Scrap Girls Chit Chat Newsletter: November 26, 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_081126_Wed_Peace.htm

What's New in the Scrap Girls Boutique?

Computer scrapbook layout by Trish Yochum

Layout by Trish Yochum
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Commercial license versions of Design Pack: Hints Of Holiday are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Shalae Tippetts

Layout by Shalae Tippetts
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Commercial license versions of Brush Set: ABC Fun are also available.

Computer scrapbook projects by Syndee Nuckles

Projects by Syndee Nuckles
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Craft Templates: Holiday Shape Cards and ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Hand-Tinted 6301 are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Brandy Murry

Layout by Brandy Murry
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Petite Frames, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Threadbare Shapes Biggie and ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Ribbons To Go III are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Angela Blanchard

Layout by Angela Blanchard
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Computer scrapbook layout by Keri Schueller

Layout by Keri Schueller
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Breathe and Brush Set: Breathe Swirls are also available.

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: A Peace That Defies Logic

I understand that I am supposed to feel scared. I understand that I am supposed to feel worried. I think I should feel that my life will implode if I make a false step. I hear the hum of humanity sound with nervous energy that should infect my pores with the electricity and cause my teeth to clamp.

And yet, I feel as calm as a cat looking out of a bright warm window. I feel as peaceful as twinkling stars hanging over a small town in a quiet valley. I feel as clear as water in a glass sitting on a white marble counter.

I think I have always been waiting for this time. I believe that even though I didn’t know it, the winding path I have walked has propelled me forward to this spot. I am coming home to find warm bread, fresh from the oven, sitting on the counter next to a bottle of strawberry jam.

I meet friends I do not know and yet know well. I look at their faces and see their hearts and smile at the recognition that occurs when souls parted are united again.

No, I am not worried. I am not afraid. I have peace winding through my spirit, round my heart, through my lungs, and out my fingers which wait to grasp the hands of my Scrap Girls.

- Ro

P.S. I feel this when I am chatting with old and new friends on the Scrap Girls message board. What an amazing group of people!

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 CharleneJ, Soozlou, and mtorres_usa.

Digital Scrapbooking Tutorial: Alphabet, Word Art, and Embellishment Sheets

Note: Tutorial created using Adobe Photoshop CS2 with Windows XP.

Do you know those alphabet, word art, and embellishment sheets that come with all of the Scrap Girls collections? They are in PNG files, but are easy to flatten when you want to print. We can use them for making craft projects, paper layouts, gift albums, and other printables. They are also fun to drag and drop onto digital scrapbooking layouts to dress up the page. Here are a few examples.

Digital Scrapbook Tutorial Screenshot: Word Art sheet

While searching through my Scrap Girls stash, I found Thao Cosgrove’s Word Art Labels in her Pretty Primavera Collection Biggie. They remind me of those refrigerator poetry magnets.

For this layout, I decided to drag and drop the “TCS_PrettyPrimavera_WordArt-Labels_SHEET.png” onto the background and highlight the word “wet” with a bookplate label holder from the RetroActive - All Boy Collection Mini.

Computer scrapbook layout by Sarah Batdorf

Layout by Sarah Batdorf
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 are also available.

In this layout, I am using Thao Cosgrove's word art stamp sheet from her Naturescape Collection Biggie. You can extract some of the stamps from the grouping by using the Rectangular Marquee Tool. Draw a box around the stamp and cut/paste it onto a new layer.

Computer scrapbook layout by Sarah Batdorf

Layout by Sarah Batdorf
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 are also available.

For this Christmas layout, I am using the alpha sheet from my Heartland Collection Biggie. To highlight a child’s initial, select the letter (I chose “M”) and then press Ctrl+I to invert the “M.”

Computer scrapbook layout by Sarah Batdorf

Layout by Sarah Batdorf
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 are also available.

Sarah Batdorf

Tutorial written by Sarah Batdorf

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, November 27th - 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 us, Shari (Shari PV Mom) and Michelle (Shelbi), on November 27th, at 1 PM EST, in the chat room Lobby! Hope to see you there!

Desktop Challenge Crop
Friday, November 28th - 8:00PM ET

Please come join Angela (angelaNussbaum) and Becca at 8PM ET for the Desktop Challenge Crop.

Tired of your desktop being some graphic that you would've liked to make? 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.

ATC Crop/Chat
Sunday, November 30th - 7:00PM ET

Please join me, Sherry_Lynn, in the chat room for our November ATC Swap Crop/Chat on Sunday, November 30, at 7PM ET. For this month's challenge we are doing ATC's (Artist Trading Cards) that feature Holidays!

Swap Crop Chat
Sunday, November 30th - 9:00PM ET

Join Shelbi (Michelle) for the November Swap Crop Chat Sunday, November 30th, at 8pm EST. I can't wait to see all the wonderful fall layouts you have made for each other.

If you can't make it to the chat we would still love to see your Layouts in the gallery. You can start uploading your layouts at 6pm and we'll chat about them at 8pm.

NSBR Chat
Monday, December 1st - 9:00PM ET

What is NSBR? It’s a non-scrapbooking related chat! Take some time out from your busy holiday schedule and relax with us in the chat room. We can chat about anything, including scrapbooking, chocolate and the craziness of the season!

So join me, Carla (crs), at 9 pm et in the chat room!

High Noon Crop
Wednesday, December 3rd - 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 December 3rd, we'll do a snowflake challenge! Create a layout using at least one snowflake, in any way you can!

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!

Scraplift Chat & Crop
Sunday, December 7th - 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!

Aussie Chat
Monday, 8 December - 9:00PM *Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time*

Join Jo (ScrappingJo) and Karen (kazbar73) for our next Aussie Chat on Monday, 8 December. This week's challenge is to create your favourite Christmas Recipe on a 4x6 layout. Join us in the chat room from 9pm Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time for lots of laughter and fun.

PS - For our International Ladies, the chat will start at 5am, Monday, 8 December.

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!

November Mid-Month Layout Contest: We all have some principles that we look to for guidance in our lives. These principles help us make decisions and choices. For the Mid-November Layout Contest, we want you to create a layout documenting a list of five principles or rules that you live by. Post your layouts in the Mid-November Layout Contest Gallery by December 15th at midnight, and if your layout is chosen, you will win a $10 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique! Good Luck!

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 Brandie Valenzuela

Layout by Brandie Valenzuela
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Designer Freebie by Brandie Valenzuela coordinates with her ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Turkey Day



Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Turkey Day, ScrapSimple Digital Layout Album Templates - Layered: 4x6 Recipe Card and Brush Set: Turkey Day Doodles 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