Scrap Girls Chit Chat Newsletter: September 19, 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_080919_Fri_Smiles.htm

What's New in the Scrap Girls Boutique?

Scrap Girls Convention - Digital Scrap Link Information!

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!

Photo: Nichole Van Photography

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!

Some of our other special guest speakers include April Anderton and Lynda Angelastro from Digital Scrapbooking Magazine. They will be giving pointers on how to get published!

If you'd like to come and learn from Nichole, April and Lynda, 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!

Life Muses by Ro: Toe Smiles

Note from Ro: This is a muse I posted on my blog when I was at Canyon Ranch. I like it enough that I thought I’d share it with all of our readers. Hope you like it, too!

When you smile, where does it come from?

Does it come from your brain because your heart knows something pleasant or funny has occurred?
Does it come from your facial muscles because you are in a social situation that requires a polite smile?
Does it come from your throat because you have choked on something you grimace to dislodge it?
Does it come from your chest when it's heavy with pain and someone told you that smiling relieves the pressure?
Does it come from your belly because you have gas and need to burp?
Does it come from your pelvis because sitting is such a relief?
Does it come from your knees because knees have an innate sense of humor?
Or, does it come from your toes?

Toe smiles are the best kind... the best kind... the best kind.

Toe smiles are fabulously delicious.

Toe smiles lift like a balloon, rising and filling your knees who chuckle at the humor of your smiling feet, past your pelvis who sits with relief because it doesn't have to dance madly to be happy, through your belly and chest which expand with delight and peace, into your throat which opens and allows you to grin wide and show your teeth.

Toe smiles are seen in your eyes, heard with the ears, and lift the logic out of the brain. Toe smiles twirl you in circles, push you in pools, and cause you to sing show tunes with gusto.

But wait! Something is wrong, my toes are proclaiming. They want me to tell you the truth. It wasn't their fault when they burst into laughter. They just couldn't help it when they grinned.

My toes learned to smile because I twirled in circles, I jumped into pools and I sang out loud. My toes learned to smile, yes they learned how to smile... oh they learned how to smile when I let them.

So, if you are reading this story or if you are told it, I wrote these instructions for you. Please go and find it - that something or some things - find something out there that makes you feel childishly, totally, freely happy. And then, stop and enjoy them, these toe smiles, yes, toe smiles... toe smiles are the best kind it's true.

- Ro

Photo: Ro
I took this photo right before I wrote “Toe Smiles.”

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 Scrapbook Tutorial: Distressed

Note: Tutorial created using Adobe Photoshop CS3 on a PC running Windows Vista.

Many times while designing a new digital scrapbooking kit for Scrap Girls, I go back and forth wondering whether or not I should distress the papers. Some get distressed and some don’t. I guess you could say that there really isn’t a method to my madness! But, sometimes, a kit just really needs to be left alone. It’s comforting to know that I can distress the papers and even the embellishments later if I want to. This can be done easily with the wonderful digital scrapbooking brush sets that we have here at Scrap Girls!

There are many great brush sets that lend themselves to distressing. In this tutorial, I will be working with Thao Cosgrove’s Brush Set: Beautiful Distress.

Digital Scrapbook Tutorial Screenshot: Open files

First, choose two background papers and then open a new blank document. Drag the two papers over to the blank document. I am using background papers from my Paris Pink Collection.

Digital Scrapbook Tutorial Screenshot: Choose eraser brush

Next, click on the Eraser Tool and chose a brush from the drop-down palette. I am using Thao’s Brush Set: Beautiful Distress.

Digital Scrapbook Tutorial Screenshot: Erase sections

Then, just start clicking and erasing parts of the top paper layer, letting the bottom paper underneath show through.

Digital Scrapbook Tutorial Screenshot: Adjust opacity

Next, adjust the opacity of the eraser to soften the distressing.

Digital Scrapbook Tutorial Screenshot: Add black

To add some black to the mix, drag a black paper and place it under the top paper layer.

Digital Scrapbook Tutorial Screenshot: Blend black

Making sure that the black dot paper layer is selected, begin using the eraser brush to distress and blend in the black paper so that the green paper peeks out from behind. Use this technique on just about anything: papers, alphas, embellishments and more!

Digital Scrapbook Tutorial Screenshot: Final combination

After playing for awhile, I decide to go with the black and green dot papers distressed together and use this combination on my layout.

You can get many interesting effects with this technique. It’s a great way to “blend” several papers together. Make sure you are always using copies of your original papers and then you can play to your hearts content!

OK, now it’s time for you to get your brushes out and distress it! Happy distressing!

Computer scrapbook layout by Syndee Nuckles

Layout by Syndee Nuckles
larger view



Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Beautiful Distress, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Grandeur and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Sanded Edge Black 6302 are also available.

Syndee Nuckles

Tutorial written by Syndee Nuckles

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

ATC Swap Crop
Sunday, September 21st - 7:00PM ET

Please join me, Pat Bowman, in the chat room for our September ATC Swap Chat at 7PM ET. For this month's challenge we are doing ATC's (Artist Trading Cards) that feature flowers and a quote.

Here's how it works:

Create your ATC with your interpretation of the theme. Your original ATC file should be 3.5 inches x 2.5 inches or 1050 pixels x 750 pixels (can be portrait or landscape orientation) at 300 pixels per inch. Be sure to sign and date your ATC - real name and user name (unless they're the same, of course!) Post your ATC to the gallery as well, to share with all of our members.
Email the full-res, flattened JPG version and a notepad file with the ingredients to me ([email protected]) by the 15th October. Please include your initials at the beginning of the filename to help me keep track of everyone's ATCs.
I will zip them all together and provide a download link on YouSendIt for everyone to download the file. I will email the link to everyone, and will try to do this by the 20th of that month.

Have fun exploring your creative genius!

Aussie Chat & Crop
Monday, 22 September - 8:30PM *Australian Eastern Standard Time*

Please join Jo (ScrappingJo) and Karen (kazbar73) for our next Aussie Chat on Monday, 22 September, 2008.

This week we will have a quote challange. What is a quote challenge you may ask? Karen will post a quote on the boards early Monday morning and it is up to you to create a layout incorporating that quote. We will meet in the Live Chat Lobby at 8.30pm Australian Eastern Standard Time.

For those girls in the USA who love to come and chat with us Aussie girls, the chat will be on Monday, 22 September starting at 6.30am (New York time). Looking forward to seeing you all there.

New Member Chat
Tuesday, September 23rd - 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.

High Noon Crop
Wednesday, September 24th - 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. 24, we'll do a Black and White With a Twist challenge! Create a layout using black, white and hot pink! Any theme, any number of photos, just use black, white and hot pink!

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 Chat
Wednesday, September 24th - 9:00PM ET

Join Launa & Zaz, for a Textile Challenge and Crop, we will meet Wednesday, September 24th, at 9pm ET 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!

Swap Crop Chat
Friday, September 26th - 9:00PM ET

It's time for the Swap Crop Chat! We've done the swapping, and created the layouts, now it's time to chat about all the gorgeous layouts! I don't know what it is, but these swaps bring out the best in everyone. This is the time to chat about the theme, the beautiful layouts and learn about the swap crop if you haven't participated before. I'll even reveal the theme for next month!

Join me, Carla, for a fun chat at 9 pm et on Friday, September 26th!

NSBR Early Edition
Monday, September 29th - 1:00PM ET

What is NSBR? It’s a non-scrapbooking related chat! We talk about everything! It’s a great way to meet new people and get to know everyone. Catch up on what everyone is up to, and just relax! If you have any questions, we'll try to answer them.

So, join me, Launa, for some fun on September 29th, at 1 PM ET, in the Chat Room! Hope to see you there!

Desktop Chat
Tuesday, September 30th - 9:00PM ET

Please come join Angela (angelaNussbaum) @ 9PM ET for the Desktop Challenge Crop.

Tired of your desktop being some graphic that you would've liked to have made? Tired of a solid background? Did you know with your digital scrapbooking skills you can make a fabulous background for your enjoyment?

A few hours before the chat, we will provide you with a source of inspiration, so stay tuned.

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!

September Mid-Month Layout Contest: Dreams are one of the most fascinating things we can experience. Now is your chance to scrap one of the dreams you’ve had, or to create a “dreamy” layout. Maybe you have a dream that you’ve always had since you were a child, or a dream that you had a week ago. Let’s see those dreamy layouts uploaded to the Mid-September Gallery by midnight, October 15th, and if your layout is chosen, you will win a $10 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique!

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 Melissa Renfro

Layout by Melissa Renfro
larger view

Designer Freebie by Melissa Renfro coordinates with her Well Loved Collection Biggie, part of this month's Scrap Girls Club offering!


Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Photo Basics 5001 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