taken care of.

Those scriptures and the song “Consider the Lilies” always reassure me when life and money get tight, when things get stressful and we aren’t sure how we are going to make it another semester or have another child. He comes along and brings us miracles. I know He can bring you miracles too, if you let Him.

- Shalae

Favorite product I've designed:
Fall Watercolors Collection Mini

This is my first collection where I started incorporating my fine art background into my collections. This collection was one of the first ones that showed individual parts of me - my love of rich color, nature, paints and digital scrapbooking.

Layout by Shalae Tippetts
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Artistic Edges and ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Artsy - Watercolor 1 are also available.

The Scrap Girls Monthly Club allows you to get all of the newest looks while saving money! It is perfect for anyone who wants beautiful, coordinated digital scrapbooking supplies that are easy to use. You get all the products shown above, a $29.33 value, for $9.99 or less! Plus, each month we will help you find new ways to use your club contents to the fullest with this article full of ideas, tips, and projects to get your creativity going!

September’s Scrap Girls Club’s featured designer is Melissa Renfro. Warm, soft and well loved, this digital scrapbook club contains all-time favorites for your digital scrapbook layouts. When you need a paper for journaling on your digital scrapbook layout, you can find the perfect match in this club. This club includes all kinds of metal hardware, antique knobs and hinges, essential staples (with and without shadows), and more. Let’s look a little closer and see what additional ideas we can come up with for this club.

Layout ideas:

• Folk art home decor
• Patriotic/Americana (metal stars in Well Loved Collection Biggie)
• Thrift store finds
• Sewing
• Warm flannel shirts or sheets (plaid papers from Well Loved Collection Biggie)
• Camping (plaid papers from Well Loved Collection Biggie)
• Layouts about the special men in your life with titles like “My Man,” “Our Boys,” “Grandpa,” “Dad,” etc.
• Outdoors
• Brothers
• Heritage photos
• Fall
• Girls
• Remodeling or redecorating your house (Well Loved Hardware Embellishment Mini)
• Beach (blue papers in Well Loved Collection Biggie)
• Kids in denim overalls (Assemble Your Own Zoom Page: Well Loved)
• Child's birthday (Use Favorites Word Art Mini each year to document changes in their favorite things.)
• Family fun like vacations, game day, dessert night (Favorites Word Art Mini)
• Book collections (bookplates in Well Loved Collection Biggie)
• Fishing

Layout by Janine Buckles
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Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Playful Swirls, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Planes Trains and Automobiles, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Paper Tears PSE 5001 and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Stitching And Holes 4102 are also available.

Embellishment ideas:

• Use knobs and strappy things from Well Loved Hardware Embellishment Mini to hang tags or photos.
• The screws and brads in Well Loved Hardware Embellishment Mini can be used to embellish a plain ribbon.
• Use the buttons in Well Loved Collection Biggie to frame a picture.
• Use the straight stitches with sequins in Well Loved Collection Biggie to underline a title.
• Accent the alpha with the paper flowers in Well Loved Collection Biggie.
• Circle important words in your journaling with the black stitch circles from Well Loved Collection Biggie.
• Use the glittered circle in Well Love Collection Biggie to create bubbles or accent other bubble embellishments in bathtime or bubble-blowing layouts.
• Create photo mattes with journaling blocks in Well Loved Journaling Embellishment Mini.
• Make bugs from the hardware in Well Loved Hardware Embellishment Mini; use black stitches from Well Loved Collection Biggie to create dashed flying lines.

Card by Christy VanderWall
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Card ideas:

• Use the journaling blocks from Well Loved Journaling Embellishment Mini to print out a quick “Thank You” card.
• Create several mini “What I Love About You” love notes, each one listing a different thing you love about that person, giving one per day (using word art in Well Love Collection Biggie).
• Make a sweet “Thank You” card with the title “The Little Things Mean So Much” (Well Loved Collection Biggie).
• Create Autumn or Thanksgiving cards with brown and green papers in Well Loved Collection Biggie.
• Make fun notes for a child with word art in Well Loved Collection Biggie; tuck in lunchbox, coat pocket, etc.
• Create recipe cards for favorite comfort foods.
• Create “His” and “Hers” cards for occasions such as birthdays by changing out the papers.

Cards by Karen White
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Commercial license versions of Dynamic Brush Set: Basic Stitching 4901 Biggie and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Stitching And Holes 4102 are also available.

We hope this article gives you some ideas to get you scrapping! We’d love to see what you come up with. You can share ideas and tips on the message board, plus there’s a special gallery available for you to show off your Club creations and inspire each other, so start creating!

Have fun!

- The Scrap Girls Team

P.S. We hope you are enjoying one of our newest articles, Club Concepts. Each Monday, we give you ideas on how to use your current club selections in many different ways. We give you ideas for layout themes, embellishments, tips, cards, quotes, projects, and more! Well, we have realized that in creating these articles, we were leaving out one of the most important voices in our club... yours! So, we would like to announce that we will be looking for your help in creating these articles. And, of course, there are prizes involved!

How can you get involved, you may ask? Simply post your new layout using the current club selection (either the Scrap Girls club or the ScrapSimple club) in our Scrap Girls Club Members Gallery. Be sure to list all of the Scrap Girls products you used, as well as a short (1-2 sentence) description of the unique idea or theme your layout shows off. If your layout and its corresponding tip is chosen, they will be showcased in our Club Concepts article, and you will win a $5 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique!

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

Keeping Current Crop Monday, September 15th - 4:00PM ET Join AngRoCamp for the Keeping Current Crop on the (NEW DAY!!) third Monday of each month. In September, 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!” New Member Chat **Early Edition** Tuesday, September 16th - 3:00PM ET Join April (April Showers) at 3:00 PM ET for a fun chat to get to know our newest members. We will discuss the message board, gallery, chocolate and so much more! Everyone is welcome, new or not so new! Not sure how to get there? Just click the "chat room" button at the top of this newsletter; you will need JavaScript enabled to access the chat room. Get Published Chat Tuesday, September 16th - 8:00PM ET Join Angela (angelaNussbaum), Amy (tysMommy) and Christy (christyVW) for the Get Published Chat on September 16th at 8 PM EST. 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 magazine, and challenge you to do a layout with one of their calls! Be sure you come to this informative Monthly chat, you will be glad you did! Life Moments Crop Tuesday, September 16th - 9:00PM ET Join Carla (crs) 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 revisiting our childhoods, specifically, extra-curricular activities! Was anyone else a Scout or belong to 4H? How about gymnastics or ballet classes? I hope to see you on Tuesday, September 16th, at 9 PM ET in the chat room! High Noon Crop Wednesday, September 17th - 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 Sept. 17, we'll do a Back to School challenge! Create a layout about going back to school - whether it's your child's first day of kndergarten, you going back to college after a break, your favorite school day memories, whatever! Have an academic-oriented 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! Ad Inspiration Crop Wednesday, September 17th - 9:00PM ET Join Pat & Launa for an Ad Inspiration Chat and Crop in the Scrap Girls Chat Room Wednesday, September 17th, at 9:00 ET. We will use a magazine ad to inspire a layout, 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, September 18th - 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 18th, at 1 PM ET, in the chat room Lobby! Hope to see you there! Heritage Crop Thursday, September 18th - 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. This month’s challenge is to use a brush or two in your layout. Can't wait to see what you come up with.

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.)

Layout by dinny [Diane Miller]
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Designer Freebie by dinny [Diane Miller] coordinates with her Patterns: JEWEL Paper Biggie and Solids: JEWEL Paper Biggie

Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Living 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.