“My Family” by Amy Lemaniak
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

I took one of the brushes from the Dynamic Brush Set: Paper Piercing 8201 and wanted to pierce holes around the journaling label I had put on my layout. To do this, I held Ctrl and clicked on the thumbnail on my layer for the label, and this put marching ants around my selection. Then I used the Contract action from ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Edge It PSE 5001 and contracted by 35 pixels. I completed the action and sure enough, there was a perfect border of pierced holes around the inside of my label.

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Worn Overlays, Dynamic Brush Set: Paper Piercing 8201, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Paper Tears PSE 5001, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Photo Basics PSE 5001, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Edge It PSE 5001 and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop Elements 7.0

Name of challenge: Green

Other Ingredients:

• Font - Lizzielongstocking

“What A Ham!” by Kara Swanson
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

I'm trying to learn how to use my new digital SLR camera, so Dinny's Digital Photography Simplified eBook has been a great textbook. One lesson that I learned was to zoom in close for the shot to make for a more interesting, captivating photo. That is what I did with this photo of my son, and I love how the photo captures his personality!

Software used: Adobe Photoshop Elements 6.0

Name of challenge: Green

Other Ingredients:

• Font - Dirty Ego
• Font - Arial Black
• Font - DJB Karascript

“My Princess” by Kim Meeder
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

I wanted the patterned pink paper matte to have a shadow on both sides, but I wanted the shadows to be different colors and sizes. The matte was originally created by clipping the pink paper to a template layer from ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Photo Brackets.

First, I made duplicates of the pink paper clipped to the template layer. I placed the duplicate layers above the original layers. Next, I applied a drop shadow to the original template matte and adjusted it to my liking. Finally, I applied a drop shadow to the duplicate template matte layer by clearing the “Use Global Light” shadow box in my Layer Style window, choosing a color and Opacity, changing the angle, and adjusting the shadow distance, spread, and size.

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Photo Brackets and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Glass Beads 4105 are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS3

Name of challenge: Green

Other Ingredients:

• Font - Arial
• Font - Bickham Script Pro
• Photo by Brandon Kidd

Journaling: Dear Kristi, Here I am dancing with “my princess” on her wedding day. There are fleeting moments in life when you experience pure joy. These moments are treasured in your memory. You carry them close to your heart always. This time of holding you on your wedding day, as we danced to “I Loved Her First,” is one. It evoked the feeling in my heart of when I held you in my arms on the day your were born. Love always... Dad

“Grandpa's Tractor” by Christy VanderWall
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

To make the tire tracks, I used Amanda Sok's Brush Set: Art Deco Stitching. I stamped the brush four times, rotating it 180 degrees between each stamp. Then I used Brush Set: Grungelle, set at 40% Opacity, to erase and distress some of the tracks.

Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Art Deco Stitching, Brush Set: Mixed Alphabet Biggie, Brush Set: Mixed Months Super Biggie, Brush Set: Grungelle, Brush Set: Trendy Circles and Lettering Delights Slender Font are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS3

Name of challenge: Green

Other Ingredients:

• Font - Hannibal Lector
• Font - Goudy Stout

“Cowabunga Dude” by Jo Corne
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

To create my page with my son jumping out of the frame, I first placed my background paper and then on the next layer, I enlarged my photo to fit the whole page size and reduced its Opacity to 45%. I duplicated my photo twice onto another two layers and brought their Opacity back up to 100%. Then I placed the frame behind my son and played with it until I was happy with its position.

On the second photo layer, I used a clipping path to clip the part of the photo that would be in the frame. On the third photo layer, I removed the background of the photo, leaving only my son who now appears to be jumping out of the photo and out of the frame.

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Ribbon Wraps, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Sea Glass 6401, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Metallic Stitching 6401 Super Biggie, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Anodized Aluminum: Primary 6401, ScrapSimple Alpha Templates: Cut Up, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Ties and Tags, ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: String Fling, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Embed 1801 are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS4

Name of challenge: Green

Other Ingredients:

• Fonts - Quorum

“Sweet” by Stefanie Harris
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

Wanting to create a series of layouts of the qualities I love about my daughter, I started with “sweet” and found a couple of soft, sweet profile shots to go with the theme. I used Syndee Nuckles' ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Hand-Tinted 6301 (Sepia Dreamy) to enhance the softness and so Haley's outfit wouldn't clash with the green background (I love green).

I wanted to use a series of hearts on this layout – most are the ones from Amanda Sok's Hannah Collection, but I also really loved the pearly heart from the Frippery Embellishment Biggie, also by Amanda. Once I arranged and resized everything, I found I didn't have enough room for the pearly heart, which I loved too much to take off. I solved this by “hooking” it over the bracket frame, hiding the part that covered my photo with a layer mask. Now you get the essence of the heart without adding too much clutter.

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Hand-Tinted 6301, Brush Set: Luxe Borders, ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Inked Edges Fun 4105 and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Basic Shadows 6501 are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop CS4

Name of challenge: Green

Other Ingredients:

• Font - Arial

Journaling: Every time I see this smile, I have to catch my breath. You are a truly beautiful person, Haley, and I love everything about sweet little you... from your giggles to your hugs to the way you grab me and don't let go when it's time to go to sleep. Yes, even the way you protest when you don't get your way makes me smile a little inside. You have a gentle soul and a free spirit, and I know this sweetness will bring you so much happiness.

“My Garden” by Janine Buckles
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Directions for one technique I did on this layout:

To add depth to the photos of the flowers in my garden, I used my Lasso Tool to extract leaves and petals from each photo. Then I moved the extracted sections to the top layer of my layout and added a small shadow. Because the sections were extracted, some of my shadows appeared on edges of the cut-outs where they would not appear in reality, such as the middle of a leaf or petal.

In order to remove them, I selected a cut-out layer in my Layers Palette by clicking on its thumbnail image, right-clicked, and chose “Simplify.” Next I chose my Eraser Tool, set to Block, and with the image layer still highlighted, I erased the section of the cut-out layer where the extra shadow appeared. I repeated this with each cut-out section until the cut-out and original layers appeared to connect seamlessly.

Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Breathe Swirls, Brush Set: Pen and Ink, Dynamic Brush Set: Stitching 6401, ScrapSimple Digital Layout Templates: Overlapped, ScrapSimple Tools - Actions: Edge It PSE 5001 and ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Sew Doodly Biggie 3201 are also available.

Software used: Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0

Name of challenge: Green

Other Ingredients:

• Font - Jeana

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.

Inquiring Minds Want to Know

I don't find myself very interesting at all. I can tell you that I find these articles a little hard sometimes. They would be much easier of I were writing them about someone else. That being said, I employed help from my fellow Scrap Girls to throw out any questions they may have wanted to ask me.

Question: Janine asked, “Tell us about who you wanted to be like when you grew up and why.”

Answer: I honestly can't remember wanting to be like any certain person growing up. But, I do remember growing up wanting to be two things. The first thing I wanted to be was an environmentalist – not strapping myself to a tree, though. I was involved in a kids' environmentalist group and spoke to other kids my age about it. Do I drive a hybrid car? No, I drive a mini van. The other thing I wanted to be was a teacher. I wanted to teach high school English.

Question: Michelle asked, “How many tattoos do you have?”

Answer: Seven. I just physically counted them. I guess I don't think about them much. I'm so used to them!

Question: Amy asked, “Tell us about your tattoos. Why did you get them? Why did you place them where you placed them? Did you design them? What meaning, memories or significance does the design have? Do your kids ask about them? What do they ask?”

Answer: I have a nautical star, a sparrow, two hearts with wings and halos, cherries, and two black stars. No, I didn't design any of them myself. My first tattoo was a purple and black nautical star. I love stars, always have. The majority of my tattoos are old school style tattoos. I love color. I love to decorate everything. My skin hasn't been much of an exception. All my tattoos are on my arms. The reason? I think they're pretty and I wanted to put them where I could see them. Most of them don't have some deep meaning. They're pretty and I like them!

I have two plain black stars above my elbows on the backs of my arms. These actually represent two friends of mine that passed away in a short period of time when I was 18. They were friends that I hadn't spoken to in years, but their passings sent an unexpected shock through me. I was going through a rough time and it reminded me how limited our time really can be and not to take it for granted. I was ready to start again, put some bad things behind me, so to speak, and start over. I can't see these tattoos unless I look in a mirror, but I know they're there. My kids are so used to them that they don't really notice them at all. Once, my oldest told me, “I'm going to get Spongebob here,” as he pointed to his arm.

Question: Kelly asked, “I would like to know what everyday object inspires you - especially in the color department.”

Answer: Anything and everything. Home décor inspires me a lot. I love the trend of very graphic designs on things like pillows, etc. Music inspires me like crazy. I believe music affects mood. Listening to something can make you feel a certain way. If I'm working on a new kit and a certain song is playing, you'll most likely find that song on repeat as I work. As far as color inspiration, the paint section at Lowes. Love me some paint chips!

- Amanda S.

Favorite product I've designed:
Hannah Collection

This collection is a mix of all things I love in design - bright colors, graphic shapes, glitter, grunge and texture.

Layout by Amanda Sok
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Commercial license versions of Brush Set: Scribbled are also available.

The ScrapSimple club contains items that allow YOU to decide the colors and looks you will end up for your digital scrapbooking designs because the ScrapSimple products are completely customizable. You get all the products shown above, a $19.15 value, for $6.99 or less! And if you would like to create designs to share or sell, there's even a commercial club available! Plus, each month we will help you find new ways to use your club contents to the fullest with this article full of ideas, tips, and projects to get your creativity going!

February’s Scrap Girls ScrapSimple Club’s featured designers are Amanda Sok and Kerry Veale. Their club is full of fun products that can help you document your photos and get creative in amazing ways. Our entire Scrap Girls staff has put their heads together and come up with some ideas to help you get the most out of your fun, new digital scrapbooking toys!

ScrapSimple Club Concepts Tutorial: Frugal and Beautiful Wall Art

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

Wouldn't you love to give a really special, meaningful gift this year without spending a lot of money? Our Frugal Wall Art gives the look of a more expensive “altered canvas,” which generally uses an artist canvas as its base. However, we will use styrofoam as a base for the art, instead of the artist canvas, which costs more money. You could also use a piece of wood or even a gift box; be creative and see what you can use that you already own. And of course, use your Scrap Girls digital scrapbooking products to make your layout.

First, design a layout in an 8.5 by 11-inch document (or larger, depending on what size paper you can print and on the size of your base). Measure the front and sides of your base so that you know how what the size of your layout should be. To help you visualize what it will look like, use guidelines in your document the same size as the front of your base. So, in the screenshot above, you can see that the area centered inside the blue guidelines will be on the front of the wall art base, and the areas on the top, bottom, and sides of the blue guidelines will be folded onto the top, bottom, and sides of the base. Print your layout.

Now, gather your supplies together. You will need a ribbon that is as wide as the edge of your base, as well as various other pieces for embellishment. (Most of these embellishments were purchased from WalMart's craft and fabric department; some were on clearance. The styrofoam base was free, as it was packing material in a shipment I received.)

Fold the printed layout over the base and trim as needed. Then glue it down securely. It doesn't have to cover the base perfectly, because your ribbon will hide most of the folded-over edges.

Glue your ribbon around the edge of the base.

Now, add embellishments to the front of your wall art. Glue some crystal trim at the bottom and some hand–dyed lace on the upper left corner, or whatever you would like to use. Perhaps you have some bits and pieces at home already that you could use. (You could even cut lace from old lingerie.) It's fun to make a little textile “pouf” and attach it to the front with an reproduction antique upholstery nail (also available at Walmart). Add a bit of ribbon or trim at the top for a hanger.

Project by Kerry Veale
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Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Vintage Millinery Flowers, ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Florid Overlays, ScrapSimple Layer Your Own Brushes: Fragments, Brush Set: 4x6 Florid Ink and ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Worn Overlays are also available.

Tutorial by Kerry Veale

We hope this article gives you some ideas to get you scrapping! We’d love to see what you come up with. You can share ideas and tips on the message board, plus there’s a special gallery available for you to show off your Club creations and inspire each other, so start creating!

And remember, this club will be expiring in just a few days! So if you like these ideas, don't hesitate to sign up today, or you will miss your chance to get in on these tremendous savings! It's like buying the two brush sets at a savings, and getting the ScrapSimple Paper Template Set, ScrapSimple Embellishment Template Set, and Designer's Choice Item for free! Now, that's a bargain. Don't miss out!

Have fun!

P.S. We hope you are enjoying this article, Club Concepts. Each Monday, we give you ideas on how to use your current club selections in many different ways. We give you ideas for layout themes, embellishments, tips, cards, quotes, projects, and more! Well, we have realized that in creating these articles, we were leaving out one of the most important voices in our club... yours! So, we would like to announce that we will be looking for your help in creating these articles. And, of course, there are prizes involved!

How can you get involved, you may ask? Simply post your new layout using the current club selection (either the Scrap Girls club or the ScrapSimple club) in our Scrap Girls Club Members Gallery. Be sure to list all of the Scrap Girls products you used, as well as a short (1-2 sentence) description of the unique idea or theme your layout shows off. If your layout and its corresponding tip is chosen, they will be showcased in our Club Concepts article, and you will win a $5 Gift Certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique!

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

Aussie Chat & Challenge Monday, 9 March - 9:00PM Australian Eastern Standard Daylight Saving Time Please come join Karen (kazbar73) & Jo (ScrappingJo) at 9PM (Australian Eastern Standard Daylight Saving Time) on Monday, 9 March, 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? Come join us in the Chat room and learn how to jazz up your desktop. For our International ladies, the chat will be on at 6am New York time. Card Chat Monday, March 9th - 8:00PM ET Do you use your digi-supplies to make cards? Do you want to? Instead of going to the store every time you need a card, we thought it would be better (and more fun) to use our digi stash to make any cards we might need for the upcoming month. Birthday Cards, Thank you Cards, Get Well Cards, various holiday cards.... We will be posting our cards in the gallery. See you there!! Baby Album Crop Tuesday, March 10th - 1:00PM ET Do you need some motivation getting those baby albums done? Children grow so fast; let's get those baby memories scrapped! You can scrap your children, grandchildren, or even your own baby album. Join me, Carla (crs), in the chat room on Tuesday, March 10th at 1 pm et to work on those albums! You can start from fresh on a brand new album, or jump in where ever you are in your project. I'll provide an optional challenge each crop for motivation if you want it. This month, I challenge you to create a family tree for the star of your album! Life Moments Crop and Chat Tuesday, March 10th - 9:00PM ET Join me, Carla (crs), for another installment in our Life Moments Crop and Chat. This crop challenges you to focus on yourself and leave a record for future generations. Watch the message board for this week's topic! I'll see you in the chat room on Tuesday, March 10th at 9 pm et! High Noon Crop Wednesday, March 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 March 11th, we'll do a tag challenge! Create a layout using at least one tag as an embellishment! 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, March 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 are 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. New Member Chat Thursday, March 12th - 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. What's New in the Boutique Chat Friday, March 13th - 11:00AM ET Join Michelle (Shelbi) at 11 am EST Friday morning to chat about all the cool new things in the boutique. What are you getting? What did you Kaboodle? And most importantly, show us the layouts or other projects you made with your new goodies! There's a thread every Thursday and now there's a chat too!

March Events

March Board Game: Posting Contest This month, post to your heart's content and potentially win a prize because of your chattiness! That's right folks... it's time for one of those infamous posting challenges! 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 throughout the month. If you want to keep your own tally, feel free to note your post count here in this thread before you start posting on Monday, March 2nd. Contest ends on Tuesday, March 31st at midnight MST! So go on with your gabby self! This is the month for you! Layout Contests: March Layout Contest: Mesmerizing, hypnotic, charming, spellbinding.... These are all words that can be used to describe things we might take photos of or do scrapbook pages about, from a mountain vista to a new baby’s face. For this contest challenge, we want you to do a layout about something that you feel fits these words. If your layout is chosen, you will win a $10 gift certificate to the Scrap Girls Boutique. All layouts must be posted by midnight Eastern Time, March 31st and credits listed to be eligible. February Mid-Month Layout Contest: Did you know that February is International Friendship Month? Let's honor the special people we call friends by featuring them in a layout! Post your Friendship layouts in the Mid-February Layout Contest Gallery before March 14th at midnight eastern. You will be eligible to win a $10 gift card to the Scrap Girls Boutique! Let's get scrapping!

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.)

Layout by Laurel Lakey
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Designer Freebie by Syndee Nuckles coordinates with her Anticipation Collection Biggie

Commercial license versions of ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates: Old Photo Frames Biggie and Dynamic Brush Set: Doodle Borders 5402 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.