Scrap Girls Chit Chat Newsletter: February 11, 2009

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_090211_Wed_Shoe.htm

What's New in the Scrap Girls Boutique?

Computer scrapbook layout by Caroline Kaiser

Layout by Caroline Kaiser
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Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Sweets and Hearts Biggie, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Cardboard Curled Edges, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Off The Wall - Torn, Brush Set: Frayed Edges, and Lettering Delights Mother's Typewriter Font are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Brandy Murry

Layout by Brandy Murry
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Die Cut, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Ribbons To Go I, and ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Nuptials Biggie are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Amanda Sok

Layout by Amanda Sok
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Computer scrapbook layout by Paula Wright

Layout by Paula Wright
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Tapes are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Valerie Randall

Layout by Valerie Randall
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Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Spirals 2103, ScrapSimple Type Paths: Shapes 2101, and Brush Set: Grungelle are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Debbie Layden

Layout by Debbie Layden
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Commercial license versions of Dynamic Brush Set: Mischief Maker, Brush Set: Beautiful Distress, Brush Set: Painted Swirls, and ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Journal Strips Biggie are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Melanie Johnson

Layout by Melanie Johnson
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Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Dots and Scribbles Biggie, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Lifted Photos Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Chipboard 4101 Mini, and ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Buttons 6301 are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Thao Cosgrove

Layout by Thao Cosgrove
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Alpha Templates: Halftone and ScrapSimple Tools - Shapes: Halftone 5701 are also available.

Computer scrapbook layout by Angie Briggs

Layout by Angie Briggs
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Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Strip Calendar Biggie 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: Which Shoe?

“Which shoe looks better, Dear?”

He looked up from the newspaper.

I lifted the right foot. “Do you like this one?”

“Show me the other one,” he said.

Placing my right foot on the floor, I lifted my left foot.

“Let me see the first one again,” he ordered.

I placed my left foot on the floor and lifted the right.

“Do it again.”

I swapped them back and forth once more.

He stared. “Now, lift both of them.”

I hesitated, and he laughed at his cleverness.

“Oh you,” I blustered.

Giving me a kiss, he said, “You look pretty in anything.”

So, maybe my husband is not a shoe expert, but I think I’ll keep him. He’s kind of cute.

- 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 Soozlou, mtorres_usa, and teabaglady!

Digital Scrapbooking Tutorial: Overspray Technique

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

Do you want to do something a little out of the box? The overspray technique is perfect for creating an edgy, artistic look. It simulates airbrushing by using simple masking in Photoshop to create a digital scrapbooking layout with punch.

Digital Scrapbooking Tutorial Screenshot: Add frame to document.

First, open a paper of your choice and then pick a frame embellishment to use as a mask. (Both pieces I am using here are from the Awakening Collection Mini.) Place it on your background exactly where you want it. You won’t be able to move it later since you will be “spraying” around it.

Digital Scrapbooking Tutorial Screenshot: Turn off frame's visibility.

Turn off the visibility of the frame by clicking on the eye on the Layers Palette. This is done so you can see how much “paint” is going onto your background. You won’t be using the actual frame embellishment in your finished layout. Hold down Ctrl and click on the thumbnail of the frame. You will see marching ants where the invisible frame is.

Digital Scrapbooking Tutorial Screenshot: Paint in frame space.

Now, create a new layer to paint on. Make sure you have the new layer selected. Choose a large soft brush. (I bump the size up to 1400 with an Opacity of 34% for this particular paper and paint color.) Set the Mode to “Dissolve” and carefully paint some color. Don’t spray too much; a little goes a long way. Hold the cursor slightly outside the marching ants to get a light spray. Don’t make it too even; just make a few passes so the paint has variation. Deselect (Select> Deselect or Ctrl+D) your frame so you can see if it looks right. If it is to your liking, you may discard the frame embellishment.

Digital Scrapbooking Tutorial Screenshot: Paint overspray.

Create another layer (make sure you select it) and paint a few spots with nothing selected so it looks a little messy - like overspray.

Digital Scrapbooking Tutorial Screenshot: Place photo.

Now you can place a photo in front of or behind the paint layers. I originally place my photos behind the frame layer, but the extra overspray layer is distracting, so I place the overspray layer behind my photos. I then add one more layer and make one final little spray to go above the photos.

I use the same technique for the text, except after I select my text, I select the inverse (Select> Inverse or Shift+Ctrl+I) and spray outside instead of inside. I follow the same guidelines for the cutout of the shoe.

Here is my finished layout.

Computer scrapbook layout by Sheri Johnson

Layout by Sheri Johnson
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Sheri Johnson

Tutorial written by Sheri Johnson

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
Wednesday, February 11th - 12:00Noon ET

Join your guest host April Showers 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 February 11th, we'll do a 'Things I Love' challenge! Create a layout telling us about your favorite things - stores, treats, tech equipment, books, music, movies, TV shows - whatever!

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!

Journaling Chat
Wednesday, February 11th - 8:00PM ET

Join Shari_PV_Mom and angelaNussbaum for the Journaling chat @ 8pm.

Are most of your layouts decorative? Do you have stories to tell, but just not motivated enough to make a layout with journaling? We are going to challenge you to do a layout with your Journaling in mind. Come join us and tell your stories.

Sketch Crop Challenge
Thursday, February 12th - 9:00PM ET

Join me, sprinklz, for the Sketch Challenge and Crop, Thursday, February 12th 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 “Live Chat” link (above right). 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.

Get Published Chat
Friday, February 13th - 7:00PM ET

Join Angela (angelaNussbaum), Amy (tysMommy), and Christy (christyVW) for the Get Published Chat at 7 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!

“Love Stinks” Pajama Party
Saturday, February 14th - 9:00PM ET

It’s Valentines Day and you're home. No fancy restaurant with fine cuisine or a quiet evening having love showered upon you? Well, Scrap Girls Loves you!!!

Join Angela “The Nut” and Sherry Lynn “The Maine-iac” in the Chat Room Lobby at 9PM EST Saturday, February 14th! We will talk about boxes of chocolate, fabulous flowers, even our favorite Valentine's Day ever.

Did you already celebrate? Well - don't despair - we still want you to join us!

Scrap Simple Club
Sunday, February 15th - 3:00PM ET

We know everyone is excited for the new Scrap Simple Club to come out February 15th, and anxiously awaiting the download links on Monday.

Come join me, Sherry_Lynn, on Sunday February 15th at 3 PM EST for a SG Scrap Simple Club Chat/Crop! We'll be discussing ideas on different ways to use the current club. As a challenge, let’s create one more layout using January's Scrap Simple Club before the next one arrives. It’s sure to be a blast! Hope to see you there!

UFO Crop/Chat
Sunday, February 15th - 4:00PM ET

Please join Sherry-Lynn and special guest co-hostess KellyChron from our Layout Artist Team in the chatroom. Let's complete or revamp some of those layouts that are sitting in your “Layouts to be completed folder.”

Post your layout in the UFO Gallery and meet us in the Lobby at 4 PM Feb. 15th to get some inspirational suggestions from our incredible professionals here at Scrap Girls!

Recipe Swap Challenge Chat
Sunday, February 15th - 8:00PM ET

Please join Danna (scrappylibrarian) and April (April Showers) in the chatroom at 8pm EST for our Monthly Recipe Swap chat. Details for the recipe swap will be posted on the message board on Thursday, Feb 12. We look forward to seeing you there!

February Events

February Board Game: BINGO!

It's that time again! Join us for an exciting game of BINGO on the Message Board Forum in February! 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 - your SG message board username” by Monday, February 2nd (midnight MST) in order to play in the first round, which will begin Tuesday February 3rd.

Each day, members of the Welcoming Committee will call five 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:

February Layout Contest: Amour, Amor, Amore! The word LOVE is one of the most popular in any language across the globe. For this month's contest, we want you to use the word “Love” on your layouts. Let's see how creative you can get with it by using it in a unique way on your pages. Post your Love layouts in the February Layout Contest Gallery by midnight ET on February 28th, and if yours is selected, you will win a $10 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique.

January Mid-Month Layout Contest: It's the beginning of a new year, a time for new beginnings and fresh starts. January is a time for resolutions and setting goals. So, for the mid-January Layout Contest, we want to see your layouts showcasing New Beginnings! Post your layouts in the Mid-January Layout Gallery before midnight ET on February 15th and you could 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 Angela Blanchard

Layout by Angela Blanchard
larger view

Designer Freebie by Angela Blanchard coordinates with her Sweet Whimsy Collection



Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Swirls and Pearls 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.

1 8.5x11 Sheet of Word Art

1 Assemble Your Own Zoom Page Set

1 Designer's Choice Item