Scrap Girls Chit Chat Newsletter: November 11, 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_081111_Tues_Joy.htm

What's New in the Scrap Girls Boutique?

Computer scrapbook layout by Melissa Anderson

Layout by Melissa Anderson
larger view

Computer scrapbook layout by Kara Swanson

Layout by Kara Swanson
larger view



Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: 1960's, Dynamic Brush Set: Paintstroke 5401 and Lettering Delights Mother's Typewriter Font are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Theresa Kavouras

Layout by Theresa Kavouras
larger view



Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates - Layered: Instamatic are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Syndee Nuckles

Cards by Syndee Nuckles
larger view

Assemble Your Own Cards: Antique Christmas

Computer scrapbook layout by Amanda McGee

Layout by Amanda McGee
larger view

Computer scrapbook layout by Brandy Hackman

Layout by Brandy Hackman
larger view

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: Joy in the Mundane

Computer scrapbook layout by Ro

Imagine what life would be like without...

Indoor plumbing
Refrigerators
Vacuum cleaners
Post offices
Windows
Books
Calculators
Clocks
Lawnmowers
Dishes
Medicine
Soap
Umbrellas

Ordinary. Everyday. Day-to-day. Routine.

Finding joy in the mundane is very satisfying work.

- Ro

Layout by Ro





Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Stacked Photos PS 6501 and Brush Set: Organica are also available.

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.

Best of the Message Board

Question: I have a four-month-old iMac and have just decided to try digital scrapbooking. After finding this great site, I read a bit in the University and started off, only to become muddled in a sea of questions and frustrations. First, I had high hopes for PSE, being an experienced user of 2.0 on a PC. However, I was underwhelmed.

My big, huge, possibly deal-breaking complaint about PSE6 Mac is that it appears to not interface with iPhoto. To the best of my knowledge at this point, I am going to need to scrap iPhoto and use Bridge for all photo issues, or export all of the photos I want to scrap to a regular folder and have PSE access them there. Is this right?

I downloaded iScrapbook after finding it on a Google search. I am excited that it interfaces with iPhoto and is very easy to use, but I am a bit concerned that it will be limiting in some way? It just seems so simplistic next to PSE.

I need any advice you veteran scrapbookers can throw my way! What software do you use? How do you make it work for you? What did you take into consideration when selecting software? Thank you in advance! I am anxious to get past all of this trivial stuff and on to scrapping!

I have another question. The downloadable papers, frames, etc. from this site... is there a way to add them to the default artwork pane in either program? I'd much prefer to see all of my available stuff in one place.

Answer 1: Hi and welcome to Scrap Girls! I have a Power Book G4 (hand-me-down from my husband) and I scrap with PSE 4. (I am hoping to upgrade to 6 someday.) I used PSE on the PC for awhile and then converted to Mac. I've never used iScrapbook, but I do believe its capability is significantly less than PSE. It is a bit frustrating that iPhoto and PSE don't play nicely together! I do like Bridge, though. I have used it to look at my photos sometimes. (Just find the iPhoto files on the hard drive through the folder list on the left-hand side.)

Mostly, I use my own personal work-around. Using File> Open (or the icon at the left of the toolbar - in PSE 4 it's just to the left of the Bridge icon), I go to my EHD where I store my photos. I locate the folder where my photo(s) is on the EHD. (We have ours filed with the dates encompassed within the folder or by special event, e.g. “2008-07 Sea World.”) Select the photos. (I tend to use the screen that has multiple columns so that I can follow the path to get to my photos. My husband says that's the “PC” way to do it. Maybe so, but it works for me!) Click the “Open” button and my photos are opened in PSE 4. Then, I just drag them over to my layout. It is no longer cumbersome to do this. It's what has worked.

On occasion, when I can't find the photo I want, I will open iPhoto, locate the name of the photo and the date, and then go through my process above. I hope that helps you.

Have you tried installing any styles or actions into PSE 6 (Mac)? There have been horror stories about that, but several people here at Scrap Girls have found the work-around to get them loaded. If I end up with an upgrade, I'll search the message board for the thread about it. Again, welcome to Scrap Girls!

Answer 2: Hey there! I am brand new to the Mac and have fallen in love with iPhoto for its organizing power. I believe there should be no problem with iPhoto interfacing with PSE6. When you're in iPhoto, go to “iPhoto” on the Menu bar and then Preferences> General. There is an option in there for what program you use for editing your photos. You can browse to your Applications folder and choose PSE6 there.

As for putting your elements in your default artwork pane, I don't know how you would do that - probably just move it into the appropriate folder somewhere, but I would advise against it. If you keep adding a bunch of stuff directly into PSE's (or PS's for that matter) Preset folders, the software can really slow down, especially upon start-up, since it has to load all of that stuff first. The best thing to do is to keep them organized in folders or in iPhoto, and then just drag and drop into your program.

Stick with PSE. You'll outgrow something like iScrapbook in no time and want the additional capabilities of PSE. Hope this helps! Let us know if you have more questions!

Question: I am trying to learn how to fix photos from one of Scott Kelby’s books. He says (this is a CS3 book) to use “Open As,” select the JPG, and then select “as for RAW.” However, when I do that in CS2, it does not work. I just can’t seem to figure it out. Does anyone know if it’s possible? I can open RAW images, but I want to use the tools that come when opening RAWs for my JPGs. My camera does not take RAWs.

Answer 1: I have that same book and am reading it now. If I remember correctly, I think that feature of editing JPEGs in RAW is new to CS3, so it might not be available to you with CS2. I'll have to look at my book when I get home. I just read that section the other day.

Answer 2: It's only available in CS3. Sorry!

Response: You girls got it good then. You should really see what that RAW thing can do to fix your photos! It’s awesome.

Answer 4: Yes, it is a reason to upgrade. I love this book. It has great tips, but it is only available in CS3 or higher.

Question: Can someone explain to me what RAW is and why it's so great? Thanks.

Answer 1: RAW is an option on some cameras. It takes photos with a lot more information than a JPG, so when you take it to your photo editing program, you can alter the photo with a lot more options available to you. That’s a very simplified answer.

Response: Thanks. It sounds like something worth having.

Answer 2: It's great because the file doesn't get compressed like a JPEG does, which means you have more information to work with when you go to edit the photos. Plus, it's higher quality, which means you can print bigger sizes and not have to worry about blurriness. It is great for those amazing shots you want to blow up and frame in your house!

Answer 3: Basically, when photos are shot in RAW format, they're “unprocessed,” but when you open them in ACR or Lightroom for processing, the info accompanying them allows you more leeway for manipulating and adjusting settings (e.g. white balance) as you process them. The drawback is that RAW files are two to six times larger than JPEGs and take up a lot more space on your computer.

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

New Member Chat
Tuesday, November 11th - 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, November 12th - 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 November 12th, we'll do a dominance challenge! Create a layout using the design principle of dominance. Unsure of what that is? Come find out, we'll discuss this design principle throughout the crop!

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 Crop
Wednesday, November 12th - 9:00PM ET

Join Launa & Zaz, for a Textile Challenge and Crop, we will meet Wednesday, November 12th, 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 grandmothers 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, November 13th - 9:00PM ET

Join me, sprinklz, for the Sketch Challenge and Crop, Thursday, November 13th, 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.

Quote Chat & Challenge
Sunday, November 16th - 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 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!

I'll post the time on Sunday, as the time changes around each month 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!

Scraplift Chat & Crop
Sunday, November 16th - 5:00PM ET

Join TysMommy and angelaNussbaum for a Scraplifting Crop.

A few hours before the crop, we will tell you the name of a Scrap Girls Team Member, and you will be able to choose one of their layouts to be your inspiration. During the crop we will also help explain about scraplifting, how to use a layout as inspiration, and the importance of giving credit.

Scraplifting is a lot of fun! So come join us, you're sure to enjoy it!

Coffee Break Chat
Monday, November 17th - 6:30AM ET

Does your morning routine include reading the daily Scrap Girls newsletter with a cup of coffee, cocoa, or tea each morning? Are you an early riser who can't wait for the newsletter to hit your Inbox?

Join Sherry Lynn and Becca this Monday morning at 6:30am ET for a Coffee Break Chat! This chat is short and sweet, only a half hour long so you can get on with your day. We'll discuss the layouts, concepts, muse, and freebie from the newsletter. Set your alarm a little early and come join us for some caffeine-free delight!

New Member Chat **Early Edition**
Tuesday, November 18th - 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.

November Events

November Board Game: Bingo!

It's that time again! Join us for an exciting game of BINGO on the Message Board Forum in November! Pick 25 words from the list provided in the forum and send them in an e-mail to [email protected] with a subject line that says “BINGO CARD” and your message board user name by Monday, November 3rd (midnight MST) in order to play in the first round which will begin Tuesday, November 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 win 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.

Layout Contests:

November Layout Contest: Have you ever wanted to get a little crazy with your layouts and create something unusual? Here's your chance! For the November Layout Contest, we want to see some unusual layouts! Get a little crazy and type your text sideways or backwards; maybe turn the whole layout on its side! Or use mirror images to create some unusual effects! The sky's the limit! Post your layouts in the November Layout Contest Gallery before November 30th at midnight, and if your layout is chosen, you will win a $10 gift card to the Scrap Girls Boutique. Have fun!

October Mid-Month Layout Contest: Do you enjoy volunteering or helping out in your community? Whether it is at your local church or you are the founder of a non-profit, giving of your time and efforts really can make a difference to those around you. So, let’s see your layouts about how you help those around you or volunteer your time and what it means to you. Post your layouts to the October Mid-month Gallery 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 Valerie Randall

Layout by Valerie Randall
larger view

Designer Freebie by Valerie Randall coordinates with her Barbara Collection Mini




Commercial license versions of Brush Set - 4x6: Enchanted, ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Hearts 2101 Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Glossy Super Biggie 4102, Brush Set: Paint Stroke and ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Heart Biggie 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