Scrap Girls Chit Chat Newsletter: October 10, 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_081010_Fri_Safe.htm

What's New in the Scrap Girls Boutique?

Scrap Girls Convention - Back at the Ranch Event

As you are reading this, Scrap Girls from all over the world are converging on Salt Lake City to participate in the first ever Digital Scrap Link Convention. We will be spending the rest of the week meeting, talking, learning, laughing, and more. We are so excited to share this experience with those who are able to come, but we have not forgotten those of you who are not able to make it to this convention. We will MISS all of you, and want you to know that each and every one of you is loved and appreciated!

So, Scrap Girls is pleased to announce its “Back at the Ranch” event of fun, crops, chats, challenges, classes, games, and more! Like we would forget you.... We want to make sure you have a great time holding down the fort while we're in Salt Lake!

We will have roving blog reporters out and about during the convention keeping you up-to-date with interviews, layout posts, games, and more! So, stay tuned to the newsletter and our message board. We will be announcing blog games on our message board, so don't miss out on your chance to win some great prizes!

Here's the schedule of events:

Friday, October 10:

12:00 Noon ET - High Noon Special Edition (Betsy)
5:00PM ET - Free Lasso Class (Mary Elizabeth)
8:00PM ET - Stampede the Chat Room (Rebecca)
9:00PM ET - Word Art/Quote Challenge and Crop (Karen)

Saturday, October 11:

1:00PM ET - Cowboy Color Challenge (Launa)

*Schedule is subject to change... keep an eye on the newsletter and message board for the latest “Back at the Ranch” happenings!

Life Muses by Ro: You're Safe

I want to ask you a question: If you knew – absolutely understood completely – that no matter what you did, you would be completely safe and that it wasn’t required that you worry, what kinds of things would you do?

Would you buy a home?

Would you get a new job?

Would you travel?

Would you go to school?

Would you spend more time serving others?

Would you allow yourself to have more fun?

Would you get your hair done?

Would you try a new skill?

Would you step outside of yourself and try new things?

Would you introduce yourself to new people?

Would change a habit that you’ve been hanging onto as a crutch?

Would you smile more?

Would you be kinder?

Would you feel all of the cells in your body relax?

What if I told you that you are safe right now – at this very moment? Would you believe me? Or, would you say, “Hold on there... You don’t understand my life. I have a serious illness. I’m not safe. I am constantly sick.”

Or, would you say, “You don’t know what you are talking about. I’m facing devastating financial problems. My world is falling apart on me.”

Perhaps, you might shout any or all of the following, “You just don’t get my life, Ro. I have a handicapped child. I have experienced a recent death in my family. I hate my job. I lost my job. I want to get a job but no one will hire me.”

What if I told you that I have experienced all of these things in my life? And, what if I told you that during the darkest days of my life I discovered I was utterly and completely safe. It was only when I realized that it is impossible to plan more than one step at a time that I realized I didn’t need to worry. If I trusted that I am safe and that I would be shown what to do, one step at a time. It was during periods of deep trials that I learned I am not alone because it was those trials that drove me to test out the faith I always claimed to have. It was during the darkest nights of my life that I reached out for the hand that had been stretched out to steady me all of the time.

Once I fully and completely understood that no matter what may come my way, I am not alone, I finally began to move forward. I was able to overcome fears that had held me back from trying to improve my situation. When I learned that I am safe, I gained hope that I could achieve my dreams. Discovering I am safe helped me to release control of my future into far more capable hands than my own.

So please, do not listen to the media pundits and politicians that run about shouting, “Duck, Chicken Little! The sky is falling!” Remember, they make their living exciting the public into frenzy. It’s what they do. While things may appear dreadful, the truth is that people live through challenges all of the time. We’ve traveled through them before and we can make it again.

I challenge you to relax into life, pray, and follow the little pieces of inspiration that come to you. If you do this, you will be better able to move with a current that will pull you to a better place. You will understand that no matter what may come to you in that current of chaos, it will flow away again and a new experience will flow in. You will find that you don’t have to drown in your river of life as long as you hold firmly onto the hand that keeps your head above water. You will find that no matter what happens, you will still be you.

May you feel safe today.

- Ro

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: Layers Palette Tricks

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

Creating amazing affects with your photos and digital scrapbooking papers through the manipulation of the options in your Layers Palette is fun and easy.

I have some friends who are missionaries in Mexico and I want to highlight them and the special bond that they have within their family. I will use a few of my favorite tricks to do this.

Digital Scrapbook Tutorial Screenshot: Adjust color

Start with ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Grunge Guru 2 - Dotty. Colorize this template in a deep ochre color by adjusting the Hue/Saturation (go to Image> Adjustments> Hue/Saturation) so that it looks like this.

Crop this layer to the size of your photo and lay it over the top of the photo. Lower the opacity of the layer enough so that you can see through it. Using the Elliptical Marquee Tool, create a wide oval selection over the photo, making sure that all of the subjects are included in your selection.

Digital Scrapbook Tutorial Screenshot: Make oval selection

Under “Select” at the top of the screen, choose Modify> Feather and enter 100 pixels. Now, Delete what is selected. You’ll be left with a border of the template paper that looks like this.

Digital Scrapbook Tutorial Screenshot: Change Blend Mode

Next, change the Blend Mode of this layer to “Soft Light.” Duplicate this layer once to achieve a richer affect. Here is the result.

Digital Scrapbook Tutorial Screenshot: Add Grunge brush border

Finally, give your border just a bit more oomph! Using Brush Set 4x6: Grungings, add a bit of pop to your border. Apply the Brush Set 4x6: Grungings pattern of your choice to the border of your photo. Next, choose a deep brown hue. Now, apply Blend Mode “Linear Burn” to the border for a dark but transparent look. Here is the effect you will get. The border becomes a bit more distinct with the darkened treatment, but not so much that it distracts from the image.

Now, all you need to do is create a digital scrapbooking layout for your fabulously decorated photo!

Computer scrapbook layout by Ursula Schneider

Layout by Ursula Schneider
larger view



Commercial license versions of Brush Set - 4X6: Grungings and ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Grunge Guru 2 are also available.

Ursula Schneider

Tutorial written by Ursula Schneider

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

High Noon Crop - Special Edition
Friday, October 10th - 12:00Noon ET

Join your host, Betsy, for a one hour challenge!

SPECIAL FRIDAY EDITION!

We're do a 5-photo challenge on Friday! Create a layout using 5 photos - no more, no less! You'll have one hour to chat, scrap and upload to the High Noon Crop Gallery! You'd be amazed what you can get done in an hour! We hope you'll join us!

Free Lasso Class
Friday, October 10th - 5:00PM ET

Round 'em up cowboys, and lasso the action! Join Mary Elizabeth for a FREE class on using PS / PSE lasso Selection Tools. The class materials will be available for download on Friday afternoon several hours before the class. We'll cover these three tools -- and still have lots of time for chatting and tearing up the town. (OK... the chat room!)

Stampede the Chat Room
Friday, October 10th - 8:00PM ET

Join 3*little*dragonflies AKA Becca for a stampede! That's right, folks, it's another round of cramming the chat room for a lot of high-spirited fun and excitement! Couldn't make it to the convention? No problem, partner! We've got your evening entertainment right here, so come join us Friday night at 8pm ET and let's get that chat room hopping!

Word Art/Quote Challenge and Crop
Friday, October 10th - 9:00PM ET

Howdy ya all! Join Karen (aka kazbar73) in the chat room on Friday, 10 October at 9pm ET for a Word Art/Quote Challenge. Watch the boards on Friday for the word art/quote, create a layout, and come and have a chat on Friday night. See you all then, pardners!

Cowboy Color Challenge
Saturday, October 11th - 1:00PM ET

Join me (Launa) for a Cowboy Color Challenge on Saturday, October 11th, at 1:00pm ET in the Scrap Girls Chat room. Come with your White hat on and don't be "Yella" or I'll have to get a posse and hunt ya down! See ya there!

Aussie Siggie Chat
Monday, 13th October - 9:00PM *Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time*

Please join Karen (kazbar 73) for the next Aussie Chat. This week we will create our very own "Siggies."

Have you wondered how everyone creates those cool signatures on the message board? We will meet in the Chat Room at 9:00 PM Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time for a fun chat and challenge to find out how to create, upload and insert them into your profile. Karen will post a challenge earlier in the day to help you get started, then during the chat we wil work on our siggies and answer questions!

For all our International ladies, the chat will be on Monday, 13 October, at 6am New York time. Looking forward to seeing you all there.

New Member Chat
Tuesday, October 14th - 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, October 15th - 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 October 15th, we'll do a wave challenge! Create a layout using a wave or a swirl in some way on your page. It can be a paper cut out in a wave shape, a funky swirly brush, an embellishment that has waves and swirls - just use a wave in some way!

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, October 16th - 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 (Shari - PV Mom), on October 16th, at 1 PM ET, in the chat room Lobby! Hope to see you there!

Heritage Crop
Thursday, October 16th - 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.

Quote Chat & Challenge
Sunday, October 19th - 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!

October Events

October Board Game: Posting Contest!

Have you ever been described as “garrulous?” How about “loquacious?” Or “voluble?” If so, then this is the game for you!

It's time to put your chatty nature to the test and get posting! We want to see you post the most! The top 10 posters this month will each win a gift certificate to the boutique! (Top 1-3 will each get a $10 GC, 4-6 will each get a $5 GC, and 7-10 will each get a $3 GC!) We've got a system to keep track of your posts. If you want to keep your own tally, feel free to note your post count before you start posting on Wednesday October 1st. Contest ends on Friday October 31st at Midnight MT!

So go on with your gabby girl self! This is the month for you!

Layout Contests:

October Layout Contest: Has someone ever done something for you that you will never forget or maybe gone above and beyond for you? This month’s contest is the perfect opportunity to document it or thank them for it. We want to see your layouts commemorating those that have made a difference in your life, no matter how big or small. Post your layouts to the October Gallery by Midnight ET on October 31st. If your layout is chosen you will win a $10 gift certificate to the boutique! Be sure to include the credits for products used in the description or under the Details button.

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 Laurel Lakey

Layout by Laurel Lakey
larger view

Designer Freebie by Syndee Nuckles coordinates with her Amusing Collection Mini



Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Tabbed Books, Brush Set: A Waltz To Remember 2 and ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Paper Tears 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 important to 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